Greetings from Snoquami Falls!

Mid-August Happenings...

Sunday Church began with Elaine teaching the Adult S. S. Class. That is always fun. Then the worship service, another challenge for me, with the antique organ, ha! We had planned to have a bulletin, but the printer and Boling skill, wouldn't cooperate so it will be next week's joy. It was a problem for BB...Mr. Perfection! We are using some praise choruses (new for Seymour Christian) that were printed in the bulletin (we didn't have) so we had to wing it. People followed with contagious chuckles. After service everyone lingered chatting...old home week...fun! Next Sunday is Instalation plus a pot-luck dinner - should be a great meal with these awesome country cooks.

Benjie, Kathy and gang came out for dinner. They shared their Boise vacation highlights. We had a great afternoon attacking many activities...Lincoln logs, basketball, computer upgrade (thanks Danny) moving bookcases from the barn (thanks Benjie) and lots of visiting. We are still working on getting the garage treasures inspected and books unloaded from boxes. What a challenge!!

Well, a new week is here and we are ready for some new challenges and joys, how about you?

Hope this week is one of your best, God is good, all the time. Don't forget to smile and pray.

August Is Here!

After the cool July, August has zoomed in with heat and humidity. High 90 degrees all this week is the forcast so we'll enjoy the air-conditioning. hah!

YTB (Your Travel Biz) Convention in St. Louis was inspiring and huge. We attended two days and stayed with our good friend, Delma Mallett, in Troy enjoying great hospitality and good visiting. Over 40 from the Springfield Vanguard Group attended. We arrived home Saturday night about 11:00 after a road trip of great conversation and music.

Church went well Sunday with more visitors. It was a good day! Had to make a hospital call in Springfield so ended up having ice cream with Steve and Catherine...a bonus.

A new week has begun and it is hard to believe August is here already. Time goes so fast. All the family seem busy, happy, and well. Deb is looking forward to finishing her Japanese Exchange Program. Her family will be glad too, I imagine. Paul had a fight with a hornet's nest and lost. Church is going great for he and David. Steve continues to work hard and baby Abe Lincoln, the Boxer. Benjie and family had a great vacation in Boise. Benny continues to improve and enjoys his new pastorate, Seymour First Christian. We are studying our calendar to see how soon we can see all our kids, grandkids, and friends. God is good...keep happy and pray much.

Boling News...July is almost over, wow!

Today is Sunday, the 26th. We've had a great day with our highest attendance at Seymour Christian plus a great group of kids. The kids loved Benny's story about David...he is so good at storytelling, and the sermon was tops. (Am I a fan?) Rose, a church member stopped by and stayed for dinner. We had a good time...always love people dropping in.

Saturday, the 18th we went to Kansas City, with son Steve, to attend the huge funeral of cousin, Danny LaGue, age 46. He had been with Campus Crusade ministries for years before his cancer was diagnosed. It was a positive celebration that he had written and it blessed all who came.

Great unexpected phone calls from long time friends, Gene Hill in California, and Margaret and Karl Kottmeier in Texas were extra treats for the week.

This coming Friday and Saturday we will be at YTB Travel's Convention in St. Louis. This is our first time so we are looking forward to learning new things and having fun. We'll be staying with good friend, Delma Mallett, in Troy - an added blessing.

Our weather has been in the 80 degree range all week...what a Missouri blessing!

Have a wonderful week...stay happy and smile lots.

More July Happenings...

Happy Anniversary today Steve and Catherine! Happy Birthday yesterday (#1) Abe Lincoln (Boxer) and Happy Birthday on the 14th, David. Benjie and family left yesterday for a two week vacation in Boise, ID. Know they will have a wonderful time. Danny and Shanda join them this weekend for 10 days. I wonder if the Cobbs are ready for the invasion, ha!

Two of our special friends entered heaven this past week: Etta Mae Worlow (who spent many holidays with us) and Marty Shanno, good friend also from Council Bluffs. His wife was Benny's secretaryand he kept our car running. Then on the 14th Danny LaGue, cousin, past away after a long courageous battle with cancer. He leaves a wife and three small sons plus a huge loving extended family. We plan to attend the service in Kansas City with Steve Saturday.

The weather is hot and humid with many lightening and thunder storms thrown in. This keeps us on our toes, listening to the weather channel and running for the laundry room, our shelter.

Benny will preach on Vision, this Sunday. He and Paul are using the Lectionary and having fun sharing thoughts. Wednesdays we are studying James...a great book, did chapter 2 last night.

Seymour church folk are so receptive and kind to us...we are grateful.

Have a wonderful week...stay happy, remember to pray and keep smiling.

July 6,2009

What a 4th of July weekend! Saturday night the Benjie Bolings came out for our anual celebration. After sharing a BBQ, with all the goodies plus corn on the cob, we headed for the front of the house to watch (and set off) fireworks. Our neighbors on three sides had fantastic displays and with ours Seymour was on the map. Mikey, assised by Danny and Shanda, coached by mom Kathy, and receiving instructions from sisters Julie and Jessie spent an energetic time running from the blasts. What fun for a 10 year old. After ice cream and cookies and a quick clean up of firecracker trash they all headed back to Springfield.

A highlight of the evening was having Danny use his computer skills to hook up the Anchorage gang. We had a live chat, face to face. It was so wonderful seeing everyone. The little boys are growing so fast. We are happy Jamie's mouth is healing after his fall down the stairs. Their parsonage is lovely and it was great viewing the surrounding area including the church.

Sunday was our first Sunday at Seymour First Christian. Everything went well. People were very complimentary and joyful. Benny's sermon on VISION presented optomism. I taught the Adult SS Class and played the crazy organ...we all survived, ha!

It is now another week starting out cool here but heading toward the upper 90 degree range.

Have a great week...keep smiling.