Friday, August 24, 2012

Please read!


I am copying and pasting to our blog the following, in hopes many someones will read it and decide to vote against Barack Obama on Election Day.  Janet

Please take a moment to read this insightful letter which sums up Obama and his intentions and achievements to Obama’s intentions are clear and remember the German people who thought Hitler was the answer, neglecting the obvious and this allowed Hitler to capture the whole country.. At that time Germany was the most powerful and educated country in Europe. It could never happen right? WRONG.
It will happen to this country if we neglect our duty to spread the word and do what ever we can to stop Obama. My Love of this country is matched by each of you wonderful folks and I hope that we all stand together to take back and preserve this unique and glorious nation. Our freedom and liberties are at stake please pass this on as we’ll need everyone to vote him out.
Probably the best summary of what is about to happen to our country if Obama is re-elected.  Please pass this on.
  
From: John Porter To: Americans everywhere I was sitting at my keyboard halfway through my writing a letter to you about how Barack Obama was fulfilling his pledge to "Transform America" by "Changing the fundamentals of America", so that our government would become the plantation, he the owner, and we the slaves, when this article by Steve McCann appeared in my in box. After checking it for accuracy, and finding it so, I put my writing on hold and here present it to you, for I could not say it better.
...Is it already too late?
Obama's Second Term Transformation Plans The 2012 election has often been described as the most pivotal since 1860. This statement is not hyperbole. If Barack Obama is re-elected the United States will never be the same, nor will it be able to re-capture its once lofty status as the most dominant nation in the history of mankind. The overwhelming majority of Americans do not understand that Obama's first term was dedicated to putting in place executive power to enable him and the administration to fulfill the campaign promise of "transforming America " in his second term regardless of which political party controls Congress. That is why his re-election team is virtually ignoring the plight of incumbent or prospective Democratic Party office holders. The most significant accomplishment of Obama's first term is to make Congress irrelevant. Under the myopic and blindly loyal leadership of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats have succeeded in creating an imperial and, in a second term, a potential dictatorial presidency. During the first two years of the Obama administration when the Democrats overwhelming controlled both Houses of Congress and the media was in an Obama worshipping stupor, a myriad of laws were passed and actions taken which transferred virtually unlimited power to the executive branchThe birth of multi-thousand page laws was not an aberration. This tactic was adopted so the bureaucracy controlled by Obama appointees would have sole discretion in interpreting vaguely written laws and enforcing thousands of pages of regulations they and not Congress would subsequently write. For example, in the 2,700 pages of ObamaCare there are more than 2,500 references to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. There are more than 700 instances when he or she is instructed that they "shall" do something and more than 200 times when they "may" take at their sole discretion some form of regulatory action. On 139 occasions, the law mentions that the "Secretary determines." In essence one person, appointed by and reporting to the president, will be in charge of the health care of 310 million Americans once ObamaCare is fully operational in 2014. The same is true in the 2,319 pages of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act which confers nearly unlimited power on various agencies to control by fiat the nation's financial, banking and investment sectors. The bill also creates new agencies, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, not subject to any oversight by Congress. This overall process was repeated numerous times with other legislation all with the intent of granting unfettered power to the executive branchcontrolled Barack Obama and his radical associates. Additionally, the Obama administration has, through its unilaterally determined rule making and regulatory powers, created laws out of whole cloth. The Environmental Protection Agency on a near daily basis issues new regulations clearly out of their purview in order to modify and change environmental laws previously passed and to impose a radical green agenda never approved by Congress. The same is true of the Energy and Interior Departments among many others. None of these extra-constitutional actions have been challenged by Congress. The left in America knows this usurpation of power is nearly impossible to reverse unless stopped in its early stages. It is clearly the mindset of this administration and its appointees that Congress is merely a nuisance and can be ignored after they were able to take full advantage of the useful idiots in the Democrat controlled House and Senate in 2009-2010 and the Democrat Senate in the current Congress. Additionally, Barack Obama knows after his re-election a Republican controlled House and Senate will not be able to enact any legislation to roll back the power previously granted to the Executive Branch or usurped by them. His veto will not be overridden as there will always be at least 145 Democratic members of the House or 34 in the Senate in agreement with or intimidated by an administration more than willing to use Chicago style political tactics.The stalemate between the Executive and Legislative Branches will inure to the benefit of Barack Obama and his fellow leftists.

The most significant power Congress has is the control of the purse-strings 
as all spending must be approved by them. However, once re-elected, Barack Obama, as confirmed by his willingness to do or say anything and his unscrupulous re-election tactics, would not only threaten government shutdowns but would deliberately withhold payments to those dependent on government support as a means of intimidating and forcing a Republican controlled Congress to surrender to his demands, thus neutering their ability to control the administration through spending constraints. Further, this administration has shown contempt for the courts by ignoring various court orders, e.g. the Gulf of Mexico oil drilling moratorium, as well as stonewalling subpoenas and requests issued by Congress. The Eric Holder Justice Department has become the epitome of corruption as part of the most dishonest and deceitful administration in American history. In a second term the arrogance of Barack Obama and his minions will become more blatant as he will not have to be concerned with re-election. Who will be there to enforce the rule of law, a Supreme Court ruling or the Constitution? No one. Barack Obama and his fellow-travelers will be unchallenged as they run roughshod over the American people. Many Republicans and conservatives dissatisfied with the prospect of Mitt Romney as the nominee for president are instead focused on re-taking the House and Senate. That goal, while worthy and necessary, is meaningless unless Barack Obama is defeated. The nation is not dealing with a person of character and integrity but someone of single-minded purpose and overwhelming narcissism. Judging by his actions, words and deeds during his first term, he does not intend to work with Congress either Republican or Democrat in his second term but rather to force his radical agenda on the American people through the power he has usurped or been granted. The governmental structure of the United States was set up by the founders in the hope that over the years only those people of high moral character and integrity would assume the reins of power. However, knowing that was not always possible, they dispersed power over three distinct and independent branches as a check on each other. What they could not imagine is the surrender and abdication of its constitutional duty by the preeminent governmental branch, the Congress, to a chief executivedevoid of any character or integrity coupled with a judiciary essentially powerless to enforce the law when the chief executive ignores them. Conservatives, Libertarians, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney must come to grips with this moment in time and their historical role in denying Barack Obama and his minions their ultimate goal. All resources must be directed at that end-game and not merely controlling Congress and the various committee chairmanships. Steve McCann May 12, 2012 I would add but 6 words to those above mentioned, Conservatives, Libertarians, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney, to say "and we the American people also", must come to grips with this moment in time and our role in denying Barack Obama his life long goal of "transforming" us into his slaves working on his government plantation. Please forward this to all you can, maybe together we can save America for ourselves and those who will follow after us. May God bless America.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Welcome to the family, Jonathan!

Baby Jonathan Randall Albertson was born August 2, 2012 at 11:02 pm at home.  He was 8lbs, 8 oz., 20 1/2 inches long.  We thank God for the wonderful gift of this life!  Congratulations to Randy and Joy, and to big brothers Quil, 5, and Micah, 3.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

What We've Been "Up To"

Beth writing:

A few friends have written us recently and I haven't had a chance to respond to them, but hopefully if I blog everyone can read it and know what "we are busy" with!  Check back in a few days-- I want to add pictures to this very post when I have time.

We are getting excited about Randy and Joy's baby boy coming... it looks like he will be born over-night tonight.  We'll finally get to know this precious boy who's been veiled from view up to now while God was making him!  Mother is staying with R/J and going to help with whatever she can as they do a home birth with a mid-wife.  Emily is also in Joplin with Mother.  Mother and Em will fly home a couple of weeks from now.

On Monday the 20th, Mother, Emily, Jason, and I drove to McPherson, KS for camp-meeting there (Kansas State Holiness Association camp).  Jason and I were delighted to both be given vacation time for the same week.  We were planning on going to this camp whether or not anyone else went with us, but we were really glad to have Mother and Em too.  On Thursday afternoon we all drove to Joplin.  We ate supper with all of our Joplin family and spent the night and a few hours of Friday morning with Grandpa and Grandma.  Then Jason and I drove the four hrs. back to McPherson to stay the rest of camp.  Friday's drive was kind of an exciting adventure for Jason and I, because we had to use our memory from the day before, watch for signs, take risks, and reverse the googlemaps instructions for going to Joplin.  We stopped in Augusta at Subway, (happy to have a giftcard to use there) and got back to McPherson at the end of the afternoon service.  We all really enjoyed camp: the services, seeing friends and making new ones, and working in the kitchen.  Jason, Emily, and I, and about 15 other young "campers" did camp dishes for free room and board.  We Albertsons mainly washed/put away in the pots n pans room, but Jason did get to help "tear down" the food line most meals too, and I got to help with food preparation a bit on Sunday.  There are normally two meals a day, but three on Sunday, so cooks/helpers/dish-doers spend a lot more time there that day.  As far as services, Jason and Em got to go to the youth services every morning, and I decided to go to the children's VBS so I could learn from the teacher and get ideas for Federal Heights.  During the same time as youth/children's services was "Bible Study" with evangelist Rodney Loper (our online pastor at HobeSoundBibleChurch.com).  Rodney and Melissa (and their children) were the song evangelists as well.  Bro. Dan Stetler (president at Hobe Sound Bible School) was one of the other evangelists.  We have heard him before and always appreciate the messages.  Bro. Steve Mills from Ohio was the other.  His wife has been working to make complete and full lesson plans for Jr. Church, Sunday School, and VBS workers to use.  We enjoyed visiting with her, and purchased her lion lesson series to use at Federal Heights.  Jason and Emily played their cello and violin in most every afternoon & evening service, which was a blessing to them, and those who heard them.  This past Monday Jason and I made the long trek home (shorter than from Joplin though!!)... I was the only driver, because he can only drive with a parent in the car, and so his job was to help me stay awake, which was a big job!  All of our driving days (Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday) we went through roadway construction, which slowed us down, but I don't mind it too much, as far as driving through it.  I was really tired and really glad to be home.

I'm sure Daddy was happy to see us too, because he'd stayed home alone.  He worked every morning, then came home to work on our upstairs bathroom renovation.  We have wanted to replace the 70's cabinetry and counter set-up there that was getting old, and were watching for a way to do that.  Then some home-schoolers we know were getting rid of their 90's bathroom set-up, and offered it all to us.  We were thrilled to find that everything was exactly the right size.  Dad's been working very hard on the cabinets: first stripping, then sanding, priming, and painting them.  It's been a long, frustrating job, and he's our hero for getting it done.  So while we were vacationing, he's been working.  Now that J/I are home, and back to our busy work schedules at Ace, it's hard for Dad to have the time for the bathroom project -- two more people add more work to home-life!!  ;)

We were really happy (and sore) to have 14 quarts worth of green beans to pick, snap, and can this week!  What a blessing that will be to us later on.  These last couple of weeks have been the biggest production time of green beans for the summer.

Yesterday afternoon/evening Dad and I had several errands to do in Greeley and also wanted to go to Loveland Chic-Fil-A for a chicken supper to show our support of their choices for morality.  We got there, and first thing we got to do was sign a pro-life petition... my first petition.  What a good cause.  We stood in line for 15 minutes, maybe, and then were told they would be out of chicken by the time we got to the counter.  We would have stayed and bought something anyway, but we had an appointment in the evening and had to make sure Jason and we were all fed sooner than later for that.

We had chicken sandwiches of our own at home, then went to test-drive a van for Jason or I to buy.  It is a Chevy Venture, exactly like our currant family van, only a year older, and of a slightly browner grey color.  It was listed on craigslist, and we were highly interested-- we'd like to have something else to drive to/from work besides Jason's truck, and we're already totally used to this model.  Well, we drove there, and found out that the sellers were a couple we know as (nice) customers at Ace.  That was fun.  So we test-drove it, and loved how it ran so well.  The price was right, and everything was good, so Jason bought it.  Now we have two Chevy Ventures in our family!

Speaking of buying vans, Jeff recently bought one in Joplin.  He knew he really wanted to have one when he goes back to God's Bible School this fall, and was going to come out here to get his adult driver's licence upon his 21st birthday, so he could also get a vehicle licensed at the same time.  He and our nephew Quil (5) came out Saturday-Tuesday in mid-July for those purposes.  Quil was very happy to get to come out here, and spend time playing cars, being read to, playing with Lincoln and Uncle Jason, and doing our Sunday with us.  That Sunday we went down to Colorado Springs Tent-meeting, had lunch with Uncle Alvin and cousin Katie, had Federal Heights Sunday School (Quil liked that), and went on a walk here in town.  We were amazed and glad that Quil didn't even get homesick while here.  He enjoyed all the personal attention, but was surprised about things that were different from when we have the WHOLE family here at holidays (we don't eat in the living room, there's no snow!, etc., etc.)

Speaking of Jeff and God's Bible School, it was a huge answer to prayer when he was granted a full-tuition scholarship for the rest of his schooling in the Missions Division there.  He's been living in Joplin this summer, working for Randy and Tim's painting company.  He did all the sermon/story/lessons for VBS there with the sketchboard.  So he's been living a busy life too!

That's all I can think of tonight, and it's getting time for bed, so I better sign off.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Memorial Service for Eileen Owen

I just returned from the memorial service and luncheon in honor of a lady that was a great family friend, who we were privileged to know in her later years. Eileen taught us much, gave us much, and provided many opportunities for our family to learn how to serve others.  We miss her, and as we do we are reminded that we will all pass from this life, and after that is eternity.  Let us all be doing what we'll wish we had done when we stand before God.  (Written by Rowen)


 Graveyard service at the Johnstown Cemetary

 Eileen's Children Jody and Rob Owen

Henry, Grace, Chris, Rob, Jody Owen, Jody's daughters

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Book Review: The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack


The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

I found this book hard to get into at first because every other chapter bounces between an autobiography of Joe Kissack and the adventure of five Mexican fishermen lost at sea in 2005.  Their lives and stories do intersect later on in the book, and there is a purpose for the way the book was written. 

Joe Kissack starts telling his story recalling his success of being executive vice president at a major television studio.  That was in 1997.  He was living high, yet deep inside he was dying by inches.  He could never achieve enough to satisfy the little boy in him who wanted desperately to please his father.  He was married to a wonderful woman and had two beautiful children, but the rat race to attain more was pulling him into alcohol addiction, and later drug addictions.  His life spiraled into darkness and failures.  Thankfully, he had a friend who told him that God was the only answer for him.  His life began to turn around after he yielded it to Him, and God gave him a new purpose for living.  Part of that purpose was to tell the story of the fishermen lost at sea after a terrific storm.

There were five fishermen, at first, but because of the storm, and the owner’s insistence that they try to find his expensive net which was lost in the storm, they ran out of fuel and had no means of navigation.  There was no one to rescue them, or to notice that they were not returning.  Three of them learned to live by drinking the blood of the raw turtles they caught and ate; two eventually died of malnutrition and thirst.  One thing of value they had not lost was a Bible, which they read daily.  They prayed and read that Bible to keep up their courage.  Day after day and month after month passed before they were rescued near Australia nine months later.  Their families had given them up for dead, except for one praying Grandma.

When Joe first heard about the rescue, he became intrigued with their story, especially the report that the Bible had sustained them.  He knew about being lost, and found, and knew what a lifeline God’s Word was in his life.  He felt an inner urging to learn and tell their story, to give hope to all who would hear.  The Mexican media was saying they were drug runners and cannibals, as those stories sell better.  Joe couldn’t rest until he got the true story to share with the world.

This book reveals the emptiness of success, money, and acclaim.  Only God can fill the hole inside of each one of us.  It also shows how important loving, accepting parenting is to children.  The power of prayer and the Bible is displayed in the miracles that took place in the lives of Joe and the fishermen.

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thursday, July 12, 2012

July 1-8 visit from the Albertsons

Our nephew, Herb Albertson, his wife, Jenny, and their six children: Abigail, Ben, Celeste, Daniel, Zeke, and Zach came to spend some time with us last week.  We had a great time together!

 The Mendez cousins came over on July 3rd and 4th too, so we had lots of fun cousin time!
 The grown-ups table, July 3rd:  Dan and Esther Mendez, Abigail, Stepheni Mendez, Herb, Josiah (Stepheni's little boy), Jenny, Maria Mendez, Janet
 The kids' table: Sarah Mendez, Daniel, Zeke, Ben, Celeste, Emily, Kwani and Hadassah Mendez
 Mendez/Albertson group
 We girls had a tea party one morning, using Beth's tea set and some of my China.  
Jenny and Janet
 Beth, Abigail, Emily and Celeste
 The Mendez cousins came over on July 4th for a water balloon war.  Most of the pictures are movies, but this is taken before everybody got wet!
 This was the evening before when the kids played in the park.
 Celeste and Zachary on our trampoline.  All the kids enjoyed the tramp.
 We played many, many games that week!
 Herb and Jenny celebrated their 20th anniversary by going away to the mountains for a couple of days.  The kids did great staying with us without their parents.  
 I cannot tell you how many games we played, but we had a great time together.  The kids were all well behaved, cooperative, and helpful and were a joy to have in our home.
 Celeste and Emily. 
 Emily had fun braiding Celeste and Abigail's hair different ways.
 Beth and Abigail
 The cousins played a crazy "amoeba" game.  They look calm in this picture, but it was a pretty wild game.


Janet's June projects

A while back, Beth was doing her usual greeting at the ACE check-out, "Did you find everything you needed today?" and the answer was, "No, I can never find what I am looking for.  I want containers to put my end wrench sets in where they will be organized at all times."  Beth answered, "My mother has made those for my daddy and my brothers out of denim.  Would you like her to make you some?"
 So, I finally got around to doing it.  The gentleman came over with his end wrench sets and laid them out on his truck tailgate, so I could draw around them in the arrangement he desired.  He wanted two different organizers.  This is the smaller one of the two he requested.
 This is the larger one that went from very, very small, to very large.
 This is the day he picked them up, and put them all in the appropriately marked slots.
 After this, he closed them, rolled them up, tied them, and they are in the bottom of his tool box to this day!
 My more beautiful June project was making the second grandson quilt.  It is a twin size. I will be taking it to the quilter very soon, and will pick up the first grandson quilt.
Here is the first grandson quilt.  There are three fabric differences between them.  #1 the animals are random, and #2, the animals are paired up.  I made # 1 quilt in April.

Trimming the trimmed tree some more

One evening in June when we came home from our walk, Rowen noticed there were broken limbs in our poor half tree, so sadly ruined in last October's snowstorm.  We had had some wind, so probably some limbs that were damaged previously gave way.  He felt they were in danger of falling down, so he got creative in reaching high enough to cut them.  



I'm thankful that he was able to take care of it without mishap; he was 'way up there!

More visitors in June

June 22, Marlene Reynolds dropped by for lunch and a visit, with her children.  We had never met Shane before, so it was very special for her to come by and share him with us.
 Titus
 Kassie
On June 23, Mike and Carmen Durkee came for supper and the evening.  We got to see lots of their pictures from their trips to Washington, D.C. and Yellowstone.
 On June 25, C. Dean and Marsha Grant stayed the night with us.  We had a nice time visiting with them.  They also visited us a year ago on their way to the mountains for vacation, but we hadn't posted about them.
We love having company, so we were glad for those who have stopped by to see us!

Albertsons' involvement in Johnstown Barbecue Day June 2

Rowen walked the parade route carrying the Johnstown Historical Society banner with Pat Kiovsky.
 Several years ago, Jeffrey worked on this clown car to get it running for Pat James.  We were glad to see her driving it in the parade this year!
 Janet was at the Parish House all morning in case people wanted tours.
 Rowen participated in a ribbon cutting of our town plaza dedication.  The Historical Society was involved in the ribbon cutting with the Town Board because of the historical pictures on the wall behind them.
 Rowen, Janet, and Emily worked at the Historical Society booth in the park.

June visitors

On June 16, the Worden family came to visit us from Kremmling, Colorado.  They spent Saturday and Sunday with us, even going with us to our ministry to children in the evening.  This is a picture of Beth and Beth Ann Worden.  They have been penpals for several years.  We had met the Wordens in person two years ago when we stopped in Kremmling on our way to Delta.
 Hannah Worden and Emily
 A six person Foosball game!

                                     
 Paul and Faith Worden, parents of Beth Ann, Daniel, Hannah, Cherish and David
 The whole Worden family
 We enjoyed the kids playing hymns together on instruments.  
Beth, piano, Beth Ann, guitar, Jason, cello
 Emily and Daniel, violins, and Hannah, recorder
 We also went to the Walker Hymn Sing together.
 On our walk around Johnstown Lake, we saw this blue heron.
 The Worden kids at Johnstown Lake
We were blessed to get to spend this time with our friends.