This is Labor Day weekend.. too bad we don't celebrate it as it was originally .. on a Tuesday. When I was growing up, we didn't start school in the fall until after Labor Day.. you could rely on that. Now, it seems like schools are starting in August to get a head start.. Is it really necessary?
I like the idea of home schooling.

It's rainy.. we had planned a picnic for this afternoon.. it may clear up before time.. and if not, well, we'll picnic in the rain!
I have had my morning exercise now.. Carlow slipped out the front door. He has a fascination with the chickens. Today he made a visit to the hen house... uninvited. The welcome left a lot to be desired. I saw him slip in the little exit door, and seconds later there was squawking .. and Carlow came back out the same way he went in.. looking a bit proud of himself. I followed him all over the place and finally caught up with him under the forsythia bush. UGH. Gotta carry a spray bottle with me when I go outside. That way I can get inside without him escaping again.

Carlow Zombeck

The newest member of the Zombeck family.. Carlow, a Norwegian Forest Cat
Very friendly, playful, and cute
Check out the Zombeck blog for a few more pics- I stole this one from that site.

Happy Birthday, John !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO

JOHN

AND

MANY MORE!

Amanda Blair Zombeck

Happy Birthday Amanda

A SUPER BIG

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO

OUR BABY

AMANDA BLAIR ZOMBECK

Jean Zombeck obit

ZOMBECK JEAN M.
On Wed, Oct. 29,2008, of Robinson Twp., age 69, beloved wife of John S. Zombeck Sr.;
mother of Denise Walker, Andrea & John S. "Jay" Zombeck Jr.;
sister of Betty Gregor, Clara Mae, Harry & Butch Nicholson and the late Margaret Wolfram, Edward, Jack, Ralph, George & James Nicholson;
also 7 grandchildren & 2 great-grandsons.
Friends received Fri. 1-4 & 6-9 p.m. JOSEPH M. SOMMA FUNERAL HOME, INC.,
5405 Steubenville Pike, Moon Run, Robinson Twp.
Mass of Christian burial Holy Trinity Church, Sat, 10:00 a .m.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN !!!!!

Yesterday John got a letter from the USPS stating that he was hired permanent full time beginning later this month. It's a day for celebrating!!!!
Congratulations John on your promotion!!!

IT'S PARTY TIME !!!!

Invitations will be going out soon to invite our family to a picnic

to celebrate the marriage of

John and Amanda

June 24, 2006

at our house

dinner at 5pm

For obvious reasons I'll not give my phone number here, but those who know us can call for information or directions on our cell phones or by email.

The couple requests no gifts please, just come and meet John.

JUST ONE MORE

We all look a little fuzzy??

NEW BEGINNINGS

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4

I'm up early- it's a new day- you might say the first day of the rest of my life. These verses from John keep running through my head this morning.
We have a lot of 'beginnings' in our lives. Learning to walk, speak, drive, etc.. then new births, marriages, friends, and jobs.. All of these have one thing in common- in the beginning, they were the start of something new and special. God certainly is weaving a beautiful tapestry with our lives. He has given us so many new beginnings, and all things come from his wonderful hands.
Today I'll be at the hospital again- gainfully employed. It's my regular weekend off, but one of my co-workers was so kind to change days with me so I could be off yesterday to be with Mandy and John on their special new beginning. So I am fulfilling my obligation to my co-worker, and then be off again on the Sabbath.
We plan to be in church then, so ask that you all would uphold us in prayer again - that we would both be healthy and able to make the trip down to New Kensington. God has already provided new tires for my car, and a full tank of gas.
All is cleared on all sides for Wendell to return to work on Monday- 6 weeks post operatively.
He will be on light duty for 4 more weeks, and his boss says he'll have him do some painting for a while. He still has to be very careful- his sternum is just beginning to heal, and could snap easily if he isn't. He's moving around pretty well, and able to do some little things- like mowing grass on the lawn tractor.
I guess you could say it's a new beginning for him- new coronary vessels, and returning to work anew for this season.
New beginnings tend to make my heart joyful.. that's the way it should be.
Have a glorious new day, everyone... be thankful and pray without ceasing!

ALMOST A PERFECT DAY

I guess everyone wants a perfect day when they get married... or when their children get married. It doesn't matter really whether it rains, snows or whether the sun is shining.
Today started out to be Mandy and John's perfect day- a new beginning for them.
I figured I had lots of time to leisurely get myself ready for the ceremony, but when Wendell went outside, he discovered that my front driver side tire was flat- really flat.. sitting on the rim flat. He's not allowed to lift, so it was my job to get the tire changed. I put my old jeans and shirt on and went outside to survey the damages. Mandy followed me out, and between the 2 of us, we had almost half a brain. I opened my trunk and dug out the little donut to replace the damaged tire till I could get to Sam's Club to buy new ones. We searched for about 15 minutes for the jack and finally located it stuffed up into the trunk so obscured, I really don't know HOW we ever found it. I brought it out and then started looking for the rest of the equipment.. Uh- huh...... oh.. that WAS the equipment. We struggled to find just where to place it under the car and actually did. Now to get the car jacked up so we could remove the tire. Well, the tire kept turning while we turned the tool.. so we had to set the car back down onto the ground to make it more secure. Ugh! After all that work getting it up!
Finally we got the tool on that removes the lug nuts. Neither of us could manage to even budge one. Oh.. we needed a pipe for leverage. So I went looking for a pipe to put on the end of the tool. Meanwhile, Mandy called John and he said "well, if they were put on by a machine, you will have to put all your weight on the bar and it should move." Not so good.. when Mandy stood on the bar, the jack collapsed and the car came crashing down. John's next statement " I really don't know what to tell you.. I have Triple A and they always come and fix it for me" .... opened my eyes.. "HEY! I have triple A!!" So we decided to go inside and give them a call to see if they could change the front tire.
Yes, they could and a service person would be there within the hour. Wendell was so upset that I'd called them. He said they'll put the donut on the front and you can't drive the car with the donut there. My reply was simply that no one could drive the car without it, and besides, that's what the donut is for- to get you to a service station to repair a tire.
I'd lost my Sam's Club membership card, so Mandy took me there to get a new one and then we picked up the cake for this afternoon. Wendell called a little later and said he would drive my car to Sams if we'd meet him there and I could get the tires. We agreed. Meantime, JJ was on her way from Altoona and would be planning to arrive in Butler at 1:15 or so, and would need a ride home. That meant someone would go back to Butler to pick her up.
I got my new tires on- nice! It drives better and doesn't make all the noise the other tires did.
As I came out of the parking area, JJ again called and said she was about 20 minutes from Butler if someone would meet her. I pulled into Scheetz and waited for her to arrive. Everything worked out well. We got back home with just enough time for me to get ready for the wedding.
Well, it was an ALMOST perfect day!

THE FAMILY GROUP PHOTOS

MEET MY NEW SON IN LAW.......

Hi John, Welcome to our family..........
Mandy's co-workers made her this veil to wear at the wedding. She always wears a ballcap to work.. this was a fancy one!!!




2 happy sisters

AT THE RUNWAY

Showing off their wedding bands

WANNA HOLD THE FLOWERS?

We were in the Magistrate's waiting area.. all of us.. early... and anxious to get started.. The boys were counting trucks with trailers that went down the street- there were over 117 last I heard P3 say. Mandy asked me to hold her bouquet. I got an idea..

John's brother Jason with Daniel and Paul3..
I asked everyone to hold the bouquet, and then took their picture.....





John's mom

John's grampa

and his Gramma

MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE

Mr and Mrs Zombeck

BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A WEDDING

Just a few of the immediate family gathered at the office of the Magistrate in Evans City.












Mandy and JJ chatted in the parking lot with John's mom















John gave Mandy a bouquet of flowers,















and one for John too! That's his gramma pinning it on.

THEREFORE MY HEART IS GLAD...

"8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" . Psalm 16: 8-11

I love the Psalms. They can meet about any occasion in my life with a message. There are Psalms that support me when I grieve, when I'm happy and just want to praise God for all the blessings He gives to me, or just to read to raise my spirits when I feel low. When I'm in trouble, there is comfort and reassurance in the Psalms.
We sing the Psalms (as was meant to be done) and in singing them over the decades, the words have been bound to my heart so that I can bring them to mind in most any situation.

Good morning! Hope your day is a bright and cheery one. It should be in the low 60s today- ahhhhhh......SPRING HAS SPRUNG !!!!!!
Yesterday was a relaxing one for the most part. Wendell and I took a walk outside. Each time he walks, there is improvement- a little farther each time, a little longer walk time-wise too.
Yesterday he opted for not 'wearing' the oxygen, but carrying it with us as he walked. No shortness of breath noted. Now, THAT'S an improvement. We walk slowly, no power walking here, but each step strengthens the muscles that will enable him to return to his job in another 9 weeks and in 2 weeks, we'll be making the trip to church again, Lord willing.
He was tired after the walk, and spent the rest of the afternoon napping and restoring his energy.

Today and tomorrw I'll be working at the hospital in the afternoon. Wendell will be on his own during that time. I haven't asked anyone to come to stay with him, but he'll be able to manage alone for an evening or two.

Amy isn't feeling well - fever, aching, etc.. add her to your prayer list, if you would. She has the kids to care for and home-school. They might just have to take a sick day today. Paul is to be working and she'll need a lot of strength to get through today.

I talked to Nicki last evening- she promises pictures as soon as they get to Brendon's house.
She's headed for Chicago again for continuing treatment. Uphold her with prayer too, please.

Last evening Mandy said she and John have finally set a date for their wedding ceremony. It'll be May 5. They are taking the following week off for a honeymoon up near where Valentines live. We are so happy and delighted for them- please remember them with prayer also.

That's the news for today.... gonna be a busy week again- keep praying!

FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE

Wendell and I will be gaining a son- in- law sometime in May. Mandy and John haven't given us the date yet, but soon. It will be a civil ceremony with a JP. So no invitations will be sent out, but we hope to have a family "get to meet John" picnic in perhaps May or June. You'll hear about it later for sure.