Why has it been so long? My biggest excuse has been that I was hoping to post a "before & after" picture showing the BBB in the driveway and then somewhere without snow. Poor baby has been shivering in the cold in our driveway since February 25.However our plans to leave shifted from March 14 to March 19 to 'I don't know when".
Linda's Mom was hospitalized on March 7 and we wanted to wait until she was fully recovered before leaving. She is now back in Thessalon hospital and will be moving into the Algoma Manor - rest home next week. This means we have to empty out and close down her house and as the oldest(of 10) Linda is organizing that effort.
We spent 2 days there this week organizing and sifting through papers and pictures determining what to keep and what to toss.
Lots of memories - it was tough for Linda at times but I guess it may be better to be doing it now while she can share some of those memories with her Mom.
We are taking a break to drive (car) to Aurora to spend next week with Chris, Tammye, Hunter & Camdyn -- it is the kid's March break so we are looking forward to spending time with them.
The big push on Martha's house will come during the 1st 2 weeks of April. Linda has asked her siblings to meet on the 1st Saturday to decide who will take what (of the furniture and larger item) and to organize moving things -- she hopes to pack up & store most of the smaller things at her brother's house until summer when it can be sorted through-- families can take more time to pick out things they would like -- we can have a garage sale, etc, -- which she doesn't want to take time to do right now .
Anyhow we are still hoping to head west to see Kevin, Sarah and Will leaving mid-April.
One of the good things this year is we don't have to worry about leaving the house empty since we have live-in caretakers.
We were disappointed at the fact that we couldn't go south -- we had hoped to visit my brother, go to the TulsaSoul winning workshop (and seeing our friend Joh Dobbs while there) and then spend sometime camping in the desert enroute to California.
But now we'll stick to the Northern route and hope that we don't get caught in any late Spring storms.
Our time has been full - Linda has been advising a young mother who had a baby early in March. I have been working at a number of administrative & planning issues for the church -- things that had backlogged while I was teaching -- as well as making an effort to catch up on email andall our household affairs. I also started a email (group) list for the Pinehill family -- to share news and thoughts among those who have email.
We received word that Clyde Lansdell's mother passed away March 8 in Alabama. Our condolences to him and his family. Clyde is a long time friend -- he baptized Linda and he performed our wedding ceremony. (and, of course he is married to my cousin Wilma who is one of my favorite email correspondents. She has many insightful comments on what a particular Bible passage means to her and she has been sharing those with a circle of ladies using a group email list)
I haven't done much visiting to other blogs recently -- I did do a roundof visits in late February -- maybe reporting on them is OK (better late than never?)
From Monday February 25, 2008
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JD (Out Here Hope Remains) has been providing updates and on the blessings and challenges of his recent move to Forsyth LA. He also has been posting some pictures of “antique” cars—antique as in late50’s Chevies – cars that seem as new to me as this morning’s dawn. Amazing how the brand new cars you admired when you were a 12-15 year old pumping gas are now ”antiques” – What does that say about me?
JD links to a Youtube song calling us to worship in his post for Sunday February 24. And for any LOST fans – JD is OBSESSED with it -- Linda & I have started watching the new season – but “flash forwards” are a rather confusing way to follow a story line. (if there is one – sometimes it seems they are dreaming it up as they go)
Neva (Dancing in the light) asks “Are our children and youth singing less today that when we were growing up?”. (CLICK HERE)
Also any one who has visited Bobby Valentine's blog in the past mught want to check him out. He has a new look and as usual many thought provoking studies of Biblical topics.
So it has been a busy time -- and somewhat frustrating because we didn't really know whether to make preparations to travel or not.
One of the things that our trips have made very real to me is that we are not in control. Someone asked me last week "When are you leaving?" -- My response "I don't know. Ony God knows and He hasn't told us yet".
James 13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
God Bless
Charlie
