Just Smashing!

A few months ago a designer from the Czech Republic introduced me to Smashing Magazine, a Web site loaded with tons of incredible information for graphic and Web designers. Yesterday's article on logo design and it's connected articles is one of the best resources I have read on the subject. Kudos to Smashing! Here's the link to go directly to the article.

I have such a yearning to grow as a designer. Please pray for me as I thirst for both the Word of God, and a creativeness that can only come from the Creator Himself.

Amy the Kindergartnerin!

Amy started Kindergarten today! Just before she left Daddy prayed for her and then she was off! The Kindergarten is a very warm and inviting place for the children and Amy had a blast. She was overjoyed to hear that she can do it all over again…tomorrow!

In the beginning GOD

One constant theme that popped up time and again during our furlough was of the creation of the world. It all started when Jen and I were given tickets to see Sight and Sound Theater's production of In the Beginning. It was a fantastic production, though they admittedly used "artistic license" for some things not specifically mentioned in Scripture. It gave us a greater understanding of the creation of the universe. During the two weeks of camp with Child Evangelism Fellowship of Schuylkill County, the first verse the children learned was Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." That word "God" is translated from "Elohim" in Hebrew, which means "Creator". "Elohim" is also the plural of "El", directly pointing to the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It's interesting how much doctrine is in the first ten words of the Bible!

That theme continued on while my father and I were hiking on Skiff mountain in the Adirondacks. When we reached the top, the view was fantastic, and there was nearly an acre of beautiful, ripe, wild blueberry bushes. As we hopped from rock to rock, stuffing our faces, our discussion turned toward creation. Our talk intermixed with so many other topics—the flood, the tower of Babel, humanism—but ultimately led back to "In the beginning God".

It takes my breath away to think the very Creator of the universe—from it's countless stars to the tiniest molecular structure—personally and genuinely loves me.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

Catching up

Yes, we have been very lax on updating our blog! We found ourselves connected to the net only a few days a week and only then for a few minutes each time for our last month of furlough. After Summer Missionary Training School, we traveled back to the Millersburg area. We visited supporters and friends and shared at our home church, David's Community Bible Church, for the Sunday School hour. We traveled to Easton, Md. to visit another supporting church, The Church on Fire. We also had another great week of camp, this time in Valley View, Pa. We even helped out one evening at a Vacation Bible School. We hosted a special Swiss dinner at Echo Valley Grace Brethren Church were Jen grew up, and shared the following morning during the Sunday School hour and gave the message during the worship service.

After all that busyness, it was time to pack up most of our stuff and head for the final stretch in New York State. We traveled to Wayne County, NY and spent a fun weekend with the Allegretti family. While there we visited Second Reformed Church in Marion and had a wonderful day with them. We also had the opportunity to see the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario. Amy and Christopher had lots of fun tossing rocks into the vastness of water.

We said our goodbyes and drove to Schroon Lake to spend the last few days with Brent's parents. What a blessing! It was the first real down time we had the entire furlough, and we appreciated the slower pace of life. Brent and Amy went almost every day down to the beach at 

the lake. Jen enjoyed picking red currants from the garden as Grandpa and Christopher fed the fish or took trips in the wagon. Of course Grandma spoiled the kids, but not too much!

And then furlough was over. We flew out of Montreal to Toronto, then had an overnight flight to Zürich. The children enjoyed the flight and slept pretty well.

Thank you for all your prayers during our furlough. It was a whirlwind tour, and we are so thankful to have been able to spend time with so many of you.