A packed two days

This was a PACKED two-day weekend, seeing many, many people we know and love. We left home at 6:30 AM Saturday heading southeast toward Lancaster County. We quickly remembered why we like to travel Friday evenings instead as we immediately faced blinding sun.

I was glad Dick was driving. At least he's tall enough for his eyes to be above the sun visor. There was some fog as well, and lots of beauty.

We went to Reading first to pick up Destiny, then headed to Boscov's in Reading to return some curtains I had ordered online and did not like after all. A late breakfast at McDonalds was very necessary for all of us after that.

Once we got to Lancaster County we went to our church first to pick up some things for the joint worship service and to copy the lyric sheets I had made for the service. Then we headed to Manheim Christian Day School where the service would be held Sunday morning. Dick set up the sound system, I practiced on the piano I had loved so much when I taught there, and Destiny played inside and out.

By 3:00 we were very ready for a nap, so we headed to my sister Doris's house where we were staying for the weekend. It was very tempting to just sit and talk when we got there, but I knew if I didn't nap when I was feeling very sleepy, I would get a second wind, so I quickly retreated to the very lovely air-conditioned livingroom (which Doris had graciously turned into a bedroom for us) and took a good nap. So did Dick.

Doris was slaving away preparing a meal for us. I tried to help her when I woke up, but I mostly just got in her way as we talked. Bless her heart. I did manage to wash a few dishes for her. They have the most lovely, big deck where we ate, and I desperately wanted to just STAY and hang out with them. But that was not to be this time. Hopefully we'll get time to do that some other less-busy weekend.

We had to rush off to go back to the school for practice for Sunday morning. First of all I practiced with Dick's brother Steve and my former student Hillary. We were doing a special trio number for the offertory - Martin Smith's Majesty. Then the rest of the worship team arrived and we went through the songs for praise and worship without a hitch. We've all worked together before at our previous joint services, so it seemed pretty familiar this time.

After a time of prayer together, we parted ways and Dick and I headed to Dick's alma matter - Hempfield High School, where our son Frank's semi-pro football team, the Lancaster Lightnings, were playing a game. We got there during half-time so were able to get in free.

Now get this!! Jeremy also came to the game!! He had been setting up a new store in Baltimore last week and needed to stay over to finish it today, so he drove up to Lancaster to see us and some of his many friends. What an unexpected treat!

And where was my camera during all these many events all day long? Why right in my purse! Where was my brain? I have no idea.

We were SO READY for the good beds in Doris's livingroom when we finally got back at nearly 11 PM.

Sunday morning's joint service was awesome. There were so many people there that I have known my entire life. One of the churches involved, Hernley Mennonite, is the one I grew up in and which my dad pastored. The other, Kauffman Mennonite, is the one Dick grew up in and where we attended the first 15 years of our marriage. And then of course, our own church family at Grace Community. And the presence of the Lord. Very, very precious. Here's a picture of the worship team as we were doing the instrumental opening.

Following the service was a fellowship meal during which we had time to catch up with many friends and family. Most special of all was to finally have time to sit with my dear, life-long friend Elta Nissley. I could write an entire blog post on how our lives have intersected for over 50 years. But not now. In the past couple of months Elta's husband Jay was found to have a malignant brain tumor. It was removed during surgery at Johns Hopkins, and he has recovered incredibly. This week he starts a six-week regimen of chemo and radiation. Jay and Elta have one married son who was a childhood friend of Anthony. They also have two precious, adopted teenagers who were my music students from kindergarten through grade eight. I LOVE this family. Please pray for them as they face the unknowns ahead. Here are very cropped pictures of Elta and Jay, taken from a Christmas choir photo a few years ago.

We spent the afternoon hanging out with Jeremy at Doris's house. Doris and Dale weren't even home, because they were at their granddaughter's birthday party. But we just made ourselves at home, thank you very much, Doris!! Sometime maybe we can actually spend some time together, hahahaha!

Jeremy had to head back to Baltimore and we packed up and left to take Destiny back to Reading and then drove back home, arriving about 11 PM. Oh, our bed felt good!

Here are two cute pictures of Austin I took last Friday. He loves having toes for dessert. But not when he accidentally bites them!!

Hershey Park, Worship prep, Austin's little dance

Wow, the days just fly by!  I am just loving our house more every day.  I am so thankful for it, and I hope someday I will have the time to write the story of how God led us to it.  I promise I'll post more pictures as I get things picture-ready!

This week I'm busy getting things ready for the annual joint worship service we will be having on Sunday in Lancaster County.  Our church and two others will be having a service together in the gym at Manheim Christian where I used to teach.  Last year when I led worship at that service I assumed it was the last time I would be doing it.  However, the search for a minister of music to replace me has not been successful so far, so we'll still be making the trip to Lancaster County twice a month for a while longer.  Besides, Destiny counts on being with us on those weekends anyway.  

Speaking of Destiny, earlier this summer our niece Krista gave us several tickets for Hershey Park.  I don't know  how she came upon free tickets, but we gladly accepted them!  Of course, our summer has been a bit full, and last week it occurred to me that we had not yet used those tickets.  I was feeling kind of bad that I got to go to Philly with Anthony and Lori while Dick had to stay home and work, so I suggested that maybe on one of his days off this week he could go to Hershey Park with Destiny and Frank.  

He had Monday off, so Sunday evening after work he drove to his parents' house to sleep.  Monday morning he made his rounds to pick up Frank and Destiny, and they had a great day together.  She was delighted to be a Twizzler, which meant she was tall enough for a number of rides she was never allowed to be on before.  Here's the only picture Dick took that day.  He wanted to prove that she had gone on The Great Bear - a ride I would NEVER go on!!

Austin continues to provide laughs and challenges.  He just loves being outside, and the weather this week was good for playing outdoors because it wasn't so hot.  Here's a short video Anthony took that cracks me up.  It looks like he's gettin' his praise on, hahahaha!

My trip to Philly

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent several days in Philadelphia with Anthony, Lori, and Austin.  We left Thursday after Lori came home from work.  Anthony and I did most of the driving while Lori entertained Austin in the back seat, with the help of the DVD player.  He did really well most of the way.  Lori drove after we got into the city, since she's had a lot more experience with city driving.

It was pretty late when I got to my room, but I was hungry, so I ordered take-out sesame chicken and fried rice.  It was AWESOME, but way too much, and the next day I was sorry I had eaten as much of it as I had so late at night.

On Friday Lori had to be at her conference early.  Anthony and I took Austin to the most wonderful museum EVER!!  It's called the Please Touch Museum and it is a children's heaven.  There's just no other way to describe it.  I'm going to post the pictures I took without much comment, starting with the beautiful outdoors, then the amazing architecture of the building, then the fun stuff.

On Saturday we just stayed closer to their hotel, since we needed to check out by 3:00 when Lori's conference was over.  We were downtown near a lot of historic sight seeing attractions.  I took Austin for a walk and found one of many beautiful fountains in the area.

Austin playing with his daddy.  It brought back memories of when Dick used to play on the floor like this with our children.

I spent a lot of time with Austin on the hotel's little patio.  He had a good time rearranging the iron furniture,

playing with his belly button (!) while he watched the traffic go by,

and picking leaves off the plants and handing them to me.  (Don't worry, he didn't pick enough to do any damage!)

This was one of the views from the patio!

The trip home was interesting.  Austin had more trouble staying happy than he had on Thursday, but he still didn't do bad at all for such a long trip.  Anthony accidently went to the wrong turnpike booth and we couldn't get a ticket (it was for Easy Pass customers only!)  That caused some frustration and eventually some belly laughs as we made up stories we could possibly tell the ticket person at the other end.  As it turned out, the cost wasn't nearly as outragious as we had feared.   One time we had to make an unplanned stop when Austin needed a diaper change, if you know what I mean!  

We got home just as Dick was getting off work, so he came to their place and had some fun with Austin while we unpacked the car, then he went with Anthony to take the rental car back.  And then we went "home." 

Looking like home

Here are a couple of pictures I'm willing to show. First the guest bathroom with the things I got at Kohls to incorparate the gray floor and counter top.

Our dining room is looking like home now. Come on over and I'll be glad to serve you a meal. My table (which was my mom's) has six boards to extend it, so I can feed a crowd. The chairs and bench were from my childhood too, although they are not the chairs that matched the table. Those chairs gradually bit the dust over many years of use. Maybe sometime I'll be able to get chairs to better match the table.

It's time now for me to go pick up Austin. Later today I am leaving with Anthony and Lori to go to Philadelphia. Lori has a conference there the next two days. Anthony and I will go sight-seeing with Austin. Unfortunately, Dick has to work, so he'll be batching it. But he'll be alright for two days!

Twins!!

I did not plan to post anymore tonight, but I just got an email that is too good not to share.

The Witmer family just increased by two today. My sister Janet's son Scott and his wife Sherri became the parents of twin boys today, joining their three-year-old brother!

Just look at these precious babies and their happy parents!








They live in California, so I don't know when I'll get to see them in person, but pictures are good.

Congratulations, Scott and Sherri!!

A weekend with Grandma Mary

We had a most wonderful weekend at my step mother's house this past weekend.  It is impossible to be there without feeling loved and nurtured.  I just love her so much and thank God more than ever for bringing her into our family.  Even though our mother has been gone almost 28 years and our dad almost a year (how can that be possible???), we still have Grandma Mary and her warm love, her humor, and her GOOD FOOD!!!

On Saturday morning we drove to Lancaster County.  Dick dropped me off for my hair appointment, then he and Destiny spent time with his parents till I was finished.  When he picked me up we went shopping at Salvation Army, Penneys, and Kohl's.  GREAT bargains at each place!!  Destiny now has a nice amount of school uniforms for the new year and I have some new bathroom and kitchen items.  (The vinyl floors and counter tops in my kitchen and bathrooms just don't match what I had from before and I'm trying to find things that do match.  I never dealt with gray before.)

Then we went to Grandma Mary's house where she had the most scrumptious supper prepared.  My sister Mary Ellen also came for the evening.  After supper we went to the mini golf course in her community. 

Dick and Mary Ellen golfed, 

Destiny climbed rocks and took self portraits, 

Mary and I acted like old ladies and just sat and watched and talked and laughed!

Of course, Destiny's all-time favorite activity at Grandma Mary's is getting a chance to drive the golf cart!  (That goes for most of the other grandchildren as well!)

Sunday morning we had the most yummy breakfast casserole before going to church.  At church I led worship for the first time since July 4th.  Wow, my voice should have had a warm-up first!  Singing to and with Austin just doesn't keep my voice in shape, I guess!  

After church we went back home to Mary's for another delicious lunch - hamburgers on the grill and fresh corn-on-the cob.  Here's the only picture I got of Mary in the kitchen - scared her half to death when my flash went off!

What better thing to do than take a Sunday afternoon nap, especially a rainy Sunday afternoon?  I slept like a log.  Destiny contented herself watching a DVD we had gotten at Salvation Army the day before. 

Yes, we slept in the sun room. The room where a year ago my dad suffered, lingered, and died.  And it was okay, it really was.  I sensed his presence and the presence of the Lord in that room.  Mary and I shared many laughs and memories and tears this weekend.  We all still miss him so very much, but no one as much as she.  She is the one who lives daily in that house without him.  My heart aches for her, and I'm so glad we could be there this weekend to somewhat relieve her loneliness and to give her someone to cook for.   We needed her and she needed us. 

Sunday evening we took Destiny home to Reading, came back to Mary's for the night, and headed back home Monday morning.  I was more than eager to pick up Austin from daycare at 11:15.