Granny's Greetings

By HELEN G. BENSINK
BANG! BANG! BOOM! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! Ooh, ah, whee, wow, wasn’t that a pretty one? That sure was a noisy one! I like the ones with the loudest BOOMS of all. My favorite are the red, white and blue ones, naturally. Watching fireworks is a tradition in our family whether we realize it or not. I can remember taking the family to see them many years ago when they were very young. They seemed to have loved watching them at any age, or should I say every age. Age doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to watching fireworks on the fourth of July. I seem to remember my grandmother taking me to the Wattsburg Fair as a little child and we would never even think of starting for home (which was Corry, Pa. at the time) until all the fireworks were over! That was the highlight of the day as far as I was concerned. Nowadays many folks go to Findley lake and find that they can enjoy seeing the fireworks doubly beautiful if you find a spot where you can see them reflect on the water as they come streaming down. This is yet another scene you won’t forget right away. You can depend on those folks putting on a magnificent display. Theirs are even combined with music sometimes. You just don’t find that everywhere either. Thus, we look forward to the celebrations of the 4th of July each and every year. Hoping that you do, too.

Young Men’s Retreat…Calling all Young men ages 12-17 years old. Are you interested in learning about the wilderness (yes, we’re camping!) How about some swimming, games and fellowship? How about finding God in nature? Then this retreat is for you. For more information please call George Walker at 355-6196 or Greg White at 355-6337 for more details. Location will be at Ed’s pond (off Rte. 474 towards Wattsburg, Pa). When: July 17-19. Cost: $25.00 per person.

Please pray for Doris Damcott who fell at her home in North Clymer and has been in WCA Hospital in Jamestown due to a blood infection. She is presently staying at the home of her daughter, Lynette Harper as she is on IV medications for 6 weeks. To send her a card here is the address: Doris Damcott, 6618 Charlotte Center Road, Sinclairville, NY 14782. Doris will be glad to hear form you. Keep on improving, Doris as we are sending bushels of Get Well Wishes.

Have you noticed the corn and how tall it has grown already this year? Hubby and I pass many farmers’ fields of corn as we travel form our campsite to our home in Clymer week after week. We are just amazed and expect to see it shoot up even higher now with the hot temperatures and the rainfall every now and then. Also we realize that some of the farmers are putting up their second or third cutting of grass (hay) already. One can’t help but think of how long and hard we worked when we were farming, to get our hay mowed, fry and ready to be put in the barn before it got rained on again and had to be gone over with tedder, rake, etc. in order to bale it. Thank goodness for neighbors who we helped out and then they helped us do ours. Oh yes, many were the hours we put in on the farm and thus we don’t forget the toils of the farmer even today. God bless these special people.

Hello to Helen Beckerink, my other “Helen B.” friend who is a resident at the Beverly Home for Adults in Warren, Pa. Just wanted to let you know we have not forgotten you, dear one. We are glad that you have such a nice place to be at this point in your life. I am sure that you have met several nice people and made some new friends there. That is wonderful. We miss you and have lots of fond memories of you and Howard on good old Clymer Hill. Even now we are enjoying your grandson Mike, his wife Erin and their three lovely children and are so pleased that Mike and Erin are preaching on the hill as a terrific husband and wife pastoral team. They are doing a wonderful job there as pastors, believe you me. Also, Mike enjoys doing all sorts of woodworking in his shop, as well as helping out his brother Matt on the farm.

Inspiring thought and quotes…A family is a legacy of love.

Please continue to remember in prayer Al Applebee, who has leukemia. Also for his con-in-law Todd Legters, as he goes through his treatments for cancer. Both of these dear ones are our neighbors and we truly do wish them to have better days and soon.

“We never outgrow our family’s love.”

Todd Legters Benefit…RAIN (Ride Across Indiana) a bike ride – July 12th – 160 miles from sun up to sun down. Seth and Barry Neckers DEDICATE each mile pumped to Todd’s battle with cancer. Pledge per mile or a lump sum donation. Sign up at Neckers General Store or by mail, P.O. Box 99, Clymer, NY 14724 (checks made payable to Todd Legters Fund) T-shorts available for $10.00 and all proceeds go to Todd.

“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

One can’t help but think these days of all the graduates who will be leaving their homes soon now in order to attend the college of their choice. This of course means leaving their home. For some it will perhaps be the first time they have ever done this. Thus develops the “empty-nest syndrome”. Not every one feels this way and many folks won’t notice their chair being vacant at every meal, but will be elated for the opportunity for the student to go forth and develop a new life as they increase their education and perhaps even get their degree as they had hoped for. So be it. This is also a way for the student to learn more about being responsible and more about getting on with their life and hopefully becoming successful in a career that had been a dream for a long time. More power to them and may every day be a step closer to seeing their dreams become a reality. God be with you, every one.

No matter where your travels take you, your family’s love will follow.

Don’t forget, folks. The Annual Campfire Communion service is being held on Sunday, July y13th at the Clymer Hill Reformed Church at 7:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and some cookies to share for refreshments afterwards. Come enjoy the sunset from up on the hill as well as the singing, the praising and the communion. Indeed, what a glorious way to show our love and fellowship.

Count on your family, especially when it comes time to count your blessings.

Hubby and I are pleased to know that our daughter, Lynette Butts and her husband Clare are coming to spend a week with us at our campsite. This part of our family is from Munroe Falls, Ohio. Clare has retired just a short time ago and thus is beginning to find what things he can enjoy doing now that he is not spending so many hours at his work. Thus, a week to spend with us and we are ever so glad.

A family is worth more than all the riches in the world.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who brought their cars for our Youth Group car wash fundraiser last week! We appreciate your support. Please pray for the youth as they take a break for the summer months form their regular weekly Bible studies and Reign Down Contemporary Services. Watch for them to start again in September. Also, be praying for those who are going to Kingdom Bound in August. May our Lord grant them a safe trip.

The heritage if family is more than trinkets or heirlooms – it is generations of love.

Family Affair is having some marvelous church services this summer and there is something each week for all ages. The service is inter-denominational and a woman lay-person brings the message, a younger lay-person brings crafts for the children, there is time of praise in singing choruses as well as old favorite hymns, and each week it seems there are more people attending.

It is my prayer that more and more will come to join us and we can sing at the top of our voices, “Praise Him, Praise Him” or even, “This Little Light of Mine”, as we did last Sunday. Everyone welcome, so “Come On Down”.

Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz is the most remarkable word I’ve ever seen.

I think it’s just plain easier to say Bi 4 now. Til next time Luv, GRANNY.