As the Deer Panteth for the Water...

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." Ps 41:1
Seeing animals in my yard is something I will never get over. John used to laugh at me when we first moved to CT because I would call everyone to the windows to see a squirrel. I guess I have gotten used to those creatures running up and down my trees and eating the seed out of the bird feeder, but every other animal is a breath taking experience for me...especially deer.

The kids ran up the stairs this morning to show me the wonderful surprise in our backyard. Oh it was a welcomed greeting. Here is a video off our deck.

"Run the Race with Patience"

God has given our boys stamina! I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination. I trained on my high school cross-country team with the hopes of loving it by the end of the summer then I would join the team...it never happened! John will only run if he has a ball in his hand...other than that it's just plain dumb.
Jon, Justin and Pasha had their first cross-country meet, running a 3 mile course. Their team did not beat the other school but our team did great! Jonathan had an excellent stride and stayed in first most of the time. At the last few minutes Christian Higley zoomed passed and won for the Eagles, Jon came in 2nd place (for our team) at 22.5 minutes. Justin came in at 24.3 and Pasha can't remember! :) GO EAGLES!













Jon focusing...or daydreaming













Jon pullling ahead!













I think I am dying













I think I can, I think I can!

Almost Fall

Part of me is not ready for fall because I know what comes after...burrrr!

But it is my favorite time of year. There is nothing more spectacular than New England in the Fall. I can remember shopping for a Ladies Banquet in CA and I saw some garland of fall leaves. I said "Those are so fake looking, nothing could be that bright"...it's true folks...they really get that bright!

I like the warm days and the crisp nights. I love to pull out the pumpkin scented candles and think about making a apple pie...notice I said "think"! I love to watch the kids jump in the leaves and beg to go to the corn maze...which takes 2 hours to find your way out! I have actually grown to love football season. I love a house full of boys, cheering and acting like idiots...then I walk in with a tray of buffalo wings, nachos and popcorn...and I am basically aaaaah, ummmm...WORSHIPPED! I love the smell of wood burning stoves. I love apple picking at Holmberg Orchards. I like to pull out sweaters I haven't seen for awhile. What do you love about fall? There is one thing I could do without...my fall allergies, but the shorter days means I home sooner to rest my bloodshot eyes!

Here are some pictures of the boys when we first moved to CT!! Oh how they have grown.

Labor Day

I have come to realize that having the Ludka's over is no easy task! Thanks to the very crazy Henricks family...they not only had us but their son's (Todd Keith) 4th grade teacher and her family too...which happens to be our boys best friends. Tammy prepared the most amazing spread for everyone. She had fajitas (with homemade tortillas!) , steak kabobs and everything else under the sun! I won't even mention the desserts that she brought forth...from scratch of course!

The Barbosa's have been such a blessing to us in so many ways. Sometimes I wonder if Naomi was created just to lift my spirits and encourage me! My hubby attended their wedding when he was 16 and Manny was his first bus captain in Rhode Island. They have 3 boys...Manny Jr, Josh and Andrew. I think these guys will be life long friends!

The big 4 hour soccer game!

Playing goalie on their knees! Manny and Jon were so kind to give the little kids a better advantage!

Joel on the Green Machine

Me and Naomi (of course the wind blew her hair in her face!)

A Dear One Goes Home

I received this article from a friend. Neither of us know who wrote it, nor could we ask permission to post it. After I dried my tears...or at least most of them, I thought it was to important to simply keep in my inbox. And for those at CBC who are praying for this family and remember their dear family singing in our church this past Feb. I knew you would find it dear to your heart as well.

Dear Friends,
Last night my Pastors firstborn son Tyler died in a car accident. Tyler was a godly 17 year old boy who played on the basketball team at the school affiliated with the church. Tyler just came back from church camp and said that God had encouraged his heart to make a commitment to reserve his body for the Lord. After Tyler was born my pastor and his wife had 7 miscarriages before any of their other 7 children were born. Tyler was a fine young man who honored his father and mother and loved the Lord. Tyler was very excited that God had used his evangelism to lead people to Christ. He wanted to go to Bible college and become a school teacher.
Today my pastor John Wilkerson, came to victory club, where we meet to go out soul winning, and with a smile on his face asked for them to play the song day by day. He then proceeded to thank God for his son, that he loved God, honored his parents and that he had been blessed with him for 17 years. He thanked God that he repented of his sins when he was 10 years old, and that he was born again and had assurance of eternal life through the word and promises of God. He thanked God that Tyler had such a good summer working at camp and growing in Christ. He assured us all that Tyler died at the right time, that it was not to soon but it was God’s perfect time. He said that he and his family would only visit one person today, a fellow who was terminally ill to comfort him. He said he and his wife needed to spend more time with the other children. But he said that he did not want any of us to slow down our service to Christ, he wanted us to increase it. He asked only that people might be willing to help house relative who would come for the funeral. He was not aware that the men in the church already decided to pay for hotel rooms for his family. At this point he wept, and thanked God again
I have learned alot from my pastor probably the thing that I have learned the most is to be thankful for what God gives us. Pastor is always thinking of things that he is thankful for and always desiring to give thanksgiving offerings to God. The church secretary told me that the family decided wear sweaters and sleep with bigger blankets so they could save money on the heating bill to give more money to missions as a way of saying thank you to God. I found out that he had worn a pair of shoes out to the point of having holes in the bottoms of them because he wanted to give more to God. His never talks as if he is making a sacrifice he is a cheerful person and a cheerful giver. Today he cheerfully gave his son back to God. I have met people who make sacrifices but fail to do it cheerfully or joyfully. I have met people who go through trials with strength knowing it is a part of life and God has the right to do as he sees fit, but I have met very few people who manage to do all this cheerfully with genuine thankfulness. Pastor John is not like that he gives to the Lord out of gratitude and cheerfully.
Those of you who know Jesus, please remember Pastor John Wilkerson of First Baptist Church of Long Beach and his family in prayer, but the truth is I think most of us need more prayer than they do. I know I should be more thankful for what God has given me. I should be a cheerful giver, who is always seeing the many reasons to be thankful and looking for more ways to give. He would regularly give offering to missions just to say thank you to God. He pointed out to me that in the OT when people worshipped they brought a sacrifice, including a thanksgiving offering. His view was that if he put his treasures in heaven they would be safe there, and more importantly his heart would be there. I pray that I could cheerfully accept the trials in my life that Pastor John and his family does, that I could be thankful always. In my trials sometimes I have complained I have felt sorry for myself, and I have focused on what I don’t have rather than what I God has given me. Many times I have not trusted God, I thak God for my pastor being a good example.
God Bless you,
Love Walter

To the Blueberry Patch

A family in our church have an amazing home..."The Teel Farm". We have so much fun when we go there. Yesterday we took the kids to teen camp (which is at the Teel Farm) and decided to hop in the gator and go blueberry picking.

My Chariot awaits

Mom and Jake working hard picking blueberries...

and Daddy....well, ahh...he ate them!

Actually, we all ate more than we picked. You've never had blueberries until you have had them off of Mrs. Sharon's bushes! There are plenty so just let me know when anyone is coming to CT...you can even stay at BB&B's (Bonnie's Bed & Breakfast.

This is the way we do our work

This is the way we do our work, do our work, do our work. This is the way we do our work, all the live long day!

Does he look happy to share the church blueprints with Taz? I think NO, but Taz sure looks content.

My dear honey puts up with our animals only because he loves me. Although I think Bentley is on his last nerve! Pray for my Beagle.

Then there is of course my Pet Care business!

It has been a busy month for vacationers, which means mula for me!

Please meet Bentley the beagle (he's mine) Jack, Honey and Kuda...yes Kuda could eat you in one bite, but he is the sweetest one ever!

I told you John was a patient man!!