Patterns Theme: Pic #2

Add a spread of creamy butter and a good douse of this year's maple syrup to some crispy breakfast grids (aka non-skid pancakes) and you've got a yummy pattern going!

Week #5 Theme: Patterns

There's a stone wall in front of a large storage shed in my view out the living room window of our house. One day this winter I noticed the organized pattern of the stonework when it seemed that even the streams of melting snow were seeping from the wall in formation.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #7

Attending REACH (the ministry convention I mentioned earlier) was definitely a highlight in our PA week. It was so refreshing to be with many other believers (1800 in attendance the one day!) who wish to impact their world for Christ in a variety of ways. Since Faith Builders students ushered and served in other ways at this event, we got see Kayleen numerous times throughout the two days of convention. I loved our together time over supper at a Friendly's restaurant one evening.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #6

The last two days we were in PA we attended REACH, an Anabaptist Ministries Convention coordinated by Faith Builders. Our overnight lodging was at the Graber residence just minutes away from the large church at which REACH was held. It was a pleasure to renew acquaintance/friendship with my cousin Tom and his wife Galyn - a former student of mine - and their fun family.

(Isn't there often one shy character - even in a lively crew? :) )

Found In PA Theme: Pic #5

The second thing we did as tourists on our in-between day was to visit the Mennonite Historical Society in Lancaster, where they have a model of the biblical tabernacle, built to scale. It was a very meaningful and worshipful tour. The loaves on the table of shewbread were depicted in a manner that I had never imagined. I always pictured loaves like the bread my mom used to bake; these were more like a thick version of the buckwheat pancakes she used to make on a Saturday morning!

Found In PA Theme: Pic #4

On our in-between day in Lancaster County (after the NYP board meetings and before REACH) we were tourists and visited Sight & Sound for our first time ever. The current show is Jonah, the story of the runaway biblical prophet. The mercy of God for all repentant people is one of the themes that came through clearly in the story; I found it very moving.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #3

I loved hiking the creek flats at Camp Andrews with some of the other ladies who had come with their husbands involved in the NYP Board meetings. When we hikers came upon this unique plant, my nature-savvy companions were quite sure it was skunk cabbage, even though it wasn't emitting its signature odor. I wasn't familiar with the pineapple-resembling flower, but upon further investigation since we are home from our trip, I found that the ladies were right; this is indeed an eastern skunk cabbage plant.