My Boy Scout adventure

On Friday afternoon I drove to Lancaster County, arriving at Sam and Jenn's around 5:30.  I hadn't seen that little two-year-old for four weeks, and that was long enough!  Sam was having a guys' night out, so I didn't get to see him.  Shucks, I wanted to see if he looks any different as a married man, haha!!  But I had a lot of fun with Jenn and Sammy.  What a chatterbox!!!!  Totally non-stop.   A lot of it still unintelligible,  but that did not deter him in the least!

We decided to go to Green Dragon Farmer's Market.  Soon after we started walking around we discovered a memorabilia stand with a singing Santa.  He was totally awe-struck!  He called him "HoHo"!  It was funny at first, but not so much as we ate our dinner at one of the little restaurants, then walked all around the place and had to listen to, "Where's HoHo?" over and over and over and over again.  Each time we would say, "We said bye-bye to HoHo."  Then it was, "Why?"  We'd say something about wanting to see other things, etc, and then it was, "Where's HoHo?"   By the time we left we were wishing we had never seen HoHo!!  Here are some Sammy pics.

I left their place at 8:00 pm and headed to Reading.  I was sleeping at Destiny's house.  Her mom was still at work when I arrived, but I had brought snacks, and Destiny and her brother Shalimar and I pigged out.  (That almost looks like raw hamburger meat in front of Destiny!  It was glazed donut holes that I had bought from an Amish stand at Green Dragon!)

Then it was time to hit the sack.  Saturday morning we were all out the door before 7 am.  Shalimar has joined the Boy Scouts, and there was a Cub Adventure Day for families at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation about an hour away.  We drove separately, since it was actually on my way home.  Destiny rode with me, and I enjoyed the chance to catch up with her.

There were many, many cub scouts and their families there.  The troop from Reading was the biggest of all - almost 40 boys, I think, plus many family members.  I can't even imagine the logistics of planning a day like that.  We were given a map and a list of our scheduled activities.  There was also lunch served to everyone.  They must have fed hundreds of people.  I am in awe of the people who give their time to something like this.  While it was freezing cold, trying to keep kids' attention was a constant battle all day long,  and the children became bored when they had to do so much waiting due to the size of our group, nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience for them.  It was out in the fresh air, in an absolutely beautiful environment, and they were exposed to educational and wholesome sports.  Here are some pics from the day.

Registration.

Fishing.

Learning about fire prevention and fire fighting.  Keeping kids from throwing leaves and sticks into the fire was not an easy task!

Displays and demonstrations of emergency services.

LOTS of hiking.  (Destiny and her mom in front of me - hard to tell which is which!)

Archery.

BB gun shooting.

Destiny, her mom, and brother.  The sun was in their eyes.  Believe me, we were SO THANKFUL for the sun.  We were still so cold even with the sun shining.  It would have been unbearable without it.

We said our goodbyes around 3:00.  They were heading back to Reading and I to State College.  After a day of physical activity in the cold, cold air I was so sleepy.  About half way home I stopped at a Sheetz gas station and took a 30 minute nap, got some fresh fruit, ice water, and gas.  Once again I got to listen to some of A Prairie Home Companion.  I just cracked up listening to his old people version of some of Johnny Cash's songs.  

I was ready to go to bed by 9:00 last evening and still not ready to wake up at 6 this morning!

A fun day with Austin; an interesting meeting of Stauffer designers

Our wonderfully mild Fall weather is leaving us this week.  I'm about to need a coat, I'm afraid.  And they even have that "S" word in the forecast.  NOOOOO!!  I honestly do not know anybody that is looking forward to that, at least not at this point.

First of all, I want to share some pictures I took around here.  We're not having a spectacularly colorful season like last year, probably because of that hot spell we had, but there is still beauty all around.

On Sunday evening we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire at Anthony and Lori's.  Believe me, the fire felt really, really good!

Austin's preschool was closed Monday, so he spent the day with me.  We got a new train track, and he LOVED it.  I am not exaggerating when I say that we spent HOURS on Monday, just playing with the train and Legos.  We were in an imaginary world where the train would carry loads of "materials" and then dump them off for me to build my school house with.  He built a swinging bridge for the train to go over, and it would be in great danger of collapsing.  Then he would say,  "You need to pray to Jesus, Grandma."  So I would pray for the angels to keep the train from falling into the muddy marsh.  Sometimes it got across, other times it would fall down and we would have to call in all the rescue equipment.  I seriously was having a blast!  I just love his imagination!

He decided that my schoolhouse needed to have a bouncy house on the playground.  So this is what we came up with.  Looks just like one, wouldn't you say??  He even attached a "motor" to blow it up with.

I finally convinced him late in the afternoon that we should go outside in the sun before I took him home.  We went to the little playground near our community.  He discovered that he could do the monkey bars all by himself now.

He loved jumping off.

I asked him at one point how old he is now.  A few months ago he had told me that he was four-and-a-half and one month old.  Later he had updated it to four-and-a-half and two months.  But this time his updated answer was "four and three quarters"!!


Something really, really cool happened in Highpoint, NC last evening.  But I need to give a back story first. 

When Dick was a young boy his parents took in a relative, Elam Stauffer.  Elam's father had died and his mother was unable to provide for all her children.  I think Elam was 9 or 10 when he came to live with Dick's parents.  Dick would have been a baby.  Elam lived with the family until he went off to college.  He married a beautiful woman, Doris.  They were missionaries in Central America most of their adult lives and adopted two Guatemalan children, Gloria and Luis.  Whenever they were home on furlough they would spend time with the Stauffer family.  At some point they settled in the Columbus, Ohio area.  Sadly, Doris passed away eight years ago due to brain cancer.  Elam has done a wonderful job of keeping us updated with his Christmas letters.  We knew that Gloria and her husband are missionaries in Costa Rica.  A few years ago he mentioned that Luis and his wife have a successful design company in Columbus - Crimson Design.  I looked it up and was very, very impressed.  I had mentioned it various times to Lisa and to Jeremy.  

There is something called "market" in High Point, NC where designers and furniture retailers go to buy.  Last evening Jeremy attended an event there and was at a table enjoying a conversation with several women.  After an hour-and-a-half Jeremy mentioned that he had come from Lancaster County, PA.  One of the women said, "Really?  My husband has relatives there."  Then she wondered what his name was.  When he said the name "Stauffer," she and her employees just about died as she said that was her last name too!  After talking a bit more she finally said, "I think we're related!"  She recognized Dick's dad's name, in fact, remembered visiting him and Grandma Arlene with Luis!   Then Jeremy said, "My mom has been telling me about these relatives that have this awesome design firm in Ohio!"  He called me right away and said, "You will never believe who I am sitting with."  We just screamed laughing!!  It was so unplanned and so wonderful!!  

Here Jeremy is with Luis's wife Cheryl.  Luis and Cheryl do a lot of traveling for their business and she was very interested in Jeremy's work in Jordan.   I think these Stauffer designers have not seen the last of each other!

Florida Vacation 2013, Days Five and Six

On Monday I did something for the first time ever -  I took a Yoga class.  Lisa is teaching at a brand new studio.  In fact, they're not quite open yet and are offering a few introductory classes for three weeks.  Lisa had meetings before and after the class, and while she did that I had the most wonderful time holding the six-month-old baby of the owner.  Oh, he was PRECIOUS - just melted against me as I sang to him.  Here's a picture of the outside of the studio.  It's beautiful inside.

I didn't do too bad practicing some of the beginner stretches that Lisa showed me how to do.  I thought my thighs would hurt the next day, but they didn't.  When I was finished, I lay down on my mat, flat on my back, until the others were finished.  Seriously, I was so relaxed I was afraid I would start snoring in that quiet room, hahaha!  Yoga has been hugely instrumental in helping Lisa to overcome some very serious neck pain, thus her passion to help others.  She's about as flexible and strong as anyone I know.  

After we left the studio we went across the street to Whole Foods.  Oh my word.  Every food you could ever want and some you don't even know you want and some you really don't want!!  

While we were there George called Lisa and told her a really funny thing that happened at home.  First of all the back story:  

Before he had left for work that morning, we had been planning for Dick to go along to the Yoga studio with Lisa and me.  There were a few little projects for him to do there.  However, when Lisa realized how long we would be there due to the meetings she had before and after the class, Dick decided he'd just stay at home with Nilla Bean and would walk to a nearby place for lunch.  George did not know that change of plans.  Oh!  Another part of the back story is that George and Lisa each drive silver/gray SUV's.  Lisa usually parks in the garage and George outside.  

So George went home in the middle of the day, deciding to park in the garage since no one else was there.  Dick was not there when George arrived - he had gone down the street to get his lunch.  Dick came home, sat at the kitchen table to eat the sandwich he had bought.  Then George walked into the kitchen, completely surprised to see Dick there, and Dick was surprised to see him as well.   George said, "Where are Lisa and Mom?"  Dick said, "I don't know, but Lisa's car is in the garage."  George had to think about that a minute - how did Lisa park in the garage if his car was there?  Turns out Dick just assumed it was Lisa's since that's where she always parks.  I asked him later, "If you thought we were home, where did you think we were?"  He said, "I just thought you were probably up in our bathroom and Lisa was taking a shower in hers."  Talk about confused men!  Lisa and I cracked up over and over again just thinking about it. 

When we actually did come home we prepared food for a cookout we were having that evening.  Actually, Lisa did most of it - fish, chicken, beef, potatoes, cabbage, yams - all done on the grill.  I even got to sit and and enjoy the beauty of the pool and backyard some of the time while she worked.   It was nice. 

George's mom and sister Dawn joined us for dinner.   We had a good time together and could hardly get done talking.

Dawn offered to take another picture with me in her chair.

She and Sophie entertained us with some dance moves!

Tuesday morning came all too soon, and we had to say our good byes to Sophie when George was ready to take her to school.  She said that she was going to put Lila in Lisa's car so she could go to Yoga class, and Owen would travel with George for the day!  Love it!

Lisa soon left for her class, and Dick and I brought all our luggage downstairs waiting for George to get back and pick us up to take us to the airport.  Dick sat down on the recliner, and just that quick Nilla Bean was on his lap!  She did not want him to leave!  She's such a sweet dog. 

Once at the airport, Dick and I had to part ways almost right away.  Our gates were not on the same wing this time.  He went through Cleveland en route to Baltimore, and I again went through Charlotte.  I got to Baltimore about an hour or so before he did.  I think we were on the shuttle to long term parking around 5:00.  

Right down the road from the parking lot was a gas station where Dick was able to buy water and antifreeze coolant for the radiator and gas for the tank.  It seemed to take forever to get home, especially after it got dark.  We stopped at a Hardees for some food one time.  It was 9:30 when we drove into our driveway.  Home always looks and feels so good after a long day of travel.  We were SOOOO thankful for an uneventful day, and that our ticket saga was OVER!!!

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday felt like I was running a race as I tried to catch up with everything at home and at my jobs.  Today was a bit more relaxing.  I did spend some time helping out at The Mommy Shoppe at our church.  Mostly I just hold babies.  I got this little guy to sleep while his mommy worked.  Somebody has to do it, ha!

Florida Vacation 2013, Day Four

On Sunday morning we went to Lisa and George's church - Grace Family Church.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of their services that I have been to over the past 12 years.  The messages are always challenging and memorable.  And the music is wonderful.  This time was no exception.  Right now their pastor is doing a series called No Limits, and Sunday's message title was God Sized Prayers.   Yesterday while I was at the office folding bulletins I looked up their website.  I saw that Sunday's message was the fourth in the series,  so I decided to start at the beginning and listen to the first one - Believe Bigger. It was SO good, so inspiring, so challenging, so moving.  I was absolutely in tears by the end of it.  I could identify so thoroughly with many of the things he shared about his faith journey.   Here is the link to it.  


After church on Sunday we went home and grabbed a few bites to eat, changed clothes, and headed to the beach.  It was a spectacularly beautiful day.  And so was the ocean.

Dick spent hours digging for these beauties. 

George's mom and his sister Dawn (who was visiting from the Philly area) joined us later in the afternoon.  We hadn't seen Dawn since George and Lisa's wedding fifteen years ago!  They stayed to see the sunset, but we were hungry and went to Frenchie's Outpost to eat.  What a lovely outdoor setting, complete with easy-to-listen-to live music.  We had a wonderful time and delicious food. 

When we left there, George took us for his favorite treat - ice cream cones.  Again we sat outside.  The weather was so perfect. 

Poor Nilla Bean had been home by herself all day.  George took her outside when we got home.  She would play "chase" almost endlessly if someone were available.

Florida Vacation 2013, Day Three

We had another nice, slow start to Saturday morning.  I came downstairs to these two "bonding" over technology!

After a while George came into the room and pulled back the drapes.  What a perfectly beautiful feast for the eyes!  As my cousin said, when she saw this picture on Facebook - even the dog looks perfect, haha!

Lisa and I had a rather amusing time trying to make gluten-free pumpkin pancakes and homemade syrup.  We had no idea what to expect, but amazingly we all LOVED them.  But don't ask us for the recipe - we have absolutely no idea!

Dick and George decided to be "real men" and went to a shooting club.

Sophie and I had fun with Legos.  Here's the four-room schoolhouse I built and the school bus she made.

Later she remodeled the schoolhouse into a one-room, complete with four student desks and a teacher's desk!

After the guys got back home and cleaned up, it was time to hit the road for Sophie's gymnastics meet in Lakeland.

I loved watching my daughter and her daughter walking in front of me.

I wonder what Grandpa was doing while I was trying to get this family picture!

Sophie and her teammates warming up.

Sophie doing her routine on the beam.

Here's a short video of her floor routine.

The award ceremony afterward. Sophie had a great meet.  For the first time ever she got not one, but TWO scores in the 9's!

By the time the meet was over we were soooo hungry.  We didn't know the Lakeland area very well, so we drove all the way back to Tampa to the Mellow Mushroom for a very delicious dinner.  The best part of all was that the Penn State Michigan game was being shown on TV there, and they were in their fourth quarter, which led to four nail-biting overtimes, and Penn State won!!  It was just awesome. 

Sophie had been promised that when she gets two nines, she would get the American Girl doll Bitty Twins.  So she had those twins on her mind the entire time we were eating dinner.  When we pulled into the garage she wondered if they could order them before she went to bed.  Lisa said they could.  George acted like he couldn't believe they had to do that before bed.  What Sophie did not know was that the Bitty Twins had actually been in the house for several weeks, ever since Lisa had gone to Miami for some Yoga workshops and had gone to the American Girl store and bought them!  So while Sophie went to her room to put her pajamas on, Lisa put the dolls on the chair by the computer that Sophie would be sitting on.  She opened up the computer, and when Sophie came out of her room, Lisa said,  "Ok, come on over here."  But first of all, Sophie had something to take to the trash can in the kitchen.  Alas, the lid to the box the dolls were in, was sitting by the trash can.  Sophie looked at it, picked it up and looked at it some more, then started walking toward Lisa at the computer desk, and then she saw them.  Oh my goodness!  Her face was just priceless as she screamed with joy, "You tricked me!  You tricked me!"  We just laughed and laughed.  

We were hoping to play Scrabble that night, but it was just too late by the time all that excitement was over.  By the way, the next morning she informed us that she named the twins Lila and Owen.