The Best Of PA

   This picture is from this past Sunday September 28th Boiling down maple sap into syrup    Well I can not believe it has been 10 months since I last posted; but life gets busy and before you know it, winter, spring and summer has gone and we are in a crisp fresh, fall.  In winter we had a baby and tapped our maple tree and made maple syrup.  In the spring, my sister and her family moved from Utah, back to Pennsylvania and is living in the same town as me (dream come true.) The summer was a the girls dance recital, trip to Lancaster and vacation to Myrtle Beach with Cooper Family (where we all got the flu, but still had a blast) and now we are entering the fall where school and activities began. I am soo happy October has arrived.  If you know me at all, then you know it is my VERY FAVORITE month!  It is so beautiful outside. Girls dance recital       ...

Christmas has come and gone, but we so enjoyed the season.  We have created some new traditions in its honor.  We still have some favorite traditions we have continued onward such as: -Read A Christmas Carol every night till it is finished -Re-enact the Christmas Story on the Eve -Have a Caroling Party What we have kicked: -Santa, he went Bye Bye last year and the girls now know the truth.  we have read the story of Saint Nicholas, so they know he was a Christian man doing good.  Grandparents gave us Santa stickers for the windows and they enjoyed decorating with that, snowflakes and other festive things.  But Elly knows, she has gotten tired of telling all the adults who ask her that Santa is not real.  She just looks at me like, don't these people know??  However that cute three year old with the chubby cheeks does not get the concept yet.  Her cute line of the season: "Santa isn't real.  He bring me...

Life. Beautiful, natural,evolving life. We were blessed with a little nest built by Robins. It sits in the rafters of our porch roof. We have a big window that looks out on it all, and we watch. We saw them eagerly build their home stick by stick with mounds of brown grass and other odd end pieces. When the nest was finished and she moved in , Danny lifted Elly up high to see the baby blue eggs before they hatched. And now at the kitchen table, with every meal, we witness the Mommy and Daddy Robin feed their babies. Their mouths wide open awaiting worms to nourish them. It has been so enjoyable and quite the learning experience for the girls. And there have been a lot of conversations from inquistive girls who ask questions.  Questions like: What is a bird nest made out of? Where do the eggs come from? When do baby birds fly? Oh I love it. Our family has bonded over this occasion and have become more in touch with nature. Life is beautiful.

"Your not mad at me are you?" I swallowed hard and shook my head. But the pit was there. A blackness of shredded fury twisted, folded, grew. And not just anger, but hurt, I felt double crossed, swindled, cheated on. Loyalties were crushed. "No it's fine. No worries." I shouldn't be mad. I could see how excited she was, how this fire burned within her. It was her motivational high and I didn't want to stomp on it. But it was my story . Of course I only had six chapters written and I wasn't sure how long it would be till I got back to it. (unfortunately I am known for starting projects and abandoning them with careless vigor) But the idea was mine. I read her the first chapter and she fell in love with it. She requested she write it with me. I shrugged and agreed to it. I knew there was no real need for me to be so upset. We talked of a joint venture, that never really began. It was too complicated, our outcomes and characte...

Last Thursday my spotting took a turn for the worse. It began right before bringing Elly to dance class. What was once occasional purple gook coming out of me was suddenly red and flowing. If that hadn't worried me, then the cramping would have. It felt like my period hopped up on steroids. And then the clots came, in huge dark lumps. I believe I was still in denial in the beginning changes "Maybe there is still a baby in me" It was a hope more, after all I bled furiously, clots and all with Elly, and in the end there still came a baby. She came while I was on bed rest, ten weeks early, but she was there. I had bled on and off from seven weeks till the day she was born in my 30th week. I was on and off of bed rest, in and out of the hospital with over night stays and contractions at 26 weeks. And then the remaining six weeks of my pregnancy with Elly, I was banished to the bedroom. We had our own home, but we moved into my parents in law suite so...

I am so grateful my girls have a fun young Aunt to play with. Mary loves doing their hair, taking pictures of them and just hanging out. Elly loves Mary, and Mary loves Elly. Aunt Mary is fifteen years old, and is busy with cheerleading, track and school, but she has made time for my girls. > >

It is easy to be happy with the weather we are having these days. Sunny and seventies with flowers in bloom. The school season is wrapping up, though I doubt that it will ever really wrap up for us with all the summer work books I've a crewed, summer camp to plan and plenty of books to read. There is much to be thankful for. I went to the doctors yesterday, I was spotting and it still irked me that I was not feeling ill. The results were less than complimentary. There was a sack in there, bunt was empty. No yolk sack or amniotic fluid that the specialist could see. "It is not measuring up to where it should be...it is much smaller. When was your last period again??" She already knew, but was checking up in hopes it was still early. The doctors said to wait two more weeks but that it was a 50/50 chance really. Too early to tell what was to happen. But it's okay. The sun is shining, I have two gorgeous girls I am blessed to stay home with. They...

Four days without power was enough to remind me of all the blessings electric can give.  Yes we kindled fires in the living room, cooked on the grill outside, even kept the fridge running and lights going with the generator; however having modern conveniences work at the flick of a switch in the comfort of a warm light filled home is priceless.   I don't realize the lack of effort I put into my very survival until I went just a little without.  It is no wonder the life expectancy of our ancestors was soo much shorter.  It feels like magic now, when I press a button and the room swells with light, warm air fills the spaces, burners boil water in seconds, hot showers steam and beat on an aching back...heavenly.  We are lucky, four days was not so bad with wood to heat usand the buzzing of generators chugging along.  No trees have fallen on our house, no flooding in our basement, every shingle on our roof stay...

Sometimes, many times, I have to take a step back and ponder what it is that makes this life beautiful, sacred, special.  I get frazzled and strangled by the many things on my to do list, my overpowering expectations and desires, kids whining, crying.   Anxiety builds, anger festers, blow ups occurr, until I STOP.  I stop and breathe...clear my mind.  This is not what it's all about is it?   There is no need to have this much PRESSURE.  Why am I sad, frustrated, scared, angry, alone?  STOP, BREATHE.  Hide in a closet and TALK with God.  THANK him for the minuete things, and then build into bigger parts of your life.  You can feel his peace, you will know his love.  I make a list, an endless, eternal thank you card to Heavenly Father.  This is moments of peace, solitude, calm.  And this is just the BEGINNING of my list.  This is turning a new leaf, a work in progress I wil...

        I post a lot about being neighbolry and helping those around us, but I rarely share with you my own experiences with service.  My main reason for avoiding this topic is because 1) I'm not that good at it  AND 2) I kind of feel like service is not meant to toot your own horn "look at me!  look at ALL the wonderful things I'm doing!"  This is not what service is about.  Unless of course I get to brag on someone else, that's okay.        But I had a converstaion with a dear friend the other day and she mentioned that I should share with you what I have learned from recent experiences.  So I suppose if it beneifts the reader (YOU) then it is worth it.     I have been in the other seat many times, receiving visits from the hospital when I was on bed rest with my first pregnancy, meals, homemade blankets and cards after she was born.  These m...

When you think neighbor, isn’t it easy to single out the five closest families that surround your house?   I know that’s what I think of when I hear the word neighbor.   As you know I trust and adore my neighbors.   They are friendly, kind, courteous and we all look out for one another.   But the residents in our neighborhood are not the ONLY neighbors we have.   Take a glance around you when you are shopping on the grocery store, pumping your gas, depositing money into the bank, driving to work.   Aren’t all these people our neighbors?   What about close friends?   You know the ones you call, text and hang out with?   Yep these are all our neighbors.   And all neighbors deserve help, praise, prayers, kindness and friendship.   Speaking of friends I have a great neighborly story to tell.                 Last week was rough.   We lost some tenants...

I love my neighbors! Really, I do. Yesterday we were greeted at our doorstep with a bag of goodies for the kids and us, and today after arriving home from a MOPS meeting we were yet again graced with another bag this time filled with delicious baked treats and cookbooks. I love the fact that I can borrow books from Brenda, recipes from Helen and learn new games from Kathy. I look forward to the friendly hellos and catching up. And the Christmas Season is such a good time to recognize the good you have in your life. And a friendly neighbor is sweeter than gold. My hubby and I always joke that we aren't moving unless our neighbors move.....and yeah that's pretty much true. But the thing is if you want a good neighbor then you've got to be a good neighbor. I've learned from my excellent examples of neighbors and reciprocate through out the year, not just the holidays. But I can do better I'm sure of it. Let me tell you, what a blessing to trust, appreciate and enj...

I love going to my parents house, it's so warm and inviting and comfortably big. It's not overwhelmingly spacious, just roomy enough to have a party and small enough to avoid being ostentatious. Their home has plenty of windows to let the light in, a wonderfully working pellet stove, the fluffiest soft sofas, and homemade cookies always seem to be baking in the oven...Mmm home. But really, I enjoy my parents house so much because they are there. I love their company, friendship and support. This is probably why I look forward every year to my Mom's annual Christmas lunch in. Homemade soups, breads, salads and cookies decorate the tables and counters. Twinkling lights from the numerous Christmas trees and cake stands set the mood. Soft songs of carols float through the air and the smell of yummy concoctions waft into all of our noses. It is a time to visit with old friends, catch up, wish merriness to one another. Is there anything better than friendship? Esp...

"He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat let him do likewise." Luke 3:17 I happen to enjoy the winter from within my cozy capecod. I relish in the warm, lazy moments of curling up to a good book. I look forward to the days of sweat pants and roaring fireplaces. However I am aware that for many winter is just a reminder of their lack of....whether it be temporal, spiritual or loneliness, our trials can feel like; bitter dark and deadly. It's easy to remember those suffering during the holidays, but how quickly we forget this once January 1st approaches. Let me just mention that I have been blessed by those who have served me, service has fed my soul when in need and energized my faith when acting upon it. I am oh so grateful for those whom took it upon themselves to serve me and for the growing experiences I had when the tables have been turned and I can give back. This is why I'm making it a New Years Resolution...

    Well, it was exciting at first this no electric thing.....but it is cold! Felt all nice and neighborly two days ago when I shared some soup with the neighbors. But as always they all help us out all lot more than we do them. Alan returned the favor by plowing our driveway on Sunday. Our other neighbors George and Brenda gave us some wood to start a fire in our fireplace. Thank goodness for that fire, because we then could have some friends over who didn't have any fire, electric....warmth in their home.   Can I just say? There is nothing like a fire. It's mesmerizing, with its flickering and sparking, a constant glowing heat infusing the air with comfort, and the smokey rustic smell of a fire is divine. Especially on a freezing snowy night with no working furnace. To add in, we were blessed once again when friends from the next town over (who had electric) invited us over for dinner for some homemade chicken soup and corn bread. Mmmmm....thank you Go...

When my hubby and I first moved into our home six years ago we were graced by our great neighbors. A knock on our door or a ring from the doorbell introduced us with smiling neighbors holding baked goods in their hands and smiles on their faces. One even handed us a lovely plant that has since grown and has been converted to a much larger pot.   These wonderful neighbors have turned into true friends who attend our children's birthday parties swap recipes along with samples and get together for game nights and dinners. I learned how to make homemade applesauce with my next door neighbor, and her husband has taught my husband how to prunes trees, garden and all sorts of things! They have nourished us with the love and trust of a family. I am so grateful to them. Unfortunately I feel as if my generation has lost that friendly community spirit. We stay quiet and aloof. If I hadn't been so lucky as to have neighbors that went outside of their comfort zone then I mig...