home

Whenever my attention is drawn to the sky, whether it be the beautiful colors of a sunset or the ominous, awe-inspiring clouds of an impending storm, my thoughts go to the Bible account of the disciples looking to the sky as Jesus ascended to Heaven after his death and resurrection.

My heart aches to see Jesus.

My soul longs to go home.

I look forward to spending eternity with an unadulterated, unobstructed view of the face of my King, Lord and Savior.

never stop

Oh God,

May I never stop striving to be a person after your own heart.
May I never stop pleading for your strength to get rid of the sins in my life.
May I never stop seeking to move only by the power of your Holy Spirit.
May I never stop digging deeper into you.
May I never stop trying to immerse myself in your presence.
May I never stop wanting to be refined.
May I never stop yearning to be always holy as You are holy.

I thank you my God, my King, My Savior, my Redeemer, my All in All, my Everything.

I praise you Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Friend of sinners, Refining Fire.

God, you are my Peace, my Love, my Hope, my Faith, my Joy.

You overwhelm me. You fulfill me. I love you.

free to be me

   Free to be me

I'm sorry... if I disturb you, 

but I am disturbed.

I'm sorry... if I annoy you. 

I just want to be heard

Oh, just let me be

who I was meant to be.

Oh, I want to be free,

     free to be me

     free to be me.

I'm sorry... if I frustrate you,

but I'm frustrated.

I'm sorry... if I bother you.

I don't want to be hated.

Oh, just let me be 

who I was meant to be. 

Oh, I want to be free,

     free to be me

     free to be me.

help me

God,

When I feel unloved, help me to love.
When I feel unforgiven, help me to forgive.
When I feel lonely, help me to reach out.
When I feel unheard, help me to listen.
When I feel unappreciated, help me show appreciation.
When I feel rejected, help me to be accepting.
When I feel wounded, help me to rest in your healing.

Psalm 25:4

God, I do want your way. I do want your path. Take me where you want me to go.

God, you know that I'm afraid. I'm afraid of where you might take me. I'm afraid of what you might ask of me.

But, I know, oh God, that you will be with me. You will take me through. I know that you want all things to bring me closer to you. I want to be closer to you.

I choose to rest in your presence. Your will be done, oh God.

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths." Psalm 25:4 (NKJV)

A Few More Bits and Pieces from the Tracks

These shots are from our last leg of rail travel.  We re-boarded the train in Gainesville, GA, about a hour late, just after 10:00 PM.  We passed the time waiting by watching all the freight line activity going on.  A nice thrill to have hundred car freight trains passing within twenty feet of you a near top speed!  After getting back on we tried to settle in for a night on the train.  We had to try and sleep in our Coach Class seats.  Suffice to say not the greatest night of sleep ever.  Some of the people around us apparently had no intention of sleeping or at least not until shear fatigue knocked them out!  I (Harlan) was really glad for my cup of coffee in the morning.

" I hear the train a comin'...."

We might look comfortable, but.................

We rode out of Georgia, through both the Carolinas (at night) and watched the sun rise in very picturesque Virginia.  So orderly, neat and clean there!  They're almost as "perfect" as we are in Lancaster County :}  

Breaking the fast

Look closely

Everybody has to wait for us (and get their picture taken!)

Our train crew working very hard

Arlington, VA

After Virginia we entered Washington D.C. where we stopped for a bit in Union Station.  There they changed out our diesel locomotive for an electric one.  Speeds increased from there on.  It's quite a challenge to take a picture of something when zipping by at something like 90 miles an hour. 

Union Station

Amtrak diesel locomotives

Li'l' rail rider

Cool bridge in Baltimore

Serious urban decay in Baltimore

What is it about the cities starting with a "B"?  Baltimore & Birmingham  both  falling apart some places

 In Philly we got off the Crescent at 30th St. Station.  An impressive place, by far the busiest and grandest station we saw.  From Philadelphia we boarded the Keystone for Lancaster, PA, our final destination!

30th Street Station

Downtown Philly as seen from the front of the train station

Memorial to fallen WWII soldiers

Almost there!

Startin' to look like Lancaster County!

"We're done and we're home!" - Outside the Lancaster, PA train station w/ our welcoming committee

Bits & Pieces from the Rails

A car-carrying freight car

One of many sport fishing boats next to the tracks in Lake Pontchartrain, LA

Getting on or off the train is so much more free-form than flying

Zack playing Solitaire time on the train

Old rail car parts and other scap along the rails in Birmingham

The wrong side of the tracks in Birmingham, AL 

Rails and Trails voluntary Park Ranger (they do Santa Claus on the side!)

We passed a massive facility that either constructs and/or repairs all types of U.S. military tracked vehicles

From a bygone era

Atlanta

Snack car galley 

Sugar cane?

Union Pacific freight engines

One of the smaller Gulf Coast cities of TX or LA

Rice fields we assume

Busy freight junction in Gainesville, GA

Norfolk Southern Engineers (yes, those are women driving that train!)