The Famous Woodman's

Steve and I are away at a conference in Peabody, MA.  Tonight we had a bit of time to go out to eat...we drove over to Essex, a little fishing village to eat at Woodman's restaurant. We were recommended to this quaint restaurant by the clerk at the Marriott.  He said they have the best fried clams in the area.  Well, we really didn't want clams, but a big bowl of fish chowder was desired.  We arrived at this unique place to find out they are famous all over New England.  The walls are decorated with pictures and awards they have received since 1914!! I think we enjoyed the history as much as the food!
When I saw the pictures of the men digging clams off the shore of Massachusetts, I was reminded of our friends in Maine who also clam.  I wonder whose clams are the best...Maine or Massachusetts...well since we don't care for clams, I guess we will never know - that is unless someone tells us.
  Click on this picture to learn a little more about them.

Chris is in India

Chris is still in India...you can follow his travels at http://earthenvesselsgalla.blogspot.com/

My Daughter's perspective on my granddaughter

Visit Christianna while she is in Connecticut enjoying Abigail and Stephen...And of course her sister, Rebecca.  Family is very important!!

http://cmpena.blogspot.com/

Only One Life

I posted a quote by CT Studd, back in January, but this morning I read his whole poem.  So I thought I would post it.




Only One Life

By Charles Thomas Studd, Missionary to China, India, and Africa 

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all”;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

A Change of Plans

 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.  Proverbs 16:9 

As we go through our lives day by day...we write out schedules, list our goals, plan trips, save for special events...we devise our way.  These are all good things...for the good of us all.  We pray for the Lords direction and guidance...we think we have it.  

And then...

Some course direction that we were not planning, abruptly changes our way.

Matthew Henry says...

Man is here represented to us... as a depending creature, that is subject to the direction and dominion of his Maker. If men devise their way, so as to make God's glory their end and his will their rule, they may expect that he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace, so that they shall not miss their way nor come short of their end. But let men devise their worldly affairs ever so politely, and with ever so great a probability of success, yet God has the ordering of the event, and sometimes directs their steps to that which they least intended.

 The design of this is to teach us to say,   For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.James 4:15, and to have our eye to God, not only in the great turns of our lives, but in every step we take. Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.   1 Thessalonians 3:11 

We had filled our spring calendar with much... Nutritional seminars(for Steve), MassHope conference for the family, Geography Fair for the younger girls, Spring Bible conference for the family, National Scrapbook Day...for Mom and the girls, Guests for several overnights, Children and grandchildren up for a visit, trip to Rebecca's, MA shopping trip....education, office, garden, etc...you get the idea.  

While I don't care for life to get quite so busy...this spring our calendar was filling.

 Last evening Steve and I discussed some up coming events making sure nothing was overlapping.

Then...

He left to attend the Elders meeting...to make plans of course.

Rebecca, little Stephen and I went to town to run an errand....everything was going as planned.  We were headed back to enjoy the video "Amazing Grace"  about William Wilberforce...

...when our plans changed drastically.

It happened...What WE did not plan. 

Driving our 15 passenger Ford Van up our hill, missing the frost heaves and the pot holes...

Suddenly, we slid off the muddy road into a ditch, losing control of the van, just missing a telephone, scraping the underneath of the van on the broken edge of the road, coming to a quick stop. 

Smells of burning rubber and oil and smoke.

Climbing out the driver's door...and turning to look at the unusual angle of the van...I realized that not just our plans for the evening were changed...but probably for the spring.

The van is not okay. 

The passenger wheels were not on the road or ground...just in the air.  

The underneath of the van was on the road its self.

Standing in the middle of the road...Rebecca prayed that our steps would be directed, the Lord would send help, and gave thanks that the three of us were not injured in the least.

Rebecca, Stephen, and myself standing in the road with the cold wind blowing...we were fine...not hurt at all. We were okay.

We didn't have a cell phone with us...it was about 9pm, very dark, Steve's in the meeting, then in just seconds ...a car came up...stopped and asked us if we needed a ride home.

  It was a former neighbor...she recognized our van before she even saw us -- there are only two 15 passenger white vans in town!

She takes us home.  We are safe.

 Steve gets home, the police come out, the tow truck takes the van to a shop...

and we think about our plans.  

They have been changed...how much?  We don't know quite yet how bad the van is...possibly totaled. We have had this van since 1998...and planned on keeping it till we "ran it into the ground".  

We did that last night- literary.

  We are left with a five passenger Subaru for our family of seven.  

So obviously the Lord God has another plan --He is directing our steps.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.  Proverbs 16:9 

  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8