Busy Week-End

No pics --- forgot the camera, then remembered the camera but forgot to take pictures. That's my dear life set before you plain and simple like.

Friday night: Homecoming at GBS.

They honored the 1983 graduates of which only a few attended. However, of the few it was good to see Jeff and Christina Getz again. It has been YEARS since (probably the 80's) since I had seen/talked with them. They are doing a church plant in Manhattan, NY. Sounds exciting and interesting. The other old timey friend was Miriam Welker Hambrock. Erick and Mim along with their 5 children (a set of twins in there) pastor a church in Wisconsin and have been there 8 years. They love the state and the people. She is even picking up the accent remarkably well. It was so nice to chat with them.

They also honored the 50 year grads of which I knew very little but they were happy to be back. Makes you wonder what you'll have done/accomplished/be at your 50 years. HMMMM --- let's picture it...there we all stand ------ Susan Abney, Tracy Alderson, Patrick Anyaleweechi, Stephen Bellis, Marlin Betts, Karen Blankenship, Bob Blankenship, Doug Bond, Deanna Campbell, Jeanette Cleveland, Phil Collingsworth, Gary Cooper, Richard Cox, David Crane, Rebekah Davison, Linburg Dilbert, Bennie Durr, Joanna England, Shari Evans, Melinda Getz, John Gordon, Stephanie Gordon, Pam Hambrock, Bob Hoffman, Patty Keel, James Kelley, Shurland Kellman, Joe Leggesse, Tshai Leggesse, Teresa Mahoney, Crytal Muir, Daryl Muir, Dennis Payne, Naomi Phillips, me, Valerie Quales, Tim Raisch, Charleeta Richardson, Paul Riddle, Marshall Riggins, Bill Roark, Becky Rundell, Teresa Shoemate, Mike Simmons, Lori Smith, Maxine Smith, Sue Straub, Marlina Taylor, Micah Thompson, Debbie Toth, Robin Vandervort, Steve Veyon, Emmett Wakefield, Sue Walker, Leonard Waller, Shelah Watkins, Bob Welker, Nina Wiseman, Tim Wright, Carole Yaryan -----60 of us!!!! Those in the bold I have talked with or heard from in the last 5 years. Many of them visit the school regularly because of their own kids attending or because the continue to live on or near the campus.

I'm not sure if once Senior Class president means that I'm responsible for the 25th reunion but I hope to gather a committee together next year to begin planning a big party for 2011. It would be soooo good to see everybody again and catch up on the news -- a nice meal, powerpoint of our lives since we left GBS, reminiscing of the days....but I digress from my week-end (see, once again you find me being me - plain, simple, and easily diverted from the task).

Sunday -- 35th Homecoming at the Kenwood Bible Methodist church (formerly Bible Covenant, formerly something Wesleyan). Previous pastors and their families attended as well as previous attendees. We had great roast beef dinner afterwards and then an informative, short but enjoyable, 2:00 PM service. I was disappointed so many of our current church family went home after the meal. What were they thinking?? You know what, I'm not going down that road -- I have a very opinionated opinion on the subject of church attendance and support for the home church. I feel VERY strongly about consistent church attendance along with responsibility and participation. It is a soapbox you definitely don't want me to get on -- especially not here and now!!!!!!!! O no, not right now -- I would rant and rave like a tyrant...definitely not now....

At any rate, I have a much deeper respect for those that laid the groundwork and have been faithful to the call. God bless the Wolfs, the Wingams, the Truesdales, Miss Beulah, Miss Clarisse, Mrs. Yount, Viola Durr, Helen Reiff, (still attending) and all the various pastors that gave of their time and lives throughout the years. Kenwood is the solid church that it is today because of their sacrifice. I found it amazing how God has worked in this church.

Now it is Monday...another busy week...what does God have in store for this week? I am becoming more like a child, in some respects, in my relationship with Him. At the dawning of each new week and even each new day I look forward to what God has planned for me - His child. What new things will I learn from Him? What new experience will grow me? The experience may hurt, bring sorrow or bring much joy. It will be OK. He is in charge. I can trust Jesus. There is no better way to live the day than in His presence...constantly abiding. I am finding a new layer of relationship and it is so satisfying and rich. It is well worth the price...

Enough rambling...until next time.

Char

Some of the Family

Christi and Breanna - cousins and friends.

These pics are from back in August --- how does time fly so fast?!

We spent Labor Day week-end at Bryan and Marsha's home in Marion, OH.

All four of our children were baptized by my father on Sunday evening along with 10 of their cousins -- Dad had married his own four children and dedicated the 16 grandchildren so it was a very special evening for the Potteiger clan. My pics of the baptismal aren't very clear so here's of the picnic that followed the next day.

Alicia and Brittany - the other sister with the other cousin.

Bryan is holding one of the trays full of chicken. On Labor Day their church has a huge picnic on the church grounds and Bro. Bruegger, the pastor, deep fries chicken in this huge black kettle over an open fire. It was absolutely yummy and so full of fat calories....nothing tastes better than good ol' fashioned fried chicken making grease puddles on your plate --- I jest about the grease puddle -- all the fat calories were caught in the paper towels used for blotting fat calories BEFORE it got to my plate!

Back to the baptismal service...Bryan and Marsha sang a special (or two or three). It was a good to hear them again. I had forgotten just how much I had taught them about harmony and vocalizing and the like.

Now...I have procrastinated long enough...I have got to go scrub the shower walls. I absolutely hate a messy house which is a good thing because I hate it just a little more than I hate house cleaning...

but...maybe I'll check on Dave first...maybe he needs me...maybe he's having trouble with his adding and subtracting and invoices and outvoices and well, you know, stuff.

Until next time...

Happy Mama

Guess how much this stuff cost me at Walgreens today!
$0.00!!

4 cans of Campbell's Select Harvest
2 jars of Skippy Extra Crunchy (MMMM!)
1 box of Kleenex tissues
2 Glade air freshners
5 sm Royal jello
2 40 count Snuggle dryer sheets

Two weeks ago I took advantage of Walgreen's spend $40.00 get $10.00 back in Register Rewards. I spent $62.00 but saved over $100.00 using coupons and lowest price sales -- we're stocked for winter colds and flu!!!
God is soooo good to me and brought to mind that today was the last day to use my register rewards (they do expire) of $16.50. The tissues and notebook were add-ons by the girls - not necessary in my opinion but needed by them -- I mean who doesn't want a tissue box that "matches" the decor??! And after all that puppy is cute!

Guess how much I spent on these items at Kroger?
$0.00!!
Using the Grocery Game and special coupons from Kroger, I was able to get:
3 - T paper
2 - Tums Smoothies
2 - Kroger Grape Jelly
2 - Land of Lakes spreadable butter
1 - 18 count Kotex

Guess how much all this stuff, combined with my Freebies cost!!!

6 Suave Shampoo
2 - Kroger Bread
1 - Kroger Hotdog buns
2 - Ball Park Bun length Hotdogs
3 - Kroger dz. eggs
2 - Kroger 8oz. cheese
1 Gallon of milk
1 - some kind of Ham spread (for Dave) (.09 cents)
2 - Kraft Easy Mac N Cheese (boy's ski lunches?)


I am excited to report that I spent .... drum roll please....



$10.02!!!!

an 82% savings! BIG SMILE

To complete my day I came home and made homemade potato soup and cornbread.
My children rose up and called me "blessed."

It's been a good day!

It was sort of fun to post again -- maybe I'll work harder at it again....maybe.

WOO HOO!!! YEA!!! CELEBRATE

The electricity returned today -- Friday --- at 1:33 PM!!!!!! What shouts of joy as we played with the light switch to see if it was really true!

It's 2:10 --- the laundry is started, the fridge is cooling down, the freezers are cooling down too, the e-mail has been checked as has the bank account and Amazon sales. What a wonderful world!

Charlotte

Hurricane Ike

Today, Wednesday, marks our 4th day to be without power. A dear friend offered her home for laundry and computer check-in. So here I sit with lights on, a cold Power-C vitamin water, and the sound of jean zippers hitting the inside of a dryer tub as it spins. Who knew that I would put those things on a "blessings" list -- oh AND Mackinac Island fudge (peanut butter and turtle) to enjoy! God is good and friends are wonderful!

Last night we spent the evening at the home of other friends who favored us with a delicious supper and twig/branch burning entertainment. You have to understand the men in my family to understand the "fun" of burning stuff. I'll have to post pictures of the fire sometime --- it was HUGE --- maybe to huge actually.

The night before, I visited with a friend who lives just a block away but we never have time to sit and chat....plus I was desperate for a cup of coffee! Electricity does that -- it gives you time with your neighbors...a very nice thing.

No electricity gives you time with your family...sitting around the little fire pit talking and laughing together...it gives you time to read by candle or lamp light - a book just for the fun of it! It gives you time to get caught up on coupon clipping and sorting, time to plan ahead for classes and Kenwood Kidz, time to paint the porch and all the outside steps, time to eat simply but savor the taste and conversation....

It's been a good thing for us...we are blessed...besides that we never lost water...our gas heater gives us opportunity for hot showers and dish washing and some house cleaning. We were able to save all of our fridge and freezer items thanks to the Sysco company who brought a refridgerated truck to the school to save all the GBS food items and their was room left over. Our gas stove allows us to cook and we have the grill...it's not been so bad...actually - it's been a blessing. We have slowed our pace and had time to enjoy each other. God is good!

Only in Pennsylvania

Many of you have never met my youngest sister...her name is Evonne...I'm sure she'll be thrilled that I put this particular picture up. No, I won't tell you that she ate this entire sandwich!! At any rate, she lives in Pennsylvania - Perry County - the natives brag that their county continues to have not one traffic light.
Despite this lack of "civilization," they do know how to make an incredible sub sandwich!!
The one above was made in the town of Newport by true, full-blooded Italians and was
absolutely yummy!!! The bread is homemade and you're never sure how big your roll will be.
MMMMMM...

And the chips...only in Pennsylvania can you get chips like these...Grandma Utz's, Middleworths, Gibbles...
The rest of the world has no clue what their missing eating Ruffles and Frito Lay!!

This sandwich is made by the infamous MAMA's Pizzaria of New Bloomfield.
It used to be my favorite but the place in the first picture has won the gold.
Yes, I ate two sub sandwiches in one week!!


Yes, I have found a way to upload pictures...
Many updates on the way.

I guess I'll head to bed - hungry.
I better get some sleep - I'm sure to hear from Evonne tomorrow.

To the Faithful

Some of you are still checking my blog --- bless you! Some of you are starting to make smart comments concerning my lack of updates --- bless you too!

Well, there are many reasons as to my lack of blogging - - mostly time issues. Other issues would be: spending time in remote areas of PA that have little or no web access other than dial up and the fact that I can't find my cord that connects my camera to the computer!!

Really, this has been the busiest and most stressful summer that I can recall - ever. I feel like it was May and now tomorrow is the first day of school!! I have participated/directed 4 VBS's and 2 camps and have one more week-end VBS this coming Friday-Sunday. The difficult part was the fact that out of those 7 weeks there were 4 different themes that I had to put together due to various and sundry reasons. Compound that with Kenwood Kidz, which was an altogether different theme than any of those 4!!! Trust me, my basement and dining room look as if a tornado has hit it!! Only those of you who have done children's ministry understand what 5 different themes with props, visuals, etc. can possibly mean.

School does begin tomorrow. I now have a Senior, Junior, 8th grader, and 6th grader. Where does the time go??? Wasn't it just a year ago that the boys and I started Kindergarten and Pre-school together??? (fyi - I was their teacher at GBS) David - a Senior??? I look at all the campus "kids" around here and think about when we first arrived in 1995 -- most are married, many have children!!! How can it be????

Sooooo much has happened this summer - I'd rather show you than write it.
Maybe someday if I find that cord.....

Until then my faithful friends....