From the Editor's Desk:

It's all in the Blood!

The other day I referred to myself my using the phrase, "Yes, us Rehfeldts would do that." "But you haven't been a Rehfeldt for a long time." was her reply. Then of course that got my brain working overtime about that comment.

When I got married over 42 years ago to Robert Trotter, I became Juliet Trotter. But that was in name only. When he had a long lost relative dead in Florida that had left no will, the attorneys were looking for blood relatives. Because I was just married to him, didn't make me eligible to receive any money this man left. Bob did receive some money from this man's estate but only because he was in the bloodline.

A year after my husband had passed away, his Aunt Helen passed away. Aunt Helen had left a very nice estate behind. Even though I had been married to Bob for 32 years, would I receive any of the money? No, it would go to our only child, Ann-Marie. Why? Because she is the direct bloodline of her father.

So you see, it really doesn't matter who I am married to. When it come to any inheritance you have to be in the bloodline to receive any benefits. I guess if some long last relative of mine passes away, he or she may leave me some money. But I tell you they have to have either Rehfeldt or Cowert blood in them for me to even be considered.

Can I say with some certainty, ONCE A REHFELDT ALWAYS A REHFELDT? At any rate, it's something to think about.

Baked Spaghetti Dinner!

Thanks to my dear friend Alice, I have been wanted to make her receipe for baked spaghetti. One could said that it makes a boatload. About a week ago, my neice Candice phoned me to see if I could take care of Brielle, while she attended to some business. Anyone who loves children, would jump at this chance. So since I had February 19 opened, I gladly accepted the offer. Then on Wednesday Ann-Maire phoned. She wanted to stop by on Thursday evening and have me pin her new slack for Aunt Louise to hem them. I just said, "Why don't you come by and have supper with us. I've been wanted to make this great receipe that Alice gave me." Well that was the same day that I would be having Brielle and so I just thought, why not invite them to stay for supper too. Then knowing that my nephew BJ loves Italian food, why not invite him too.

As you see from the photo above, BJ would be lost without his toys!! And the guys just look on with interestThe supper went well. Even Brielle stayed in that big chair the whole time. And eveyone enjoyed the spaghetti.

This photo is for my sister, Linda in France who gave me these lovely spoons!

See how much that receipe makes! And it is just so delicious.

I spend the morning making cupcakes with cream cheese frosting! When Brielle came we played awhile before her nap. During her nap, I was able to get the baked spaghetti ready. Then make a tossed salad with only lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers because there are certain members of my family,who will remain nameless, who can't eat some of those other healthy veggies....like broccoli, green peppers, etc. Oh, and I'm so sorry that I forgot to cut up an avocado. Alice had put some in the salad she served us and it was so delicious. We also enjoyed some garlic bread.

When Brielle went to bed, we played sequence. Hate to admit this but Ann-Marie and Brett were the winners. Candice and I were second. In the last game Gary and BJ won. This was the first time that BJ had played the game. Let me tell you that he was a mean blocker. Candice and I would have tied with Brett and Ann-Marie if BJ hadn't removed one of our chips. Thanks BJ!

It was a totally fun evening. And just think, it all started from wanted to try a receipt. Thanks Alice.

Changing of Churches

At the beginning of this year Gary and I joined Heritage Baptist Church in Roscoe, Illinois. It's just down the road from us. Pastor Jim Wright has been the pastor their for about six and a half years.

In the good old days, a person usually stayed at one church all their life. And today their are still people who never gone to a different church. Of course that may have been for various reasons, like they never moved away to another state...etc.

Having grown-up in Rockford I have been a member of four different churches in the state of Illinois. (This does not include the time that Bob was a Youth Director at First Free here in Rockford and later at the Aurora Bible Church in Aurora, Illinois.)

First of all I grew up in the Berean Baptist Church, under Pastor Melvin Swanson, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. Under his ministry at the age of eight, I came to know Christ as my personal Saviour. He taught his congregation to search the scriptures daily to make sure what was being said from the pulpit was in- line with the Word of God. Later I would attend Moody Bible Institue to ground me more in the Word of God and of course met my future husband. I will always thank the Lord for Pastor Swanson ministry and its godly influences on me.

Now we come to another church that Bob and I attended along with our young daughter, Ann-Marie. It's Memorial Baptist Church under the direction of Pastor Ralph Martin. Here again was a servant of God who taught us so much about the Word of God. It is here where Ann-Marie attended their Christian school, Rockford Baptist from K-4 through the fourth grade. As a family we got to know and spend time with alot of couples our age. People who we are still friends with.
Just a little side note: Way back then when a church wanted you to teach in their Christian school, you had to be a member of their church. So when Berean Baptist asked me to teach K-4, we ended up going back to Berean. And as a result Ann-Marie graduated from Berean Baptist Christian School. One ministry that Bob and I enjoyed at Memorial was team teaching the junior high group with two other couples.

Are you still with me? You may wonder how or why we ended up going to Windsor Baptist Church in Loves Park, under the wonderful ministry of Pastor James (Jim) Larson. It's a rather long story for another time. But we did make a housing move from Rockford to Machesney Park, Illinois. I'm not sure how it all happen, but I remember when we were in limbo living on Dresden Avenue in Rockford, we had a visit from Pat and Jane Smith who attended Windsor. (By the way, Windsor is a sister church of First Baptist Church in Rockford.) Let's just say we started visiting Windsor and later became members. We truly loved being members. We grew spiritual under Jim's ministry. Bob had a close relationship with Jim. Somethings in life have a bittersweet taste. The dictionary meaning of bittersweet: "Producing a mixture of pain and pleasure." The pleasure was being involved and growing in the Lord there. Bob was involved with Junior Church and choir. Later when asked he did the song leading for the congregation. Bob and Jim would have conversation in Jim's car after a Christian Education meeting. One conversation was about how they would beat the odds of hereditary physical problems. "It's a heart attack that will take me." said Bob. Jim who was a very discipline person was trying to avoid cancer. When Bob got out of the car(I found all this out at Bob's funeral via Jim.) he said, "When I died of a heart attack, you can preach at my funeral and tell them I told you so." Then they both laughed. God took Bob home about a week later, and Jim did preach at his funeral. At the funeral Jim related the conversation in the car and said they laughed because they thought their deaths were a long ways off. Jim died of cancer two years later...the day before 9/11. So you see it became a bittersweet place for me.

How did I become a member of First Baptist Church? Well, after Bob's death, I figure I would remain a widow. God had other plans. Because this is already too long for most of you, I'll give you a short version. A wonderful man, Gary Heilman phoned me and wanted to take me out. I was not ready for that, but eventually we started dating. He was a member of First Baptist Church and I was a member of Windsor Baptist. After we were married, we visited both churches off and on. Finally joining First Baptist under the ministry of Pastor Scott Williquette. Again a wonderful church. Even after moving from Machesney Park to Rockton, Illinois we continued the long drive to First Baptist. And it didn't bother us at all. But eventually two things moved us to make the change. One was when the gas prices went up and truly this was one that bothered us most...asking people to come to our church which would mean a long drive for them. So we started visiting churches near our home. And that is how we ended up joining Heritage.

Whew! I know this has been a long blog. So sorry. Hey, it's my blog and I guess I can do as I please. Ha! Now that sound real Christian.

All in all I'm so thankful that I have never left a church because of a split or ill feelings. In fact, Gary and I got a beautiful card from the people at First Baptist telling us that they will miss us. Now folks, we haven't left the state of Illinois and I know (Alice and others) we will see and fellowship with these wonderful people from time to time. After all we are in the body of Christ. Wherever we attend we just want to be an active member for the Glory of God.