A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

Photos by Evelyn Sherman, thanks for sending Ev. Sunday service will be held at noon at the Reformed Church 70 Hooker Ave.

People in Upstate New York "love" to decorate for Halloween! Other houses are decorated in orange lights, giant pumpkins, ghosts ghouls and spider webs! I will spare you those :-). My sister bought me an orange and black striped witch's hat to wear to hand out candy to the trick or treaters and I doubt you will see a photo of that!

Thursday, October 30 The River Church in Poughkeepsie, NY is still burning ( 9 pm) after a fire of unknown origin started this afternoon October 30 around 3pm. I am still in Johnstown but have talked with Michael and Marlow and Tonya Dunham who are still at the site. Please pray for all concerned. The church was insured and most important no one was hurt!! The original part of this historic 117 year old church will need to be demolished and the educational wing and office area has smoke and water damage. It is doubtful that the church can be rebuilt here. A neighboring Reform Church has offered their building for a noon service on Sunday. It also was to be used as a voting precinct on Tuesday and even had 3 voting machines in place. Check the photos and a video at http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/ Scroll down to see a report of Marlow's 20th anniversary celebration as Pastor and Michael's ordination photos inside the church.

Record snowstorm on October 28!!! Amazing - it always snowed in Alaska before the end of October but New York???

What a beautiful drive home! I drove all through New Hampshire and Vermont to return home to Johnstown. Here is a taste of the sights - just add crispy apples and Vermont sharp cheddar cheese and coffee! Enjoy.

After a wonderful time of celebration in Poughkeepsie with the River Church, Marlow and Tonya Dunham and the Michael Ackerbauer family, I traveled to New Hampshire for the annual GOIAM conference. This year's guest speakers were Bob Sorge, and R.T. Kendall. What wonderful ministry from the Word!!! Of course, worship with Bob Ayala was off the chart as usual. This year was the biggest conference yet with guests from 15 nations. It was an awesome time. Look for the podcast at http://www.gracefellowship.org/

Vince and Deidre Brassard (AK) and Tonya and Marlow Dunham meet with MJ over Mexican food - (to keep in International)

Mikhaila turns 10 and Mom turns 87

to Marlow and Tonya Dunham and the River Church - Poughkeepsie, NY Last weekend Marlow celebrated 20 years as Pastor at the River Church. We had a 3 day celebration looking at the past, present and future. One of the highlights of the past was a video clip of Marlow and his brother Terry singing "Ya oughta gota, Minnesota". Watch for it on YouTube. To celebrate the future my son Michael was ordained a Pastor and yes, my "mom" buttons were popping!!

Where is your favorite place to get the news, all the news? Internet? Newspaper or radio, of course you can easily watch the local news on television or....... in a small town like Johnstown you can go to the pub! Where the news is hot off the press and usually 2 to 3 days before any of the regular news sources (and sometimes police) have the scoop and sometimes the scoop is accurate! The town is buzzing over a few things these days .. a Johnstown man wins $8 million dollars after buying a lotto ticket at "our" grocery store The "Pub Investigators" had the man's name 2 days before the paper did. Then a burning car found in Frogs Hollow , (really - a "scenic" part of J'town) a missing woman ( who had been driving that car) neighbors there heard gunshots, The above reported to the "chief" investigator (my sister) at the pub 3 days before the paper reported it - and then the paper had less detail cadaver dogs sniffing, helicopters hovering, ...

MJ with Bryce, Mikhaila and Austin How long do you think I will be the tallest? Special events have included Michael and Raelene visiting with the “grands” and a trip to a small harvest festival with them. Since Johnstown is celebrating its 250th year there have been a number of events. Last Saturday I was able to spend the day touring 8 homes that represented different architectural styles. My favorites were an “Arts & Crafts” style home and a rezoned and renovated 3 story brick glove factory.

Mom and my friend Cheryl (her nurse) enjoying a beautiful fall day The Cousin's party - Judy, Lois, Jim, Betty, Peg, Kathi and mom This “season” of my life although a big change, is also a HUGE blessing. I moved away from this very street in October 1976 and now in Sept/Oct 2008 I am spending the longest time in Johnstown since then. Of course when you move away your family relationships change so I am blessed that this new season is bringing a new depth and breadth in our love and care for each other. The whole family is rallying around the commitment to keep mom safe and as happy as possible in her own home. We are all extremely grateful for each other and would not be successful in keeping mom home without each person's help. Whatever do people do without family?

No, but she is AWOW!! ( ABSENT WITHOUT WIFI :-) Well, we are working on solutions for that but the current unusual solution is going to the pub when my sister is at work - they have wireless. Ahhhhhh, internet PLUS it is a really interesting "fishing hole". God continues to give me GREAT grace and joy and fulfillment in being home to take care of mom and see family. Mom's quality of life was improved immeasurably with a full time companion – me. Although mom struggles with physical frailty, and intermittent dementia our days are filled with laughter, visits from family and appointments with doctors. In the midst of this, my family makes sure I have some time out so I have joined a diet and exercise program at the local Curves. In 3 weeks I have lost 6 pounds and 10 inches!! Can you imagine I actually look forward to the exercise routine?! Our God is a transforming God!!