On Friday morning, the 26th, we left our Va. home at 6:20 AM. The sunrise was unusually beautiful with blues, pinks, and oranges showing off God's paint palette for the day. While traveling, I knitted on Christi's white Christmas scarf. I sang the first verse of all of Fanny Crosby's songs in the hymnbook. She was blind and I love to read her words about "seeing Him." Phil, Susan, and I played the alphabet game. We ate Good n' Plenty's and beef jerky. Freeman drove his car and Michael and Philip rode with him. We ended up in Pa. a bit early, ate at Bob Evan's Restaurant, and then went over to see our friends.
It's becoming a tradition; to stop in at Pat and Mary's on our way up to Christmas gatherings. She always gives us coffee and tea and her special Christmas cookies. We met their son Michael's fiance, Raquel, and she is just right for him and the rest of the family. Kathryn came home later but Michael had to work. The boys enjoyed playing with Scotty, their white cocker spaniel. Mary and I caught up on some things. To our sorrow, Michael and Raquel's wedding is the same day as our Pig Roast-June 20. Our whole family loves Pat and Mary and their family. All the best to them. I will see Mary in Feb. when I go up for their church retreat. She'll be speaking on "New Beginnings."
We went to my brother Abe's place for supper. Karen, his wife, is a delightful person. Three of their four children are married and they have a grandson who we are all crazy about. People think I love babies. Well, my whole family loves babies. I didn't know that was unusual until people started commenting about it. Loving babies and wanting to hold and love on them is one of the things my family does best. We had Abe's special seafood soup for an appetizer. We ate turkey, stuffing, oyster filling, gourmet potatoes, brussel sprouts with water chestnuts and blue cheese, green beans, succotash, celery, olives, cookies, and more, I'm sure. We played Mad Gab, Now you have it-Now you don't, and Taboo. We get very loud and very excited. Karen wins the prize for getting the most loud and excited. It's one of the reasons we love her so. She gets just as excited for the opposing team as she does her own. Rosalee and Jim were there were their three wonderful children. Mother was there, as beautiful and peaceful as ever. And three of Abe's children were there and their families. We had a really nice time.
We arrived at Mom and Dad's around 10 that eve. and dropped Susan off. She slept there. The rest of us went over to Joe and Karen's (Hotel 8) and made our homebase in their spacious home. Joe is Phil's youngest brother. The next morning, we relaxed, and went over to Mom and Dad's around 11:30 for the Hertzler gathering. We had a huge meal there, too. We sang songs after the noon meal as we sat around the table. You would not believe the quality of singing that comes from this group of people. Every spouse married someone who can sing and all the children can sing on key, and no one is afraid of being heard. It's beyond beautiful and my heart fills up with the majesty of it all. Sometimes, they get to being silly in their singing, which helps me not to cry like I want to sometimes. We opened gifts and played different games. One of my favorite times of the day was when all the sis-in-laws, and Mom, were over at Debra's, looking on-line for wedding dresses. We sat around and asked Anne questions and she gave us a sneak peak into her wedding plans. Tomorrow, I need to go to Esther Mae's and find Alfred Angelo's wedding clothes in her store. Her store, in Farmville, came up on-line as a place where they sell his designs. I won't have to travel back to Pa. for fittings, etc. I can do it all here. All of the Sis-in-laws are in the wedding. We will all wear black satin in any style we want from Alfred Angelo.
We ate leftovers for supper and stayed and talked with the family until after 9. Micah and Janelle were there and he was so snuggly and lovable. They drove home through thick fog and called when they got home because I had asked them to.
On Sunday morning, we woke up slow, and went to the late service at Hopewell. We saw many dear friends and caught up with some of them in depth. We stayed at church for a Mast Family Reunion. (Everyone, everywhere, commented on Michael's height. )We got to see many cousins and aunts and uncles. The Hertzler family and Doug, sang "Forever Young." As a large group, we sang some of the unusual Christmas songs passed down from Phil's grandparents. Phil has 4 uncles and 3 aunts from his mother's side.
It was moving to see a heritage of righteousness that has passed down through many generations. We get to be part of what is already in place and pass down more righteousness to the next generations. I think it is easier when those before us have done well. It makes me want to do well too, so those coming after me will find it easier to walk with God. It matters how we live. If we sin, we affect many others than ourselves. If we are righteous, we do the same.
Freeman and Michael left early to go visit our friends, the Balmers, in West Chester. We made good time on the way home. We left at 3:00 and were home by 9:oo and Freeman and Michael were home shortly afterwards.
I have learned to enjoy our time in Pa with family and friends and to not grieve when we leave them behind. I feel at home in Pennsylvania, with our families, friends, and our church body. I feel at home here in Virginia, too. It's a good feeling~ to feel at home wherever we are. It's been a very nice Christmas, 2008.
No comments:
Post a Comment