Quabbin Reservoir and Faith Baptist Church

We have enjoyed being at the missions conference at Faith Baptist Church in Palmer, MA.  On Thursday we had a gorgeous day for a missionary outing - a picnic at Quabbin Reservoir.  The reservoir was formed back in the 1930s when four towns were moved out of the valley, two dams built, and the valley flooded. Quabbin Reservoir supplies drinking water for 2.4 million people - mostly the Boston area.

 

There were a few New England colors yet to be seen!

 

 

We hiked up to the tower to get a view of all sides, including Connecticut and New Hampshire.  We also got to walk across one of the dams, which is no longer open to vehicles.  The kids LOVED this!

 

Though it took some convincing, they finally decided to enjoy each other and hold hands!

We laughed at one sign that explained the Gull Interruption procedures.  The DCR stirs up the gulls each evening to prevent them from landing and brooding on the water all night, thus contaminating the drinking water.  I would love to see that in person!

 

At the end we visited a fishery and the kids got to feed rainbow trout.  No pictures of that activity - I was too busy trying to keep the twins from taking a swim!

 

There was another special treat from this conference - getting to meet some "virtual" friends in real life!  I (Andrea) have been friends with Rosa Balzamo on blogs and Pinterest for several years.  The Balzamo's are now on deputation to plant a church in Norwich, CT.  Last October they came to present at our home church, and they stayed in our apartment - while we were out of town!  We were in Alabama getting approved by BWM to begin our own deputation.  We have followed the Balzamo's around several New England churches, and it was so nice to finally meet up in person!

 

I was in college with two of Rosa's siblings, and I have been blessed by the testimony of her whole family.

Ben and Tom Balzamo

A Maineiac Hike

My kids have thoroughly enjoyed this week in Maine.  They have gotten to explore and enjoy the Great Outdoors in ways they didn't know existed.  Living in NYC, rocks and sticks and leaves are the only novelties to collect on a walk.  Here they have hiked, canoed, chased butterflies, romped in the grass, picked up toads, collected wildflowers, foraged for wild berries, and enjoyed picnic lunches.

 

Yesterday we went for a hike in the Bigelow Preserve here in Stratton, ME.  We were hoping that the road would take us to the lake, but it didn't go all the way through.  We parked on a logging road to hike to the lake, but after a while the foliage became too dense for the kids (and for Mommy who was carrying a baby!).  We had a picnic in the woods.  The kids loved sitting on a dead tree to eat.   

Elaine found some tiny toads and chased them.  Liberty got in on the action.  There were tons of wild raspberry bushes so we stole a snack from the bears (and then got out before they found out it was us!).  It was totally worth all the bug bites and raspberry bush scratches!

 

Nolan nearly disappeared in the wildflowers!

Liberty's toad.  Not so sure that he survived!

My kids are collecting grandparents all over the country.  They have really enjoyed being here with Mr. & Mrs. Pease.  I love listening to them talk in a beautiful Maine accent!

A Canoe Outing

We have had several meetings in Maine this month.  Last week we had to travel home on Monday so that Ben could finish a job he was doing in Brooklyn.  This week we decided to stay in Maine in between Sundays.  We had some accommodations in a prophets chamber during the week. But as we were leaving on Saturday morning, a college friend (who is a missionary in Siberia) emailed to say that she had seen we were in Maine, and that her parents would be glad to have us stay with them if we needed a place to stay.  The Lord answered an unspoken prayer to take care of our accommodations this week! 

 

We have had a wonderful time in rural Maine.  The kids are experiencing parts of the "great outdoors" that they never knew existed in New York City!  We enjoyed a canoe ride (another little thing that the Lord worked out - Nolan has been asking to go on a boat!), a couple of picnics, a hike, foraging for wild raspberries, looking at the stars, and "moosing".  We might have to come visit again in order to see a moose, though!

 

We have been so blessed to stay with the Pease family this week and we are grateful for their hospitality!

 

Twinsies ready for the boat

 

Some happy "big kids" enjoying the up front view in the canoe

 

 

 

Nehemiah is NOT a water lover.  He enjoys his bath, but prefers to stay dry otherwise.  He wasn't too thrilled with his life vest or being out on the water.  His attitude improved when he got to hold one end of the oar!

 



A Stop on the Farm

Last week we traveled to Maine round trip in one weekend.  The kids were pretty tired of being in the car, so we made a fun stop at a farm in Massachusetts.   They had a playground, and ice cream stand, and a barn of animals - llamas, sheep, goats, a miniature horse, and a cow.  There was also a little creek where Ben helped the kids catch some frogs.

 

We arrived right at feeding time, and the kids loved it!  They have always enjoyed feeding the goats the NYC zoos, so this was right up their alley.  Liberty was old enough to get in on the action, too.  She was completely fearless as she offered bits of grain and feed to the goats! 

 We had "purple cow" ice cream covered in sprinkles - to Elaine and Nolan's delight!

Liberty discovered that she is a "big girl" now - we had a hard time pulling her off this swing!

 

 

Our kids enjoyed this so much that we stopped at the Davidian Bros. Farm again on this trip to Maine.  Liberty recognized it and went right over to the fence by the goats!

A Week in Maine

The first week of June (including two Sundays) found us in Central Maine for deputation meetings.  We stayed with our good friends the Kelly’s in Lewiston, Maine.  Both Ben & I were blessed to have piano lessons with Mr. Kelly at Ambassador Baptist College.  Now he is Pastor Kelly, and I sure had a hard time remembering to call him Pastor!

The Kelly’s home is also the home of Lewiston Baptist Church.  With the arrival of nice weather comes maintenance season in Maine.  Ben helped scrape, prime, and paint the top part of the house exterior.

While Daddy was working hard, the kids and I got to “play.”  We went to visit my friend Nicole Risinger in Clinton, Maine and experience dinner at “Big G’s Deli”.  Mrs. Kelly helped me introduce the kids to yard saleing.  They had a blast!  Elaine helped out in the kitchen, and all of the kids were thoroughly spoiled with a huge back yard and beautiful play weather!  In the evenings we enjoyed lots of fellowship time with the Kelly family, dinner on the porch, ice cream at Fielder’s Choice (best we’ve ever had!), and even a few music lessons!

Andrea & Nicole, Nehemiah, Liberty, Nolan, and Elaine

 
The kids loves sitting in these kid-sized chairs on the porch!

 
Learning how to make homemade tortillas from Brianna!

 
First piano lesson!

We thoroughly enjoyed being at Lewiston Baptist Church.  It was a neat experience for us to be a part of a church that is not too far removed from being a new church plant.  We will be in the new church planting work before too long!  On Sunday night I “lost” Nehemiah.  In my search for him, I peeked into the back of the chapel where the choir was practicing.  There on the front row was Nehemiah's head, barely peeking up between the teen boys as they practiced!

Something that has helped our kids with the transition into deputation and being in so many different churches is reminded them of all the new friends they get to make.  Imagine their delight to find a church full of kids!  The little girls were all over the twins, and Elaine loved making so many new friends!

  

Our Family at Lewiston Baptist Church

With the Kelly Family
Grant, Elaine, Pastor Kelly, Beth, Nolan, Andrea, Nehemiah, and Ben
Liberty and Brianna