Ward Wanderings

The Proposal

Here Peter proposes to Jewel in the Capitol Rotunda during an event called Capitol Connection. This is where they met a year ago. It's a bit dark and the audio is not great, though. Jewel's dad is taping it.

This video was taken a few weeks later at their church during Talent Night. Peter and Jewel sing "I'll Do Anything" to each other as her dad is watching them interact. Funny and good singing. Watch for the end of the song...

New parking lot! 2015

We f i n a l l y got our parking lot paved (took some time to save the money for it). The company came one day to prep the space and the next day came to put down the asphalt.

Backhoe being unloaded.

The parking lot ground was leveled and raised from back to the street, for purpose of rainwater runoff.

Truckload of gravel to level the ground

Backhoe working.

A truckload of dirt got stuck coming down that hill and not turning wide enough. The back wheel lodged between the streets, suspended in air. A large crane came and lifted it onto the street.

The path paved up to the handicap ramp. Yeah!

From the second floor window

This is the space between the back deck looking toward the front door steps.

The steamroller rumbled along. When it came right up to the house, it shook and rattled windows. I thought it was an earthquake. Thankfully it lasted just a few seconds.

The pavement around the front flowerbed the surface was raised about three inches and it really feels funny to be walking or driving on higher ground than before. It will take some getting used to. :-)

Finishing and packing up to go home.

View from the street. Really looks so good. My knees and joints are so grateful since pulling weeds in this area is now history! Thank you, Lord, for your blessings.

Resurrection Sunday April 5, 2015

Charles Wesley wrote one of the most popular hymns in the English language. Here are the lyrics with scripture references.

We've a story to tell the nations: He is Risen Indeed!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today – Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Mark 16:6 Luke 24:6
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Matthew 28:6 Luke 24:34 John 20:18
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Colossians 2:15
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Isaiah 49:13

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Romans 6:9-10

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Luke 11:22 Colossians 2:15

Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia! Luke 23:44-45

Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Isaiah 27:65-66

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia! Matthew 27:65-66

Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia! 1 Peter 3:18-20 Revelation 1:18

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia! Acts 2:24

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Luke 23:43

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Psalm 24:7-10
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! I Corinthians 15:55

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Romans 6:10 I Corinthians 15:22
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

I Corinthians 15:22

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Colossians 3:1

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Acts 2:33 Ephesians 1:22 Colossians 1:18

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Romans 6:5

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Romans 6:4, 6

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia! Nehemiah 9:6

Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia! Psalm 19:1

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Luke 24:6-8 Matthew 28:6-8

Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia! Mark 16:6

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Psalm 27:4 1 Peter 1:3, 8
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! John 3:16

Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Philippians 3:10
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Isaiah 26:19

The Proposal

Peter called us a few weeks ago and said he was going to propose to his girlfriend Jewel. He wanted to do it in the Capitol Rotunda during Capitol Connection (a ministry of our home church where pastors meet with their representatives on the Hill). This is where they met a year ago. Jewel sent me this video, filmed by her Dad (you can her him in the background). Turn your sound up a bit and you can hear what they said.

Christin, Joe's wife, was there (you can spot her behind Peter acting as if she doesn't know what's going on at about .15 mark, just after someone walks in front of the camera). She sent me this photo:


Jewel sent these two: The Ring

Waiting to hear of the date and we'll make plans to go. Please pray for all of us. Congratulations Peter and Jewel!

KIBBS Bible Conference 2015

The annual Bible Conference at the Bible School was March 16-20. Here are some highlights.

The Alumni

Pastor Lalman preaching and Ron White interpreting

Graduate Yoshida-san There were two other men also.

Yoshida-san, his dad and mom

and with his fiance Kaori


Ken Lalman, Kishimoto-san who did the caligraphy Bible verse, and Evangelist Bob Jones

Here is a special sung by the six men students.

BP Readings

Henry and I went to the doctor to get our meds refilled. Everyone has to take their own blood pressure reading. We sat next to each other at two machines. The top one is mine, the bottom is Henry's. Notice something interesting? The doctor said it was rather unique.

I guess this means we are normal....although that may be open to debate.

My GI Joe

Number four son, Joe, has finished basic training at Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC, and is now at Ft. Lee in Richmond, VA, for advanced training in whatever duty he will have. Joe will finally finish in mid-April and will be in the Army Reserves for the next eight years. Congratulations, kiddo!

Joe with his army-issued glasses and Christin

Tree Trimming

Henry spent a couple of days trimming three fruit trees on our back slope. They were getting rather gangly, so he cut them back by half. There were already buds on them, so the fruit will be somewhat less than last year. However, we may be able to actually reach the fruit this year.

Henry is in the plum tree.


The end result of three trees. The black ball is for compost, but sticks can't go in there. Eventually it will all get burned. Henry also cut down the remaining Japanese pear tree since he cut down the mate last year and one needs a male and female tree to have fruit.

During the process a Daurian Redstart darted here and there and perched on the branches, then dropped to the ground and hopped around looking for something. He's a winter visitor here and will depart in April sometime. Pretty little thing.


Mr. Redstart

It does not stay put for long.

Two male pheasants out my window

This morning (2/17/15) Sara and I heard the distinctive honk of a male kiji, or Japanese pheasant. A brood of females, which we rarely see, and the males, are residents in our little valley. The huge colorful bird was on the hill outside the kitchen window and walking down toward the field. My camera was charging upstairs so I went and got it.

When I got back to the kitchen there was a bird standing not 20 feet from our house, pretty as you please.

Then I noticed on the hill another male that was lying down among the tall grass. At first I thought it was a rock, but it was a second male. It looked like the one originally walking down the hill.

The standing one came from someplace and just stood there for at least 10 minutes. It must be an older male as the red skin on its face is much more pronounced than the male on the hill. Also it looks to be a bit plumper when puffing out its chest. Such beautiful red, blue, green and browns all on one bird.

How's that for a profile??

The one on the hill has less red skin around its face. He stayed another 10 minutes after his buddy left. This must be the one from the previous post about Kiji 2015.

This was the larger male that was standing in the field. I opened the back door and he made a getaway. They run rather swiftly when they want to.

Return

Saturday the 14th, we returned to Kobe. We stopped at one rest place for lunch and found these things:

Another fancy ladies' room.

For the little boys.

Lunch--tempura shrimp udon and in the Sara's was kitsune udon.

The bakery had these peach muffins--yummy.

Mikan (tangerine) bread--looked orange and shaped like one.

These are apple breads.

A super duper motorbike, one of a group at the rest stop.

Off there on the left is what is supposed to look like the flashing lights of a police car. I doubt it makes people slow down, though.

Valentine's Banquet

The banquet was held at the church. The teen girls served. The meal took about 70 minutes to eat--some six courses, all elegantly done. Hats off to the young ladies that put this together and took turns watching the little kids.