two years ago today, we buried my mother

1TH 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Congress at Hershey

We'll be at the Congress! Hope to see a lot of people we know there!

http://www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org/Events/Congress07/SalvationArmyCongress07.html

http://www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org/Events/Congress07/Congress07PrayerList.html
For safe travel for overseas missionaries returning to attend the Congress. “The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm. He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121: 7 & 8)

We're especially looking forward to this:
http://www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org/Events/Congress07/KaleidoscopeOfPraise.html
If you can't come for the full Congress and you live in Pennsylvania, maybe you could come for just this night:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02003E73E6491A77?artistid=821142&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=50

Evelyn

what we are doing today!

http://www.beansholiday.com/flash.html

http://www.superkinod.ee/movie/33222/schedule/23/170389/

Mr. Bean

where we'll be from 27 May till 21 June

http://www.exit5motel.com/default.html

I have a bad feeling about this! ;-)

http://www.uspsjedimaster.com/main/splash.html

this keeps popping up

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17805282/site/newsweek/

Peter's Birthday Party

I know it's taken quite a while, but here are pictures from Peter's birthday party. He had friends come from Tartu and Narva, as well as Tallinn. We all had a great time!

Peter's best friend from Tartu, Lauri, came for the party. He brought along his potty and so inspired Peter to join him.

Evelin and Evelyn carry in the birthday cakes.

Peter, Lauri, Chris, Aylusha and Mark admire the cakes.

Alyusha admires Peter's gift of a BIG lollipop from Keit.

Lauri and Aynuta watch Peter open a gift from Auntie Mary-Kay.

Elizabeth, Peter, Anneli and Keit are fascinated by the wiggling Jello in the kitchen.

Chris and Peter enjoy reading one of his gifts--a Mercer Mayer book (his favorite!).

2 months

Two months from today, we will arrive in America for the first part of our homeland furlough. Why does this thought terrify me so much?

Evelyn

Baby Café

http://www.thebabycafe.co.uk/L/BC_Detail.php?ID=106
Melrose Wakefield Hospital Baby Café
Now open!
Where:
84 Green Street, Melrose, Massachusetts, MA02176 USA
When:
Weds 6pm to 8pm; Fri 10am to 12 noon
Breastfeeding specialists:
Lucia Jenkins, RN, IBCLC, La Leche League LeaderMary Foley, RN, IBCLC
Telephone:
781-979-6455(MILK)
Email:
Luciansla@aol.com
See map
WIC Peer Counsellors will also be available at the Baby Café.

Evelyn Alice Groff Smith Banks, my mother

Medeo European Food and Deli

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/business/stories/070323russia.html

Immigrants provide taste of homeland
Russian market thought to be Maine's only such grocer

Peter as Darth Vader

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXk8wedgfmI

Turn your volume up really loud to hear Peter's deep "Darth Vader" voice!

Start Loving

http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/

Please pray for my dear brother Jay, who is doing what most of us only dream of. Pray that God's will is done in Jay's life, as well as in the world (particularly Darfur at this moment!).

"Forgive us ... as we forgive."

"Deliver us from evil!!!"

Evelyn

Wesleyan Distinctives

http://www.armybarmy.com/jac-issue2.html

Journal of Aggressive Christianity
Issue 2, August/September 1999
"The Doctrine of Sanctification in The Salvation Army"
by John Norton

Salvation Army historian John Coutts suggests that "any search for the religious roots of Salvationism must begin with the Methodism from which the Army sprang." It is not surprising, therefore, that the theology of John Wesley would contain the foundation of the Salvation Army's doctrine of sanctification. Wesley diverged from Reformed theology by suggesting that perfection in love is attainable for all believers through faith in Christ. "His distinctive contribution was his conviction that true biblical Christianity finds its highest expression and ultimate test of authenticity in the practical and ethical experience of the
individual Christian."(15) This is an emphasis of Catholicism and Wesley helped recover it for Protestantism.

[15. Dieter, "The Wesleyan Perspective", Five Views on Sanctification (Grand Rapids: Acadimie, 1987) p. 11]

CBD sale

http://www.christianbook.com/html/cms/general/company_events.html

Saturday, March 24, 2007
Join us from 7:00am - 4:00pm for our next Warehouse Sale
CBD is located at: 140 Summit St. Peabody, Massachusetts 01960

hear the Word of the Lord

MT 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
MT 25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
MT 25:40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

HEB 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

women's devotional & women's Bible

Jessica Coleman
50 County Way
Portland ME 04102

Lent?

http://www.salon.com/09/departments/lamott1.html

Here Comes the Sun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc5Q3hejXNw

spring is coming!

http://www.ritasice.com/springCountdown.cfm

Joann Mary Elizabeth Groff

visiting

http://www.maine.gov/corrections/Facilities/mcc/VisitProcChange.htm

http://www.maine.gov/corrections/Facilities/mcc/VisitForm.rtf

listening to ...

http://www.accuradio.com/

CELTIC

The finest Irish-based music from around the world

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day! (also Peter's birthday party!)

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/patrick.htm

six weeks, not three months

1999/M/333
MEMORANDUM BY THE CHIEF OF THE STAFFREINFORCEMENT AND SECONDMENT SERVICELength of Terms and Furloughs - special categories as agreed and in line with the Chief of the Staff's Minute 1998/IA/05 dated 23 April 1998.1. LENGTH OF TERM - AGREED EXCEPTIONS 2 year term Congo (Brazzaville) Territory Congo (Kinshasa) and Angola Territory Rwanda Region Ghana Territory Liberia Command Nigeria Territory South Asia Zone Papua New Guinea Command4.

HOMELAND FURLOUGH - AGREED EXCEPTIONS
6 weeks Eastern Europe other than Russia/CIS Command

2 months For the undermentioned two months are granted if returning to a reinforcement appointment, or one month if remaining in the home territory. In addition, a mid-term homeland furlough of one month is granted after one year: Congo (Brazzaville) Territory Congo (Kinshasa) and Angola Territory Rwanda Region Ghana Territory Liberia Command Nigeria Territory Papua New Guinea Command South Asia Zone[signed: E. Maxwell]INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS10 June 99Additional InformationElectronically Signed by The Chief of the Staff: John Larsson 09/07/2001 10:05

corned beef and cabbage, $15 family ticket!

PORTLAND: St. Patrick's Day dinner set tonight at Anglican Cathedral
The Ecumenical Order of St. Brendan the Navigator will serve a traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner in advance of the holiday from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul Parish Hall.
The meal will feature corned beef, cabbage and other traditional foods. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $15 for a family up to five. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. This is the third year the cathedral has hosted the event. Proceeds will benefit the cathedral building restoration project.
The parish hall is located on Locust Street, behind the Anglican Cathedral on the corner of Congress and Locust streets.

lung cancer

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/03/06/lung.screening.ap/index.html

Portland in the New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/realestate/04nati.html

Medieval stuff -- click around this site!

http://www.oldehansa.org/

stuff in Portland

http://www.realliferealtalk.org/sefp/portland-me.htm