Marionville White Squirrel - at last!

I first visited the Hiltons in Crane MO in 1962. The closest town is Marionville MO, billed as "the home of the white squirrels". What white squirrels? Jerry has always said he has seen them there, but I never ever saw a white squirrel. 47 years later, I have just seen my first white squirrel in Marionville. It happened last Saturday, when we were in Marionville to visit the Pumpkin Patch with our Monett friends. Jerry and I took a little drive through the town- actually Jerry was looking to see if he could find his great-aunt's house...and he said "there is a white squirrel that you say doesn't exist in Marionville." WOW. I not only saw it with my own eyes, but I got to take pictures of it. Thank you, white squirrel, for finally coming in to my life! You really do exist.

Isaiah 43:19: I am about to do a new thing

On Dec. 11, 2006, the Crane Presbyterian Church burned to the ground in a devastating fire late in the evening following the church's Christmas program...for Jerry as well as many many others, it was a great loss--years of memories of being raised in that church, the beautiful stained glass windows, the library of photos and memorabilia, and on and on the list goes. As the word spread, many folks gathered nearby to watch the fire burn out, pray for the firemen who were able to keep it from spreading, and share their grief and tears together. The next day the back wall of the sanctuary was left standing with its 3 crosses, which were metal. 2009 - Jerry has the privilege of preaching for six weeks in the Crane Presbyterian Church in a new and vital location on the east edge of town. The 3 metal crosses have been remounted on wooden crosses, and are hanging on a wall in the narthex, as you can see in the photo. The pulpit was one which was not in use in the sanctuary, but was in the entryway and was pulled from the building before it spread that far. My favorite is the cross on the communion table, which received its baptism by fire, and now stands on the communion table, reminding us that Jesus is always the center, no matter what happens to that which is made by hands. Isaiah says: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?...The people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.

Jammin'

"> > For Jerry, this has been a fall for jamming. It began with the mini-class reunion, playing on Don's front porch in their beautiful Stone County home. He started jamming with a group that Don has at his home on Thursday evenings. From that came the opportunity to attend the Jenkins Family Reunion at Mars Hill on a Sunday afternoon, where they accompanied these 3 sisters as well as many others who came to the open mic to share their talents. At Silver Dollar City (as you know, our all-time favorite spot!), he played with the Homestead Pickers at the Pickin' Shed. He jammed here at the campground with a fellow parked across the road from us who had his guitar...and that person has a jam at his house every Monday evening - so that's where Jerry will be tomorrow night, honing his skills on that fiddle. He had a lesson last week from an outstanding fiddle player we met last Sunday. So all in all - his musical ability is gaining. In ten days we will go to Rolla to stay at the family farm of a Midland friend, Jerry Gahr. Jerry called today to say that he and his wife will also be in the area...JG plays the banjo in a bluegrass group of FPC'ers who call themselves "The Backsliders". Jerry was able to play with them several times this past summer. So the two Jerrys will be doing some pickin' and singin' on the porch in Rolla as well. Oh, the opportunities are endless. That's the beauty of this part of the country--there's lots of pickin' 'n singin' going on everywhere. Watch out, Nashville!

A new Water Well

Another water well has been dug in the Presbytery of Eastern Uganda, and we are humbled at this gift in our honor. What a blessing! We in our country take so much for granted - and clean water is just one of those. We turn on taps, turn on showers, open the hose, and there it is. But in Uganda, clean water is a precious commodity. With the digging of 37 wells by First Presbyterian Church of Midland, we have shared in the gift of better health for many of our brothers and sisters. These pictures bring tears to our eyes and joy to our hearts. Thank you!

We're #1!

Destination - Rogers AR, along the Wal-Mart corridor in northwest Arkansas...to visit with Jerry's cousin, Betty (who works for WM) and her Mom, Aunt Timmy. We've been RVing for over 40 years now...and we had not yet ever spent the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot, something which many RVers as well as truckers do. Most WMs are very friendly towards us, and have huge parking lots that can accommodate us. We have talked about it several times--but never had done it. Betty, when we spoke with her on the way up, suggested we stay at the W-M at 21st & Walnut in Rogers...and so we did. It was a great place to spend the night and do our grocery shopping--and the biggest, cleanest, widest-aisled store we have ever been in. We had a good visit with one of the store managers (who looked every bit of 16--has anyone else noticed how the persons in responsible positions in our country are getting younger and younger?). Randy also told us that we were staying in Wal-Mart's first store - the first one in that huge chain. So thanks WM - for a good evening in your parking lot in your first store. Now we can say we are among the RVers who have overnighted at a W-M parking lot!

You go nowhere by accident....

"You go nowhere by accident"...we had a plan for that day, but it didn't happen. Our nice neighbor in the RV Park pointed out to Jerry that we had a potentially dangerous tire problem...so instead of pulling out to continue our journey, we hung around the RV park while someone came and replaced the tires. And then we were on our way, knowing the road we were going to take, but no plans as to how far we would get or where we would spend the night. We were ready to call it a day and were on the lookout for an RV park near Mena AR when we saw a beautiful campus and an RV Park sign--and Jerry turned in. "Wherever you are, God has put you."...There was not a soul around...the brochure box on the sign was empty. But the place looked inviting and lovely. A man in a pick-up drove up, so I asked him if we were able to park in a pull-through campsite and spend the night. He told us to follow the road and help ourselves to a campsite. So we did just that. The setting was exquisite--huge tall pine trees, an amazing view, a few other RVs parked around but almost no people. On our walk, we noticed the emblems on some of the RV's--we were at the Christian Motorcyclists Association campground. It is an amazing place - and apparently all those there must have been out on their bikes "riding for the Son". We spent a delightful and restful night. The next morning, we dropped a contribution into their night dropbox, grateful for the opportunity we had for rest and refreshment. As we drove out of the campground, this banner hangs overhead--"You are now entering the Mission Field." How appropriate - may we remember every day as we leave our homes for school or work, or perhaps leave our RV park - that we are now entering the mission field. Thank you, CMA--we are proud of your investment in this fine camp facility near Mena AR. A favorite benediction at our church goes: You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you are, God has put you. Wherever you go, God has sent you. The living Christ who dwells within you has a purpose for you to further His Kingdom. Amen? Amen!

"R" is for retirement - and so much more

R - for retirement...and once again Jerry is in to the retirement mode and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. R - for relaxation...and how much more can you relax than enjoying friends' pool or sharing a hot tub with your daughter. R is for reunion...a special evening with our college friend, Meredith. Many years ago Mere's Dad lived part of the time with us while he went to college...and now 20-some years later, Mere goes to college near Jo's, and just finished spending her 2nd summer living with daughter Carla in KC while she did an internship. R is for rewarding...and thats what this week has been. R is for rejuvenation and restoration. And what better way to relax than with Jo's stylist, our friend Robert, who somehow manages to work miracles. And indeed we did feel refreshed and radiant as we headed off to some of J&S's good friends for a magnificent evening - and plans for a fly fishing trip come December! R is for rest...and could there be a prettier place to relax than around this pool? R is for rejoice! And that's what we are doing as we begin yet another phase of our adventures in retirement as part of the Family of God. We relish the time you spend with us...whether we see you in Missouri, Texas, or Kansas..and the time you spend reading our blog and following along with us. We plan to leave late tomorrow afternoon to head across east Texas into Arkansas, and then southwest Missouri, after going to a matinee celebrating the History of Country Music at a theatre on the Riverwalk. These weeks that lie ahead of us promise to be days of reflection and re-creation in one of our favorite parts of the country--Table Rock Lake. Come on - let's go!

120th Camp Meeting

What a joy to be a part of the Bloys Camp Meeting once again. This is Jerry's 3rd year as the Bible Study leader representing the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bloys preached 4 times a day to the cowboys and their families back in the beginning, but later invited a pastor from the Baptist, Disciples of Christ and Methodist Churches to share in the leadership--and so it is to this day. Our leadership team was incredible--including Tommy Potter (Brite Divinity), Keith Wyatt (New Braunfels TX) and Jim Denison (Center for Informed Faith, Dallas.) At the top you can see our dear friends from Redmond WA, Peter and Diane Wilson...they are long-time Bloys folks. We met them two years ago on our first day there, just when we knew we were going to Sammamish WA for a year, and we shared a lot of wonderful times in WA. Our picture was snapped by their grandson, Chandler, who couldn't resist getting himself in one photo! Ralph & Sally Green joined us for part of the week, and we ate dinner one evening at the Paisano Hotel in Marfa--a nice outing. Before camp actually opened, we were invited up to a nearby RV park to join several other couples for a hobo lunch--and here you see those yummy foil packets cooking over the open fire--they were delicious! In the photo on the middle left you see that long white thing hanging from the rafter?

That is a rattlesnake, caught and killed by Diane's nephew..and provided great entertainment for all of us as we watched him gut and skin it. I'm glad I didn't see it when it was alive and rattling along the road! Along with the gifted preaching and teaching we heard all week, the music was heavenly--we have both piano and organ, as well as shared talents from many of the attendees, whose talent is all beyond description. It is an opportunity for many family reunions, and the fellowship and conversation is great. Not only that, we had plenty of rain early on, so the Ft. Davis area is beautifully green--and cool at night or in the shade during the day. I wish each of you could have the Bloys experience--it is a page out of the past and a real treasure. The Holy Spirit permeates the whole place--it truly is a sacred week.

Blessings in the summer

Picking up the challenge from Jo's latest blog, please let me share one of my favorite blessings of this summer season...our tiny little feathered friends who live on our patio. On Facebook I shared pictures of our first summer inhabitants, but not on my blog. Imagine my surprise earlier this week when I discovered a NEW nest on our patio - this is our sixth nest we have, and the first new one in a couple of seasons. That little critter built it right under my nose and I did not even see her do it! Notice its cute location..on the shoulder of our little Irishman on a wind chime! Mama is so tiny that it makes me wonder if she is one of the babies that hatched and flew away last month? Who knows..not being familiar with the habits of hummers. But what a treat! Two of the tiniest eggs you can imagine..and she is a faithful mama, sitting on it most of the time, leaving only for very short periods of time. Mama fights with the purple finches, who also feed at our feeder, and sometimes she has support in the form of other hummers who join her in shooing them away! You are right, Jo - summer is rich and full of fun. I accept your challenge to blog about some of those things in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, what are you grateful for in the summertime? (You can read Jo's blog at http://cjoshoot.blogspot.com/)

4th of July

 What a great country we live in!  We are so blessed, and our family experienced this 4th together in Midland, which was certainly a blessing.  Carla was here to welcome her Dad home from Uganda, and Jo and Scott arrived on Friday morning, so we were able to hear his stories from the mission trip firsthand and while they were very fresh on his mind and memory.  The creative girls made a DVD of all his photos, which will be a delight for us to watch...and hear even more stories. The time was spent visiting, enjoying the LaForce's swimming pool, time with Ray and Jane, our 92 year old friends here (only Ray made the picture with all his girlfriends!), playing bananagram around the kitchen table, eating fresh tomatoes from Ray's patio plants, and dining at Abuelo's, always a family favorite.  Jerry preached that Sunday morning, so the kids were most pleased about that, and they had a chance to renew some friendships at church as well.  We are so glad they were here with us, and we had that special time together.

San Antonio

I certainly did enjoy myself while Jerry was in Uganda...as soon as he left town, I packed up and headed for San Antonio. On Sunday my friend, Sally Green, and I moved in to the Hyatt Regency on the River Walk and spent 3 days attending a Renovare International Conference--WOW is all I can say--the opportunity to listen to Richard Foster, Eugene Peterson, Chris Webb, and attend several workshops of my choice was a great opportunity. Sally and I enjoyed dinner on the RiverWalk one evening, while Jo and Scott hosted all the Midland folks at their home on the other evening - great time for all! Jo saw a skirt on the internet made out of t-shirts...her seamstress friend, Blanca, said she would do it--and as you can see, its absolutely adorable. Blanca is a master seamstress, and obviously extremely artistic as well. On another evening, Jo & Scott's friends, Tom and Michael, had us over to their home for swimming and dinner--what a marvelous relief from the heat of the day to cool off in their lovely pool. Michael was our chef...and here you see Tom and Jo with the two resident dogs, Sister Bernadette and Sister Scholastica. On Sunday, Jo and I drove over to visit her very special friend, Miss Vicki--Vicki, her husband, and two precious daughters left last week to move (permanently) to Walla Walla WA. Its been so special for me to get to know Miss Vicki over the years that Jo has lived in San Antonio--I met her when she showed up at Jo's house in her painting clothes ready to go to work when they first moved into their home--and there was LOTS of work to be done. She is a delightful friend, outstanding mother, a creative artist in her own right, and the only thing that makes this move more bearable to me is that Miss Vicki blogs frequently and I will be able to keep up with her growing family. For Jo, it was very sad--but she already has a trip planned to WWWa next fall! Jo wrote a wonderful blog regarding Vicki's move which you can read at http://cjoshoot.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html Its wonderful to enjoy your adult children so much...I feel so blessed to have had special visits in both Kansas City and San Antonio while we have been back in Midland. Our kids are all great conversationalists, creative and artistic, with definite opinions, compassionate to a fault, and surrounded by friends....Jerry and I are so blessed!

Uganda 2009 Team is on their way!

The mission team should be in bed and asleep in Entebbe, after having departed Midland International at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Our theme "Sharing the Gospel Side by Side" is the logo on the team's shirts, as well as the shirts they will give to their interpreters in Uganda. These marvelous interpreters are students at the Bible College - and our team could not minister without their care! Sally Green and I were among many at the airport to see the team off. This is Ralph's 7th trip to Uganda, and Jerry's 3rd. We know they both look forward to returning, and seeing friends they have made in previous years. The scene at the airport looked chaotic...at the Packing Party on Monday night, we packed 37 suitcases with medical supplies, Bibles, Sunday School curriculum, games for children, surgical gloves, neosporin and who knows what else! But there they all were at the airport on Thursday morning, and suitcases were checked, weighed, repacked, and finally all loaded on to a Continental plane checked through to Entebbe. Each person is allowed two checked items, and we paid for ten additional suitcases to carry more supplies. They are all happy campers when they finally arrive at the hotel in Entebbe with all their luggage. (Last time, Jerry's suitcase didn't arrive until later, so this year he is prepared with extra clothes in his backpack!) We wish them God-speed, and we covet your prayers for all of them, for their health, for their rest, for their willingness to share the Gospel, and for all the blessings this will mean to them individually and to our brothers and sisters in Uganda.

The Night of the Bees

Last night, as Ralph & Sally left our house and started down the sidewalk at dusk, Jerry saw LOTS of things flying in the air ahead of them, and cautioned them to stop. Its good they did...for on a low branch of a tree in our neighbor's yard just beside our garage was a huge beehive! Jerry called the police, who gave him the phone number for Bee Busters Inc. He arrived soon after, but by now it was totally dark outside. Tim estimated the hive to be the size of a football. Did you know that it takes 3500-4500 bees to weigh a pound, and this hive was probably 3 1/2-4 pounds? And further, it was not there when I walked over to my neighbors about noon. Those little rascals move fast! The Bee Buster (who turned out to be Tim, a member of our church family, and someone we have known for years) donned his uniform, and prepared a large white bucket (with a tight-fitting lid!) by placing some sticks and twigs in it. If he doesn't do that, to provide some airspace, some of the bees will die by being crushed in the confined bucket. He was glad it was night, because the bees don't like to fly in the dark, so I'm glad I didn't wait until this morning to call. He walked up to the hive, held the bucket up under it, shook the branch while pressing down on the hive, put the lid on it securely, and the job was over. The bees would then be on their way to a new location in the country. Tim told us that in the daylight we would be able to see white on the branch where they were beginning to build a honeycomb..but unfortunately, there were still a few bees who got left behind buzzing around this morning, and we decided it was not prudent to walk up for a closer look. But I think I'll go check it out now.....

Forty-six years today

May 23rd, 1963, 4 p.m., in the Chapel of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City OK, Mary Margaret Sparks became the bride of Jerry Max Hilton...46 years ago today. Its been an incredible journey. I am very grateful for my husband, for his many gifts and talents, but mostly for his sense of humor and putting up with me. We have shared a delightful adventure, and have enjoyed sharing that journey with you over the years. Thanks for being a very important part of our life together. I love you, Jerry.

Congratulations Dr. Peters!

Dr. Scott Peters, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M, San Antonio Campus. We are so proud of you. You have worked and studied very hard to achieve all that you have accomplished. It was our joy to share graduation with you last year, when you earned your PhD from the University of Texas (San Antonio). Now you are joining the ranks of the Aggies as you begin teaching next August full-time, having spent this year as an Adjunct Prof at both UTSA and TxA&M. Way to go, Son!

Jo's birthday

Its that time of the year when we Hiltons spend five weeks celebrating our four birthdays - and this past weekend we honored Jo on her 44th birthday. (How can that possibly be????) It was a joyous visit...Jo and Scott had made several changes and improvements to their home since we had last been there, so that was really a treat. They also have wonderful new neighbors next door since our last visit, and John & Connie joined us for dinner one evening so we could all get acquainted--and we had lots of friends and acquaintances in common, as so often happens. Jo's choice for dinner was the LaFonda, fabulous Mexican food, and we were joined by our young friends, Meredith Price and her friend, Paul...and then back to the Peters' home for birthday cake and presents. It just doesn't seem possible that 44 years have flown by--Jo was the first baby born in the Presbyterian manse in Hobart OK in many many years, and the church organist rang the church bells loud and long so everyone would know of her arrival! Our family doctor had to be called away from Rotary Club meeting to get her delivered. And it just couldn't have been that long ago--could it? Jo is now deep into her photography career, and several of her presents will enrich that gift of hers...but who would have thought anyone would be so excited about an old Polaroid camera? As we left on Saturday morning for home, Jo was taking off on her scooter to assist with graduation at San Antonio Community College, where she serves as Director of Interpretive Services. I look forward to spending time with them in mid-June, while Jerry makes his third journey to Uganda with FPC Midland to spread the Good News of Jesus and plant another church in Eastern Uganda. Jo & Scott will be over here to welcome Jerry back upon his return from Uganda. Jo's actual birthdate is the 13th, so Happy Birthday to our first-born...we are so proud of you, and the woman you have become. You and your younger sister are such a blessing to us, and to all those who know you.