A cold week in March

 

It seems to take so long for Spring to arrive in these parts.  Each year March and April, even May can be so fickle.  We get a tease of warm weather and then go back to winter again.  This past week I was thankful for these beauties inside the house.

Last Tuesday after I picked Elizer up from preschool we went to Get Air.  That seems to be the day of the week that has worked best for me.  When we got there we had the place pretty much to ourselves, and he just bounced all over the place.  Each time we take him there I am so thankful we got the membership.  It has been so worth it!  I'm sure that after they move to Reading next week he will still come here from time to time, and we'll be sure to take him to Get Air.

On Wednesday I made Caribbean Burgers for Anthony and Lori and took them over to their place after I picked Elizer up from preschool.  That evening we had our last Lenten service at church, with the soup and bread meal before the service.  Destiny and her mom came to eat with us and then took Elizer home with them.  

We had choir practice afterward, and then I also practiced with my flute player after that.  A LONG evening.  I'm glad those midweek services will be over and we'll go back to our Thursday choir practices.  

I found out early Thursday morning that there would be no preschool due to staff illness and shortage.  I went over to Destiny's a bit later to get Elizer so they could begin packing.  He took an earlier than usual nap.  After he woke up we went to Abba Java, a free coffee shop that St. Paul UMC and the Wesleyan Foundation have - just across the parking lot from Elizer's preschool.  Pastor Lynn (our former pastor, my dear friend) volunteers there on Thursdays, and I have been meaning to stop in to see her for months!  It's a really nice, quiet place, lots of students studying at tables.  They were offering soup, bread, and cupcakes that day.  And of course coffee.  What a great ministry!  It was so nice to catch up with Lynn!  Of course Elizer made sure I didn't have too much time to sit and chat.  

It was such a sunny evening that Elizer was determined we had to go to a park.  But it was FREEZING!!  So we bundled him up in his snowsuit, which had to include his snow boots, he thought!  And he and Dick went down to the playground behind our house.  He climbed the tower higher than ever before.  Dick took this video of him coming down. 

He took a long bath after dinner, and then we took him home.  They had gotten a LOT of packing done that day and had both of their cars packed to the hilt.  They were going to be going to Reading the next day for appointments. 

On Friday, after I took Elizer to school I got the ingredients I needed for a new recipe - Chik fil A Tortilla Soup.   Lori had asked me to make it, and she gave me the links to several copycat recipes.  I had to decide which one to use, and we were both very pleased with the one I chose.  It was so scrumptious!!!  

Elizer's preschool closed at 1:00 that day due to staff shortage.  After his nap I took Lori's soup to Dick at work so he could take it over to them after he got off.  I took Elizer to Rural King to see the baby chicks and ducklings.  I learned something new!

An employee was taking baby duckings out of a box and putting them into the warming, feeding containers below.  He let Elizer pet one of them, and he said that it was probably just a day old.  Later I was thinking, "That means it was still in an egg yesterday.  Where did it come from?  How did it get here?"  I saw a big poster advertising Hoover Hatchery in Iowa.  So I asked another employee at the check out, and sure enough! They do come from that hatchery in Iowa and come to State College, PA overnight by truck!!  Incredible!

We took Elizer home that evening after Destiny and her mom got home from Reading.  They had brought Destiny's sister Jada with them.  She has a week off school for Spring Break. 

On Saturday morning Dick took Elizer and Jada to our church's Easter egg hunt. (I wasn't feeling very well - headache and cold symptoms I was valiantly trying to ward off.)  It was held at the township building, and it was cold and rainy, so it was held indoors.  But they still had a great time.  

Later in the afternoon I got to watch Sophie's 100 meter dash at her first collegiate outdoor track meet.  I was watching the meet on my phone and suddenly realized I wouldn't be able to video her race.  So I checked if Dick had let his iPad here, and he had, so I quickly opened its camera and just in time was able to video the race!  It was so fun to watch her run like that again!

I went for a few groceries later, and on my way home I realized it was already 7 pm.  It didn't seem that late!  These longer evenings can be deceiving!  I love it!

On Sunday morning we left early enough to go over to Destiny's place to get Elizer and Jada before church.   It was a good Palm Sunday service.

The kids came here for the afternoon.  Jada and I had fun going through my "Frank" and "Destiny" picture files in my file cabinet.  She wondered if I had a "Jada" file.  Yes! On my computer!  She got out her phone and took pictures of my pictures.  Here are some.

 While Elizer napped Jada wanted to play Scrabble with me - her first time ever.  It was a long, slow game and she got bored with it, so we stopped.  

However, later Destiny and her mom came, and Destiny wanted to play, so Jada was willing to give it another try.  We had a lot of fun, but I didn't get any picture of that game.

Then they left for Reading again, Destiny's car packed full except for leaving room for three people.  Elizer was sad to not be able to go along, so Dick took him to Get Air.  That gave me a chance to get all my song prep finished for Good Friday service and Easter morning service. 

Yesterday (Monday) I made chicken and broccoli stir fry and took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's place after I picked Elizer up from school.   For whatever reason, my lower back was killing me when I woke up that morning!  I hadn't had pain like that in my lower back since 2017.  So I spent time with the heat pad and ice pack several times throughout the day.   And of course several applications of IcyHot Max and Diclofenac cream.  And Tylenol.  

Elizer wanted to go somewhere fun after school, but I wasn't feeling up for it.  So he settled for using dry erase markers, and he drew a tornado, lol!

Dick and I were eating "chow chow" with our chicken corn noodle soup.  He wanted a carrot.  Of course the whole chow chow mixture is pickled.  He exclaimed, "It's a carrot pickle!" 

Naturally I'm feeling lots of conflicting things these days.  I have told very few people that Destiny and Elizer are moving so far away (2 1/2 to 3 hours).  I just don't feel like talking about it.   Next Monday, April 1st is to be moving day. 

From Winter to Spring to Winter again

 I've got a little bit of time to update here.  Going back to last Monday, March 11.  Dick had been struggling with the beginnings of a cold the day before, and when he woke up Monday he was not feeling well at all.  I think he probably had a fever.  So he called in sick and stayed home to sleep.  He felt better by evening, thank goodness.

I took Elizer to preschool and then had a dentist appointment to get a permanent crown put on the tooth that needed work previously.  

Elizer was here that evening and overnight.  It was fun to have him here after they had been away for a week.  These were our attempts at "sober selfies" haha!

On Tuesday I made some scrumptious taco soup.  After picking Elizer up from preschool I took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's, then I took Elizer to Get Air.  Again a REALLY FUN time.  I just crack up watching him enter the dodge ball area.  Bigger people look at him and obviously think they need to be careful around such a little one.  Then he walks right up to one of them and hits them with the ball and runs away.  They soon find out they don't need to careful around him.  He's there for it all!

We finally got some Spring weather on Wednesday.  After I pick Elizer up from preschool we went to the Benner Township Park at the entrance to our community.  It was absolutely glorious to be outside in the sun!!

We had our Lenten service that evening after our soup and bread supper.  Choir practice followed.  We took Elizer along because Destiny had to leave that afternoon for appointments in Reading. 

On Thursday I had a lot of errands after I dropped Elizer off at preschool.  When I got home I started meal prep, but had to drop everything to go pick up Elizer shortly after his lunchtime due to aggressive behavior toward a few of the other kids.  So disappointing after the good three days he had had.  He fell asleep on the way home and took a short nap on the couch.  I got the rest of the meal finished - a Hello Fresh recipe.  Creamy Lemon Ricotta Ravioli with spinach and Italian sausage.   Really delicious!

I loaded Elizer's new Christmas bike into the van, took some of the dinner over to Anthony and Lori's, then went to nearby "airport park."  Dick came there too on his way home from work.  The weather was fantastic!!  Elizer had so much fun riding his bike.  It was the first time he'd had a chance to really ride it.

On Friday morning I got a message that Elizer's preschool teacher was sick, so no school that day.   So he was my boy for the day.  Destiny was still in Reading.  I did our laundry and packed Elizer's clothes for a weekend with Alex.  

When he woke up from his nap we did several puzzles.  When I tried to get a picture of him he was being so silly.  Does every kid go through a phase where they feel the need to make crazy faces or stick out their tongue when getting a picture taken?

I had a phone call that afternoon from Destiny.  She said that she and her mom and Elizer will be moving to Reading at the end of the month.  They had already found a place to rent.  She would like to go to the American Barber and Beauty School to become a licensed esthetician.  I had a feeling this was coming, but I felt a bit numb.  

In the evening we went to a retirement party at church for our friends Cindy and Dale.  It was a really fun time.  

We of course had to take Elizer along, but everyone at church loves him so much, it was ok.

Our pastor and his wife had their great granddaughter along, so the two kids had fun together.  Here my friend Gloria was having fun with them. 

We left the party by 8:00 and drove to Duncannon to meet Alex and his dad.  Elizer was so happy to be going with them for the weekend. 

On Saturday Lori and Anthony had a bowling party for Hunter's birthday.  It had been planned for the prior Saturday, but had to be postponed due to Lori's dad's funeral.  There were 16 kids there for the party.  The party personnel at the bowling alley do a fantastic job of hosting.  It was a great time.

On Sunday after church we drove to Manheim.  First we went to see our grandson Bjorn and his sweet family.  Charlie is a little dynamo!!  So petite, but so quick and tricky and lively!  We had such a good time with them, catching up and seeing Charlie in action.  

They will soon be a family of four!  Jess is due the end of April, and it's another boy!  Charlie looks a lot like Jess's family, but they are sure the next boy will look like Bjorn.  Supposedly he already looks like him on the ultrasound, haha!

From their place we went to Pleasant View Communities to visit Grandma Arlene.  We spent about an hour with her, then Dick pushed her on the wheelchair to go to another area of the community to visit his Aunt Doris.  We hadn't seen her in several years, so we were glad to hear she had moved to Pleasant View also.  We had a really nice visit. 

We met Alex and his dad to get Elizer and made the trip back home.  We took him to Destiny's and he was glad to see his mommy.

Yesterday was so cold and windy again.  What a tease that warm weather of last week was!  

I made a pot of Ginger Sweet Potato Lentil Stew for Anthony and Lori.  Later in the afternoon Destiny said she would be coming to our place in the evening.  I know she loves that stew, so I ended up making another pot of it.  

She wanted to play Scrabble, so Dick played with Elizer and gave him his bath while she and I played.  And she beat me!!  First time ever.  It was a really nice evening together. 

I didn't even take a picture of Elizer, but here's one taken at preschool yesterday. 

And two more the teacher posted today.

And now I'm caught up till next time!

Cold weekend; Home-going service

   

Yesterday was the "home going" service for Lori's dad.  It was WONDERFUL!!  There were so many friends and family there from far and near - Baltimore, Rochester, NYC, Georgia, Great Britain, Jamaica!  

It was held at Unity Church of Jesus Christ here in State College - the church where Lori and Anthony met. 

I led a few familiar old hymns.

Hunter read a verse from Isaiah.  I wish I had taken a video.

There was a wonderful message by Unity's pastor, then tributes from many family members and friends were read. 

Then there was a medley of favorite Jamaican hymns.  Here's one of them.

As they sang, the casket was rolled out of the sanctuary, followed by family.  Dick took this video.  I love it so much!

Then came the miserable part - going to the cemetery.  It was cold, raining hard, and windy!  And so many people came for that!  You can see the long line of cars, and this is not nearly all of them!

Not everyone could fit under the tent.  

I was so thankful to go back to the church in the warm fellowship hall.  There was the most scrumptious BBQ meal, thanks to Anthony and Lori, I'm sure.  Brisket, chicken, mac and cheese, baked beans, even mashed potatoes, corn bread.  Then a table of desserts.  Also tables of appetizers and drinks.  I wish I had taken more pictures, but I pretty much sat with Austin and Hunter to keep them company so Lori and Anthony could be free to mingle with the guests.

Today was just downright COLD!!  And windy.  And lots of snow flurries.  It feels like I just can't warm up.  So much for the joy of later daylight today, haha!  But I think we'll be having some beautiful weather this week.  So eager for that!

Destiny and her mom and Elizer are on their way home today from Indianapolis.  I hate that it's so windy.  

Here are some cute pictures Destiny sent me one day this week when they went to a children's museum.

Can't wait to kiss that face!

A birthday and a funeral

 Today was Hunter's 8th birthday.  What a joyful day that was eight years ago!!

This year his birthday is in the midst of his Grandpa Byron's funeral activities.  But like the sweet boy he is, he's taking it all in stride.  We were going to be having a bowling party for him tomorrow, but instead his grandpa's funeral will be held.  We'll go roller skating next Saturday instead. 

This evening we had a little birthday cake party for him.  Lori couldn't even be there because she was busy getting out-of-town family situated in their hotel rooms.  But we had fun anyway.

Lori's dining room is becoming a greenhouse!!  I love it!

So many giggles!

We passed this beautifully decorated house on our way to Anthony and Lori's this evening. 

Here is Lori's dad's obituary.  All of Lori's siblings are now in town.  I met most of them at Lori and Anthony's wedding in 2003, and I'm eager to meet them all again.

Different kind of week here

 I'm having a most unusual week!  It is Spring Break here, both Penn State and State College Area School District have off all week.  Elizer's preschool follows the State College's calendar, so he has off all week too.  Destiny and Elizer and her mom are away visiting friends in Indianapolis, so I've been trying to catch up on things.

Monday was a beautiful day.  But I was stuck at the computer trying to catch up on my blogging.  I posted a few new ones and also went back to ones in which I had posted just pictures and I added my "stories" to them.  Occasionally I would go outside just to breathe in the Spring.  

We had a gorgeous sunset that evening.  

I got this picture from Destiny that evening.  It was still 70 degrees and daylight at 6:50 pm! 

I did cook for Anthony and Lori on Tuesday - meatballs and sauce for meatball sandwiches.  

On Wednesday I did some choir prep and practice.  We had our soup and bread supper at church, followed by our Lenten service and then choir practice.  Pastor Jim played Nicodemus and told us his story with the lights dimmed.  It was really meaningful.

Today I spent HOURS making sweet and sour chicken and refried rice.  That is definitely my most time consuming meal and it makes SO MANY dirty pots and pans.  But it is SOOOOO delicious!!  I'll be leaving soon to take some of it over to Anthony and Lori's place.

I'm doing our laundry too today.

Gotta run!

Heading into March

 If you missed my previous post about Joseph, I hope you'll go back and read it.  

On Monday, February 26 I still had the day to myself because Elizer's preschool was closed and he was not coming back from Alex's place until later in the day.  

I made shepherd's pie and took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's.  I had a really hard time shaking the sadness I felt over Joseph's death.  In the evening Destiny and Elizer came and stayed for a while.  That was so nice.  They had fun together and I loved having them here.  

Meanwhile the ladies at church were having a paint and sip night.  I just wasn't in the mood for it, and besides I knew that Destiny and Elizer would probably be stopping in.  They had a huge turnout of ladies and so much fun.  

On Tuesday morning, February 27 I took Elizer to his semi-annual WIC appointment before I took him to preschool.  He had gained 2 1/2 pounds and grew 1 1/2 inches!  We knew his size 3 clothes have been getting short and snug!

I worked on some music and laundry, then picked him up from preschool at the NORMAL TIME!!   His teacher said he had had a great day.  Hallelujah!!!  First time in a whole week!  I decided to take him to Get Air after school.  We made this video for Destiny.  He's so comical!

He had such a great time at Get Air again.  It cracks me up when he goes into the dodge ball area and the older kids act like they have to be careful about this little guy.  Then he starts in on them and they discover he has no fear and he has no idea he's small, haha!!  

I took him home to Destiny afterward, then came home and updated the choir books.

On Wednesday I made an Asian stir fry and took it to Anthony and Lori after I picked Elizer up.  In the evening we had our soup and bread supper at church.  Destiny and her mom came and ate with us.  That was fun.  Some people thought her mom was Destiny's sister.  They took Elizer home with them after the meal, and Dick and I stayed for the Lenten service and then choir practice afterward.  

On Thursday I did our laundry and had a hair appointment.  Elizer's school closed at 1:00 that day.  When I picked him up we walked across the street to the Way Fruit Farm store.  I got some yellow delicious apples, Dick's favorite, and saw that they sold Gene Wenger's ham loaf, also a favorite of Dick's.  So that's what I made for our dinner that evening along with baked yams.  Even Elizer liked the ham loaf.  

Here's a sweet picture I took at Destiny's place when we took Elizer home. 

On Friday I made Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Salad and also folded our laundry.  While I was doing that and watching Call the Midwife I got a message from Anthony asking for prayer for Lori.  Lori's dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital during the night and was unresponsive.  They said he had a massive brain hemorrhage and if they operated he would most likely be in a vegetative state the rest of his life.  Lori was at peace to let him go, but other family members urged her to have them do the surgery.  I immediately began praying that he would pass away before Lori had to make any decision.  And about 20 minutes later Anthony texted that he had passed.  Lori said it was very peaceful.  He was 90 years old.

Dick left right from work for the hunting cabin about an hour-and-a-half away.  He was spending the night and the next day with his brothers. 

After I took food to Lori and Anthony's place I came home and got some things done.  Then Elizer came here to spend the night with me.

On Saturday morning I woke up and realized I had slept a full 8 hours!!  That is rare indeed.  I usually cannot sleep more than 7 hours even if I have the opportunity to do so.  

Elizer and I had a nice laid-back morning.  He loves watching Dora the Explorer on YouTube. He also loves to clean the toys out of this cupboard and "hide" in it.

I filled up the tub and he took a long bubble bath with the jets on - some of the time.  He didn't mind when I turned them off.  He said they pushed him around, haha!  

I decided to go to the mall with him later in the morning.  He said "Spiderman is ready!"

This time they had a big potted plant in the middle of the stage at the mall.  It's usually empty up there.

We were glad that the fish store was still open, and we spent quite a while there. 

And again we sat and pretended to play this game.  It's free when you do it that way!

And again, the backpack leash worked great.  He walked so nicely with me, and we had such great conversations about lots of things as we walked.

He fell asleep on the way home and took a nap on the couch for about two hours.

Destiny came to pick him up and was taking him to Get Air.  Her brother, his wife and little boy were visiting from Lancaster.  Anthony brought Hunter to our place, and I took him to Get Air too.  

Hunter loves to shoot baskets.

And of course Elizer was having fun playing dodgeball with the big kids.

Destiny and I thought the boys looked so cute afterward as we walked to the car.  Her sister-in-law is on the right. 

Hunter stayed overnight at our place.  Dick was home from the cabin when we got there.

On Sunday morning they showed us on the screen this picture of the new sanctuary.  We are SO EAGER to move!!  But we are awaiting the occupancy permit as it goes through all the channels.

I was excited to see crocuses in bloom when we got home from church!! Yea Spring!!!

And inside, my cactus has decided to bloom again.  Not at Valentines like last year, but in March.  I love it.

After lunch we played Scrabble with Hunter.  

It was a pretty slow game and he managed to stick with us for about 3/4 of the game.  Then we let him off the hook and we took his turn for him.  I WON!!

After a while Hunter came over with this doll on which he had put a pair of Mr. Potato Head glasses, and he cracked up.  "This is my mom!!"  I cracked up too!

After a while we left on some errands and eventually met Lori to give Hunter back to her.  It was good to have a chance to chat with her about her dad's passing and about how her mom is handling it.  Pray for Lori when she comes to your mind.  She has been carrying so much, and it's not over.