Our weekend - full schedule and full hearts

I mentioned at the end of my last post that our weekend was a bit of a mystery because of all the events taking place "down home," but also the possibility of Baby Boy Stauffer making his entrance into the world at any time.   On Friday Lori assured me that they had her brother and other friends that could take care of Austin if needed and that we should go ahead with our plans.

There were two times over the weekend that I thought perhaps I had missed something.  On Saturday afternoon I picked up my phone and saw a message that Anthony Stauffer had posted a picture.  I thought, "If that is a picture of the baby and I didn't even know she was in labor!!"    But of course it wasn't, haha!!  Then yesterday afternoon while driving toward Lancaster County I picked up my phone and saw that I had missed two calls from Lori.  I couldn't believe it!!  My phone was still set on silent from church.  I immediately called back, but she didn't answer, so I called Anthony.  Turns out they were at Sam's Club looking for something that we both really like and they couldn't find.  After we discussed that Anthony said, "Oh, and we had the baby."  Hahahahaha!!  They knew that's what I would be thinking!

Now to our pictures and stories from the weekend.  On Saturday morning we left home at 6:45 AM and headed to Manheim for Ella High's funeral.  We had light traffic and made really good time, so we stopped at Dad Stauffer's house first.  Dick took this picture of Dad's woods.  We're always impressed with how clean he keeps it - at age 90!!

This is the picture of Ella that was in the newspaper with her obituary.  She lived to age 98 with a clear mind to the very end.  Is that not anyone's wish?

Ella's husband Elvin passed away in 2000.  These are their four children and spouses, left to right:  son Elvin and wife Pat, son Cerwin and wife Doris Jean, daughter Velda and husband Mel, daughter Doris and husband Bob Stauffer (Dick's brother).

Ella's grandchildren and spouses. 

Ella's great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren! 

Doris and Bob (Dick's brother) and their four children, Judi, Jonathan, Japheth, Juanita.  

Doris and Bob with their children, their spouses, and the grandchildren!  

Bob and Doris live in northwestern Minnesota, as do their sons and their families.  Bob and Japheth are both pastors at their Kitchi Pines Mennonite Church.  Judi and her family live in Wisconsin.  Juanita lives in N. Carolina.  Having them all together at one time was a very rare and special occasion.  

After the funeral Dick and I ate a delicious lunch at Divine Swine, a BBQ place on the way to Sam and Jenn's.  I had a scrumptious pulled pork sandwich and cole slaw.  Dick had a delicious beef brisket sandwich with mac and cheese. 

We were sleepy after such an early morning and glad for a chance to nap.  Bianca was the first to go down, haha!  How cute is that??

I snoozed on the recliner with Sammy.  Except he didn't snooze.  But he was content to snuggle (and squirm!)  

When everyone woke up he brought this old toy from his room, climbed up on top of a table and told us to listen.  He's a performer to the core, and any stage will do!

Our drive home was uneventful.  I think we were home by 8:00 pm, and I hit the sack by 9:30.

We had two wonderful worship services Sunday morning, came home for short naps, then hit the road again by 3:00.  I took these pictures of the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg.  I noticed on my blog that a year ago I took a picture of it completely frozen!

We got to Dad Stauffer's right around 5:00.   What a WONDERFUL evening we were in for!  First of all we aunts and uncles (and of course Grandpa and Arlene) had dinner with Bob and Doris's family.    Some cousins dropped in later.

We sang our traditional "Family of God" song before the meal.  Dick said that Dad Stauffer had tears.   Not only was it special to be together, but we sound good too.  (-:

The corner table - four of Japheth's children, one of Jonathan's.

After the meal the men stayed in the basement and had loud, animated conversations. 

Some of us ladies started out down there, but soon decided to go upstairs where we could hear each other!

The youngest Stauffer (until Anthony and Lori's baby makes his appearance) - Japheth and Aimee's little Daisy. 

The little boys spent the entire evening with these marble rollers!

Judi and her much-prayed-for son Kevin.  

We ladies and girls talked and read books. 

Dad and his five sons.  Back row:  Bob, Dick, Steve.  Front row:  Fred, Dad, Jim.  Dick (the oldest) was eight years old when Fred (the youngest) was born!  Back in the day they were known as Hob Stauffer's boys - Dickie, Bobby, Stevie, Jimmy, and Freddie!!

Is this the laying on of hands??

Table games!

Getting ourselves lined up for a picture.  Why does it look like I'm ordering people around?  And I have no idea what Jim and Carolyn (on the right) were doing!! 

There we are.  Dad and Arlene in front.  Left to right:  Fred and Deb, Steve and Faye, Bob and Doris, Dick and I, Jim and Carolyn.  

We decided to get another picture of the guys.  Grandpa wasn't sure he felt like standing up, so his sons helped him out!

Then Jim's phone rang.  Grrr.  Someone said, "There's always one in every group."

That's the best we could do!

Dick and I left for home around 8:30 and were home before 11:00.  That was a lot of driving in one weekend, but we went to bed with hearts full of warm memories. 

Now we're ready for Baby Boy Stauffer to make his appearance any time.  Dick will be leaving early Thursday morning for several days in Florida!  Sophie's school is having its annual Grandparent's Day event on Friday.  I was there for that event three years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly.   I'm not going this year for obvious reasons, but I'm really glad that Dick can go.  I just would love if the baby would come before he leaves, but we shall see!!