An unusual day

What an unusual day. It was unseasonably warm, probably about 60 degrees, but the only two times I went outside were first thing after I woke up at 8:00, when I took the trash to the curb, and around 9 p.m when I drove to the mailbox to get the mail. The rest of the day I just plugged away at getting five Christmas carols ready for my instrumental ensemble to do as a prelude before the Christmas program. It will take only 15 minutes to perform what it has taken me hours to arrange! Ugh!! If all goes as I plan, we'll have three boys playing guitar, two on saxophone, one on trumpet, one playing chords on a keyboard, one drummer, and six girls playing glockenspiels. For two of the songs I prepared the color-coded cards for 2nd grade to accompany with handbells. And I will lead the crew from the piano. It usually sounds awesome after we get it all put together, but the process of putting it all together is tedious to say the least.

Dick called this evening and the hunters saw nothing but squirrels today. I think deer have an internal calendar that warns them when it's deer hunting season!

Racing the clock

Finally, I have a chance to sit down and write. I have felt like I'm racing against the clock this weekend, even though it's a longer weekend than usual. I've been working on music preparation for the instrumental ensemble at school, music preparation for this morning's worship at church, and two rehearsals for the church's Christmas musical, one with the people doing the drama (Saturday morning) and one with the choir (this evening as usual.) I also made a breakfast of French toast and bacon for eleven men to send along with Dick to the hunting cabin. All he will have to do is heat it up quickly in the oven tomorrow morning. He left church this morning when we were finished leading worship to meet his brother Steve and his dad. He'll be at the cabin until Tuesday evening.

Destiny spent Thanksgiving Day with Enid. On Friday late morning I went to her place in Mount Joy to pick Destiny up and took her to Lancaster to Frank. He had her until 6:00 p.m that evening when I met him to get her back. On Saturday I met him around 4:00 again so he could take Destiny to a birthday party. At 6:00 I went to the Lancaster train station to pick up Anthony and Lori. They had spent Thanksgiving with her family in Long Island. They were here just a little while then headed back to State College. A little while after that Frank brought Destiny back. This evening after rehearsal I went with my brother Dick and his wife Nancy and my sister Mary Ellen to Isaacs to eat. Jim and Melissa Nolt, who bought our house from us, always keep Destiny while I have rehearsal on Sunday evenings and they were willing to keep her longer so I could go out with my sibs this evening. That was a fun thing to do. My brother and my two sisters who live in this area, Doris and Mary Ellen, are singing in the musical.

So now Destiny and I are here, just the two of us, until Tuesday evening. Actually, I think Ray might be coming tomorrow to do his wash. I know I have a LOT more to do yet to arrange all the music I need to get ready for the instruments at school. Praise God we have off school yet tomorrow.

I'm sorry if this whole blog sounded confusing and disjointed. I'm feeling a little that way myself, so what can you expect from my writing?!!

Big boys still enjoy Connect Four! 

Just lazing around. 

A great Thanksgiving Day

We had a great Thanksgiving Day. It snowed a little bit last night, so everything looked so beautiful this morning.

We had some of my family here for dinner. My dad and step-mother; my sister Mary Ellen and her roommate, Vonda Horst; my sister Doris, her husband Dale, and their three youngest daughters, 16-year-old twins Greta and Gina, and 11-year-old Ellen, our son Sam and his girlfriend Jess, and our son Ray. Destiny was with Enid today. We ate till we were stuffed, then lazed around for a while, then played games, then ate some more! Doris's son Corey and his girlfriend came later this afternoon. Sam and Jess had to leave around 4:00 to go to her grandma's house. Everyone was gone by 7:00 p.m. We had such a wonderful time together. Thank you, Lord, for family.

Miki called this morning and talked to Dick for a little while. Jeremy called and so did Lisa. They were having Thanksgiving dinner at Lisa's house today. This morning I got an email from Lisa titled "Our turkey". I expected to see a picture of a turkey, but instead it was the adorable picture of Sophie that I'm posting below! This afternoon Lisa sent a video clip. George's mom gave Sophie a toy today, which their dog Macy became ferociously obsessed with. The video showed the dog going completely nuts with it, growling, etc, and in the background we could hear Sophie giggling like crazy. It sounded so cute!

Remember you can click on the pictures below to enlarge them for a better view.

Sophie's first Thanksgiving Day. 

Feeling fat and happy at the end of the meal! 

Enjoying each other 

Our first snow 

Our new computer

Last evening Anthony and Lori came for the evening and overnight. This morning I will be taking them to the Lancaster train depot and they will be going to her parents for Thanksgiving. They live in Long Island, New York. Anthony brought us the new computer that we had him buy for us and he got it set up for us. I have no idea what we would do without him and all his technical expertise. Just to try if things work I had posted that last picture from the greenhouse tour but didn't have time to write anything last evening. We didn't go to bed until midnight. I am SO not in the mood for school today. With them here, it just has me in the mood for vacation. But... back to reality. Thanksgiving vacation starts tomorrow for me, not today (like some lucky people!)

What's wrong, Darlene?!!! 

Pre-school and high school programs

Today I rearranged my teaching schedule in order to be able to attend Destiny's Thanksgiving program and meal at Manheim Brethren in Christ Preschool. We got home earlier than usual after school and had some much-needed down time after yesterday's full day. This evening Dick played basketball at the rec center, as usual, and Destiny and I went to Manheim Central's fall play. There were five of my former students in the play - Brandon Kreider, Matt Garber, Lauren Hammer, Amanda Nissley, and Jalisa Weigand. I miss them all. I wish I didn't have to give kids up just when they're really getting good. Such is the lot of a middle school music teacher.

Here are the pictures

For some reason I was not able to post the pictures from Esbenshade's Greenhouse last evening, but I was able to this afternoon. Be sure to click on the pictures to get a bigger and better view of them. And by the way, I must have been really sleepy last night - I misspelled poinsettia twice without even noticing it!

Look at those multi-colored leaves! 

So much beauty all in one place! 

A sea of poinsettias! 

Our tour guide - Dan Beachey 

Lois Herr, LInda Roser, Pastor Dennis Andrew, John Roser 

Dave and Chris Cox, Lois Her, Paul Burrichter, Cindy Andrew, Kaye Burrichter, Dan Heisey, Pastor Dennis Andrew 

Linda Roser, Dave Cox, Dick, Chris Cox, Lois Herr 

I like pink! 

All the colors of the rainbow! 

These would look beautiful in my house! 

What a day!

This day was packed from beginning to end. Of course we had our regular responsibilities of leading worship at church this morning. After church we shared a meal with some others from church at Dan and Freda Beachey's house. Afterward Dan took us on a tour of Esbenshade's Greenhouse where he works. Wow!! I have never seen so many poisettias in one place, and we apparently didn't get to see nearly all of them. He told us how they get small poisettias from Mexico, and from each one they produce many more. It was so interesting and so extremely beautiful. I took a lot of pictures and I'm hoping to be able to post them. (I wasn't being successful a while ago when I tried, but I'll try again.)

We had our regular Christmas rehearsal at church from 5:00 to 6:15, then a Thanksgiving service at 7:00. It was really fun to sing with Steve and Doris again. Dick, Doris, Steve, and I sang an acapella song, the Mennonite Anthem, #606, or Festival Doxology - take your pick! Then Steve, Doris, and I sang Dennis Jernigan's song, Thank You, Lord. Dennis's message was SO good about thanking God in all circumstance - we can do that, because no matter what our circumstances, we can NEVER be separated from God's love.

I love Saturday mornings

I actually slept until 8:00 this morning! I just love Saturday mornings, especially if my house is clean. Dick is always here and makes us his special eggs for breakfast. Ray was here today too, doing his wash. This afternoon Dick's brother Steve Stauffer and my sister Doris Fahnestock came to practice some songs that we are going to do tomorrow evening at a joint Thanksgiving service. We used to sing together as The Freedom Singers back in the 80's. When I told Ray what our group's name was, he jokingly said, "Did you have something to do with the underground railroad?" I thought that was pretty funny.

I made a huge batch of brocolli salad this evening for a meal we are going to share with some others tomorrow. It's so good - I've eaten too much of it this evening!

My eyes are telling me it's time for some shut-eye.

A woman's work is never done

After school today I got much-needed groceries at Weis. This evening there was a special night for kids at the Lititz Community Center - games, swimming, movies, snacks - for $10. I had signed Destiny up for it, so she went there for the evening, Dick went the Manheim Central's play-off game, and I stayed home and cleaned the house. After skipping last week-end it was terribly necessary. Now I still need to fold my wash, because Ray will be coming in the morning after he gets off work at 5 a.m. to do his wash and to sleep here for the day. He'd better not wake me up when he gets here - it's my only day to not set an alarm clock.

Jeremy called this evening and said he was at Lisa and George's this evening. He said Sophie was all smiles when she saw him. Lisa called several times this week to tell about the new things she's doing - she's really beginning to imitate words and sounds already! I just hate being so far away from her.

Challenges and more challenges

I'm starting to feel a bit snowed under. I can't believe Thanksgiving is already next week. As soon as Thanksgiving vacation is over, our practices for the Christmas program shift into high gear at school. I have so much to do before that. And then I'm also directing a Christmas musical at church for the first time in years. There's so much to be doing for that too. I was making a huge list this evening (I'm a list freak). I was thinking, "Now how would Janet go about accomplishing all this?" I couldn't help but also think that she didn't have a five-year-old! I'm sure I'll feel more positive after I have extra time to accomplish things over Thanksgiving vacation. And I DO love directing programs, in case you wonder why I get myself into all this stuff!!

And this five year old has had a bad several days, both at school and at home. Her attitude and behavior have been extremely challenging. She has certainly kept my prayer life sharpened. She seemed to have a change of heart later this evening, so we shall see. Sometimes I feel like there are two Destinys. I tell her that sometimes too. I say, "Where did my sweet Destiny get to? I don't like this mean Destiny. I want my sweet Destiny back." Sometimes that makes her laugh.

I went to the doctor this morning for my shoulder. He gave me a cortisone shot. He said it may take a couple of days to fully take effect. I think it felt some better today. He said I probably have a torn tendon and he gave me some stretching exercises to do.

I need to hit the hay. Fridays are big days for me at school.

Pray for the broken hearted

It's been a sad two days since I last wrote. As the news continues to unfold regarding the shooting that occurred on Sunday morning, my heart just breaks for the two families involved. At first I didn't think I knew anything of either family, but it turns out that there are many connections that we are becoming aware of. My sister Doris and her family used to be in a home group with the boy's family when they went to Petra Christian Fellowship. Dick's brother Jim coaches a home school volley ball team, of which the boy is a member. His mother is often working out at the gym at the same time I am. We were just on treadmills next to each other last week one day. A boy at our church is on a home school mime team on which the girl's siblings are members. This has hit very close to home and it's such an unthinkable, unspeakable situation. After finding the kids in Indiana yesterday, they were brought back to Lancaster today. I heard on the evening news that the boy was put into Lancaster prison. All I can think about is his mother. They all need our prayers so desperately.

I had an appointment with the foot specialist this morning and got orthotic inserts for my shoes. Hopefully they will help my aching feet.

A special week-end

Yesterday afternoon my sisters Mary Ellen and Doris, my parents, and I went to visit my sister Janet's grave and then Janet's husband Elvin. What a special day. That lovely lakeside home holds such precious memories for us sisters, but of course even more memories for Elvin and family. Janet's office is still as it was when she died and we had an interesting time looking at her multitude of books. Elvin said we could take ones that we wanted, but we didn't have nearly enough time to look at them all. I took one on how to write your life's story!! I remember that we used to joke about that when I was a kid - that someday I would write a book about the Witmer family! Janet has files upon files of research, sermons, etc. It's hard for Elvin to know what to do with them. I know I would love to have more time to look through things.

We had a special service today at church. The worship was especially glorious. Then we had a baptism service. Caleb Roser, one of my 5th grade students, was baptized, and also Barry Herr, a "Grandpa", who had never been baptized by immersion, and wanted to be. It was really neat. We had a surprise visit at church by a former pastor couple, Dave and Carol Witmer. He was pastor and elder from 1987 to 1992. It was great to have them there.

I just saw on Yahoo's headlines that there was a double-murder in Lititz today. Apparently a husband and wife were shot to death by their 14-year-old daughter's boyfriend, and he took her with him at gunpoint. He was 18, and they knew each other through a home-school association. Wow. I guess it's been on the news, but I haven't watch TV at all today. That's two gun incidents in Lititz in one week's time. Earlier this week a policeman was shot when he served an arrest warrant. Lititz, this nice, quiet, historic town that we just moved to!!

Mary Ellen, Mary, Dad, Doris, Elvin 

Janet and Elvin's lovely home by Lake Meade 

At the boat dock with Elvin 

Beautiful Lake Meade 

A view of Messiah College from Janet's grave 

Mary Ellen puts some of her last roses at Janet's grave. 

Memories, memories, memories

It is hard to do anything but think of Janet this morning. It was a Saturday morning last year, November 13th, that I was sitting at the computer doing bookwork, just like I am this morning, when the phone rang. It was my Dad. He said, "You'd better sit down." I thought, "Oh no, what happened to Mary (my step mother)?" I was no way expecting him to say, "Elvin called and said Janet didn't wake up this morning."

I have done so much weeping this year, as I am right now, just remembering what an amazing person she was, yet how she managed to make me feel so encouraged and affirmed. As I said last night, I miss her intensely sometimes. We sisters have had so many wonderful times together over the years, even though some live at a great distance. The last time all seven of us sisters were together overnight was in the summer of 2003 at Janet's lovely lakeside home. We also were together there for an entire weekend in the summer of 2004, but regretfully, Barb from Idaho was not able to be with us that time. Then in October of 2004 we all got together for the annual family weekend at Camp Andrews. Even Barb was able to come for that event. We had no idea it was our last time with Janet.

Janet was a woman of tremendous accomplishments, passion, and vision. As her family, we had no idea of the scope of her ministry and outreach. She was so incredibly humble and never talked of all she was involved in and how far-reaching her influence was. As her sisters, we just knew she was wonderful and tons of fun. It seemed every time we were together, something funny would happen to her. Like the time she came walking out of a public bathroom stall with a trail of toilet paper attached to the waist of her pants!! Her last funny story was of her trip to a huge church conference in California and her luggage did not make it on the same day she did. She had no make up and nothing to do her hair with. She was so distraught, and all Elvin could do about it was to offer her his hat!!

Well, I have much to do before we go visit her grave today. Thank you, Lord, for having given me Janet for a sister.

Our last time all together, October 2004. Janet, Betty, Mary Ellen, Rose, Dad, Barb, Doris, Dick, Jeanie. 

An evening at Grandpa's, August 2004. Dick Witmer, Janet Peifer, Lori (Peifer) Harris, Dad, Scott Peifer, Elvin Peifer, Josh Witmer on floor