Pastor George is called home.

 Pastor George Smith was the longtime pastor of Bakersville Methodist Church, led 25 years of Easy Pedalers (Bike trips), another 18 of Summit Seekers (Mountain trek), and was active in the Tres Dias community;  but mostly he was a Christ Centered Lighthouse.  Where ever you saw him, you saw Christ shining out, whether it was playing basketball, or volleyball, or hockey, or even Football - he was competing, he was trying hard to be, and give his best to win. And through it all he shown - I got calls a couple of times, after a Sunday afternoon, to put me on the phone (a teen) so he could apologize "for trying too hard" for "being rough" - I was always touched that he'd respect me enough to try that hard.  

One year my mastiff Jasper died.  He was stupid, and big, and pulled his chain around a smaller tree - and slid the loop out until his feet didn't touch the ground.  I came out to feed him and he was swaying in the air.  I called my Dad, who was in Hartford, he wasn't coming home early.  Called Mom who was working at Waring, and she said she would come home AFTER I called her to say it was taken care of... So I called Kevin playing at the smiths.... He said no way, they were going shopping, no way.   So I swung him into the trailer of the lawn tractor, and took him up to the horse pen... It was gonna be a big hole.  Pastor George came down the hill, and joined me.  I hate digging in CT.  He asked me if I wanted him to say a few words, I said no, he's a stupid dog.  So we dug.  In a hot summer day, out in the pasture we dug a big hole, and put Jasper to rest.  Cuz that's what a Good man does, he shows up.  We worked it together, I've told this story for years - no platitudes, just got to work with me.  I've always treasured that.

Lastly for the last 20 years of our time in Bakersville, once I went to College when I came home at Christmas time, we'd all get together and use the gym at Ann Antolini, we'd play basketball for the first hour, and it always seems to be stacked - It was 'Keith and everyone younger than him, except for those athletes' they'd be on Georges team. Toward the end, even Kevin would be on the older guys team, we'd get creamed.  But I tried, hard.  And when it was over, all the VB players who'd been waiting, would jump up, and I'd form them up, like my league teams, like Claire and Jaimee's College teams... And George would take me aside and say, "You know Keith, we should lighten up on the spiking and the Jump serves, since we all don't play"   And I'd glare at him, "I didn't get my but kicked for an hour, to play Volleyball at half speed" - Young team won ALOT of Volleyball.

Of all the sermons, of all the times watching his hand motions, or "dancing (stomping)" behind the pulpit, those last few years, those second services, me in the balcony singing, and him down there - it did seem like it was just us.  I am so thankful, when my family came back from Minnesota, and I couldn't find work here, I finally did write a letter to him, thanking him, I was so sure, I'd be gone, and miss my chance to say goodbye, and thank you.

I treasure having played guitar with you, singing with you and being counted among Bakerville's BUMs. Came to Christ at a "Love is an open door" convention we all went to, Confirmed, Baptized, Married - but treated like a Son, and then a Brother.

Lastly George, when you were handing out McDonalds money on the bike trip $4 wasn't enough and when playing street hockey, if you yelled "Brother George" he'd pass it, even if you weren't on his team.

Ken Zwart, My Dad passes on

  

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, Kenneth Edwin Zwart who on August 30, 2021 was called to rest, after a brief struggle with cancer. Son of the late Richard and Freda Zwart, was born on July 17th, 1943. He was the loving husband of Carol Edmonds Zwart for 56 years. He is survived by three sons, Keith, Kevin and Tuan. Keith and Cindy’s family consists of their three children, Stephen, David and Nathan.  Kevin and Cami’s consists of their three children, Toby, Charlie and deceased daughter Tabitha. Tuan Duong's family is his five children, Hailey, Abbey, Olivia, Evan and Kennedy who were preceded in death by their mother Heather.  

 

He is also survived by his 4 siblings, Donald (Jackie) Zwart, Ronald (Diane) Zwart, Betty (Cliff) Rose, and Joan (Chris) Vandermeulen. There are ten nieces and nephews and another dozen great nephews and nieces.  

 

He attended Pine Bush Central High, after which he joined the Army.  After his time in the military, he worked various jobs; including in a hardware store, and Prudential Insurance. He found his career with The Hartford Insurance Group.  They brought him and his family to Bakerville, Connecticut, where he was blessed to work and retired after 35 years.   

 

 

Since coming to Christ in the 50’s at Word of Life Camp, his gentle ministry has been evident, wherever God placed him.  After many years in Circleville and as a member of the Scotchtown Presbyterian Church, the family moved to Connecticut, where his deep faith was evident to all, seen in countless years as a member of Bakerville Methodist Church, or Tres Dias and Aventura retreat weekends or church mission trips.  These trips resulted in an opportunity for him and his wife to serve at The Fold ministry to troubled kids for six years in Vermont once he’d retired from the insurance business.  This also gave him time to visit friends in ministry all over the world, be it England or his son and family in Mozambique and Namibia.   

 

 

Ken made the most of his retirement and his life.  He shared the heart of Christ with anyone he met, and he spoke kindly to strangers at restaurants, auto parts stores, and other places around town.  Besides being amiable and fond of a good joke, he spent every spare moment tinkering, on anything ,whether carpentry, masonry, plumbing, restoring antiques, working on cars - it didn’t matter if he’d done it before, he’d give it a shot.  He was helpful to anyone who needed practical help and always had a project going (with a hefty supply of first aid). That confidence and willingness to try, and sometimes fail was an important talent that allowed God to use him in so many different ways to bless all those who knew him. Ken’s quiet, servants heart will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

 

Ken's humble life and deep love for others leaves us grieving the loss of his presence but so very thankful for his time with us, care for us and love for our lives. He suffers no more and rests with his Savior.

 

A memorial service will be held this Saturday, 1 September 2021 at 1:00 pm at Bakerville United Methodist Church in New Hartford, Connecticut.

Updates

 Been blessed to work remotely for FIS, which is based in Milwaukee, Wi. Started last January - and gor renewed recently through the end of July 2021...  

Steve has graduated from the ARC program, become a HS Math Teacher in town, he moved back into his own place, not to far away. 

Dave is going to re-kickstart his college career in the new year, at STCC....

Nate is thriving at Wagner - when the pandemic allows....

Josh is still with us as well, we're at almost 18 months. Still learning study habits, and accountability.

Looking again

After 6 mostly good years, I'm looking for a new opportunity. Still a Tandem (HP Nonstop) Developer, looking to work at least partially remotely.

Nate is at Wagner U. on Staten Island, Dave is at WCSU in Danbury, Steve is doing the ARC program to get a Math Teaching Cert. and Cindy has started a Masters program (in addition to adding Theatrical Producer to her resume).

But me? Who knows....

Task list

Household stuff:
1) Find brake part for Mazda
2) Build workbench where oil tank used to be.
3) Put up rest of insulation in attic.
4) Wash kitchen floor.
5) Hang pictures in Cindy's office
6) Taxes
7) FAFSA

Scout Stuff:
1) STEM day 2/6/16
2) Pay for Hockey game
3) Note to invite AOLs to Troop 1
4) Unit Awards (2/15/16)
5) District Awards (2/15/16)
6) Cover Wagon Derby - Update events and Patches
7) Spring Camporee?
8) Canoe Trip reservations

Ocean City...2015

List of options,,,

Frisbee Golf (don't seem too close)?
   http://www.njdiscgolf.com/

Mini Golf?

Restaurants:
Yelp was not as helpful as Google Maps...

http://www.mikesseafood.com/ordereze/Content/PageDetails.aspx?PageID=12

http://www.deauvilleinn.com/

http://www.tuckahoeinn.com/

Other Marriage thoughts.

Wedding Fortnight thoughts...Simple. When you're sorry - say you're sorry. Mean it, let it go, and don't dig it up later. Like lying - resentment requires too much brain power and memory, those who live in truth and forgiveness are so much freer - they have space in there heads to remember things like "Scooby Doo villains" and pokemon evolution stuff...

And when someone asks for forgiveness - think about the commitment of it for you, as well. Grace has a cost, even for little old us. When they ask for this event or disagreement to be washed away, and you can, then let that go as well. The hurt doesn't vanish, but it will fade, if you both grow past it.

Actual forgiveness takes work. Often it's "Death to pride" on one side, and putting down your "hammer of righteousness" on the other.

Imminent Wedding Thoughts (2 Weeks and a day). One of the most important and useful skill in marriage is not found in the Kama Sutra, it's this: Active Listening, rather than waiting for your turn to speak. We waste more time begging to be heard, repeating the same point over and over, we stand a wave our flag and we insist on validation and that we're making "points". What is your partner actually asking? Is there really a disagreement at all?

We all want, we need to be right - but in fact, we spend an immense amount of time looking for "our tribe" for people like us. Well you've found one, you've made a tribe - they chose you - you're on the same team. Now, you need to be sure that you support and validate each other. There is an immense amount of common ground, if you look around.

And the final important part of this "Active listening" is to be sure you're speaking about the same things...Stop and think, "Where did this discussion start?" and "Have we addressed that?" If you have addressed the issue, can you short circuit the navel gazing, and old disagreements that are fruitless... The last part can be really hard, as hard as patiently actually listening.

Impending Wedding thought (16 to go) - Read "The five love Languages" whether you are a person of faith or not. Spend some time figuring out which acts of Love resonate with your spouse. Don't waste years buying or making small gifts, when your beloved is so in tune with, and appreciative of, your words of support and affection. 
(You're a guy, and it's sort of a manual - read/skim it)

Impending Wedding Thought of the day (17 to go). How many times have I told my kids that "Fair is for the weak" - Be merciful, be just, be gracious, do the right thing...Be the better man. Self interest never inspires, but those other choices just might.

Thought of the day (18 to go) - We shouldn't get married for a feeling, but with a promise. As time goes by, we may not feel like putting someone else first, but emotions aside, it's a matter of will. I promised, forever. My God and I will be stronger than my selfishness, my laziness and my pride.

Thought of the day (19 more) - You are not promised or doomed to the marriages you grew up watching. Your promises are creating something completely new and special. No one else has ever been in the family you're building - it's brand new, and special.

 — feeling optimistic.