Berger Blessings

PA Mountains

Today I am blessed to wake up in the beautiful, peaceful Pennsylvania mountains!  The leaves are a beautfiul mix of gold, red, green, yellow and every inconceivable color in the spectrum.  It is breathtaking.  They aren't at their peak yet, but oh my, the Lord sure does some beautiful work!  We're at our little cottage in a grove of tiny other little cottages.  It's a christian "camp meeting" site that originated over a hundred years ago.  They used to have their camp meetings here with just tents, now there are cute little cottages in a circle with the Tabernacle in the center.  That's where the meetings/services/programs are held.  It's an open air type building that has shutters that close down in the winter.  It's wonderful!  Every year for 10 days in the summer, we have a camp meeting.  All the cottage owners, renters and others for hundreds of miles, come to these camp meetings.  We have an Evangelist preach every evening, with worship music from various performers.  Monday - Friday we have a bible teaching in the morning and a bible discussion every afternoon.  The children have their teachings at the same time, so that the parents may benefit from time in the Word without distraction from their little ones, at least for a short while. lol  There are also various other activities throughout the week, as well as ice cream socials every evening after church service.  All these are offered at no cost, but there is a love offering at each service, for those who are so inclined.  All are welcome to attend one or all of the studies, services, or activities, there is no need to be an "official" member or anything.  It started out as an Evangelical Congregational Church camp meeting site, technically it still is, but there are people from all denominations, we're Baptist, we have several Mennonites as well.  I always leave camp meeting recharged and energized. 

We were basically almost given this cottage.  It had been my darling husband's friend and his wife's.  The friend died, and after his wife had remarried, they decided to sell the cottage as they had two homes and the cottage between them.  She offered us the cottage since Bob had been friends with her husband.  She gave it to us for an unbelievable price and then allowed us to make payments on it, as we have no means to come up with large amounts of cash (hence the slowness of our adoption of Jonathan :o(  ).  After a bit over two years, we had officially paid it off, so now it is ours!  We never dreamt we would own a "second" home, we're blessed beyond words!  I often say the Lord has blessed us beyond all measure, we have a home on Lake Ontario and a cottage in the mountains, who could want or desire any more than that?  Yes, both are very much "fixer uppers", and may be that way for as long as the Lord allows us to have them, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.  We've lived in them without ceilings, walls, had had insulation hanging from all over, but that part is done now, everything is painted white and covered.  Some day we'll add color and new carpeting, but for now, we are warm and comfortable and have no doubt that the Lord loves us very much and only desires to bless us.  We will never cease to praise Him; and we know, that no matter what difficulties, challenges or sorrows may come our way, He will work it to our benefit, because we love Him and He loves us.  Thank you Jesus for all you give to us and thank you for this glorious day!  Amen