Pumpkin Carving

Well, here are this year's models. First is Boo (from Monsters Inc). I found the pattern at http://www.carvingpumpkins.com/kids/miscdisney/boo.html
It took me a little more than an hour to carve:



The second is Wallace and Gromit. I was in a quandary about what to make my pumpkin - I asked "What's hot right now?" and Abby said, "Wallace and Gromit!" - So I owe this creation to her! This is the first time I have created my own pattern off of a photo. I taped the photo to the pumpkin, punched holes, traced lines, and figured out which portions I wanted cut all the way through and which portions I just wanted shaded (by peeling the skin off). Shading really gives it a 3D feel.

Here is the picture that it came from:


I should post some from prior years.

Until next time!

Sharing Some Grace Summit History

Life is good.
Today I talked with Diane M. at SBC about advertising Grace Summit in the Yellow Pages and Smartpages.com. I shared with her a bit of the history of Grace Summit and how we merged with Grace Covenant 9 years ago - and how humble the Grace Covenant families were and what a great merger it has been. She said, "What a neat story! You could write a book." I even told her the Post Script about Dennis's family being very involved in our association now (one son a pastor, another leading worship at college...), and about his Going Home - and a bit about Linda's story and what an example of grace and perseverance she has been to us. Again, she said, "You could write a book!" I said, "Maybe a newspaper article" - and she said, "you ought to call Terry Pluto." I told her how Terry actually knew Dennis, through the prison ministry and Terry coming to share with our Men's group. Maybe if TheRockCleveland merges with this other church... the saga continues.

I went back and read a bit from our anniversary service last November. After I had shared about our history, Dennis talked about our Present:

"Our church life is so important to us. Our church life is the expression of our relationship with Christ. When we look back, we realize - what we do affects our lives. We live about 70 years -- it may seem small in the corridor of time, but it is all we have. We look at our church - and the segment of history here - and we can be thankful. Look at the lives that have been changed- the circumstances of other circles have been changed by what has happened here. The reason that has happened is simply this: There have been many people committed to The Cause. We have been placed on the track of the Lord Jesus and have stuck to it. By the grace of God, our wheels haven't come off that track. We have hit some bumps, but we have stuck to the task. Commitment - how you affect your own life over the long haul and the life of others. How others go out and affect other circles...

We are unique - when you look at our church - whatever portion of life - in most organizations, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Except in this church - we wouldn't make it if only 20% did the work - it is a lot higher than that - we have a very high participation. Because of the commitment level of YOU!"

Thanks, Dennis. I needed that encouragement today.

Proud Papa, more skating, good talk

Ok, my peeps (ha) have been complaining that I haven't been posting (thank you, Linda and Dory...)

First, let me say how proud I was of my girls who started a job accompanying "Reach Out and Dance" in Wooster yesterday (it is like a Dance Outreach into the schools). They worked really hard over the past couple of weeks to prepare music - to be sure to keep a strong beat for the classes. Apparently they did a really good job - their piano teacher called me yesterday to let me know he heard glowing comments from the director. Again, I couldn't have been more proud! Great job, girls!
Tuesday night, Melissa gave the girls "Ebeneezer" stones - reminders that God has done a great thing. It really has been a "God-thang". It is just sooo amazing to see Him work like this. (For example, we really sought the Lord about which piano teacher to switch to- Ted - and he is the one who lined this gig up). We were also encouraged with his concern for the girls if it wasn't a good fit - he told them, "If it's not a good fit, it is no reflection on you - you are really talented apart from this, so don't get discouraged if it is not." Thankfully, it IS a good fit!

I taught at church on Sunday on "how to change a bad habit." I think it turned out okay - I got some positive feedback.

Saturday I skated the "Bike and Hike trail" from Steels Corners (13.2 miles from Cuyahoga County Line) to the Boyden Rd (4 miles from CCL) marker. Then I turned around. I discovered that skating over dry leaves is not that big of a deal. There were a lot of little sticks as well that didn't really cause a problem. I saw 5 snakes on the trail! I did NOT like skating on Brandywine Rd. - two reasons - 1) I don't like the possibility of traffic - and 2) the huge hill I skated down (over the bridge over I-271) and then back up the other side. I actually got a ride coming back ("Could you please take me to the top of the other side of this valley?" - the guy had flowers for his wife, and said, "no problem"). I wouldn't have wanted to skate it back the other way.

Tuesday I did the B&H trail from Munroe Falls to Kent, then onto the streets through Kent (following the B&H trail) - Past Stow High School- then north past Silver Springs park and Fox den golf course - then on Young road. There the path turns to crushed limestone and was not skate-able. Bummer. I had hoped to do about a 20 mile loop. Nonetheless, I wound my way back to Silver Lake and picked the trail back up from there. There was a stretch of Rt. 59 that was AWESOME pavement - but it is too heavily traveled to try again.

MrsYack and I had a really good discussion last Friday morning. It is amazing how little misunderstandings, unchecked, can mount up to big misunderstandings. I feel much better now that we've talked through things. I guess that shows why it is important to "keep short accounts." Speaking of which...maybe I would post more often if I kept it shorter! That's all for now.