Continued greetings from Newburgh, IN

Amazingly, we've been Newburgh (Evansville), IN for a week already. In two days, Evan James Schmidt will be one-week old already! There he is resting with his mommy! 

I continue to read and reflect on my reading and am enjoying doing some continued yard-work for my daughter and her family. Today, I even took my two-year-old grandson, Trevor to the hardware store with me. He was all excited about going to the store with Pa-Pa and then being able to share a milkshake with me, that we just had to stop and get before returning home! 

I forwarded a link from ePISTLE today to Norma Baum, Prayer Coodinator, " "50 Ways to Become the Answer to Our Prayers," a call to action for the National Day of Prayer (and every day)". Be sure to ask her about it, I'm sure she'd be more that happy to share a copy with you. 

Bev and I have been able to do some bicycling most days and are enjoying the somewhat flatter terrain. It's hilly around Newburgh, but once you get away from town a bit, it becomes very flat. 

I'm looking forward to listening to Phill Carlos' first sermon yet tonight before I call it a day. 

Not too much new from Newburgh

Sunday was truly a day of rest for all the Schmidt's and the Anspaugh's. It was a warm day (close to 90 degrees) and Trevor played in his wading pool much of the afternoon. After a delicious dinner of marinated pork tenderloin prepared by Chef Jeremy in his "Big Green Egg Smoker Grill" we all took a walk along the Ohio River and watched Trevor throw rocks in the water. It was Evan's first stroller ride. 

Today after Bev and I did some morning bicycling I did some tree and shrub trimming/pruning followed by Jeremy's helping me to do some work in their back yard with some drainage problems they were having. 

I'm continuing my reading on the topic of aging and communicating with aging parents and others. It's important to realize that as persons age it is yet another developmental stage of life and not necessarily diminishing life issues as we so often tend to label older adults with. 

I'm looking forward to listening to Phill Carlos Archbolds last two sermons online as soon as they are posted. 

Home already!

Born on Friday morning before lunch and home by supper time on Saturday nite! This is one amazing baby boy and mother! But of course, they're from good stock! 

I/we trust that worship at Florin COB goes well tomorrow; our love to everyone and thanks for the thoughts and prayers for us and our family. 

Some baby stuff

Here are a couple of pictures taken at the hospital this afternoon. If all goes well, everybody will come home on Sunday. 

Bev and I are taking care of big brother Trevor who was duly impressed with his baby brother. He is a ball of energy as a 2+ year-old. 

We are blessed to have such a wonderful family and  I thank God for his blessings. 

Marcy Fahnestock loaned me a book that is a compilation of writings from Howard Thurman. Here is a portion of a Thurman quote from "The Growing Edge" (it seems appropriate to the events of our day),

Look well to the growing edge. All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born... The birth of the child- life's most dramatic answer to death- this is the growing edge incarnate. Look well to the growing edge. 

He's Here!

Evan James Schmidt entered this world on Friday, April 24, 2009, 10:47 a.m. CST. He weighed 9 pounds and is 20.5 inches in length. He's a big boy isn't he? Erin had a fairly easy delivery and only had to push for 10 minutes. 

Big brother, Trevor, and grandpa and grandma are going to the hospital as soon as Trevor gets up from his nap. 

Thanks for your prayers! 

He

New Location

We've moved from Wilmore, KY to Newburgh, IN to visit with our daughter, Erin's family. She is still very pregnant and if nothing happens today, she is to go to the hospital tomorrow morning, Friday, for her labor to be induced. That's Trevor getting some help from Grandma with his tricycle. 

I managed to pick up a stomach virus two days ago and still am not feeling the best but enjoying time with our family nonetheless. 

Thanks to those of you who are reading the blog and leaving comments for me to review before posting. It's not that I don't trust you but it keeps unsavory people and/or comments being posted without some editorial control. 

I'm currently reading a book titled Loving Your Parents: When They Can no Longer Love You, by Terry Hargrave. It is proving helpful to prepare me for a family meeting with my siblings and parents on Mother's Day weekend when we visit family in Ohio. I'm open to any comments and/or suggestions others may have who are already caregiving to aging parents with increasing health needs. 

Warm here today and we're enjoying getting outside some. If I can get past this bug I hope to be back on the bicycle in a day or two. We'll let you know when the baby arrives. Shalom!

Biking, reading, playing, and sightseeing

Rain all day Sunday, rain most of the day Monday, few sprinkles today and windy and cold (50 degrees). Been reading, playing with the grandsons, watching them ride their bikes, riding our bikes (10 miles Saturday) and rode 9 miles today on some back hilly/winding roads only to discover we had to ford a creek we couldn't cross because of high water levels! Had to retrace part of our route. 

Went to Midway, KY this afternoon with Kirsten and the boys (Jeremy was in Ohio checking in on job interviews. Toured this quaint little town and drove through the heart of KY bluegrass horse country, saw horse farms that went on for miles with some barns that are nicer than a lot of houses! 

Stopped and looked around at Pisgah Presbyterian Church as you see in the pictures. May head to Evansville, IN tomorrow as Erin's doctors appt. today indicated she starting to show signs of birthing in the next few days. If she does not go into labor by Friday her doctor will induce. Check this blog daily for updates! 

Having fun with the Mills'!

We arrived on Friday, April 17 and were greeted by the Mario Brothers on the far right, Mario and Luigi, and to their immediate left is Sheriff Toad! 

After Mario and Luigi's soccer game this morning we went to the store and bought new bikes for the two youngest and helmets for all three! There they are in all their resplendent glory on the walk in front of their home. We're going to whip them into shape so they can ride some day with Grandma and Grandpa to Annual Conference! 

Great weather here today in the Lexington, KY area. Tomorrow we worship with our family here with their faith community, Faith Alliance Church (Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination). 

On the road!

Tomorrow, Friday, April 17 sometime in the early a.m. Bev and I are on the road to Wilmore, KY to see our daughter, Kirsten, her husband Jeremy Mills and their three handsome sons, Gavin in the middle, Adam to the right, and Isaac to the left. We're told that the three Mills Brothers are quite excited about our coming to visit them. We'll be at their home until we get word from daughter Erin that her labor has begun and then we'll travel to Evansville, IN to be available to help with Trevor Schmidt, our youngest grandson while his baby brother is being birthed.

Today, I attended a workshop at the Young Center, Elizabethtown College, and heard Michael Emerson present on the problem of racism in the church yet today. It was an excellent workshop and I actually got his autograph on two of his books I've read: Divided by Faith, and United by Faith. 

Last day!

Today was my final day before beginning my Sabbath rest tomorrow, Thursday, April 16. Lisa Breneman, my Administrative Assistant has been a big help to me in getting ready for this Sabbath rest time and being an encourager and supporter. Pray for her and support her as she carries a bit more responsibility in my absence. I encourage you to also pray for Bill Longenecker as he begins his part-time interim pastoral ministry on April 16. He is a welcome asset to the congregation. 

Tomorrow afternoon, 1-4 p.m. I'm attending a workshop at the Young Center, (Etown College Campus), "Divided by Faith: Racial Diversity and Anabaptists Today." This fits perfectly with my Sabbath rest focus and is a great way to begin. Dr. Michael Emerson, Professor of Sociology at Rice University is the workshop presenter. I'll hope to share some of my learnings in a later blog. 

Shalom~

Still preparing

Wow, it's only now 10 days until my Sabbath rest begins. Today, I was able to finalize the worship and preaching plans that need to occur over my time away from Florin COB. I'll be discussing and reviewing all of that tomorrow evening with the Worship Ministry Action Team. I feel very good about those coming to preach at Florin between April 19 and July 12. It will be a great learning experience for the congregation as Bill Longenecker, Phill Carlos Archbold, Valentina Satvedi, Sheri Weaver and Marisel Olivencia all come to preach once, twice, or more during my Sabbath rest. Pray that the remaining details all fall into place in the next ten days. Both Bev and I are excited about the first 30 days being time spent with family in Kentucky, Indiana (where we'll welcome into the world our fifth grandchild somewhere around April 20) and Ohio.

Hey folks I'm just getting my Sabbath Rest blog set up. When you link to this blog you'll be able to keep up with my Sabbath Rest experiences. More later as I figure out how this all is going to work.