Category: Joy Notes
-
Christmas Village 2025
In motion Everybody loves to see the action, but I needed some help to maximize the fun so my grandchildren, Sam and Annabelle, helped out. Improved track configuration Each year my fans look for what is new in the Christmas Village. Some years the changes are subtle, but not this year. The small hidden trolley…
-

It’s Daylily Season
Open garden scheduled Kelvin’s daylily garden is about at its peak with around fifty different varieties in bloom. A couple early ones have already completed their season and some late ones are yet to start. The Joneses are inviting friends who would like to drop by to an open garden time on Friday, July 12…
-

Easter Service at Copper Hill Church
Jesus’ Victory is Contagious was the theme Watch the service I was privileged to be asked along with my wife to speak at and lead the Easter celebration at Copper Hill church this past Sunday. Pulpit supply there has been week-to-week lately and it was great joy when supervising pastor Rev. Gene Ott called and…
-

Christmas Village Fun 2023
Plus five ideas for a great Christmas village Let’s get started with some pictures. I always have fun trying to take close-ups in the Christmas village. It’s not easy as I need to hold the camera very low to get a good angle. But I like the result. The fun part is to let the imagination take over and…
-

Wisdom is needed
A key verse Wisdom is a key theme for my blog. I found this verse during one of my recent devotional times. It is a reminder of how important wisdom is to all our projects, both short-term and long term, both physical and interactive. Success in building for the future requires wisdom today.
-

50th Christmas Tree
This year was JoAnne’s and my 50th Christmas. The grand tree pictured above as the centerpiece of our Christmas decor this year (2019) is our 50th Christmas tree. This year’s version (an artificial tree) is complete with train village and beautiful snowflakes made by our grandson. (For you who subtracted 1970 from 2019 and only…
-

Parsonage siding project completed
My wife and I are really enjoying the new look at 8 Simsbury Road. The new siding and windows project is complete. The new windows open so easily to catch a breeze or be cleaned, and they look great. Our bright white house looks renewed as we drive up. We are feeling very blessed…
-

Building my Daylily Collection Thoughtfully
A few years back, after a vacation in the Adirondack Mountains of upper New York state, we decided to head toward Vermont passing just north of Lake George on Rt. 74. As we were viewing the scenery along Eagle Lake, I nearly screeched to a halt in the road and put the car in…
-

Pastor Jones Honored for Forty Years of Ministry
JoAnne and I were at our church’s annual summer picnic, held this year at Sunrise Park in Suffield, CT. I saw the cake on the table decorated with “40 years” but did not read further as the words were partly covered by the box. Thinking about the summer fiftieth anniversary celebrations of some in…
-

Appointed for a Seventh Year
This past weekend at NY Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church I was officially stationed as pastor at Copper Hill United Methodist Church for a seventh year. I am thankful to God and to District Superintendent Rev. Alpher Sylvester and Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton for the opportunity to continue to serve as pastor to…