July - Part 2

Our niece, Suzanna Kate Nichols, turned 4 this month!  Suzie is one of the sweetest little people on the planet, and she loves to celebrate birthdays with her family.  It was fun for her to be able to celebrate her very own birthday on this day!  Remember how loooong the year seemed to stretch when you were a kid?  I smiled as I realized that Suzanna probably felt like she was waiting forever for this day to come.  :-) 



One night we decided to pull out all of the Thomas the Tank stuff that Evan had accumulated, and get it ready for Craigslist.  After setting most of it up, we were all having so much fun that we decided to keep it.  When we move, we'll set it up in the basement and entertain lil' visitors by taking them straight to the Island of Sodor.  :-)



We attended a bridal shower for our good friend, Jennifer Bailey.  I babysat Jenn when she was tiny.  I was sixteen, and her mom had to have surgery right after she was born.  We bonded big time.  :-)  She was my miniature bride, and Allison will be her flower girl later this month!

Jennifer at our wedding ~1997~

July - Part 3 coming soon!





July-Part 1

The last Friday in June, a group of ladies from our church took a day trip to Holmes County. I've never really done something like that, but it was so much fun! Definitely something to do again. We laughed, shopped, ate, talked, and walked, and repeated that cycle often throughout the day. :-)

Then came the 4th of July.  It was waaaay too hot to go camping, so we chilled out at home, went to prayer meeting, and then enjoyed Lima's great fireworks display with our friends Rob and Stephanie Cantrell.

The girls

The guys

Stephanie playing a game with Kait, Halie, and Alli

Burl and Evan

And of course, fireworks.  :-)

Then the miserably hot summer days continued, and we prepared for VBS.  This was my 3rd year to coordinate VBS, and we did another Answers in Genesis kit.  I was never fond of "VBS in a box" until I met their curriculum.  We haven't been disappointed.  Our team did an amazing job again this year, and here are a few pics -

To do our backdrops, we always use large styrofoam panels that hang from the ceiling with wire.  I always hated dropped ceilings, but now that we are in a facility that is full of them, I've learned they can be great for decor.  :-)

The stage was the bridge of a spaceship and provided the backdrop for the nightly drama.  At the program we always redo the drama in its entirety.  The kids love it. 

Our group was divided into three teams and did rotations.  There were stations for snacks, games, Bible teaching, and crafts.  We met in the chapel for opening and closing assemblies. 

Hope you enjoyed a taste of our VBS!  July has stayed busy, and today begins a new month.  I will try to be back tomorrow with Part 2...cause August proves to be be pretty busy and I'm looking toward a {mostly} media free vacation with my husband in just a couple of days!  Yeah!

Campmeeting 2012!

Better late than never.  :-)  I didn't take too many pics at camp this year.  It seems like each day went by soooo quickly and we had a few unanticipated responsibilities that took quite a bit of attention.  For once, the weather cooperated!  We didn't have even one tornado warning!  During youth camp, I wore a sweatshirt a couple of the mornings, and the afternoons and evenings were beautiful.  Family camp was a bit warmer, but no complaints here...we were just happy not to have to wade through mud puddles (which significantly lightened the laundry loads!).  Our workers this year were Darrell Stetler, Paul Pierpoint, and Derek and Alanna McIntyre.  Lorna Rundell (awesome!) was the children's worker, and Steve Gibson was the youth worker, in coordination with our youth camp president, John Zeigler.  The atmosphere was encouraging and uplifting.  It was a wonderful 10 days!

Main Sanctuary - courtesy of Midwest PHC

Teen service - courtesy of Midwest PHC

Children's service

Greg and I ended up helping with the McIntyre's two older boys
during most of the services. We know we're too old to go back
to the days of 2 and 4 year old boys.  :-)

Father's Day 2012...Brad Petty is one of the boys' best friends,
andthey stayed in the tent most nights. 

Alli with one of her new McIntyre friends

The first Sunday, one of the ladies of our church brought
her mini van full of Jr. Church kids.  It was a three hour trip
each way, so quite a sacrifice for her to do in one morning/
afternoon.  The kids loved being at camp!

Another new McIntyre friend...what a doll this one is!

On the last Friday night, a donor had promised to give $100 for every
teen aged 11-20 who sat in the youth section.  The kids always get excited
about this, and this year gave an added perspective.  Jordan Franklin had planned
to be in that service, but was tragically killed the week before.  The kids took
the first chair on the first row, named it Jordan's Chair, and gave an offering
of their own in his memory.  It was special to say the least. 

When they do the teen offering, the kids stand and count off, so that everyone
can hear exactly how many are there.  I think there were 115 this year, so that
resulted in a donation of $11,500.  Last year, I believe there were 85 or 87.

The kids love to hang out with "Aunt Sherry." 



It was busy...Greg was the delegate to conference from our church which took up two afternoons, I spoke in one of the ladies' meetings, which took up another afternoon, our church did all the drinks for five of the ten days, we spent lots of energy taking care of the children that were entrusted to us in the services, I was the pianist for the kid's program, and Greg transported Bro. Pierpoint because of his knee injury.  Whew.  :-)

Even with all of that, we were refreshed by being able to spend time with the people from our own church, as well as conference friends that we don't see so much.  We were able to get away for ice cream one evening with John and Tracy Petty and their family, and take a Friday night double date (sans our combined 11 kids) with Tim and Kim Forsee.  So good to be a part of a larger family of believers that shares our goals and values, and we are excited about the future!

Library Dedication...

Awhile back, a precious couple in our church was taken to Heaven after a serious car accident. Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Erma Woodworth have been so missed over the last year! Not only were they intelligent, they were wise. And they were selfless. Although they had education and experience that gave them an edge over many, Christian humility was clearly visible. They weren't above any task, and they were the first to offer their home and their hearts to anyone in need. Upon their death, the remainder of their library was donated to our church. Several volunteers put in time sorting and cataloguing books and making furniture. On the second Sunday of June, the library was dedicated.  One of the Woodworth's two sons was able to be with us for that occasion.
The room isn't quite finished, but the remaining decor has been purchased. It will be a serene oasis to meditate, study, and read quality Christian books. We are excited about the future of the Woodworth Memorial Library!

Rev. & Mrs. Don Nichols, Dr. and Mrs. Steve Woodworth

Dr. Steve Woodworth speaking words of rememberance

Mrs. Janet Sawmiller (close friend to Ralph and Erma)
reading their biographical sketches

Introducing the family to the new library

Dr. Steve and Leah Woodworth with five of their seven children

Sawmillers and Woodworths

The dedication was followed by a fellowship meal in the Commons

God has blessed our congregation with lots of kiddos!

"And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;"

Exodus 35:31