The Hot of Summer

Now, with most of the country at or near drought conditions it is amazing that anything grows.  It is, however, good to see that even weeds; at least some of them; even struggle during these hot, dry periods.  It is a wonderful thing to have air conditioning in your home.

Last weekend, our family [Madge’s and mine] had our annual family get together – I guess you could call it a “Family reunion” – but that does not seem quite right for us, since we see one another quite often.  It seems to me a Family reunion is when the family comes together, after having  not seen one another for a year or so.  Our family seems to get together often.

From July 6 -8 we were on our way to our son Philip’s and Sarah Joyce’s  home in Booneville, AR. for the gathering on the 6th; eating, activitying various things, like Frisbee golf, swimming at the city pool, and bunches of other things; going to church on Sunday, and coming home.  We had a good time with Philip and Sarah Joyce, their three daughters; and our other kids, their spouses, and the other nine grand kids.

When I arrived back home my wife packed me up and marched me out the door :), for Children’s Camp at Baptist Hill, near Mount Vernon, MO.  We always try to get there the night before camp starts, so we can have all the kitchen supplies, food stuffs in order.  It is quite an experience preparing food for nearly 200 children and workers at camp.  Try cracking 35 dozen eggs for scrambling; and watch the guy, pour 2.5 dozen eggs into a cast iron skillet and cook them.  Actually it was two cast iron skillets he kept going while Jerry and me were cracking them.  Preparing gravy for that number was my responsibility, and I goofed up one meal; but all worked out fine; and with a few compliments on how good the gravy was.  That first time was for the evening meal of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy.  the second time was for breakfast biscuits and gravy and that evening was fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy.  I also helped with the potatoes.  It was a time saver to use packaged dried potatoes.  They were “real potatoes”, and tasted quite good.

It is good to be home.  It is a blessing to be able to serve the kids of camp, and have fellowship with some fine people around the area who are devoted Christian people.

The Summer is hot.  Thank the good Lord for the cool spots, and the rain we have received.

Now back along the banks of Flat Creek for awhile.

-Tim

Lydia – My Grand daughter

Just this past Saturday afternoon our son and his wife came down with their kids.  The smallest one [Lydia] wanted to go and see the puppies, so I took her to go see the puppies.  They are no longer in the pen, due to a lack of shelter there; and one evening last week when it started raining Little Girl [Mama] moved them under the shed to keep the dry.  That is where they are still.

We went out there; and of course Little Girl was there seeming curious about what I was doing, yet so gentle, and good natured; not even growling but more like wanting attention, nestling up to me.  I got down on my knees, looked underneath the shed, and saw one of the puppies just out from the rest of them; so I took him out, and let Lydia hold him.  Mama is watching closely, yet gentile like.  After Lydia gets down on her knees to look underneath we put the puppy back, gently and start returning to the house.

On the way back to the house Lydia turns around, and looks upward to the sky in the  East, points and says to me, “What is that?”  I turn around to see, and it is the moon.  Not yet shining, because the sun is still up, yet there it is just hanging like our Creator intended it to.  So I tell her, “That is the moon.”  At that she says “Oh!” and continues toward the house.

Lydia is less than two years of age, but cute as she can be.  She even likes her grandpa.

I have several grand daughters.  Our oldest grandchild is a grand daughter.  The youngest grandchild is a grand daughter, but lives in Booneville, AR. so we do not get to see them too often.  They are all my sweet hearts, and I am very thankful for all of them.

It is raining as I am writing this morning.  It is great to live in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri; especially on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Full House

I am not talking about the old television sitcom.  I am talking about our family at our house.  We are full up.  This weekend is our family’s annual get together.  The first one was at our house we were renting a few years ago; and then the next few years was at our son Philip’s and wife’s home in Booneville, AR.

The annual get together always take place near the time of my wife’s birthday and this year fell during the time of her birthday.  For her; I don’t think there could be a better birthday present than all our kids and grand kids at our home.  Me?  I need to get away once in awhile.  I love my kids, and grand kids, but the noise and the crowd  just gets to me after a bit.

That’s what I am doing now; taking some quiet time; though I can hear it in the next room.

I usually take off from preaching at Carr Lane Baptist Church for the weekend; and that has not changed this weekend.  Bro. Max Hook who is the Director of Soul’s Harbor in Rogers, AR. will be preaching for me Sunday morning July 10.  I appreciate Bro. Max and ministry.

Soul’s Harbor is a ministry to homeless men in the area.  Though Rogers is a part of the growing Northwest Arkansas area there are still many who need the services Max and the ministry provide.

We are going to be eating burgers for supper after while, and I think we are eating some longhorn burgers.  Meat from good old Missouri grown Texas Longhorns.  Barbeque hamburgers along the banks of Flat Creek.  Yum, yum.

I enjoy this time of year.  I also enjoy getting together with my family.  Thank YOU Lord for your blessings.

-Tim

The Week that Passed Us By

That is how it has seemed to me.  It has been a busy week with mowing yard, driving the bus; both regular route driving and activity trips, as well as Vo-tech afternoon route at least one afternoon.

Since the riding mower is broken down I have been trying to keep up with our two and a half acre yard with a 20 inch push mower.  It is probably helping me to get into better shape; but I do miss the rider.

The weather has gotten cooler around here, but I’m not complaining it sure was a blessing today while I was mowing the front yard.  I wore a jacket doing it.

We had earlier planned on going to our son Philip’s and wife Sarah’s home in Arkansas this weekend, but the birth of the baby was postponed until next Friday, so we will be going next weekend.  My how fast time flies when you’re having fun.  Life is fun.  It may not be fair; but it sure is a hoot.  The week that passed us by has been that way.

I look forward to the next day.  Shall I awake in my bed, or before the face of Jesus Christ; may His will be done.

-Tim A. Blankenship

A Family Weekend ’09

My wife and I have what some would call a large family. It doesn’t seem that large to me when I know of some parents who have 16 children. I don’t know them personally. I do know personally one family who has 8 children they have raised and in the process of raising. I really think large families are great. You’re never short of a friend that way.

Our family of 5 children, minus one (he and his wife were away to Florida for their 6th Anniversary), their spouses, and our grandkids had our annual family get together at our son Philip’s and wife Sarah’s home in Booneville, AR. Our eldest son Timothy, his wife Sarah, their three kids; Naomi, Josiah, and Eli; along with Madge and I journeyed down that way last Thursday evening – Madge and I rode with them. Charity, husband Paul and their three kids; Rachelle, Jonathan, and Caitlyn beat us there. Monica, husband Sam, and Addison came along on Friday evening. It was James and Amber who was away for their Anniversary, and we missed them being with us, but understand.

On Friday my parents Mike and Juanita were brought down by my sister Jane so we could go up Magazine Mountain. They have quite the park on the mountain, and we enjoyed the beautiful day which our LORD provided us. There were several scenic view areas and you could see for miles and miles. You can see the Arkansas River from those views, and it is about thirty miles North of there.

My Dad enjoys things like that, as do I, and we had a very good time. I think Dad was exhausted, as was Mom, and they drove back home that afternoon. We were all pretty worn out for the day.

On Saturday we spent the day playing, enjoying the weather, each other’s company, and that evening we went swimming in the City Park Swimming Pool. We had rented it for a couple of hours. No one there but the Blankenship family, and the Life Guards. It was a nice way to spend the evening and to finish off the day.

Following church on Sunday we had Sunday Dinner together with Philip and Sarah Joyce, Rene’e, and Natalie (Philip’s and Sarah’s two). We packed up and returned home. We arrived home around 5:30 p.m. and spent the evening resting.

We missed the people of our church on Sunday. Look forward to being back this Sunday. They are like family to us. Best people I have ever had the privilege of being their pastor. I pray that I can become a better pastor for them, and always proclaim God’s Word for them to hear.

Great weekend. Great kids and grandkids. Majestic God and Savior. What a wonderful life.

-Tim A. Blankenship