Vacations are so good for the soul, aren't they? We have had a perfectly marvelous week, driving from Wichita to Rogers AR, on to the Hot Springs area and ending up in Branson to celebrate Carla's 39th birthday. It was filled with beautiful days, great conversation, boat rides, dear old friends and family (that OLD refers to long-time, certainly not their age!) and seasoned with lots of good food and fellowship. Our trip began with an overnight visit with Jerry's Aunt Timmy and his cousin Betty in Rogers AR. It had been quite some time since we had been to Rogers, though we did get to see this family in KC at Christmas time. Its always good to be able to sit down with kinfolk. The sunset on Lake Oachita was a real treat - we joined Glenn and Louan Rogers at the lake house of Jim and Norma Webb for several days. It was a time of total relaxation with all the quality conversation one could ever ask for, time to read, nap, hike and celebrate our journey through this life together. Jerry is fishing with his almost-14 year old friend, Walter, on Lake Hamilton. Walter's dad was in high school in our first youth group in Hobart OK, so we go back quite a few years. The day we spent with Kelly and Walter was Carla's birthday, and Walter's grandfather was my attending physician at that big event. Walter even took us by boat to see Buena Vista on Lake Hamilton, the resort where we spent our honeymoon in 1963, as well as our 5th wedding anniversary--so it was a memorable boat ride (and Jerry and Walter didn't disturb any fish either!) We have never spent an overnight in Branson since its entry into the entertainment world, so this was a first for us. We joined Carla at a Lodge on the Strip for the occasion. Her "aunt and uncle", Mike and Phyllis Garrett, joined us for a celebratory dinner at Big Cedar Lodge - what a fantastic spot that is! It was a great way to observe her birthday, in a gorgeous setting with great food and very special family friends. Of course, we spent the next day at Silver Dollar City, our favorite spot ever - the World Fest was going on, which we had never attended. One of the entertainers was Kerry Christensen, world-class yodeler whom we have enjoyed on numerous occasions at the Wurstfest in New Braunfels - so that was a treat to hear him again. The Chinese acrobats were absolutely amazing and heart-stopping. Irish musicians and dancers took us back in our minds to our Irish trip in 2004. Don't miss dining at the Hard Luck Diner either - another experience with all the singing waiters and waitresses. And top off the evening with a good country & western show, and what more could you ask for? Its always good to get back home - so here we are. We hope all is well with you - we rejoice with the news that Enid OK FPC has called a new pastor - and we ask for your continued prayers for our Associate Pastor's wife, Carol, as she continues with her chemotherapy. Her first experience this past week was not a very good one. I'm going to go to Kansas City tomorrow afternoon, spend the night with Carla, and attend PEO with her on Tuesday. I was invited to dimit to her chapter, so I hope to be able to attend a few meetings with her while we are still in Wichita. Take care, and God bless each of you.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! and a great big halleluljah that God loves you and me SO much that He sent His son to die for us. What a gift! And I thank Him every day for this gift, for loving me, and for giving us the gift of your friendship in this journey of life. Bless you, each and every one! We celebrated a glorious Easter, beginning with a 6a.m. sunrise service held in the chapel, led by our Worship Team. I wish each one of you could hear them - what an incredible ministry they have, and so many gifts. While the service was indoors, and we didn't really know when the sun came up, the symbolism was great--the chapel in the dark with a light on the table which contained a most meaningful arrangement of various colored flowers, the single Christ candle, and the rock--and the praise team in the back singing a song that told the story of that Easter morning..and as they progressed through the song, the lights became brighter, and the team processed up the center aisle--I loved it!!! Following a continental breakfast in the gym, the next 3 services took place in the sanctuary-the middle two with the Chancel Choir, and the last service once again with the Praise Team, but an appropriate worship for that hour of the day, rather than sunrise. Wow! I felt totally churched and so filled. Can there be anything better than getting to sing "Because He Lives" 3 times in one morning, and being allowed to join in the singing of the "Hallelujah Chorus" 2 times? AND hearing a strong word from the Lord through the preacher! I hope your Easter was a blessing to you as well. Carla came down Sunday afternoon after she finished at Pine Ridge Pres, and we had a good 24 hours together--its been so neat to be this close, and we are continuing to take advantage of this opportunity, for it will soon come to an end. VACATION begins tomorrow! We look forward to an overnight visit with Jerry's Aunt Timmy and cousin Betty in Rogers AR; on to visit our Midland friends, Jim and Norma Webb, who have a home on Lake Ouachita outside of Hot Springs. We will be joined by Glenn and Louan Rogers...and we will not lack for conversation or laughter--I am eager to once again be sitting on their deck looking at the beautiful Arkansas scenery and just totally relaxing. We leave them on Tuesday and go to another friend's home, this time on Lake Hamilton. Kelly was a high school student in our first parish, and now is a physician in Hot Springs--he and Jerry have some fishing planned, I know! On Wednesday, we drive to Branson to meet Carla for two nights, celebrate her birthday, see a show or two, visit Silver Dollar City, and head home on the 28th. This morning we were blessed by attending the Wichita City-wide Prayer Breakfast - a sold-out event, where we heard Jim Shaus (Athletic Director at Wichita State) give his testimony; heard our mayor, Carlos Mayans, give his testimony of coming to this country as a child, being separated from his siblings and placed in a variety of foster homes, and knowing Jesus as his personal Saviour; and the treat of listening to Micheal Flaherty, co-founder and president of Walden Media, who feels called to serve Christ through his vision of fusing entertainment and education in an attempt to get people of all ages to read--and just co-produced the Narnia movie (and two earlier ones, "Because of Winn-Dixie" and "Holes.") It was a dynamic way to start this glorious day. Love and hugs to all of you. We'll be back in touch after our vacation. Mary

Tornado Season in Kansas - Last weekend we spent a couple of days at the Buford's ranch in the Flint Hills - it was absolutely gorgeous..but it is tornado season. We were assured by our host that the basement is not just a tornado-shelter but tornado-proof and that was comforting..but most exciting was to watch the clouds and wind as the weather pattern rolled through, and marvel at the mysteries of nature! I am glad to say that we did not experience a tornado, and we were able to sleep peacefully by the time bedtime rolled around. But oh did the wind blow - one day the lake was whitecapping from the south, and the next day it was whitecapping in the opposite direction. But by Saturday we were able to have three hours on the lake in the boat chasing the elusive fish that were apparently just laughing at the fisherman in the boat! We are both a year older now - and enjoyed the birthday week very much, and hearing from many of you..thanks! On Sunday afternoon, I came downstairs getting ready to go to the Women's Tea at Eastminster and literally walked right by Carla sitting at the dining room table without even noticing! What a surprise! So our world was considerably brightened by her presence--it was a treat to take her to the tea and be able to introduce her to many of our new friends in the church. And then her Dad took us to Abuelos for dinner, which topped off a wonderful birthday. We are taking the afternoon off to drive to Enid and have tea with our dear friends, Jane and Garry Munger, this afternoon...then a bite of supper with friend Pat Mundy, and we will come back this evening. Its amazing we are only two hours away - living in Midland all those years gave me the mind-set that everything is 300 miles away..and I find there are places in this world where that is simply not true! Amazing! May the meaning of this Holy Week be close to your heart this week, as we walk with Jesus on these last few days of His life. What a gift! Hallelujah! Love, Mary and Jerry

Spring is here - and DST as well!

Dear Friends, Some of you were reading earlier blogs and prayed for Jo when she was taking her Level III Interpreter exam (once again!). If you don't read her own blog, which is linked to ours, I'll share her latest entry because she has achieved her goal, and we are so proud of her: FROM JO:I have (finally) attained my Level III Interpreter Certification in the state of Texas! This certification has been a long process and I have taken the test several times. I am very proud to be a Level III!! More importantly, I'm very grateful to my Interpreter friends and mentors and those Deaf people that have helped me to grow in the language. This Certification is a big deal for me! :-) and I am VERY happy! < :o) Its an absolutely glorious day in Wichita. Jerry has been attending a committee meeting for Tres Rios Presbytery. While he was out of town, my friend Nancy Rabe from Marshall MO came over. We have had a glorious 48 hours girls-time, which included some fun shopping and exploring in Wichita; a trip to Yoder KS which is an Amish and Mennonite community to view their spectacular quilt showing, shop in quaint and unusual shops and eat delicious food at the Carriage Crossing restaurant; dine out in Wichita; and talk, talk, talk! Once again its been a blessing to be in Wichita, which is close enough to Marshall for us to have seen each other at least three times already this year. This month they leave for their summer home in northern Wisconsin and we leave Wichita - but distance doesn't bother friendships like ours. Our intention was to do some serious quilting while we visited, but guess what? It NEVER happened! Its been wonderful to receive responses from so many of you on our new blog location. Thank you ever so much. This is truly much easier to handle than our AOL journal (for me as well as for you) so we will keep it up. Our winter didn't amount to much in Wichita, and that has been my only disappointment this year - and its such a small disappointment! The pear trees are all in bloom, including the little one pictured with ice on it a couple of blogs ago, and the city looks beautiful. We have lots of things left to do and see in Wichita during the next few months as well as a vacation trip to Arkansas after Easter, so these days will fly by, I know. We appreciate your continued prayers for our Pastor Nominating committee (PNC) as they work on their refined list of candidates for this pulpit. Carla is at Young Christians Weekend (YCW) at Silver Dollar City today - and what a great day to be doing that. The Ozarks must be gorgeous--I hope the redbuds and the dogwood are out for her. SDC is one of our family's favorite places (of course--its in the Ozarks!) and we've spent many wonderful days at the City including a lot of YCW. The Herschend family, who created SDC, are strong Christians (one is a Presbyterian elder), and early on brought in Young Life folks to work with their staff at the City. They have a great ministry in that area. Please plan to spend a day there, if you are ever in the area. Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead tonight..and have a blessed Lord's Day! Love, Mary and Jerry