Write His Answer Seminar, Oconto Falls, WI

Marlene Bagnull taught this wonderful Write His Answer seminar. I would advise any writer to attend one of her seminars.  She wove worship, the word, and wonderful elements of writing into a day and a half long seminar.   Sorry, I couldn’t resist the urge to write all those “W’s”!!  Now back to the seminar! Marlene is skillful, informative, and transparent.  I am grateful for her willingness to share not only her successful experiences but also those that were difficult or hindered her progress in her writing career.  Marlene is an encourager and networker for those seeking publication.  Thank you Marlene for all you shared and the bur you placed in our saddles to get us on the move!  May the Lord our God bless you richly and at all times!

Susan Marlene Kinney

Country Memories Farm Event

It is chilly out here in Wisconsin but us girls braved the night and dressed up a little.  Vanessa was a bumblebee, Sarah was a teacher in a coat, and I was a scary housewife with a pink robe.  Where oh where were my pink rollers?  Thats right, I forgot to purchase them on the way to this Country Memories Farm event!  Vanessa painted faces and hands with cartoon figures. Sarah and I bowled with a pumpkin and picked up bowling pins. We all ate delicious chili. We washed it all down with hot chocolate and sat around the fire after we fed the alpacas!!! Sorry about your shoes Sarah!!  Ok, I'm still chuckling! We would have taken photos of the alpacas but they are shy and we didn’t want to get stampeded in their pen. Yes, that is a tall tale, we did forget all about the camera when in the presence of these lovely fuzzy creatures.  I look forward to the next event Becky and Joe will hold at Country Memories Farm in November!!  Thank you for a wonderful night Becky and Joe!

Susan Marlene Kinney

NKJV – Word of the day: For you….

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.

John 15:16

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you.

I Love Old Trains

Trains, Trains and More Trains

Trains always draw my attention and fascinate me. There is something about the steady rhythm of motion and sound that causes me to smile.  When I was a child, we enjoyed a large black train, maybe an O scale, that seemed to complete the Christmas tree. It was as much a part of Christmas decorations as the ornaments on the tree.

 Many years later Christmas was nearly upon us.  Cal discovered my attraction to what I call the “pretty trains”.  He bought me my very own Pennsylvania Flyer O-scale train # 8602.  I love to see this train under our Christmas tree and hate to put it away to hide in a box for the majority of the year.  I am happy if it just sits there or if it runs the track.  Calvin, I discovered, is happy with elaborate track formations and moving, sound activated trains.  The next year he bought more track and had a snazzy layout for the space available to us in our front living room.

This year when I finally realized his love for trains and complicated track layouts we decided to dedicate a room for “our” new hobby.  My husband and I are at the ground floor of creating our train room.  Cal has torn up the spare bedroom, even as far as tearing out the closet!  He has been diligently building the train tables.  Cal and I never settle with simple.  With our imagination and “his” skill we plan to make the most of our space.  I buy the train magazines and  Cal investigates.  Then we talk and dream together.  Cal is the track planner and I will be working on the scenery once the train tables are finished.  Cal built a helix for the N-scale train set up in our garage.  It took time and ingenuity on his part and he finally achieved building a working helix so that our trains can travel to the upper level track. More than one curious neighbor popped over to ask Cal what in the world he was building.  We may have a few angry wives in the neighborhood since at least one man wandered home wondering just where his train has been! 

This is our helix and the mess of our beginnings.  Do you have a photo or a story you want to share about your train room or train collection?

Susan Marlene Kinney