Ladies Retreat...

The title doesn't mean the ladies were backing up. Ms. Sunny, Ms. Deb, Ms. Donna, and I headed to PA representing Green Valley Baptist for our Mid-Atlantic Regional Ladies Retreat. We always have a good time fellowshipping with one another. We had a good trip up. Heard an excellent speaker who could also sing - talk about talents! Then after a short snack time, we are used to going to the gym for volleyball, hanging out, etc. It's our tradition! Well, the gym was empty. Couldn't believe these folks were going to bed. We shared the camp with some young people who were also in bed. It was very bizarre; however, it didn't stop our tradition. We found the tea room (sponsored by District Heights) and had some tea and cookies. We closed the place around 12:30 AM. Still not ready for bed. Since I can't walk very far, I use a scooter for longer distances. (Several of the young people and young at heart at church have ridden my scooter - at camp, the hospital, and other various places.) I was riding the scooter around the camp and decided to give scooter lessons to my friends so they could experience the thrill. I've actually "burned" rubber on it a few times. I sat in one of the swings, watched, and laughed as they took turns. Ms. Donna was determined to burn rubber which she did. Then Ms. Sunny took a turn. Ms. Deb didn't want to drive last night, but rode double with Ms. Donna driving. You could hear their laughter echo through the trees. Then Ms. Sunny drove and Ms. Donna rode doubles. All rides - even the backwards ones - were done at "bunny" speed vs "turtle" speed. "Bunny" speed is the most fun. We all laughed and had a great time! Today, another speak spoke about the strongholds in our lives - things that effect the way we live. It was a very emotional time for me. It still is even now that I'm home. I want to do so much more for God. I love young people and wish my physical limitations didn't limit my participation in their activities. Pray for me...

Cabinets are here!

The cabinets are here! We are so excited - the new kitchen is getting closer to reality. We just knew they would be delivered today. The driver called me at 5:30 PM and said we would get our cabinets today, but he was in Martinsburg, WV. The cabinets arrived around 8:45 PM. Driver was real nice. Just glad they are here.

Missionary spoke

Went to church tonight and heard from one of our missionaries - it was an uplifting time. Played for the congregation to sing - that was nice - I miss playing for the congregation sometimes, but I really like the praise worship team and the praise music; who knows what God might have in store - I might get to play with them someday? Then went to Wal-Mart and found a sweatshirt for this weekend - ladies retreat (could get a little chilly around the bonfire). Got a call today and our kitchen remodel has been moved up a week. It means I have to get busy and pack up the stuff in the cabinets. I thought I was going to have another week so have been working on other things. The cabinets are to be delivered by the freight company tomorrow. Exciting times...

Got some new dishes

We've been looking at new plates, etc. for some time. I had hoped to get red square plates, but I'm ahead of the times. I opted for Corelle's white square plates with two bamboo branches across part of the plate. The bowls are also square with a light green trim. Corelle is really lightweight and that's what I appreciate. God was blessing - we went to the Corelle Factory Outlet at the Prime Outlets in Hagerstown. Corelle was having a 20% off sale - sweet! John and I have never had new dishes. Did have a Wal-Mart Black Friday special set once ($14) - we used the glasses, but not the plates. Yes, you got glasses too. One and only time I ever ventured out on Black Friday. We are getting excited about the prospect of a new kitchen...

Supper with Chris & the girls

We had supper with Chris and his girls, Cliff, Julie, and my Mom. Chris and family just got back from Disney World yesterday. We heard lots of exciting details. I missed them so much. It was great to get together. Scott had to work. Abby & Steph wanted to ride with us to AC Moore. Chris and AJ went to pick up something for supper for Desiree. We met them at AC Moore. Abby wanted to come home with us so we had to play a little game to get her into her car seat. She was so sleepy. God has blessed us with a wonderful family and we really enjoy spending time with all of them. I got to see all my grandbabies this weekend - thank you God for making me a Nonni...

An awesome day with God

Some days I'm amazed at how awesome God is. Today was fabulous. We went to church and had a wonderful time in praise and worship. Pastor Mike brought an excellent message on growing in the Lord - keep it basic. After service, I got to hold Jack - what a thrill ! Jack is Dave's & Jill's son - Pastor Mike's & Ms. Deb's first grandchild. Then we had our church picnic this afternoon. It was great. We had a delicious potluck meal and then SMYDEK (our church youth group) had its meeting. We stayed for that and John Yoho - youth pastor - introduced Steve Tate (one of our new deacons) who gave his testimony. We also sang. I got to play with Sammy Semelsberger (the little one who had open heart surgery shortly after he was born). Sammy will be a year old in December. His parents are Mike and Joy. He also loves hanging out with his Aunt Starr. He has the cutest smile. After the picnic, we stopped by the Wilsons house to see the newest addition, Nathan Michael (he weighed in last Sunday morning - on his due date - at ~9 lbs 15 oz). Wes Wilson is our worship leader. I got time with 3 babies today - how awesome is that ! On the way home, we stopped by my Mom's house real quick to give Destiny her sunglasses - she had left them in our van. It was great to end a glorious day with lovin' from my grandbabies. Thank you, God...

Fair day with Scott's girls

We took Destiny, Jessica, and Katelyn to the fair this afternoon. We visited all the animals. Loved the newborn piglets - one was especially independent. Saw a brand new calf - still getting cleaned up from its Mommy. Ran into Cliff and Julie. Destiny has a way with horses. Everyone was going up to the gates to see the horses and all the horses were back in the stalls. As soon as Destiny walked up, the horses would come right up to the gate. (Destiny has horses and loves to ride.) Cliff said Destiny must be the horse whisperer. John and Katelyn rode one ride. We got something to eat and headed home. It was a wonderful day with our grandbabies...

Cliff's b-day

Today is Cliff's 25th birthday. Julie had an open house party for him. She got him a Wii and we got him another remote & games for it. Tim was there. He set it up. He was hilarious making the characters look like Cliff and Julie. We took turns playing tennis. It was fun, but I can see how it could become addictive. Mom, Scott, and the girls were there too. Destiny was very good at beating me in tennis. Amy & Lucas and Alicia & Alex came by later. It was my first time to meet the guys - they were very nice and handsome too. Chris & Desiree and the girls are still in Disney World - they will head home on Sunday. They have had a great time. It's been an exciting week!

Went to the Fair

Worked on the newsletter today. Got some music together for an upcoming wedding. Then tonight we picked up Ms. Deb and went to the Fair. We looked at the exhibits, the birthing center (nothing being born at the time, some on the way), and then visited some friends (The Murphys) who had beef cattle. We had a pulled pork sandwich which was delicious. Got a piece of pie before we left. Had a wonderful time, but am tired and headed for bed...

Lazy Day

I don't know why, but today I was just exhausted. Don't know if it was all the traveling or what. Tried to load the new software on the home computer. One program loaded fine, the other one didn't. Will have to get Cliff to help me - keeps saying a file is missing. Don't know why since it loaded fine on the new laptop. Go figure - technology is great when it's working, but oh so frustrating when it's not. Going to bed and looking forward to a brighter day tomorrow...

We're Home !

We got home this afternoon. We had stopped in Williamsburg at the Pottery Factory. It sure has changed since years ago. Then we drove onto Fredericksburg and spent the night. We looked at some of the outlets there today. Still didn't find any dishes, but did find a couple of pillows I'd been looking for in an orangey red shade - got one plain and one with stripes. Had dinner with Mom tonight at the new Pizza place in Urbana. I got spaghetti - it was good, but I couldn't eat it all (didn't care for the garlic bread - it was more like just the hard crust, soft part removed). Our new cabinets will be delivered next week...we are getting closer to a wonderful new kitchen!

Laptop has stroke!

How dependent we become on modern technology. I'm still doing the weekly church newsletter while I'm on vacation. My old laptop had a stroke...lost some of its important faculties. John was listening to me bless it and threaten to throw it off the 13th floor balcony. The cursor would float up into the corner. I would have to shut down the computer, restart, and try again. I would do one action and it would start again. Trust me, checking one email, shutting down the computer, and starting again is a VERY LONG process. We were in Greenville, NC, at a hotel and I was trying to finish this week's newsletter. The cursor started to float, but this time was different. When the cursor floated, so did the document. Then one of the graphics just moved off the page along with the cursor - that was the last straw. I was about to save the document and was afraid I would lose all of my work. I quickly saved it. Re-opened it, fixed the graphic, saved it, and emailed it to myself. I knew that we were going to see my sister, Dina, the next day and she had a computer I could use to finish it. When we were going out to dinner, John just pulled into the Best Buy and said let's check on one. (We had priced one in SC, but the tax rate there is high.) We ended up buying a new laptop that was on sale and that is how this new post has been created. Had a wonderful visit with Steve and Dina in their home. We talked and laughed until we were so tired we had to go to bed. This morning Dina and I compared laptops, programs, etc. Then we all went to lunch. After lunch, they returned home and we headed up the road. We're in Williamsburg tonight. In the words of Patrick Henry (I think - I've been out of school too long) with a modern day twist: Give me a working laptop and a good connection or give me death !

Myrtle Beach

We are in a beautiful oceanfront condo in Myrtle Beach. It is so relaxing to look out at the ocean and think how awesome God was to think of oceans. The sound of the waves just releases any stress you have. The complex offers a lazy river, a pool, and of course, the ocean. Plan to partake of all of them. We also saw some folks driving a golf cart on the road. We are going to check out a golf cart rental. We stayed at a complex once before where you could rent golf carts and we thoroughly enjoyed cruising in the late afternoon/evenings. Well, I'm off to enjoy God's creation...

Internet problems..

I'm back in touch. I had internet connection problems at one hotel. It was baffling because I could get on at some locations and not others. Got to Myrtle Beach and tried to get on at a Starbucks, but it wouldn't let me. Then I had John pull in to different hotels to see if I could get a connection from the parking lot. You know I can't stand to be without my connection to the family and email (besides I'm still doing the church bulletin for each Sunday even while we are gone). I think I've found the solution after visiting Best Buy here in Myrtle Beach. I won't go into the details, but the guy did some tweeking and I believe I'm good to go now. You know me - I have to chat with everyone. I said we were visiting from MD, he said he was originally from Philly. I said I've been there. He wanted to know if we were vacationing. I said yes, we were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and my hubby had just retired from being a police officer. This guy had been a police officer in Philly. The best part: After he "adjusted" my computer, I asked what we owed. (John had seen a sign that said diagnostics was $59.) He stuck out his hand to shake my hand and then John's. He said it is the least I can do for a fellow police officer. As we were walking away, I told John: I'm really going to keep you now - you're even more valuable than I thought. Only kidding, I was going to keep you anyway, forever...