Now I will try to catch up our activities in the past week. It's a good thing I take pictures. Otherwise I would probably have already forgotten, haha! I want to first of all show you how this beautiful planter from the choir has opened up. It is so beautiful and cheery sitting on my kitchen table.
Wednesday, December 20
I had the most delightful lunch last Wednesday with Karlee and Hannah Hawryluk. They were former students of mine at Manheim Christian, but so much more! I was good friends with their grandma for years, their mom was Destiny's babysitter when she lived with us, we went to Grace Community Fellowship together, Karlee was in my drama club and worship team at Manheim Christian. Our lives were connected on so many levels. Karlee was coming to State College that day to buy her boyfriend's Christmas gift, and her sister Hannah was along for the ride so they could have a sister day. We met for lunch at Sowers Harvest Cafe and had the most fantastic hour-and-a-half of catching up. We laughed, we talked, we connected so easily, it was like we've never been apart.
Karlee actually got engaged on Christmas day. I guess he really liked that gift she got for him, LOL!
Friday, December 22
On Friday morning Dick and I left the house in two vehicles at 6:45 AM, went to his shop where we parked the pickup truck, then headed out into the boonies in my minivan to pick up our finished and frozen venison. We were driving along and I suddenly noticed the E light was on! At first I panicked. I said, "Wouldn't that be the most ridiculous thing if we ran out of gas when we're together and and can't even rescue each other??" Thankfully we passed through a small town that had a Sheetz gas station! We've been enjoying our "free" meat!
Hunter's daycare was closed that day, so I kept him part of the day. He is SO easy and fun. I probably say that every time, because it's so true.
Saturday was a low key day of catching up and planning ahead.
Sunday, December 24
On Sunday, Christmas Eve day, we went to our regular 9 AM service at GBRV. Afterward we went over to Anthony and Lori's to give our gifts to the boys. Lori and the boys were leaving for her parents in New York after lunch.
Our gift for Austin was very tiny, but it was what he wanted. A 2003 First Edition collectable Hotwheels Bugatti Veyron, which I found on Amazon.
We gave Hunter these Grippies. They are magnetic and he was having fun with them.
Anthony surprised Lori with an Apple watch!
She surprised me with these beautiful wine glasses that she painted!
We had two more church services that day - a Christmas Eve service at Houserville at 5:30 PM and another one at GBRV at 9 PM. I didn't think anyone would come to one so late, but sure enough, some did!
I was ready to give my fingers a complete break after that last service! I felt pretty much tired of playing piano and of every Christmas carol by that time! I got this cool pic of our Christmas tree that night before I hit the sack. It made me think of O Holy Night. (I guess I wasn't sick of that one yet, LOL!)
Monday, December 25 - Christmas!
Our family fondu will not be held until this coming Saturday, so when I found out that Destiny had two days off work and no one else had plans for her, we agreed that FINALLY she was going to come to our house. She had not been here since Thanksgiving a year ago!!
There had been a little snow overnight, but that didn't scare Dick. But it DID scare me when we got into snow and wind a few times. I was having flashbacks of the whiteout a few years ago.
But before long we got beyond it and there was no snow at all when we got to Destiny's aunt's place near Reading at 11 AM. The main thing was wind as we drove back home, but Dick didn't seem to mind that either. I was just so happy to be taking Destiny home with us, even if for a very short time.
We got home mid-afternoon. Destiny got right into her "grandma's house" mode, and put on a Little Mermaid movie while she got busy with Legos!
Some of her very intricate creations.
In the evening we went to the movies to laugh our way through Pitch Perfect 3 - and eat popcorn, of course.
When we got home I invited her to "tea." This tiny set is one she bought with her saved allowance when she was probably only six years old. It holds so many precious memories for us.
We drank tea and ate a pomegranate.
Tuesday, December 26
Tuesday morning and ready for another favorite tradition together - thrift shopping.
I photobombed her snap chat pic!
We cracked up when we noticed ourselves in the camera above the self checkout at Walmart.
When we got home with all our bargains we got busy making cookies. For the first time ever we decided to make sand tarts to decorate.
We both decorated, but she did the majority of them. The longer we worked at it the more creative and ridiculous we became, haha!
We called these two Grandpa and Grandma!
I went to bed soon after 9 PM that night, because Destiny and I were having a VERY early start in the morning.
Wednesday, December 27
We were loaded up and in the van by 5:30 AM! She had an 8:45 AM appointment at the Lancaster Courthouse for something that occurred in May and there was no way I was going to get her there late. Bless her heart, she talked non-stop for the first hour-and-a-half - about school, about work, about life. I love it anytime when she shares with me, but at that hour of the morning when it's still dark and I'm sleepy, it was especially wonderful.
We got to the courthouse early. They have a rule there that no cell phones are allowed, so we locked everything in the van in a nearby parking garage and took nothing with us but her papers and my keys. Of course, as always, it was a hurry up and wait situation. So as we sat waiting and waiting and waiting, so bored without our phones and nothing to read, I said, "Let's play the alphabet game!" We completely cracked ourselves up as we got ALL THE WAY THROUGH the alphabet just sitting there!!! There was a bathroom sign, a list of rules posted, the words "Juvenile Court" and best of all - a fire extinguisher with all its instructions. The word "squeeze" gave us both our q and z, and the word "juvenile" gave us our j and v. We were so proud of ourselves. Not sure what everyone else sitting there sullenly waiting thought of all our enthusiasm and giggles, but we didn't care.
I was proud of how maturely and politely she handled the very short hearing procedure, always addressing the judge "Your Honor."
When we left there we headed toward Reading and decided to eat lunch in the Berkshire Mall food court - of course Chinese. She's a pro with chopsticks!
From there we went to Frank and Lauren's for some gift exchanging. They had gifts for Destiny and I had gifts for the other kids. Frank was taking a very rare sick day, so he was home. J'von was there too as well as Lauren's daughter Nicayla. What a great chance to see everyone at one time! Here are some great pictures from our afternoon there.
Alaya loves her brother!
Nicayla and Destiny are like two peas in a pod.
We gave Jada this Hearts for Hearts doll named Consuela. I told her I picked it because I thought it looked like her.
We gave Alaya this Baby Stella. It came with a little carrier bed, a bottle, a paci, and a book. The mouth is magnetic and the bottle and paci stick to the mouth!
We said our goodbyes then. Destiny had to work at 4:00. She works at a nursing home very near to her aunt's house. They love her there, especially her work ethic and dependability.
And I made an uneventful trip home, stopping for a few groceries first. That was a long day and I was really glad to be home.
I sent this picture to Destiny later in the evening. I told her I was eating my bikini lady and felt like a canibal, LOL!! That cracked her up!
And now I'm trying again to catch up and get ready for the next big weekend. We'll be leaving tomorrow evening for the weekend. Our family fondue will be at Sam and Jenn's on Saturday. Our Stauffer gathering with Dick's family will be Sunday afternoon. So lots of food to buy and prepare. Gotta run!
