We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone!

Thought I would take a minute to catch my breath, and while doing so, wish you all a Merry Christmas! Hang with me for a moment, while I catch my breath... OK... MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!!!

It really is a wonderful time of year as we pay our respects to Jesus, our King and Savior, by recognizing His birth! I hope you all will join me in taking just a bit of the hectic time available this Christmas, to reflect on the Hol(y)day Seasons' true meaning. Hey, if nothing else, sit down with the kids, grandkids, or a friend, and watch Linus, in "A Charlie Brown Christmas"... he gets it right! Hmmm... there we go... here's a little "youtube" clip. Just go to it, listen to Linus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

Of course, we will also be busy with gifts, family, friends, and all! We have recieved many wonderful Christmas cards this year, and thank you all for them. We recieved a pretty neat one from Bark and Berry, our ATServants Trail Chaplain friends, that they made themselves... it is a sequence of three pictures, the first, Bark and Berry starting at the first whiteblaze at Springer Mt., the second, a picture of an old AT tree marker, and the last picture, a triumphant celebration of their efforts, at the Northern Terminus, the sign at the summit of Mt. Katahdin. Way cool! Thanks, Bark and Berry! I know... it would be easier for me to show you all the card, right?!? Well... my scanner broke down the other day. If I get it straightened out I will add it in.

We have also been fairly busy getting some ScriptureSticks finished up, some of them intended to be Christmas presents. Mrs. Stickman and I would like to thank ALL of you who have ordered ScriptureSticks this year! We want you to know, that as paying customers, you are allowing us to continue and expand our little ministry. You are very much a part of this ministry! We are able to purchase supplies, and also donate/gift many ScriptureSticks because of your help. Perhaps, with all of your wonderful support, it will become a full time ministry... we are certainly praying and seeking direction. ...please keep Cari and I, and the ScriptureSticks ministry in your prayers.

Hmmm... interesting stuff... We recently were asked, (by Judi), to make up a ScriptureStick for Kay Wood, a dear friend of hers. Does that ring a bell for anyone? How about "Grandma Kay"? ...Kay Wood Shelter? It rang bells for me! Judi filled us in a bit, and "Grandma Kay" Wood is a special lady indeed! For many years, Kay Wood took in hikers, in Dalton, Mass. She did this until the trail was re-routed. "Grandma Kay" also hiked the AT, in 1988, at the tender age of 70 years. She has been deeply involved with the AT for many years, and was the monitor coordinator for Northern Mass, until 2002. In 1987, volunteers built the Kay Wood Shelter to honor her. It was funded by the ATC. In 2008, the shelter recieved a new roof and the gaps in the siding were battened. I stopped there in 2007, on my thruhike attempt, and was quite comfortable! My understanding is that Kay Wood was still active and hiking at age 90 years, and now, at age 91, has been temporarily slowed down by a stroke. Upon last communication with Judi, "Grandma Kay" was recovering quite well, and due to be home first week of December! I hope you will all join me in keeping Kay in prayer for a full recovery, and for her return to many happy trails!

Hmmm... getting a bit late! Thank you Kay, for the wonderful nights' stay in the Kay Wood Shelter. May God Bless you, and keep you well!

God Bless all of you, too! G'night!

Stickman

Little Critter sighted at Hedgehog!

Hey everybody!

I had a great hike this past week, just haven't had a chance to sit down and tell you about it. I also wanted to share a couple of pictures with you all, but hadn't gotten them downloaded. Thanks go out to my son, Josh, for getting them onto the computer for me.

The hike was a local one, out on Route 201, between Madison,(Maine), and Norridgewock. It is an easy jaunt, up a good sized hill, (or a very tiny mountain)... We always called it Hedgehog Rock. At any rate, it is a relaxing uphill stroll, on an old gravel road. Let's just call it a trail... ahem... a "jeep trail". This little hill holds some special memories for me, as I spent many hours on many visits, on my trailbike when younger. I also hunted the area, years back. Fortunately, for the deer, I never got past the "hunting" part... I never found any deer!

It is an interesting place, an overlook likely used by the Abnaki Indians, before their settlement, located down below the rock and along the banks of the Kennebec River, was destroyed, and a large portion of their population massacred at the same time. If interested, try an online search... try keywords, Abnaki, Abenaki, Wabenaki, Norridgewock, Father Rasle, massacre... you'll find an incredible account of the area and it's history. I believe the attack occured in 1724... ...back to the hike...

Even though I had been to Hedgehog Rock many, many times, this hike qualified as a "first time" hike. It was the first sighting of the "Little Critter" up there. You see, I wasn't alone! I had the pleasure of hiking with our Grandson, Kolby! It was the first hike I had been able to share with him... and his first hike! I am hoping and praying that we will have many more opportunities to share these hikes together, exploring the amazing woods and wildlife that God has created for us. We surely did see some other critters, a squirrel, and a couple of partridge that Kolby rousted into flight!... but the only critter captured on camera was Kolby! I'd like to share these photos with you!













Wow! This is one of the best hikes EVER!

Thanks so much for letting me share this special time with you! If you happen to have a Little Critter hanging around the house with you, take my advice... bring him outside, and let him go! You will both have a wonderful time exploring the great outdoors, and discovering the joys of hiking... 'til next time...

God Bless!

Stickman

A Thanksgiving Day full of Thanksgiving

Hello everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!

I awoke early this morning... (well, early for a "day off from work" day). As the alarm buzzed in my head, I desperately tried to get my mind around it... it sure looked like it was only 6:00AM! I guess that isn't very early, but "early enough". Cari had set the alarm just "early enough" for her to be able to "get cookin'" on our Thanksgiving dinner. I felt very thankful for her willingness to get up and work the kitchen, setting the stage for what surely will be a happy day. I then happily pulled the warm covers back over me, blissfully drifting off to the place in which my mind had been wandering before the alarm nudged me awake. ...

...My wandering mind had good opportunity to put a few miles in before the long climb out of sleep. It was almost 9:00AM when I finally left the shelter of my blankets. I watched the wildlife for a bit before rousting myself from bed. Our two cats, Noah and Sophie were on the foot of the bed, staring out the window. My curiosity having been poked at by the felines, I had to take a look too. There was a fat grey squirrel up in one of our apple trees, and he was having a feast on the three dozen or so apples that were desperately hanging on. He would scurry to an apple, take a couple of nibbles, move to a smaller one, pull it from the tree, and after a bite or two, let it fall to the ground, freeing him to pursue yet another apple! Two thoughts occupied my mind... this squirrel was being well provided for this year. God had prepared a feast for him, and he was apparantly thankful for it. ...This squirrel was also wonderfully made, and although he was quite rotund, he retained his agility, rapidly visiting several apples that were variously placed about the tree. ...
...The smells of the kitchen were quickly catching my attention, and I thought how God has provided for us this year. I was thankful for Him, and that He has not let us go without. We have good food, a home that is not too cold, and our children with us to share the day. ...
...As I readied myself for the day, I looked in the mirror, and had to smile. I have gotten a bit portly over the last few months, but I know that I have been wonderfully made by God! (Maybe I will get a "hike around the block" in before the day is over!)...

Finally, making it down the stairs, and into the kitchen, I thanked Cari for being the wonderful wife that she was, and for all her hard work. (I got a kiss!). The kids were soon sitting in the living room with us, chatting away. I am so thankful that they are both with us!

Yes, today is a "day off from work" day, but it is so much more than that. I do believe that Thanksgiving Day is just that, a day of thanksgiving. So, instead of falling into the rumbling and grumbling of a "normal day", I am going to walk a wide path around the normalcy. I am going to focus on the things that I have to be thankful for, and then, be thankful.

I pray that you all will be able to recognize God's Blessings for you also, even if they are small Blessings. I hope you will all join me in just being Thankful this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving, and may God Bless you and yours,

Stickman

Stuck in a time warp, missing a month!

Hey everybody!

We all wonder the same thing... "Where did the time go to!!?".

Fact is, "Time flys.". We all know it. We just aren't sure where it flys to.

For me, though, time seems to have been dragging slowly along lately. The days at work are generally long and arduous, a normal eight-hour day seems like a double shift. That's not to say that the work itself is bad... but if it seems like i'm working overtime, it seems that they should give me some overtime pay.

Also, everyone seems to be sick. It's the time of year when everyone is supposed to get sick. We don't know why, but it seems to be the thing to do. I know I have done my part these last few weeks to remain sickly. Have you ever really noticed how time drags when you are under the weather? It's awful! I was trying to get some good rest the other day, slept for ten hours... but, when I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see that only twenty minutes had ticked away on the clock! I STILL was tired and ill!

Yeah, I'm going right along, but time is in slow-mo... I got to spend part of last weekend helping to load a semi-trailer with my brother Larry. He and his wife are now in Florida. (We will miss them!). Thing is, though, I was putting boxes in the trailer for what seemed like a LONG TIME... and it never really got FULL! After hours of stacking boxes, and BIG things, like chairs and cabinets, and bed, etc., the truck was only half full! (14 feet?). The good thing is that Larry called it quits. I don't know if he really didn't need more stuff in Florida, or if he realized, as I did, that it was futile to try to fill the trailer. It would have taken a couple, or even a few, more days to fill. We would have not been able to do that, because Larry would already be in Florida by then... I'm still scratching my head over that one...

I have tried to get lot's done during this wierd time delay. I spent a couple of days and evenings raking leaves, clearing up the garden, and the like. We of course, have been making ScriptureSticks, some of them for special orders. We had one order that was for three hiking staffs, 62" long. The scripture that was chosen barely fit on their lengths! It was, for sure, the longest scriptures that we have applied to date! While I was routing the scripture to the sticks, I didn't dare to look at the clock... I knew that if I realized how long it was taking to rout a stick, my hand would cramp!

I guess I would have to say that a lot has taken place or gotten done in a short time that took forever, and very little seems to have been accomplished!

...I got up this morning, puttered around the house while Cari got ready to go to work. I decided to wash up some dishes, and as I scrubbed away, I had this strange feeling of the familier. Although I don't do dishwashing as often as I ought, it seemed as though I had just washed these dishes. I was SURE of it! I don't know if it was last night, or last week, but I had "just washed" these dishes! ...

...The plan, today, is to go out and rake some leaves, wrap up the garden, and... WAIT a MINUTE!!! ...

I decided I'd better jump on the computer for a minute, see what I had blogged to you all yesterday, or the day before. I'm a little freaked out... it's been a MONTH since I last blogged! How can it BE?!? Time has been creeping along, yet I'm missing a whole MONTH!?!

Where did the time go to!!? I feel like I'm stuck in the movie, "Groundhog Day"! Fact is, "Time flys.". We all know it. We just aren't sure where it flys to. All I know is I'm stuck in a time warp, missing a month. ... but...

...Still finding time to ask God to Bless you all,

Stickman

Pray for the thru-hikers! (NOBO, SOBO, and FLIPPERS)

Hey everyone!

Just taking a minute during my lunch break to send out an appeal to you all. As you know, Bark and Berry summitted Katahdin on October 1st, and we celebrate their achievement. I was fortunate to be able to make the climb that day, meeting them on top. It happened to be a class 3 hiking day, not ideal, but we made it!

So, today, as I am out in the lumber yard, slogging around in the pouring rain and mud, my mind turned to the thru-hikers. The window for Katahdin is slowly closing, yet there are many hikers trying to finish... I saw a group of about 10 NOBO's at Caratunk just the other day. Their spirits were still good, but they have a tough hike ahead!

Could you please join me in taking a little time EVERY DAY to include all of the hikers in our prayers? Please don't forget the SOBO's and FLIPPERS! They have some tough hiking ahead...

Thanks for your prayers, and God Bless!

Stickman

Bark and Berry summit Katahdin!

Good news everyone!



Bark and Berry have summitted Mt. Katahdin, completing their Appalachian Trail journey of 2,175 miles, from Georgia to Maine! They finished their hike on October 1st, a journey started on April 1st, at Springer Mtn., Georgia. They had been hiking as Trail Chaplains, for ATServants, and, although their missions trip/hike has now ended, I strongly suspect that their ministry has just begun...

They were two of a handful of thru-hikers, (5 thrus plus yours truly!),to brave the class three conditions on Katahdin, a climb that is difficult on the best of days. Class three meant some trail closings, severe weather, icing conditions, and a general warning/recommendation that hiking above treeline would be dangerous and NOT SUGGESTED!

Cari, (now named "Mrs Stickman" by Berry), and I were fortunate to both get October 1st off, at our jobs, so on the night of the 30th, we headed for Baxter State Park, hoping to find that Bark and Berry would be attempting the summit in the morning. We arrived at 1AM, after a drive of 3 HRS., then took a rest in the cab, nestled under a quilt, while we waited for the gatehouse to open at 6AM.

When the gate finally opened, we hurried to get to Katahdin Stream campground... we went to the Ranger Station, where there were two backpacks... Cari identified them as Bark and Berry's! That meant that they had borrowed daypacks at the Station, and were probably on the "Big K" already! Cari and I went to the trail and checked the hiker's sign out sheet (mandatory check-out), and found that they had been on trail for an hour already. I wanted to be up on the summit with them, but also felt it to be fitting for them to finish without my company. I decided, rather quickly, to try to make the climb, at least part way, and possibly accompany them on their way down. I started to hike...

I will say, now, that I will NEVER hike on Katahdin on a class 3 day again! I was alone, and more than just a little concerned for my safety. I took some comfort in knowing that Bark and Berry were somewhere ahead of me, and that when they came down, they would find me! Then, of course, I got concerned for THEIR safety! What if they needed help!?... I pushed myself further. If you have ever hiked Katahdin (if not, you should) on a GOOD day, as in clear, dry, and sunny, with perhaps a slight cooling breeze, then try to imagine climbing it with a good stiff wind, rain, sleet, snow, and icing conditions, making every step, every rock, a challenge in itself!

I pushed on, surprised that I had climbed so high, and had not met them on their way down. I admit that I was more than a little scared. I made it to the "Tablelands", crossed it, and pushed further, towards the last good climb to the summit. Eventually, peering through the fog/sleet/snow, I made out a hint of the sign! ...and just below that, the outline of three hikers, beginning to come down mountain! I continued, and could soon see that it was Bark and Berry, with another hiker, Blackbird (from Bethel, Maine). They spotted me, and Bark gave a shout out to me! It was SO GOOD to catch them up top! They had been there for a half-hour, and although chilled to the bone, they were willing to go back to the top with me. We realized that Patches was walking up on us, and after a greeting, we went to "the sign". Pretty quickly, Crazy Lady approached! It was so nice for them to all be there together!



From left to right in the photo are Patches, Bark, Blackbird, Crazy Lady, and Berry!





I was so glad to be able to take photos of them all together! I was able to use everyones cameras for their summit pictures, and as a group... sure hope they came out OK!

Patches and Crazy Lady left to hike downward, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. Bark, Berry, Blackbird, and I decided to stick together, and descend carefully, assisting each other as needed. Thank you!!! You were all a comfort to me on the way down! There certainly IS safety in numbers!


Conditions had certainly worsened as we went downward... It wasn't getting any warmer!


Here is Bark and Blackbird, sporting their frosty beards!



I was snacking on a Snickers bar... that was frozen solid! I put it in my pocket, trying to thaw it out, but every bite let me know that it was going to remain in the "ice age".


Eventually, once we hit treeline, conditions improved greatly, and we relaxed. Soon we would be at the campground. The plan was to stop at the hiker's register, log out, and get the cameras ready for when Bark and Berry, and Blackbird were reunited with parents... but the surprise was on us! Berry's parents, Chip and Martha, were waiting beside the register with Mrs. Stickman! What a wonderful reunion, after a six month journey! ...and shortly after, Blackbirds folks showed up!

We made plans to meet for dinner later in the day, and Cari and I lingered in town, getting a few things at the market, and exploring. We met with Bark and Berry and her folks, having a wonderful time at dinner. We so enjoyed Chip and Martha, and got a hint as to why Berry is such a wonderful young lady. Berry is so fortunate to have such great parents! Cari and I would like to thank all of you for including us in your "First Supper" after the trail! You made us feel like family!

Well, I'm starting to get a little long in the blog... so I'd better wind down. Thank you Bark and Berry, for letting us share in your journey! If any of you folks out there have not enjoyed it yet, go to ATServants, check out the Trail Chaplains Journal. You'll love it! Great pictures there, too!




...perhaps this is my favorite picture of all...







...and speaking of prayer... I hope you all know that I continue to pray God's Blessings on all of you!

Stickman

Blessings from Boni Schanil, Estonia missions, ScriptureStick overseas!

Hi All!

I thought I would take a minute to share an e-mail with you... It is from Boni Schanil, a wonderful lady who just recently returned from a missions trip to Estonia! ...Go ahead... it's OK to look it up on a world map, or "google" it, (I did!). Boni had requested a ScriptureStick to take along, and off it went to her, along with our prayers for her safety, and a fruitful mission. In return, Boni has been a blessing to us in so many ways! Thank you, Boni!

...Here is her recent e-mail to Cari and I...


"Dear Kelly and Cari,

What a blessing it was, first to talk with Cari on the phone, then to receive your wonderful card—and then to have my Scripture Stick with me and in hand on my recent mission trip to Estonia. Because I have a blind spot in my dominant eye, I often fall due to the distortion of my visual perception when there are even slight obstacles. (Earlier in the year while on another mission trip to Russia I fell twice and last year in Estonia fell and broke my shoulder, and so my orthopedic specialist suggested that I begin using a walking stick.) This time, I used my Scripture Stick while traveling through five airports making the various connections—and it was a great help to me on the stairways in the airports (many airports in other countries don’t have escalators—and I even used it in the Chicago airport on a stairway down to a transportation bus). I am happy to report that I didn’t fall once on this trip. And, even though busy, the airport security attendants often took time to read the scripture verse on my stick! It was especially helpful in Tallinn, Estonia during our stay in the old town section where we daily walked on the very old and rough cobblestone streets and walkways.

In Tartu, Estonia, where the focus of our mission trip was located—I used the stick for walking in new areas of the city. Our mission was to teach a Friendship English Language Camp/School, practicing speaking English using the stories of Joseph from the Old Testament and correlating the lessons with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. We had 26 people enrolled and had 45 attend, including the addition of a children’s camp. We praise God and give Him the glory for moving mightily through the camp in His Almighty and Healing Holy Spirit power.

Another aspect of our mission trip was to bring encouragement and strengthen our partnership with Tartu Academy of Theology (TAT)—the only ecumenical Christian college in Estonia—training pastors, lay leaders and professionals with Bachelor and Master degrees. The founder of TAT had the vision for the college while he hid out as a youth for over four years in an underground bunker, while his pastor father was taken and sent to Siberian labor camps by the Stalinists. I also used my Scripture Stick on a field trip deep into the woods of Southern Estonia to see the bunker. To get there we traveled first by bus until the roads ran out and then we walked a marshy forested trail back to the location along with our host, Eenoch Haamer, founder of TAT. There he told us his story. His father’s journals from the time of his arrest while working at the church where he was a pastor through his time in Siberia and return home have been printed into a book, “We Shall Live in Heaven.” It is available for purchase at www.eemn.org, website for East European Missions Network (EEMN), the organization for which I work and traveled on this mission trip. The website for Tartu Academy of Theology is www.teoloogia.ee.

Attached is a picture of me with my stick in my back yard in Minnesota.

May God bless your ministry.

In Christ Jesus,

Boni Schanil"

...WOW!... God is so wonderful! May God Bless your ministry, also, Boni!

It is exciting for me to see God working through folks like Boni! It is also exciting for me to see that the ScriptureSticks that are sent out are often used in an active ministry, sometimes even to other lands, and, on occasion, overseas!

If you would like to share a story about your ministry, or how you were able to use your ScriptureStick in your ministry (or daily walk), please feel free to drop us a line. We would love to hear from you, to be encouraged in our little ministry, and to encourage you and pray for you in yours!

Boni, we thank you for your ministry, and for your generosity. May God Bless you!

...and may God Bless all of you too!

Stickman