Cleversburg U.M. 2011 Ladies Church Dinner

The Church ladies!

Annually we get together for an evening to celebrate the Christmas season.

Shippensburg University, Old Main

It's back to school time for elementary, middle schools, high schools and colleges.  

The local college in Shippensburg, PA is welcoming all the students with their great older buildings along with their new buildings that seem to pop up over night.  I attended the Wine and Brew Fest recently and took a walk among the old buildings and enjoyed fitting in a few snapshots.  

Before it was called Shippensburg University it was called Shippensburg State College (SSC) and prior to that it was called Cumberland Valley State Normal School.  It's first students were primarily teachers.  My Grandmother graduated from here and probably walked the paths we took on our little adventure among the old buildings.  

Harvest

Bringing in the Sheaves...........

-hooked on farms week

Cleversburg United Methodist Church, Shippensburg, PA

My Church. God has blessed us through the years (150 ++). Sure we have our ups and downs and who doesn't but through it all God has been there. I've heard someone once say 'I'm not going to this or that church because it's full of sinners'. Well personally the whole world is full of sinners -- and God is the only one to help us. It's a little country church but it has a soft spot in my heart. If you don't have a church you are more than welcome to join us for Sunday School at 9:15 and Church at 10:30 every Sunday morning. If you live too far away find a church where you can feel God's love. Being part of a community is uplifting when you're out there in the world facing the highs and lows in all our lives. God Bless You!

View of the week

For quite a few years we've enjoyed this front porch. Every year the hanging baskets are full and bright. When I snapped this picture I didn't even take notice to the great mailbox in the lower left hand corner. What came to mind? The song by Jason Aldeen "Big Green Tractor" -------
i'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor
we can fire it up and I can show you around
sit up on the hill and watch the sun go down
when the fireflies are dancing and the moon comes out
we can turn on the lights and head back to the house
or we can take another ride on my big green tractor

Shippensburg, PA and Vacation Bible School

Vigilant Hose Company #52 http://www.vigilanthose.com/



West End Fire and Rescue Company #15 http://www.wefr15.com/

AWESOME!!! So many thanks to the volunteer fire fighters of Shippensburg, PA. We had both departments come to our vacation bible school at Cleversburg U.M. Church. The guys showed the kids the workings of a fire truck and I can say everyone really enjoyed it. It was something new this year and what a hit it was. What a comfort it is for the folks of Shippensburg to have two great companies at either end of town working together. What I thought was particularly great was I found the three young men below who have attended bible school at our church not so long ago. It's truly remarkable to see that they've grown into really great guys and volunteer for their community. Keep up the great work guys you are truly blessed. If you see a firefighter thank them for all they do and also say a prayer for their continued safety because you never know if you may be the next one that they will be saving. God's grace to you fire fighters!

Tyler and Zac

Sam

Interesting?

Just something I found interesting in some odd way. A local company manufactures these fine pieces of machinery. I can imagine the work it took to line them all up in a row. Are they bowing to one another? Are they making a tunnel to walk through? It's too bad they're on a back road and don't get noticed unless you venture out into the country. I"m sure they are ready to be shipped world wide. Anyone interested?

As I was organizing some of those old photos that pop up all around the house I came across today's picture. My Mother gave me a copy of this a little while back. I believe my Uncle gave her a copy. These pictures are practically non-existant so thanks to whomever is was that passed it along and shared with us all. This is my Grandparents and their eight children. Oh my! Grace, Charles, Edgar, Virginia, Maryann, Kenny, Vivian and Judy. It is more than likely one of the last or maybe only pictures of all of them together. My Grandmother passed away within a year or two of this photo. Can you imagine being a single Father with eight children!! Well you know it all worked out. He done well keeping everyone together in some pretty tough times in the world. Then along came eight in-laws and then 22 grandchildren and now countless great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and still growing. We all still merge together on Christmas Eve and sadly at funerals or happily at a few weddings. Thanks to Pap and Grandma Nehf we are still going strong! We all have great memories and stories to pass along to many generations.

My Grandparents

Before and After: Took another direction today and attempted to do some restoring. I found this picture of my Grandparents in an old box at my parents house while rummaging through for pictures for an anniversary party. It was crumpled and folded but it captured my eye. (was it love?) I flattened it then scanned it. It took some patience but I got it where I was satisfied with it. I never met my Grandmother but I plan on doing so within the first day of arriving in heaven. My Grandfather was a special man in my life. I have nothing but good grandparent memories of him. He taught us grandchildren many things. Do you know what a toot is? What year was this taken? I need to find that out. Maybe my Mom or my Aunts and Uncles can fill me in on that bit of trivia...

Stained

I had an opportunity to get some pictures of some very old and very artistic stained glass at a local church. (Leesburg U.M. in Shippensburg, PA) Getting a good shot of stained glass is pretty tricky. So much depends on the outside lighting which by in large in uncontrolled. (at least by me!) Other components are inside lighting. One side of the church to the opposite side also has it's challenges. I wonder if the artists of these beauties gave any thoughts to lighting? Maybe there's too much thought going into this on my part and I need to sit back and just enjoy. I hope you also enjoy these windows. Thanks to all those that have contributed in making these works of arts available to the rest of us years and years down the road.

Cleversburg Stained Glass

Just a quick post tonight. It's windy and cold and I spent the evening teaching myself some new photoshop tricks that didn't pan out very well. It's time to go have a good warm cup of tea and relax with a good read of some type. This picture is from my church. The stained glass windows go so unnoticed by most everyone because they are in the back of the church. I have the privilage of looking at them each week since I sit up front and look back over the congregation while playing the piano. They are inspiring and when you're in the church when the light is just right they take your breath away. They were dedicated to the church in 1949 by the Ladies Aid Group. Thanks to all of those ladies in the church history at Cleversburg! Hopefully many generations to come can enjoy this as much as I do.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Intriguing

Stained glass from a local church ( I need to go back for a retake to capture it's real beauty)
Swan at the local flea market!!!
New road to venture down.....
Two baby llamas by the roadside - just plain adorable
Orchards in Adams County Pennsylvania (check that sky out!)



Many things intrigue me. The beauty all around us goes so unnoticed because we hurry from one place to the other. I enjoy watching the skies, paths to unknown places, landscapes of all kinds, unique animals, stained glass in churches from many decades ago. These are some of the local scenery I've found compelling over the last week. Enjoy!!