A Wonderful December weekend

'Tis the Saturday before Christmas!  Can you believe it?  But before I look ahead I need to look back and share all the fun we had last weekend.

Saturday, December 14
On Saturday afternoon Sam and the kids arrived.  I was busy cooking because I didn't want to have to cook for the rest of the weekend.  I was making cream of tomato soup to go with the grilled cheese sandwiches we would have for dinner that evening.  I was also making sloppy joe meat for a quick Sunday lunch.  And for the potluck we would be having at GBRV Sunday evening, I was making Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Salad.  

I could hardly wait to show them the guest room so Bianca could see that I had taken care of her "kids" like I had said I would when they left two weeks ago!  Before I knew it they had stacked those "kids" at the head end of the bed and called me back to the room to see it.  How fun is this??

Sammy immediately showed me all the new books he had brought along.  That boy!!  His head is filled with facts and trivia!  At one point I told him he is like a walking encyclopedia.  He wondered what that was!  So I changed it to, "You're a walking Google search!"  

I pulled out the beadwork that was still here from Destiny's younger days.  Bianca found a new passion!  She had trouble putting the string through the tiny beads, but she loved choosing the design of each bracelet and pulling the string out the top when I would put it up through the bottom of the bead.  

Another fun thing we did was make Christmas decorations for Sam's apartment (bottom right picture above.)   Dick cut many, many green and red strips out of the colored computer paper we had.  My plan was to make chains.  But Bianca had an even better idea - stars!  So she and Sam made a star chain while I made the regular chain.  

After dinner we had the best time of all - making cookies.  Bianca thought unwrapping the Hershey Kisses was so much fun.  She unwrapped the entire bagful - way more than we needed for the cookies.  Don't even ask how many she may have eaten in the process, haha!!  Sammy helped me mix the batter.  They both helped to roll the dough balls in the sugar and later to press the Hershey kisses into the freshly baked cookies right out of the oven.

There was time for making one more necklace and then a bubble bath, complete with some of Bianca's "kids."  I was one tired grandma when the kitchen was all cleaned up.  And THEN I remembered that I still had two hems to do for the things Dick and I would be wearing on Sunday.  UGH!!!  So I did not have an 11 PM bedtime as I had hoped for.  But I knew I would have plenty of adrenalin to go on the next day!

Sunday, December 15

On Sunday morning Dick and I went to our service at GBRV without the kids.  I didn't want them to get "churched out" with all that we would be doing yet that day.  I took this picture of the beautiful way they display all the donated poinsettias.

Sam and the kids went with us to Calvary's service.  For some reason the kids don't choose to go to the children's ministry anymore, but would rather sit with their dad.  If they have something to draw on, such as the back of the bulletin or the little post-it note pads that I keep in my purse, they are fine. After the service we got our official Christmas pictures in front of the beautiful tree in the lobby.

Then we went home for some sloppy joes and a little bit of down time.  My cantata at GBRV was at 4:00, but I wanted to get there early, so Dick and I left at 3:00.  The choir gathered to pray before hand, and they gave me a card with a very nice monetary gift that brought me to tears.  I love these people so much.  They are a truly caring community for us.  

Here they are, ready to go!

The place was not as full as it was last year.  It's hard to get people out for services other than Sunday mornings.  I remember when I would have the musicals at Grace Community Fellowship there used to be standing room only!  But the people I cared about the most were there - Anthony, Lori, and the boys and Sam and the kids.  Anthony took videos of each song.  I will do a separate post after this one with all the videos.  

Afterward there was a potluck supper.  Our family had fun together at the back table.  So much good food and so many amazing desserts!!!  My favorite was the strawberry pretzel crust dessert.  I gotta get that recipe. 

Hunter has become obsessed with the songs from the new Lion King movie.  Here's a really silly video of him doing some of the singing and talking in "Hakuna Matata" with some prompting from Lori.  He is just the cutest!  Austin, however, did not think he did a good job, as you can hear later in the video!  

Monday, December 16

There was a chance of snow in the forecast, so Sam decided to stay over for another day.  It wasn't a big snow however.  I laughed when I saw it the next morning - snow on the road but not the grass??  I always order it the other way around, hahaha!

We had another fun day.  Bianca just couldn't get enough of making bracelets.  Sammy loves my new super vibrating heating pad.  He put head phones on to listen to music on his tablet and said he felt like he was in heaven, hahaha!!   

They left for home in the afternoon and I've had a very quiet house all week.  

The rest of the week

On Wednesday we had more snow, but it still did not amount to much.  However, there were bands of heavy snow with wind from time to time that actually created white-out conditions.  There was a huge pile-up of trucks and cars on Route 80 north of us.  

That evening Dick installed my Christmas gift from him - a new tall kitchen sink faucet!  Ours was coming loose and could no longer be tightened.  I love this thing!!  The sprayer is right on the faucet and retracts all by itself after I use it.  And there is a dish soap dispenser right beside it!  Bring on the big pots and pans!!

On Thursday I had the most fun lunch at my friend Peg's lovely home.  She used to teach exercise classes, and she invited all of us who were in those classes.  I had not seen some of these ladies in months!!! We had so much catching up to do that sometimes we were all talking at the same time.  There were often several conversations going on simultaneously and I wanted to hear them all!  Such a dilemma!  The food was all so delicious and everything was beautiful.   Just a wonderful, heartwarming occasion.

As always, my Christmas shopping waits until my music programs are over.  So finally on Thursday afternoon and Friday I did that.  With lots of texting and picture taking as I shopped, I got the job mostly done.  Now the wrapping will be Dick's job.  He has always been our gift wrapper.  Much better at it than I am!

Well, that's all for this post.  As I said, I will do another post with all the videos from the cantata.

An evening with the boys, Essence 2 concert, visiting Dad Stauffers, Christmas beauty

Another weekend is here and I haven't even written about last weekend!  

Last Friday evening was GBRV's monthly spaghetti supper, and as we often do, we took Austin and Hunter with us.  There was also a cookie sale, so in addition to the regular cake dessert that goes with the spaghetti meal, we of course had to buy some of those delicious cookies.  SO MUCH SUGAR!  If only it gave me as much energy as it gives those boys, haha!  We brought them here afterward until Lori came for them.  That marble roller just never gets old.  There are so many different ways to put it together.

On Saturday I worked on the Christmas tree and other decorations.  I love the peaceful feeling that the tree seems to bring.  

At 4:00 on Saturday there was a concert at a church in downtown State College that I was NOT going to miss.  Essence 2 Choir, Essence of Joy Alumni Singers, and The Capital Area Music Association (from Harrisburg) together presented the musical Born to Die.  Oh. My. Goodness!!!  I truly could hardly contain all my emotions.  The music was beyond spectacular, the message of the songs was SO powerful, the narrators were dramatic and effective.  My only regret was that I was not sitting next to anyone I knew.  I really didn't want to grab the hand of the man next to me when I was deeply moved, hahaha!!

On Sunday Dick and I left after our service at GBRV and headed toward Lancaster County.  We wanted to visit his parents in their new apartment.  However, Dick wanted to make a stop on the way there.  He had left his beloved water thermos at the hunting cabin the other Monday and he wanted to pick it up.  The cabin is in Juniata County, and only about 15 minutes off the main highway that we travel.  I had not been to the cabin for over ten years!  His brothers Jim and Fred own it.  Here are some pictures I took.

Unfortunately he could not find his thermos, so we left without it.  Big disappointment.  Later he was able to get in touch with his brother Jim who said he had put it in the shed, since he wasn't sure if Dick had a key for the cabin.  So on our way home that evening we stopped again and that time he found it!

As I mentioned in one of my Thanksgiving weekend posts, the day after Thanksgiving was moving day for Dad Stauffer and Arlene.  Dick helped, as did his brothers and other family members.  They moved to an apartment at Pleasant View Retirement Community near Manheim.  I was very eager to see it. And also to find out how they are handling the changes.  I thought it was so cute that they both were wearing paisley that day!  They had gone to their home church that morning.  Arlene still drives. 

Here's a view of the exterior of the enormous complex.  Also their little kitchen, their bedroom, and Dick and Dad sitting in those familiar chairs.  Their living room felt very much like the one at their house in the woods.

Here's the view from their windows.

When I asked Arlene how she's feeling about everything, she said, "Well my answer is different today than it would have been three days ago." So many new things!  While we were there I helped her to figure out some of the controls on her stove and overhead microwave.  Dick helped her to determine what all the many light switches were for.   I think they will really like it there.  It's a beautiful place with many people they know and so many activities to participate in.  

Our next stop was at Sam's apartment in Duncannon.  I had made chili on Saturday evening that we brought along.  I heated that and put all the fixin's in an assembly line on the counter.  I guess I was busy, because the only picture I took was this one.  

After everything was cleaned up we said our goodbyes and headed toward home, stopping again at the hunting cabin on our way.  I think we were home by 8:30.  Not bad at all.

On Monday morning I worked at getting things cleaned up from my Christmas decorating.  When I was finished I put one of my favorite Christmas CDs on and took the little video.

I haven't taken any pictures this week.  I've been busy with all the normal things - choosing the songs for Sunday morning, prepping the musician notebooks, cooking for Anthony and Lori's family, helping with picking up the boys, grocery shopping, Wednesday Advent service, choir practice on Thursday evening. 

And speaking of the choir, this is the big week for us.  We've been working on the cantata Messiah Heaven's Glory since September.  On Sunday at 4:00 we will present it, and we'll have a potluck supper afterward.  There are 21 of us altogether.  This cantata has a nice variety of songs - familiar carols, a bit of Handel's Messiah, and some contemporary praise and worship favorites, Chris Tomlin's He Shall Reign Forevermore and Ben Fielding's What a Beautiful Name.  I appreciate the choir so much.  They are really committed to the choir and are a great support to each other and to me. 

Well, that's all for this time.  Have a great weekend!

Our Thanksgiving Saturday and Sunday

Okay, here goes one more post about our Thanksgiving weekend!  Because I always like to have a pretty picture at the top, I'm sharing this collage from Lisa.  Over her Thanksgiving break from school she decorated TWO HUNDRED shells that they have collected while out on their boat!  She said at one point that she decided doing lesson plans was easier, haha!   But WOW!!!  Her creativity and eye for beauty and design are amazing!  Look at that gorgeous tree!  Also the ones in glass containers.  She did not get that giftedness from me for sure!

Now back to our Saturday.  Again we had a very laid back morning here, except for Dick and Sam.    Dick went to work until noon and then over to Anthony's place for the first day of rifle deer hunting season.  Sam also had to work a half day, and left very early for the hour-and-a-half drive to Duncannon.  

I made pancakes for breakfast.  Around noon we loaded into the van and went to Discovery Space.  I probably mentioned before that we have a grandparents' annual membership, and we can go as often as we want with our grandchildren.  I think I could walk in there with anybody's kids and they would believe they are my grandchildren, hahahaha!!  On Saturday I had Sammy and Bianca, Destiny and Alex with me, and they all got in for free as my grandchildren.  Then Lori arrived with her two boys and RJ.  They also have a family membership, but she was going to pay for RJ.  I said, "Well, actually, he is my grandchild too, so he can get in with my membership."  No problem!  He got in free too!  It's such a great place, and I saw a sign that said that the memberships and admission fees cover only 17% of their operating costs.  I want to make sure I give a donation to them.  

Here are our pictures from the couple of fun hours we spent there. 

When we left, RJ came with us (Ray was hunting at Anthony and Lori's).  I needed to do some grocery shopping when we left, but didn't want to take hungry children into a grocery store.  So we made a run through McDonalds drive-in for small milk shakes.  That did the trick.  We had fun at Weis Markets, especially because Alex humored the kids by using one of the scooter carts!  Destiny was a great help too.  She's so good with kids.  

Destiny wanted to get avocados, and as soon as we got home she made some scrumptious guacamole.  The perfect thing to feed hungry bellies while I made meatballs for subs for our dinner.  

Sam and Dick got back home.  Ray came to our place too after it got too dark to hunt.  He needed to work in the morning, and he wasn't feeling great because of a cold he was fighting, so he and RJ were soon on their way home to Lebanon.  We had another fun, lower-key evening of eating, Connect Four, and the puzzle.  

They finished the puzzle, but one piece was missing.  If you look closely you can see it on the far left.  That really bugged Destiny.  Early Sunday morning I took the time to look through a little basket in our game closet into which I put stray puzzle pieces when I find them on the floor.  I found it!!!

I was busy getting food ready for Dick to take along to the hunting cabin the next day.  I made fruit salad and also prepped all the fixin's to go with the chili Deb Stauffer would be sending with Fred.  

Sunday morning was dark and dreary with some freezing rain.  Sammy woke up to go to church with us at GBRV.  Any occasion to dress up!!  Bianca woke up grouchy and didn't want to go along, haha!  

We had our Hanging of the Greens service, which included the children.  In fact, Sammy got to light the tree!   A friend of our flute player donated an absolutely beautiful nativity set to our church, each piece carefully painted in typical colors of the times.  Some other time I'll get a closer picture of it.  

We did not go to Calvary's service because it was raw and rainy, and Dick was gathering up all his stuff to take to the hunting cabin.  The Stauffer brothers have a long tradition of going to this cabin (owned by Fred and Jim).  Back in the day they would leave Saturday and come home on Wednesday!  We wives and kids used to have a sleepover at my house.  Those were the days!  One time we ladies did not even go to bed!  We woke up still sitting in my family room, hahaha!  Now there are very few deer around that cabin, but they still go Sunday and Monday and have a fun time together.  Although, according to Dick, they were all coughing this year.  Ugh.  

Here at home I made BBQ hot dogs, fried potatoes, and veggies and dip for our lunch.  We had a fun lazy afternoon.  

Bianca called all her balloons "her kids."  She kept herding them from place to place throughout the house!

Destiny and Alex played with the LEGOs for a long time.  She said she made the same thing she makes each year.  

We also played LIFE and watched football.  Meanwhile it was getting dark and we were unaware of what the weather was doing outside.  Alas, it was snowing!  

So Sam and the kids left for Duncannon, and Destiny and Alex left for Columbia.   I was really, really relieved when I found out that they all had arrived safely home.  

I spent the evening cleaning up, doing some laundry, and catching up my neglected checkbook, haha!  It was really, really quiet around here, but it was okay.  I was really ready for my bed that night!

I will end this post with this amazing video.  For the second year in a row Anthony compiled a video of guitarists from all over the world, all jamming to the same track he had provided them.  It is beautiful and amazing on so many levels.  The Thanksgiving Ballad.  Enjoy!

Our Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday

Second blog post in one day!  Before I go back to Thanksgiving Day I want to show you the gorgeous views we had this morning!  

And now our Thanksgiving Day.  I had a lot of food prep to do, but few distractions, so I thoroughly enjoyed taking things at a nice even pace.  Bjorn and Jess were here, and we had the parade on TV.  Bjorn was studying most of the time.  When I was putting the cooked potatoes through my old food slicer I told him that it used to have a shield on top to keep me from slicing my fingers.  He told me to be careful.  I said, "Why?  You don't want to have my gourmet fingers in your gourmet potatoes?"  He quipped, "No, that's not how finger foods work!"  I love his humor!

Slowly, but surely, I got the stuffing made, the sweet potato casserole, the green bean casserole, the baked corn, the gourmet potatoes, the cranberry applesauce, and I put the previously roasted turkey meat into the slow cooker.  I had bought a big pumpkin pie at Sam's Club and Lori was making apple crisp.  Lori had gotten plenty of ice cream and drinks.

I forgot to mention in my previous post that Ray, Ashley, and RJ had arrived at Anthony and Lori's place late Wednesday evening.  They stayed in their airbnb apartment.   They wanted to do some target shooting Thursday afternoon, so Dick went over there to help get that set up, then came home around 3:00 to get showered and to help me load up all the food.  Bjorn and Jess had gone over to Anthony and Lori's earlier in the afternoon too.

I took this picture on the way over to their place.  This is University Drive, and I had just passed the Bryce Jordan Center.  I honestly don't think I have ever been the only car on the road here!  It felt almost eery!    

On our way over I heard from Destiny and Alex and also from Sam and the kids, who were on their way to Anthony and Lori's place also.  As it turned out, we all got there at about the very same time!

When I walked in I saw Austin engrossed in an intricate project.  I love when he works on things like that.  The tables had been set up, so I gave the Thanksgiving paper supplies to Jess and Destiny to set the table.  The guys were watching the Buffalo Bills game.

This was our crew.  Anthony had put his phone on the fireplace mantel and set the timer, then hurried to sit down.  Around the table, starting with Lori (bottom left), Hunter, Anthony, Dick, me, Ray, Destiny, Alex, Austin, RJ, Ashley, Jess, Bjorn, Sammy, Bianca, and Sam.  

After dinner the kids played in the basement playroom, coming upstairs from time to time with complaints about each other.  It sounded pretty wild and crazy down there most of the time.  

Ashley had to drive home yet that night (she and Ray had driven separately the evening before.)  She is the manager of an AT&T store and needed to open the store Friday morning.  

Eventually most of us headed back to our house.  There was great excitement here!  As Sam was driving in the main road to our community he hit a BEAR!!!  His car was not damaged thankfully, except for a plastic shield underneath which had come lose.  It was easily removable.   He and Dick went to see if they could find the bear anywhere, but no luck.    

Eventually I found places for everyone to sleep - the guest bed, an air mattress, a cot, and the couches.  

Early on Friday morning Dick left for Lancaster County.  It was moving day for his dad and Arlene.  They were moving from their beloved house in the woods to an apartment at Pleasant View Retirement Community near Manheim.  I hope we can soon get down to visit them there.  It was time for them to no longer have the responsibility of their own place, but change is very hard at their age.

Here at home we had a slow morning.  I made eggs, hash browns, and bacon for brunch.  We left around 11:30 AM to go see Frozen 2.  All but Bjorn.  He stayed home to study.  

On the way we were having a nice conversation in my van, when I was surprised to see flashing lights in my rear view mirror.  What?????  You guessed it!  I was pulled over for speeding - 43 in a 25.  Ugh!!!  Totally not thinking about my speed as we talked.  I told the officer where we were going.  Bless his heart, he said he would mail me the citation so we could get on our way.  He also said he would just cite me for going 5 MPH over the speed limit so I would not get points against my driver's license.  Bless him!!!  Maybe he'll forget to mail it!

We had a great time at the movies.  Ray and RJ, Lori and the boys met us there.  The most eventful thing was when Jess had to go to the restroom, and when she came back in she tripped on the steps and did a face plant.  I did not see it happen because I was in the middle of the row between kids, but apparently it was quite a sight because they all kept laughing about it afterward.  She was not injured, thankfully. 

We went back to our house afterward and gradually everyone ended up there.  Anthony, Lori, and the boys came too, and Dick got back from Manheim.  We had Thanksgiving leftovers and some pizza that Dick had brought home from the movers.  A 700-piece puzzle and Connect Four were the most popular activities.

They even had a Connect Four tournament!

The craziest part of the day was when Lori flushed out some of our ears.  I had been having serious issues recently and especially that day.  So I really wanted her to do mine.  Jess was first, then me, followed by Bjorn and Ray.  Oh, the eeeews and wows that ensued, hahaha!!  She got so much stuff out of my ears and it looked so gross.  Of course it had to be put on a paper towel and paraded around for all to see and gasp over.  What a hilarious time!!  

Almost as crazy was this game of Heads Up at the kitchen table later.  Oh were they LOUD!!

Later Anthony and Lori and the boys left for home, Ray and RJ went over to their place too,  and things quieted down a bit.  Sammy wanted me to teach him to sew, so I pulled out a piece of fabric and had him doing some basic stitching. Bianca and I started a pot holder with her weaving loom and she did some coloring.  

Bjorn and Jess needed to leave for home because of a deadline he was facing that had to be done in the lab at school.  So we said our goodbyes and thankfully I thought to get a picture of them before they left.  They are so much fun and I love them soooo much! 

I guess I will bring this post to a close and try to do another one tomorrow about our Saturday and Sunday.  

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

Time to catch up here!  There was absolutely no chance to do this on Friday or Saturday, my normal blogging days, so I will do two separate posts.  I know that most of my readers keep up with me on Facebook, so this may seem redundant, but as I've said before, my main purpose for keeping up this blog is for our family.  It is a diary of sorts.  

Going back to Sunday, November 22, we had a big surprise when we woke up that morning.  Our first snow!  Just a light snow, but it was so beautiful as I stepped out onto the porch.  

We went to our service at GBRV and then to Calvary.  Austin and Hunter wanted to come to our house afterward and were here for the afternoon, but somehow I did not take any pictures.  In the evening we met Anthony and Lori to hand them over, then we did a little bit of grocery shopping.  Dick mentioned several times that he didn't know why he felt so exhausted.  

On Monday morning he was very sick with no strength at all.  He could hardly get up from the bed, and later I had to help him get up from the couch.  He was very dizzy and slept most of the day.  As the day progressed his strength and balance came back, thankfully.  That was pretty scary!

On Tuesday morning he felt better, but his throat hurt and his glands were swollen.  So he went to our local urgent care facility to be sure it wasn't strep.  They ruled that out and said he apparently had a virus.  He went to work for the rest of the day and also Wednesday.  I'll get ahead of my story here to say that three days later he got a call that it was in fact strep!  So he was prescribed an antibiotic.  Unfortunately, he is now dealing with a terrible cough.  That's how colds do, move from place to annoying place.  I hope he can soon feel All Better.  Maybe we should have Hunter kiss him and put a bandaid on him, hahaha!

I had given our house a thorough cleaning on Saturday, so I didn't have that to do in preparation for our Thanksgiving guests.  But I did prepare some food ahead, and had beds to prepare.  On Tuesday evening I made the favorite cookies.  I think I made five dozen, but I should have made more.  They are such a hit.

On Wednesday I roasted the turkey, because I have never yet figured out how to roast the turkey on Thanksgiving day when I have so many other things needing the oven.  I like to get it done and out of the way.  This year I tried a dry brine of thyme, lemon zest, and kosher salt.  I had put that on the turkey on Monday and then covered it tightly with plastic wrap for two days.   It came out really beautiful and delicious.  I do wish I could time things so we could put a beautiful roasted turkey on our Thanksgiving table like you see in all the pictures.  But instead I cut it up, kept it in a big bowl in the fridge overnight, and then put in in my big slow cooker on Thursday.  

While I was roasting that I was also making fried rice and sweet and sour pork for Anthony and Lori's dinner.  Whew!  Till all that was done and everything was cleaned up I was almost sick of washing pots and pans before it was even Thanksgiving, haha!  

On Wednesday evening we had a Thanksgiving Eve service at GBRV.  The choir sang "Thank You, Lord."  I just love the lyrics in the verse.  "For all that You've done I will thank you, for all that You're going to do, for all that You've promised and all that You are is all that has carried me through, Jesus, I thank you."  We had time for sharing our thanksgivings at the service.  I think we all were most touched when our precious Gladys (in her nineties) shared some really powerful stories.  I love her so much!  She's had some skin cancer lesions removed from her scalp recently, thus the beanie.  So adorable!

We knew that Bjorn and Jess were on their way to our house and had told them how to get in if they arrived before we got home from church.  But we actually got here at the very same time!   How fun to have them here!!  We hadn't seen them since June!

I wanted to get a picture of them before going to bed.  Bjorn said, "No smiling.  This is engineering!" He has a very, very heavy credit load of high level engineering courses this semester.

Jess is finishing up her semester of student teaching and will graduate in December.  Bjorn will graduate in May.  There is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Two more pictures for this post.  There was an amazing sunrise one morning last week.

I think I made a decision last week about my hair.  I've been covering the gray ever since I was in my 40's, maybe even before that.  I'm not sure I can imagine the process of going gray/white, and I think some it will still be brown, which may look bad, but I'll let my hairdresser help me figure it out.  I used an app to see how I'd look with gray hair, but of course apps probably make it look better than real life.  I might even chicken out.  We shall see. 

Hopefully later today I can find the time to post all about our Thanksgiving weekend.