Rest in the Lord and be willing to wait for Him. Psalm 37:7 (NLV)
Saturday morning, December 29 Brunch time was set for 9 am. My brother Dale was asked to open with prayer for the food and a blessing on the family in 2019. You may remember seeing song sheets on the tables in yesterday’s post. Jere asked Kate to lead two songs. Jared and Andi’s family – […]
Sunday, December 2 Gathering for prayer before the meal – but singing happy birthday to Lydia first. Prayer Jesse was first in line for the food buffet. I made “haystacks”, which means you can put together a large salad with anything you want. Or if you don’t like salads, there is chili con carne, dinner […]
Sunday, December 2 What fun preparing for our family this year as we set up tables for 33 people. Everyone was able to come except Nsimba, Elizabeth, and Nicodemus from Maine – and Kayla from Tennessee. There was even one extra – Katie, a friend of Roy and Deb. That’s why Cerwin and I have […]
Sunday, December 31 After enjoying the morning worship service at Brunswick Church of the Brethren – near Wales, Maine – we had our Maine Christmas meal and celebration at Mark and Diane’s house. Dessert was a delicious cheese cake. A slice displayed by Hannah During the gift exchange, we learned that Nsimba likes peppermint candy […]
Monday Afternoon, December 25 A pretty decoration on the table. Jesse wanted a picture next to Roy – with his shirt. 🙂 The dessert table These peppermint candy spoons – made by Kristen – were for stirring coffee or tea. Red velvet cake roll Pumpkin cake roll Singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus Our afternoon craft […]
Monday, December 25 We woke up to a pretty snow flurry. Diane gave us come granola Josiah and Diane joined us in two games of Qwirkle The guys were the winners. We were invited to Jere and Kristen’s for lunch. The ham was done in their smoker – and was delicious. The turkey was roasted […]
Saturday Morning, December 23 – After the meal: visiting, games, and decorating gingerbread men Jake visiting with great-grandma Children in the gym Benny, Lincoln, Elyse, Neil, Clair and a twin (I think Iris) Tavian Roy and Josiah Diane and Katie Mike, Jake, and John Steve, Tristan and Nancy Dot and Chris Melissa, Kristen, Kevin, Jere […]
Saturday Morning, December 23 – Featuring the meal The pictures were taken without flash – thus the soft focus on most of them. Flash can be quite bothersome when a lot of pictures are being taken. Laura and Amy in the foreground helping their children. A hot dip and mac and cheese. Crackers and dip […]
Saturday, December 23 We arrived early – when the “Hershey Christmas Committee” was preparing the Manheim Brethren in Christ Warehouse for our brunch. The committee consisted of those who volunteered last Christmas – our Jere & Kristen and Marlin and Nancy’s (my sister) daughters and husbands: Larry & Karen, Jason & Melissa, Kevin & Amy, […]
Monday, December 18 You may remember this photo from our family Christmas on Sunday, December 3 – our family’s charity choice – in place of exchanging gifts this year. Jeff and Chris where hoping to deliver the items, but their schedule was a bit hectic and busy, so they asked if we could do it. […]
Sunday, December 3 After the food and lunch tables were put away, Cerwin and I showed slides of each person as a baby. We no longer exchange names and gifts, so I asked, “If you had this person’s name, who would you have had to buy a gift for?” I am only going to show […]
Sunday, December 3 We prepared the tables on Saturday Diana and Gloria were two of the first to arrive – giving Grandpa time to ask them about their hunting experiences. Both shot a deer this year. Jenna asked for a scissors because she noticed a few hairs that she missed when giving Dustan a haircut. […]
Sunday, December 25 It’s nice that Jere and Kristen like cooking and entertaining – and make sure each family member has a place for lunch on Christmas Day. Jana made Grinch Punch. The red rim is sugar crystals. Our name tags were made with Scrabble squares. The coffee and dessert area Pretty decorations We took a few […]
On Friday morning, December 23 – the eve of Christmas Eve – I was feeling a need to go somewhere since we were having a quiet Christmas week. We had our family’s Christmas celebration on December 4 because some of our family – especially grandchildren – had many other family celebrations. Having the meal early meant that each of our Pennsylvania […]
Sunday, December 18 through Tuesday, December 20 We started Christmas week by having lunch at Pizza Hut with most of Jeff and Chris’ family to celebrate a few 2016 birthdays – Chris, Donovan, Diana, and Gloria. Oh, what fun to be with their family. The next day (Monday) we enjoyed lunch with the staff at […]
Our Christmas Celebration on Sunday, December 4 – continued While we put the food away after lunch, some of the family set up and designed six gingerbread houses. Ian, Marcy, Mother, Allie, Deb, Anthony, Abby, and Jesse. Jesse Deb, Anthony, and Abby. Anthony enjoyed decorating the gingerbread men. Jesse Ian Josiah, Deb, Allie, Anthony, Jesse, […]
Sunday, December 4 After the lunch items were put away, we put the Now-You-Have-It-Now-You-Don’t items on the floor. (Hidden in front of Jere and Kristen.) Then each person read the Bible verse that was given them – verses about the birth of Jesus. When we were finished with the Now-You-Have-It-Now-You-Don’t game we had a contest […]
Sunday, December 4 We planned our family Christmas celebration for the first Sunday in December because there are so many other family dinners that involve our children and grandchildren. I was pleased that it suited each of our Pennsylvania children and grandchildren. I set the table for 27 – which included my step-mother. It was also the […]
Monday Evening, January 4 After supper at Sea Dog, we went to Hannah and Lydia’s place to exchange a few gifts. The gifts in the box were for Now-You-Have-It-Now-You-Don’t. I forgot to take pictures of that game. I think we brought some of these gifts from Pennsylvania – given by Nate, Abby (their Pennsylvania daughter & sister), and Anthony. Two chocolate […]
Saturday Evening, January 2 Our great-nephew Tavian Our great-niece Elyse Dot arranging some of the food. My brother Clair (holding his grandson, Tavian), his wife Kate, and their son-in-law Rob watching the children playing. Elliot It appears that something was funny. Supper is served! These next few pictures are fun. Our sister-in-law Brenda grabbed my […]
Sunday Evening, December 27 This meal included those who could attend of Cerwin’s siblings, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Do you notice Nathan trying to get attention in the background? Now you can see him! 🙂 Every married couple brought a hot and cold dish. We had the buffet line in the kitchen to make room for […]
Saturday Evening, December 26 We do not do a lot of decorating for Christmas, but do try to make the garage area a bit festive. Jere and Kristen made the ham in their new smoker. It was delicious. Deb and Chris discussing the table setting. Our children and grandchildren make it easy for us. They […]
Friday, December 25 This was our group of nine family members who were free to have Christmas lunch in Landis Homes Azalea Room with Cerwin’s mother. Clockwise: Cerwin, my empty chair, Juanita, Deb, Roy, Mother, Velda, Mel, Uncle John, Josiah. From the other end of the table. Josiah and Uncle John enjoying conversation. Those who read […]
Thursday Evening, December 24 Jere and Kristen invited us to join them and Roy and Deb in their Christmas Eve tradition of going to see a family movie at Penn Cinema and supper at their house. Ian, Josh, Jared, Jana, Jesse, Allie It was almost like having a private viewing, as it was our group and maybe six […]
Wednesday, December 9 When I arrived – about the time for fruit basket packing – the grocery boxes were already packed. This is what goes inside one large grocery box: dinner rolls, 3 cans canned corn, spaghetti sauce, 2 cans turkey gravy, 2 boxes stovetop stuffing, pancake syrup, brownie mix, icing, 3 lbs. potatoes, peanut butter, […]
Wednesday, December 9 After Mother High was moved to the ground level of a personal care unit at Landis Homes, we (her children) asked if she could have a birdfeeder outside her window. They said she could. At first we took one of our feeders that prevents squirrels from eating the birdseed, but squirrels were the only […]
I expect that you – like me – enjoy seeing pretty Christmas lights. We don’t do a lot of decorating, so I enjoy the decorating work of others. I haven’t had opportunity to take many pictures of lights this year, but one night we enjoyed the beauty of Broad Street in Lititz. One of my favorite songs […]
Monday, December 29 We enjoyed having Kinza here on Monday while Reuben and Judi were at the hospital with their little boy. Elizabeth was a big help in playing games with her. Anthony and Ian We also took Ian, Jared, and Jesse along to the Hershey Christmas Supper while Jere & Kristen were at a doctor […]
This is the first year ever that neither of Cerwin’s parents were at the celebration. It was difficult for us – knowing that Mother could not be here. I expect it was difficult for her as well. Because there were several out-of-state nieces and nephews in the area, we chose a date to suit them. There was […]
Saturday Evening, December 27 Our evening began with supper – provided by our wonderful ladies – Chris, Kristen, Deb, and Abby. They haven’t allowed me to make any food for the past few years – and I really appreciate that. We provide the place, the tables, place settings, and drink (orange punch and raspberry iced […]