MIKE HUCKABEE IN JEFFERSON CITY TUESDAY JANUARY 29TH

Governor Mike Huckabee will be in Jefferson City tomorrow at 12:00 noon.
We will be going to see him.
If you would like more information, please click on the link below for maps, etc.

http://mikehuckabee.meetup.com/309/calendar/7213290/

JEAN RANES, PRECIOUS FRIEND

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Mat 6:19-21

Pictured below is our dear, precious friends Jean Ranes, in 1997, with our daughter Joy. We met the Ranes at Rolla Bible Church in 1990. Mr. Ranes had been a chaplain in the Navy, they had been missionaries in Japan, and pastored a Presbyterian Church in Missouri. They had retired back to their hometown of Rolla, and we were very honored to adopt them as additional grandparents and they joined us for dinner once a week blessing our lives in so many ways.

In the summer of 1996, Mr. Ranes died from a brain tumor. When Mrs. Ranes joined us for dinner that week, she said with joy and tears , "Just think, Jimmy has been with Jesus a whole week!" In December of that year, Mrs. Ranes had a massive stroke, paralyzing her entire right side, and depriving her of any speech.

In the twelve years since her stroke, Mrs. Ranes has lived in a small private room in a local nursing home. She doesn't have a television in her room, but reads her beloved Bible from cover to cover, and then begins again. When ever we visit her, she is filled with joy. She delights when we read the Bible to her, cheering and smiling when the verses are especially precious. She directs us when we sing for her. She has demonstrated such contentment and delight in such seemingly depressing situations.

Everytime I am with her I see the mighty fruit that comes from being saturated with the Word of God. Twelve years of reading the Scriptures continually shines in her soul, and escapes out her eyes and her beautiful smile. I am grieved that I still fail to apply the lesson, and make time with the Lord and my Bible the preeminent priority of each day.



"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
Mat. 4:4

For the last month, Mrs. Ranes has not left her bed or eaten. No one is sure why, since she cannot speak. However, she is extremely joyful and even after a month still has the energy to enjoy the singing and Bible reading. When we tell her we will be back the next day to see her, she has shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and pointed to the sky as if to say, "I'll be happy to visit with you if I am here, but I may be somewhere much more delightful."

We thank God for the wonderful gift of knowing this devoted saint. She is one of our personal "great cloud of witnesses". She will not be here much longer, but will finally join Mr. Ranes at the feet of her beloved Savior.

Her favorite Bible verse, which she typed at the bottom of every card she ever sent us, or any of the children is "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
Heb. 13:8

PRINCE AND PAUPER REHEARSALS BEGIN!

We have begun rehearsals for our next play "The Prince and the Pauper." We had a read-through on the 12th and last Saturday we started work on the big group scenes that begin and conclude the play. We sang through the songs and they already sound really great! We also did the basic blocking of the scenes. (The winter scene is left over from OAT's 'White Christmas' production.)

WYOMING BACKPACKING COMEDY

Here is a video comedy taken last summer in WY when we were backpacking in the Tetons.



We had taken the video camera and were videotaping the scenery and our hike, and then after about 10 miles of hiking we began to get a little goofy. The video was all taken with a total of one camera and three people (Adam, Joel, and Josiah). Some shots had to be taken out of order and then rearranged with video editing software.

THE HOBBS FAMILY GINGERBREAD HOUSES

On our way to Arkansas, we stopped for lunch at the Hobbs, near Springfield, MO. These are our dear friends, and our oldest daughter, Amy's in-laws, (does that make them our out-laws?). We had a great time visiting, eating fantastic hamburgers, and enjoyed seeing their newly constructed gingerbread houses, having recently constructed one of our own. Five of the six Hobbs siblings had created their own interpretation of gingerbread architecture. They were extremely creative, ranging from a cottage to a castle. It was also a lot of gingerbread to consume, and knowing from our own recent personal experience how "HARD" it is to eat a gingerbread house (meaning break teeth, not hard as in sad) we were even more impressed with the Hobbs creativity in disposing of their culinary masterpieces. Pictured below are the Hobbs with their gingerbread, and a video of their solution to the problem.

Ben, Abby, Grace, Nate (the great son-in-law), and Jed.

AND BACK TO THE WORLD'S BEST BED AND BREAKFAST, EAST OF THE MISSIPPIPPI

We drove 15+ hours from New York to Indianapolis to our VERY dear friends', the Nails. Joel, Josiah, John, Ian and Keturah play "Rage", the new game we learned at the Bourne's. (Keith is again working in the background).

The Banditos. Joy, Esther, Nathanael, Seth, Joshua, and Anna.

The Indomitable "Dave and Tammy", with their faithful side-kick Havalah.

Jonathan, Josiah, and Ian hanging out.

GLORY AND HAVALAH

Glory and Havalah were having a great time playing together.

Lots of Hugging and Kissing.


And then we looked over and Glory had walked out of her pants. (This is not the first time she has pulled this trick either.)

THE HAPPY SNOW-FAMILY

Glory, Havalah, and Keith built these snow people, and then Glory ate all their noses, (except, it would seem, the mother's).

THE NAILS, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Joshua

Keturah

Ian

Seth

AND ON TO NEW YORK

Next in our travels, we headed east to New York. We dropped Adam off in New Jersey to photograph Long-tailed Ducks at Barnegat Light (these are the ducks he hopes to paint for next year's duck stamp competition). We went to my sister Kelly's house in Yorktown Heights. They had moved about 3 weeks earlier, and we were excited to see their new home.

(Special note for the Willis--we're sorry we missed you. We have been in this area quite a bit, and in fact have many pictures from a favorite hike on Break Neck Ridge, that look just like yours from across the Hudson on Storm King. We go about every other year in October. Too bad we didn't know you then.)

Our nephew/cousin Eric enjoying his Hot Chocolate. Nathanael loved getting to play with Eric.

Hanging out in the Kitchen.

Joy and Anna had a wonderful time helping Kelly decorate her tree.

ERIC MANFORD OLSON

A FEW MORE SHOTS FROM KELLY'S HOUSE

The Dining Room

Joy and Anna put bows on everything!

The front entrance, and my only picture of the snow outside. They are right on the Croton Reservoir, and the view is gorgeous, especially with all the snow, but I failed to get any pictures.

KEITH FAITHFULLY GRADING PAPERS

While we played games, Keith still had to work. He brought about 10 pounds of papers to grade. I am NOT exaggerating. Here he is grading in Pennsylvania . . .


. . . and now in New York.

FUN WINTER PHOTO

AND NOW, TO RETURN TO OUR PENNSYLVANIA TRIP DISCOURSE

We spent Saturday morning hanging out at Nate and Amy's.


Keith and I read through a script for a new musical that Amy is writing. It is much more enjoyable than our faces appear.

John decided to check out the snow and ice.

Glory decided to check out the couch.

THE SUPREME ULTIMATE EVENING WITH THE BOURNES

Saturday Afternoon and Evening we had a fantastic time with a very fun, gracious, hospitable family: the Bournes. Amy has often told us how much she and Nate enjoy spending time with them, and how at home they feel there. We understand what they mean. The food was exceptionally delicious (the ice cream was abundant!), the games were delightful, the singing was lovely, and the fellowship especially sweet. God is so kind to provide this family to embrace Amy and Nate with their love and goodness.


Adam, Andrew, Joel, and Josiah learning Rage and UpJinks, two very fun new games.


Nathanael with his new friend Joshua, having a great time.

A very intense game of Mad Gab, (Boys against Girls--which explains some of the intensity). Emily, Mrs. Bourne (Judy), Abby, Mary and Amy.

The guys are struggling to catch up (which in all honesty, I must confess they did, and won.) Daniel, Josiah, Joel, David, and Mr. Bourne (Cliff)