Four and Counting

Living near OK City for the last ten months has given me the opportunity to see several (said 'four') friends as they have passed through the area.

1. Such was the case when Dr. Delma and Edna Lee Lowery stopped by to see me in October. Dr. Lowery was one of my teachers at Southland Bible Institute in Ashland, KY. He is a Bible Expositor and I learned a lot from his teaching. He and Mrs.Lowery were holding a Bible conference in Guthrie OK and were on their way to Dallas. They spent a couple hours with the Crawfords and me before heading south.

2. Earlier in the summer I had a surprise visit from Justin Franchino - one of my fellow graduates from New Tribes Mission. Actually, the visit was a surprise for him too since he was passing through Oklahoma for a completely different reason and suddenly remembered (as he was at the OK City airport) that I was in OK too! So Valerie took us sight-seeing and gave us a tour of the National Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame and the OK City Memorial (bombing sight).

And just as a little reminder, I have also seen
3. Chris and Ginger Mackey and
4. Marty and Tess Stapleton since I've been out here. (Those visits I recorded in earlier posts.)

I never thought of OK City as 'the hub' but now I'm having second thoughts! And if any of you want to be number five, just come - announced or unannounced. I'll take it either way. :D



Dr. & Mrs. Delma Lowery



In prison at the National Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame



After touring the NCMHF, a visit to a Western Wear store is a must. Just don't buy anything. Trying it on is cheaper. And more entertaining.


SCENES fROM THE OK CITY MEMORIAL

The blue stickers were our passes into the Cowboy Museum. Franchino amused the sticker patrol by putting his in a non-conventional place.



One column says 9:01. The other says 9:03. The empty space in between shows what happened at 9:02.



9:02 - The in-between






































At the airport

God Wants to Hear you Sing

I recently heard this song on a Sunday night at the church I attend here in Oklahoma. It struck a chord in my heart and has now become a favorite of mine.

Verse 1
Their chains were fastened tight
down at the jail that night
Still Paul and Silas would not be dismayed
They said, "It's time to lift our voice,
Sing praises to the Lord.
Let's prove that we will trust Him come what may."

Chorus
God wants to hear you sing
When the waves are crashing 'round you
When the fiery darts surround you
And despair is all you see
God wants to hear your voice
When the wisest man has spoken
And says your circumstance is as hopeless as can be
That's when God wants to hear you sing.

Verse 2
He loves to hear our praise
On our cheerful days
When the pleasant times outweigh the bad by far
But when suffering comes along,
And we still sing Him songs
That is when we bless the Father's heart.


- By Rodney Griffin

Baby Dedication

September 20th found me with Mark and Bambie again - and this time to be a part of the baby dedication for Joel. The verse Mark and Bambie chose to describe what they envision for Joel's life was Psalm 83:18 "That men may know that Thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH art the most High over all the earth" Their prayer is that Joel would be a part of making JEHOVAH's name known wherever he goes.




Pastor Wess praying that God would make Joel a mighty evangelist who brings many people to God


Still happy at the end of his first bath


I caught this smile in the middle of one of his naps

Blessed is the Man who has his Quiver Full

Another arrow - arrow #6 - was added to Mark and Bambie's quiver and makes the 13th grandchild in the Baer family! Joel Michael Getz was born on September 9, 2009 at 8:07 a.m. weighing 9 lbs. and 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. I was blessed to be in Duncan, OK for the birth and spend six days playing 'Aunt Sonya'. I love to see how God orchestrates our lives. Neither Bambie nor I would have thought that both of us would be living out here in OK at the time of Joel's birth. God graciously allowed us to share this moment together as sisters. Thanks, God!



In Anticipation



Big sis, Alethea, and baby brother - about 10 minutes into life in the outside world



3 Hands: Daddy's hands, big brother Jonathan's hands and lil' bro Joel



Proud,thankful & tired Mommy



Bambie's "Welcome Home" sign that Alethea made - "Welcome home to a clean (almost) house, Mom. Missed you very much!"



Big brothers Benjamin & Daniel making Joel his first birthday cake to welcome him home from the hospital



Zero years old ("J", "O", plus "A", "L") close enough!



Jonathan the day of the birth "I can't wait till Joel is here!"



I finally get MY turn!

Home Sweet Home

At least for a little while. July 21-August 5th found me back in the Appalachian Mountains. I went home for our annual week of Bible Camp and had a special time of visiting and reconnecting with family and friends, luvin' on my cat, Moses, and soaking into my senses everything I love about where I live - the mountain air, bubbling river, songs of the birds, crickets outside my window, stillness, darkness, full moon rising above the mountain ridges casting its light on the river below, enclosure, 'aloneness'...ahhh! So here are some camp scenes for you. All my siblings, their spouses and kids were there to help at camp (except for Bambie since she's out here in Oklahoma).


See, Moses wants to come with me to OK!


Our Bus Kids on their way to camp




Annual shaving cream battle


Sophia's cabin


Oatmeal game aftermath




Chapel Time




Aunt Sophia and Kate


Grandpa and Amelia


Aunt Sonya and Lydia




























Emma

Vacation in CA - I mean...for treatment, yeah, treatment

By doctors orders I went to the West Coast for a vacation - well, it was sort of like that. My Upper Cervical Chiropractor here in Oklahoma said that it would be a great idea to get some prolotherapy treatment right now in conjunction with what he was doing for me. So I booked a flight to Sacramento and was in CA from July 1st-17th. Nope. I did not get pictures of me receiving my injections. But I did get what I went out there to get. You'll just have to trust me on that one.






LAKE TAHOE - would be CA largest natural lake except that part of it is in the state of Nevada










My wonderful friends - Dr. Rodney & Kim VanPelt


Look closely to see the eagle in flight. He swooped down about thirty feet in front of us and caught a fish.








Dad and Mom were able to join me in California for two days. They came to get prolotherapy too. But no one should be in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and not enjoy the outdoors.


Coming out of Blue Lake


See, it's calling to you. Don't you just wanta get in?!

Loved. Overwhelmed. Grateful.

Has God ever 'caught you off guard' with a blessing for which you did not ask? I think God likes to surprise us as much as we like being surprised. When I said goodbye to my fellow missionary friends in November '07 I had no idea when we would meet again on this side of eternity. But on June 9th I found myself giving a big Baer hug to Chris and Ginger Mackey and their son whom I had never met.


Born in Brazil, Tekoa is blessed with dual citizenship


Baby 2 on the way - a little Ginger on the way!


Ginger, Chris & Tekoa


A night at Chris' grandmother's house