Palm Sunday weekend; remembering Marlene Martin

I have so many great pictures to share as well as lots of things I want to write about, but since nobody pays me to do it......  Anyway.....

First off, we have FLOWERS!!  I remember that last year the very first color in front of our house was a potted flower given to me for Easter by Sam and Jenn.  But this year the daffodils and crocuses have beat Easter, an early Easter at that!

But we did have a bit of winter and blustery clouds for a few days.

We had a great time on Friday getting to see many long time friends at our friend John Nissley's funeral.  I really, really do want to write a separate post of memories of our times with John and Elaine, so that's all I'll write for this time.

When we left the funeral on Friday afternoon we went to Sam and Jenn's place to take naps (we had left home shortly after 6 AM, and if you know me, you know I got up long before that!)  Jenn was away at National Guard drill for the weekend, so we had the fun of going to Sammy and Bianca's daycare/preschool to pick them up around 4:30.  Sammy was so proud to show us his classroom and some of the things he had made.  It's a really great place.

It would be a while till Sam would get home from work, so we took the kids to McDonalds and had a great time.

One of these times this little lady will come along to our place for the weekend.  She's getting more and more comfortable with us and is so delightfully funny.

Speaking of funny......

It was probably 7:30 by the time we left on the two-hour trip home, which meant no time for playing that evening.  Sammy had fallen asleep during the last half hour of the trip anyway, so he was ready for bed.

In the morning he could hardly wait till it was time to go to the Easter Egg Hunt/Roller Skating Party which was hosted by our church as well as the local township.  Anthony dropped Austin off too.  Here they are with the bags provided to put their Easter eggs into.

The candy-filled eggs were strewn all over the skating rink floor, and the children were instructed by age, gender, alphabet, etc to go out and get the eggs.  Here comes Sammy to show me his.

And here comes Austin.

Checking out their loot!  Enough candy to last a year, haha!  Or at least until Halloween.

Then the skating began.  Sammy had the greatest time going around the rink with one of the walkers they provide for beginners.

Austin thinks he's too old to use one of the walkers, although he really could have used one.  He was disappointed that the games were turned off for this event.  No amount of quarters was enough to get them going.  But never mind, he put his "Stauffer resourcefulness" into action, and decided that we could play air hockey by batting half of an Easter egg back and forth.  Every time it hit the center thing at the other end of the table we scored a point.  Other children would come along and be surprised at first that we could use the air hockey table.  Then I'd hear them mutter, "They're using an Easter egg."  "Why are they using an Easter egg?"   I just smiled to myself and was proud of Austin for thinking up something like this on his own.  We were having fun.

When that was over we went to our house for a while.  I helped the boys to put together a floor puzzle of the United States.  When we had it accomplished I wanted a picture of it.  Silly boys were happy to oblige!

More puzzles.

Then Spring Creek Park. Brrr.

Austin was ready to go home, so we went there.  I was eager to see Hunter, but he had just fallen asleep after fighting it for a while, so I didn't disturb him.

Unfortunately, Sammy had an unfortunate encounter with their hard wood floor.  He was carrying a game toy, hurrying toward me in his stocking feet to show it to me, and completely wiped out.  I think the toy landed on top of his hand and his face landed on top of the toy.  One of his pinkies and his one cheek instantly started swelling up and turning blue.  Ice packs to the rescue.  Lots of tears.  A bandaid on his pinkie, even though there was no open cut, worked miracles, haha!

There was a lot of work being accomplished in Anthony's barn last week.  So he took us out to see it. Three big windows have been installed on the third floor.  It's going to be an awesome place for him to do all his video editing.

Back at home I was sitting here at the computer, and Sammy was at the piano.  He wondered if he could write on my music.  Of course I wasn't too thrilled about that, but I did find scrap papers that had music on one side of them and told him he could write on those.  It was just the cutest thing.  He would play something on the piano, then he'd write on the paper.  Later he presented me with the music he had written!  Great things ahead for this guy!!

In the evening we decided to go to a local church that was hosting the excellent choir from Lincoln University.  A friend in my exercise class goes there and had invited me.  We sat with her, and I was sure Sammy would be enthralled since he loves music so much.  But, in fact, he did not.  These singers are TOP NOTCH vocalists, some of their songs were in eight-part harmony, and they were LOUD in a sanctuary with great acoustics.   Too loud for Sammy.  Besides, I'm sure he was tired after our big day.  So we left soon after intermission and made an important trip to the grocery store.

On Sunday morning we went to both of our churches and Sammy got his tank filled up with our music both places.  It was Palm Sunday, and he was thrilled to be able to wave a palm branch at Fillmore.  

In the afternoon he and Dick spent a long time with the Legos.  I was listening as I worked in the kitchen and was constantly amused by Sammy's imagination.  I think Dick dozed off a few times however, haha!

Later in the afternoon we met Jenn at Lewistown, just 45 minutes from here.  She recently received a National Guard promotion and is now a drill sergeant at the Lewistown post one weekend per month.   I might have the details a bit wrong, but I know it's a high honor and responsibility.   We gave Sammy back to her and said our goodbyes - just until this weekend when they are coming for Easter weekend.  

Unbelievably, on Monday I had to make a trip to Lancaster County for another memorial service.  My cousin Earl's wife, Marlene Martin, age 60, passed away last week after a very short battle with colon cancer.  I had all four of their children as students at Manheim Christian, and there was no way I was going to miss going.  My heart aches for them all so very, very much.  Nine young grandchildren!  

Here are pictures that their daughter Audrey shared on Facebook.  Earl and Marlene last fall, I think.  

And a few weeks ago at Hospice - Earl and Marlene with their youngest daughter Audrey and her daughter Marissa.  

Marlene was so full of life and fun and leaves a huge void in every place she touched.  

It's going to be a warm, beautiful day.  I'll be going to Anthony and Lori's later and can hardy wait to see that baby.  It's been a WEEK since I've held him!!   Anthony shared the CUTEST video of him last week, and I'll try sharing the link here, but I'm not sure if it will work.  I hope it does.  I think I've watched it a hundred times!

https://www.facebook.com/TexasBluesAlley/videos/10153456266593994/