Monday Evening, July 27
We were looking forward to this evening where we would meet Veli-Pekka, Marjaana, Malin, Magda, and Monika from Finland.
Marjaana (in black behind the Igloo) and Kristen met many years ago when Marjaana lived with Kristen and her parents while attending high school in the United States.
Jere and Kristen have been to Finland, but I think this is the first time Marjaana’s family has been to the United States. They stayed at Jere and Kristen’s house and have been busy during the past few days as Jere and Kristen showed them the area and gave them many experiences: a tour of Paul B. Zimmerman’s headquarters near Lititz (where Jere and Kristen work) and the new location which is being built at Leesport; Sight and Sound, a meal and buggy ride at Jere and Kristen’s Amish friends; and a trip to Washington DC.
Cerwin and Deb
They spent their final evening at Jere and Kristen’s enjoying an outdoor meal that included us and our children Jeff, Diane, and Deb. Ian and Nicole and Austin and Jana were also able to come.
Following supper Jere and Kristen surprised Veli-Pekka with a 60th birthday cake. His birthday in not for a few weeks, but he enjoyed celebrating early.
Cake and Cup Bake Shoppe created this cake with the information that Veli-Pekka is a newspaper journalist.
After we all sang Happy Birthday in English, their three daughters Malin, Magda, and Monika sang it in Finnish while their mom took pictures.
Blowing out the candles.
The cake was not only decorated beautifully, but it was delicious.
Along with the Finnish family, you can see Marjanna talking to Diane, Kristen talking to Jeff (hidden), Cerwin, Nicole, Ian, Austin, Jana, and Deb.
Malin, Magda, Monika and Jana enjoyed feeding leftovers to the chickens.