BOWS OF HOLLY CHRISTMAS MUSICAL!

The girls were in our churches Christmas musical this year! Actually, Kasey played the lead role with a solo and Krissy, Abby and Luke had a key roles as well. Luke even did a "rap"! They did an awesome job last night! The message was VERY clear. We've all been "Blessed To Be a Blessing..." We've received, so we can give and we must tell the world what GOD has done, 'cause we've been blessed to bless someone! Here are some pictures:

Thanksgiving 2007

With all of the revisionism going on these days I thought it appropriate to commemorate the simple beginnings that have proven to be the foundation of our heritage. Having visited Plymouth last year and seen the "new" markers that state Thanksgiving is a "Day of Mourning" I thought it appropriate to share some history that doesn't get spoken about much. This excerpt was taken from an article written by the founder of VisionForum.com (a wonderful resource for accurate historical information). It struck me deeply as we rarely see God praised in our historical markers as clearly as this. Enjoy...



A Faithful Remnant

It’s easy to look at the new, historically inaccurate and politically motivated monuments now standing near Plymouth Rock and feel defeated. But more than a little hope can be found in the story of another monument, the most magnificent and prominent historical marker in the town.
Back in 1989, a Plymouth council had convened to determine the fate of the Founders Monument. The colossal structure, completed in 1889, stands 81 feet tall and was designed to communicate the Pilgrim ideals of faith, morality, education, law, liberty and justice.
The monument was complete and perfect in every respect but one. For more than 100 years, one side had remained uninscribed, primarily because no one could decide what should be written on it.

Fearing that some future generation might be less generous with the Pilgrim legacy, Jehle moved to have a quote from Bradford etched on the stone tablet. The motion was doomed, except for one small fact. Seated in the audience that day, for the first time ever, was an octogenarian from Florida named Verna Orndorff, well known for her generous patronage, who had flown in to attend her first and last meeting.

Jehle read the Bradford quote:

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have grown by His hand Who made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light kindled here has shone to many, yea, in a sense, to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.”

With tears in her eyes, the elderly Mrs. Orndorff declared: “My father had me memorize this quote when I was a little girl.... If you will vote for it, I will pay for it.”

The great quote is now etched on the monument and stands as an ever-present reminder to every one of the estimated 35 million physical descendants of the 50 people who survived the first winter, and to an entire nation that owes its gratitude to those first settlers. The message? That few visions have ever been as beautifully realized as that embraced by this ragtag band of devoted moms and dads.

Douglas W. Phillips is president of Vision Forum (http://www.visionforum.com/),a family ministry in San Antonio, Texas.

Whittles' & Hannay's Great Adventure!

Words can't describe the blessing it has been to have Wynne and Linton visit for the better part of the week. We hung around Westerlo for most of the week but took an overnight to Mohonk as something special for the couples. What a treasure. Linton's parents took him there every summer for a number of years when he was a kid and he and Wynne honeymooned there and had only been back once in the last 40 years. This year marked their 40 year anniversary so it was extra special being there with them.

I truly believe that the Lord held the leaves on the trees for a few extra weeks just for their trip. Though this year we didn't have the deep reds we certainly had the yellow and orange hue's that were simply breath-taking!

How cute are they?

Auntie Wynne gave the girls a great card game called "Blink".

Auntie Wynne playing the Wii with Kasey!

On the morning they left it snowed. Again, our first of the season...just enough to make the world look crisp and fresh before their return home. The Lord is to thank for all of the blessings we saw all week long...but among all, the blessing of dear friends and christian fellowship.

A Few Days Off From School

The kids had Thursday and Friday off from school so we did some family field trips! We took a tour of the U.S.S. Slater which is the only Destroyer Escort left from WWII. Then we did Empire State Plaza (with Aunt Cheri Lisko), went up to the observation deck of the Corning Building, then toured through the NY State Museum....it's got a pretty sobering 911 Exhibit.

We spent Friday in Old Sturbridge Village with my cousin Jen and her 5 kids... it was a GORGEOUS day. God really blessed us with a great couple of days!

CRAIG'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY!

CRAIG'S GETTING MARRIED! Yes, it's true! Infact, a bunch of us got together to meet his "lady fair", Ale, and celebrate with them. We all had a great night catching up (thanks, Kevin, for pulling it all together!) Sean Barber was even there (from Iowa)! I didn't even recognize Little Rod...well... for good reason! Little Rod isn't "little Rod" anymore... Dan Chilvers is 30! Dave Michael's is getting married! Fin and Kerry have two sons, Corey has two girls! Sean and Heather have 4! (Isaac, Lily, Olivia and Owen? Did I get it right?) What a hoot seeing everyone! We all enjoyed meeting Ale. She's a prize and seems like she'll do quite well in keeping Craig in line!

Enjoy the pics, everyone. If you know of anyone else that would enjoy seeing them please send them the link. Also, I thought it would be cool to add family pics to the end of this to update everyone on those not able to attend the party. Many came to the party without their "significant others" or kids so I was hoping that you would all email me a current picture of your families. Send them to gaylehannay@mhcable.com and I'll add them to this blog! Enjoy the pics. It was great seeing you all! God bless!

9/24 Pam forwarded a picture of Suzanne and Peter Dodd.

9/25 I just heard from Amy Christgau and have added two pictures of their gang. She and Shane were a family of four in the beginning of '07 and had TRIPLETS in August! There's too many of them to put in one picture so I posted two! (Zoe, Ty, Ava, Eli and Cole!)

9/25 Tia sent me pics of their family in Florida. Her kids are Eli and Anna Cate!

Adirondack Camping Trip '07

We just got back from a weekend camping trip in the Adirondacks. We started out with the intention of a canoe trip but the conditions on Indian Lake were "not good" (white caps, crazy wind, way too much to fit into a canoe, etc.) so we went south a bit and found a campground on Lewey Lake. Our three families shared two sites and had a blast (as seen by the pics)! The weather was on again/off again but it didn't matter, we just enjoyed being together, laughing around the campfire, watching the kids play (they set a trap for a chipmonk and not only caught the chipmonk but a red squirrel as well! Hey, I was impressed. Sunday morning Scott/Greg, Abby/Kasey and Krissy and I went for a canoe ride to the south of the lake and found that we had not just canoed but met with God in the tabernacle of his creation...sounds dramatic, but it was really cool to canoe thru the mist on the lake while talking about God's creation..."about the rocks crying out and the trees clapping their hands..." All in all, we had a great time, had WAY too much preservative filled food, and were in need of a serious shower when we got home, but ultimately, we created another GREAT memory for the kids and their cousins (as well as for ourselves!)