Friday August 25, 2006

 

Our Week

While our two daughters-in-law took a well-deserved vacation at the beach, we were privileged to have Jeff & Chris’ five children most of the week, and Jere and Kristen’s four some of the time.  Our sons continued to work at their respective jobs, as they need their vacation days for hunting whitetail in New York this fall.

 

Monday

–  

Jenna loves to cook and bake, so I asked her to make a cake/dessert that had been in my cupboard since early in the summer.

 

It was delicious.

Later in the week she made brownies and blueberry muffins.

 

Gloria, Diana, Jenna

In the afternoon they helped deliver mail to the post office.

Their brothers, Jordan and Nathan, spent the day with their other grandma.

 

That evening Diana decided that Grandpa needed a new hairstyle.

 

 

He knew this was destined for my blog!

 

Tuesday

The girls were with their Grandma Wells today, and the boys spent most of the day competing on Nintendo games.  I had work to do in the office, and decided this was their day of vacation.  After taking mail to the post office, I took the boys to Rita’s for an afternoon snack.

 

Wednesday

Jenna and Gloria

The girls helped me prepare a banquet flyer, letter, and return cards for the mail.

 

Diana

 

Delivering mail trays to the post office.

 

I was glad for their help, as I usually have to carry everything in myself.

 

Their reward was a trip to Rita’s

 

Cerwin took the boys to the Life-Saver Chapel at the T/A Travel Plaza, Elkton, Maryland.

 

Nathan prepared ceiling tile for the living quarters…

 

…and Cerwin and Jordan installed it.

 

Jordan showing off the finished job…

 

…and sweeping up the mess left behind.

 

Next project:  Wash and wax the outside.

 

 

 

Next

 

Chaplain Sam Houchins taking a picture of the action.

 

 

 

 

Their reward:  Lunch at Petro Stopping Center (one mile away) where TFC also has a chapel.  This gave them opportunity to spend time with Chaplain Howard Jones.

 

Wednesday Evening

Cerwin, Jere, Jordan, Nathan, and Josh went to Lancaster to see the Barnstormers play baseball.  The other six stayed with me.

 

Gloria and Jared

 

Ian loves to play Cars on the Nintendo.  He also loves his cowboy boots and wears them all the time.

 

Thursday

The cousins wanted to be together today.  Jordan and Nathan walked the one mile to Josh’s house to shoot hoops and play outside, then at lunchtime the three of them walked back to our house.

 

At 1 PM, after Tiffany (Jere & Kristen’s babysitter) had Jared in bed for his afternoon nap, Jenna, Gloria, Diana, and I walked the same mile toward Jere and Kristen’s house to meet Jana and Ian.

 

 

They were permitted to walk toward us when we were at the end of their road.

 

 

 

They noticed that someone was milking at my brothers’ farm and asked to stop.

 

We spent a bit of time talking to Aunt Brenda – my youngest brother’s wife.

 

By this point, Ian was glad to walk with Grandma – his legs are short, and grandma is old and walks slower than the girls.

 

 

He loved stepping on my shadow head.  (The lunch kettle does not contain food, but a favorite stuffed animal.  A wolf if I remember correctly.)

 

By this point there were eight grandchildren in our house – playing games, watching DVD’s, etc.  I figured since they were all occupied, I would get some work done in the office.  

About half-an-hour later, I suddenly realized that the house was quiet – something that is a notice of alarm to all mothers and grandmothers!

 

This is what I found!

 

It seems that some of these people – apparently from the wild west – knew where some gold was hidden…

 

…and weren’t talking.  Consequently they were rounded up and tied to a tree!

 

 

It appears that one of those with knowledge of the gold is trying to escape.

~~~

Their mothers returned about 5:30 in the evening.  Then our house was quiet again.  I don’t think the missing gold was ever found!

 

Friday

It was nice to go to a scheduled meeting (all adults!) at the TFC Headquarters Office and meet with Tony, a representative from WDAC (a local Christian radio station), and make plans for advertising opportunities.  The meeting also included Inge Koenig (my partner in communications) and TFC’s President, Scott Weidner.

~~~

The most exciting thing that happened today was that our Amish neighbor’s mules seemed to mistake a command to move farther down the field, and started running up the road when the men were trying to load corn stalks. 

 

 

I was at the kitchen window – waiting for the right moment to take a picture – when it happened.

 

  

 They quickly regained control and went back to cutting corn stalks.