Allie & Claire's Trip to Railroad

Claire and I went to Railroad, PA to visit my sister, Stacy, and her boyfriend, Jimmy. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and went to the New Freedom Carnival in the evening. We feasted on carnival food (Claire's favorite - funnel cake!) and played lots of games (won lots of prizes). We thought Claire might ride one or two rides, but she was more interested in the sliding board at the playground instead.



Look Ma, no hands!



Stacy and Claire...



Jimmy and Claire Goin' Fishin'...



Claire using her charm to convince Stacy that the little slide is better than the big one...




After breakfast Friday morning, we went for a walk on the Heritage Rail Trail County Park trail which runs right by their house. We saw a deer cross the trail while we were walking, and we found, picked, and ate some wild black raspberries. It was a great way to spend the morning.



Claire on the train tracks...



A fellow rail trail walker...



Jumping Bean...




Thanks, Stacy and Jimmy, for having us!! It was great to be with you!

Furry Friend

Karma, my sister's bullmastiff, joined us for the week while my sister went on vacation. It has been interesting, to say the least. I'm not really a dog person, and although I get along fine with Karma, I don't think this week has changed my mind. (Sorry, Erica.) Claire likes Karma, but she's a little afraid (which is no suprise considering Karma's size), and she often says, "I like when Karma's in her crate." It's been an adventure!!

On another note, here is a picture of Claire with her favorite juice - Big Bird Juice!

We Miss You, Laura!

Last Friday my good friend, Laura, moved from our area back up to New England to be closer to her family. Claire and I miss her already. She has been a faithful friend to me, encouraging me in my faith and in my walk with God. We will keep her in our prayers as she starts this new chapter in her life. We're REALLY excited to go and visit her in September!!

Streams of Mercy

From Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, July 1 Morning Meditation...

"In summer and in winter shall it be."—Zechariah 14:8.

The streams of living water which flow from Jerusalem are not dried up by the parching heats of sultry midsummer any more than they were frozen by the cold winds of blustering winter. Rejoice, O my soul, that thou art spared to testify of the faithfulness of the Lord. The seasons change and thou changest, but thy Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad and as full as ever. The heats of business cares and scorching trials make me need the cooling influences of the river of His grace; I may go at once and drink to the full from the inexhaustible fountain, for in summer and in winter it pours forth its flood. The upper springs are never scanty, and blessed be the name of the Lord, the nether springs cannot fail either. Elijah found Cherith dry up, but Jehovah was still the same God of providence. Job said his brethren were like deceitful brooks, but he found his God an overflowing river of consolation. The Nile is the great confidence of Egypt, but its floods are variable; our Lord is evermore the same. By turning the course of the Euphrates, Cyrus took the city of Babylon, but no power, human or infernal, can divert the current of divine grace. The tracks of ancient rivers have been found all dry and desolate, but the streams which take their rise on the mountains of divine sovereignty and infinite love shall ever be full to the brim. Generations melt away, but the course of grace is unaltered. The river of God may sing with greater truth than the brook in the poem—


"Men may come, and men may go,
But I go on for ever."

How happy art thou, my soul, to be led beside such still waters! never wander to other streams, lest thou hear the Lord's rebuke, "What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt to drink of the muddy river?"