"Old Friends"

I've known Larry Russell since I was in junior high. He was three years ahead of me in school--just enough to play a really important role in the youth group at 1st United Brethren Church. We also went to the same high school, Richwoods HS, and then I followed him to Huntington  College. I'd see Larry from time to time after we were both out of college because he stayed in the Fort Wayne area for a few years working for Youth For Christ. Then he and his wife, Pat, spent some time in Germany for almost a decade. Currently they reside in the Denver area. He worked for YFC Int'l for several years and has been on the Lausanne staff for a couple of year as director of the Global Link. Larry, Brian and I had breakfast together the last morning of the congress. 

Ned Kiser was on staff at Huntington College as Director of Development. Among other things, a beautiful new science building was constructed while he was there. More recently he has worked on the Lausanne staff. He is the one who suggested I would like to work on the Session  Summary Team as part of the Communications Team so I could actually be in the sessions. Thanks, Ned. His wife, Robin, was a gracious and cheerful "go-fer" at the congress. When they lived in Huntington they attended College Park Church where my brother, Brent, was pastor. Robin was (and still is) especially good friend's with my sister-in-law, Sandie. I enjoyed spending time with both Ned and Robin. 

Doug, me and Larry after the reception for the members of the Communications Team. Larry was the emcee for the evening. The three of us were in the youth group and on the quiz team at 1st United Brethren Church in Peoria. For just a couple of moments we were all in one place during the week of the Lausanne congress.


Pat (Corey) Russell and I became acquinted at Huntington College. She was two years ahead of me. She was a tennis player, musician and part of an offical "deputation team" for the college which traveled on behalf of the college thoughtout the year and especially during the summer to camps. She and Larry Russell started dating in college and married after she graduated. Recently she returned to school, attending seminary, and obtaining a degree in pastoral counseling. It was great to see her and Cape Town and catch up on the last 30 years!

Christmas Stockings



When Eric was a freshman in high school, I showed him patterns for four different Christmas stockings. I told him to pick one and I would make it for him. He chose the one pictured below. A couple of the others I could have made within days. This one took months! I had no idea 16 years ago that I would still be making Christmas stockings from the same collection called the Heirloom Christmas Stockings in Cross Stitch. Each represent a room in a house. I think each of the six "room" stockings I have stitched thus far a fairly representative of the people in our family. For my grandkids, I have just used wallpaper patterns from the rooms. There are three "room" patterns left in the series. I've told Mark and Janet that they have to marry someone who fits the themes depicted :)

Mark's stocking was the second one I made. It is called the Toys and Games Stocking.
It went the fastest of the the "rooms" I've made thus far.



Sugar and Spice is the name of the third stocking I made which was for Janet.

Neil and I loved the fireplace in the big living room of our first little house located in Markle. Home for Christmas is the name of the stocking I made for Neil which features this beautiful big fireplace.

My stocking is called the Stitcher's Studio. It includes both quilting and cross stitching. I love it!

I adapated the Holiday Study Stocking for Jeni. I "lifted" some pieces from some other stockings and personalized it for her. It took me the longest to complete so I could include the names of Liam, Kate, Owen, Zane and Evie. It also has Eric's initials included in the design.

Liam's stocking is simply a wallpaper pattern.

Kate's stocking is also a wallpaper pattern. I included her middle initial at the top. Her name, Kate Diane, is almost the "reverse" of Neil's sister's name, Diane Kay. I jokingly say the "D" also stands for Douglas. Kate was born on July 5th and shares that birthday my my brother, Doug. 

Just finished last week, Owen's is the third to have a wallpaper pattern.  I ordered more of the lugana cross stitch fabric which arrived in the mail today. Zane's stocking will get started tonight, go with me to Colorado next week and be finished soon. Evie's will get done shortly after. Each of the wallpaper patterns are and will be different from the others. It felt good to finish two this month and to be ready to start on two new ones. 

















Favorites

 Some of my favorite new friends from Cape Town.

This little girl with spina bifida was part of the opening ceremony.

Gloria from South Africa.

Darcelia from Trinidad.

An Egyptian orthodox priest.

Sarai, from Pakistan, was part of the praise team and works with Youth With A Mission .

I was assigned to write an official "Session Summary" of John Piper's Bible exposition on Ephesians chapter 3. It was fantastic! When I got this picture I also asked him for his manuscript. I can tell you exactly what he said or you can go on line and listen to his delivery--the better of the two choices.

Paul Eschleman was the director of the Jesus Film Project for 20 years. He recruited my brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Cathy, to go to the former USSR almost immediately after the fall of the Iron Curtain. They spent a couple of years in Moscow and have been in Kiev, Ukraine for 15 years. Paul gave one of the most practical challenges of the entire congress. On the topic of "priorities," he presented a list of over 600 unengaged and unreached people groups with a population of 50,000 or more. He encouraged delegates to adopt one of more of the people groups and begin work among them within the next three years. I'm pleased that Dave Mann of  World Partners, the overseas missionary arm of the Missionary Church, plans to engage 10-15 of those groups. 

Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda was the Honorary Chair of the Congress. Can you believe this tall east African told me I walked too fast! Though he lost his voice and could not verbally participate as the presiding minister in the closing communion service, his imposing presence added a regal element to the service.

I met Regula Zurschmiede from Switzerland at the Womeun's Cafe.

Shirinai is a converted Muslim with a powerful testimony. She spoke in a general session as well as at the Women's Cafe.

Dr. Wilf Gasser is a journalist from Switzerland with the Swiss Evangelical Alliance. We sat at the same table when I was taking notes for one of the session summaries I was assigned to write.

Helen is from Kenya and was part of the praise team. She had several solos in the closing celebration.
We met one day over lunch.

This young man was a  steward and accompanied me to the Chineses restaurant a couple of blocks from the convention center on Saturday evening. I was able to take a copy of the Jesus film in French to Timothy, the friendly waiter from from French-speaking Ghana who had waited on Brian, Jeanie and me a few days before.

Windblown--Grace Mathews and me at the Cape of Good Hope. I met Grace a year ago at Stacia and David's wedding. She was the program chairman for the congress and did a fantastic job.

 Chinese Bible expositor, Carver Wu, was one of the 5,000 people I kept running into over and over throughout the week. . 

Renee Padilla, a real statesman among South American evangelicals, and me.

Christmas lights

Precious Gems



 Proud construction engineer.



Comfortable for both!



Great-Grandma Birdsall's first time to play with Liam, Kate, Owen, & Evie.



Zane opening presents with his Daddy on his 2nd birthday.

How you could not adore this three-week old?





Bright eyes.

  

Being silly.




Just my size.

 



Colorado cabin

Beautiful blue sky, the smell of pine and "sunshine on my shoulders." On Janet's first visit to the cabin, she spent time visiting with a little boy from the ranch.

First Missionary Church Quartet

The still nameless quartet is made up of Brian Habegger, 1st tenor, Randy Kistler, lead singer, Mike Wilson, baritone, and Neil Potter, bass. I often refer to them as the Potter Vocal Band. Neil's the bass and the "old guy"--similar to the scenario with the Gaither Vocal Band.



Neil enjoys listening to Brian it one of his high notes.



Dressed in black for a full hour concert at Swiss Village.

Neil can still belt out those bass notes.

Evie Joy

Evie Joy

11/19/2010

9 lbs, 3 oz

20"

Welcomed by Eric and Jeni, Liam, Kate, Owen and Zane.

Two proud sets of grandparents also enjoyed seeing her within her first few hours of life.

Evie slept soundly for a delightful hour as I held her in my arms and then on my lap. What a pretty little mouth!

Look at all that dark hair.

Babies are so precious. "The Lord bless you and keep you," Evie Joy.