Our Trip to PA part 3: Train Museum

A day at the Scranton Train Museum (National Park)

For some reason, it took us awhile to actually enter the building. We couldn't seem to find the entrance!!

There was a sign on this table that ENCOURAGED people to touch things and pick them up!

Ethan's handling a piece of coal.

Waiting for a train...

Pretty Jenna Benna!

This was such a neat museum! It had many interactive displays and was so informative. For any history buff it would be very enjoyable!

Can you imagine having to wait near the tracks and carefully signal the trains with an oil lantern- if it was me, it would be flying off into the darkness somewhere!!

Enjoying the displays.

This was my favorite- notice how they've pictured a lady talking on the phone. Appropriate!

Dad learning about trains, of course!

Angela- conductress extraordinaire!

Jenna wants the train to whistle- you'll be there a long time, Ben!

A spy hole! Guess who found it?!

The box car children!

We had a barrel of fun with this one!! (pun INTENDED)

The answer is no. I will never grow up if it means no more goofy photos!

Look what we found!! ; )

This is the front of the train- the firebox. This is what it looks like when they are cleaning it, which was the most dangerous job and not at all coveted. It reminds me of something from Star Wars!

Inside a passenger train!

It is just what I picture a train would look like from an Agatha Christie mystery!

All Aboard!!

Angela in the postal car. As a postman in a train car, you had to be very quick and accurate. The post was hung in bags near the track in each town and was obtained with a long bar with a hook on the end. You only got one chance to get the bag or the mail would have to wait there until the next round!

I love the quote on this poster: The shakespearean version of "catch me if you can"!

Jenna purchasing her tickets to...... you guess!

Look what we found- a Hobo!! 

Apparently hobos had their own written codes that would indicate if there was any food around or if there were police, ect, and they would leave these marks for other hobos along the railroad tracks.

They match!!

Who's that handsome fella??

Ethan in comparison to the engine.

We all had a turn balancing on the tracks- fun, fun, fun!

"We are family..."

On the bridge to the mall- gorgeous day!

Train viewing and studying with Angela and Jenna is a recipe for a super day!!

Trip to PA part 2: A Sunday Walk

On Sunday, we visited a Reformed Baptist church in the heart of the big city of Scranton (about the size of our Portland). The building was located just in front of the University of Scranton and also down the road from a half way house, so they would often get visitors! The service was nice and the message good. The Pastor preached about overcoming evil with good- which was a re-occuring theme throughout our visit in PA! We met some nice folks and fellowshipped, but it seems we were a little used to our church and ended up being the last people (other than the pastor and another fellow) left!
It was such a nice day out that the Johnsons took us on a lovely walk in the woods!

Beeautiful Angela!

Lovely Jenna.

Standin' on a stump! We're talented. (at this point, Dad and Charlie were way ahead of us and turned around to look.... rolled their eyes and kept going)

They even had a pond- too cool!

Windmills! Also the view from Angela's room!

Mum and Dad

Skipping rocks- on a Sunday, tisk tisk!

...what is this we see...

.. a polywog!! (i.e. a teenage frog)

Jenna was the bravest and fished it out of the water!

And to top it off- a nice swing on the playground! : )

Our Trip to PA part 1

On the road, again...

A staple for a long car ride? Nemo!

Pennsylvania was filled with mountains- gorgeous!!

Windmill.... Johnsons' house just over the hills!

Ten minutes after arrival: the guys are already playing ball!! ; )

Ethan got the wiffle ball stuck in the tree! Charlie saved the day with a basketball.

TT and her mr. Blueberry Eyes

Ahh...sweet fellowship! This is why we spent hours in the car....

...and it was soooo worth it!

On holiday...

.... to see some of my favorite people!!

A Lost Art Form

Just under one hundred years ago there was no such thing as television, movies, internet, compact discs or even cassettes. What did people do? They told stories. Carried on history through oration. Amazing. I can't tell a good story to save my life and I think part of the problem is that I don't practice. There is no need to.

There is no storyteller I love to hear more than my Grampa Chick. He can spin yarns better than Rumpelstiltskin (you may not know what I'm talking about unless you've heard that story)! I could sit an listen to him for hours as he talks about his past- his experiences as a boy working on his father's farm, his unbelievable mishaps, how he got his nickname "Fast Eddie," his experiences in the war and the wonderful story of His salvation. He is hilarious and engaging. Many people in his generation are. Could this be because he has been telling stories since he was young?

I think, in the midst of all of our very useful technology, we've lost the precious art of storytelling. I know a few people who can tell a good story, but most of them aren't in my generation. Some of the most valuable lessons we can learn come to us in the form of stories. 
I think it's time that we revive this lost tool and reclaim it for the glory of God. After all, there's nothing like a good story!

I'll Provide the Popcorn....

..... you provide the fun!

Quotes to Muse

“...people will die of thirst a few feet from away from water-bearers who don’t want to impose their water on them.”

“They would rather see a loved one go to hell then be seen as pushy by insisting on telling him the truth.”

~ From Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn