MCDS Worship Team at Kauffman Mennonite

This morning the MCDS Worship Team went to Kauffman Mennonite Church. It was a very early morning for everyone. All of us had been at the auction all day yesterday, many of us volunteering in various capacities. Some of the kids' parents were in charge of the entire auction, so they got home very late last night. The service at Kauffmans started at 9:00 this morning, so the kids had to be there by 8:00 or shortly after. Bless their hearts - they are truly committed young kids.

It was interesting to be at Kauffmans this morning. That is the church where Dick grew up, and where Dick and I and our children went to church the first 15 years of our marriage. Jordan Nissley, one of our team members, goes there to church. Dick's dad and several of his brothers also go to church there.

The MCDS Worship Team, 2006. 

Saturday at the Auction

Saturday was a great day. The weather was so perfect for our MCDS Benefit Auction. I'll let the pictures below do the talking.

The breakfast crew (Dick is in the tan shirt with a K on back.) 

The ever-popular candy stand. 

The delicious-looking bake stand. 

It was perfect weather for children's outdoor activities.  

The food stand where I worked for three hours Saturday morning. 

Our adorable school mascot, Perfect Spirit, and his owner Lib Kettering (our middle school language arts teacher). 

A quilt on display, waiting for a final bid. 

Dan Kreider's Jersey brought $2500! 

The auction in action. 

Brandon Kreider, one of my "star" former students, provided great entertainment for Destiny and her friend Leah.  

One of the most fun things for me - seeing former students. Here I am with one of "my girls" - beautiful Ashley Sensenich. 

MCDS Benefit Auction

As I mentioned before, this weekend is our school's big benefit auction. Yesterday was and exciting day at school, as it usually is the Friday of auction weekend. The middle schoolers get out of classes all day to help get everything ready, and they love it. As soon as school was over, the chicken barbeque began. Later the auction began. This morning Dick is helping to make pancakes for the breakfast and later I will be going to help at one of the food wagons. A fun thing for me is that so many former students come back for this event, and it's so neat to see all of them. There will be children's events all morning for Destiny, as well.

Unfortunately Dick and I had to miss last evening, because we attended his annual work banquet. That was a fun event too. It was held at the antique car museum in Hershey. We could tour the museum first, then there was a very delicious meal. They were playing music from the 60's all evening and it was hard not to sing along.

I'd better get ready to go to "work"! I'm not sure how my feet will handle hours of working at a food stand. We shall see.

The auction tents - all ready and waiting for the big event. 

Middle school kids help to carry all the donations from inside the school to the auction tents. 

Middle school boys help at the chicken barbeque pit. 

Middle school girls help to prepare part of the chicken barbeque meals. 

Preparing the strawberries for pie. Yummm! 

The artwork corner. 

What would the auction be without all the exquisite quilts? 

Emily Witmer and Destiny welcome you to the outdoor dining tent. 

After school the chicken barbeque started - even a drive-through option. 

My new favorite place

We are getting ready for our big benefit auction at school. A few days ago I noticed a swing sitting on the lawn at school. It didn't look in the greatest condition, but it was exactly the kind of swing I want. The people who lived here before had one, and I've imagined one there ever since we moved. I just didn't like the price tags on the new ones the craftsmen around here make. I told our principal I would definitely like to buy it, if they would like to get rid of it before the auction (they sell mostly new things at the auction). So today they gave me a price, and this evening it was delivered here. It really is very sturdy, but it needs a new roof, and a paint job. But it swings SOOO nice, and this evening the birds were just singing away. As I sat and swang (is that the past tense of swing????) I felt like my cup of joy was absolutely full.

Our "new" swing! 

She looks as delighted as I feel!! 

Azaleas and lilacs

I miss the daffodils and tulips that we had at our other house. Like I said before, I think the lady who lived here before us either didn't have any, or she took the bulbs with her. There is a bright spot, though. Behind our house there is a row of azalea bushes, and this one is the first to bloom. There's also a sad-looking lilac bush in the yard next to ours. (The brand new house on that lot has been vacant ever since we're here, which we don't mind at all.) Destiny brought me some lilacs from it the other day. I just love their fragrance so much. When I was a child we had a row of HUGE lilac trees out in the middle of our field. We would fill huge crocks and jars with them every year and sit them around the house.

Finally, some spring flowers around here. 

Schedules, schedules, schedules

I'm really feeling ready for this school year to be over. It feels like I am constantly trying to figure schedules out, no matter which way I turn. This year I've had Destiny in two preschools - Tuesdays and Thursdays at our preschool, and Wednesdays and Fridays at Manheim Brethren in Christ preschool. On Mondays I take her to a babysitter from our church. Because Manheim BIC only starts at 9:00 a.m. and gets finished at 2:30 p.m., (and my teaching schedule on Wednesdays and Fridays starts before 9 and ends after 2:30), I have been taking Destiny to school with me those days, and a mother of one of Destiny's classmates picks her up at 8:50 and brings her back to me at 2:40 in the afternoon. That has worked fine.

Now, however, at my very busiest and least flexible time of the year, Manheim BIC finishes May 5th, three weeks before we do. So I have been trying to arrange for people to babysit Destiny those extra days. On top of that, my driver wrote me a note on Friday saying that there are a number of days she won't be able to drive for preschool these last two weeks, so I should make other arrangements for Destiny to get there. (Scream!)

Last week I worked out a stage rehearsal schedule at school for my Intermediate Chorus, who will be doing a musical at our Spring Program. That is always quite a feat, trying to get rehearsals on the stage when there are no gym classes, no lunches, etc, etc. After I figured it all out, I found out that the intermediates are having chapel every morning next week until 9:00, which means that today I had to try to rearrange my middle school schedule in order to have a long enough rehearsal with the intermediates. Changing the middle school schedule, which involves about 5 teachers, is like putting this huge domino effect into being. (Scream and pull hair out!!) My dear sister-in-law, Nancy, is the special speaker for the intermediates' chapel next week, so I kept my screams inside, and didn't pull any hair out. Besides, i need to save my poor voice, and I certainly don't have any hair to lose!!

Okay, enough complaining. That was just a real life glimpse into my world. American Idol (I still hate that name, but like watching the show) is about to start. There are 6 contestants left, and they are each SO good. (Well, I wouldn't mind seeing the blond girl leave.) This week they have had one of my favorite male vocalists coaching them - Andrea Bocelli. Tomorrow night they will have him sing when they give the results of tonight's votes. His voice is SOOOO amazing.

"Split up" just for the morning

This morning Dick and I went our separate ways. He went to Grace to play bass guitar with the "youth" worship team, and I went to Rossmere Mennonite Church in Lancaster with the MCDS Worship Team. When I arrived they were having their pre-Sunday School service in the sanctuary. There was a man leading a hymn. I looked in the bulletin and saw that the song leader was Kenny Pellman. I went to Lancaster Mennonite with a Kenny Pellman, and we were in Choraleers together. I could not imagine that the guy up front was the one I knew in high school. After the service I got to talk to him, and it was he - his face still looks the same, he just has a lot less hair!! Later, as I was leaving, I said, "Man, I have some FUNNY memories of you." He said, "I think your memory is getting a little foggy." I said, "No, it's YOUR memory that's getting foggy." He was such a cut-up and always so funny, and just the thought of him being an almost bald 50-something man, standing up front leading a hymn, is just funny in itself!

The kids did a fine job again. I just love them so much.

This afternoon our church met at the Milton Grove Sportsmen's Club, where one of our men is a member. People were taking turns trap shooting, then we had a fellowship meal for supper. I forgot my camera, unfortunately. I just love being with our church family. It was especially nice since I missed being there this morning.

A rain blizzard

We are getting RAIN!!!! Today was like a rain blizzard, if there is such a thing. Destiny went to a birthday party this afternoon for Joel Keener from our church. I wanted to do my grocery shopping while she was gone, and it was during that time that the rain and wind started coming with a vengence. Of course I needed to go to three different stores and the gas station. My umbrella, already on its last spoke, just couldn't handle it anymore, and I had to get a new one at CVS. My car was so full already, because Dick had helped me to load the things I need to take for the MCDS Worship Team tomorrow morning. The boy at Weis Markets who helped me load my groceries was very impressed with my guitar amp!

I am so thankful that we didn't have this rain last weekend for Easter. And I PRAY we will not have this kind of rain next weekend when MCDS has our annual benefit auction.

Summer in April

I think Dick had a happy birthday yesterday. Destiny and I called him at work on our way to school, and sang Happy Birthday to him. He got phone calls and text messages from a number of the kids. After school Destiny hid the remainder of our Easter eggs and made him hunt them when he got home! Frank kept Destiny for a while in the evening and Dick and I went to Garfields to eat. That's where we ate 10 years ago right after we found out he would need a biopsy. We felt a lot happier this time, and very thankful, as we thought back over all he's come through in these 10 years.

We're having almost summer-like weather this week. I think it got into the 80's today! I was almost tempted to turn on the A.C. when I got home from school, but I opened lots of doors and windows instead. We had a good breeze blowing through.

Fifty-six, and going strong! (Notice that senior picture of him on top of the computer desk!)