What I do

In case  you wonder what in the world I'm doing with myself when I don't post for days on end, it's probably something like this:

I sit here at my computer and piano, which are connected to each other, and prepare song sheets for each instrument and the vocalists on the praise team at Houserville.  I think it's fun.  Next Sunday we'll do Word of God, Speak, which is such a favorite of anyone who was in the Christmas musical I directed at Grace in 2005.  

I need to do the same thing for several other songs we'll be doing for the first time in the coming weeks.  These are my ratty, old copies from Grace.

So that's what I do, but it just isn't interesting to write about.  But let me say again,  I am SO THANKFUL to be busy with music again.  It is truly a joy to work with the team at Houserville.

This coming weekend will provide plenty of writing and photo material.  Friday evening we'll leave right from Dick's work to go to an 80th birthday party for Grandma Arlene.  Saturday we will attend a memorial service for Claire Wichterman, my sister Rose's mother-in-law, who sadly died from a heart attack on Saturday.  I'm happy to be getting to see Rose and her family from Georgia (they're traveling today), but it's for such a sad occasion.  Here's a sweet picture of Claire, taken at Bob and Rose's daughter Katie's wedding in May.

On Saturday evening we'll be going to Dick's parents' for a family gathering.  Sunday morning we'll get to finally attend church at Grace and even get a fellowship meal out of it.  Can't wait!  

Now, back to work. 

New Year's Eve 2011

We had another fun evening at the First Night celebration in State College.  Lori and Austin had just gotten back from her home in NYC, so it was great to be with them.  The first thing we did was go to a reader theatre where Destiny played the part of a gypsy girl.  They all, but especially the reader, did an excellent job. If you look closely, you can see Destiny on the left in front of the black stage curtain.

We then went to see the ice sculptures.  It was disappointing that there were not nearly as many as there used to be.  Another result of a poor economy, I suppose.   There were no reindeer either as there always had been other years.

They did still have the ice slide.  Anthony went down with Austin, but there was an increasingly big drop at the end of the slide, and Anthony found it out the hard way.  He said it felt like someone had smacked him on the behind with a baseball bat.   Hopefully they worked at smoothing that out before others were injured.

Austin's favorite thing was banging on this very loud gong.  I can't believe this is the only picture I have of him from the evening - his back.  Grrr.  

After Anthony, Lori, and Austin left to go home, we debated what we would do.  There were a number of events we could choose from.  I would have liked to hear the brass band, but Destiny thought that would be boring, so instead we went to a comedy juggling show.  Oh. My. Word.  It was EXCELLENT!!!  And hysterically funny.  I was just in stiches the whole time, either from their amazing talent, the crazy risks they took, or from the dad's wit and humor.  It was a dad, Michael Rosman from the Baltimore area, his daughter, and son.   Here they are, preparing to juggle those sticks, the dad on a unicycle, the daughter on an exercise ball, and the son on a board that was balanced on top of a cylinder. 

It was after 11:00 when that was over, so we headed for home to watch the ball drop in New York.  

This morning Dick went to Fillmore's service by himself so we could let Destiny sleep a bit longer.  Judy was back at the piano today, so that worked out great.  We went to Houserville, had a great service, followed by a scrumptious pork and sauerkraut meal.  

This afternoon we packed up Destiny's things and drove to the Harrisburg area.  Sam and Jenn were there at Jenn's parents' house.  They (Sam and Jenn) took Destiny the rest of the way home, since they live only about half an hour from Reading.  It saved us a lot of driving, and we were so thankful it worked out. We hung out at Jenn's home for a while and got to hold and play a little bit with Sammy.  But it was just a teaser.  After we left I felt like I just wanted to go back for more Sammy, haha!

This was a strange day, weather-wise.  This morning it was gorgeous, sunny, and mild.  This afternoon it rained.   As we left Harrisburg the sky looked confused.  Part of it was dark and cloudy, and part of it was bright orange and sunny. 

This evening, as I sit here at the computer, it sounds ferocious outside.  A lot of wind and rain.  I think we'll be getting some winter temps and maybe some white stuff this week. 

So two weeks ago I worked like a crazy woman to get ready for Christmas weekend, last week I had a marvelously laid back week, but now it's a new week and a new year.  I have plenty to do, and lots to be thankful for.

Welcome 2012!

Climbing the walls

Last evening we went to the Y expecting to have some fun in the pool.  When we arrived, however, we discovered the "rock climbing" that was taking place in one of the gyms.  I took one look at it and said to Destiny, "You are NOT doing that."  Then I noticed that all the kids were safely strapped and supervised, so off she went.  I don't care how safely strapped and supervised I would have been, I could not have tried something like that.  I have such a dreadful fear of heights.

They said she did great for someone who had never done it before.

Dick and Destiny took a quick splash in the pool afterward, but I think it seemed a bit boring after the rock climbing.

A nice, slow week

Not much happening around here.  I'm trying to catch up with the mountain of laundry that seemed to grow earlier in the week.  I had my regular music practices and piano lessons.  I tried to write up a Stauffer update newsletter and will put together another one of my "family portraits" as soon as I get some pictures from Sweden.  Yes, I do realize that normal people do those things before Christmas, but I have never professed to be normal.  

Destiny is here this week.  I think she would sleep all day and be up all night if I left her to her natural inclinations.  When I do succeed in rousting her out of bed around 10:00 in the mornings, she likes to stay in the footed sleeper I gave her for Christmas and play her computer games for a while and drink some tea.

One evening we put together and decorated a gingerbread house. 

We tried to play the game Clue that Thyda gave her for Christmas, but we had no clue how to play it, so we gave up.  We played Life instead.  Now Life is something we understand!  I ended up with a carful of kids.  How real is that??  

On Wednesday Destiny and I made a trip to Lewistown (about 45 minutes away) to pick up Anthony from the train station.  He and Lori and Austin left on Christmas morning for NYC (her parents).  I think Lori and Austin will be returning today.  It feels like forever since I've seen them. 

This evening Dick will take Destiny to the YMCA so she can go swimming.  And tomorrow evening we'll have our traditional New Years Eve in downtown State College - ice sculptures, kettle corn, reindeer, shows.  We love it all.  I figured out that this will be our fifth year there.  We started coming up here for New Years Eve before we ever moved up here.  Here's a cute pic of Destiny the first year.

We got just enough snow last evening to cover the grass, stay off the roads, and make things pretty outside.  That's my kind of snow!

Good pictures, good memories, good relationships

It's a cold, dreary, rainy day, Dick has gone back to work, Sam, Jenn, Sammy and Ray and Thyda have all left, Anthony, Lori, and Austin are in NYC with her folks, and Destiny and I are feeling about as lazy as can possibly be today.  So I'll post a whole bunch of pics from the last few days, and most of them will be of Sammy!  I'll start off with a little video of Sammy and me "bonding" on Sunday evening.  I just love the way he makes focused eye contact and "communicates".

We had a lot of fun reminiscing about the teen years with these two guys.

Sam and Jenn looking good.  Two awesome parents.

Getting practice.

Destiny harvests some of her oregano and basil for Thyda's pasta sauce.

Our dessert bar!

Sammy loves bath time!

On Monday Leo was our buddy in the kitchen as Dick and I got stuff ready for fondue.

Fondue 2011.  Still delicious, still fun!

Sammy LOVES music and was so fascinated with Destiny's violin.

Monday evening Ray and Thyda left to spend another night with her parents in Lancaster.  Sam and Jenn went out, and we babysat Sammy.  What a blessedly happy, content little guy he is!  I had the most wonderful time talking and singing with him.  Then he fell asleep in Grandpa's arms.

And this morning they left for home.  I'm so thankful for good pictures, good memories, and good relationships.