The Big Four

Yesterday Aleya reached the four year old milestone. We also disposed of her Binky. Much to old in our opinion... She woke up this morning and said I didn't sleep any last night! We know that isn't true but I am sure she feels that way.
We feel so very blessed to have her in our family and we thank God for his wisdom and planning in placing her in our home.

Bearskin Lake

Sonny and his family spent 4 years at Bearskin Lake in the mid to late 80's (I think). Anyway. a lady died and they felt they should go to the funeral. So they left Sunday morning at 7 and arrived at Sioux Lookout around noon on Monday. They were surprised to find a charter flight to take them out to Bearskin Lake. This flight was paid for by the natives at Bearskin Lake. They had Sonny & Ruth were coming and this was how they responded. My first thought was this: The native people have a lot of respect for Sonny. Why else would they do this. Their flight back to Sioux was paid for as well. Amazing. I am pleased they could go and I am pleased he is my pastor...

Quartet Retreat

I have just finished my topic notes. I have sent it to my editors, again. I feel fairly good about it. I need to familiarize myself with my notes. I have been told the response for the weekend is still rather weak. So, if you need something to do this weekend come and join us. Here is a schedule
QUARTET ENHANCEMENT WEEKEND
Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute
Led by Voice of Praise, Gladys, VA
September 29 - 30, 2007

Saturday, September 29 8:00 a.m. Registration/Get Acquainted
9:00 Mass male Choir Practice - Rich Denlinger
10:30 Brunch
11:30 Workshop - Foundations of a Quartet
1:00 p.m. Break
1:15 Workshop - Balancing Music Ministry With Life
2:45 Break
3:00 Mass Male Choir Practice
4:30 Supper
5:30 Mass Male Choir Practice
6:30 Break
7:00 Quartet Analysis - Each quartet will present a selection for critique
Sunday, September 30 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Serve-yourself Breakfast
10:00 Singing and Devotions
10:30 Finding a Balance Between Musical Excellence and Worship - Glen Zehr
12:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 Mass Male Chorus & Quartet Program - One or two selections by each quartet and several by the mass chorus

Workshops
Foundations of a Quartet - Dave Gingerich
Music selection, practice tips, and program etiquette

Balancing Music Ministry with Life - Kelvin Good
Finding a balance between the ministry of your quartet and family, church and work. How much time are you able to take off from work?" How does your wife deal with the children or life while you are not present? How do you balance your ability to teach Sunday School or participate in church activities when you need to spend some of that time preparing for programs and singing?

Quartet Weekend Registration Form
Name ___________________________________________________________

Phone _______________________

Address__________________________________________________________________

No. Attending ______

City _______________________________ State ________ Zip _________

Email ____________________________

Please indicate the number for each meal: Sat. Sat. Sun. Sun.
_____ Brunch _____ Supper _____ Breakfast _____ Lunch

Accommodations:
_____ I/We will have camper, motor home, etc.
_____ I//we desire lodging at SMBI (limited availability)
_____ I/We will make our own motel reservations

Motel Listings: Some of these motels may give discounted rates if you mention your involvement with SMBI.
Best Western Plaza Motor Lodge, Breezewood (814) 735-4352
Gateway Restaurant & Motel, Breezewood (814) 735-4011
Ramada Inn, Breezewood (814) 735-4005
Econo Lodge, Breezewood (814) 735-4341
Heritage Inn, Breezewood (814) 735-2200
Quality Inn/Breeze Manor, Breezewood (814) 735-4311
Please return this form to SMBI, 7304 Lincoln Hwy., Harrisonville, PA 17228. If you have any questions please call 717-485-4341.

Farmer Boy (II)

Here Kyle is gleaning wisdom from Sonny on proper dalf feeding technique. Actually, he is wondering how many cows he and Sonny had milked before Jon Alan showed up.

Farmer Boy

Kyle was in his glory. He loved helping milk. He slipped and fell while scraping with a hand scraper. I asked him if it made him mad and he said Yes!

Yard Sale

Had another yard sale today. This one was the busiest one we have had. It was a lovely day. However, by the time we were cleaning up it was very hot. We arrived at the yard sale premises with 30 some odd boxes and returned home with 10-11 so we moved a lot of stuff...

Exhaustion

My, oh my. It has been a very tiring week. I have slept like the dead every night. I wake up tired at 4 in the morning. I wake up tired from my nap. I am wore out in the evening. I told Sonny I didn't realize spreading ash would be so tiring. He said the W9 would wear any body out. The thing is a beast to drive. I would say we had a very good week. Covered close to 100 acres. Maybe that is why I am so tired.

Mote Removed

When I got up from my nap this morning Sierra went dashing off to the kitchen. She returned with a cloth diaper. On this diaper was a big speck of dirt. My wife took this diaper and wiped the dirt off of the lid. I am amazed at how quickly the eye heals. Tonight the redness is almost gone and it isn't swollen....

Mote In The Eye

Sierra and Kyle were tree climbing the other evening. Sierra was watching Kyle get down out of the tree and some bark dust got lodged in her eye. We were sure she had scratched the eye really bad and this was the cause of her very red eye. This evening we did a little more investigating and found a nice size piece of dirt lodged under her upper lid. We couldn't get it out so we will be taking her to the eye DR tomorrow. I am sure this will be a grand experience and will rank up their with the trips to the dentist...

Practice

We had our first practice tonight using the sound system and singing with a performance track. For those of you who don't know a performance track when a group sings with themselves. Anyway, it was great fun and I look forward to using it in our services. We will be able to sing songs that have up to 10 parts and we will have all the parts. It will be great. This means we will be able to sing some of Rumsey's stuff.

Fly Ash

We began spreading fly ash today. Truck worked really well. Tomorrow the vet comes so we have herd check in the morning. Hopefully Sonny will be able to keep the ash rig rolling. Lots to do yet this fall....

Weekend Activities

We just returned home from SMBI. Cliff graciously rent us the basement of his house for the weekend. Rachel's family was their. We met to swap children around. We had some of Rod's while Grandma had some of ours and Rod's. We now have all of our children and one of Rod's while Grandma has none. We had a really good weekend. Fri. evening or night we, the parents and aunt, stayed up till 1:30 talking. This was the last time I will see Rod and Christa before they leave for Mexico on Oct. the 4th or so.
Prayers for everyone would be appreciated.

Poll

I have a poll question for you in regards to VOP. We have been discussing for the last several years whether or not we should release a double CD set. This set would include the first two albums the group ever recorded. Quiet Understanding and Send The Light. So, my poll question is this. Would you be interested in having these albums available on CD?

Wal-Mart Parking

We stopped at Wal-Mart this evening. While we were loading up to leave I heard this horn begin to blow. It blew and blew and blew and blew and blew. We started the van and began to leave. I still heard the horn blowing, blowing and blowing. We turned down a lane to go to the exit and passed the vehicle with the blowing horn. It is still blowing and blowing and blowing. As we pass I notice their are two vehicles wanting the same spot. Apparently they arrived at the same time from two different directions. The lady driving the car had her foot on the steering wheel holding the horn. I couldn't believe it....
Must have had a bad day....

Quote

My wife was telling me about her adventures today. She was taking Sierra and Kassie to music class and a bug was on Jackson's car eat. This made Jackson very nervous and he starts to wail. Sierra was sure it was a bee and was going to sting him so she started screaming. After her scream Kassie decided to join the act. After they were done screaming and relaxed Sierra told Kassie I am sorry I screamed but I was Truly scared. Kassie responded I just thought he was going to die!

Heat

I don't know if I can remember a sept. that has been dominated by such heat. Today it was 96 degrees at 5:30 in the evening. I have been told the temperatures are suppose to be dropping by the middle of the week with highs topping off around 70. This would be much more better.

Pre-Quartet Retreat Jitters

Some of you are aware that we, VOP, are in charge of the quartet retreat at SMBI the last weekend of Sept. It has suddenly dawned upon me that I need to finish my talk here soon. When I think about this talk a knot begins to form in my stomach. I was told that not very many people have signed up for the retreat. In some ways this makes me glad and in other ways it doesn't. Glad because maybe I won't be so nervous. Sad because people don't want to come or something. Anyway, I may post my talk notes at a later date.

Sanctity Of Life

What does this mean to you? When you read the words, Sanctity Of Life, what do you think of?

Beavers

Sunday morning the girls and I walked to church. When we arrived at the bridge we noticed a beaver dam in the river. This evening we went for a truck ride and I stopped on top of the bridge to show all the people the dam. It was obvious the beavers had been at work. Their were more corn stalks from the neighboring field and many more sticks. Beavers are interesting creatures and maybe one day I will be stealthy enough to watch them work.

Lost & Found

Yesterday afternoon a heifer calved. I put her in the barn where the milking cows are housed and then went out to the pasture to get the milking cows in so I could start milking the cows. I glanced around trying to find the heifer but I never saw her. I assumed she was in the holding pen where I couldn't see her. Much to my dismay I discovered this was an inaccurate assumption. She was no where to be seen. I looked everywhere I could think of. Out in the pasture, in the manure pit, and back in the pre-fresh group but to no avail. I had given up and decided she would show up sometime in the near future looking for her calf. Sonny, however, went and looked at the one place I hadn't and their she was. We have two manure pits. From the upper pit to the lower pit their is a 10-15 foot drop. Well, she had slid down the 10-15 foot bank and was in the lower pit where I couldn't see her. She was unhurt and was placed back in the milking herd.

Laborless Day

Today I did very little. I milked this morning. I dried off 10 cows which made milking take much longer than normal. I then slept till 10:30 or so before sitting around and reading. I enjoyed my day.

Southern Gospel

I found a southern gospel station the other day, JOY FM 106.6. I am not a big southern gospel fan but I did enjoy listening to the songs for a little while. Something did catch my attention and I found it very fascinating. Someone was doing a show and they were interviewing someone. (I can't remember his name.) He is a pianist and is blind. He was born blind. He made the statement that he can listen to a song one time and then play it. He said that sometimes he will need to listen to it twice to get the more intricate things. This man plays on Bill Gaither's homecoming concerts as well as for another group. Can anyone tell me his name? I would like to do a little Internet research and see some more information on this gentleman. God has given him an incredible gift of memory.

Finished

Well, we finished the sorry corn. Trench is covered. We are done. I feel good. I feel great. From my head to my feet. Okay that is enough....