Guest

 

You are welcome here

       Be at peace

Get up when you're ready

        Go to bed when you please

 

You don't have to thank us

        Or laugh at our jokes

Sit deep and come often

        You're one of the folks

 

 

I found that poem on the front of a guest book in the drawer at Camp. Camp Belle is the lakeside summer cottage my great-grandfather built on Square Pond in Shapleigh, Maine.  The guest book listed guests from 1942-1983, usually in my grandmother's handwriting.  I can picture it.  She would enjoy her guests so much, she'd never think of the guest book until some time when there were no guests, and then she'd sit and list them.  Guests were her joy, and she really did live like the poem because I was one of her frequent guests.  And she listed me!  From the time I was a little squirt, all the way through 1983 when the book ended, and I was a about to enter my senior year of high school, I'm on the list.  She didn't just lump "grandchildren", it's like she savored the memory of having each of us. 

 

I'm feeling really challenged by this.  For me, one of the best parts of Evangel's wedding was the sleepover guests at that same Camp Belle.  We had up to 8 people staying over with four or five of us Youngs.  It was so cozy with the wood stove for heat, and the leaves turning colors all around us.  At times it was really cold out, and I was so thankful that wood stove did the job.  Paul was our fire starter and maintainer as long as he was there, and we varied between "warm enough" and "let's open the windows".  When he had to leave on the Sunday after the wedding, our fire faltered a bit. 

 

The four teens acted a lot like my cousins and I did when we were teens.  They played loads of board games, went for canoe rides, hikes and bike rides, and read books.   I loved watching them unknowingly re-living my teen years and awakening some sweet memories. 

 

But I did get stressed in all this.  Grammy never did, unless we did something wrong.  But for something to be wrong, we had to actually be mean or destructive.  She really did let us stay up as long as we wanted to, and sleep as late as we wanted.  (admittedly not healthy for everyday life, but wonderful for teens wanting a bit of freedom)  She wasn't picky about manners, and she definitely "sat deep".  So I was evaluating what the difference was between us.  I did anticipate our guests, and enjoy them very much, but I missed the "peace" part sometimes.  How did Grammy stay so peaceful when there were mobs of us around, with our friends too, and our pets?  For one thing, she didn't play "entertainment committee".  She just let us be.  I could have done more of that.  I was so scared they wouldn't see everything or do everything or would feel neglected.  When we moaned of boredom, Grammy would suggest a swim, or a walk or a book, but she didn't start planning trips to Boston to entertain or anything like that. 

 

I'm so thankful for my heritage, the good family I come from.  Grammy's been gone for 19 years now, but I tend to smile when I think of her. She's associated with lots of happy memories.  I'm hoping, praying, and planning to grow in my hostessing to be more at peace when we have our beloved visitors.  "A gracious woman retains honor."  That's my goal, to be gracious.   

 

 

      

Just Married!

The Church of the Wedding!
 

 The World's Best Maid of Honor, Evangel's cousin Ariel.

Ivy Ford, sister of groom, good friend of Evangel.

 Holly Ford, another sister, another good friend!
 Gabi Labuschagne a friend all the way from South Africa

 Megan Johnson, a friend all the way from Cape Town. 

 Naomi Shorette and Dakota Knight do the flower petals in a sweet way.

 Dad and Evangel walking the aisle

 

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Ford

 At the reception, Pastor and Mrs. Charles Storey.

 Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Ford, Ryan's parents. 

 Ryan's truck was properly labelled. 

Ryan, Josh looking good in his first suit, and Daniel, Ryan's brother. 

 

 My sister Wendy and Sandy Ford, enjoying their twin dresses! 

 Caught red handed! 

 Budding graffiti artist :- ) 

Ariel did a great job with a fun photo booth. 

The House of Mourning

Yesterday was my Dad's funeral.  I wish everyone could have known him. Those who did know him sure showed up in force to honor his memory yesterday!  My niece Ariel gave thanks for a godly heritage and I second that!  I'm thankful my kids all got to know their grampa and be under his influence as much as they did.  I love it when his wit comes through in my kids, though I guess I don't know where Clough wit and Young wit begin and end.

I plan to honor him in memories for the rest of my life, but right here I want a little record of his 90 years. 

Wendell John Clough was born August 25, 1925, with his twin brother Warren.  I remember my grandmother telling me that over 100 people came to see the little guys when they were born.

The Great Depression came along a few years later, and it sounds like the Clough family participated to the full.  When things were improving for some in the country, they had a house on Deering Ridge Road in Waterboro (then Waterborough) Maine burn to the ground.  The twins were eight, and their brother Robert 10 when lightning struck.  My Dad gathered his little treasures and dropped them out the window of the house before he got out, but the fire licked up little toys in the grass along with the house.  They had to live with their grandparents after that, and times were tough.

The saddest part of his whole life happened three days before he turned 18.  Warren, his twin, was hit by a car and killed.  It was tragic and my Dad talked sadly about that, with no comfort of knowing Warren was in Heaven as their family knew so little of God at the time.

His other brother also died young.  Robert was a photographer, and he stood up to take a picture of Richard Nixon (quite a while before he was President, maybe a senator?) who was touring Maine.  His heart gave out then and he died right there.

Dad fought "The Fire of '47" in Maine while he was a student in Boston.  He raced home to help save the farm, and his home was spared.

At the age of 25, while still living in Boston...well, let my just quote him on this.

"In December, 1950, Billy Graham came to Boston, Mass. for a crusade.  Some church friends invited me to go to hear him.  On the final night (December 30, 1950) I felt convicted to go forward.

"But I still faced the problem of believing the Bible.  Was it true that there was an Adam and Eve?  Was there really a worldwide flood with Noah's Ark?  Was Jonah swallowed by a whale?

"I thought I must spend the rest of my life trying to find answers to my questions and thoughts, or I could step out in faith and believe.  After much soul-searching and conviction, I went forward and made my decision, not just to receive Jesus as my Savior, but to receive the Bible as a book to be believed." 

My Dad had no regrets.  He launched into the Christian faith gung-ho.  He tested and tried the Lord's promises, and he shared his faith with the people around him.  He worked at General Electric for the obligatory hours each day, and helped in the church the rest of the time.  He was a deacon, a teacher, a youth leader, and the man who ran the bulletins off on the mimeograph machine. 

He met my Mom in the Youth Group.  He was the leader, and she was a helper.  They have a sweet story of one night when he took the group to his house on a cold winter evening.  She went to make hot chocolate for the gang, and somehow, the sight of her stirring that hot chocolate must have stirred him up too, because they had their first kiss right then and there. 

They were married six months later, and the story is immortalized forever in Josh's Lego video.

Wendy came along about ten months later, in 1964, named after him, and I was hot on her heels in 1966.  We had a great Dad, who played horsie with us, sat us down to watch the moon landing when we were 3 and 5 and (we still remember it!), bought and trained a dog for us, worked for us, cared for us, sent us to Christian schools, took us camping, taught us to swim, did Disney with us a few times, and taught us that God is our Heavenly Father, and we'd better obey him and follow Him.

I don't know if I'd ever have gone on my first missions trip when I was 16 without Dad.  Mom was scared for me to go off to Mexico, Dad was thrilled. I'm glad I went; it was life-changing for me. 

Daddy came to visit me in Peru when I was a missionary there.  That was probably the longest "just Dad and me" time.  He left his mark on Peru with his friendly, outgoing ways, and his hilarious answer to the "mi casa es su casa".  He asked if he had to help with the taxes. 

Daddy's sense of humor is legendary.  One of my new favorite examples is from just a few months ago.  He got pneumonia and was in the hospital, doing very poorly.  Mom and Wendy were in the hospital with him, in tears, thinking he was dying.  Mom bent over him in the bed, saying, "Oh no, look how grey he is."

Dad's eyes opened just a slit, enough to see her bending over him, and even in that condition, he couldn't resist.  "BOO!"
Mom jumped a mile!  Wendy's tears to laughter as she jumped too, and Daddy immediately was a little better, pleased with himself for another successful joke on his longsuffering wife. 

We're missing him, the Dad we knew, but we don't sorrow like those with no hope.  We know he's with God, in Heaven because God has promised it.  Our pastor, Pastor Storey told how my Dad witnessed to his two nurses that last day in the hospital.  That was normal for him. 

Khumbula-Remember to see this!

Last Friday, Evangel, Josh and I headed off in our Jeep for a high adventure!  We got invited to a premiere of a new Christian movie  Khumbula:  I Will Remember  that was being shown especially for pastors and Christian workers.

It was wonderful!  It's nice to have a movie we can wholeheartedly endorse.  Our family is conscious  of modesty in movies, and we just chuck 'em right in the trash can if they're potential lust producers, so I was nervous when we somehow landed front and center at the movie theater, knowing we'd have to walk out if things got "skinny".  They didn't; we didn't!

This one had a riveting story, tense enough that I could feel it in my stomach, and had a parable quality that made you think on two levels, if you're a person who thinks like that.  Evangel was busy taking notes on anything that might help her in future movie endeavours, but she got so involved in watching, she quit scribbling in the darkened theater. 

Our family favourite character was "Mr. Williams" who was the comic relief.  He was needed!  If they'd had all the tense parts without him, I'd probably have exploded, though the tension was rewarded with a good happy ending.

Same week, we were invited to another movie, earlier on.  It is called That Sugar Film and is a documentary on the dangers of too much sugar.  It was very well done as far as special effects, story line, and all the mechanics.   When I hear documentary I tend think "We're just going to have to endure this to learn something."  There was no factor of wading through boring stuff in this one!  The Australian film maker had my interest up right from the get-go.  However, even though it really inspired me to eat way less sugar, I'm not recommending it without cautions.  1) Modesty was not practiced--he was in his undies, a lot.  And there was a bikini scene we should have walked out on, but it was over before I could find my purse.  You get the idea.  2) He and his girlfriend were living together (adultery) and 3) Evolution was assumed as truth.    We did walk out when girls started appearing (special effects) in drinks and on toast and other things at the end.  The popcorn was good, and some in our group had the audacity, or irony, to eat sugary treats while watching this. :-)

Khumbulu was Ephesians 6:1-3 pictured.  Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:  that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.
 



 

Fishing for...

What a catch!

 Pastor Steve Hicks took Josh fishing and taught him a lot.  He pulled in 20 fish! 

 Evangel was looping around the pond on a 4 wheeler enjoying the delights of life. 

 I was fishing for good photos and caught this Bambi moment.  I think he was a newborn.  It was so precious to see him wobbling along in some of his first steps.

 Fishing for men is what Jesus called it, and Pastor Hick's church has a suit case full of tracts to reach out to those who may not have heard the GOOD NEWS!

 The morning after the fishing trip, Pastor Steve Hicks and his wife fried up those delicious fish, and served us like royalty.  What a treat!  What a foretaste of rewards in Heaven

I don't know the details of heavenly rewards, but if God's created earth has spots this peaceful, alluring, and beautiful, then God's Heaven has got to be better then we can imagine!

Sometimes I feel small

Cherish had a book with a line about "Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball, where no one can see me because I'm so small". 

It's a rare thing for our RV to look small, so I just want to capture the moment. 

Also it reminded me of Bible verses about being humble.  1 Sam. 15:17, "And Samuel said, When thou wast listtle in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?" 

May the Lord help us to never get too big for our britches. 

A Museum of Chalk Art!!!!!!

 Yesterday we "crashed" a chalk art seminar in Winston Salem, North Carolina.  Paul was preaching in a Christian school and the seminar, run by Matt Bowman of www.eternityarts.com was teaching.  They got Paul to do a quick demonstration.   Matt also was extremely generous by blessing us with 2 big boxes of artists' chalk, which he makes, and 100 pieces of bogus paper, the gray stuff Paul likes best.

Before we left, we collected over 100 pictures from other chalk artists, and I am posting almost 30 different ones, enjoying the variety, wanting to inspire others to the much beloved method of preaching with chalk talks.  Most chalk artists do pictures double the size of Paul's.  We cut the bogus paper in half, as Paul often needs to be speaking in 2, 3 or even 4 different places in a day, portability is big with us.

 This one reminds me of Paul's sermon on Psalm 90, about the brevity of life and making sure you're ready for the next one.

 Tsunami!

 Samson

I love the colors in this one.

 Dear deer.  There are usually hidden pictures in clouds like this, that only show up using a black/UV light.  Matt Bowman teaches students how to hide the pictures.

 Pink and blue are my favorites!  I wonder what this sermon was about.

 I love this yellow tree!

 Mr. David LeGrand owns the home in Salem Winston where the seminar was given, plus he owns this chalk art collection.  He builds easels for chalk artists, too.

 Josh said the classes were held "in a bunker".

 Little bird with a message.

 Lighthouses are popular topics.

 Beside still waters (By the way, I'm just guessing or making up titles.  I haven't heard the messages that go with them.)

 This shows how they are displayed.

 That's a unique one!

 Olive grove?

 Mounting up on eagles' wings.

 Wow!

 This one makes me hot!

 It's rather rare to see animals in these.

 Matt Bowman has lessons on DVD with lots of help for the unartistic too.

 Current events get chalked too.

 Notice how long some of these have lasted--that little 1993 shows.  Paul has some chalk drawings he has been using longer than we've been married, so more than 22 years.

 Another wow!

 Con Cristo en tu barco todo marcha feliz.  (With Christ in the vessel you can smile at the storm.)

 Some of them signed their work.  Paul only does it if pursued with a pen.

 Titanic!

 I'm really curious about this one!

What a thrill to see such an organized group of people pursuing chalk skills together.  We're so thankful we got to go.
They had this verse posted over a rafter, "The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them."  Amen!

If anyone wants info on another chalk talk seminar, we can link you to Matt Bowman at eternityarts.com   They're not frequent, but he'd know where to look for them.