Flooding in Girard

This is Route 20 just East of Girard. The road was closed aith only one lane creeping through a foot of water pouring over the road.

Click on the link to watch the rubber rafts rescue people from a home.

http://www.erietube.com/_Mill-Creek-Rescue/video/708067/3766.html

Flooding in Erie

June 30, 2009

By Millcreek
Mall

A Visit with a Friend

I met (Fr.) Michael Carney at Baker Publishing in Grand Rapids. He graciously showed me around Grand Rapids helping me to find Eerdmans Publishing. We had a great discussion there and found out that one of the churches in his group is located just about 5 miles from ours. He called me up and let me know he was in the area so we met for breakfast and discussed many things. The picture isn't the greatest. The sun was very much in our eyes as well as being a cell phone camera. He brought gifts of homemade strawberry jelly and a book he had purchased for me. I thank him for his generosity and his friendship. I have learned much about the Russian Orthodox church.

Battle Creek and Books

We made another stop at one of Julie's friends. Dave and Beth were so kind and gracious to us. While Julie visited I headed north to Grand Rapids to buy some discount books at some book puplishers. I visited Zondervan, Baker, and Errdmans. My stash of books retailed for almost 700.00, but I was able to walk away with discounts from 60-90% and only spent about 165.00. While at Dave and Beth's the kids swam, played games, rode bikes, and had wld rides on Dave's Rhino.

Dave playing with his best friend - Boateye
Waiting for breakfast.

Kenton posing with his friend.

Rhino rides...

Kenton tries his hand at driving.

The title of this picture is: "Swing and a Miss". Notice the ball has sailed past her paddle just to the right of Kenton's head. This was happening pretty often until Julie gave me the evil eye and signal to let her win. ROFL...I am sure I will hear something from Michigan.

Kendra watching the game from the Rhino.

She won after I backed off my heat and let her! :)

Gurnee Illinois

This post is for Dad. We traveled to Gurnee Illinois to visit the city named after G-G-G-Uncle Walter Gurnee. He was the head of the railroad many years ago near Chicago. So enjoy the pics. 20 years ago Dad and Mom took us there, but many places had changed and the stores we remembered were long gone. New ones were standing where the old ones were. I am glad for at least one new one that brought fresh donuts to Gurnee.

The Gurnee Fire Chief and his Assistants spoiled the kids with all kinds of attention and gifts. They even gave us very nice Gurnee Fire Key holders and a great big glass mug that says Gurnee Illinois on it.

Tom and Jenny MCall and Kenosha

Jelly Belly Factory Outlet, Kenosha Wisconsin

Gurnee and McCall Children

On the Jelly Belly Train

Alyssa and Maddie

My buddy - Isaac

Don't we look special.

Waiting for samples of exotic Jelly Bellys.

Black Pepper, Ear Wax, Booger, Baby wipes,

Rotten Eggs, Pencil Shavings, Moldy Cheese,

Vomit, Tooth Paste and Skunk Spray.

Julie and Jenny
Friends since childhood!

Mall of America

Minneapolis Minnesota - Mall of America

The largest mall in the United States.

Teaching my sons the fine art of a mannequin mime.




Borrowing a prop.





Eureka!! We struck Lego's!!

With our gold mine of bulk Lego's..ready to hit the road. This is inside the mall. They have an amusement park with roller coasters and tons of rides.

Last Day at Mike and Mel's

Mel made a very serious mistake. She should never have told me that she can not stand anyone whispering in her ear.

This was what she did after the fact!

Playing Dutch Blitz.

The Awesome Chef grilling bacon wrapped shrimp marianted in BBQ and jalopeneo pepper juice!

Kenton has a new email friend.
Our Minnesota friends!

Valley Fair

Duzan the Man

Mel, Meagan, and Alyssa

Mike having pre-ride nausea.

Mikey and Kendra

The most beautiful lady in the world!

You can tell she is really into the kiss!

This day was the 2nd month anniversary of Stephen's E.O.W.

Guess my weight? No where close!

185? Like in 8th grade...Try 290.

I win a prize? Only if I pay the $5.00?

Forget it!

Big Kandiyohio Lake

It was really chilly the days we were up at Big Kandiyohio Lake.

Vince loved the digging machine.

Meagan and Alyssa

Getting the Jet Ski ready.



Mike was the Chef of our visit.

The pan was full before and empty in this pic!

(The messy faces were posed!)

Enjoying a ride on the lake.

Kenton having fun in the kayak.

Mike making mountain pies.

A great Steelers fan!

Fixing the jet ski after ingesting a rock and changing the fuel filter.

Mel

A great screen saver.

(double click to make full size and save)

Van Reconstruction

From this post......we start replacing parts. I hit the deer the Friday night before Stephen's EOW and since I could not open my drivers door I used my parents car. Just shows they are good for something right? I say that toungue in cheek. Love you Mom and Dad!!

This will need a little explanation. I had to drill out a broken bolt and tapp it for the new bolt and my drill kept on drilling farther than my estimated distance and drilled into the radiator. I would be emberassed to report this, BUT...I had choked up the bit and thought I was safe. End result was a 13/64" hole pouring out the orange anti-freeze. It is amazing what JB Weld and a 3/8 sheet metal screw will do. So far we have 4,000+ miles and I figure that spot is the strongest part of the radiator.

Installing the new hood...

Prepping for the new bumper.

Finished product:

Fixing a Smashed Finger

You have something broke? Bring it on over. If we can't fix it we promise you will leave in no less shape than when you arrived. Smashed finger? Just set it on the vise, shut your eyes and I will heat up a paper clip cherry red with MAPP gas and relieve the pressure under your nail. It doesn't even hurt. I Promise! Blaine Cosner is happy customer number 374. Maybe I should not call him a customer since he did not pay or leave a tip. The smile on his face I guess was a good payment.

A Visit to the Girard Cemetery

Paul Kline went calling with me. We visited nursing homes etc. On the way through Girard he showed me the graves of his 6 children. They died in a fire in 1970. He has gone through tremendous tough times in life. Paul is a retired Nazarene pastor and fills in for me on occasion and has been a tremendous blessing to our church. The people love him and enjoy his messages.

A Visit with the Conley's

Much to my surprise I found a dear old couple at the Rolling Fields Nursing Facility an hour from their hometown and only 10 minutes from mine. They did not know who I was, but thought they remembered me. Much to my delight I found out that he had been my prayer partner while we were involved in missionary work with International Student Fellowship. I have known these saints since I was a child and remember Br. Conley leading the singing at conference many times under Rev. S.C. Rainey's administration. He had a motor of mine that he was going to rewind about 10 years ago, but his health was in decline then and he never was able to do it. We have such wonderful friends that are their children and grandchildren such as Don and Sue (daughter) Fuller, Brian(grandson) and Kirsten Fuller, Mark and Lisa (grand daughter) Rambo, Troy and Alice(daughter) Muir, Daryl(grandson) and Marilyn Muir, Chalmers and Janice (daughter) Douglas.

We Arrive in Chaska

M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A

Carrying on the tradition of my maternal family, the kids always holler out the name of the state when we cross the state boundary line. Yep even I help them!

Following Officer Mike...It was very hard to keep up...we were doing 110mph through a residential and running every red light. (Of course his siren was blaring and light were flashing.) Okay maybe this what the kids wanted him to do. We did get there at a lively pace.
After "pulling us over" at his house he was waiting for Kendra to hop in and try out the squad.

She was having a blast running the sirens and lights. Mike is a great officer and the kids love him,

The kids with Officer Mike.


The funny face contest starts:

1st place for two entries - Mike

Honorable mention: Alyssa

2nd place: Mikey the Man

Only in Montana

Hat tip to KC Newcome!

Northern Missouri and Des Moines

What is it?

At Jon and Marla's.
Jillian and Vincent.
The Most Amazing Roof EVER!!

It had alternating black and white shingles.

It made the roof look like it was rippled and wavy.

Marla and Julie

Julie and Jamie

Vince, Kent, Alyssa, Ella, Jolie, Cameron, Kendra

St. Louis Zoo

My beautiful wife.

My adorable children.

Watching Mommy's favorite living "thing".

I did not donate and the brass turtle was unhappy.

I was the chariot of choice for our incapacitated.

The Chic'.

Enjoying a 3-D Movie Similator.

What a lucky man I am!

A horned Pelican.

St. Louis Arch

Midnight Visit

This truck pulls in .... ...and these two get out!

Thanks Ben and Carolyn for stopping by on your way back from the Eastern Seaboard! Glad they made it safely here and with a little more brake fluid they made it on back home.

PS. By the way......Joey you have a nice truck and I am glad you are kind enough to let your dad drive it.

A Suprise Visit from the Calhouns

It was a treat to have my buddy Tim Calhoun stop in for a visit. I am just waiting for another trip to Alaska. Hopefully it will be with him.

Kendra snuggling with Laura.

I prepared a great bonfire.
My story must have been boring.

Everyone including myself had their eyes shut.

The Keepville Rhododendron Tree

Mom's Mothers Day Gift

Yes because of this I became my Mothers favorite son.

Now is I can only achieve this status with my Dad.

I have been shopping for an equally wonderful gift for him.

Playing Connect4 with Grandma

Mother's Day 2009

Getting Ready for Chicks and Gardening

One of our many Sunsets

The camera does it no justice.

My Birthday Party

This post will appear to be very bragatistical (is that a word?), but since it is about my birthday I will allow it. On the way to my parents I stopped to help a city drive get her car out of huge ditch. If this lady would have actually had brains she would have been dangerous. She was furious at the property owner for having such a deep ditch. After all someone could get stuck in it....well duh! Anywhoo....a nice guy came along with a jeep and a tow rope and I hooked them up and got in and drove the car while he pulled. I will post the video in another post.

Reading my sisters card in a lively manner at her expense.

I love the look on Kendra's face as she tries to help me look goofy.

I think Alyssa was imaging her taking a bite as well. This tradition of pretending to eat the cake started 20 years ago exactly. I was working at McDonalds and had a Big Mac cake for my birthday. I think you can figure that one out.

Two of my sweeties.

Coyotes in Keepville

Besides coyotes, we are overrun with red fox as well. Jeff Feldmiller shot this one morning on the way to work.

This is Music...

...from an 8 year old. We had heard you were not to give brass instrument lessons till all of their adult teeth were in. This blows that theory away (pun intended). Hat tip to Jon Delamarter.

Vincent's First Solo Dirt Bike Ride

Trying to catch up on my blogging......it is raining out and I was in the process of trying to get our roof leak proof and work on our plumbing problems. So I am working on our Men's Bible Study, catching up on phone calls as well as catch up on my blog. Here is Vincent's first run on Kenton's dirt bike. He now is an avid rider with Kenton.

Last Day of Turkey

My good friend Greg Hatchers owner of Hatcher's Game preserve (http://www.hatchergamepreserve.com/) asked to come over for the last day of Turkey season so Kenton could shoot a bird. We were in the blind by 5:30 A.M. and had gotten to bed the night before around 2 A.M. We had 5 gobblers come within 50 yards but they hung up and would not come any closer

Two very tired hunters with only 3 hours of sleep under their hat.

Our decoys.

Greg Hatcher - our guide and caller.

Chris Hatcher - Our videographer.

Penguins are the Champs!

The Penguins have done it again. It is great to have Pittsburgh such a great part of our lives. This brings back many memories of when they were winning back when I was in high school. Their logo is not as nice as it was back in the day. One year two championship teams. Now all we have to do is get the Pirates act together. They are only 4 games from first place.

My Un-Official Resignation from Keepville

My wife has written it after finding a 3' milk snake under our bed. It took almost 30 minutes to coax her back into the house. She is highly seriously thinking of packing on the Sabbath day. I asked her where she wanted to move and she replied "ANYWHERE!".