I had a phone call from the State Fire Marshall's office this morning.  We had been in contact with them about our little thank you book "Tickel Me Safe"  Our friend Lisa had helped Denny and I write a little story about the true life experience of my nephew and his family.  They had a fire in their home a couple years ago at Christmas time.  Their 4 year old daughter woke up her sister by tickling her toes to tell her there was a fire.  Emma saved the day because she remembered what the fireman had told the kids at school. 

My family has been so thankful for the information the fire department gives out to children.  This little story is more geared to younger kids 3-7 years of age.  We read it when we take the clowns to reading programs.  Unfortunately we do not have the funds to just print lots of copies.  So with the help of GOD it would seem that now is the time to hand the story over to others who can do more with it.  We do hope that it might help save some other childs life someday.  

We are honored that they have accepted our little story to do with as they please.    

What an interesting week I have had.  My mother went with me on a mystery trip with our local YWCA.  Many of you may not know this but at one time I wore that hat of a tour guide for the YW.  I've been too busy the past couple of years for that adventure.  It is amazing how many different types of things I have had the honor of trying.  Sometimes things do not seem related but then again a few years later you can look back and say I understand what that training as about now.

Back to my story.  Mom and I went on a trip that took us to Delaware County Ohio.  We were greeted by Lemonade Lucy as a character representingFirst Lady Lucy Hayes.  She was one of the first women to attend Ohio Weslyn College.  I told her that I dress up sometimes and tell stories to people in our town.  She was a first lady and I am just a good will ambassador lady of clowns. 

The Little Brown Jug is one of the jewels in the triple crown of Grand Circuit harness racing.  We visited the fairgrounds and saw the race track.  It was quite an interesting talk.  Our community does harness racing at our fair each year so since I love horses I really enjoyed the visit.

Later in the day we went to a very interesting place called Stratford Ecological Center.  Now even though I have lived on a farm my entire life I still really appreciated that some folks put together a working example farm for children and adults to visit.  Folks from the city never get that opportunity.  You would not believe how many kids do not get the connection that milk comes from a cow and not just the grocery store.  The gentleman who showed us around had the cutest video that some of the kids who visit their place made.  A young lady they know wrote the song.  I asked for persmission to use it.  I will put a link for it on you-tube so those of you interested can see and hear their story.  We may get permission to use it with recognition to those involved when we start putting together the childrens show on local cable during the next year or so.  Baby steps folks.  It all takes time.  To learn more about how you can help this group or to see what they do visit www.StratfordEcologicalCenter.org  Please check out YouTube Nature needs Kids.  The little song is delightful.

Our last stop of the day was at a Christian Television Station.  The station owner met us.  Now folks he was like the television chef Justin Wilson.  I loved his little southern haming it up stories.  We each had the opportunity to be interviewed and to do an interview in front of the camers.  They started out with one station and now have four.  He told us that if we are passionate about pursuing something we should not quite and just keep on plugging away.  GOD seems to come in to save us in the 11th hour.  I keep praying that will happen for our world.  Right now there are a great many things happening all at once.  It makes one think doesn't it?  

I haven't been on this site for quite some time.  I think it is about time to get started again.  You see my friends GOD has been working miracels in my life lately.

WE have some rather exciting news about this clown group.  We have been invited to go International with a missions group going to Peru in January.  Recently we were asked if we would consider taking Merci & Grace to Peru to visit with orphanges, some church groups and whomever they can come up with us to meet.  We are definitely planning on going in January.  We will need to come up with the finances and then we will go along with perhaps a couple other people who will be joining our group.  You know Merci and Grace are just characters which can go on for years.  There were many people who wore the Bozo costume before.  That was our intention when we became a 501c3 organization.  To be able to pass the torch on as time allows.  Right now we have many characters we do but it is time to start training more.  I hope that our kids will be the next generation.  As GOD would have it they are now thinking of moving back to Van Wert.  So we will see where that goes. 

Here is an interesting tidbit.  Did you know that Bozo was the Good Will Ambassador to the world in the 50's and early 60's.  He even won a Nobel Peace prize.  Now that must tell you that GOD has a sense of humor.  You know sometimes when folks are blessed they do all sorts of things that most people never hear about.  I have often wondered if Bozo was behind the scenes for Zonoran Publishing.  He lived in that area you know. 

Sorry folks I have been gone for a long time.  This Fall was not a very good one health wise for me.  I was out of commission for over a month.  Now I am beginning to feel a little better.  

We have had some interesting times the past couple months.  Our oldest grandson had an unfortunate encounter with a golf club.  One of his little friends and Isaac were trying to learn to hit golf balls.  Somehow these went wrong and he got hit in the eye with the club.  Several broken bones around the eye.  He ended up having surgery to help with a vision problem.  Hopefully all will heal to the best we can hope for. 

We got to take the three grandsons out to supper at our favorite rib place the other week.  It is so much fun to joke around with the boys.  Denny told one of them that they put pig powder on the meat and he might turn into a pig by morning.  I don't think Austin bought that idea though.  Even though we do not get to see the kids as much as we used to we still enjoy whatever time we do have with them.

Speaking of the grandkids.  We have a new granddaughter.  Ivy Annette was born this week.  So my grandnephew and Ivy will have birthdays in the same week.  Bentley will be staying with us while his folks go to work in the future.  They live around the corner.  Can you believe it.  Somebody will trust us with their child on a regular basis.  I do know that at least he will have some fun while he is growing up. 

My husband lost his job about a month ago.  When you reach our age it is not always so easy to find things to do that our old bodies can handle.  SO my friends, we are going to try something new for us.
Denny has written a storybook called "Dimitri's Fleas".  He is beginning to have success in lining up some book signings.  On Saturday of this week he is entering a vendor fair at 1600 Fifth Street at the Eagles in Delphos Ohio.    His next booksigning will be in the community of New Bremen Ohio.  More info on that one closer to the date.  I will tell you that it will be the second Saturday of December.  So my friends please come and help us out.  We can use all the friends we can get. 

You know there are times in our lives when we have to come to find out just how much faith do we really have.  Events happen for unexplainable reasons that make no sense to us.  I know from personal experience that has happened many many times in my own life. 

When I was a younger person I married the man of my dreams.  We seemed to have it all.  A faith in GOD, nice home, friends, good jobs and a loving family.  But there was something missing.  We were never granted the ability to have our own family.  Now I know that we are not supposed to be jealous or envious of others.  That is something which is much easier said than done. Honestly I must admit that at times I was envious of my own sister.  But alas she had her own problems.  Even though she was able to have three wonderful children, she was never able to hold on to a lasting relationship in her younger days.  That did not happen until she was much older.  People were always leaving or died for her.  I think that she now has whatever it is that she wanted from life.  A beautiful family, grandchildren, a loving husband and her faith in GOD.

I got my own family when I was in my mid fifities.  After my first husband died I was alone for some time.  Then through my mother and father encouraging me to try a Christian website I met my current husband.  Denny posses all of the things I lacked plus a lot of things I was not looking for also.  It is interesting how GOD will give us the people who fill in the blanks as they say.  What one person lacks the other has.  It makes the pie a whole.  GOD does have a sense of humor.  If we pray long enough we do get answers.  Sometimes they are not just what we expected.  I love my new daughters and grandchildren.  Our relationships have been a challenge and a reward both. 

Recently one of my daughters who has been going through her own personal discovery journey with the LORD, asked my to tell her the story of Abraham and his life.  She did not know about these things since a church background such as I grew up with had not been in her life before.  Now she is searching for a meaning to life.  That is where laying down our Isaac's have come into play.  Some things have been happening lately in our lives that have lead me to the conclusion that perhaps we are just having a test of our faith.  It is easy to sit in a church with other people and sing praises to GOD.  We  can act like some type of caring person who helps others.  Honestly we need to examine what are motives are truly about.  That is a hard thing to do.  Actually look at our own lives and try to figure out just what it is that we are about.  But it is quite another task to actually be tested by GOD.   You know that Abraham was a true friend of GOD.  But he and his wife did not honestly believe that GOD was going to carry out what HE had promised them.  So they took the matter into their own hands.  Later when GOD was ready to deliver on HIS promise they truly did believe that GOD could do anything HE promised.  So when GOD put Abraham to the test.  He asked him to take his most precious son Isaac and take him up to a moutain to be sacrificed.   Abraham obeyed what he had been commanded.  He was willing to do whatever it was that GOD wanted because he knew that he had disobeyed the LORD.  If that meant that he had to give up his son then he was going to do that.  At the last moment GOD had compassion for Abraham and provided another sacrifice to be offered.  Isaac was saved and went on to live his life.  Through Abrahams seed his promise was fulfilled by GOD.   At the present time I think that is what is happening to my family.  For me do I really and truly believe that GOD will do what has been promised or am I just putting lip service to my life.  I am going to stand firm on my belief that GOD will put things together for the best solution for to help the most people we can show this story of faith and encouragement for  us all.  How about you?  Do you really and truly believe that GOD can answer your prayer?  Are you willing to
accept whatever the answers are?  It is something for all of us to consider in our own lives.