A special visit

This evening, after Lori had taken her mother to the train station, we went to visit my parents. My dad has been having a rough week with pain, exhaustion, and medication issues. He was in his comfortable, adjustable bed when we visited, and we had a wonderful time together.

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so I had to use my cell phone. This picture is poor quality, but you can see how much Austin and my dad were enjoying each other's company!

He also put on quite a show for my stepmother - smiling and talking to her.

Before we left, we asked Dad to hold Austin again and pray over him. Austin watched my dad intently the whole time he prayed. What a moment to cherish.

Tomorrow morning Lori and Austin will go back home. It's a good thing it's only two weeks until my program and I have a lot to do and think about. Even so, I will miss him like crazy - seeing his face brighten up when he sees me, kissing his soft face, holding him in my arms, hearing his "talking", kissing him some more :(

A visit with Lori's mother

Today Lori's mother came by train to Lancaster from New York City. Now you can see why Lori is so beautiful. Her mom (also named Jean!!) is an absolutely beautiful Jamaican woman. We ladies ate at Hoss's this evening.

Of course, we were accompanied by a certain little man!

Lori's mom never saw him in person until today! Needless to say, she was smitten and asking Lori to please loan him to her for a while!

And here we are - Austin's two Grandma Jeans! I can't even believe how big he looks on this picture!

Jean will return home tomorrow evening.

We also had a visit from Sam and Ashley and her kids this evening. (Sorry - no pictures.) They came to pick up Sam's car, which Dick worked on the past few days. So they also got to meet Austin for the first time. And Austin got to meet his "Uncle Sam"!!

Starting rehearsals on stage

Now that the school auction is over, I am heading into the three big weeks before our Spring program. Grades 3, 4, and 5 will be the featured part of the program, doing the musical Survivor Babylon. We had our first rehearsal on the stage today and I feel pretty good about how it went. My main character, who is playing the part of King Neb (who thinks himself to be a rap artist!) is really good and really funny.

This evening I didn't have any school work that had to be done, so I entertained Austin for about an hour-and-a-half while Lori got some of her school work done. (Even though she's on maternity leave, there is still work she has to do for students who are graduating.) This was an absolutely beautiful evening, so I took him outside to the swing. He was completely mesmerized by the outdoors - the trees, the sky, the atmosphere. He just contentedly looked around at everything for a long, long time and eventually went to sleep.

I just love kissing his sweet, soft cheeks. This picture is my attempt at a self portrait!

What a big day this was. This morning my school worship team was at our church, which is always extra special for me. On top of that, Ray and Thyda, as well as Anthony, Lori, and Austin were there too. We had fellowship meal afterward, and we, as a family, had so much fun just having time to sit down and laugh and talk as we ate.

I took a nap this afternoon, then headed to Hershey for a cook-out at Frank and Mari's. (Destiny had stayed there overnight last night.) The weather was perfect and so was the food. Frank always loved cooking, and he's only gotten better.

And here are a few more pictures that warm my heart. Look what was lying on my guest room bed today! Lori and Austin are still staying here this week (Anthony returned to State College this evening), because their bathroom isn't quite finished yet. But, tell me, how am I going to let this sweet, little guy go home on Friday?

And here's another precious face that I miss. You really should go over to Lisa's blog to read the story of what caused her to have this smile on her face.

Benefit auction days

Yesterday after school I immediately drove to Reading to pick up Destiny. At the same time Anthony was driving down from State College, and Dick was finishing up a car he had worked on all day. Eventually we and Ray and Thyda, as well as some of her siblings, were eating a barbecued chicken meal at my school's benefit auction, although our various schedules did not allow for us to all sit down together to eat.

This morning Dick went bright and early to help with the country breakfast. He has been the official pancake maker for this event for many, many years. We spent the morning and some of the afternoon there. They had really cool children's activities this year - a blow-up jumping thing, barrel-train rides, pony rides.

Of course, the best thing about this auction is getting to see so many people that we seldom ever see any other time, especially former students. It was also fun to see Anthony reconnect with high school acquaintances who are now patrons of our school.

I actually forgot my camera today, but took the above pictures with my cell phone. I didn't even take one picture of Austin. Can you believe it? Trust me - he did his share of charming people!

I love tulips

Aren't tulips the most uplifting things to look at this time of year? Especially when warm weather seems to be so hard to come by. But, oh, the forecast for this weekend! Sunny and in the 80's!! I cannot believe it until I see it.

Here's another beautiful thing to look at! Mommy and baby taking a nap. Remember those days?

He's been having a pretty fussy day, but he's adorable even when he's crying! But he did brighten up for his daddy again. I've never seen anything like it.

This morning I had a special practice with my middle school worship team at the church next door. We have missed so many Friday practices the past few weeks - Easter break, field trip, tomorrow the auction, etc. This coming Sunday they are coming to my church and we really needed to have a practice. Well it turned out to be a very special practice. One thing I stress is the importance of team relationships and unity in order for the hand of God to be upon us. This morning our practice turned into a beautiful time of confession, forgiveness, and tears. It was one of the most precious times I have ever experienced in all the years I've been working with middle school students. Wow. I love these kids.

Exciting times

This is an exciting week at MCDS. Our annual benefit auction will be held Friday evening and Saturday, so the lobby is filled up with all kinds of lovely things to be auctioned. Tomorrow afternoon the big tent will go up. This auction, and all that goes with it, is the highlight of the year.

Here at home things were calm this evening - just Lori, Austin, and I most of the time (Dick was working at Advance Auto Parts.) Once again Austin saw his daddy via Skype, and we just cracked up again at the way he came to life at the sight of Anthony's face and the sound of his voice.

Here he is in his bathtub, kicking up a storm as usual. One of these times he's going to kick himself up over the end!

Later this evening Ray and Thyda finally arrived. We had such a wonderful time talking and laughing for about an hour before they left to go to her parents' house. Aren't they adorable?

A good Monday

No pictures tonight. Just a busy day at school and a busy evening at home cooking and doing more song prep on the computer. Of course, I squeezed some sweet Austin time in there too! I decided to sit at my digital piano with him and play him some of the prerecorded songs that are in it. He already has a definite music preference. He got fussy when I played too many classical pieces in a row, but calmed right down when I played a jazz piece, ha, ha! That pleased his mom and dad!

Anthony went back to State College this morning, so this evening they skyped. Oh my word. All evening long Austin was just calm and rather unemotional. But when he got in front of the computer monitor and saw his daddy and heard his voice, his whole body got excited. He just smiled and smiled and kicked and talked and made the beginning sounds of a giggle a couple of times. So CUTE!!

Guess who will arrive tomorrow? Ray and Thyda! I can hardly wait!

Our Sunday

Actually, these first two pictures were taken last evening. What a little muscle man Austin looks like already!

I had no worship leading responsiblities this morning - a rare occurance. (As I said yesterday, we had planned to be in Virginia this weekend, but those plans did not work out.) Dick and I hardly ever have a chance to visit other local churches and observe other worship teams, so this morning we decided to go to the 9:00 AM service of a large church in this area before we went to our own 10:30 service.

We got there five minutes late, and of course had to park far, far away from the door. I hated to miss any of the music, so as soon as the car stopped I swung my door open. Just in time I noticed that an SUV was pulling in beside us and my door was about to hit it. I quickly pulled my door shut and gestured an apology to the man. I don't even know why I opened the door so quickly, because I didn't even have my shoes on yet. (I had been painting my toe nails on the way.) So while the man patiently waited to open his door (thinking that I would open mine any second), I struggled to hurriedly put my strappy sandals on. Just as I started to open mine, so did he. Again, very patiently, he pulled his door in and let me get out first. He said hello to us and added, "See, God is good! You didn't hit my car!" And he was off, walking at top speed toward the church.

When we entered the church we were ushered to our seats as the music was already in progress. The song went on for a good while. At the end of it the senior pastor got up to give some words of introduction to the morning's theme. (I knew it was the senior pastor because I recognized his voice from the church's radio program.) But guess what else? Dick leaned over and said, "That's the man that just parked beside us." It WAS! I recognized his shirt! What?? The senior pastor of a large church that fills up four worship services per weekend was LATE?? There was probably a very good reason he was late, but can you imagine him sitting there waiting for me to get my shoes on when he knew he would soon need to be on the stage introducing the service? Poor guy! I should check. Maybe he has a blog and is telling his side of the story tonight, ha, ha!!

Here's a cute shot of Lori playing with Austin this afternoon.

Today was Dick's birthday. He had to work at Advance Auto Parts this afternoon, then after he was finished we met him at our favorite little restaurant in town - A&M. Austin loves to go out. He just smiled and smiled!

This weekend we watched the movie, Marley and Me - part of it last evening and the rest this evening. What a great movie.

Pictures in the park

Our local newspaper does a huge section of photos for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Today we hired a photographer to take a four generation picture for the Father's Day issue. Four generations of Stauffers - Dick's dad Howard, Dick, Anthony, and Austin. Of course I took my camera along to take some pictures too.


And here's a sweet family picture of Anthony, Lori, and Austin.

Look at this adorable, little face on this picture!

And there she is!

Welcome Home, Thyda!!

She's coming home!!

Thyda's ship was to arrive at the base in Norfolk at 6 AM, but it's a little late. In the last half hour I got these two cell phone pictures from Ray as he patiently awaits her arrival.

Everything is done with great ceremony, so even after the ship is in the dock, it will probably be some time before they actually get to see each other face to face. How must they be feeling right now?

We were hoping to go down for this event, but some details did not work out. Besides, I think they need some time without visitors! They'll be coming up in a few days. I'm so excited for them, I just feel like crying.

Anthony is here again

After school today I found out that Destiny was spending the night at her cousin's house, so I didn't have to make the trip to get her. The weather was so beautiful that I got to spend time just sitting on the porch rockers with Lori and Austin as we waited for Anthony to arrive. He was so ready to see his baby!

Going somewhere, Austin?

We went to Macaroni Grill to celebrate Anthony's successful launch of a new series of online guitar lessons last night. Our waitress was very new and very slow and made a tremendous amount of mistakes, (including billing us twice for everything!!) but we still had a good time. Austin did great.

Austin visits Grandma's school

Today Austin and Lori came to visit me at school. The general consensus was that he is even cuter in person than in pictures! He was sleeping when they arrived, but he soon stirred when he heard me talking in my soft (ha, ha, ha) voice. When he woke up, he just smiled and smiled and smiled.

I had a hair appointment after school. Boy, was it time, according the above picture.

And here's a sweet picture Dick took when he was playing with him.

I've been keeping in close touch with my sister Mary Ellen who is helping to care for my niece Lori since she came home from the hospital. Last evening the situation seemed discouraging, but tonight, after a doctor visit and some changes in medications, things are looking so much better. Lori is keeping food down, her bowels are working, and she had the strength today to walk some without assistance. Also, things were set in motion for a Home Health Care nurse to visit tomorrow. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!

Some good things - present, past, and future

Here's an adorable picture Lori took of Austin yesterday when she took him to the mall. He liked shopping! Once again, he was the bright spot of my day today. There were many, many things to feel uptight about, but how relaxing it was to come home and hold him while he slept a while, then play with him and watch him smile and listen to him "talk." I'm already thinking how I will miss him when they go back home.

This morning I spent a couple of hours with my dad before my first class while my step-mother went to a doctor appointment. It was a great chance to do something I've been wanting to do for a couple of years. I brought my little recorder along and recorded about 45 minutes of his reminscing about his childhood. It was awesome.

Down in Virginia our son Ray is eagerly getting ready for the soon return of his wife Thyda from her seven-month deployment. I'll be sure to let you know when she has actually returned. We are looking forward to a visit from them soon.