Glad to have my hubby back home

Well, I got my hubby back this evening and I'm glad. My hat is off to you women who live alone, and I mean that sincerely. I had to keep the TV on each night when I went to sleep to make sure I couldn't hear any funny noises. Both nights I woke up at some point and turned it off and was able to go right back to sleep, thank goodness.

On Monday morning, as Dick drove to State College, the trees were glistening with ice. Here are some pictures he snapped. They'll look better if you click on them.

One of his projects for Anthony was reinforcing the stairway to the basement. I think Lori took this picture standing at the top of the stairs (I see her feet!) The top stair was removed, apparently, and you could see Dick underneath.

This evening we went to a 50th birthday party for our friend Kati from church. Kati's a Texan, but she's been living here in Lancaster County, PA for a number of years, and I'm so glad. She's tons of fun and has an awesome voice. Here she is with her youngest son Richard.

The deep, deep freeze is supposed to be coming to us these next two days. I was just remembering that in the late 1990's or early 2000's we had such cold weather that a state of emergency was declared and schools were closed for two days. Does anyone else remember that? I'm thinking Lisa was home, which means it would have had to have been 1998, the year between her college graduation and wedding.

Ice skating memories; a new blog

Ummm. I'm sitting here eating some homemade vegetable soup that I made after school today. I'm sorry to brag, but I make some mighty good vegetable soup. It's just the perfect food for a cold winter evening. The worst is yet to come, they are saying.

It reminds me of the last time I ever went ice skating. Let me preface that by saying that Dick and I grew up ice skating on farm ponds. In my teen years our family lived almost right next to the big White Oak dam, a very popular ice skating venue in those days. During cold snaps we would be skating almost every evening, freezing our hands and feet, then coming home to basins of water to thaw them out and hot chocolate to drink.

So of course Dick and I introduced our children to ice skating at a young age. One year we missed the chance to go, because our schedule was full when the ice was hard, and suddenly warm weather arrived and the ice was gone. Dick could hardly stand it. He and his brothers were die-hard ice hockey players and it was unheard of to go a whole winter without ice skating. So the next winter we were NOT going to miss our chance. A prolonged cold snap came and one evening he declared that we had to go skating, because we were not going to miss it this year.

So we went. The kids were probably 3, 6, and 9 years of age. Jeremy didn't have skates yet, but he loved running around on the ice in his boots. Anthony tried to get some action in the ice hockey game. Lisa and I skated around the periphery of the farm pond with the other non hockey players, but it was just unbearably cold. This particular farm had a shed with a heater in it for people to change in and out of their skates. But even that heater did nothing against the bitter cold. Finally we just couldn't stand another minute of it. I told Dick that Lisa and I and Jeremy were going to the van to get warm and we would wait there till he and Anthony were finished playing. Jeremy screamed and cried, because he did not want to go to the van, but I obviously couldn't leave a 3-year-old in the care of a hockey player.

So up through the meadow we went to the van. I turned it on to get some heat. But oh my. I had had cold hands and feet many times before, but this was the worst ever. The pain as they warmed up was so unbearable, Lisa and I were both crying. Eventually (not nearly soon enough) Dick and Anthony came to the van and we went home. As we walked into the house we checked the thermometer on the porch post. It was FOUR DEGREES!!!

I am convinced I got frostbite that night. To this day my index finger turns white and numb whenever my hands get cold. I have most certainly never had any desire to go ice skating since then. And now you know why Lisa has no desire to live in PA! But at least we didn't miss ice skating that year!! We'll never let Dick live that down!

Anthony just cracks me up. He created a new website yesterday. Please go here first and then go to the new website from there.

Solitude

I'm having some major solitude. Dick went up to Anthony and Lori's for a few days to do some small projects for them. I had a productive day at school, staff meeting afterward, and then to the gym. This evening I worked on a song on the computer for Middle School Chorus and at the same time watched "24" for the first time. And now my eyes are struggling to stay open, so goodnight.

Uneventful weekend

Nothing too exciting this weekend. I didn't even take any pictures all weekend long. Destiny was here, as usual, and we took her back home this evening. Actually the most fun thing was posting the announcement of my niece's baby and getting all your reactions! Some of you obviously expect that I'll be posting updates of Lori's labor. I doubt it. I cannot access my blog from school, so you'll just have to wait till he arrives to find out!! I can't access my home email from school either, and it just occurred to me last week to make sure Anthony has my school email address, because I WANT A PICTURE ASAP!! Of course, he could just send it to my phone. I didn't have a camera phone back when Sophie was born. Oh, I do love technology! Actually, Lori just reminded me that their baby might not look that different from Jill's at first. Apparently dark skinned babies are actually pink when they're first born. Oh, the suspense of waiting for this little guy is killing me! (Not really.)

We're heading into a week which, the weather man says, will be marked by how cold it is. Oh, I can hardly wait. (Again, not really!)

Baby boy arrived

You say he doesn't look quite like you thought he might? Ha, ha, ha!! That's because...




...he's not Anthony and Lori's baby. He belongs to my niece Jill and her husband Travis out in Idaho! Little Jarrett was born to them early this morning.

Here's my sister Barb, proud grandma for the first time,

and proud grandpa John. Barb and John should feel quite at home with him. He looks just like their babies did.

Bet I got your attention when you read my blog title, didn't I??!!

Exciting new things

Today I introduced the new musical for the Spring program to my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who will be performing it. They LOVED it! It's called Survivor Babylon by Dave Noel and Jay Rouse, the same guys who wrote the one we did last year about David and Goliath. It's going to be an absolute blast.

I also met with my new worship team for the first time today - thirteen 7th and 8th graders. We had a really sweet time together. I put a lot of effort into helping them to understand and experience God as One who is absolutely crazy about them and whom they can trust. I also work hard at helping them to become a true "team" by putting aside slander and criticism against each other, so they can trust one another. I just feel warm fuzzies when I think about our time together today. I really love these kids.

After school I had to go to Reading to pick up Destiny by myself, because Dick was working at Advance Auto Parts this evening. I'm afraid I've become very spoiled by his availability to do things with and for me! But being alone did provide me with the chance to listen to some music and soak in some encouragement. One song I hadn't listened to for a while was particularly meaningful to me today. Here are the lyrics:

All I Have
Tim Dobbelmann, Gabriel and Nate Brennan

What have I in this life
But the love in Your eyes?
This empty world will one day fade;
Only Your truth will remain.

Jesus, all I have is You,
You're the hope I'm holding to.
I might weep, but still my faith
Rests in You.
As the heavens hold the skies,
It's your hand that holds my life,
And Your love will lead me on
When all else is gone.

What IS going on around here?

I'm going to do a post now while I have internet access. We've been having issues with it today. Apparently our battery backup surge protector thing died, or something, because when Dick got home this afternoon our whole computer set-up was off - computer, monitor, cable modem, wireless router. So he reconnected everything to a power strip instead of a the battery backup, but there was no internet service. He went through all the regular hoops, but ended up needing to call our cable company for help. So we were back online, except the wireless router messed everything up, so we had to bypass it. But just a while ago, I saw the cable modem had shut off. So I had to turn it back on and restart the computer again. Good grief! What is going on around here?


That IS the question we're asking. As you know, last week the transmission on my car went out, and Dick had to replace it on Friday. Then on Monday we discovered that the reason we and our neighbors have been having trouble with low water pressure is because our connection to the community water had a leak under our sun room. Dick had to spend hours on Monday replacing pipes and valves. Unbelievably, last Thursday on our way home from State College the transmission of our Explorer started acting up. It's still drivable, but Dick took it to a transmission place today to have it checked, and yes indeed, it needs to be replaced. We just had it replaced 3 1/2 years ago at a place that has been getting unsatisfactory reviews since then. Oh joy, oh delight. I really don't want to sound pathetic, but this is beginning to feel like getting kicked while you're down.

And yet, I really do not want to look at any of this as though there were no God. He has been proving Himself strong on our behalf over and over again, and I'm sure He will continue to do so. At the same time, I want to be tuned in to Him and be able to see whatever it is He's trying to show us in all this.

On a lighter note, I laughed out loud this morning as I watched the Today Show (for the 15 minutes it's on before I have to leave the house). Anne Curry was reading the news, including the story about the man who, in his divorce settlement, wants back the kidney he donated to his wife or a million-and-a-half dollars, since that's what the kidney is worth. After she read that the other Today Show hosts commented on how sad that was. Then Meredith Vierra, with her typical dry humor, said, "Well, she took his heart, so I guess he wants her kidney." That just cracked me up.

Check your prescription labels

Yesterday on the way home from school I stopped at the pharmacy drive-up window to pick up a prescription that I knew they had ready for me. As usual, after the girl got my med out of the bin, she asked me to confirm my address, which I did. I signed my name by the sticker and paid.

Imagine my surprise when I later got the pill bottle out of the bag and saw the name of a medication I have never heard of before. As I continued to examine the label I noticed that the address wasn't the same as mine, not even the same town. And the name was not the same either! The first name was Jeanne (I spell mine Jean) and the last name started with Sta, but it was not Stauffer. Wow, what's the point of confirming one's address?? Of course I called to tell them what had happened. This evening I took the medication back. They were ready for me! The money I had paid for it was in a labeled ziplock bag! And my correct medication was ready. Believe me, I made sure it was mine!!

Isn't this the coolest picture? If only Reagan could have been in it too.

Little painter!

So does anyone need a cute painter for your walls? Here's one in Florida that could probably do the job!

Looks like that new house is becoming theirs, doesn't it? Definitely one of Lisa's favorite colors!

It's been good to be back in school again. When we are preparing for a program it's easy to get tired of the songs we're practicing so often. But now, with the Spring program five months away, we can sing just for the fun of it. However, I am planning ahead. I ordered the music today that we'll need to learn for the Jr. High Choral Festival in May. I also searched the internet for a fun children's musical. It will be hard to top the one we did last year about David and Goliath. The middle school also picked their clubs today, and eleven kids chose the Worship Team. That will be smaller than I've had for the past few years, but sometimes that is better. It's easier to do choreography with a smaller group.

I am returning to the Daniel diet again. I also went to the gym yesterday for the first time since Christmas. Man, I felt muscles I had forgotten I had today. I was hoping to go after school today again, but we got freezing rain, and as you all know by now, I'm a complete chicken about driving on ice.

We de-Christmased our house this evening. I guess that means the holidays are officially over now.

I need some good news

Sick bodies, wandering hearts, broken laws, teetering relationships, broken down cars, leaking water pipes, horrendous parenting, separation and loneliness, financial need, despair....

It seems like I know too many of the above situations. I need some good news. Come on, Lori, have that baby. That would cheer me up!! Lisa has exciting news too. No, she's not pregnant (not that I know of, anyway!!) They just bought the "awesome-est" house. Go on over to her blog and check it out.

Back to discipline

Well, my Christmas break is over. We'll be taking Destiny home this evening and tomorrow it's back to school and back to DISCIPLINE over my lazy, self-indulgent body once again. In the two weeks before my Christmas program, with the thought of having that spotlight shining on my behind, I was successful in losing nine pounds by eating according to the Daniel diet. I felt so good. But then came the holidays, and you know what happened, right? The never-ending battle.

Two pretty girls

Lately Destiny has been having trouble seeing the chalkboard at school, so yesterday I took her to see an eye doctor. They were able to prepare her glasses in just a few hours. Oh, the excitement! She could hardly contain the giggles. The lady who fitted her said, "You are the happiest about getting glasses of anyone I've ever had!" Here she is sitting across from the lady, trying hard to hold in her excitement!

When we walked out of the building she looked far across the parking lot at another building and said, "Look! It says 'Diner' over there." All the way home she kept looking around at the scenery in amazement. Now, lest you think her eyes have become very near-sighted already, her prescription is only -.75 compared to my -10.5!! So hers are not bad at all, but the glasses do make a difference.

This morning I got this cute picture from Thyda. She was in a parade somewhere in the world yesterday. She has a million dollar smile, doesn't she? We're on the countdown now. Her deployment is more than half over! Yea!!

Our New Year's Eve trip to State College

Wednesday morning I was so excited to be getting ready for our New Year's Eve trip to State College. We had such good memories from last year.

The road trip to State College is a beautiful drive, even in the winter.

We arrived at Anthony and Lori's house around 3:15 in the afternoon. There was plenty of time to just hang out and talk as Lori's food cooked. She showed me all the adorable baby boy clothes that her good friend (who had a baby boy seven years ago) gave her. Look at all this adorable stuff!!

From time to time Lori or Anthony would check on the progress of the food they were cooking.

Uh-oh! Anthony's taste-testing the crab legs!

Lori gave Destiny a button-making machine for Christmas, so that kept her occupied while we carried on adult converstions.

Eventually the food was ready and GOOD! Oxtail soup, crab legs, chicken, and rice and beans.

Then it was time to bundle up in layer upon layer of warm clothes for our trip to downtown State College where the New Year's Eve festivities were taking place. The first place we entered was a park that was lit up almost like daylight. The smell of popcorn filled the air.



There was a pen with reindeer in it. Their rack of horns were HUGE. We hoped they would not start fighting each other!

There were several barrels with fires burning in them. I think they were for the purpose of burning papers that listed your 2008 regrets, or something like that, but the fires were very popular for people to cozy up to.

Once again there was the ice slide that Destiny waited in a long line for.

There would have been carriage rides to go on, but we were freezing as we walked, and could not imagine how much colder it would be on a carriage.

Thankfully the municipal building was open for people to come into and warm up.

Ice Sculptures

Next we headed out to see the big ice sculptures. The street looked so beautiful.

The eagle.

The Nitanny Lion.

The Conestoga Wagon.

Does anyone know these Eskimos?

Destiny couldn't wait to find the ice throne.

Riding her Harley!

The United States capital.

Feeding the bear.

Making a wish.

We ended the night by going to Perkins for pie and hot chocolate, (my camera batteries were dead) then coming home to watch the ball drop in NYC, followed by cell phone calls to the rest of the family.

We had a relaxing morning of just lazing around the house.

Eventually we went to the Waffle House for a very late breakfast. Our conversations this weekend were almost always about babies for some reason!! Three weeks till D-Day, but who knows? Could be any day now. How will I ever focus on school with that baby only two hours away?

We got home at 5:30 this evening, just on time for Dick to watch the sad Penn State game. Tomorrow he hits that big transmission job on my car.