Aug.4-11-2008

Just for my own record. No one else has to read this. I don't want to forget this wonderful week. I went back up to Pa. with Susan. Here is our schedule.

Aug.4-Drove to Diane's and spent the night in her glorious house. Swam in her inground pool. Ate her chocolate chip cookies and "whole food" dinner. Talked and talked and caught up and laughed and cried.
Aug.5-Diane took me to meet my niece Kelly and her baby, Noah James at Cracker Barrel. I fell in love. He is adorable and would just watch me as if memorizing my face. What a great belly laugh he has. It was so good to catch up with Kelly too. I cried when I had to give him back.
Spent 2 hours with Kelly and drove to Morgantown and went toBB's grocery store outlet and then to Bev's and had a wonderful talking about heaven. It is our favorite subject and somehow we always get on it. Went to mom and dad's to settle in for the week. Sis-in-law Anne's house broken into that day. DVD player and her DVD's stolen.
Aug.6-Went to Reuzit with Mom, Susan, and Bradley. Debra had put clothes back for me and I hit the jackpot. Went to Hartzes and back home for lunch. Met Naomi around 2:00 up at Hopewell. Went to Lowes and Shady Maple. Had a grreat time with her at her house. Smoked pork chops, salad, corn and watermelon for supper. Walked and talked. Picked up where we left out without a hiccup. Came home to a small fire in the backyard. Janelle and Micah here. Roasted marshmellows. Susan slept out in tent with her cousins. Helen's sister Kim, in trouble after surgery. Nicked her aorta as they put scope in. Too much internal bleeding to do surgery. She needed 8 units of blood. She pulled through, thankfully.
Aug.7- Met Rosalee at Goods Store to copy Mother's poetry book. Went to Mother's and then out to eat Chinese then back to Mother's. Susan napped on her sofa while Mother laid on her bed and Rosalee and I laid on the floor and we talked and laughed. One of my highlights this week. Talked with Alan on the phone. Cleaned up the pavilion at Garden Spot and got it ready for mother's party tomorrow. Went back to farm and to Ron and Nancy's for a beautiful supper in eve. Went fishing. Ron said he got 6 deer in archery season this year. We had fish, hot dogs, mac. salad, cucumber salad, tomatoes, cabbage slaw, beets, homemade bread, ice cream, pie, and brownies for supper. Such fine folks and such good friends to mom and dad. Their grandson Carter was there for 'detective' week. Nancy is so creative.
Aug. 8-Was eating lunch and Phil and the boys came. Such a surprize! We went over to Mother's to get flowers ready. David and Margaret, Abie and Karen, Kyler and Abby, Rosalee and Jim, Annika and Abie were all there plus mother's court family. There are such nice people surrounding mother at this home. Mother had a catered meal of sloppy jo, rolls, cabbage slaw, baked beans, melon and ice cream. We got to meet her smart, beautiful, and kind, kind friends. I asked Mother what her highlight was and she said that it was Abie's prayer. He had me sniffing. Phil and boys left shortly after 6:00 and got home at midnight. I went back to mother's with susan and we talked about the party. Rosalee there too. Stopped in to see Katrina at Shady Maple gift shop on way home.
Aug.9-Met Audrey at Connestoga Menn. Church parking lot at 8:45. Went to Mary's for brunch. Such a sweet time of fellowship. Picked up where we left off and promised to keep in touch better. Stopped at Reuzit and BB's again on way back to farm. Discovered cooties in Susan's hair and made another trip back to BB's for shampoo. My head felt itchy and I made Debra check it several times. Taught dad how to massage mom's sciatic nerve. Did it on kitchen table while Jim and Debra visited.
Aug.10-Went to Hopewell and saw many dear old friends. Great time with Hertzlers all day long.
Aug.11-Left around 9:30. Took Meredith along back. Had a 3 hour delay in Winchester due to broken window regulator . Got home around 8:30. About to crawl out of my skin. Everyone in Winchester area very kind to us. Have been catching up from trip ever since, doing wash, canning 25 quart of tomato juice and putting things away. What a great trip.