Taylor

We spent an enjoyable weekend fellowshiping and worshiping in Taylor, MO. We hadn't visited for many years, so when we received an invitation on an open weekend we accepted. We made new friends and renewed old friendships. I always enjoy crossing the bridge into the East Quincy/Taylor bottoms and driving west across the flat, fertile, farmland. Then, you hit Taylor and drive up into the scenic Missouri hills. I like the contrast. I've been to Taylor numerous times; with family, young group, and passing thru on vacations. But the two most memorable times I spent there where during the '73 and '93 floods. During the '73 flood, I helped evacuate a farmhouse and buildings. During the '93 flood, I helped do levee patrol and sandbagged levees. It's always good to see the resilience of the area and the people.
Missouri also has cheaper gas than Illinois.

It was a blessed weekend.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

Lavender

"Dad, you're reading a book with a lavender cover!"

"Yes I am," I defensively (and a little sheepishly) replied. "I am reading a romance novel."
I was reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It is probably only the second romance novel that I have ever read. The other, Pride and Prejudice, also by Jane, is my favorite of the two. Now, in every Louis L'Amour book there is a pretty girl, and at the end of the book the guy always gets the girl. But I wouldn't at all call them romance novels! Over the years, I have read a lot of books - mostly outdoor adventures, spiritual, history, or reference. So I guess about every ten or fifteen years I don't mind reading a classic romance novel. The old farmer bought his lovely wife a Jane Austen collection of seven novels for her birthday, so maybe in another 50 years I will have read them all. I'll rank them then.

Flavors

The Jones Soda flavors for Easter:
Chocolate Bunny
Little Bunny FuFu
Robins' Egg Lemonade


The true flavors of Easter:
Blood, Sweat, Tears

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

15th

Beware the ides of March . . . For as long as I can remember, it has always snowed in March here in central Illinois. Some years it is just a few flurries, but other years we have a full fledged snowstorm. This morning we had our March snow. A nice gentle ground covering snow that melted by midday.

It can turn spring anytime now.

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:7

Relief

We worked at the Mennonite Relief Sale tonight at the Interstate Center. We waited/bussed tables for the chicken dinners. I've been helping at the sale since back in the days when it was held at Expo Gardens in Peoria. This year is the sale's 50th anniversary. I'm not a big benefit auction person, but its always fun and interesting to attend this big one. You see and meet all kinds of people from old grade school classmates (of course we are old now!) to other old farmers. We watched "Cousin" Clark start the auction and you can here the auctioneers cry above the crowds as you cruise the booths selling handmade and homemade items from around the world. But the big draw for me is the variety of food available. The smells wafting through the air in different areas of the hall entice you to overeat - which I did! After my chicken dinner, and a sightseeing trip, the ice cream line is where we head. I even got to share some of daughter #2's cotton candy. A trip through the dutch market adds to the experience. And we always have to stop for a dozen or two fresh homemade donuts for our Saturday breakfast before we head for home.

The important thing is that a lot of money is raised to help needy people locally and worldwide, and that there are a lot of people who care.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:29,30

roller coaster

The weather this winter has been like a roller coaster - lots of ups and downs. Sunday afternoon it was 69 degrees and by Tuesday morning it was 22 degrees. It's been like that all winter. But mostly it's been a colder than normal winter. And winter keeps hanging on. The frost has tried to come out of the ground about four times this winter. Our road is mushy and breaking up. And the old, old story of muddy rutted up driveways and barnyard. You know it's bad when I have to put the pickup in 4-wheel-drive to get from the shed up to the house! We add gravel to our driveways about every other year, but it just seems to disappear during spring thaw. Because of all the snow and rain we've had, the round-bales of straw and corn stalks are frozen together and to the ground. It's been a real challenge to bed down our hoop buildings where we use the big bales.
It is March. Our nights and mornings are winter and the afternoons are spring. Full-time spring can't be far off. I guess I had better get going on my winter projects pretty soon!