Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Momentous Week!

Perry and Rachel had been planning to go to New York for months. Well, the week of departure arrived and the flurry of farewells and goodbyes began... and I'm finally blogging about it!
 
Sunday, August 12, 2012 - Farewell Party at Carter's Place
 

Stephanie and Elaine with Rachel
 

Perry grilling burgers


Heather Hohertz and Emily Hohertz

  
Rachel, Patrick and Patricia Hall --
Perry's sister and brother and stepmom

 
 Tom, Matt and Heather Hohertz
 

Emily Hohertz, Amber Karley and Rachel Karley


Rachel's co-workers from Comacho Rec Center


Rachel with Katie Blythe and Will Tullos


Amber, Rachel and "Little Rachel"


The Family
 
More farewells at our house on Tuesday, August 14...
 
 
 
 


 







 

 
 
 






 





The Star of Them All

 
 "flowers" in my mailbox planter

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A Tribute to My Daddy

 
Private First Class Ernst Lindig
 
This is my daddy in his uniform. Another Veteran's Day has passed by and I just want to keep on remembering him and express my appreciation of his courage to enlist and fight for our country and our freedom.
  
 
We visited the World War II Memorial in Washington DC in 2007. The picture of the World War II Veteran Registry above has a short bio about his tour of duty. He was in the 103rd Infantry Division, also called "Cactus Division" mostly in Germany and France. I will also say that he received a Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy. I thank God that my father recovered from his injury and he was able to return safely back to the U.S., his home sweet home, and eventually marry the love of his life, my beautiful mama, Mathilde Clara Rode.
 
 
Ernst and Mathilde at Gillespie County Fair


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Our Refuge and Strength

Creating Space for Grace Devotion
 
Psalm 46
 
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its water and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (v. 1-3)
 
My daughters were 3 and 6 when we took a trip to visit family in Spokane, Washington for Christmas. It was a great trip because we also had the opportunity to visit with other family members while we had a layover in Salt Lake City. By the time we boarded the plane for our two-hour flight to Spokane it was dark and we were told that a big snowstorm had just blown in from the north. The storm was causing some complications with our plane.
 
Now, I must tell you that I really don't care for "complications" when I fly anywhere. I just want to go where I'm going and be done with the flying part! But this time, I was particularly concerned because snowflakes as big as half-dollars were pouring from the sky, it was already very dark outside, the temperature was freezing, and airport technicians were "de-icing" our plane. De-icing our plane? I found myself wondering what would happen if our plane needed de-icing in midflight between Salt Lake City and Spokane? My imagination ran wild with that one!
 
I soon realized I needed to put my faith into action or it was going to be a very miserable flight. And I didn't want my children to experience fear or anxiety over something that was out of our control. It was then that I remembered the verse I had committed to memory in the Bible Study I attended: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1" I spent the entire flight repeating that verse over and over in my head because that is the only way I could have a moment of peace.
 
Has there ever been a difficult time in your life when a Bible memory verse helped you get through it? Have you shared that story with family and friends?
 
Share your story - and create space for grace and strength... Make a difference in someone's life.
 
God and Gracious God,
We give you praise for being ever so strong! Like a rock and a fortress - our refuge! Thank you for giving us strength when we need it, and for being there even when we forget to call on you for help. And dear Lord, help us to share our stories of faith and grace with others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.