Just A Normal Family

Grandmother's Dolls Part 2

2012-02-02T19:57:00.003-05:00

Next, I added the hair, face and a small piece of jewelry.

Her sister needed hair and a face as well.

Grandmother's Dolls

2012-02-02T13:36:00.002-05:00

My grandmother made these dolls and I have kept them for years. Probably 20 years ago my cat destroyed one of the doll's faces and the other one's hair. Basically, I have kept them stored away in my trunk all these years.

I have been cleaning out and throwing out so many things the last few months. I finally decided to clean out and give away my trunk. I bought a new bigger trunk and gave the smaller one to Rachel. I ran across Grandmother's dolls and decided to remake them.

So far I have made a new head for the one and am in the process of cutting hair for her and her friend.

A Day With Gabriel

2012-01-28T21:32:00.008-05:00

Rachel brought Gabe over so that she and Lee could devote all their attention to Elijah's derby car race with the Boy Scouts.

When he first got here he was still tired so I lay on the bed with him. He stuck his head in my chest and fell asleep quite nicely.
I am totally incapable of napping so I snuck away and spent a bit of time doing the things that I do.

Later he woke but when he saw me instead of his sweet mommy, he pulled the covers over his head.

Once he was truly awake we spent some special moments together. Mostly we watched silly youtube videos and laughed a lot.

I heard a car pull in and told him to look out the window. It was his mommy and brothers and sister. He was so happy to see them.

What a great day.

Peaceful Bird Watching

2012-01-28T10:44:00.006-05:00

If you are going through a very hard time or coming out of one you may find something simple that helps you deal with the pain. That is what birds did for me. If you have been reading my blog long enough you will remember the hard times with our son, Michael. After Michael left our home I would sit for hours in the quiet and watch the birds. The peace was just what I needed.

Recently I started watching and feeding the birds again. The word is getting around that there is food coming from the second floor of my house. I am pretty sure the squirrels can't even get to the feeders.

On sunny days the birds cannot see me inside the house. I keep the room dark and they are in the light. Aren't they beautiful?

Macrame Hanging Pot

2012-01-28T10:18:00.007-05:00

When I was in 8th grade I was a loner hippy girl. One of my favorite things was art class and I loved macrame. I forgot my lonely pathetic state and got lost in my creative world. Macrame was big in the 70's. So, this past Friday I decided to do the same. I put some 70's music on and in my head I went on a journey back in time.

It is funny... I do not like this little hanging pot. I see so many flaws in it. I do like the memories associated with the experience of making it, getting lost in the creation. So, I will keep it, at least for now.

Happy Birthday Jonah!

2011-11-26T09:13:00.005-05:00

Jonah had perfect behavior all day. Matthew took him to the park and played video games with him pretty much most of the day so maybe that helped. (thanks Matt)

Happy Birthday Jonah. You are now 11.

Bangladesh

2011-11-25T07:50:00.004-05:00

I did something that I would not recommend to my friends. It is something that I warn my children not to do. It is not something that I intended to happen. It just did.

It started when I made a friend on myspace. Her name is Salmah. She is a sweet lady and she lives in Malaysia. Our friendship was just starting to grow. At the same time I became frustrated with the male stalkers I was encountering on myspace and decided to remove my profile and no longer visit myspace. I asked Salmah if she would be my friend on facebook and she agreed. So, as I left myspace I took Salmah with me.

At this point I had never considered accepting a friend on facebook that I did not know in real life. I at least needed to know that they were a friend of a friend. Taking Salmah with me was a rare exception.

I left many comments on Salmah's posts and eventually a friend of hers asked me to be his friend. I accepted with the idea that if he ever became inappropriate or rude I would remove him... and he never did. Next a friend of his (a doctor) sent me a friend request and another doctor and then a medical student of his.

Now, I had several friends and they were all from the same country; a little country called, "Bangladesh".

These people were the nicest, most friendly and caring people you will ever be blessed to meet.. and I was blessed. Over the next several months I spent much time chatting with and getting to know all kinds of people, all from Bangladesh. I studied the culture, language and was taught their history and customs.

My friends are from different religions and soci0-economic backgrounds. Doctors, a hotel manager, a man who works at brick making, young men struggling to find a place in their world, young women struggling to balance traditional ways with a new influence particularly of the western world and women my age who have the same concerns I do. All these are willing and even passionate to share with me their struggles, thoughts, and even their daily challenges. They see in me a mother, a sister, an aunty, or simply a friend. I saw in them a treasure of high value.

Finally, one day my husband sent me an email from work asking me if I would like to go to Bangladesh as a special birthday present. I was in shock. I could not believe he asked me that. I did not even give it a second thought. Of course I wanted to go. So, I made my plans. So many people offered to open their homes to me. I picked two women that I am most comfortable with and planned to stay with them. So, I spent two weeks in Bangladesh. I was treated like royalty and had a wonderful time. There is so much I want to share. Instead of writing about this adventure on this blog I have decided to start a new blog.

Here is the link to the new blog: www.mybelovedbangladesh.blogspot.com

Trick or Treat!

2011-10-30T20:18:00.010-04:00

Noah's Boot Camp Graduation Party

2011-10-24T08:09:00.010-04:00

We had a party for Noah's boot camp graduation and homecoming. It was very last minute so I was amazed at the turn-out. We had such a wonderful mix of friends.

The party came alive when my brother Jeff came in the door. :)

I asked Lita if she wanted a piece of cake. Then I looked down and saw which piece was waiting to be cut... what are the chances? Lita was so happy. She is so in love.

Gabriel (age 17mos) found several balloons that were within his reach. He gets very excited and proceeds to pop them one at a time. I am just waiting for him to start crying but he does not.... then he looks over at me and starts to attempt to replace the last unpopped balloon. It is evident that he is afraid Nana will be angry. I just laughed.

After the party I went to my room and my two year old grandson Julius came in and saw my ironing board leaning on the wall.
He said, "look, Nana has a surf board!!"

A Day with Grandpa

2011-09-22T16:13:00.010-04:00

Bekki's Cafe Mocha with Carmel

2011-09-22T09:30:00.002-04:00

James's Birthday 9-17-2011

2011-09-22T09:23:00.007-04:00

TV room remodel to Guest Room

2011-09-18T16:43:00.002-04:00

I wanted my brother in law, Ibrahim to do something with this nasty looking tile on the old fireplace in the tv room. We had ordered new carpet and were planning to paint the room. Dan asked him if he would do it before my dad came to visit. When he learned that my dad was coming, not only did he do his magic with the tiles but he also painted the room, trim, and ceiling.

Isn't he amazing?

He asked which of my kids was artistic and we nominated Bekki to work by his side outlining the bricks.

Thanks Ibrahim!!

We are waiting for the carpet to be delivered and then I will make curtains to match. It will look awesome.

Crossroads Community Church "Community Day 2011"

2011-09-18T07:30:00.026-04:00

Crossroads Community Church on Market Street Mechanicsburg, PA

had its annual Community Day on September 10th.

This is a day of food, fun, games, and prizes and it is all free!

Fairy Festival 2011

2011-09-17T17:21:00.022-04:00

Labor Day Weekend 2011

2011-09-06T08:34:00.012-04:00

Jonah has had several days of good behavior at school. Phew!

Unfortunately he has picked up a habit of picking up things. (stealing) This is something we will be working on.

David is waiting to go in the Air Force soon and Noah has already left for Marine boot camp. As a matter of fact Lita reports that Noah is halfway through. Lita keeps close tabs on what he is doing on a daily basis. I am so glad he has someone that loves him so much that she misses him to the point of pain and keeps tabs of his daily activities. Liz is working at our local grocery store in the deli but does not seem to get many hours. Bekki is homeschooled but will complete her diploma requirements in January and both of them need to get their learner's permits. My next project is to get help for Daniel. He has not worked in a year now and though he is seemingly emotionally stable he really needs to work or collect SSI. I would love to hook him up with a case worker. If anyone has any suggestions please tell me. He is dx'd with Aspergers and it seems a shame to see him wander around. He needs medical coverage as well. Bekki and Mary work at McDonalds and seem to get the most hours. They have an excellent attitude about work and I am very proud of them. Abby is also doing well at work although she does not have the same amount of hours. It is a relief to see them apply for a job (even if it is a food service job) and succeed. Not all kids will stick with this kind of thing and I think it is a good sign.

Dan has been diagnosed with Narcolepsy. He is fatigued much of the time and the simple act of getting in the car to go to the store to pick something up leaves him exhausted. I am in a constant state of nervousness wondering if his condition will worsen.

We have a new roof on our home and we are planning to get it in shape so that when it is time to sell we will be ready. That will be a few years down the road but nonethless time to get busy.

We are getting two new furnaces put in as well. They will be converted from oil to gas.

So, it is Labor Day weekend and we are doing what all Americans do... grill and EAT!!

Beef sausages, corn-on-the-cob, pasta salad, baked potatoes, baked beans, and brownies for dessert.

David's Birthday Request: Cheesy Cherry

2011-08-15T08:07:00.004-04:00

Picnic in Simpson Park

2011-08-14T23:27:00.009-04:00

Happy Birthday Bekki

2011-08-14T23:22:00.002-04:00

August 10, 2011

Bekki turned 18

Happy Birthday, Bekki!!

Hippy Picnic 2011

2011-07-31T14:20:00.006-04:00

Yesterday we went to a picnic at the house of a man that Dan works with. He has been having this picnic yearly since 1972. We lovingly refer to it as the "hippy picnic". The first thing we saw as we walked up to the house was these adorable alpacas.

Dan does not do well at picnics these days. He gets so hot and cannot enjoy himself. At the last minute we decided to go anyway. This picnic was close to home and he was able to spend some time in the car cooling down.

There were two live bands at the picnic. One was rock and the other was bluegrass. I thought they were both great. The food was awesome too but my favorite was chicken that was cooked on the grill. Our friend James brought chilli that I am hoping to get more of some time. (hint hint)

Summer Fun Carnival 2011

2011-07-30T12:28:00.010-04:00

Friday being the last day of Summer Fun was celebrated with the greatly anticipated Carnival.

This year's theme was "Cars".

There are games and candy prizes. There is a movie with popcorn. Oh, and of course the trampoline, face paint, and a cotton candy machine.

So many sweet faces with happy smiles.

Once again the girls raised the most money and the pie goes in Pastor Bob's face.

Noah's Enlistment

2011-07-29T09:20:00.009-04:00

This past Sunday Noah spent the night in a hotel with the other recruits leaving for boot camp. We met him at MEPS (Military Enlistment Processing Station) in the morning.

At MEPS one does a good amount of waiting. In the military we had a saying... "hurry up and wait". So, we waited and waited. This was hardest on the little guys but they did a great job.

We had much waiting and even an orientation for the families. Next, was the swearing in. This is what we came for basically and to say goodbye.

Next was the goodbyes. This is hard on a mom and the family and friends. But honestly on a daily basis I still think it will be harder for Lita.

I tried very hard to not cry so that I would not cause Lita to cry. Until the end. When they called Noah up saying he was to be the squadron leader I lost it. I cried hard. It was like dominoes, Me, Hannah... Bekki... Lita.... so on. So, Noah left.

And we cried.

Allenberry Playhouse

2011-07-23T21:13:00.012-04:00

I was so glad when Dan told me he was going to take me to Allenberry Playhouse again. He then said he had invited James to come along. I liked that idea as well.

The grounds at Allenberry Playhouse are amazing. It is a dinner theatre. We had the seafood buffet. I love seafood but Dan does not. He made the reservations anyway knowing how much I love it. This turned out to not be a problem as they had some very good beef.

After eating there is an hour before the play starts. This is just the right amount of time to stretch your legs and walk off your meal. Isn't it beautiful? I wish I had brought my good camera. These were all taken using my cell phone.

McKenzie's Graduation Get-together

2011-07-23T20:37:00.007-04:00

Congrats McKenzie!! The Beaver Family Loves You!!

Matthew's Funnel Cake Birthday

2011-07-23T19:37:00.010-04:00

Matthew wanted funnel cake for his birthday. He has always loved funnel cake. So, we gave it a shot. He wanted to make some himself.

They were very good.

Happy birthday Matt!!

Trapped Bird

2011-07-15T09:23:00.005-04:00

As if it wasn't bad enough that this little guy got trapped in my garage, along comes trouble. They both froze when they saw me.

He did get away but when I came closer he used his words.

If only he knew I just wanted his picture and to set him free.

Vege Stand

2011-07-15T08:42:00.002-04:00

When Rachel and I were walking home the other day we saw Jeanette's vege stand.... we had no money. :( It is a very cool vege stand though dontchthink?

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-04T22:08:00.005-04:00

As I took this picture of Noah at the grill I realized that he would be leaving for the military soon. It will be the last time I can be sure he will be grilling. I am sure he will come home to visit but he will never live here again.

Here David is telling us a joke... I can't remember it but it was funny.

I am not the only one that will be bumming when Noah leaves.

These were really the most amazing kebabs.

Happy Independence Day, ya'll!

Broken Pieces

2011-07-01T07:28:00.004-04:00

I was sitting innocently at my computer when a very cool link came up to a jewelry making blog... so I clicked. (as we all are disposed to do) Up popped a great article on making jewelry with sheet metal... oh so inspiring. I put my status on facebook and here it is:

"I feel creative today. I want to make something. I think I will go to the garage and see if I have any metal stamping tools for jewelry making. You never know what Dad used to play around with <3 I miss Dad. See what ADD does to your brain? lol"

So, thus inspired I went to my garage.

I have to say I have a very cool garage. When I enter the garage I imagine that I am a hobbit or gnome entering my home.

When I entered my garage I was overwhelmed with the fact that it was so messy again. It needs an entire day dedicated to cleaning it. I made a promise to myself that I would see that this happens in the near future. I gazed up and saw some of Dad's tools of whose use is a mystery to me. Something about tools excites me. Think of all the things you can make! If only......

I searched for tools that looked like they could alter sheets of metal. I found quite a few but alas no sheets of metal.

I found wire which is quite fun to work with. I even found a basket to put my collection in. Is your heart beating wildly? If not then you just do not understand. Sorry.

Oh no, look what I found next. This is what I truly need to make my house presentable to the world. Those of you with large adoptive families will understand instantly. Those of you with any amount of children may get it. If not, I am not sorry for you at all. Actually, I am jealous.

I then located these knowing what I would be taking in the house. Until my walls are patched I cannot truly be creative. There is a deep philosophical point here and again if you do not get it then I will not take the time to explain. The broken pieces must be picked up before one can make a beautiful mosaic masterpiece. Furthermore, the brokenness is necessary.

Happy Birthday Mary!

2011-06-30T08:18:00.002-04:00

Mary loves India and I love Bangladesh. Lately we have been bonding on this fact. We have been watching Bollywood movies and looking for good recipes to try. We watch documentaries and read books.

For Mary's birthday we went to a store where they sell lots of things created by artisans from many countries. She was having such fun picking things. A purse, several journals, a scarf, and bangle bracelets. Next we went to Asma's Gift Shop. Asma's is full of all kinds of things including jewelry and much of it is from India.

The disappointment of the day was the Indian restaurant. I bought a groupon for that restaurant and when we got there it seemed to be closed. I do not understand it. The chairs and tables were all set up but there was no one in the building and the door was locked. The hours were printed on the door and the "open" sign was hung up. I am starting to wonder what we did wrong.

There is a Thai restaurant in our town that sells curry. I had it on Jubilee Day and it was rather good. We will check that out. I wish I would have thought about that on the day I took Mary out. We got Chinese food but it wasn't the same.

Happy 17th Birthday Mary!

Mary's Ice Cream Sundaes

2011-06-30T07:43:00.011-04:00

Kindred Spirits

2011-06-29T21:28:00.011-04:00

We moved to Texas when Rachel was just 12 years old. After we moved into the house we were unpacking our belongings when one of us discovered that a girl around Rachel's age was riding her bike up and down the street in front of our house. It seemed obvious at some point that it might be a good idea to go out and meet her. That is how Rachel met Kristina. If memory serves, Kristina had been good friends with the girl who lived in our house previously and she was sure that the next person that moved in would also be her close friend. So, she rode her bike up and down the street until Rachel went out and met her. From that time on they were good friends.

We moved from Texas several years later and Rachel lost touch with Kristina. She even searched for her on internet time and time again.

Finally, she searched one more time and found her. They became friends on facebook and have become quite close again. Rachel told me that Kristina and her family would be in town and were to have lunch at our place. Fun!

Watching for our special guests to get here.

Rachel is here holding Gabe and Kristina's little girl, Hollis.

Here is Knox and Rachel's Julius and Gabe . Knox is getting acquanted with the dog.

Kristina holding Hollis.

Darren sat down on this chair and Knox grabbed the little wooden chair and set it beside his dad... so cute!

Kristina and Rachel - Kindred spirits

Vacation Bible School June 2011

2011-06-24T22:56:00.009-04:00

The kids were very excited about Bible school this year. The week after Jubilee Day is Bible school. It pretty much means summer vacation is started. Everyone behaved perfectly with no calls home. Julius went the first day and after that we decided to keep him with us. He is not quite ready yet.

Hannah volunteered for her third year and she did a great job. Not only did she work at the VBS but she helped walk the kids there and back. Thanks Hannah. <3

Pools Open!

2011-06-24T21:30:00.003-04:00

Jubilee Day 2011

2011-06-20T20:11:00.014-04:00

On Jubilee Day our town comes alive. You can hear musicians playing various types of music. There is the smell of food on the grill. You can feel the excitement in the air.

Friends and family park at our house. We are just several blocks from the center of town. This is a time to visit with loved ones that we have not seen in quite some time.

Beauty in Floor Tiles

2011-05-15T08:51:00.005-04:00

The State Capitol has so much beauty it will take your breath away. I have to say though, the simple beauty of the floor tiles made me just as happy. I just could not stop myself from walking around photographing them.

Pennsylvania State Capital Building

2011-05-07T07:11:00.014-04:00

Our state capital is so beautiful. Limiting the number of pictures to post was very difficult. Mostly I just got tired of doing it and am anxious to get them posted. I almost did not go on this field trip. It seems that Jonah is having a hard time staying out of trouble. I was going to cancel this trip as a consequence but decided I would have him clean a bathroom instead. That way he and I get some bonding and good memories, and I get a clean bathroom as a bonus.

Here is a picture of all the kids that went on the field trip, the teachers, and Representative Sheryl Delozier.

Next we went on a bit of a tour. The place was amazing. I was only allowed to take pictures of the courtroom.

If you have a chance to tour the capital building and enjoy aesthic beauty you are in for a treat. Do not miss out on this. I am so glad that the teacher is requiring me to go with Jonah and I am glad I extended grace to him. It was truly worth it. So beautiful.

PA State Museum

2011-05-06T20:59:00.007-04:00

As I may have mentioned earlier Jonah can only go on field trips if I go along. So, this is our second date, so to speak.

The last time we had a field trip one of the little girls said I would really like one of the moms. She said we would really get along. Well, it turned out I was put in the group with that mom as the leader. The girl was right, I did get along great with this mom.

I also love the children we had in our group. They were such sweet kids.

Destroyed

2011-05-04T13:52:00.004-04:00

I have a little greenhouse on my porch. I have many seeds that are difficult to grow and exotic in some way. I was taking very good care and they were starting to stick up out of the ground.

I woke up and this is what I found। I had slept not even knowing there was a storm. was devasted. I cried hard. Then a thought came to me. Many people's homes had been devastated by a tornado. Many lost their homes. Surely I could handle this small loss. So, I went to work cleaning up and saving whatever seeds I could.

Easter Eggs 2011

2011-04-23T14:52:00.011-04:00

One thing we do every Easter is coloring and dying the Easter eggs.

All ages of children in the house participate. If a friend is in the house they are encouraged to do some as well. Aren't they pretty?

Jonah's Field Trip-Carlisle Walking Tour

2011-04-20T15:22:00.014-04:00

Jonah's teacher did not feel that Jonah could behave himself on the upcoming field trip. So, basically she asked me to go along. Actually, if I did not go he would not be allowed to go. So, I went. I was pretty excited about it and I did have a good time.

We were given a demonstration of period clothing from the revolutionary war to present. Next we got in the bus and headed out to Carlisle. Carlisle is our county seat. Our first stop was at the old courthouse. Next, we walked a million miles to a park where we had lunch. After our lunch break we walked to a cemetery. You can see a statue of Molly Pitcher.

Next we walked to have a look at the original county prison. It looks like a castle which is meant to be intimidating but I think it is rather charming.

There was a woman with us the whole time giving us history lessons. She kept our interest quit well and I have to admit that I learned a bit of local history. When she talked about women's roles in the civil war she was quit inspiring.

Jonah behaved fairly well and the other kids were pretty fun and thought I was a cool mom. Jonah told them that they should see how funny I am at home. That is interesting. I never thought of myself as funny but then again that is Jonah's perspective.

When we got back to the school I had to wait for Jonah and I was quite exhausted. I am pretty sure I will sleep through church.

Blooms Up Close

2011-04-19T08:18:00.010-04:00

I took these yesterday while out for a walk. Today it is raining. We have had some crazy storms so some of the blooms are damaged. I am looking forward to the summer. My muscles ache from the sudden walking but that is a good ache. My joints ache from the chilly rain... not so good. I am learning how to use my new camera. So fun!

Blooming Trees of Spring

2011-04-17T21:52:00.005-04:00

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

2011-04-17T19:49:00.005-04:00

I was putting bird seed in my feeders and I thought it would be fun to make the classic pine cone feeders with my buddy, James. Tomorrow we will see who gets the seed, the birds or the squirrels.

Seeds and Seedlings

2011-04-10T21:42:00.010-04:00

Seedlings are a promise that summer will surely come. They seem to have such a hopeful attitude.

Pictures of Downtown Lancaster PA

2011-04-09T18:56:00.012-04:00

While walking around in downtown Lancaster today I took some pics. I used to think only the countryside is beautiful but I was wrong. There is so much beauty in a city.

Making A Bald Statement

2011-04-09T18:17:00.011-04:00

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a charity that helps volunteers raise money to fund research for curing cancer.

First the volunteers upload a picture of themselves with hair. Next they email friends and family telling them that they are in need of people to contribute toward their commitment of a certain amount of money. The bald statement comes when the volunteers are done raising their money and fulfill their promise to have their heads shaved.

Dan and I were invited by his cousin Clyde to see him have his head shaved. The ceremonial shaving took place at a very quaint Irish pub and restaurant in Lancaster PA called Annie Bailey's.

First we had a wonderful lunch and then we watched the heads being shaved. Most of the shavees were men but there were some women and children as well.

Homemade Egg Rolls

2011-03-31T10:05:00.006-04:00

My egg rolls are easy to make unless of course you have a dozen people to cook for!

I start by cooking and chopping up boneless chicken breats. Simmer cole slaw mix or grated carrots and cabbage. Then add this to the chicken and mix them together. Add some garlic and mix well.

Next I put some of the mixture on an eggroll wrap. Roll them envelope style and deep fry them in oil. let the egg rolls drain on a paper towel

I like to mix up some hot chinese mustard and honey to dip mine but you can make other sauces.

Hannah is my helper in most of my cooking endeavors. Thanks Hannah!

We made some crab rangoon and fried the extra wraps. Basically, most of these were gone but if you have leftovers they are great heated up.

Just about everyone loves them. Serve with rice.

Yummy.

Our Visit With Jim and Chris

2011-03-18T19:47:00.010-04:00

Last weekend Dan and I drove down to Maryland.

We stayed with Jim and Chris who are friends that we knew waaaaayyyyyy back when we were in our mid twenties. Jim was in the Air Force and Dan was in the Navy so Chris and I were military wives with young children and tight budgets. We attended the same church and Dan and Jim did a boys ministry together. Sometimes they had camping trips and Chris and I would come along. We did the cooking and the boys cleaned up.. not a bad deal. I watched their boys (James and Justin) while they went on a weekend outing and they watched my Rachel and Sarah when Daniel was born. They are good people and we are still friends after all the years.

Some time after we moved from the DC area, Pastor Phil and Nancy moved to a more rural part of Maryland and started a new church. Jim and Chris took their family there as well and started a business. (Southern Maryland Exhaust)

Sunday morning we headed out to the church. Jim and Chris and some other faithful members go early to set up, running a vacuum and putting out doughnuts.

I felt something that is hard to explain when I saw Pastor Phil. My heart melted and remembered the impact that he had on my life at a young age. Thank God for people who devote their lives to the ministry.

Then the band showed up and the place came alive. This church rocks!!

I could really listen to this music every week.. wish you could hear it.

The church is full of some really nice people both young and older. I really felt they were some special people.

Then we headed out to Phil and Nancy's place because Dan had to see a certain car... he saw many!

I am not sure why men (and some women) like cars so much. I mean yes they are loud, so fast and are shiny but it seems an instinct to some of them since birth.

After this we went to lunch with Jim, Chris, Phil, and Nancy. It was wonderful to listen to Phil and Nancy tell stories and share experiences.

I am hoping we can visit with Jim and Chris many times over the years. I get to see them on facebook and that in itself is a lot of fun. Jim has a sense of humor and as I get older I need more of that in my life. Chris is a very warm and caring person and a lot of fun. I am glad we hooked back up with them.

To Everything There is a Season

2011-03-16T11:40:00.010-04:00

A Time to Plant.
Spring is right around the corner.
I love spring!
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Ecclesiastes 3:1 (kjv) -To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under the heaven.: 2. time to be born and a time to die; time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is
planted.
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It is time to plant my early starters. These are the seeds that I have purchased so far. I have some seeds from last year that I will attempt to start as well. This year I would like to nurture my garden more. I want to baby my plants and care very well for them. I hope I succeed.

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I buy these little starting boxes at WalMart. They are the cheap ones and they work the best. I have purchased the more expensive ones and they are not as good.

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First you pour the water in and watch them soak up. They will double to twice their size. See the picture below? They are popping up!

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While the warm water is soaking into the pods, I make the labels. Labeling is important. Trust me, you will be sorry if you do not label carefully.

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Then I get out my fancy tool... the pen cap! lol

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One end is great for poking the hole and the other for pushing the peat on top of the hole and

covering the seed.

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I put 2-3 seeds in each hole and then add more water. Put on the lid and place in a sunny location.

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One down, five to go!!

Thrift Store Report (for Rachel)

2011-03-15T12:37:00.004-04:00

Since you could not go with us Rachel, I thought I would show you what I got.

Here are three of the kinds of scarves I have been looking for. Aren't they pretty? Show them to Olivia.

These are for Olivia. I guess you figured that out.

The book of Arthur is for Lee.

These are brand new and were in a box so I could not walk away.

The green bag is for my ipod and cords. I just love the wallet and sandals.

Four pieces of fabric for quilting.

The bottom half of this pitcher matches my dining room and the top matches the Bengali stuff.

These are clothes that Bekki picked out. They will be hers and she will share anything she does not like after trying them on.

One purple dress for me. (I wanna wear lots of dresses this summer) and one of those things I wrap around myself when we get out of the swimming pool. I had wanted a pink one. All for $32.00.

Happy Birthday Tanya!

2011-02-28T17:38:00.002-05:00

Today is my only sister's birthday.

She died when she was 12 and I was 9 (I think)

All these years and no sister. I miss you, Tanya.

Someday, I will see you in heaven.

Someday...............

Happy Birthday Tanya!

Home Made Yogurt

2011-02-12T19:07:00.001-05:00

Auto Show 2011

2011-01-29T16:57:00.002-05:00

Today Dan took Noah and Jonah to the Auto Show. Apparently, the mindset when you go to the auto show is to dream about which car you want. That is fine with me as long as they don't bring anything home. They did bring some garbage (advertisements) but luckily most of it is recyclable. Noah has picked out the car he wants when he has saved up enough money in the Marines.

Dan said that Jonah sat in 75 cars. I am not sure if he was exaggerating or not. I do know with Jonah's love of cars he was pretty much in car heaven today.

I am pretty sure this is the car that Dan liked the most. He asked me if I liked the color. I do like it but not for a car that I would drive. It is pretty though... donchathink?

Video of Olivia's Birthday (Late)

2011-01-28T19:23:00.003-05:00

I love this video. I spent the day with Olivia to celebrate her birthday. We had so much fun. Unfortunately, I have a cold and cough so my voice is a bit low and I am fighting a cough. We really enjoyed making this video and I know we will treasure it for a long time. I don't blame you if you get bored halfway through (or less) and turn it off.

The Beaver House Covered in Snow 2011

2011-01-28T09:41:00.003-05:00

We have had school delays and closings. I have enjoyed every minute with my children and even one day Dan was home. I am thankful for peace in our home.

Every time it has snowed Bekki and Mary have gone out without being asked and shoveled the driveway. That is a huge blessing!

Fettuchini and Animals

2011-01-13T14:40:00.003-05:00

One of the really cool things about being a homeschooler is that you can eat leftovers from your favorite dinners. Bekki made me a great coffee with chocolate powder and whipped cream... yummy and I made her leftover fettuchini alfredo (hers without the mushrooms)

My animals really love me but at lunchtime they REALLY love me.

I was never a dog person. Honestly! I am not sure how but I am in love with this cute (ugly), stinky, mischevious creature and he loves me. Sheesh!

Gingerbread House/ The Beauty of the Creator

2010-12-31T10:40:00.006-05:00

This is my Bekster. She is a shining star. Actually, I am so proud of all my girls I could just burst. We were shopping for who-knows-what and Bek hit me up for this gingerbread house kit. Seeing that they were half-priced I gave in. She put it together with Mary's help.

See this house? It is stripped. It has nothing on it right now. I feel that way to a certain extent. I have lost so much this year. I have been humbled and I have suffered loss. There is a Rich Mullins song that says, "Everything that could be shaken was shaken and all that remains is all we really had"

It was a year of humility, sickness, and loss.

What remains? All I really had. The important stuff.

Bekki and Mary decorated their house all pretty.

Time to get in touch with your God, your Creator. Ask Him to decorate you with only the purest of beauty.

Notes of the Christmas Season

2010-12-30T14:54:00.006-05:00

This was one of the most disorganized Christmases I have had as a mom and yet one of the most enjoyable. To match the season this blog post is totally out of order. So, enjoy but be patient.

Shopping is a big part of Christmas unfortunately. I know the kids love the presents but I want them to know there is more about the season than getting stuff. Anyway, this year I told the kids how much they could spend and let them pick out their own stuff. This gave me time with them in small groups and helped me know them more intimately. We had so much fun with this. We laughed a lot and I was amazed with what some of the kids got. Matthew picked some playstation games but mostly he bought snacks to eat while playing the games. We seldom have soda so he got that as well. The really interesting gift he chose was three jars of jelly for toast. He LOVES toast. I love this boy!

Christmas morning starts with stockings, cinnamon rolls, and the reading from Luke 2 in the Bible. Then we say a prayer and open the gifts. This year Hannah did the reading. She did a great job.

My house is very large and quite cold as it is too expensive to heat. This year I have decided how to survive. Here I am with my boot slippers and snuggie. I am warm for the first time this winter. I also have gloves with the fingertips poking out so I can still type on my keyboard and turn the pages as I read. Ahhhhhhhh...

Here is Dan with his new ipad. So far he mostly uses it to look up cheat codes for his games. He also reads this blog and gets on facebook from time to time.

I am not sure how many stockings we had this year... let me count.

Daniel, David, Edward, Noah, Liz, Bekki, Abby, Mary, Hannah, Matthew, Jonah, and James. Oh and one for the dog.... 13! Noah and Liz have the job of filling them. I pick the stuff out and they divide it up and assign who gets what. Once less task to stress me out.

Elizabeth, Me (mom) and Bekki eating cinnamon rolls.

Rusty thinks every blanket belongs to him.

This picture is our gang at Pastor Brian's house. Pastor Brian is my friend and he ministers to young people at a local Christian Y. My kids hang out there a lot. There is a large gym where you can play basketball, take gymnastics, work out on machines, and before you leave they teach you the Bible every chance they can get. Pastor Brian has adopted 17 teenagers through the years so you can see what we have in common. On this day we were attending a house warming for Pastor Brian. He fed us and shared stories of his life.

Happy Birthday Abby!

2010-12-06T19:04:00.003-05:00

Abby, Liz and I went on a birthday shopping trip then we went out for Chinese. Before going home we picked up the perfect birthday cake for Abby. Jeff and Melissa asked if my girls could come over to watch a movie... so, I sent the cake along. Looks like they had a nice time.

Goodbye Dad (Dale - Poppa - Pete- Uncle Pete)

2010-12-05T09:16:00.003-05:00

Here are some old pictures of dad.

My husband is the little guy in the middle. The boy on the right is Dale, his oldest son and the girl on the left is his sister. She used to care for him but suddenly left the country. (long bad story) I took over his care. I had an attitude about this due to the circumstances surrounding this sudden responsibility. I felt awkward and unable to care for him and the responsibilty of signing papers, taking him to doctors appointments, and having to make decisions gave me anxiety.

In time I grew more comfortable with Dad and with the idea that I would have to commit to him. Then something magic happened. We started to bond. I grew to love him very deeply.

Ten years ago (approx) Nancy, his wife of over 60 years died suddenly in a car accident. He was driving the car. A woman went through a stop sign and rammed their car against a concrete wall. Dad was laying in the hospital the day we told him that mom was gone. He could not talk due to his injuries so we handed him a sheet of paper on which he wrote with shaky hands, "I want to die". From that time Dad has wanted to be with Mom. I knew this every day that I cared for him. When she died a part of him died with her.

So, when I got the call that Dad had died peacefully in his sleep my first thought was, "He is with Mom" That is where he always wanted to be.

Military Honors

2010-12-03T20:18:00.003-05:00

I am not able to blog yet about losing Dad. I will do that later.. for now here are some pictures of Dad receiving military honors. I think he would have loved this.

I promise I will blog more about Poppa and what he meant to me. For now I am just starting to feel the pain.

Random Thanksgiving Photos

2010-11-28T21:25:00.003-05:00

Time to Go Home

2010-11-22T07:27:00.006-05:00

I woke early the next morning and got into the jacuzzi again... ahhhhh. This little guy was outside the door of the room and it was not apparent to me his use. His little dish just did not look big enough to hold anything. But I found he holds the continental breakfast that is brought to your room. Isn't he dear?

Here is the continental breakfast. I ate both the muffins as Dan does not like this kind of thing and he had just woken up. They made the way I like muffins to be. They had big pieces of fruit and were not over sweet. I think they had cranberries in them. While he showered I drank his coffee as well. Then we headed to the main building where they serve you a hot breakfast. I paid Dan back as he drank both his orange juice and mine... oh and both our crousants. lol Neither of us were thrilled with the gourmet breakfast but we managed not to starve and the staff were very welcoming. They have numerous awards for their gourmet food and especially their 6 course dinner. Unfortunately, this talent would be wasted on Dan and I. Though we appreciate good quality food, apparently we cannot appreciate gourmet food. So sad. I cannot even begin to express how beautiful this place is both inside and out. They host weddings and conventions. Here are a few of the pics that I took. None of them came out well because the lighting was bad and my camera lacks in that area. We wandered around and my heart beat wildly as I enjoyed the asthetics of the place. The grounds were amazing. There were three fountains and an archway.

The place we stayed at is called Antrim 1844. Here is a page that shows more pics of the dining rooms in the lower wine cellar part of the building. These were my favorite rooms and I did not get pictures of them. Shame.

Day of Surprises

2010-11-21T20:32:00.008-05:00

Dan and I had been sick for a few weeks. This coupled with activities involving our kids kept us from planning an anniversary trip properly. So, the weekend was approaching and we had no solid plans. Dan got on the internet and found a wonderful b & b in a town near Gettysburg and made reservations for one night. We wanted two nights but only one was available.

When we arrived in Gettysburg we were amazed at how many people were dressed in the period attire. I was so excited and started to ask people if they minded me taking their pictures. We were wondering how many people would remember this man in the picture above. How many of you watched the old sitcom, "Hogan's Heroes"?

We were hungry and found this little French cafe. It was very nice. I had a caesar salad and it was delicious. We were amazed at how many people came in to buy flavored coffees. Little did we know there was a reason for that. These people knew there was something coming that would entail them standing in the cold and sipping on their lovely coffees.

Around the time that we finished our meal we heard band music. We paid the tab and went out in the street and to our amazement there was a parade taking place. We did not know it at the time but this was Rememberance Day and hence the parade. What a wonderful surprise!

When the parade ended we walked up the street and saw this church. We went in and looked around. It apparently had served as a make shift hospital during the Civil War.

Next we walked a bit farther up the road and discovered this sweet little place. It had been the birthplace of Jennie Wade. It is now a little museum and wine tasting shop. So, Dan went in with me and I did a bit of tasting and shopping.

Next we went to the bed and breakfast to check in. We were very happy with the room and spent a couple of hours resting.

Later we were again hungry. My job while Dan napped was to find a restaurant for us to eat at. We were having some internet connection problems but eventually I found a nice restaurant. We headed out following the directions. We found the restaurant we wanted but it was quite crowded. We had driven by this diner and decided to go there instead. The food was great and we really enjoyed the place. I was so tired and we headed back to the room. I really enjoyed the day and so did Dan. It was full of so many surprises. We were both grateful for the chance to get away.

Tempura

2010-11-17T13:16:00.002-05:00

Remember I went to the mall with Olivia? Well, they had a Japanese restaurant there but the only tempura was meat... chicken and shrimp. I love vegetable tempura so I had to make my own. They had sushi but I have to wonder how good sushi can be in a mall in central PA. Might be time to make some nori rolls as well.... oh and egg rolls....

I have been a bit depressed the last two days. So has Bekki. We are trying to make ourselves happy with shopping and food. Today food won out. I do feel a bit better. If only I had some ice cream. Now I am feeling sad again.... ugh.

Happy Anniversary

2010-11-17T13:12:00.003-05:00

Matthew (age 13) took his own money and got Noah to drive him to the store to pick up this awesome cake. I think this is one special boy... don't you? Today is our anniversary but we will be celebrating this weekend. We have a special date planned. We have been married 31 years!

Mall Photo with Olivia

2010-11-10T15:02:00.000-05:00

A Day with Princess Olivia

2010-11-10T13:05:00.004-05:00

I was feeling kind of bad that Olivia's birthday passed and I did not get to see her or spend any time with her. So, I called Rachel and asked if I could have her. It just so happened that they were just on their way out the door so she was on my doorstep in less than 1/2 hour. Yay!

In the car on the way to the mall I put my ipod in and asked Olivia what music she liked. She said that Taylor Swift is her fav and I "just happened to have some of that" so that is what we listened to. I told her that I had a special surprise. She proceeded to babble on as us ladies are prone to do and she happened to mention that she has always wanted to go to the Build a Bear shop. Oh my, that is what I had planned. Olivia and I just happened to both love Hello Kitty so that I what she built.

On the way to the Build a Bear shop a sweet Israeli girl conned me into buying the coolest set for my nails. I don't paint my nails but the set she sold me made them shiny and the creams in the set made my hands soft. Yes, I am a pushover. I have been watching a lot of foreign movies lately and some of my favorites take place in Israel.... so, she had me. lol But on the way back through the mall I gave her my business card for my etsy shop so that made me feel better.

She said it would be fun to go to the food court as well. I had skipped breakfast and totally planned to eat in the food court. Olivia informed me that chinese is her favorite food. It is mine too. We seem to have a lot of the same favorites.

When we got home we tried on our new fairy costumes that I got on clearance. Next year on my birthday we will definitely have to go to the Fairy Festival. This must be a priority.

I must mention at least one time how much I love my Olivia. She is a treasure. Her face is full of fun and joy and she makes me smile. She is prettier than the sparkliest necklace and earrings. I just love her.

Olivia says, "Today was the best day ever"

Our Etsy Shop

2010-11-04T09:23:00.002-04:00

I have been having a lot of fun with this jewelry making... love it! The dragonfly and the birds nest are two of my newest.

Now I am making necklaces for me and my girls to wear. If the one wearing the jewelry gets questions or compliments they can tell the person asking about our shop. The two below will be in the collection of necklaces we wear. The blue one on the bottom is Rachel's newest favorite color and I am loving red and black. I wonder what the other girls will want. I know Liz loves browns and greens.

Tricks or Treats

2010-11-02T11:11:00.003-04:00

Rachel and I did take the kids trick or treating. I was not really energetic as I was working on a cold. Now it is in full bloom and has me off my feet. So, time to blog!

One of my very close friends called me on trick or treat day and let me know that she was in the area for a few hours. This made the day very special. I always like to see Wendy and her kids.

I was not going to let Jonah go trick or treating due to the fact that his behavior has been so bad. At the last minute I broke down and let him. I kept thinking about all the times I have screwed up and how God keeps forgiving me and giving me His mercy. So, I let the dude go. You only have one childhood and it should have memories of fun with family. So, we went.

The funny thing is we went only half as far as last year and yet the kids were sure that we went soooooooooo far. You gotta love kids. (when they are not making you wanna pull your hair out) lol

Oh and by the way, I made the coolest deviled eggs with spiders on them made from olives but when I went to get the picture all my pictures from that day were deleted. It seems one of my daughters went to delete a picture and oops... lol ... no trick or treat night pics. The pic above I got from Rachel. Good thing she took some. (thanks Rache)

You can see the deviled eggs with olive spiders at this web page. Rosemary's Sampler

Big Guest Room

2010-11-01T20:08:00.003-04:00

Ok so you remember when Daniel lost control and started punching holes in the walls? I am so glad those days are gone. Anyway, we now have two adjacent rooms that will make wonderful guest rooms once the walls are painted. My brother in law came to the house and put up drywall. Now, all we have to do is paint. Thanks Ibrahim!

Overwhelming

2010-10-25T21:54:00.002-04:00

My house can be overwhelming on a daily basis. Today I scrubbed the kitchen top to bottom. It needed it! I took all the silverware and threw it in a sink full of hot soapy water. Since the demise of our dishwasher we have done the dishes by hand. The kids take turns doing kitchen duty. The only problem is that some of the kids do not get the concept of removing the dirt. So, I thought it wouldn't hurt to wash them all.
I have heard that some people can fit all their flatware in a drawer. Not us. Not even close.

All nice and sorted... for now!!

Happy Birthday Liz! 18

2010-10-24T10:55:00.002-04:00

I have always had an aversion to going to the mall or letting my kids hang out at the mall. To me it was a place where you get "picked up" and spend too much money. I found out tonight that it is actually quite entertaining. I checked out the beaded jewelry, other jewelry, and lots of other stuff and spent only $3. on a pair of earrings. We gathered ideas, laughed a lot, and basically just had a good time.

Half of the gang went to the Homecoming dance. Liz, Mary,Bekki, and I went to the mall to have a girls night out to celebrate Liz's 18th birthday.

First we stopped in on Justin Bieber and Taylor Lautner. Sorry Hannah you did not get to see Justin but we said hello for you. I think he liked Bekki but don't worry cause we all know he is your future husband. Mary on the other hand really enjoyed hanging out with Taylor.We discovered there is a calendar for everyone. I even found a Hello Kitty one for me and I Love Lucy for a certain girlfriend of mine. After hitting every good store in our little mall we were starving. The girls had Subway and I had Chinese. I discovered they had a little Japanese restaurant with sushi but it was too late. Guess we will have to do this again.

I asked Liz if she wanted a cake or blizzards. I think she made the right choice.

We bought a movie that we had been wanting and took it home and crashed with pillows and blankets and watched it. The homecoming folks showed up and some dispersed and some joined us. Happy birthday Liz. Now I have another grown up daughter-friend. This was really fun. I wanna do it again.

Homecoming 2010

2010-10-24T10:17:00.005-04:00

Kyra and Hannah - BFF's

Hannah, Noah and Abby. Sweet sibs. Noah and Lita - True Love

Noah, Lita, Hannah, Jennifer, Abby, and Anthony

Liz, Hannah, and Kyra - a bit crazy

Anthony and Abby Anthony, Abby, Hannah, Kyra, and Jennifer