Been awhile since the last post. Was it because of inconvenience? Lets see… Labor Day at Bruce’s but some had other plans… Jesse’s birthday and outing to Chimney Rock, but not all the family was there because some had already made plans… Thanksgiving Day meal as a family on Sunday because Thanksgiving Day meal came and we were in three or four different geographical locations… Then Christmas… Two days before Christmas our white van died… possibly the fuel pump… the van Andrea planned to take to Wisconsin. Christmas eve evening after at time with family at Ricky and Karlyn’s new house on the way to Eunice’s new home our blue van quits in the middle of the road. Christmas day, when Eunice was planning on taking us to Michigan, was spent at Eunice’s home. The day after Christmas Jesse and I spent five hours fixing things that require fixing, but do not get the blue van running. And inconvenience?

And this is Christmas… That first, as we tend to call it, Christmas… Was it not inconvenient for Mary to be told she would be pregnant, not by man, but by God. How do you explain that? Joseph wanted to at least hide her shame as much as he could, but it was inconvenient to be told by God to take her without shame to be his wife in the face of all criticism they would face. It too was inconvenient to be nearing the end of Mary’s pregnancy and be required to travel on foot or donkey about a hundred miles to register for the Roman government. It was inconvenient to get there later than so many others and find room for birthing in a stable. Then within a couple of years to have to flee for the life of their son to Egypt traveling the same way. Was it not inconvenient for so many families to have their children under two years old to die because of that one child? that one child whose ultimate purpose was to die on this earth for the sins of all who would ever live.

So tell me, was your Christmas inconvenient for you?

An amazing day today. The oldest of the Rick Blaha children has been blessed with 31 years of life outside the womb today. The time of our life is in God’s hand as He sees it. Each day on this earth is a blessing as we with our being we acknowledge Him in all our ways. Blessing Ricky with the blessing of the first born as only a father can, please encourage Ricky on his 31st birthday today.

We got started on this last night as Tim & Sarah St Clair and family, and Pam Tipmore joined our family in an early celebration. As part of the celebration we watched a video of a Tim St Clair and Ricky with others from the then Sophomore Class at Northland Baptist Bible College (2000-2001) as they were in a play ‘Beauty and the Beast: Northland Style”. Tim St Clair was the Beast and Ricky was Gaston. (There is no thought of encore at this time!!!!)

My family always said that I was a “stick in the mud.” To tell you the truth, I am not exactly sure how that analogy pans out; but we all know what is meant by it. Well, this time I was. I knew that the roads were going to be bad, so I decided that I would hit the roads early to avoid traffic, melting ice, and possible accidents. To test the ground a little bit, the Polish in me decided that our back yard was the best place to test (man! I’m a genius). Hannah requested that I turn the GPS on my phone so that she could tell where I was on my way to work. I had forgotten to turn my GPS on when an hour later Hannah texted me saying that she was disappointed that I had not turned on my GPS. I then turned on my GPS for her. She then sent me a text message asking where I was. I was still at home “testing” the traction of my tires on the ground. Needless to say, Hannah got really giddy and turned into a paparazzi in between her laughing and snide remarks. I finally got fed up and frustrated that I went inside to start working from home. I texted my boss and told him the situation. He said to come in whenever I could come safely. I went back a couple hours later to try to dig my car out of the mud. I was able to move the car, but I also got it further in the mud. With Hannah’s help this time, we were able to move the car to stable ground. This is where it sat till I got home that evening after deciding to take the other car to work. When I returned home, I tried one last time to try to get my car to the driveway. It took less than a minute to get it up there. It’s funny to look back, but it wasn’t so much then. Hannah and I have done several things the hard way in order to learn important lessons. This is just one more. As Hannah put it – we did not get to play in snow this year; we got to play in mother nature’s other beauty – mud (or clay).  Moral of the story is “never let Josh test the car out in the yard.”

Truly humbled,

Josh

PS – Not much has been happening on here for a while. I hope that everyone has not given up hope. I still enjoy family news and updates.

PS2 – Ricky and Karlyn will have to share with us how the conference went that they spoke at in MD. Karla might be able to be a guest writer and give us a sample of her trip to India (I haven’t asked her yet). Soon we will be having our Annual Income Tax Celebration Dinner. So, there is plenty to talk about. Love you all!

Addressing the second part of the title first I had my complete post Saved (several times) and pressed Publish and in less than a second the text and pictures COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED!!! Just remember: Inanimate and non-human items can never and will never apologize for anything. They don’t care. They don’t have to. They are like Democrats and Socialists (it is hard to tell the difference anymore!!! Why do they even call themselves Democrats? They aren’t democratic. ). So that is what can happen in a second.

We had the great blessing of having Josh & Han and Ricky & Karlyn get married in the time span of just the last four weeks. Josh and Han had their wedding on the shore of Lake Robinson just north of Greer, SC. The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner was wonderful time. We found out that Josh should have raise at least one if not two goats for the dowry, but, oh well. Live and learn. But there was also the testament of God’s work in both Josh and Hannah’s lives and where they are right now. Many Blaha’s arrived from Michigan on Friday. Some including Grandpa and Grandma Blaha (Dad & Mom to me) were there for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding was wonderful and went well. Josh and Han had a great time as their honeymoon was a cruise to the Bahamas.

Josh and Hannah all married and ready for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately Josh and Han’s wedding was local. God provide for local travel. God’s provision to and from Ricky and Karlyn’s was totally different and came from unexpected sources for which we are very grateful. For those who had a part, THANK YOU. Ricky had to get to Michigan anyway and so paid for the fuel to get there. God provided also through significantly reduced fuel prices. That made little go much longer. We traveled up on Wednesday night to Dad & Mom’s. Jesse and I took the opportunity to walk, as best we could, the perimeter of the farm. We had discussions of days long past and dreams and the future. After a great night’s rest at Karla’s Bed and Breakfast (not officially that, but may as well be for family and friends from all over the world) we headed NORTH. Yes, we were already NORTH of Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon’s geopolitical line, but this was further NORTH in Michigan.

The rehearsal dinner was at the Chee Peng Chinese Restaurant (had fun decorating there). After the rehearsal at Faith Baptist in Fremont, MI we also enjoy a story and testimony about Ricky and Karlyn’s lives. (Ricky didn’t have to worry about goats at all!)

Lois and I, Josh and Han stayed in a cottage on Pickerel Lake. The morning of fog and swans swimming and flying in and out of it were accented by one lone fisherman on the the lake (Rick Blair – We were staying at Rick’s father and step-mother’s cottage while Rick and Ruth (my sister) stayed in their house). Rick and Ruth then took us (Josh, Han, Lois, and I) to the North Star Cafe for breakfast which was very good. Then on to the wedding.

Ricky and Karlyn’s wedding was, like Josh & Han’s, a great witness of God’s grace. A special memorial part of the wedding was the acknowledgment of Karlyn’s father, Steven Tipmore, who had been pastor at the church until his unexpected death in April 2007. Their wedding was as unique to them as Josh & Han’s was. As you can see the conveyance away to begin their trip to their honeymoon in Colorado with a side trip to New Mexico. (No, they didn’t take the wagon all the way to Colorado, but it was a great start.)

Ricky and Karly on their first means of transport along with their wedding party.

Our return trip was provided for in several special ways. Eunice was driving Karlyn’s car back to SC and so between that car and Josh and Han driving back and Ricky away on his honeymoon, Lois and I were to stay awhile longer in Michigan and travel back alone. On the way back a very special friend offered to have us stay at her place in Kentucky. Since I had an appointment in Greenville, SC Monday afternoon we had to be closer to Greenville if we were to stay anywhere overnight. She still wanted to see us so she paid for us to eat together a an Olive Garden. She also paid for us to take a hotel much further on our way. To each who had a part in anyway in helping us on our trip we praise God for you and for the blessing of it all.

I guess I do better here than on Facebook. I had last Saturday being the last day of summer (and you know how bad the last day of summer is!!!)

Much has happened in the last few weeks. Let’s see. Josh has moved to a place north of Greer, SC which is closer to North Greenville University. He hopes to finish his college education there. The Blaha clan (its more a Southern thing than Scottish in this case) went to the Cradle of Forestry In America as a family one last time as all yet unmarried (soon to change however). Andrea got her driver’s license. Eunice has someone interested in her for dating purposes for now. He came from out of state specially to talk to my wife and I.

Looking ahead Josh and Hannah are getting married in just a week and a half from the date of this posting. Ricky and Karlyn follow two weeks later.

I would invite you to visit my new online store and share it with others. I hope to add much more to it in the days ahead. It is called Treasure The Family. I hope you enjoy it. If you love the family I hope it will be an encouragement to you and may be a means of encouraging others to Treasure The Family.