Wednesday night was a really short one for me - late to bed and very early to rise. So much to get organized and packed! But we got everything loaded into our van and were on the road by 8:30 am Thursday. It was a REALLY sunny morning. I was glad for my big sunglasses!
The Susquehanna River had a lot of ice because of the extreme cold we had had the previous weekend. There's our Pennsylvania Statue of Liberty!
Our first destination was Grace Community Fellowship, our home church in Manheim - about a two-and-a-half hour drive. That is where we would be having our family fondue the next day. We carried all our things into the church, and put food in the fridge. I took pictures of everything to make sure we would know how to put things back in place after our event.
Then we drove to Grantham Brethren in Christ Church about 45 minutes away. We were really early and took time to nap in our van.
My brother-in-law Elvin's memorial service started at 2:00. From the time we walked in the door it was one person after the next that we had not seen in years!
(In case anyone is reading this without having seen my previous posts about Elvin's illness and death, Elvin is my brother-in-law. He married my oldest sister Janet, so he has been part of our family even longer than my youngest sister Rose, haha!! They had dated a few years and got married when Rose was just a year old. Elvin and Janet had two children, Lori and Scott. Janet died unexpectedly in her sleep in 2004 - the worst shock of my life!! In 2007 Elvin married their good friend Pauline, also a widow. In 2014 daughter Lori died after a long battle with colon cancer. That too was a really, really sad time.)
The service was WONDERFUL!!! Elvin was a really good man, and it was so inspiring to hear of his far-reaching impact in so many areas of his life. This is the picture of Elvin with his obituary. Don't you love the twinkle in his eyes?
His son Scott shared his tribute first, and it was SO touching, and of course funny sometimes. Many others shared tributes as well, including granddaughter Sydney. Scott's wife Sheri sang a gorgeous duet "It Is Well with My Soul" with her brother's wife.
After the service there was plenty of time to gather and talk in the church's social hall. It was WONDERFUL to be able to catch up with so many people I had not seen in years! Elvin's younger brother Timothy, who lives in Georgia, is pictured in the photo on the right. I didn't get pictures of Elvin's sisters Lois and Jane.
Some of you may remember when Elvin and Janet's daughter Lori passed away in 2014 after a long fight against colon cancer. My sister Mary Ellen and I went to her funeral in Michigan. Below are Lori's two children, Jared and Sydney. It was SO good to see them again and to meet Sydney's new husband. Sorry I didn't get a picture of him. In the lower picture is Scott, Sheri, and their three sons. Janet had prayed and prayed for Scott and Sheri to have children, but she never got to meet them. Elvin and Pauline have lived half the year with them in California for the past eight years, so they were very involved in those boys' lives. They will miss him terribly!
Below is the only picture I got of Pauline that day. God bless her, she looked so tired, but was so gracious. What an amazing woman she is, and so much like Janet! Her beautiful tribute to Elvin was read by one of her friends.
On the right is Scott with my brother's son Steve. Scott lives in California, Steve in Texas. Thirty-some years ago these cousins were roommates at Messiah College!! They have not seen each other in years. But Steve and his family were in PA with his mother Nancy over Christmas. Of course Scott was in PA for his dad's memorial service, so they really enjoyed being together and catching up just a bit. Two cousins who have now both lost their dads. It was so fun to see them together.
Later there was a meal for family members, so we had even more time to be together and also get a bit more acquainted with Pauline's children and grandchildren. But I didn't take any pictures. I was SO sleepy after my short night and long day. We went to my sister Mary Ellen's place for the night, and we turned in earlier than usual.
On Friday morning we went to Grace Community Fellowship to get set up for our fondue. Frank and girls got there earlier than the others, and he cut the beef into cubes. Destiny and Elizer soon arrived too.
Then Sam and his girlfriend Steph and Sammy and Bianca arrived. And Bjorn and Jess and Charlie. And J'von and his girlfriend Leslie. Frank's girlfriend Lisa was there for a short while, but I didn't get a picture of her. Mary Ellen joined us too. I thought maybe Ray and Leiana would be able to come, but they didn't. Anthony, Lori, and family did not come. Lori's sister was visiting last week from Atlanta, and the ice kept them from being able to spend time with Lori's parents. So they needed to take advantage of the warm weather to be with them.
We had an assembly line of foods to be fried.
We had three pots of oil for frying and lots of condiments distributed on the long table.
Frank took this picture of his food after it was fried! Beef, lil smokies, chicken nuggets, potato crowns, pierogies, breaded mozzarella cheese sticks.
The great thing about doing it at Grace Community Fellowship is that there are rooms for the kids to play in right next to the table where we eat, so when they got tired of being at the table they could play, but were never far away.
They had fun playing school in this room. One time Sammy was being the history teacher and was telling them about President Kennedy!
The room with the piano was a big favorite! When it was too loud we could close the door.
Best of all was the mild, sunny weather!! In the fifties!! What a wonderful contrast from the sub-zero temps we were having just a week prior! They have such a great play set outside that provided a lot of fun. Mary Ellen had also brought her big frisbees along. Of course Elizer had to try out the basket ball hoop.
Here's a slow-motion video of Sammy pushing Elizer on the swing!
And how about this little Charming Charlie???? His smile and blue eyes just melted everyone's hearts!!
Pictures of Franks' family members: J'von and Destiny, J'von and his girlfriend Leslie, J'von and Jada, J'von and Jada with Elizer trying to escape, V'anni and Alaya, Jada.
It was a great day for taking pictures outside. Here's Sam with his girlfriend Steph and Sammy and Bianca.
Frank with his children and grandson - Jada, V'anni, Alaya, Destiny and Elizer, J'von and his girlfriend.
Bjorn, Jess, and Charlie.
The grandparents!
Bjorn and family had already left before we took the group photo.
I'm painfully aware of how many marriages and relationships have not survived the years. I have grieved them all. But I purpose to make each new person feel welcomed into our very diverse family.
Mary Ellen was a wonderful help to me!! I'm so glad she joined us.
Last of all was gift time. I had wrapped money for each grandchild in a box, accompanied with a personalized Christmas card for each.
There were gifts for us as well.
Frank gave Elizer a hooded sweatshirt and sneakers that he loved!
It took a long time to get everything cleaned up and back in place, but everyone helped. I never really felt exhausted like I have sometimes. It helps to wear good shoes!
Before hitting the road for home Dick and I made sure to drive through the Manheim Square to see the lights. We have very nostalgic feelings about them. For as long as we can remember these lights have draped the square so beautifully!
After we came home we carted everything into the house, put it all away, and cleaned up all those nasty fondue pots. Bed felt good, and it was nice to have no reason to set the alarm for Saturday morning.
Saturday was a stay-at-home-and-catch-up day for me. It was raining, so we did not go to the First Night activities in downtown State College. Dick went to bed at 11:00, but I made it to midnight!
Look what Lori gave me for Christmas! An adorable coffee bar sign that she MADE!!
Meanwhile in Portland, granddaughter Natasha passed her written driver's permit exam, and they celebrated!! Isn't she looking so cute??
After church yesterday we had brunch with some friends from church. We join them about once a month and I always forget to take a picture. We have lots of fun.
After we got home I put a pork shoulder in the oven and took a nap. Later I added a bag of sauerkraut and cooked some potatoes for mashing. Pastor Lynn came over for dinner and pronounced my pork and sauerkraut and mashed potatoes even better than her mother's, which was almost sacrilege!! But I must say, I think it was the best I've ever made. I remembered to take this picture before I had completely cleaned my plateful.
And that's all for this time! Happy New Year!!
