SC Memorial Day Picnic

Tim's entertaining skills, costing $1.29, were quite amusing! The balloons all popped within minutes! Our guests were: Millers, Coles, Amy S., Jeanine A. and Brian and Erik H. Food was a joint effort including: steaks, baked potatoes, salad, blueberry cobbler, and topped off with homemade ice cream! It was a lot of fun. Our resident chef did a good job, as usual, as you see in the picture by itself. Missed Johanna especially, and we wish you ALL could have been here.  

Guess What, Aunt Donna!

We beat you to ride in a hot air balloon! Of course, ours was inside at Camp Snoopy. And the hot air wasn't in the balloon :-) Love, Elise and Ben 

FWA, continued

Well, here's our account:
We left early this morning to head to Anderson. We actually stopped along the way to buy a parking coupon at BiLo, but their customer service center wasn't open yet. That ended up being a blessing, b/c in the end we didn't need one. Upon our arrival, we were told by an Anderson policeman that the day at FWA hadn't really begun yet, even though we could see the hot air balloons all around coming in for a landing. (There wasn't a race last night. The balloon we saw had just flewn a few miles this morning. We think perhaps the point was just for all the balloons to paint a pretty picture in the sky. --They succeeded!) In the course of driving around trying to find somewhere to watch them land, we bumped into the crew for the hot air balloon you see in the pictures, and they invited us to follow them to watch their balloon land. They gave us a very up-close and personal experience. They even let the kids walk through the not-yet-deflated hot air balloon.

My motley crew!

 

FREEDOM WEEKEND ALOFT

Anderson, SC is known for its hot air balloon race the weekend of Memorial Day. I had the girls from the church over to spend the night, and we went down to Anderson to watch the Mass Ascension Saturday night . It was really cool. We stood up right nextto this one and followed it from unfolding to take off. Very interesting, lots of fun. Tim and Ruth have gone this morning (Monday) to watch the descent. They were having their race yesterday, and I believe it went through the night, and they are landing this am. Ruth will confirm when she blogs their day. I am sure Micaiah will have a blast. My dream is to go up in one someday! 

First stop -- Rockford!

Well, here we are in irresistible Rockford. Three guesses as to what makes it irresistible.

We arrived last night 826 miles after leaving Greenville. We had a good trip, stopping in Lexington Ky. just moments before the strong thunder storms hit in all their fury. They lasted all night and swept everything clean for our travel the next day.

So good to be with Bob, Jennie and Patience. Looking forward to being in their services tomorrow, then on with them to see Dan and Brenda and family. Love Dad

Rhubarb Recipes

A recent Taste of Home magazine featured a rhubarb recipe contest. That put the bug in me (I love rhubarb), and so I began my hunt to find rhubarb down South. (Quite a challenge, I might add.) Here are the two recipes I tried. They were the winners of the contest, and they were winners at my house. Mom suggested I should share them here. You Bixby girls up North probably have a little more ready access to rhubarb. (Jennie, I still have fond memories of your delicious Rhubarb–Meringue Torte that you made for the church picnic when we were visiting a couple of years ago.) The rhubarb flavor in both of these is quite mild, so I think they please even those who aren't rhubarb fans. So here they are:

RHUBARB SWIRL CHEESECAKE
2 ½ c. thinly sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb
1/3 c. plus ½ cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 ¼ c. graham cracker crumbs
¼ c. butter, melted
3 pkgs. (8-oz. each) cream cheese, softened
2 c. (16 oz.) sour cream
1 T. cornstarch
2 t. vanilla extract
½ t. salt
3 eggs, lightly beaten
8 squares (1-ounce each) white baking chocolate, melted

In a large saucepan, bring rhubarb, 1/3 c. sugar and orange juice to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened and rhubarb is tender. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine cracker crubs and butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9” springform pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, cornstarch, vanilla, salt and remaining sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat just until combined. Fold in white chocolatge. Pour half of the filling into crust. Top with half of the rhubarb sauce; cut through batter with a knife to gently swirl rhubarb. Layer with remaining filling and rhubarb sauce; cut through top layers with a knife to gently swirl rhubafrb.

Place pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 16 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. Place in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loiosen; cool 1 hour longer. Cover and chil overnight. Remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 12-14 servings.

RHUBARB UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
¾ c. packed brown sugar
¼ c. butter, melted
3 c. diced fresh or frozen rhubarb
2 T. sugar

Batter:
½ c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 t. vanilla extract
1 ½ c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
½ t. salt
½ c. milk
¼ t. cream of tartar
Whipped cream, optional

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and butter. Spread into a greased 9-in. round baking pan. Layer with rhubarb; sprinkle with sugar. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into creamed mixture, about ½ c. at a time. Gently spoon over rhubarb.

Bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Serve warm with whipped cream if desired. Yield: 10-12 servings.

Memory Award

I was in Eden Kid's Club and I got a reward for saying all my verses, and a certificate.
I had to say 80 verses. I memorized all Matthew 5 and 6.

-Benjamin 

Layton Talbert

We just completed some of the best meetings (as in special meetings) that I have ever enjoyed in the context of a local church. Layton Talbert delivered six messages to our congregation. The first was an introduction to the Wisdom books, the second was on Ecclesiastes, and the remaining four were on Job. I have never heard a better exposition of Job.

Bill Hunt told me after the service last night that from now on he would always look forward to reading Job! Another woman tearfully told me how grateful she was that I conscientiously provided the best teachers I could find for our congregation. Both Mark and I heard numerous statements like these.

We had some technical glitches in our recording, but they should be available soon. Dad and Mom, I think you'll enjoy listening to these as you travel.

New Meteorologists on the Horizon

The Dead Sea Scrolls

We (Dad, Mom, Tim, Ruth & Johanna) took a trip to Charlotte today to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Discovery Place during the last week of its 100-day display. M & M stayed back in Greenville first with Great Aunt Donna and then Naomi until their Aunt Donna was able to retrieve them after her long day of teaching.

We had a super time, and it was definitely worth the expen$e! The exhibit was quite impressive, and, besides some fragments of the scrolls, included other artifacts found at the same site in Qumran. It also gave a lot of information about life and times of the Essenes sect, the people group which probably planted the scrolls in the cave hideouts about 68 A.D. We saw fragments from 10 scrolls, five of which were Biblical texts and five of which were extra-Biblical (e.g. the Apocryphal Book of Enoch, a commentary on Nahum, etc.) Seeing the tiny fragments gave us quite an appreciation for the scholars who had to piece them together and then somehow manage to read them. (We were especially surprised at how tiny some of the print was.) Above all, we were impressed at the providential hand of God in preserving these texts. It is amazing to consider how He allowed them to be hidden away and preserved by the salt air of the Dead Sea until just such a time as He deemed appropriate to reveal them, and with their revelation, to reaffirm that the words which we hold in our hands every time we hold a copy of the Scriptures are indeed the Words of God. 

Not $orry, Not a $econd Thought!

Okay. This happen$ in pa$toral coun$eling all the time. And I did it with my bathroom! $omebody come$ with a thing they want to fix. What they hardly ever realize i$ that the "thing" i$ rooted in $omething else and that fixing that mean$ fixing $omething else. And it could go on ad infinitum. It i$ alway$ more co$tly than one would immediately a$$ume. Now, often folk$ give up and walk away.Though I committed the $ame error with my bathroom, I will not walk away. We are now in a full-$cale renovation project in our bathroom. I took everything apart by my$elf (the ea$y part), but then di$covered rotten overlay under the linoleum and then it $tarted getting too big for me and my three tool$. Then we decided to re-do the wall$, the vanity, the lighting, and ton$ of other thing$. Lot$ of thing$ had to be done just becau$e we had the audacity to $tart $omthing else. $uch is a project in an old hou$e, I'm told.By wonderful providence, Jehovah Jirah had arranged the $chedule of our normally very bu$y floor man in the church $o that he ju$t "$o happened" to be in between job$! He graciou$ly volunteered to come and help me! And we have been working on it all day. I worked late into the night la$t night (all day) and early thi$ morning. Will do more tonight. Our goal i$ to have a functioning toilet before Mom and Dad come.The whole rea$on I thought that I would be able to do thi$ project i$ becau$e I am not $peaking one time thi$ coming $unday! Anyway, here are some pic$. Hopefully, we'll be able to $how you progre$$ a$ we move along.It'$ been fun. I've been relaxed. And I haven't given a $econd thought to all the money we are $pending. And I $imply refu$e to make an i$$ue of it. I $imply will not let my private concern$ dampen my $weetheat'$ enthu$ia$m. All I want i$ for Jennie to be happy! A$ my $i$-in-law would $ay of her hub, I $ay of my$elf: "What a guy!" 

Grandkid-sitting!

We had lots of fun taking care of M and M for a couple of days. We played and did some jobs around the house,too. They were both so good that we made a trip to the "restaurant". Can anyone guess who got Miriam dressed that morning? Have to admit that Grandma didn't even notcie it--Auntie Jo did! 

New furniture

For those of you northern Bixbys who haven't seen it yet, here is our new furniture. Mom & Jo found the hutch (along with table and chairs that Donna purchased) at a yard sale last Saturday. We're pretty pleased with our new acquisitions. Mom & Dad & the girls surprised us by picking the hutch up while we were away and setting it up in our dining area. What a difference it makes! 

Isle of Palms

Our quick little getaway (sans enfants) took us just south of Charleston to the exotic Isle of Palms. Our hotel was right on the beach (just a boardwalk away) and we thoroughly enjoyed two long walks on the beach with lots of nature viewing. In the last grouping, note how the pelican glides over the ocean looking for dinner, and then having found it, crashes into the water to make his catch. In addition to lots of sand dollars, starfish and sea shells, we also encountered 7 stranded jellyfish this morning. (The tide went out and left them half buried in mud.) After we left our enchanting resort, we headed into downtown Charleston for a couple of hours where we enjoyed a seafood lunch at an outdoor cafe.

Back to Mother's Day

Here it is: the post you've all been waiting for. :) Sorry it took so long to get up. 

Helping Poppa plant trees for Aunt Donna!

 

Happy Mamas!

It was fun to be on this side of the ocean for Mother's Day. The girls made a delicious meal and Tim grilled the meat to perfection (Dad was the head dishwasher!). All my grandchildren sang to me over the phone, too! We went to Tim's church again this Sunday and enjoyed hearing him preach. Wednesday we have our first meeting, so our "vacation" is over! 

More of Mother's Day down South

Our men did spoil us with gifts, though. I received a one-night getaway to Charleston (we're leaving in just a few minutes), Mom Bixby received a night in a local bed & breakfast to be redeemed sometime in the near future, and Grandma Bixby received a gift certificate for a trip to France! It was a special day. :-) 

Mother's Day in Minnesota

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day today. At our house, we are thankful for the wife and mother that God has given to us. We tried to make her day special. We gave her breakfast in bed and then fixed a complete meal for her for lunch, including mashed potatoes with no milk (oops -- didn't know that part), a home-made dessert, etc. We love her very much. Doing this has made us especially grateful for the work she does!
-- Daniel and kids

Now, to Mom. Thank you for 36+ years of motherhood. When I think of what you went through at my own birth, I still can't imagine it. The experience must have been almost overwhelming. It would have been traumatic anywhere, but to do it in a foreign country, in a language you didn't speak well (that is an assumption... your French is WONDERFUL now :-), but I'm guessing it wasn't as good then) must have added to the drama. And that was only the beginning! I am eternally grateful for your example of servanthood and sacrifice. We all love you and can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks.

Well... I guess I'm not done. The dishes are next. And the china can't go in the dishwasher. Bummer. 

Mom & Dad in USA

Well, Mom and Dad arrived one week ago tonight and boy, has a lot happened! On Thursday, Mom and Dad went with Jo and Brian to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. This past Sunday we went to a drop-in for Aunt Theresa who graduated with her Masters. Chris and Lydia were there and Hannah and her two little ones. (Vic had church responsibilities and couldn't make it.) Maybe Mom will blog tomorrow more pics of them with grandkids, new car, etc..., but I don't have any more on my computer at this time. We are glad to have them here! 

Biking to School

Today I rode my bike to school for the first time! It was fun. Elise couldn't go with me because she had to go to patrol, so I was all by myself. On my way back, I got really tired, 'cause there were more hills. Mom said that this means that tomorrow I'm probably going to get my license! I wish!

-- Benjamin 

Student Retreat 2006

We had a very good retreat this year...it was worth the effort. There were 32 people in all--24 students. Lala did a wonderful job with the studies on Proverbs. The weather was beautiful, as you can tell by the pictures. The hike went great even though they came home really tired. See the newlyweds? And the world's number one husband?

Hidden message?

Hmmm...
Eat lots of pizza tonight...
Tomorrow, take a solemn look at the fire on Tim and Ruth's tire.
There's no mistake... its a robed figure, trying to send them a message.
What could it be?
Get a new car? Sign up with AAA?

Rejoicing in a Flat!

So, we had a little bit of an adventure on the way home from KY. A flat tire! We were very grateful for all of the Lord's little providences, however. Through the help of some TN natives, we were able to locate a local truck repair shop nearby that was open even at 10 p.m.! 

A sea of men ...

at the Together for the Gospel conference.