50 Years (LB)

This blog was posted ten years ago on our 50th anniversary.  I'm reposting it for our 60th anniversary which came on June 2.

          50 years sounds like a long time.  A half century sounds even longer.  But to me, the past 50 years of married life have gone by so quickly.  And I would not trade them for anything.  

           Dianne and I were brought together by the Lord who has guided us with His faithfulness and presence.  We may be unusual because in 50 years we have never had a major disagreement or fight.  On our honeymoon the Lord gave us Psalm 92:13, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."  We have tried to follow those words for 50 years and we rejoice in God's goodness.  

          Now how do you describe 50 years?  Well let me make an attempt by listing 50 things for which I am especially thankful.  

1-3  are Craig, Ken and Tim, our three sons.  They love and serve the Lord and are great fathers.  What more could we want?   

4-6 are Kisha, Sandy and Wendy, our three daughter-in-laws.  We love them like daughters and thank God for them.  

7-13 are Zach, Josh, Taylor, Noah, Chloe, Lexie and Brodie, our seven grandchildren.  All have asked the Lord to be their Savior.  

14 -17 would be our parents.  All four loved the Lord and modeled Him to us.  All four are now with Him in heaven. 

18 would be our extended family.  We have been blessed with grandparents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, in-laws, cousins and nephews and nieces who love the Lord.  

19.  Friends - we have been blessed with numerous friends who have enriched our married life over 50 years.  Many of them are now in heaven.  

20-23 would by the four homes that we have lived in.  Each were special provisions with special stories about them. The present one has now been our home for almost 42 years.  

24-25 Two estates settled, at the same time.  I'm not sure that I ever want to be an executor again but we learned much and saw so many special answers to prayer during that time.  

26 - My special job as a teacher/administrator for 39 years.  Few people can stay that long at one place and say that they enjoyed it all.  It was God's special provision to us and a definite answer to prayer when I had to choose from four job offers nearly 50 years ago. 

27 - Many part-time jobs over the years that supplemented a teacher's salary and enabled Dianne to stay at home and be a full-time mother.  These included writing questions for Educational Testing Service, teaching adult ed, doing homebound instruction, coaching, working for the Sunday News for 25 years, Books In Print editorial staff. chief statistician for PIAA basketball play-offs for 25 years, Cherry Hill Orchards, software prep for ISC, consultant for an Addison Wesley geometry textbook and working with my wife for the Lancaster County Election Bureau for ten years.  

28 - The opportunity for us to travel and visit 25 major cities in the U.S. and Canada as part of my job responsibilities.  This included speaking at five major national conventions.  

29 - Having a family ministry for 25 years including and presenting almost 100 programs a year.  We won't know until heaven how many families were touched by the Lord, but we do know that it taught our boys many lessons and developed in them special strengths and skills which they use today.  

30 - Over 40 years of ministry at Pinebrook working with children and music.  For most of those years it was a ministry in the summer but for the last ten it has been with hymn sings and retreats throughout the year. 

 31 - Multiple opportunities to serve, often side-by-side, for 50 years in our church.  This has included Sunday School (teachers, department leader, superintendent), music (piano, organ, solos, duets, choir, administration, Christmas Eve program leadership), adult Bible studies, elder and committees, prayer chain coordinators. 

 32 - Awana.  What can I say about the opportunity to lead for 30 years, to minister to children, and to provide training for adults.  Together we have now completed all three levels of Awana college training in Hershey, Pittsburgh and Chicago.  These years with this great program have been very special. 

 33 - 50 represent 18 operations and procedures under anesthesia.  They include numerous biopsies, only one of which has shown cancer.  In addition there have been many dozens of other tests.  But through all of this we thank God for the health and life that He has given us.  

          We don't know what lies ahead, but God is faithful and He goes before us.  So there are 50.  I could easily list another 50.  We just say, thank you Lord for 50 great years together.  Our desire is to continue to live for Him and to serve Him here on earth as long as He gives us the health and strength to do so.  And, by the way, 50 years goes faster than you can imagine.  So use your today to live for Him.

            Well 10 years have passed since this list was written and published, so I should try to add to it.

51 - 53  Three new additions to the family - Daniel, husband of granddaughter Taylor; Baby Cetnar, son of the Cetnars scheduled to join us in October; Corrine, wife of Joshua.

54 - 55  Two doctorates.  Daniel, chemical engineering; Joshua, chemistry.  Both at Penn State.

56 - 57  Two working on doctorates.  Noah at Salus University (eyes), and Chloe at the University of Maryland (English).

58 - 60 Replacement of three doctors that served us so well.  One was our outstanding dentist who cared for us for decades, another was Dianne's pacemaker surgeon, and the third is Dianne's family doctor, replacement yet to be named.  Actually, over the years there have been several other doctors and specialists - that happens when you live this long.

          Will there be another list ten years from now?  If there is it might begin with:    61 - 62 Enjoying a spectacular home here in heaven.

The News

         If you want to have a discouraging day, start it by listening to or watching the news.  If you do, then be prepared for the worst.

          First, you will see the tragedy in Ukrane.  I am convinced that this is led by Satan, controlled by Puten.  Devastation, death and war crimes bring tears to your eyes and it is all senseless. And it appears that nothing can be done to stop this other than a much wider war.

          Or if that doesn't make your blood boil, then what about the shortage of baby formula, or the increase in gas prices, or the cost of groceries?  Inflation increases while the stock market is like a rollercoaster.  And there are random shootings everywhere even locally.  Our neighboring city of York now has a murder almost daily.  You are no longer safe anywhere – shopping, working, going to school or to church.

          Then there are the mass murders.  The are all sad, but the school shooting in Texas tops the list.  As a grandparent I just can't imagine what those folks are going through.  As a retired educator I have so many questions about the whole situation.

          For example, why was the outside door left open and blocked open? Did some employee want to make an exit and a quick return?  Even twenty years ago when I was still teaching that was a serious offense.  All doors were locked and there was only one permissible entrance and usually each person had to sign in during the day and only an authorized person would allow them to enter.  It appears that no such safety regulation was followed here.  Did some employee feel that regulations weren't for them?

          Then where was the safety resource officer?  So far reports haven't placed him on duty.  Why?  That was his job.

          Then there are the questions about the classroom doors.  Some say they were unlocked which would be a definite safety violation.  But there are others that say they couldn't get into the rooms until they finally found a janitor with the master key.  Didn't the office have one?  Cops on television have ways to break through a door.  Didn't these lawmen have the same training?

          Then there appear to be many mistakes over a long period of time when kids were even sending requests to 911 for police help.  What in the world were they all doing while students and teachers were being killed?

          It is hard to listen to the experiences of parents and students.  They are heartbreaking.  However, I was thrilled to hear the one young girl who said that when Jesus is in your heart, if you die you go to him in heaven. Thank you, Lord, for one faithful parent or teacher who taught this child the truth.  This is the solution to this world's growing problem.

           So, what comes next?  The country is now divided over gun laws, but would more laws have prevented this tragedy? Personally, I don't think so.  Criminals and mass killers will always find ways to get guns.

          The source of this evil is sin.  The Bible reminds us that the heart is desperately wicked.  So, we shouldn't be surprised.  We better get used to it.

          But a better way to start the day would be to spend the early morning with the Lord.

          P.S. – It is amazing how the world protests mass shootings while at the same time they promote the killing of children through abortion.  My how Satan has blinded this world.  But a better day is coming … hopefully soon!

A Walk

          What is your favorite physical activity?  For most of my life mine has been walking.

          In my elementary years I had no choice.  Not only did I need to walk to and from school, but in those days we also had to walk home for lunch.  School cafeterias were unusual in those days, so we had to go home and then walk back.

          In the days when we lived in Lancaster and Lititz there were so many interesting places to visit, beside school.  And walking was safe, so I walked all over the place.  I didn't walk for exercise, just to visit friends and even to shop.
          Then when I hit my twenties I hit a roadblock – my first bad back experience.  I was diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis.  It was painful and very limiting. Powerful medicines were required and exercise was suggested.  So slowly it was back to walking each day.

          For many years I walked about an hour each day.  During school days I would usually walk early in the morning before going to teach.  I enjoyed this time when I could pray and reflect upon things I needed to do.  Usually I would listen to Christian radio as I walked.  But I learned to be careful after having a skunk suddenly cross my path in the darkness of the early morning.

          When the days were hot during the summer or when the weather was bad, I would usually drive to Park City where I would walk in the mall.  That was fun but the hard floors were hard on my feet and back. Even so I was still able to earn numerous honors (shirts) from a Penn Manor Wellness committee for my walking records. Dianne often walked with me there.

          But over the years three neck and back surgeries made walking much more difficult.  But a program for Pulmonary Rehab kept me going.  I enjoyed using a variety of machines to keep walking and staying in shape. I also met a number of nice people during my months there.  And I felt much better.

          Then I hit another roadblock.  Covid forced the sudden closure of rehab and suddenly my walking was curtailed.  I really miss rehab.

          Then came the cane.  Then a walker.  Next came a rollater.  Before I knew it, I was dependent on each of these. Now I am in physical therapy where they are trying to teach me to walk once again.  The process is slow and discouraging. 

          It is hard to become handicapped.  It is hard not to be able to do the many things that you have been always able to do all of your life.  You never see these changes happening to you.  But, they do, too suddenly.

          However, I have been trying to learn a few lessons. Be thankful today for the many normal things you can still do.  You may not be able to do those things tomorrow, so don't take them for granted today.

          Be willing to find ways to help others who are slowing down or are becoming handicapped. In the near future you might need someone who is willing to help you. It happens.  Becoming handicapped makes one lonely, needy and discouraged.

          Appreciate what you have today and what you can still do.  Be thankful each day for what abilities the Lord still has allowed you to have.  Trust Him for tomorrow.

          "Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord."  Psalm 119:1

          If you can walk, be thankful.  If you can't, then continue a caring spiritual walk with Jesus.  He will never leave you no matter how handicapped you may become.

Helping The Handicapped (LB)

Looking Back - The feature in which I repeat a blog that I have shared in the past.  This blog from 2019 is even more timely since today I use a cane or a walker and my wife uses a cane.  And things haven't gotten any better in ten years.

           Have you ever really thought about the problems that even moderately handicapped people face? I doubt that most of us do until we are faced with the problem ourselves. I imagine that probably was true even with me until my wife began using a cane.  

          It has been interesting to see how folks interact with you when you are forced to use something like a cane. Now in all fairness, there are some people who are very considerate. They let you go ahead. They ask if they can help. They hold doors for you. Fortunately there are still some people with manners who are considerate of those with special needs. 

          Now as you might expect, children are the worst problem. They run, they bump into you, they rush ahead, and they cut right in front of you. But they do that even to older folks who aren't handicapped. On a Sunday morning I have often been bumped by running children while I am trying to carry my coffee. At times that can almost be an adventure and even a little dangerous. 

          But teens and young adults usually aren't much better. In the malls they don't get out of your way. You need to move for them. And they rush to beat you in and out of the doors, especially those which open automatically. But many adults act the same. It is common when we walk at Park City to have folks cut right in front of us or stop suddenly right in front of us. And many of them also like to beat you through the automatic doors. 

          Then there are those who park in the striped areas between handicapped parking slots which are designed for vans and room for the handicapped to exit or enter their vehicles. As I said, I guess we just don't think much about those things until we have a handicap or we spend time with somebody who does. 

          Maybe all students should be required to spend a day or two as a "handicapped person" to experience these problems. And we have also become more aware of the problems handicapped have with access to facilities. We have been learning the problems of dealing with steps when ramps and elevators are not available. 

          On our trip to Commanders College last week, we visited the church where Awana really developed sixty years ago. Surprisingly it was not the least bit handicapped accessible. There were steep steps everywhere to get into the building and then again into the sanctuary. No ramps or elevators were provided. At one point my wife had to wait until everybody in our group had passed before she could begin difficult task of using the steps. She had struggled halfway when somebody from the church suddenly appeared and told her to be careful because they didn't have any insurance if she should hurt herself. We weren't sure whether to laugh or cry about his warning.

           But, unfortunately, that is often the attitude of people who aren't handicapped themselves - at least physically handicapped. And maybe that comment also tells you why this formerly thriving church, with an auditorium that seats about 400, now only averages 30 to 40 each Sunday. I sure hope this guy wasn't the church greeter!

Mother's Dictionary

Mother's Dictionary
A blog dedicated to all mothers

Bottle feeding: An opportunity for Dad to get up at 2 a.m. also.

Defense: What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to let the children play outside.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Prepared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Verbal: Able to whine in words.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a sponge."

Hurry Up And Wait

Another of the writings for my grandchildren.

"I think my throat is closing!"

 

These were the words that I mumbled to Dianne at about 7 a.m.  We were in a Reading motel room, and I had been having trouble getting saliva and swallowing since about 3:30 a.m.  And, it seemed like my problem was getting worse.

 

Jim Herrold, my former college roommate, was getting remarried that morning in a nearby town at 11 a.m.  I was to be the best man and we needed to leave by 10 a.m. to get to the wedding in time.  We had come for practice the night before and after a practice dinner we had returned to the motel to avoid the trip home.

 

Aware of my concern and discomfort, Dianne helped me quickly pack our belongings.  We decided to dress for the wedding, check out and head to the closest emergency room.

 

We arrived at the emergency room before 8 a.m. and shared not only my physical problem but also our need to leave by 10 a.m. to drive to the wedding. While I was having difficulty talking at that point they seemed to understand and appreciate my situation.  They assured me that getting help in time would not be a problem since it was early Saturday morning and only one person was ahead of me.

 

So we waited … and we waited … and 45 minutes later I was taken to an observation room where two ladies began to ask me a battery of questions.  They took all sorts of tests, but never even looked at my throat.  I had hoped that one was a doctor but it turned out that they were both nurses. They kept assuring me, however, that I would be out in time to participate in the wedding.

 

After this battery of questions they decided I needed an EKG and I had to take off my wedding clothing to have this done.

 

With this accomplished, they then put me into a wheelchair and wheeled me to another observation room where a doctor was supposed to finally see me.  By then it was already 9:30 and we had just 30 minutes before we had to leave.

 

Finally another young lady appeared in the new room and again went over my history and problem.  She never looked at my throat either, but she informed me that it was probably mucous caught behind my tonsils.  She said this often happens.

 

She seemed surprised when I told her that this would be unusual since my tonsils were removed years ago.  She then told me that a doctor would soon be in to see me … she wasn't a doctor either.

 

I told her that I only had 30 minutes until I had to leave and asked her if I'd get to see a doctor in that time.  Her reply? "Probably not, and if you really have to leave just let me know."

 

Incidentally, that was the last time I saw her.  And, 30 minutes later I went out to the desk and told them I had to leave.  At first they thought I'd have to sign a form but then they decided that since I hadn't seen a doctor I could just leave.  They suggested that I come back after the wedding.

 

We had waited there for two hours and had seen three nurses, but nobody had even looked at my throat.  They had to be kidding!   Why would I ever return there?

 

Someone volunteered to show us how to get out and we left – hopefully never to return.

 

Incidentally, the longer we were out of the motel room, the better my throat became.  I really believe that it was either something in the room or the air conditioning or something I ate the night before.

 

On Monday I tried to make an appointment with my throat specialist at home.  I told her receptionist that I had been to the emergency room and needed a follow up visit.  The first appointment they could give me was three weeks later.  So I guess the Lord knew I had to learn the lesson "hurry up and wait"!

 

Do you find it hard to wait?  I do.  We all want instant answers and instant help.  But sometimes the Lord requires that we wait until He is ready, in His perfect timing, to answer and direct us.  So at times we must learn in our spiritual walk to wait and to trust Him fully.  And, He never will leave us down.

 

The Psalmist must have realized this when he penned the words of Psalm 27:13,14.  "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, on the Lord."  And waiting on Him is always the best choice.

 

Oh yes, we arrived at the wedding on time and we had a wonderful experience at a Christ honoring ceremony.  I was fully able to participate and to even enjoy the great food at the reception.

 

And one final observation. … the hospital never took my address or my insurance information.  So while I don't know the results of my EKG and other tests, they don't know how or where to bill me. I guess they will just have to wait for a payment.  

 

It was an "interesting" way to spend a morning!

Look Alike (LB)

Looking Back - Another blog which I have posted previously. This was posted in 2012.

          Last week I went to a viewing of the father of a friend who attends our church. The father used to attend our church, but the mother never did because she was of another faith. I only recall having seen her once before and that was many years ago at a wedding.     

          Dianne had to lead a Bible study that morning so she was unable to attend the viewing. But I felt to support our friends I would at least go to the viewing. 

          The widow was seated and I was about sixth in line. I had planned to introduce myself to the widow and offer our condolences. However, when it was my turn, before I could even say anything, she said to me, "You must be a Kauffman". I was stunned. How would she know that? Then she said that she had worked with my father at RCA. But that had to be at least 30 years ago. I guess that the older I get, the more I look like my father. Several people have recently told me that. And I don't mind. I wish that I could be half the man that he was. 

          But what is even more interesting is that several people have remarked that I remind them of my grandfather, Pastor Wolf. I find that very interesting because he was a stepfather and there is no blood line from him to me. My father's real father died when he was just a baby. His mother remarried and Pastor Wolf was the only father my dad had ever really known. And while there is no reason that I should look like him, I am honored that some think I do. He was a great man of God. 

           It is very interesting to look at baby pictures and see how many of our children and grandchildren looked the same, especially as youngsters. Physical characteristics are so often shared in families and it is often easy to tell a member of the family just by the physical resemblances. 

           I know of one father who advised his son when he became of dating age that he should look at the girl's mother because that is how the girl will probably look like 30 or 40 years from now. I'm not sure what I think of that advice, even though it may be true. 

          But there is a more important resemblance that we should strive for, our resemblance to the Lord. Do people see Christ in our lives? Does our countenance reflect the Lord? Does our attitude show the love and grace of the Lord? Are people drawn to the Lord because of what they see in us? 

          Physically we can do little about the characteristics that we inherit from our ancestors. Whether we like it or not, the resemblances will be there. But spiritually we have the choice. Is it our desire to become more like Him each day? That should be our desire and goal each day of our life.

1.  O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, 

come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image 

deep on my heart.

2.   O to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wand'ring sinners to find.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, 

come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image 

deep on my heart.

3.   O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, 

come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image 

deep on my heart.

4.   O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,

Now to receive the' anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing;

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, 

come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image 

deep on my heart.

5.   O to be like Thee! While I am pleading

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, 

come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image 

deep on my heart.

A Story. For Easter

A special story to make us think about how rich we really are in these days of inflation and shortages.  We all have so much.  Think about it on this Easter season.

THE RICH FAMILY IN CHURCH

By Eddie Ogan

          I'll never forget Easter 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12,and my older sister Darlene 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, leaving Mom with seven school kids to raise and no money.

          By 1946 my older sisters were married and my brothers had left home. A month before Easter the pastor of our church announced that a special Easter offering would be taken to help a poor family. He asked everyone to save and give sacrificially.

          When we got home, we talked about what we could do. We decided to buy 50 pounds of potatoes and live on them for a month. This would allow us to save $20 of our grocery money for the offering. When we thought that if we kept our electric lights turned out as much as possible and didn't listen to the radio, we'd save money on that month's electric bill. Darlene got as many house and yard cleaning jobs as possible, and both of us babysat for everyone we could. For 15 cents we could buy enough cotton loops to make three pot holders to sell for $1.

          We made $20 on pot holders. That month was one of the best of our lives.

          Every day we counted the money to see how much we had saved. At night we'd sit in the dark and talk about how the poor family was going to enjoy having the money the church would give them. We had about 80 people in church, so figured that whatever amount of money we had to give, the offering would surely be 20 times that much. After all, every Sunday the pastor had reminded everyone to save for the sacrificial offering.

          The day before Easter, Ocy and I walked to the grocery store and got the manager to give us three crisp $20 bills and one $10 bill for all our change.  We ran all the way home to show Mom and Darlene. We had never had so much money before.

          That night we were so excited we could hardly sleep. We didn't care that we wouldn't have new clothes for Easter; we had $70 for the sacrificial offering.

          We could hardly wait to get to church! On Sunday morning, rain was pouring. We didn't own an umbrella, and the church was over a mile from our home, but it didn't seem to matter how wet we got. Darlene had cardboard in her shoes to fill the holes. The cardboard came apart, and her feet got wet.

          But we sat in church proudly. I heard some teenagers talking about the Smith girls having on their old dresses. I looked at them in their new clothes, and I felt rich.

          When the sacrificial offering was taken, we were sitting on the second row from the front. Mom put in the $10 bill, and each of us kids put in a $20.

          As we walked home after church, we sang all the way. At lunch Mom had a surprise for us. She had bought a dozen eggs, and we had boiled Easter eggs with our fried potatoes! Late that afternoon the minister drove up in his car. Mom went to the door, talked with him for a moment, and then came back with an envelope in her hand. We asked what it was, but she didn't say a word. She opened the envelope and out fell a bunch of money. There were three crisp $20 bills, one $10 and seventeen $1 bills.

          Mom put the money back in the envelope. We didn't talk, just sat and stared at the floor. We had gone from feeling like millionaires to feeling like poor white trash. We kids had such a happy life that we felt sorry for anyone who didn't have our Mom and Dad for parents and a house full of brothers and sisters and other kids visiting constantly. We thought it was fun to share silverware and see whether we got the spoon or the fork that night.

          We had two knifes that we passed around to whoever needed them. I knew we didn't have a lot of things that other people had, but I'd never thought we were poor.

          That Easter day I found out we were. The minister had brought us the money for the poor family, so we must be poor. I didn't like being poor. I looked at my dress and worn-out shoes and felt so ashamed--I didn't even want to go back to church. Everyone there probably already knew we were poor!

          I thought about school. I was in the ninth grade and at the top of my class of over 100 students. I wondered if the kids at school knew that we were poor. I decided that I could quit school since I had finished the eighth grade. That was all the law required at that time. We sat in silence for a long time. Then it got dark, and we went to bed. All that week, we girls went to school and came home, and no one talked much. Finally on Saturday, Mom asked us what we wanted to do with the money. What did poor people do with money? We didn't know. We'd never known we were poor. We didn't want to go to church on Sunday, but Mom said we had to. Although it was a sunny day, we didn't talk on the way.

          Mom started to sing, but no one joined in and she only sang one verse. At church we had a missionary speaker. He talked about how churches in Africa made buildings out of sun dried bricks, but they needed money to buy roofs. He said $100 would put a roof on a church. The minister said, "Can't we all sacrifice to help these poor people?" We looked at each other and smiled for the first time in a week.

          Mom reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope. She passed it to Darlene. Darlene gave it to me, and I handed it to Ocy. Ocy put it in the offering.

          When the offering was counted, the minister announced that it was a little over $100. The missionary was excited. He hadn't expected such a large offering from our small church. He said, "You must have some rich people in this church."

          Suddenly it struck us! We had given $87 of that "little over $100."

          We were the rich family in the church! Hadn't the missionary said so? From that day on I've never been poor again. I've always remembered how rich I am because I have Jesus!

On The Move

Another of my writings for my grandchildren.

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which you should go.  I will guide you with my eye."    Psalms 139:3.   This verse must have been very real to my parents, for in my early years it was move, move, and move.

 

Times were difficult when I was born.  World War II had changed life in America.  Jobs were scarce and the wartime economy put the squeeze on everyone.

 

After I was born in Sunbury in 1941, Grandpa Kauffman found a high school math teaching job in Doylestown.  Making only $1,200 a year, he couldn't afford to have our family live there with him.  So Grandma and I spent our early months living in the parsonage with the Wolfs in Sunbury. My dad came home to be with us on the weekends.

 

While I don't recall much about that year, I've heard many stories and viewed many pictures.  Grandma Ettinger (Grandma Wolf's step mother) also lived there during those years.  Living next door were the Wagners and their daughter, Arlene, who later married Bob Gehret.

 

Then it was on to New Cumberland where Grandpa Kauffman found a job - teaching math at New Cumberland High School.  We lived across the street from the school and I have some memories of visiting the school and attending basketball games with my father.  Grandpa had been allowed to play football while he was a student at Susquehanna University – this was unusual in those days for a Christian, especially a preacher's son.  As a result he was also able to serve as an assistant football coach at New Cumberland.

 

I don't remember it, but I am told that I decided to varnish one of the walls in our house just after new wallpaper had been installed.  Fortunately they were able to replace the damaged paper and repair my paint job.

 

The war interrupted Grandpa's high school teaching and we moved to Selinsgrove where he taught Air Force cadets at Susquehanna University.  I don't remember too much about our short stay there except that my little dog, Penny, was killed by a car when he ran into the street in front of our house while I was playing in the front yard.

 

Later my dad was hired to work for Dupont in Wilmington, Delaware as an industrial engineer working on the Manhattan Project.  My mother was pregnant with Uncle Terry and until dad could find us a place to live we moved back to the Sunbury parsonage with the Wolfs. 

 

After Terry was born we moved to Wilmington.  We lived in a newly built apartment building and at times I can still recall the smell of the new wallboard and other building materials.  I also remember that we often took the train to Chester to worship in the Chester Mennonite Brethren In Christ Church, long before the name was changed to Bible Fellowship.  That church is now the Wallingford Bible Fellowship Church.

 

I also have special wartime memories from Wilmington.  I can recall the sirens and the resulting blackouts.  All lights had to be turned off so incoming enemy bombers couldn't see any locations.  Those were scary events.  But I also remember when the war ended and my father took me downtown to watch everyone celebrating.  While I didn't really understand the war, that joyous event made a real impression upon me as a young child.

 

Then it was back to new Cumberland where Grandpa returned to teaching math and coaching football.  Since we didn't have a car, I remember taking the bus with my mother to go to Harrisburg to shop.  Grandpa used to take the bus to shop for our groceries. Pastor Jansen Hartman, a close friend of Grandpa Kauffman, used to come and take us to the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church in Harrisburg.  It was here that I began school as a first grader.  At that time children did not attend preschool or kindergarten.  So after six different homes in six years, I was now in school.

 

But near the end of that school year it was off again, this time to home number seven, in Elizabethtown.  My dad took a temporary job at Elizabethtown College teaching math and physics.  We lived on the first floor of a big house on the corner of the college campus.  My yard was a large portion of the campus and I loved it. My first Boston Terrier, Frisky, joined our family.  Grandpa also bought his first car while we lived here.  What I didn't know until much later in my life was that Grammy and her parents were actually living just a few blocks from us.

 

One memory I have is a fire in the basement of our house.  The professor who lived upstairs carelessly emptied the hot ashes from the furnace and placed them in cardboard boxes.  The fire company came but fortunately there was no major damage.  

 

I finished first grade and second grade and then we moved again.  Grandpa Kauffman was hired as an engineer at RCA in Lancaster and we moved into the big city, on North Queen St.- home number eight.  It was really fun there because we lived upstairs and John and Ellen Derck lived downstairs.  That is probably one of the reasons I have had a very special bond with them.

 

When they moved, we rented the entire house and moved downstairs – I guess that could be home number nine. We often used the extra upstairs rooms to keep visiting pastors, missionaries, and Berean Bible School students who were helping with the establishment of our new church in Lancaster.  I was one of the charter members of our church which was formed in 1950.

 

I loved the city.  It was then safe to walk downtown and I often went there and walked through the stores after school.  We didn't have much of a yard but we had a big house with plenty of room to play.  I walked to George Ross Elementary School where I completed third and fourth grades.  Aunt Kendy was born while we lived there.

 

One more move – my parents finally built a house in Lititz – number ten for me.  I went to Lititz Elementary beginning in grade five and finished by graduating from Warwick in 1959.  I quickly fell in love with Lititz and often thank the Lord that our long journey ended there. It was a wonderful, safe small town with nice people and great traditions.

 

When we trust the Lord, He does direct our paths.  My parents followed the Lord in faith and He did provide all that they needed.  My many moves and readjustments didn't hurt me at all.  In fact I think they taught me many valuable lessons, including the faithfulness and provision of the Lord.  God is so good – all the time!

April fools (LB)

Looking Back is a feature in which I repeat a blog that I wrote in the past.  This one was first posted here in 2012.  I thought it might be appropriate for April Fool's Day in 2022.  Incidentally I no longer "celebrate" this day.

          As a teacher I was always looking for creative and unusual ways to get a point across to my students. I was always sure that given a chance I could teach a fake lesson and my students would follow along, take notes, nod their heads in agreement, and not challenge what I said. 

          And so I began a tradition of every few years on April 1 teaching the Looflirpa Theorem. And I was generally very successful in pulling it off. One year I was so successful that even though the next day my students were told that it was fake and we reviewed the incorrect steps, I still had a student who tried to apply it on the final exam. 

          Well I thought that if I could pull this off in the classroom I could probably do the same thing to our friends by e-mail. And so about a decade ago I began a new "tradition". After we returned from a trip to Florida I prepared an e-mail which said that we had so much fun there that we were purchasing a home and moving there in a few months. My April Fool's Day e-mail was so very effective - the best one ever - that we had friends calling and tearfully saying how much they would miss us. 

           That one has been hard to beat. But every year since then I have sent out an e-mail presenting a "fake" problem - a new law that was passed, a tax increase on gum and candy, a charge for bulk mailing our prayer chain e-mails, etc. Some have worked, others have not. 

         Last year I shared that Taco Bell was obtaining the naming rights to the Liberty Bell and would rename it the Taco Bell. This really upset a number of folks until they went to my link and realized that it was my annual prank. 

          But each year it has become harder to do one since folks now are expecting it and are on guard. I had decided to "retire" this year and give it up. And I probably should have quit while I was ahead. However, several folks wrote to me or talked to me on Sunday morning and wondered when I was going to send out my annual e-mail. A few years ago even our pastor mentioned this "tradition" in one of his messages. 

          So I thought I'd give it one more shot and late Sunday afternoon I sent one out informing folks that I might have spread a virus that would affect everyone in my address book beginning April 6 (my birthday). I always prepare a web page and send folks to it to reveal that it is an April Fool's Day joke. I provided a link to this page telling them that there they would find the remedy and protection for this virus. But this year I ran into numerous problems. Several reported back that the link wouldn't work for them and wondered what they should do to avoid the virus. I either sent them another link or told them to relax since it was just a joke. When I received numerous "complaints" about the enclosed link I had to send out another bulk e-mail with a new link. Some wanted to make sure that the e-mail really came from me before they clicked on the link and got another virus. One waited to have the tech person at work check her computer. A couple of others called us because they were worried about what we had done to their computer. And a few others ignored it completely or assumed that it was a joke and didn't even try the link.   

           Only a few replied that they were tricked and thought it was funny. One said "you got me once again" and another "hook, line and sinker - we are still laughing about it!" It is interesting, however, that despite the reactions and concerns, my counter on the linked web page showed over 130 hits. Maybe that year I may have gone too far. I probably upset a number of folks and have others who didn't check the link worried about the April 6 virus. Hopefully after April 6 I will be forgiven. So maybe it is really time to "retire" this "tradition". 

          Maybe this year I was really the April Fool!