Sunday, June 29, 2008

Acadia, and such...

Quick update... Cari and I just returned from Acadia, where we stayed at Southwest Harbor for a few days! It was a much needed vacation away for the two of us, and we feel encouraged and rejuvenated! We would like to extend our thanks to brother Bill, and his wife, Karrie, for their generosity in offering their timeshare week to us. Although we were not able to stay the whole week, we had the best of times. We headed over late on Tuesday, and returned to Madison, today, (Sunday)! So, THANKS SO MUCH Bill and Karrie! It was a gift we will always cherish!

Some brief notes of our stay... It was supposed to rain every day. It only rained today, after we were on the road!...

We met wonderful people, from "there", and "away"!

From "there"... would include Jeff, of Somesville, who I believe is the "Garrison Keillor" of Mount Desert Island, if not of Maine. He entertained us with many stories, some humorous, some serious, all revealing some golden nugget as each story was unwrapped. We would like to thank you Jeff, for your kindness, and immediate friendship. I would also like to say these two things to you... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5&6). ...and the next time we meet, we will all sing "God Bless America" ...we understand. Thanks. Our prayers are with you...

From "away"... would include Jim and his wife, Kitty, imports from Chicago. We had the good fortune of meeting these two folks as we readied ourselves to dine on lobster, at "Thurston's". They were at the next table, and we overheard Jim asking the server, how he should go about eating his lobster. The reply he recieved was basically this... "There is meat, here, here, and...here.". Cari instantly offered to have them join us, and to our great fortune, they did! We did quick introductions, and then, just as quickly, Cari and Jim began the search for the precious lobster meat, with Cari instructing along the way. Kitty, not a huge seafood fan, (some folks aren't, ya know!), had opted for a BLT, after seeing the live lobsters going to their demise. Kitty did try some though, and we applaud her bravery! They were such a nice young couple, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. Thanks, Jim, for your easy demeanor and infectious laugh... also for the prayer that you offered up. That meant so much to us! We pray that you both have a wonderful time while you see more of Maine, and that you have safe travels. Thanks again for sharing your time with us!

SO, so much more!... walks on Sand Beach, looking for,(and finding), many sand dollars... browsing the many shops on the Island... strolling on the granite, atop Cadillac Mtn. ... pleasant drives around the Island... checking out the Gardens, and Abbe Museum... giving out a few of the ScriptureSticks! I can't begin to tell you, and wouldn't know where to end... So, suffice it to say, it was all wonderful, and wonderful for Cari and I! ...

... Around here, it had been very busy prior to our little getaway. Lot's of chores... mowing, gardening, and such. Also, a few ScriptureSticks were completed, and delivered. I also had opportunity to get out into John and Becky's woodlot (THANKS J & B!) to harvest and peel some more sticks. I managed to get 100 of them in the sunshine, and another 100 of them in the rain...for a GRAND total of 200! Now they are safely drying out upstairs in the barn, waiting their turn to become ScriptureSticks.

...There are days, and then there are days that I feel God's Blessing's so deeply upon me... that is how I feel tonight. I know that I need to be more Christ-centered, and less ME-centered, to better be able to recognize all the Blessings that are given to me... So, tonight, my prayer is that my eyes will be wide open to the Lord's Blessings, and that you, too, will be able to see His Blessings in your life too! ... and, with that, may God Bless you all...

Stickman