Short Takes

Legacy

2011-09-08T21:56:00.004-04:00

I just loved that Bethany wore white, lacy, fingerless gloves during her ceremony.

Those gloves belonged to her paternal grandmother, Carolyn Grubbs, who went to be with the Lord when Bethany was four years old.

Carolyn was an awesome woman of God. A first grade teacher for twenty-plus years, she did not finish her degree until after she had children. She went to Slippery Rock, commuting from Mars, Pa on a daily basis, to complete her education. When she graduated, she was number one in her class. She was a diligent learner.

That served her well when she received Christ as Savior in her 40's. Always a church-goer, she never really heard or understood the salvation plan until then.

She needed to be a quick learner because God had big plans for her. Encouraging and wisdom were her gifts, and she used them as a teacher, a mentor, and most of all as a counselor. She brought many people to the Lord through her gift of evangelism, and she brought many back to the Lord with her gifts of listening, discerning, then speaking the truth in love.

She used her hands to give others a warm hug, a touch on the shoulder. She used them to grade papers and wipe away tears from first graders eyes. (Why am I talking about her hands, you ask? You'll see)

As a mother-in-law, she was a dream. She was my mentor and my prayer partner, and my friend.

Carolyn got cancer sometime in the early 80's. She handled her diagnosis with dignity and most of all, with her faith. She always said she had triple insurance: God could heal her divinely; God could use doctors to heal her; or she could get the ultimate healing and go to be with Him.

It was a huge loss for our family when she DID go to be with the Lord. I felt such a void for my children, that they would miss what an awesome grandma and person she was.

The little they do remember of her is precious.

So when Bethany was putting together her bridal ensemble, I brought out the lace gloves. We are not sure if they were ivory when Carolyn wore them in the 1950's, but they were yellowish in this present decade. I consulted with cleaners and alteration specialists as to what I could do to restore these gloves to pure white, since Bethany's gown was white.

They suggested I soak them in Oxyclean and warned me that I was taking a chance since the material was delicate and old.

I was so pleased when the Oxyclean worked and left the gloves intact. Having that piece of Carolyn with her meant a lot to us all as Bethany walked down the aisle to begin a new chapter as Mrs. Wentz. May the legacy of Carolyn's touch be placed upon Bethany now, as she goes out into the world, touching those in need.

The Rainbow

2011-09-01T22:06:00.002-04:00

On the night that Bethany met Brad, I had the strangest thing happen to me.

Bethany had gone to her very good friend, Erin's wedding. She participated in the wedding by doing a reading.

That same evening, Jon and I went out to dinner in Wexford. As we were coming home across the Red Belt, a beautiful rainbow came into view, high in the sky. The odd thing was, it was a bright sunny day with not a drop of rain.

I thought for sure it would be raining in the miles up ahead. So I kept staring out the front windshield at this magnificent, colorful rainbow and telling Jon that I was sure there would be rain up ahead!

There wasn't!

I was focusing on this rainbow, when I heard a voice say, "Bethany met her husband at the wedding tonight."

Huh? Where did that come from?

I kept this to myself.....and a few days later, Bethany told me she "met someone" at Erin's wedding.

The first time Brad walked in our front door, I thought, "There's my future son-in-law".

What do you think? Weird? Wacky? A message from God?

The Truth, Part 2

2011-08-30T22:02:00.006-04:00

THE DRESS. The search for the perfect dress. Now that the wedding is over, all can be revealed.
If you read my previous post, you know Bethany tried on (due to my love of all things wedding) MANY dresses over the years. To say hundreds would be exaggerating; but not by much.
She has tried on ballgowns, strapless, trumpet, mermaid, slinky, poufy, off-white, pure white, ecru, lacey, fru-fru gowns. The purchase of her beautiful eyelet embroidered silk organza sweep train gown is a story that can finally be told.
Ten months before Bethany was engaged, I was having breakfast with my dear friend Cyndi and afterwards we went shopping. We went shopping at Goodwill in Wexford. Much to my surprise, they had many wedding gowns in the store, with original tags still on them. I went through them one by one.....looking to see if anything just might scream "Bethany" to me.
They all were too formal, too poufy, to not-Beth.
But on the way out the door, Cyndi spotted a round of dresses that had this one simple, halter-style dress that yes, was a Watters and Watters wedding gown. I looked at the size and thought , "This might work." I looked at the price and said SOLD.
I took the dress to the cashier and said, "What is the deal with these bridal gowns?" She preceded to tell me that the bridal store down the street was getting rid of old (but never worn) merchandise to make room for new.
My thought? Who cares if she likes it or not, she can cut it off to wear to a rehearsal dinner, a shower, whatever.
I also purchased two summer skirts for my daughter.
As I left the store, I texted Bethany and said, "I bought you two summer skirts today.....and a wedding gown". She texted back, "I will be right over."
She tried on the wedding gown, modeled it for me, and said THIS IS MY DRESS.
So until she had that ring put on her finger, we had her wedding dress hanging in the wardrobe in her old bedroom at my house.
It was our secret.
She looked beautiful in the gown......got so many compliments on it, and was told it fit her personality to a T. We both knew it was a special gift from God.
Oh, the price?
TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS.
Her beauty in it? PRICELESS.

The Truth

2011-08-11T11:16:00.004-04:00

So, most who know me won't be surprised that I have been planning Bethany's wedding for years....perhaps more than a decade : )
I have been enamored for A LONG TIME with all things wedding. Gauzy, flowing, white material just mesmerizes me, I admit it! I cannot pass a bridal store without at least window shopping but most times, entering and drooling. I have said countless times to owners of said boutiques, "let me know when you want to retire or need help".
And yes, I have dragged my daughter into this obsession of mine. Ever since she's looked "marrying age" , I have twisted my diamond off my finger and shoved it onto hers to play-act that we truly had a legit reason to be in the store and have her try on gowns and discuss wedding details. Often we did not get our stories straight (groom's names, date of wedding) Yes, some embarassing moments occurred....but worth it to me!!
When the day came that I could begin FOR REAL, I dove right in! Wedding planning to me is a joy. And planning my daughter's wedding, double joy.
I should say PLAN THE RECEPTION. Bethany reminded me when I put my 2 cents in about the ceremony, it was her and brad getting married, not her and I. (smile) She was right! And they did a beautiful job of putting together a meaningful service.
Since Brad and Beth do a mission trip to Honduras twice a year, they wanted their celebration to reflect their love of all things Latin. (Read about their ministry here: www.dreambighonduras.com) She picked the colors --watermelon and orange--and I was off!
I read so many wedding blogs and perused so many wedding websites that my eyes began to resemble raw hamburgers! I got lots of ideas, saved a lot of pictures, and let my imagination run wild.
One thing Bethany is not is traditional in style~ she marches to the beat of her own drummer--so we knew we didn't want elegant, pastel, or formal. We wanted bright, fun, and something that shouted C E L E B R A T E.
Some of my favorite elements:

fuschia pink Mexican banners made out of thin tissue~ these were hung from the cake/cupcake table, the gift table, and the cookie/candy bar table.
small chalkboards , frames stamped with "Mr & Mrs" or "Love", with a Spanish word or phrase on them: "Dulce" on the cookie table (translated 'sweet'); "Gracias Amigos" on the gift table.
Mexican soda in orange, deep pink, and yellow as favors on the tables for each guest
THE CANDY BUFFET IN ORANGE AND PINK COLORS!

Bethany and Brad danced the night away with laughter amid family and friends. They say it was the best day of their lives. What more could a mom (aka wedding planner wannabe) ask for?

Wedding planning

2011-05-07T21:13:00.003-04:00

Long time no post, but my life has been a little busy!
February 14th my one and only baby girl got engaged to her love Brad! It was so exciting, and we were blessed that the happy couple came to our house that night...close to midnight...and we celebrated and rejoiced together.
Since them, I have been in full wedding planner mode ....and I have had a blast doing it!
We are so lucky to have on board with us wedding planner par excellence, Jaime Dray. Jaime was Bethany's roommate at the "condo" and a friend from college. She has offered her services, which means her vast resources, her endless knowledge, and her good taste.
Beth and Brad have had a vision for a "fiesta" reception. Orange and pink are her colors which lend themselves well to a Latin American flavor.
I don't want to give away too much, but I think it is going to be a heck of a celebration. The trick is to give a Look to everything, but not go overboard. To keep everything in good taste. To not give in to any idea that might be tacky. I hope I succeeded! Time will tell.

If I Had a Sports Blog

2011-01-05T20:12:00.003-05:00

There have been so many happenings in sports lately that I have been writing a million blogs in my head!! So this post will be a compilation of all my sports thoughts recently:

The Winter Classic: Talked about for months, this event was hyped to the max, as arguably, it should have been. I work with the "hockey dudes", so hockey is talked about nonstop all year long. Therefore, I know wayyyyyy more about hockey than I should. The assembling of an ice rink on Heinz Field was pretty interesting and the fact that common folk could skate on the ice before the Classic was way cool. Our city was showcased in a very positive and attractive light, but all in all, I thought it was a bust. Sorry hockey dudes. The crew that ran the cameras must have been a football crew....the angles were horrible sometimes on TV. The rain made the ice sloppy and thus the play was at scrimmage level, at best. And, hello, the Penguins lost. That alone qualifies it for a minor bust.

The Steelers In the Playoffs: makes January bearable. Period. Troy...... MVP of the team, and an MVP of life. He is a great, great guy. Our road to the Super Bowl? New England scares me. Does anyone else think they are playing at a different level than anyone else? Whatever happens in January, I am grateful that we have a reason to care about football in the midst of winter.

Pitt basketball: I had a very bad day the other day and was extremely stressed out. Feeling on the precipice of depression. THEN, Pitt played U Conn that night and my spirits soared as high as Gilbert Brown got on the alley-oop in the first half. Pitt beat U Conn very convincingly. PITT LOOKS LIKE THE REAL DEAL THIS YEAR. HONEST.

Pitt Football: The ripple effects of this debacle will be slapping the sides of the Three Rivers for many moons. Gosh, did they REALLY say they were getting a moral leader who was a disciplinarian and then he was arrested on domestic abuse charges before the ink was dry on his more-than-a-million dollar contract? I am shuddering thinking of how football prospects are RUNNING away from the Pitt program, led by their shrieking mamas. Would you want your son associated with this mess?

Big Ben Engaged Rumor: This is a lose-lose situation. If Ben is engaged, how bad do we feel for his fiance when he is saying, "no comment" about being engaged?? Really sounds like a happy man who is proud to be in love! Not! If he is just dating this girl from New Castle that's been named, and they are NOT engaged, TALK ABOUT PRESSURE. The whole world thinks they are engaged, or might be, and they perhaps haven't even shared their middle names yet? Awkward. There is so much more that could be said on the Big Ben situation but I will leave it to the sleazy bloggers to go there.

Ben Hasn't Thrown an Interception in a gazillion passes: OK, all of the various news outlets / media that has been touting this stat, please shut up. Have you heard of a sports jinx???

What are your sports thoughts this January?

1-1-11

2011-01-01T22:31:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! There has to be something very close to perfect in the number 1-1-11!!
Another 365 days lie before us, fresh, unspoiled, ready to be written on like the crisp pages of an empty journal.
I began this year by visiting with my dear parents. Over 80, they are still of able body, mind and spirit. We engaged in lively conversation about Scriptural references, debating some theological points and "agreeing to disagree" on a few issues. We shared family news items and also some of our hopes for 2011. It was a good way to start the year.
In order to make that visit, Jon had to stay home with the 3 little ones in our care. When I left the house, it was a chaotic mess of toys and toy parts from one end to the other. I truly was wondering whether I could walk out of that mess and leave it for later times.
To my wonder and surprise, when I got home the house was toy-free (on the surface at least) as Jon had purchased 3 large storage bins, one for each child, and everything was picked up and organized. Yeah!! He definitely had some help from Beth who came by while I was gone. What a wonderful New Years gift!
One of my 2011 goals is to de-clutter my life to make it more manageable. With the passing years I have collected more and more "things". I am a little bit of a hoarder, I'm afraid. So to truly get that fresh, clean start to 2011, I have resolved to either throw away or give away one thing every day in January. I am not making a rash statement such as "I am going to do this every day this year"....I am going to start with January and see where it lands me.
So, 2011, here I am, broom in hand. Sweeping out the old!

Oh What a Night!

2010-12-04T09:47:00.002-05:00

Last night Big Guy and I travelled to Bellaire, Ohio, just over the W Va border to watch our baby boy coach his first high school basketball game.

It was a blast!

Sometimes watching high school sports can be a little like watching paint dry. Not so on the new hardwood floor at the gym of St John Central. Jeremy had his boys ready to play Jefferson Christian.

In his coaching debut, his Fighting Irish players dominated, winning by 22 points!

The crowd was really into it, including the student dressed as a Leprechaun. The gym was decorated with signs for the boys, orange basketballs with the name of each player. There was even a basketball sign that said "Coach Grubbs".

When the score was 4-3 in favor of Jer's team, I looked over, and my better half was tearing up. I said, "Are you crying because he's winning his first game?"....at which point I was told to look the other way. I trust none of you will tell on me that I revealed that :)

One of my favorite moments was when I went out in the hallway at half time. There on the wall was this sign: WE LOVE COACH GRUBBS

So do I, St. John fans. So do I.

Somewhere Out There

2010-11-11T11:00:00.007-05:00

On our way to our getaway with L, N, and E to the Poconos, we watched several flicks. We were blessed that we acquired a van equipped with a VCR player to take this trip. (Thanks to Vern and Wheels to Work). "Big Guy" had done a VCR purge of our home about a year ago (saying who has a VCR anymore in this day of DVDs?) but luckily I salvaged a few and Bethy salvaged a lot. We had quite a selection from which to chose for the trip.

One of the ones we watched was "American Tale". What a classic.

What I didn't expect was how much the story of Fievel's predicament, being separated from his parents, was going to present such a strong parallel to the real life situation my 3 little ones are in.

When the featured song, "Somewhere Out There" was over, L, aged 8, said in a quiet voice, "Great song." Consider some of the words:

Somewhere out there, Someone's saying a prayer

That we'll find one another in the big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are

It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.....

it goes on...

Somewhere out there if Love can see us through

Then we'll be together, Somewhere out there, out where dreams come true

When the ending came, and Fievel was reunited with his parents, the lump in my throat was large and the tear in my eye was real. I could not help but think of these 3 precious little ones searching to have that someone to reunite with underneath the great big sky.

Double knot

2010-11-02T21:43:00.004-04:00

Did you teach your children to double knot their shoes? The premise being that, if your shoelaces are double-knoted, they are less likely to become untied.

Well, I believe the case we are involved in with Children and Youth services has become quadruple-knotted as of today. A very complicated case has just become even more so, times ten.

What that means to us is, we will more than likely still have these children when the calendar turns to 2011. Our original commitment was 3 months. We are definitely looking at five to six months. xxx

Since I had a pretty bad evening yesterday (nothing was going right!) I had to have a pretty good talk with myself today when I faced reality.

My conclusion: ( and I need your help holding myself to these)

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to enjoy the hilarious and endearing personalities of these 3 little souls more every day.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to fill my freezer with frozen entries.

I am going to use paper plates more often.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

I am going to do a better job using the resources around me.

I am going to try to remember that these six months of my life are a drop in the bucket compared to the 598+ months I have been alive.

I am going to pray more.

I am going to try not to sweat the small stuff.

How are we blessed? let me count the ways

2010-10-30T21:57:00.005-04:00

Although we are tres disappointed in the support we have been receiving from the authorities (see previous post), I would be remiss if I did not state loud and clear how VERY BLESSED we have been throughout this fostering situation by our friends and family.
First of all, the prayer support. Without your prayers, we would be flat on our backs with an IV sticking out of our arms. No kidding. The physical work involved in having a 2yr old and a 4yr old at age 54 is staggering. We have felt the extra measure of patience at bedtimes (most nights), at mealtimes with copious spills and demands, and during potty training (repeat: most times). Those are the three biggest challenges with the younger 2. Bedtime has become easier as they are falling into a more peaceful routine. Mealtime remains challenging; and potty training has always gotten the best of me. I suck at it. Period.
The meals that have come from near and far have been lifesavers. IF I NEVER HAD TO COOK AGAIN I WOULD BE ONE HAPPY LADY. So to each who has provided a casserole, a roast, pasta or chicken, THANK YOU.
The care-taking: So many have stepped up to lovingly watch the children when we have needed it. Of the two months we have had them, we have had 3 weeks of free daycare at a Christian daycare. It has been wonderful for them to learn in that godly atmosphere. But filling in at other times have been loving and godly friends and family that have opened their home and hearts to them.
The "stutz" (stuff) as E would say: Clothes, toys, beds, sheets, blankets, wipes, and pull-ups. Just yesterday we came home to find two cases, one pink, one blue, of pull-ups on our front porch.
Blessed? I WOULD SAY SO!

Kinship Caregivers--two month check in

2010-10-28T09:08:00.004-04:00

We have just passed the two-month mark of being Kinship caregivers to L, E and N. Some tips and pointers to the powers-that-be involved in this are in order:

1. When you place 3 children in one home, please don't put the same deadlines on the kinship/foster family as you do when you place one child in a home. There are 3 times as many hoops to jump through! Guess what? That takes a little longer!

2. When there are court-ordered visits, don't alter the schedule due to the demands of the parties involved. That's not fair to us, and probably not legal.

3. When you make a promise of aid, please follow through.

4. Return phone calls from kinship/foster families. We aren't calling to chat. We need something.

5. Don't make demands with less than 24 hour notice. There are work schedules, school schedules, daycare arrangements, etc that need to be worked out.

6. Don't demand that paperwork be accomplished, signed, etc just for the sake of the paperwork being done. Try to remember what the paperwork represents: healthy and safe environments for everyone involved. A signature doesn't prove didly-squat.

OK! Got those off my chest! Now where is the pen to sign that document????

Around and around it goes

2010-09-28T22:53:00.006-04:00

Over a month since I've last posted; I've been a little busy!

Three beautiful young souls came to live with us six or so weeks ago. How it happened had to have been an act of God. So, we accept how the path is unfolding and find a way to keep the world spinning.

There have been some absolute highs having an 8 yr old, 4 yr old and 2 yr old around. A trip to Cook Forest was a highlight, with the 3 of them riding ponies that we led through a meadow. Going to the zoo (first time for the two youngest) was a lot of fun and memories were made.

There have been meltdowns as well, by both the young ones and the "mature". Recently both the dryer and the washer quit, on a day when beauracracy and paperwork had already threatened to choke us. *Snap* went my cool, right after a visit from a county caseworker.

Third graders defintely need clean underwear; that 's not optional. Luckily I had done a load right before the washer decided it's quittin' time. How to dry before school starts the next day? L and I decided to put the boxers on a hanger and hang from the ceiling fan in his room. It was one of those warm nights so the ceiling fan went round and round all night long, as did the boxers. Voila! Dry undies for school the next day!

My Reputation

2010-08-28T23:15:00.003-04:00

Evidently, I have a reputation with the toddler set.

While travelling to Station Square (Jon driving), 4 yr old E says, "Big Guy, go faster!"

Jon replies, "I can't! The cops will stop me!"

To which E retorts, " No sir! The cops never stop Patty!"

Campmeeting campfires

2010-08-19T08:26:00.004-04:00

Each year attending Whitehall Campmeeting brings new memories. As much a family reunion for my side of the family as a spiritual retreat, we look forward to it every August. Relatives of mine from Florida, New Jersey, Virigina and Texas descend upon the campgrounds and set up housekeeping for a week to ten days in campers, tents and cottages. After being a cottage owner for 15 years or so myself, I now stay in a bed and breakfast, in town, with my sisters.
Our act of moving off the campground to find shelter has been met with a lot of skepticism from the extended family (EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION !!) We do our best to stay in camp mode and partake of camp activities even though we now have more comfortable and luxurious surroundings than those pitching a tent.
One of those activities that is a tradition during camp week is to have several family bonfires. Sometimes my parents host the campfire at their RV, or my brother does at his; other relatives take their turn as well. Mountain pies, S'mores, and hot dogs are staples at these evening gatherings. Some hostesses go way overboard on providing snacks and drinks of all shapes and kinds (note: everything that is carried outside to the campfire must at some point late in the evening be carried back in!)
The men joke about the size of "their fire"; the smoke or lack thereof; and their manly ability to maintain the fire for the duration of the event.
Last year we had a memorable campfire when we asked everyone to reveal the story of how they first met and fell in love with their spouse. A family of (mostly) gifted storytellers, we laughed til we cried.
So this year we decided to do "a rose and a thorn from past camp memories".
(A rose and a thorn is an icebreaker game that we use several times a year at our small group Bible study.....a rose being somethng good that has happened that week; a thorn being something negative)
Most campfire attendees got into the spirit of the game and related some hilarious stories. Some had been forgotten through the years; some had never been told in public before. SOME SHOULD NEVER BE TOLD IN PUBLIC AGAIN.
I found it to be a great opportunity for people to reveal themselves, to create stronger bonds of family unity and spark a memory-making moment. I think we came to know each other a little better that dark night behind my parents RV, sitting around the roaring fire that Brian made and kept going with his infamous firestick.
Long live campmeeting campfires!

There's a Light....

2010-08-07T08:33:00.002-04:00

This past week was the annual stay at Barnard House Bed and Breakfast. Many hilarious moments happened, and gobs of memories were made. I would be hardpressed to reveal a FAVORITE memory, but I can tell you the one that I am proudest of: we went on a 14 mile bike hike. OK, maybe riding 14 miles on a bike does not seem like a big deal to you. Other years at the B and B we had gone on long bike hikes. But here is the extra kicker: the ride included going through a dark and scary tunnel that curves in the middle so you cannot see the end when you first enter. I had never been brave enough in the past to face the tunnel.
My brother-in-law, an avid biker and no novice to the tunnel, was the first to enter. I followed directly behind. My bike had a very small and dim light on it. After two or three pedals into the tunnel, I was completely disoriented and freaked out. A huge drop of something wet smacked me on top of the head. I was slightly nauseous from fear and confusion. I had the light on my handlebars.... why couldn't I see better and focus on a goal?
It was then I realized my light was pointing down. It wasn't illuminating the path ahead. I quickly adjusted the light to point toward what was in front of me and I suddenly regained my bearings and picked up momentum. Soon the tunnel curved and in the distance the light from the opening on the other end could be seen. This spurred me on to keep going, keep pedalling. Making it through that tunnel was a huge victory for me.
It occurred to me that life can be like that as well. When we don't let Jesus , our Light, illuminate the way, we get lost and disoriented. Life can be a dark and scary tunnel with twists and turns that don't allow us to see the end. But if Jesus is pointing the way ahead, we can be sure we can make it through and experience victory.

June fun

2010-06-27T07:34:00.004-04:00

L. M. Montgomery wrote--"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it's always June."

June is a magical month, because you know for sure that it's summer. Bright days, warm nights; time to swim, vacation, go to the ballpark. Darkness doesn't fall til past nine; workdays seem shorter because of daylight to play in when you get home!
Our June has been fun and fantastic. Grilling and eating on the deck is one of those simple pleasures that has been a treat this summer. We have done plenty of that; as well as sit on the deck with a cup of coffee (that Jon got at Sheetz) and read the newspaper. Side by side with our laptops, Jon and I can spend hours semi-reclined on the deck.
A highlight was Father's Day weekend where we packed as much activity in as possible. We were delighted to have Levi share in our weekend fun, and his presence meant we HAD to have a rousing game of touch football as well as a street version of Home Run Derby.
Beth bought Jon fireworks for Father's Day so we had a sizzling display of sparkling, crackling color in our driveway.
Six of us went to a Pirates game, where Jeremy arranged for Levi to meet PR grad Neil Walker. Neil was so gracious and made it so special for Levi; calling him by name, he moved the other kids aside to speak privately to Levi. He also fetched two balls out of the dugout to sign for the two kids (Levi and Jeremy).
Leisure time to spend with my daughter and my sisters has also been a highlight of June. Whether it's shopping, dining al fresco, or discovering a new store in the South Hills, there has never been a dull moment.
Today I leave with my sisters for a short getaway to our favorite bed and breakfast, The Barnard House, to celebrate sister Beth's birthday. The porch at the B and B is her "happy place" so we will accompany her there to sit on the wicker and watch the river go by, as well as explore a winery and some antique haunts.
June---just jumping!

New Things

2010-06-10T10:46:00.004-04:00

Summer is here (0k, not officially, yet) and with it are NEW THINGS.
First of all, I have started a new schedule at Verizon Wireless. I am now working Tues, Wed and Friday. This is my first week of working that schedule and let me now report: I think having every Monday off is going to agree with me : )
Also, with this new season is a new schedule for my off days. My Thursday morning Bible study, CBS (communitybiblestudy.org), has ended for the summer. The Thurs afternoon study that I teach at The Woodlands has also ended. The men and women voted and decided to do a summer hiatus. This vote was taken after Audrey revealed that, through prayer, the Lord told her I needed a rest. I felt like I had been caught! Deer in the headlights! It was true; my fall/winter/spring was pretty overbooked.
I am sad to say my time of babysitting Isaiah and Sam on Tuesdays is also over. I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would!!! Those little guys are so lovable. They constantly made me laugh and brought a lot of joy to my life. A little peek at the joys being a grandma will bring. Isaiah taught me so much. What a smart kid! I learned new games like Mexican train. If you don't know how to play, Isaiah can teach you!! It's a game for adults and children, though most 4 yr olds will not be able to grasp it. Isaiah is an exception. Sam, well, Sam and I bonded. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
I will say I needed a nap every Tuesday afternoon after being with them!
Jon came up with a new time of the year to take a vacation: the day after Memorial Day. He and I went to Cape May, NJ, and we had a fab time. The weather was mostly sunny and very warm; many days we had the pool all to ourselves. We went on a boat cruise to dolphin and whale watch; a horse and buggy ride through the town to see all the gorgeous Victorian architecture; and dining out that gave me a new appreciation for seafood. The sun, the beach, and the refreshing pool water melted away all the stress of that difficult winter weather.
So, Summer: bring on the new!

We've made our choice!

2010-05-19T21:21:00.003-04:00

It's only May and our annual stay at the Barnard House Bed and Breakfast is not until August, but believe it or not, the Sisters have already picked out their rooms for our vacation!

We rent the whole house that includes four bedrooms and two baths, a front staircase and a back staircase. Two of the rooms are now air-conditioned, which makes them both valuable real estate, and a third has a private porch as well as a dressing room with walk in closet which makes it pretty popular, too. The fourth room is just downright B& B charming. So, really, you can't go wrong with ANY of the rooms, but rotating through the years has endeared some of the abodes to our hearts more than others.

The B&B is especially on our mind right now, because sister Beth and her hubby Brian rented two rooms last Sunday and Monday. They were going alone, but wanted the privacy of one whole side of the house (up the back stair case!)

The proprietors came and fixed them breakfast Monday morning, and when they found out they were all alone, only charged them for one room. In reality, they had the whole house to themselves!

So after a little finagling and joking and threats and bribes, decisions were made. This year I will nest in the room with the private porch and dressing room. Don't want to wish the summer away, but I can'twait!!

Mothers day weekend

2010-05-11T08:57:00.005-04:00

Although the weather was iffy at best, Mother's Day weekend was still smashing!
Friday night kicked it all off with Jon taking me, the mother of his children, to a special evening out at Hyde Park on the North Shore. Situated between Heinz Field and PNC Park, valet parking is a must. I requested as they sat us that we get a banquet--a half round booth that is slightly elevated --because it gives you a really good view of who else is dining in style that night. We had marvelous conversation and laughs, and the food there is to die for. Josh, our waiter, felt like an old friend. If you go, you must have the wedge salad, and I recommend the steak Johnny Sakko-style. The creme brulee was YUM and we were both glad we got a plate of fresh berries and whipped cream as well.
I had the pleasure of having MY THREE SONS (Josh, Jer and Levi) around for the weekend, and the three of them made Saturday enjoyable. I was feeling a little under the weather, and dozed on and off all day. Levi was entertained by Josh and Jer and Jon as they played a ton of Wii and Levi also rode his new scooter in our cul de sac while Jon mowed the lawn. Saturday night we watched the Penguin game with food provided by Josh. Wings, lounge fries, and stuffed pretzels were great victory game food.
Sunday we worshiped with our church family and chilled til we went to my sister Beth's home in Shaler where 25 or so of my side of the family gathered. Bethany and Brad came (yeah! I had been missing them!); they had spent part of the weekend with his family at their cabin in the Laurel Highlands.
My mom, who is a gem, was thrilled to get a new cell phone; I rang it while she opened the package :)
Getting together at Beth's is always fun, as she is a great hostess. The weather didnt permit us to spend a lot of time outdoors, but Levi did manage to fall part-way into her pool (wet up to one knee)......
Once back at home, Bethany and Brad surprised me with tickets to go with them to see The Producers at Civic Light Opera this summer! Score!

So glad I'm a mom...I have great kids!

The Reception

2010-05-02T20:25:00.006-04:00

I am sure I will not do justice to all the details of the Dray wedding reception, but here are a few snippets:
Jaime did a smashing job of having a theme and carrying it through. The space had hardwood floors, a wall of windows that included doors to an outdoor balcony where hors d'oeuvres and punch were served while we awaited the bride and groom. The tables, both round and rectangle, were all covered with Tiffany blue tablecloths; votive candles were used as well as floral centerpieces . The height of the floral arrangements varied from table to table. EVEN THE BEAMS IN THE CATHEDRAL-CEILINGED ROOM WERE TIFFANY BLUE.
There was a jazz band stationed on a slightly elevated stage in the front of the room, that also had a round table with two chairs upholstered in white with large black ribbon bedecking them. The bride and groom sat up front without their wedding party. I have been told this is a newer trend called a Sweetheart Table. Completing the stage on the left side was the beautiful wedding cake made by the groom's sister.
The feel of the room was a jazz club scene, or at least what I would envision a 1940s/50s jazz club would look like.
Jaime and Steve performed their first dance soon after arriving on the scene. It was a waltz (very elaborately choreographed) to "May I Have This Dance". They did a spectacular job.
The band was fab, and covered songs like "My Girl" (which is what the groom and his mother danced to, with Steve singng to his mom the whole time), "New York, New York", and"It Had to be You". There was a lot of dancing, celebrating, and laughter.
A big hit was the chocolate/cookie table that was on a long buffet, beautifully displayed and arranged. The cake, which had a raspberry filling, was served as well. DELICIOUS
Jaime and Steve personally went around the room welcoming their guests. Jaime remarked to me that "everything was going so fast!"
Toasts were made by members of the wedding party, with Jaime dabbing at her eyes with a Tiffany blue napkin the entire time. Steve and Jaime both spoke as well, thanking everyone for coming and loving them.
Both bride and groom looked HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.
All of Jaime 's planning came together to pull off a beautiful and elegant evening of celebration.
Here's to the joyful couple!
P.S. I got a peek at the pictures. They are beyond gorgeous. Kudos, Joey Kennedy!

Jaime and Steve get married

2010-05-01T14:51:00.003-04:00

For those of you who have been following Weddobsessed (weddobsessed.com), you know that yesterday was THE BIG DAY. Jaime and Steve are officially husband and wife! I am sure that Mrs. Dray wants to reveal the final details of her glorious day herself, but let me give you a few snippets from a guest's point of view:

1) The wedding programs lift up the name of Jesus. On the last page of the beautiful booklet, Jamie and Steve have a note to friends and family. They talk about how marriage is the greatest example of how Christ loves the church.....and how He invites all to be a part of his family. "We pray you all will come to know the fullness of Him as we have" AMEN

2)They honored their families beautifully. And the Pastor gave a stirring witness of Jaime's dad, Ron Carter, and his life of holiness lived before his family, his church and his community right before he asked, "Who gives this girl to be married?" What a tribute!

3)Loved that Jaime went with my suggestion of Ecclesiates ("two are better than one for they have a good reward for their labor...a cord of 3 strands is not easily broken") as one of her Scripture readings. Really was taking credit for it, til Mary told me it was read at her wedding as well (and Jaime was in that wedding).

4)Jaime's gown could not have been a more perfect choice for her. And in her single days, I saw her try on quite a few gowns. She was stunning.

5) The love the Pastors have for Jaime and Steve could not have been more evident. There was not one impersonal, cookie-cutter word in the ceremony.

6) The words of affirmation that the Pastor spoke over Steve were a word of knowledge, I believe, as well as a blessing. I am excited to see Steve fulfill all that was said. Steve, he set the bar really high for you but with the annointing of the Holy Spirit, you will be that bold witness he spoke about.

7. "You are flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone"....song that was sung, beautifully, by a church member, Jean. One of Jon and I's favorites from Chrisitan artist Leon Patillo back in the 80's. If you don't know it, you need to hear it. I will sing it for you.

The reception deserves a whole separate blog!

Reconnecting

2010-04-25T12:27:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I had the chance to reconnect with an old friend. Marsha grew up across the street from me (I use the term "street" loosely, because it was not paved til I was in jr. high and never had a street sign or name). Marsha was a year ahead of me in school, my sister Beth's age, so was a friend of the whole family. She was also the head cheerleader when I was a junior in high school, so my"boss". She and I also went on a double date together, probably my first real car date. We went to Top of the Triangle to eat (top of the USX bldg, now the UPMC bldg) and to a Penguins hockey game! Marsha was the most popular girl in our high school because she was nice to everyone. Still is.
When I went off to Clarion for college, Marsha was already there (she transferred the next year to a branch that had nursing). Marsh still lives in the area where we grew up, and married a hometown boy.
She and that hometown boy, Joel, have built a dream house out in the country that I went to tour yesterday with my mom and my sisters. I should have taken pictures because you would not believe this house! First of all, it is massive, and the outside is a mixture of huge windows, natural wood and stone. Joel is an inventor of sorts, and a collector of all things unusual, so he used those two skills to build this house himself. The ceiling in the great room has to be at least 20 feet high, and there is a go-cart hanging from this ceiling with a manequin that Joel named (and proudly told us has 24 moveable parts). Also in the great room are a phone booth (with a working phone) and a motorcycle as art. One wall is bookshelves with a ladder like you see in a library that slides back and forth across the shelves so you can climb up and find the book you want. Joel also rescued a scoreboard from a high school gym and rewired it so it works....that hangs from the ceiling as well.
He has built a sauna into the house as well as a boy's bathroom and a girl's bathroom. The girls bathroom is all taupe and gold....complete with a jacuzzi tub on a platform. The boys bathroom has a urinal, a phone beside the toilet, and a heated seat in the shower. The whole house has heated floors.
The laundry room has a dumb waiter that comes up from the garage so that you don't have to climb stairs with your groceries in your arms. Genuis!
The fireplace, that starts on the first floor and soars up two more stories, has a hidden room behind it (just because).
I am waiting for this home to be featured in Architectural Digest, and I am waiting for the article on patience to come out about Marsha in Guideposts, who has lived through Joel building his dream house for the past 20 years. They moved in five years ago and it is still a work in progress.
Our reunion was full of laughter and tears as we reminsced about old times and got caught up on recent events in all of our lives. A great Saturday activity!

Honduras-less

2010-04-10T07:53:00.007-04:00

No Honduras Mission trip for me this year! I am sad about it, especially since Bethany, Brad, Becky, Darren and Joe are there right now! It makes me miss being in on the action even more.

Bakerstown Honduras Medical Mission travelled to La Villa San Francisco in February. One of the items they reported upon their return is how much better health they found the people in this year. The water filters that began to be distributed four years ago by our team have really assisted in making healthier people. That is such good news!!

Joe Schmitt was the Lead on bringing water filters to our village in Honduras; he researched thoroughly the filters, and even became personal friends with the inventor. Manny is a professor at the University of Illinos and accompanied us to La Villa last year to introduce his latest invention: smokeless stoves.

This year Joe wanted to spread the water filter program even further throughout Honduras, so, working with Rotary International, the town of Pinalejo was chosen. The first report from the mission trip is that although Pinalejo is a much more developed town than La Villa San Franciso, the people are all drinking unfiltered water and have many physical ailments as a result. A $5,000 donation by individuals at Holy Sepluchur Church in Middlesex Township is going to mean that most people in Pinalejo will be gifted with a water filter.

Pictured in this blog, you can see how very simple the water filter is. It is basically a ceramic flower pot that has been fired to create very small pores that can trap parasites; and then the pot is coated with collodial silver. This silver kills bacteria. The pot is then placed inside a simple five gallon plastic container with a spigot.

Amazing how smart people can come up with simple and inexpensive solutions to big problems! And praise God, these people care enough to travel around the world to share clean water with all.

Fun Getaway

2010-03-29T23:12:00.007-04:00

"Friendship is what gets your through the bad times and helps you enjoy the good times'" -Annonymous

Jon and I have known Barb and Ed for over 28 years. Jon first met this loving couple on an appointment to sell them insurance! And, the next thing we know, they show up at our church. We all have been going to the same church ever since. I first saw Barb in the nursery, as we sat with our newborns (Nick and Josh). I don't think Jon and I have ever met two nicer people than Barb and Ed. Most of you have never met two nicer people than Barb and Ed.
Our ties go deep. Barb and I have been involved, side-by-side, in many ministires: Kids Klub, Bible school, missionary prayer groups; we wrote Sunday school curriculum together; we took our daughters on vacation to Ocean City; been roommates at missionary retreats. Ed has been our go-to guy for every maintenance issue we've ever had, and watched over our daughter Bethany on the church mission trip to Mexico. We knew she was in good hands.
Recently Barb mentioned that Ed will be celebrating a big birthday soon; so, it seemed only right that the four of us plan a special getaway to mark the occasion.
We settled on Annapolis, Maryland for our destination, and we were each able to carve out three days to go away.
We stayed at a lovely Westin right in town that had a complimentary shuttle to the waterfront historic area. A harbor cruise was a highlight of the weekend, as well as an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Ed ate oysters in a half shell as if it were his life's work. We buzzed over to Baltimore for a day and, to the delight of baseball-nut Jon, toured Babe Ruth's birthplace and museum.
All of the activities were fun, but what will live on in infamy is the laughs. Tears ran and bellys hurt for the duration of the trip.
A good time was had by all, and we know that we are there for each other through thick and thin.

Good Stewards

2010-03-23T13:08:00.007-04:00

My parents, who are 80 (dad) and 79 (mom) just arrived safely back from six weeks in Florida last Saturday. They have been spending part of the winter in Florida for over 25 years. My dad worked for US Steel for most of his adult life (with a detour of teaching high school and coaching football for 3 years). In the 80's, when the steel making industry experienced a downturn in production, my dad was offered early retirement. He took it, and thus began their annual trek to the Atlantic Coast of the Sunshine State.
My parents have always known how to do these trips in a thrifty way. They drive, (in their used car), stay in a moderately priced apartment complex, and limit their extravagances. They have limited their extravagances in most areas of life, but yet have enjoyed abundant blessings.
As I have studied through the book of Luke this winter, I could not help but think of my mom and dad in the area of wisdom and riches. They have lived on a fixed income for many years, but still have found ways to enjoy life and more importantly, to share with others.
Rarely have I visited their home that they are not planning to have someone to dinner, or are preparing a dinner to deliver to another family. Saturday when I visited was no exception. They had ordered some pizzas and mom had tossed a salad for our visit. They were packing up the leftovers to take to an "elderly couple" up the street from them. (The comment "elderly" coming from the 79 and 80 yr old).
With what money they do have, they have learned to trust God, not wealth; enjoy what God gives them; share; and be humble. What godly examples I have! I am blessed.

Ministry update

2010-02-23T08:25:00.003-05:00

When June and George, two of the spiritual giants in my life, asked ME to take over the Bible study they were teaching at a senior citizens community, I hesitated for many days, and then said I would commit on a trial basis. (see previous blogs for full story)

It has been two months and I am happy to report....it's going great! Better than I could have ever hoped.

I am so impressed at how many MEN come to Bible study! And these men are wise and gentle and well educated on the Scriptures. The people that attend are retired doctors, engineers, school superintendents . They are active, forthright, and so interesting. I never feel as if I have to pull teeth to get a discussion going. In fact, I have been given a little bell to ring to settle the crowd back into Bible study mode!!

Last week I asked for a testimony of a time one of them had a direct word from the Lord in their lives, a time when they felt divine intervention. Betty, a retired reading specialist and elementary superintendent, told about the time after her mothers' death, she felt she needed to move back to Pennsylvania to help her father. At the time she was a superintendent of schools in New York. She prayed about it and let it in God's hands. Two weeks later, unsolicited by her, she received a letter from Dr. Carson from N. Allegheny school district. Dr. Carson (for whom Carson Middle School is now named) asked her to come for an interview. She got the position, and soon was back in Pa with her widower father. She told the story with a tear in her eye, and we all were moved as well at the Lord's care and concern over the details of our lives.

So far we have studied Jonah and Philemon (they expressed their delight in studying small books that are often ignored) and now we are on Luke. I couldn't be more thrilled with all I am learning by being in study with these godly men and women.

Valentine Tradition

2010-02-13T00:38:00.003-05:00

When Josh graduated from high school in 1999, a bunch of us moms banded together to form an unofficial support group as our first born sons went off to college. Having your first leave the nest can be traumatic...we all weren't really sure how this would play out in our lives and how we would cope with the separation. We began to go out to dinner one time a month and talk about how the boys were doing; and more importantly, how WE were doing! We discovered a lot about ourselves and each other while breaking bread together....

Friendships deepened, and out of this group began the Valentine Tradition.

As many as six couples would get together every Valentine's Day in one of our homes for a full, blown-out dinner party. All of the ladies worked very hard when it was her turn to host. Not only did everyone whip up a fantastic meal, we all had decor for the occasion and favors for all guests. It was always a special evening, and everyone took their turn in a round-robin kind of way.

So last year when no one stepped up to the plate and we let the day pass without a celebration together, it was a real let-down. Marty was determined that wasn't going to happen this year and began making phone calls near the end of January.

I think it may have been Grace that suggested that we go out to dinner this year, as couples. Instead of having any one of us stressing out over filet mignon cooked to perfection, or a heart-shaped cake being iced to a T, we could sit back, relax, and be waited on.

So tonight we carried on our Valentine Tradition, in a new way, with a different twist.

Four couples met at Atria's in Richland and had good food , great commraderie and many laughs. All of our first born sons are done with college; we have two MBAs, one lawyer, and one PhD candidate! All are gainfully employed (yeah!) and one is engaged to be married this summer.

We will all reconnect once again at Matt's wedding in July and share more good times and laughs.

And of utmost importance, we all still have a good reason to celebrate Valentine's day. We all have been married 30 plus years to our sweethearts.

So glad we have a Valentine Tradition!

These are a few of my favorite things....

2010-01-24T12:31:00.005-05:00

When the kids were little, one of the bedtime songs I used to sing them was "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...." In honor of that, today's post is going to be on a few of my favorite things:

Rainy Sundays, like today, when there is a plethora of sports to watch. Two NFL playoff games, a Penguin game, and THE PITT PANTHERS MENS BASKETBALL TEAM is playing. I am shivering with excitment!!

Slightly burnt pizza, slightly burnt toast, and slightly burnt popcorn. The latter has landed me in a little trouble as I HAVE set the microwave at Verizon Wireless on fire before.

A cocoa massage at Hershey spa. It's simply the best.

New York City. Nothing beats the excitment of the Big Apple.

Potatoes. Of any kind.

Hanging out with my daughter. We click. I am blessed.

Having a good book to read. Don't talk to me. I won't hear you.

Spending time with my sisters. We were raised to be best friends, and we are.

Overnights at Bed and breakfasts/country inns with my sweetheart.

Romantic comedies.

These are a few of my favorite things.....what are yours?

Home Remedies

2010-01-20T22:19:00.004-05:00

Everyone seems to have a home remedy to share, whether it be how to stop hiccups, how to tame a cowlick, or how to overcome insomnia.

All of our mothers and grandmothers handed down sure-fire cures that sometimes involve odd ingredients or unusual potions or maybe even awkward actions. (Have you ever tried drinking from the other side of a glass? did you get wet?)

My mother swears that if you feel faint, you just sit and hang your head between your knees....which often was a bit dramatic not to mention awkward if she would assume the position in public.

Which she did. On more than one occasion. With a flair and a snap.

But I digress.

This week I am suffering from a chest cold with a deep cough that is nagging and annoying at night (just ask my husband). Last night it was non-stop. Sometime during the middle of the night I remembered a home remedy that was being passed around at work. I got up and tried it. It did the trick!

So the next time you or your children are coughing at night, rub Vicks on the soles of your feet and put on a pair of socks. Guaranteed your coughing will stop. Odd, but true.

Love/Hate Relationship

2010-01-07T12:17:00.003-05:00

I have found that I possess a love/hate relationship with things, ideas, and yes, even some people.

The people I have this with are not people I actually KNOW. It's mostly celebrities/quasi-celebrities.

For example, Jennifer Anniston. Love her in films/ hate her politics. Dan Marino: love his blue eyes and his talent/hated when he played the Steelers.

So today I am going to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with snow.

I am currently looking out at about 9 inches of snow piled on my deck. There is something very beautiful about snowfall and the wonderland it creates. The other day when the wet, heavy snow stuck to the limbs of the trees in our backyard, I couldn't help but be in awe of the beauty that God created. Sunshine on fresh snow--breath-taking!!

Who doesn't love a white Christmas? It makes things picture-perfect, at least from inside looking out!

I also love the way that snow bonds us. When a snowstorm is predicted, everyone is abuzz about the coming storm and what it will bring, mean, cause, create. Bring=inches; mean=trip to the store; cause=traffic woes; create=havoc. It gets people talking! It's a major conversation-starter. People often feel awkward when in an elevator with strangers, but if there is a snowstorm in the forecast, everyone talks like brothers. I can't help but feel an excitement brewing inside me when a snowstorm is predicted!!

The hate part of the relationship is pretty obvious. I hate cold weather. I can't stand shoveling, cleaning off my car, scraping off ice, or driving on treacherous roads. My driveway is up a hill so often unusable in winter. I also hate when it starts snowing in November and we still have snow in March!

If the snow and I could make a deal, it would be perfect. Here would be my terms: dusting to a little more on Christmas Eve; melted by Dec 26th. Give us your best shot in January and let us deal with it. A few minor snows in February. Do not under any circumstances infringe upon March.

So that is my love/hate relationship with snow. How about you? How are you feeling about the white stuff?

New Ministry for Me

2010-01-05T10:26:00.003-05:00

Over twenty-seven years ago as a young, stay-at-home mother, I began to attend a weekly Bible study at Bakerstown Alliance taught by one of my spiritual mentors, June Klinzing. Part of the time I attended this study I did not have a car; so was transported by my buddy Paula Parker...we bundled our 4 kids into her station wagon and would head to Bible study. June laid such a firm foundation for my faith that I still quote godly precepts and Biblical principles I learned while studying under June. We studied "What Happens When Women Pray"; "Gaining Through Losing"; studies on the Holy Spirit; lessons on becoming a godly woman...deep and meaningful study that helped to form who I am today. Thank you June!
June went on from leading young moms to discipling and teaching senior citizens at the St. Barnabas high rise and later at The Woodlands at Valencia Woods. She and her godly husband George have been leading these two ministries for A LOT of years.
So to say I was surprised when approached in November by George about taking over these studies is to put it mildly. I never thought I would be leading a Bible study for senior citizens! June and George felt it was time for them to step away from these two areas of ministry.
To be honest, I had been asking God to lead me to a new area of service for Him. THE NIGHT BEFORE GEORGE ASKED ME, I had prayed for the Lord to show me what he had "next" for me. However, I did not put together this was "it" right away. I told George I needed to pray about it.
My schedule does not allow for me to lead the Wednesday study at St. Barnabas. But
I did have open space in my weekly calendar for Thursday afternoons, the time of the Woodlands study.
When praying about it, I felt God chastising me a little saying, you prayed on Friday; I answered on Saturday. Shortly thereafter, I stopped at June and George's house on my way home from work to say "yes" and receive prayer and annointing for this new adventure.
Do I feel up to this challenge? This I know: the Lord equips those He calls. I learned that from June.

No playoffs this year

2010-01-03T20:40:00.003-05:00

Well what we all dreaded in Pittsburgh happened today: the Steelers will not be in the playoffs this year.
Not that any of us thought they deserved it after losing game after game....after not having the defense show up for many games....after struggling so much all season.
But admit it, there was a part of you that thought, this is our Steelers...the ones with the magic in them. Surely they will pull the rabbit out of the hat one more time and squeak into the post season.
I was ALMOST a believer when they won the game against Miami today (though they almost blew that, too)
But as the score of the New England-Houston game crawled across the bottom of the TV screen, I felt hope begin to slip away. I did not glue myself to the next game in question, Baltimore-Oakland, but when Bethany and I got back from a short jaunt to Target/Starbucks, I checked in to watch Oakland let the game slip away. There went our last chance!
Today I am comforting myself in the fact that the Pitt Panthers Mens Bball team, though unranked, beat 5th ranked Syracuse yesterday by 10. Pitt is supposed to have a rebuilding year and there are no expectations. Maybe, just maybe, they will be entertaining enough to make this Steeler-less winter bearable. Here's hoping.

Goodbye first decade

2009-12-31T23:09:00.002-05:00

I am quickly getting my post in before the ball drops so that I can properly say goodbye to the first decade of the new millenium. These last ten years (where have they gone??) have seen all 3 of my children graduate from college .....praise You Lord.....and two go on to post-graduate degrees. This decade has introduced our family to Levi, probably one of the biggest and best changes for us personally.
This decade was a time when I joined an in-depth Bible study that challenges me weekly.
These ten years had its share of struggles as well. Struggles that taught us once again that God is in control and that Jesus is our peace. Hard times that made us lean even harder on the Savior. Rough seas that have us saying Thank you Jesus, at least in hindsight.
What do I look for in the next ten years? Would be very grateful for continued good health. Would love to see retirement on the horizon. And, number one on my list, and this should surprise no one, is grandchildren. :)
Goodbye 2009....Happy New Year everyone!!

Be Intentional

2009-12-22T08:54:00.002-05:00

Last night was our Christmas small group. During the month of December we have been doing all lessons based on the events surrounding the birth of Christ. The theme on this our last small group of 2009 was "Get Organized". This particular devotion was written by a woman who is one of those extremely organized list-makers. Although being organized is completely opposite from my habits, there were so many good thoughts in this that I had to share!
We first jotted down what we would like to feel on THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS DAY. Almost everyone wrote down joy, peace, love....and then there were words like "restful", "fun", "unity". As a woman who is often frazzled by having the pressure of having her house look like a Christmas card, her Christmas meal delicious, hot, and on the table on time, and please everyone by the gifts they open...restful is not a word that would ever come to mind. But isn't that my fault that I put that much pressure on myself....and if I am intentional in letting the "picture perfect Christmas" go, I can feel more peace and rest?
Then we jotted down what EVENTS around Christmas day bring Jesus into our hearts and minds the most and with it, bring those feelings of love, peace and joy. Many talked about memories of past Christmas Eve services, the beautiful Christmas hymns we sing around Christmas, and seeing Christmas through a child's eyes. Also discussed was time for prayer, devotion, silence and awe.
The point of the lesson was if we Plan, Get Organized in our thoughts, BE INTENTIONAL in our celebration of Christmas, we can experience deeper meaning. All in all it was good food for thought 4 days before the big day.
Topping off our last small group of 2009 were Barb's awesome Christmas cookies (I swear there were 16 different varieties on that tray) and Don's BOMB cupcakes.
BE INTENTIONAL IN YOUR CELEBRATION OF THE SAVIOR THIS CHRISTMAS.

Sports Superstitions

2009-12-05T06:38:00.005-05:00

Sports Superstitions. We all seem to have them. We all seem to go along with them, no matter how silly they seem/sound. How many times around Pittsburgh have you heard, "Don't disrespect the towel" ? Stop and think about how ridiculous that sounds. Yet, as Steeler fans, we honor that edict.
One year Jon bought Kordell Stewart's football shoes (signed) from the WTAE Bundle Up auction. We put those shoes on top of the TV and felt they brought the team luck. Do you think we could GIVE those shoes away now?? Doubt it.
There are sports fans everywhere who have certain routines, articles of clothing, chants, and so on that they do repeatedly to "do their part" to bring a victory to their team.
Deep down, do we really believe we are effecting the outcome of the game?
My family has gone so far as to say that everyone must sit in the same seat every game (if this particular configuration has brought us luck in previous "big games")
Last week when the Steelers played Baltimore, our boys were losing at halftime. I went upstairs to watch the second half in bed, and when we tied it up in the 4th quarter, came back downstairs to watch overtime. Jon was screaming at me to go back upstairs, they tied it up with me out of the room!! Jer took pity on me and said I could stay; surely my presence wasn't going to jinx the team. We all know what happened; we lost in OT.
That brings me to today, when Pitt plays for the Big East championship against undefeated Cincinnati at Heinz Field. I would much rather still be sleeping right now, but I was jerked wide awake before 6am with this thought: Jon's lucky jeans that he has worn to every home game that Pitt has won this year, NEED TO GO IN THE DRYER.
I've done my part. Hail to Pitt.

Ashton's Wisdom

2009-12-02T18:50:00.002-05:00

OK, I tweet
Did you know I am on twitter?
I am not sure why....but sometimes it's fun to splash a comment across the screen in 140 characters or less.
I follow between 20-30 people. Beth, Jeremy, Jaime, my niece Charissa,and nephew Frank are a few people I follow. The little blurbs they post help me to keep in touch with what is going on in their universe.
I first got on twitter this summer, I believe...around the time when Ashton Kutcher was trying to beat cnn to see who could get the most followers. Whoever hit one million followers on twitter first won. Not being a big fan of cnn, I began to follow Ashton Kutcher, he of That 70's Show and Punked fame.
What I have learned about Ashton from his tweets is this: he is big on fantasy football, he is passionate about helping people all over the world, he truly loves his older wife Demi, and once in a while he comes up with a really good tweet.
Here is a tweet from Ashton today:

Swallow your pride occasionally; it's non-fattening.

Thanks Ashton. I needed that.

Semi-Annual

2009-11-23T16:11:00.003-05:00

Today Bethany and I made our semi-annual trip to Squirrel Hill. We love to go shopping/dining there, but never seem to make it more than twice a year! The biggest attractions for us in this trendy, yet established village are Little's Shoe store and Ten Thousand Villages.

Ten Thousand Villages is a destination in and of itself. It is a craft shop, but the key is, the crafts are made around the world, and all of the money is fed back into the country from which it originates. You will find handmade items from India, Guatemala, Peru, Haiti, Mexico, El Salvador.....the list is endless! The store itself is non-profit and exists to aid these countries. Some of the items that can be found there---jewelry, purses, pottery, scarves, toys, note cards...again, the list is endless. The items are not grouped by country. Therefore, we went on a treasure hunt of sorts, looking for items that were made in Honduras. Lucky for us, the clerks can run a search on their computer and tell you what items in the store are from a certain destination, making it a little easier to look for them. Today it turns out the only things from Honduras were candles.

Probably the best treasures they had today were nativity sets. Handcarved and handpainted, there were some precious ones and some grand ones. I was very tempted, but did not purchase.

On to Littles. Bethany loves boots. It is almost an obsession with her. I thought it would be great to start my Christmas shopping by purchasing her a pair. But the black, tall, slouchy pair she picked, she wanted NOW, not a month from now, so she bought them for herself. FIGURES.

Our third stop was at a bakery that has been getting a lot of positive buzz in Pittsburgh. Dozen has stores on the South Side, downtown, Lawrenceville, at the Andy Warhol museum, and this one in Squirrel Hill. Billed as "the country's best cupcakes" by MSN City guide, they daily have a selection of flavored cupcakes from which to choose. Today there was one called Asteroids that had Cocoa Puffs on top of the icing. There was also a vegan chocolate with buttercream icing, vanilla on vanilla, turtle, milk chocolate, and coffee.

The coffee cupcake was actually a chocolate cupcake with coffe icing, topped by a coffee bean. Bethany and I split this, and I have to say, not a fan. And I am a lover of all things sweet. So perhaps I need to give it another try on another day with another flavor. Their website is beautiful to look at, so if you're interested, it is dozenbakeshop.com.

Squirrel Hill is definitely worth at least a semi-annual trip!

Heaven

2009-11-17T09:27:00.003-05:00

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you will get neither".
This is a quote we discussed at the beginning of our small group study on Heaven. Held on Monday evenings at my home, we have sometimes struggled with the heavy theology in the book "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. The book often reads like a textbook; so it is a blessing that there is a study guide and a DVD that accompany it.
Our group is comprised of friends that have been meeting together for 3 or 4 years, plus a woman new to our community. We all came into this study with some preconceived notions about our eternal home that have been changed and reformed through looking at what the Word of God really has to say about the New Heaven and New Earth.
Some of the concepts and ideas are not entirely new, yet they have been fleshed out and confirmed more clearly through this study. Here are a few highlights we've covered so far:
In Heaven, we will have memories from earth. This is shown by the martyrs in Revelations 6 who remember that they were murdered, and wonder how long until there is retribution for their murders.
In Heaven, we will have unity, a shared vision, one voice.
In Heaven, people desire learning and pursue it.
Just as our bodies decay and need resurrected, our earth is decaying and needs resurrected....thus God's perfect plan of a new Earth.
All the beauty we enjoy on this present earth will be present in the New Earth, only so much better and more beautiful than we can imagine.
In Heaven, we will have fully physical bodies in a fully physical place.

These are just a few of the tidbits we have explored in our study. It has made us excited for where we are headed for our eternal reward.

Doubt

2009-11-03T18:56:00.004-05:00

This year in Community Bible study we are studying the book of Luke. It has been an excellent study. I have been reading Luke 7 this week as I do my homework for this Thursday's class. An interesting point has been highlighted that in past readings of this chapter I must have skipped over.
At this point in Jesus' ministry, John the Baptist was in prison. He sends two men to Jesus to ask Him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" WAIT. John the Baptist asked this? John, about whom it was prophesied would "go before the Lord to prepare the way for him"? (Luke 1:76b) John, who when he baptized Jesus, saw heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus in the form of a dove? (Luke 3:22)

Why would this man have doubts, questions?

First of all, because we all experience times of doubt, and how comforting to know that such a godly man did, too.
But second, and most importantly, (in my opinion), because he was isolated and out of fellowship as he sat in that prison cell.
Some of our darkest thoughts come when we are alone. When we remain alone, and outside of the community of Christ, those thoughts can get darker still.
What a great lesson of why we need to stay connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ!
And, for me, it was also convicting due to the aloneness some people in my life are experiencing, because they are incarcerated by the choices they have made. May I have more compassion for those in that situation, and realize how much they need confirmation of God's love and presence.

Car Wash

2009-10-27T21:19:00.005-04:00

I have very serious advice to all of those out there in bloggerland: don't ever, under any circumstances, ever open your car door when you are inside an automatic car wash. Even if it seems like a good idea at the time.

My latest used car is a Saab. It is a top of the line model, all the gadgets and bells and whistles. It says "God Bless you" when you sneeze. But alas, it is a USED car. Therefore, there are a myriad of gidgets and gadgets that can go wrong with it. And, one of those little quirks of Sally Saab is the rear window on the driver's side sometimes creeps down on it's own.

One Friday recently I needed to kill time between driving home from work and meeting
Bethany on Rt 910 to pick her up from carpooling with a coworker. Sally Saab was dirty, so I drove into the neighborhood car wash. I fed the machine six crisp dollar bills and drove in. The soapy arm of the car wash made one pass. I look back and realize the rear window has crept down an inch or two. Oh no!! I move the front seat back as far as it will go with the electric button and strain to get the window up. No go. I have to get out and push the window up manually.

I check where the arm of the mechanism is, and it is on the opposite side of the car. Surely there is enough time to jump out, fix the window and get back in.

Not so much. The arm of the car wash jammed right into my open door and stuck there. Panic sets in as I realize the door will not close, the car wash has come to a halt, and the washing arm of the car wash will not move. I run out of the car wash looking for help. No one is around. It occurs to me that either the door of the car has to come off or the car wash dismantled to fix this jam I am in. There is an object on the wall near my car door that is preventing me from moving forward with the door open.

Eventually I figure out that if I inch forward, inch by inch, I can close my door a tiny bit. I finally am able to close it enough to get past the mechanism on the wall of the car wash.

If this was all caught on video, I am a definite winner on America's Funniest Home videos.

Buhl Mansion

2009-10-20T07:52:00.007-04:00

Last Christmas our three children got us a gift certificate to The Buhl Mansion in Sharon, Pa. (thanks kids) Jon and I love little getaways, and try to do them as often as we can. Twenty-four hours away from the phone, the mail, the housework, and all that...can do wonders for the soul. Not to mention what focusing on your loved one for a chunk of time can do for your marriage! It is one of the Secrets to a Better Marriage that Jon and I stumbled on early in our wedded bliss....and so, on Saturday we were off to Lawrence County for some "we time".
It took us under 90 minutes to reach our destination, and it was not difficult to spot this huge, stone mansion in the midst of Sharon. Built as a wedding present for his bride, Mr. Buhl designed a castle fit for a queen. And a king. And many guests.
We were not out of our car before the doors to the mansion sprung open and we were descended upon by two friendly women who whisked our bags and our car away and ushered us into the Mansion.
Not only did we have beautiful accommodations of a king sized canopy bed, two person jacuzzi,and a gas fireplace that was already lit and waiting for us, but they also had tea time at 4 and a champagne reception at 5:45.
Each room had cozy His and Her robes and slippers and we were given access to the lower level spa in the Mansion to use the steam room, monsoon shower, and sauna at our leisure.
Breakfast Sunday morning could be served either in our room or in the sunroom. We chose the sunroom and were seated in huge oversized stuffed chairs at a round table for two in front of a fireplace to enjoy a 3 course gourmet breakfast. Delicious!
While at Buhl Mansion we witnessed a wedding taking place in the solarium on the grounds just beyond the sunroom. A small affair, the 40 guests enjoyed all the same attention to detail we did as guests of the Mansion. As we watched the bride and groom get photos taken on the picturesque front porch, I couldn't help but think, "I hope they come back as guests as a married couple 30 years from now".

Wise Men Still Seek Him

2009-09-26T08:11:00.003-04:00

This morning when I woke up and checked Facebook, I saw that one of Bethany's friends from both high school and college, Tandi, had posted that she is singing Christmas tunes this morning! Had to chuckle at that since it is only September! However,the thought of "wise men still seek Him" immediately sprang into my mind, so I must thank Tandi for the inspiration.
The Bible has a lot to say about seeking and searching. If you ever check your concordance for Scripture on these words, I am sure some of your favorite and most beloved verses will appear.
2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of those: "..and if my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and SEEK my face and turn from thedir wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Seek Him. Seek Him. Seek His face. What does God's face look like do you think?
Words like holy, pure, loving, kind spring to my mind.
There are many promises to those who seek Him: Psalm 119:2 says "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who SEEK Him with all their heart."
Psalm 34:10b observes "But those who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing."
I heard a wonderful testimony from a dear friend who was not privileged to be raised in a Christian home. She was an adult when she heard the gospel for the first time, and the message puzzled her. She just didn't "get it". But she wanted to! She desired to have the peace and purpose that Christian women around her had. So she spent days praying and reading Scripture. Finally, on the third day, she was filled with the Holy Spirit. She saw the light and everything "clicked" in her mind and spirit. She experienced what Proverbs 8:17 says: "I love those who love Me; and those who diligently seek Me will find Me."
Today and every day, I vow to seek more of Him who loved me and sent His Son to redeem me.

Transformation

2009-09-24T15:06:00.006-04:00

The Kitchen project is winding down. I am very pleased with the results. Ed did a wonderful job! His brother Albert helped as well, and my friend Sally did the painting. I need to pick out curtains and accessories, but, as with our walk with the Lord, always a work in progress!
I am attaching pictures as promised.
The pictures show the beadboard walls, the new floor, the color, and the over the counter microwave along with the little cupboard Ed created for above microwave.

But stop in and see it in person!

Family Pride

2009-09-12T16:44:00.004-04:00

This afternoon, I am listening to Geneva vs. St Vincent on the internet. This college football game is being played in Latrobe at Chuck Noll Field, and I am unable to be there. How great is it that our technology allows me to blog while I am listening to the internet broadcast?
Two of my nephews, Matt and Jordan, are on the Geneva football team. Matt, a junior, is a defensive back. Jordan is a freshman, is a running back and also plays on special teams.
I am so proud of these two young men. Matt has embraced all Geneva stands for. Check out Geneva's website sometime. All of their web pages have Scripture on them, and have this tag line
Jesus Christ in all. Lord over all.
In an age when our higher education institutions are getting more and more liberal, Geneva stands as a beacon for righteousness.
Matt has felt that the Geneva football team is a true band of brothers. The whole team treats one another like family. We were all delighted when Jordan decided he wanted to join his brother at this fine Christian college.
Geneva is winning the game, after being down 14-0, and I just heard them say "And that tackle was made by Matt Curry."
I am so proud of those boys.....especially their commitment to Christ.

It's time to paint!

2009-09-07T18:21:00.003-04:00

The kitchen remodel is finally, finally at the point of PAINTING! My friend Sally begins tomorrow with Banana Cream for the walls, and Cottage White for the crown moulding and the rest of the trim.
Seeing that Ed is doing my remodel as a favor, the timetable has been a slow and easy, relaxed pace. Barb and Ed took a ten day trip to Boston in the midst of the remodel; Hunter has started a two-day-a-week preschool in the midst of the remodel and Ed has done various and sundry other jobs for friends.
One of the coooooolest things Ed did during the makeover was to remove a cupboard above my stove, install a microwave, and then RE-MAKE the old cupboard. I thought he was crazy when he said he wanted to take the cupboard home and play with it. But guess what? The smaller cabinet looks like it came direct from the factory! His workmanship is THAT GOOD.
Sunday Ed turned me on to Builders Surplus in Butler. The kind man at the store let me bring two entire planks of wood home to test in my kitchen, rather than those six inch samples that Lowes and Home Depot let you BUY. I think I have found the floor I want at this discount outlet, and it will probably be 1/3 off the cost of a floor from the other home improvement stores.
The pitcher that is pictured in this blog belonged to Jon's grandma. I am using this pitcher as inspiration for my color scheme. Once the room is painted, I plan to use accents in green (the color of the tv room) and blue (the color of the living room).
Pictures will be posted when all is completed.

Change Our World

2009-08-20T20:47:00.006-04:00

This Sunday it will be two weeks since I got home from Campmeeting 2009, where the theme was "Change our World." The evangelist for the week was Mitchell Burch and he was full of fire and the Holy Spirit. I have been ruminating over what he shared since I came home: some of what he said convicted me; some of what he said puzzled me; some of what he said excited me; and some of what he said had me saying AMEN. I think when you are still mulling over a set of sermons two weeks later, you know you had a good campmeeting.
Pastor Burch spoke about the missional church vs. the institutional church. All churches start out as missional churches....in each church life there is an ebb and flow ...and what can happen is, that missional church begins to become comfortable with its traditions and habits, and morphs into an institutional church. These are common words heard around the institutional church: us, we, ours, them..with a church lifestyle characterized by a level of fear. The institutional church wants to defend something, keep something. The missional church is all about community, others, the world, needs, ministry; has a capacity for risk and no fear. To be a missional church, and remain a missional church, we must be savvy; we must be aware of what is going on in our community. We must present the gospel, which has never lost its relevance, in a relevant fashion.
As we make ourselves aware of the culture around us, and continue to remain holy, we must remember the words of Jesus: "Father, I pray that you not take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one." Don't be in a holy huddle while the rest of the world goes to hell!
We, as salt, can get out of the salt shaker knowing that we have the keeping power of the Holy Spirit! And we can get out there and CHANGE OUR WORLD.
P.S. My sister and I were discussing a point of one of the sermons that we didn't quite get. So today, I emailed Pastor Mitch to ask him to clarify for me and provide Scriptural text, if he would. He replied within 45 minutes. HE REALLY WANTS PEOPLE TO GROW IN CHRIST AND CHANGE OUR WORLD

Beaches

2009-08-15T22:10:00.002-04:00

(pictured, Cannon Beach in Oregon)

I would love to say I am a beach person, that I can't let a year go by without a beach vacation. Unfortunately, life has not worked out that way! I am not asking for any sympathy...I've had some nice vacations over the years and we were blessed that Jon's grandmother lived on a "key" in Florida so we enjoyed many beach vacations at her home. We just have not done the Annual Beach Vacation that many families do.
However, yesterday I was reading on a website the Top Ten Family Beach destinations in the USA and discovered I have been to five of them!
Number 10 on the list was Cannon Beach....in Oregon. This just happens to be the beach were my niece got engaged. AND, when Bethany and I flew west to attend her wedding, we made the 80 mile drive from Portland to Seaside, Oregon, to spend one day/night at the beach before the wedding. So put a check in the box for me for #10.
Also on the list was Daytona Beach. HELLO, my parents and my grandparents before them all winter near Daytona Beach. Been there a number of times! Stopped there on the way home from Ft. Lauderdale when in college and my sister and I had our picture taken ...remains one of my fave photos of us to this day. Young and tanned, we both had on cut off jean shorts and navy sweatshirts.
The National Seashore Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod is one of the top ten beaches they highlighted. Jon and I had the opportunity to go to Cape Cod to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Check that one on the list.
Cape May, NJ is considered a very family-friendly beach. When my sister Beth lived in New Jersey and the kids were young, we vacationed at Ocean City, NJ, and made the trip down to Cape May to check it out as well. Check!
Coronado Beach in San Diego is in the top ten. Since we were just there in June, my memories are very fresh as to why it would be so highly regarded. Beaches on the west coast are so different from those on the east coast!
Those on the list that I have not gone to: Poipu Beach in Hawaii; Newport Beach in Calif; Orient Beach State Park in the state of Washington; Hilton Head; and Sanibel Island. I'm a little bitter about the Sanibel Island one, as I had a trip all planned to Sanibel about twelve years ago as a side trip from Grandma Wagners and Jon nixed my plans.
I really do not think I will ever get to the beach in Hawaii, and I don't have a huge interest in going to a beach in the state of Washington. Newport Beach is a stretch. But I do hope to add Sanibel and Hilton Head to my travel journal someday!

Ode to the Cabin

2009-08-13T11:11:00.010-04:00

Sixteen years ago a little ten year old girl took her daddy by the hand and led him around the hallowed grounds of Whitehall camp. She had just experienced youth camp, and she said, "Daddy, we must buy a cottage of our own". Thus began our adventure of being "second home owners"; that adventure ended last Saturday as the cottage was sold (yes, for a song, Josh) to another family that will hopefully make as many memories as we did.
"Make a memory" was kind of the theme to our cabin. Over the years we had many nieces, nephews, friends of them all, and our own kids staying in that 5 room cabin. One year during Family Campmeeting, which is always the first week in August, we had girls sleeping on cots in the kitchen because every other nook and cranny was filled with kids! Jon and I had what we referred to as a "sunken master suite", as our bedroom was two steps down from the living room. The boys took ownership of the living room and made it THEIR place to sleep. The girls had a bedroom of their own. In that girls' bedroom, Bethany made it a tradition for each girl to write their name on the wall, along with a memory or two plus the date. Therefore, when the cabin was sold, the new family got a diary of camp stories as well. :)
The kids all attended classes at campmeeting (sometimes dragging their feet) until they were in middle school; then there were "youth classes" that they attended on a hit and miss basis. While young, they also participated in a musical presentation of the gospel with Miss Natalie. These would be with motions, so picture Josh, Jer, Zack, Meg and Bethany all being performers on the big stage in the tabernacle. Quite a scene!
We began (again, Bethany's idea) to have a themed party for all of our family every year. The luau seemed to be the biggest hit, so it was repeated several times with the tiki torches, beach-themed music, barbecue meal and coconut bra being the staples of the celebration.
One year it rained cats and dogs; luckily we had brought a VCR...so we watched "Remember the Titans" at least 11 times.
Water balloon fights were also an annual event, and usually resulted that the inside of the cabin was as wet as any person and that I spent a lot of time mopping up the slippery floor!
The three-on-three basketball tournament is a highlight every year at camp and our kids' participation in it usually brought controversy. So many memories from the b ball court/games. Two trophies sat on the shelf of the cabin living room as a testament of the blood, sweat and tears (literally) that went with that competition.
On Saturday when the cabin was sold, it was very bittersweet. My brood is old enough to go or not to go to campmeeting on their own volition. Jon and I no longer have any interest in the maintenance that goes into a place like that. So I said goodbye to the cabin with a few tears in my eyes, and two trophies under my arm as I walked away for good.

Kitchen part 2

2009-07-30T16:24:00.003-04:00

Anyone who's done a facelift on any room in the house knows how messy it can be! There is a fine dust on every surface. I just got done wiping everything down in two rooms on the first floor ....two rooms to go. And then Ed will come and make more dirt :)
Not only is Ed my remodeler, he also has the heart of a decorator. So today I went to Home Depot and got some Behr paint samples. Together Ed and I poured over the swatches and have come up with a creamy yellow color scheme. Since it is no where near painting time, this is subject to change. We've also debated the merits of putting the chair rail back up. Ed is strongly in favor of the chair rail, with one color above, a darker shade below, and a nice coordinating color for the trim.
A man of many talents, I will probably go with most of Ed suggestions in the end.

Ed is destroying my kitchen!

2009-07-28T16:17:00.002-04:00

Help! Ed is destroying my kitchen!
Living in a house that was built in the 50's is challenging and sometimes a nightmare. In the 24 years we have lived here, we have upgraded and improved quite a bit....but some of that polishing has now lost it's shine and it's time to at least TRY to kick it up a notch.
Such is my kitchen project. I have NEVER, from the day we signed the mortgage papers, liked the stucco-type walls in the kitchen. The wallpaper when we moved in was cute, but worn. So, 18-20 years ago, my mom and I wallpapered the kitchen. My mom is so good at stuff like that. Me, not so much. The stucco walls we just painted and "lived with". I had stenciled over the years (both above the chair rail, and another time at the ceiling line) but that has long been painted over.
So I go to my friend Cyndi's house for a dinner party and see that she has beadboard in her very country kitchen! I decide this is for me. Thus, Ed my part time remodeler/decorator is in the midst of destroying my kitchen in order to resurrect it to new cooking life.
Today Ed brought Hunter with him. Ed retired a few months back and has had the joy and privilege of spending much time with his grandson. Today I got to pull out my Junior Scrabble I got for 25c at a yard sale this summer and entertain Hunter with the letters and gameboard. I kept screaming to Hunter, "Ed is destroying my kitchen" and Hunter would run out to Ed and say "Pa Pa, you destroying de kitchen?" and then laugh and laugh and laugh.
Who knew it could be this much fun to have your kitchen destroyed? Stay tuned!

Peggy Noonan's common sense Q and As re: Healthcare

2009-07-25T13:33:00.003-04:00

I found this article on the Drudge report (online) by Peggy Noonan about how MAYBE, just maybe, common sense of the American people will prevail and Obama's health care plan may be defeated.

Peggy is a political writer who definitely has a conservative point of view. After all, she worked for both President Regan and President Bush (the first one).

Her common sense questions are below, which she thinks are going through the minds of U.S. citizens:

Will whatever health care bill is produced by Congress increase the deficit? “Of course.”
Will it mean tax increases? “Of course.”
Will it mean new fees or fines? “Probably.”
Can I afford it right now? “No, I’m already getting clobbered.”
Will it make the marketplace freer and better? “Probably not.”
Is our health care system in crisis? “Yeah, it has been for years.”
Is it the most pressing crisis right now? “No, the economy is.”
Will a health-care bill improve the economy? “I doubt it.”

You can read the whole article here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574306533556532364.html

All I can say is, from Peggy Noonan's lips to God's ear!

Prayer Works

2009-07-25T08:55:00.003-04:00

If you did not see Bethany's latest post about our prayer time at Children's Hospital this week, check out her blog: www.bethanygrubbs.blogspot.com.
An experience like this really puts a lot of things in perspective. The father of Camryn (the 18 month old girl we prayed for) remarked that the time of prayer we had was worth more than ten masses. He felt that way because it was RAW, REAL, AND PERSONAL. He felt that way because so much is at stake.
The son of a friend of mine from my youth group in high school was in a very bad car accident a few years ago. Mitch had not had his driver's license very long before he went a little too fast on a curvy back road. As a result, Mitch had a brain injury, in a coma, was on life support....things did not look good. My friend and his wife were told that Mitch may not make it through the night. As word spread around their community in eastern Pennsylvania, people began to trickle into the parking lot at York Memorial Hospital, and these people began a prayer vigil for Mitch. They called on the God of Heaven to raise up this young man out of that hospital bed.
The Great Physician did such a complete healing that Mitch was able to fulfill his dream of being an exchange student to Europe the following school year. Today, Mitch is a student athelete (he's on the football team!) at a Midwestern college.
Will God answer in the same way for Camryn? I don't know. I DO know He is able and He is sovereign, and He has called us to pray. Prayer works.

Exhaustion has set in

2009-07-23T10:27:00.002-04:00

I am tired. This body is getting weary.
I've had a wonderful week....Levi has been here and is going to Pitt basketball camp every day. Yesterday he was Camper of the Day. Yeah Levi!
Chasing after a little boy probably has added to my tired, sore body.
We also had a visit from Elias, one of our translators from Honduras. Elias is 18 years old and has worked as a translator for four years for mission trips. He also is in University, studying to be a doctor. While Elias was here, we went to Carnegie Museum (Art and Natural History) and to the top of the Cathedral of Learning.
Elias had been to Penn State with other friends, and he loved it. So, I had to show him the REAL COLLEGE, Pitt.
I really enjoyed his visit. He is in Pgh for another week and a half, then will head to New York.
By coincidence, I got some text messages from my Honduran family while Elias was here. It was great to have him here to translate!

Best Summer Ever!

2009-07-16T10:40:00.003-04:00

This has been an awesome summer. We have had some off-the-hook gorgeous days with warm sunshine, blue skies and low humidity. NOW THAT'S MY KIND OF SUMMER. And it just seems like the action never stops! It was so enjoyable to have my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, neice and great nephew here. I loved having a baby in the house! Jake is 8 months old and a sweetheart. A few days after they departed, my sister threw a graduation party for her daughter Sarah. Sarah graduated from Shaler and is Miss Personality Plus. Her grad party was at North Park and although "severe storms" were predicted for the day, we did not get a drop of rain or a clap of thunder. For our entertainment, there was karaoke! Josh did several numbers, even did a duet with my sister Carol. An old friend from college was there who is an outstanding vocalist as well as a character. I did an upbeat rendition of "You Can't Hurry Love" with a lot of audience participation.
The day after the party, my college roommate Jan, pictured on the left above,who now lives in S. Carolina, came to stay. What fun we had! She is a person who will make lemonade when handed a bunch of lemons. We laughed, we cried, we ate good food, we shopped, we sunbathed by Beth's pool...having her here for a few days was a mini-vacation.
Tonight Josh is taking me to see Les Miserables at the Benedum (yes, he is a sweet son). Tomorrow Jon and I are going to the Pirate game and then to the Renaissance to spend the night for our anniversary. And a trip to the Bed and Breakfast with the sisters is planned for the firsdt week in August. I am blessed!

just.....!

2009-07-07T18:12:00.004-04:00

Summer and vacations are synonymous and this week the two are intersecting at our house, as family is here to visit from North Carolina. Last night we feasted together on a picnic dinner, had a rousing game of driveway basketball and set off fireworks. We are lucky to have Levi to add to the mix, and boy does he fit into this family!
Today the weather was so beautiful that we decided to head down to Station Square and do the Just Ducky Tours! If you've never been, it is a hoot! Once you hit the water, they ask for volunteers to drive the boat. That is how Levi got promoted to ship captain for the day!
After Just Ducky, we went to Joe's Crab Shack and ate outside and enjoyed the dancing fountains at Station Square.
Such fun activities, making memories on a truly gorgeous day.

Tensions Rise

2009-07-05T20:43:00.005-04:00

If you have been keeping up with breaking news from Honduras today, you have heard that the ousted president tried to return to the country this afternoon. The runway at the Tegucigalpa airport was blocked by military vehicles and armed soldiers. Therefore, the plane diverted to Nicaragua, and the ex-president says he will try to land there again in a few days.
You certainly don't need me for a news report, CNN and The Drudge Report and all other major news outlets have that covered.
But you know I have a vested interest in the safety of the people there, as I left part of my heart in that country when I visited.
I attempted to first reach out to our translators who all live in Teguc. The village we ministered in is further out, so all of this does not affect them as much. I was able to connect with Melissa, who feels that God's hand was in the coup, that having Zelaya gone would be better for the people. This was in the early days of this crisis. I have not heard from her since the KFC across from the airport was blown up; since the military have shot out some tires, or since this latest drama and confrontation at the airport.
It was also important to me to reach out to the family I support. Maricela is pregnant, due in August. (She is pictured, above, at the May food distribution) She has 3 other children. I had a need to know that they are safe. So, I went on babblefish.com the other night and got what I wanted to say to them translated from English to Spanish. I then text=messaged them, not knowing whether I'd hear back or not. But, I figured it was worth a shot.
MARICELA TEXTED ME BACK A NOVEL!
She is fine, as are the kids. They do not have electricity all the time and there is no school during this crisis. (Their summer break is in Dec and Jan). She has not had much work (she is a hairdresser) so I immediately texted "necessito dinero?" to find out if she needs money. She texted back, a million thanks, but no, she does not need me to send money. (I then began to wonder how I would get money down there anyway!!!) They were all living in terror for this showdown with the ex-president. She sent kisses to Bethany and greetings to my friend Linda. She ended her text with God bless you.
What a relief to picture them all safe and sound down there in La Villa San Francisco! Send a prayer up for them if you think about it.

Coup in Honduras? Not so, say the People

2009-07-02T15:41:00.004-04:00

First Heather has several blogs about "Three Cups of Tea" and how our feelings on the Taliban, the Shiites, Muslims, and the war on terror may change if we read the book.
Then, there is a "coup" in Honduras; and our government and the UN are against it because it was not done in a democratic way. I see what they are saying and where they are coming from with that, since the Pres of Honduras was captured in his home, in his pajamas in the early morning hours by the military. No, that doesn't seem very democratic.
But then I get information from some of my friends as well as missionaries who are on the ground, and it sounds like a whole different story.
Here is part of an email from a missionary:
Please don't believe everything you hear in the news; most are broadcasting Manuel Zelaya's version, (expresident of Honduras). The Wall Street Journal is one of the few who seems to be saying the truth. No military coup here. The president was impeached and removed from office after a special committee, appointed unanimously by Congress, declared him unfit to govern. The Secretary of Finance explained to the media that Zelaya has not submitted a national budget to Congress this year, has not given an account of his spending, has halted social programs and spent his time campaigning for an illegal and unconstitutional referendum, and has ceased to pay the salaries of teachers, doctors, nurses, for the past several months. He suddenly and forcefully doubled the minimum wage, trying to "buy" the popular vote, thereby causing several companies to close their doors, thus increasing the enormous unemployment in this country, and scaring away foreign investment. Violent crimes have surged in the past year. Several of his cabinet members resigned because they did not approve of his actions. Even congressmen from his own party warned him that they would not support him in his push for constitutional reform, in order to be able to stay in power for life (under Hugo Chavez's advice). The Association of Private Entrepreneurs of Honduras repudiated his actions. The illegal referendum that he wanted to carry out last Sunday was the straw that broke the camel's back. Congress, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Electoral Tribune, and other government entities warned him to refrain from his intentions or he would have to be arrested for violating the Constitution once again. He responded that he did not fear them and proceeded as planned. Accompanied by an armed mob, he broke into the place where the military was guarding the confiscated ballots for his referendum. When his Army General opposed this action he fired him on the spot, but the Supreme Court reinstated the general to his position. Early on Sunday morning, by a judicial order, Manuel Zelaya was arrested in his home and deported to Costa Rica, in an effort to prevent violent confrontations on the streets and needless bloodshed. Congress has since sworn in a new interim president, Roberto Micheletti, the former head of Congress. All government sectors want to guarantee to the people that there will be free, democratic, and constitutional presidential elections this coming November. Meanwhile, Hugo Chávez, from Venezuela, who supplies all the oil used in Honduras, has publicly threatened to "do whatever necessary" for Manuel Zelaya to achieve his objective of getting himself reelected into power indefinitely.
Long post, and I have more to say on this, but food for thought.

And so it begins

2009-06-30T07:33:00.002-04:00

Last night was the first evening of Bible school. Our theme is "Champions for Jesus" and we are decorated all in black and gold, using lots of Pirate, Penguin, and Steeler memorabilia. How timely are we?? Our area is still on the high of the Penguins' recent Stanley Cup Championship....and the first night, last night, highlighted the Penguins!
The Bible story was Joshua and the walls of Jericho. The theme was OBEDIENCE....listening to the person in charge. Again, what a great tie-in to the Penguins, who changed coaches when their season was on a downward slide, only to rise to the very top when they got a new coach. By LISTENING to his plan, they were able to be champions. Goosebumps from the awesome parallel to life with Jesus at the helm.
I am heading up the music portion, and I tried to drive this point home during the music time as well. It was fun to talk about and celebrate the Stanley Cup, but even more fun and meaningful to talk about and celebrate our Savior.
My nephew purchased a replica Stanley Cup (it's a big blow up thing) and he generously allowed me to take it last night. The kids enjoyed hoisting it over their heads a la Sid. Pictured, little Hunter with the cup. :)

Debbie Downer

2009-06-27T15:00:00.003-04:00

Last night my daughter and I went to see the movie, " My Sister's Keeper". We had both read the book by Jodi Picoult, and really were looking forward to it. Yesterday was opening day for the film. We decided to go to the 6:30 show at Pittsburgh Mills where there is stadium seating for every movie....not every Pittsburgh theatre has stadium seating, you know, unlike other cities......but I digress....
We left early enough to grab a bite at Panera before the show. We bought our tickets and made our way to our seats. We sat through way too many previews (mostly thumbs down, Josh) ....and is it just me or are there more COMMERCIALS than previews at the movies these days?
Suffice it to say, the movie does not follow the plot line of the book. At all. And to me, the obvious efforts to pull the tears out of your tear ducts were really annoying. Apparently Bethany was trying to enjoy the movie anyway, even though it was not what anyone in that theatre was expecting who had read the book!! She called me Debbie Downer because I did sigh and tisk a little at the storyline.
As we walked out with other moviegoers, I noticed I was not the only one that was disturbed by the mutilation of the book's plot. Admit it, Beth, you were in the minority in that place!
I will say the young actress that played the cancer patient (Sophie Vassilieva)did a fantastic job....very believable. I think she'll come out of this a big star. Other than that, blah!

S.O.S

2009-06-26T16:59:00.004-04:00

No~ I don't need help, at least not today!
But....do you?

A new friend of mine, Sally, that I met through my Honduras trips, has started a new venture called S.O.S. It stands for Sally's Outreach Services, and what she is proposing to do is help you ~using one of the the many gifts God has given her.
A drug rep for many years, she was laid off last year and has been asking God what's next for her life.
Multi-talented would be an understatement for this woman of God. She has a beautiful soloist voice which she used to the glory of God while we were in Honduras. I will let you in on this little secret that you won't find on her resume: she won the talent portion of Miss Pennsylvania when she was a contestant in the pageant. Now Sally is around my age, so yes, it was a few years ago, but she still can sing!!
Sally also has a knack with colors. If you are wondering what color to paint a room or what color looks best on you, she could do a consultation.
She is a great gardener, and beautified a huge back yard in Oakmont this summer for a friend...one of her first efforts in her SOS venture. Sally is also willing to clean houses. Her thought process is that whatever will help someone, she wants to do it if she is able.
This past week she painted my living room for me. It turned out gorgeous in my opinion, and she is meticulous in her application of the paint. (the opposite of my painting skills)
Here is the best part of SOS: Sally has a heart for missions, so whatever "donation" you give her for her services will go toward mission trips. Her goal is to be able to go on two mission trips per year. She will be returning to Honduras in Feb 2010 and is hoping to go to Cambodia or an African country next year as well.
Let me know if you'd like to use Sally's services! She's a peach!

Server Down!

2009-06-24T20:22:00.002-04:00

Today I got to work (6am) and found out that the server for our main application was down. Without our scheduling tool, IEX, my department is crippled. Ninety percent of our job revolves around this software. From 6am-10am, we basically twiddled our thumbs. I had a few spreadsheets for July that I could create in Excel. I could clean out my email (700 saved emails seems a bit excessive, huh?) Can you say bored to tears?? At 10:15am, the Boss sent out an email saying people could go home, "flex time". She made it clear it would be a limited number of people. The catch is, you either had to use vac time or make up the time you missed. I jumped on that email and hit reply as fast as I could. I was sure everyone else would be hitting the reply button as well, and she might be going by "first come, first served". Turns out I was the only one that wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous weather!

I had planned to go to Pier 1 in Cranberry after work today....so what a great opportunity for me to stop over there and do what I needed to do. I told my boss I would be in the area for 45 min or so; if the system happened to be repaired in that time, give me a call, I can come back.

Well guess what??? I was only gone 17 minutes and the system was up and running. They phoned me back in on this beautiful summer day. It almost wasn't fair to get a taste of an unexpected, free summer day. Going back to work was a bummer!

Silver and Gold have I none...

2009-06-16T09:10:00.004-04:00

Many years ago, God gave me a special verse for my church as we once again were prepping for Vacation Bible School. I have the date written in my Bible....I think it was in 1992. This verse is still relevant today for our upcoming VBS which will begin June 29.

My church is a small church that doesn't have a lot of financial resources. Never will we put on a Bible school that has all the bells and whistles that many of the other local congregations have available to them. Ours is pretty bare bones, with creativity and ingenuity being the leading ingredients.

One valuable thing we DO have, and we DO offer, is Jesus. And, once you strip away all the colorful scenery, professional theatrics, high-tech wizardry, I hope that is what other churches are offering as well.

Rather than be discouraged by our amateur efforts to put on a memorable week of classes for the kids, let's shout from the housetops what we do have.

This verse sums up what our focus needs to be. From Acts 3, after a lame man begs Peter and John for money, Peter says this: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth~walk."

My prayer for our VBS is that, although we don't have the sparkling trappings (silver and gold) of other Bible camps, we have the best gift, a gift of immeasurable value. May the children we minister to rise up and walk with the Savior of the world.

Those Boys!

2009-06-13T08:47:00.003-04:00

How fun was that to see our beloved Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup and skate around with it at the Joe?

Ok, Ok, again I am a bandwagon fan, but this year, I really think the love for the Pens and hockey got in my blood.

I work with what I will call the "hockey dudes". They are a bunch of die-hard Penguin fans, who also have been on local teams over the years that played at ungodly hours like 11pm on a Wed when they had to be at work by 7am on a Thurs. They talk hockey non-stop year-round so it is a wonder they didn't completely turn me off to the sport! But through osmosis, I have gotten to know the names and terms associated with our team and hockey in general.

This year I started watching the Pens in earnest during the playoffs, and I now feel I am on the verge of being obsessed. I don't know what it is about me and spectator sports, but a few years ago I started to watch every NFL game that was on tv. Jon is so bored with my obsession. Then I started to follow college basketball pretty religiously, not just Pitt. OK, with basketball it was mostly the Big East. Now this.

Last night I was rewarded when I saw Sidney kiss and hoist that Stanley Cup and skate around the Red Wings' home ice. And it didn't hurt the celebration for Bethany to set off fireworks in our driveway with Levi, Jon and I as spectators!

I have a feeling we are going to be pumped by the Pens for some time to come. City of Champions!!

Treasure Hunt

2009-06-08T17:21:00.008-04:00

Have you been to a good yard sale lately?
It's that time of year when my sisters and I head out on Saturday mornings for yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets. We kicked off the Odessey 2009 this past Saturday, and roamed around the Shaler/Hampton/North Hills area. Signs were sparse! We weren't that prepared...no one had brought along the newspaper, Green Sheet, or Pennysaver. We were relying on those neon 8 by 10 signs stapled to telephone poles. Note to self: if ever having a yard sale, make signs bigger than a notebook sheet and use black wide markers. (Delete note to self as I will never, ever again put myself thru the rejection incurred at my one and only sale a decade ago)
We did a drive by at a few duds (you'll have that in the quest for the perfect YS storm) but why stop when all they have is baby items and you're way past that but no grandkids yet???
Somehow we stumbled onto a big sale at St Paul's United Meth Church. It was so popular that we had to park in the grass. Each of us had something we were looking for: 2 of us need crock pots, and Beth is looking for a bedside table. Having a "goal treasure" makes the hunt more meaningful. The bonus is when you find something you WEREN'T looking for.
I know, I know. Consumerism, accumulation of things.....not good things. But I have made a few guidelines that keep me from falling into the trap of buying just for the sake of buying.
First of all, I don't take much money. Then, if there is something outside of 20 dollars, I really have to think about if I want it bad enough to go get cash and come back. Second, I try to buy something I know I will need to go to Target/Rite Aid for anyway.
This Saturday I got a really good working iron for $2!! (I needed one) I also got four pots of never-used lip gloss for $1 (I would not have bought used lip gloss, I promise). I got Avon make-up remover (never opened) for $1 and a comb and brush set in the original packaging for $1.
No one got their goal item this Saturday, but if we had, what would be the motivation for next Saturday?

Not too shabby

2009-06-04T20:35:00.005-04:00

Jon and I just returned from a FABULOUS trip to San Diego.

It was a trip Jon won through his company. Imagine my delight when, after disembarking from our long flight, we saw this man waiting for us. VIP treatment!
He had a Lincoln town car to wisk us to our hotel right on San Diego Bay (below)

The view of the bay was gorgeous! While in S D, we went on a harbor cruise, a horse and buggy ride, and a trolley tour of the different neighborhoods. We were able to go to Coronado Island and walk on the beach and put our toes in the ocean. We had a day and a half to sit by the pool and just chill. And, to top it off, the company rented out Sea World for an evening's entertainment.

The Navy has a huge presence in San Diego, including the training site for the Navy SEALs. It was so refreshing to see our Armed Forces appreciated!! In the bay were many Navy ships and the harbor tour gave us a close up look at the different sizes and uses for the vessels. There was also a Dole-Honduras ship docked there that made me remember the banana farms I saw on my trip. We were delighted to also view sea lions in their natural habitat.

So, today: back to the real world of laundry, cooking and errands. But what good memories!

Connecting the Dots

2009-05-28T17:58:00.008-04:00

I began my first jobshare in 1991. Ronnie G. was the Lighthouse Bookstore manager, and she needed some surgery. To fill in for her while she was out, another volunteer, Barb H. and I, jobshared her responsibilities. I loved it! So when Ronnie came back to work, I was thrilled when I was asked to apply for a regular job there. I made it through the interview and thus began my time as Operations Manager of The Lighthouse Foundation.
I mention this today because my wonderful, gifted daughter ends her tenure at the same mission tomorrow. She has been Director of Transitional Living for the past four years, and was the intern for two summers prior to that. But her love for and involvement in the Lighthouse goes back much further.
When The Lighthouse mission began in the Richland Restaurant, on the corner of First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown property, Lorrie started a "Mother's Day Out" which I quickly joined. I believe this was Beth's first experience with The Lighthouse, at around age 4 or 5. Her connection continued as I volunteered as a reader for the blind. She was often around, tasting Judy's yummy rolls or getting underfoot in the Bookstore.
When I began working there, Beth visited my office, rang the bell with me for Salvation Army, and dressed as a clown for our Lighthouse Community Day. (Wish I could post that picture!) She loved playing "clerk" in the Bookstore and bagged an order or two for Food Bank in her early years. Then came two summers of interning, working with the Sonlight program and forming relationships with children and adults alike. These are the "dots" in her formative years that were connected when she began her ministry there full-time after college graduation.
Throughout her tenure at The Lighthouse, Beth has given her all. She went so far outside of her job description that I often wondered when she ever had time for herself!
Today was her farewell luncheon. Several of the young people whose lives she touched spoke from their hearts about all she had done for them. Words like humble, kind, and giving were used. Missing, though, was the story of the dots that were sprinkled throughout her life. Connecting them is a mother's privilege.

Special Friend's Birthday

2009-05-23T19:00:00.010-04:00

Through the years I have been blessed to have 3 sisters who are my best friends; a daughter who is my best friend; and a best friend who is like a sister to me. My cup overflows!

Linda and I met through June's Bible study at Bakerstown Alliance, my church, over 25 years ago. Our Bible study had 18-25 women in it and as we studied some deep spiritual truths, we all bonded. I was pregnant with Jeremy and when he was born, Linda volunteered to have my baby shower. Our friendship has grown and blossomed ever since.

Through the years the two of us have had one-on-one Bible studies, prayer walks at North Park, and studies where we have mentored other women. We have burned up the phone lines with quick calls for "Please pray, Jim just smashed his fingers in the car door, we are on the way to the emergency room" to long calls to pass the time when our husbands worked late hours and we were stuck at home with the kids. Our kids took swimming lessons together at Mars Pool many moons ago, her daughter Dodee having a hard time graduating out of the Snoopy class.

While in my early 30's, I taught two of Linda's children in Sunday School. Jim was 16 and happens to share my birthday! Becky was 14 and is today a married mom of 2 and is who got me an interview at Verizon Wireless where we both still work.

Linda and I have been blessed to travel together to many, many places. When Dodee was a cheerleader, we chaperoned a cheerleading competition trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. Often we have gone on short trips to celebrate each other's birthdays: we've been to Hershey spa, Nemacolin Woodlands, Berkley Springs spa. The last two years we have travelled to Honduras to do mission work together. We both were thrilled when our daughters Becky and Beth formed a special bond on this trip.

So Saturday, to help Linda celebrate a big birthday, the four of us tried a newly opened nail salon for pedicures. Beverly Hills Nail salon is in Wexford, in the new shopping center near Oxford. I give the place two thumbs up! The pedicure chairs massage your body and recline, and they offer you a bottled water while you are being treated. The treatment itself was very relaxing as well. While your toes are drying, there is a bowl of candy to snack on. Scented lotion is nearby to put on your hands.

After pedicures we went over to Narcissi Winery with a basket of fruit, bread, cheese, and birthday cupcakes. With a bottle of wine to share we enjoyed listening to the live band and chilling with good friends.

Happy Birthday dear friend! You are a gem!

What What !

2009-05-21T21:03:00.004-04:00

This blog is just some random thoughts, but I have used the title "Random Thoughts" before (maybe twice) so I went with What What!

Here are my What What's today:

What a GORGEOUS DAY! This morning I walked four miles with my Honduran mission trip buddies. We have been doing this twice a week for about a month and it has been AWESOME. However~they are kicking my butt with how physically fit they are!

The Penguin game (which is on right now) is out of control! Carolina players have been bopping my Sid on the head!! And knocking him down! Naughty!

Bethany and Jaime howl me with their video on Beth's blog.

Jon and I leave in 9 days for San Diego! Fun!!

Today I heard from Tanya, a girl I taught in Sunday School 25 years ago. She contacted me via Facebook. Last week I went to the wedding of a guy that was in that same class. They were all teenagers and I was a young mom. It was a blast to have all of them in SS. It's a blast to still know most of them!

Raw

2009-05-12T21:17:00.002-04:00

Over the years, I have planned and hosted a number of wedding and baby showers. Some of them have been legendary. My friend Linda and I have come up with many theme showers, and spent weeks working on the color scheme, centerpieces, table coverings, searching for the perfect napkin, making memorable favors for the guests.....then of course a menu! The planning goes on and on. I don't believe we ever gave a shower without also preparing a devotion for the event.....a Scripture and word of encouragement for the bride or mother-to-be. Perhaps that is the most redeeming thing about all of these showers. Giving showers was a type of ministry for us.
When we were in Honduras in February, Linda and I held an impromptu baby shower for a pregnant Central American friend. It was a blast. The element of surprise and no planning made it all the more fun. No time to think of the perfect napkin, NO FOOD AT ALL, just a knock on the door and the presentation of a deluxe stroller tied with pink and blue ribbons. The mother-to-be was delighted.
This got me thinking of ministry at home. We plan and plan....toil and spin.....why not try raw ministry here as well?
I have put my idea to the test these past two weeks. Last week two friends and I dropped in on a couple to visit. This couple has children in a ministry program we run. We decided to bridge the gap between the kids and their parents by stopping in for a chat. We brought cookies and flowers. It was a delightful time! We talked a little about the church but did not present the full gospel message. I trust God is laying the groundwork for when we can do just that. Tonight, I took another parent to dinner and got to know her on a different level. It was not planned in advance. I left a message on her phone an hour before I picked her up. Luckily, she was available and ready. We had a marvelous chat, and she filled me in on happenings in her living complex. I also got a chance to find out where she is in her walk with the Lord.
This experiment has been a lot of fun so far!

Words of Affirmation

2009-05-08T18:01:00.009-04:00

Have you ever read or studied The Love Languages of God? It's an awesome book by Gary Chapman. He identifies five love languages in the book:

Acts of service

gifts

physical touch

quality time

and

words of affirmation

I am definitely a words of affirmation type of girl.

The teaching I had on the love languages is that you usually have one of these languages that make you FEEL loved, and one that you use to EXPRESS love.

Also, it seems you have a secondary love gift.

My secondary gift is probably physical touch, since I am a hugger. It could be quality time, though, because spending time with friends and loved ones is important to me as well.
However, to me, the most loving thing you can do for me is a positive verbal expression.

I mean, who doesn't like to hear affirming words?

So, for those of you out there who don't always communicate well, here are some hints:

If someone is having a bad day, express verbally how much they mean to you.

If someone does a good job, let them know it....in words!

If someone is sad, let them know you're there for them.

If someone fails, tell them you love them anyway.

If someone is struggling, tell them you struggle, too.

Silence is not always golden. If you are able, share a positive word!

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Prov 16:24

The City that Never Sleeps

2009-04-28T16:02:00.003-04:00

"....those little town blues....are melting away....I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!"
There are those who visit the Big Apple and say, "Boy, am I glad I don't live there." Not me. I would LOVE and welcome the opportunity to live for one year in an apartment in NYC.
This past weekend I visited the "city that never sleeps" with my mother, my daughter, 2 sisters and 2 nieces. A third niece goes to college in the Bronx, so this motivated us to get our act together and plan a visit before she graduates in May.
A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
We planned this trip a few months in advance, and I was in charge of our hotel reservations. I searched and schemed, and finally decided to go with priceline.com. This is the second time I have used their services, and was pleased both times. I got a 3.5 star hotel in Times Square that was clean and comfortable and had all the amenities at a substantial savings over their published prices.
Our goal was to do a lot of sightseeing, as my youngest sister had never been to NYC before. Riding the doubledecker bus cannot be beat to see the most in a short period of time. We took the Downtown Loop which took us to Rockefeller Center, Macy's, So Ho, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, The World Trade center site, Southside Seaport, and Battery Park. You can "hop off" at any of these points, look around, shop, whatever, and hop back on the bus when you are done.
We got off at the WTC site and visited the church that is beside and served as a refuge for the rescue workers during those awful days and months that followed the tragedy. It is a must-see if you are in New York anytime in the near future. It gives you a new appreciation for volunteers; in fact, is worthy of it's own blog.
We also got off at Battery Park to walk close to the shore line and see the Statue of Liberty holding court out in the middle of the harbor. We experienced a "street show" while there~ 3 brothers that dance and do acrobatics....and then of course pass the hat for contributions. They were quite entertaining, so we dropped a few bucks in the pot.
Our longest stop was in Chinatown where we had authentic Chinese food and shopped some. I really don't care to ever go to Chinatown again in my life. Enough said.
Back in Times Square we went to dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner, where actresses and actors (Broadway hopefuls) wait on the tables, and sing and dance in between. It's a wonderful thing to do when in the city. Our waitress was from Pine Richland. So far, no luck for her on or off Broadway :(
Entertaining us for the entire trip was the "search for the perfect purse". Street vendors with tables full of handbags are everywhere....and there are a few characters with large canvas sheets, tied up with items that may or may not be hot. They untie their bundle to expose the goods, only to whip it back together and take off running when the cops come by. Shady!
One of the best parts of the trip was the camaraderie with loved ones travelling back and forth. Our daughters do not yet understand how we can be on the verge of murder with each other one moment and laughing til we're crying the next. All I know is that, NYC memories were made!

Television taping

2009-04-28T07:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was a guest on a television talk show.
No, it wasn't Ellen, or Oprah, or Maury.
It was the June Jeffries Show. The official title is ....gosh, I can't remember what the official title of the show is.
Anyway, June is a wonderful African-American pastor who also happens to have her own television time. Her church is a Baptist church in East Vandergrift. What is so ironic about that is, E Vandergrift is definitely in my neck of the woods, where I grew up.
I was invited to be a guest along with two area pastors who went on the Honduras trip this year.
It was such a fun and interesting experience!
The studio is on Western Avenue on the North Side. Neither of the pastors could drive me to the station so I had to find it myself. I knew "about" where I was going, but did pass the location the first time. Luckily I knew enough about the area to make a big circle and come around a second time. The studio is probably the last building before you go over the West End Bridge.
When I pulled into the parking lot I saw Pastor Gary Weston, so I knew I was in the right place.
You had to buzz to get into the building. So, I guess they keep the rift raft out of the studio.
Once inside, we had to sign in and then wait for June and also wait for Pastor Dan Muttart from Bakerstown Presbyterian.
Then June burst into the waiting room. She is a mass of energy and excitment. She loves the Lord and loves life! She had on blue jeans and a gold sleeveless shell, and high heels. She explained to us that she has to arrange her own "set" every time she tapes. Different shows tape in the studio and all have a different "look" to them. Her job is unglamorous in that she drags out the coffee table, centerpiece, and chairs and arranges them in just the right spot in the studio.
There were 3 cameras. We each took a seat on the "set" while June continued to buzz around, making further arrangements. We were told to be there by 1:30pm but we weren't even close to taping by 2. Finally June puts on a blazer over her shell (she will be seen from the waist up only on camera) and takes a seat with us in the conversation area of the set. We all get miked up and have a sound check. I can see us in the monitor and am so happy that they are shooting me from my "good side" :)
June had explained that the theme of the show was to be Matthew 25 where Jesus says "Whatever you have done to the least of these you have done it unto me". I am excited because this is the very verse God gave me to convince me to go on the mission trip in the first place. The key phrase for me in that verse is "I was sick and you visited me".....you see, the mission is a MEDICAL mission, and I am not a doctor, a nurse, nor anything close to a medical person. But, when I realized I had the gift or ability to VISIT, I said, okay, I can do this.
The taping was 40 minutes long. I think I answered two or three questions, and told one story from the trip. It was all very easy and fun and I wasn't a bit nervous.
The show is only broadcast on Comcast. It will not be shown until August, and then it will air at least 3 times.
I will get a DVD of the show, though, and may have a premiere if Iam pleased with the outcome.
Stay tuned.

Being a Mom to Adult Children

2009-04-15T21:30:00.004-04:00

Lauren had a post about what it means to be a mom recently. It inspired me to share my thoughts about what it means to be a mom to adult children.
Here's my list:
~having enjoyable, interesting conversations with these amazing people
~knowing when to comfort and when to say "knock it off"
~worrying
~interceding for them as they make life choices
~kissing their bruised egos instead of their bruised knees
~hanging out and laughing
~planning vacations together
~making time for each other
~trying hard to win every competition but usually losing
~trying to keep your mouth shut
~apologizing when you can't
~being their biggest cheerleader
~being the Voice of reason when you need to be
~loving unconditionally
~forgiving and asking for forgiveness
~being friends with their friends
~always keeping the home fires burning for their return, no matter how short

Do I miss having my three little chicks under my roof? Sometimes. (Having Jer here helps with that somewhat) I can tell you that the empty nest periods we have experienced have been fun, too. As much as I loved raising my children and having my family all nesting together, I can tell you that there are joys at every stage. What a journey! What a privilege.

update

2009-04-09T18:40:00.002-04:00

I am happy to report that Levi lost his tooth!
He was very nonchalant as he reported that he PULLED IT OUT DURING SCHOOL.
He said he was sick of it flopping around in his mouth. The Tooth Fairy gave him a dollar under his pillow, and I gave him one, too.

We got a chance to do a little Easter celebration with Levi and his mom, brother and sister tonight.

Gathering at Pizza Hut, we caught up over dinner. The kids are pretty good eaters and a lot of fun to be around. Little Na-Na is a flirt! She would bat her eyelashes at Jeremy and smile, then squeeze her eyes closed with head bowed when he winked at her.

Elijah is talking so well! There was a time when we wondered if he'd ever talk!

And Levi is his usual responsible, big-brother self.

The best surprise of all is that Megan is doing so well and looks so good.

They promised to come to church on Sunday.

Random Thoughts

2009-04-07T07:32:00.002-04:00

A few random thoughts this April morning:

~It's snowing?? Seriously?? I hate April snow!

~There are a few hyacinths blooming out front, plus forsythia!

~The National Championship game was a snooze.

~All in all, a great basketball season, very entertaining. Deserves a blog all it's own.

~The Pirates won their opening game!! In dramatic fashion!

~Found out a friend of the family came to know Jesus recently, 14 years and one day after her husband. Much rejoicing on heaven and earth!!

~Easter at my sister Carol's will be fun.

Vulnerable

2009-04-06T20:18:00.001-04:00

vul⋅ner⋅a⋅ble [vuhl-ner-uh-buhl]
–adjective 1. capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon: a vulnerable part of the body.
2. open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.: an argument vulnerable to refutation; He is vulnerable to bribery.

Bloggers beware! Writing a blog makes you vulnerable! Because we dare to put our thoughts out there, we are opening ourselves to unwanted feedback. People can interpret your words in ways you never intended. And even if they do get the essence of your message, you have now let them in on information that can be used to hurt you.

How uncomfortable is it when someone quotes you back to you, in an unflattering way?

Epilogue

2009-04-05T19:45:00.003-04:00

Since returning from La Villa San Francisco, many of my thoughts and prayers have been focused on the loving people there and the experiences I had while there. Others from the Mission Team have said they see the streets of La Villa when they close their eyes at night. That place and those people have left an indelible mark on my heart....and on my fellow mission worker's hearts it seems.
Growing up, missions was a big part of my church. My pastor and his wife came to our church after serving as missionaries on one of the Cayman Islands (Little Cayman). When a missionary would visit our church, my mother always made sure she had the servant of God for dinner.
As an adult, my husband and I became members of Bakerstown Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Missions is a main focus of our denomination! I have served two different terms as Alliance Women president. Alliance Women is our women's mission group, studying different countries where the Alliance has a presence as well as praying for our missionaries around the globe. I have hosted missionaries in my home, following in my mother's footsteps.
But I cannot tell you how different it is to actually GO on a missions trip. I see things about missions from changed eyes and a changed heart now. Maybe that was one of the purposes God had in this for me. I understand so much more how being a missionary is your life, not your life's work. How being a missionary is so much more about what you do than what you say. How what you do impacts people for Jesus more than 10,000 words or 100,000 religious tracts.
This may be my last post about Honduras, at least for a time. I hope you enjoyed my reflections and memories as much as I enjoyed blogging about them. And I hope that sometime in the future I will have more to share about the people I love from that Central American village.

Live~Laugh~Mourn~Weep~Live

2009-03-30T21:29:00.003-04:00

2008 marked the first year I travelled to Honduras with FPCB. So enamored was I with the people and the mission that before leaving the Central American country, I pledged to spend two weeks on the mission in 2009.
I have a finite amount of vacation and a finite amount of income, the same as everyone else who volunteers for the mission. So, to commit to two weeks, some planning needed to be done.
Luckily I was able to save a week's vacation to carry-over from 2008 to 2009. I was happy to do this to support the mission and the Honduran people I had come to love. Once back on US soil from my first trip, I found a few extras I could do without, eliminating some unnecessary expenses. Funny how when you give something up for something you are passionate about, you don't even miss it!
The 2009 trip to La Villa San Francisco was a fantastic time of getting to know the people and really investing in their lives. We went past a shallow relationship with these people and bonded with them in ways that astounded me. One woman was abused by her husband while we were there. She came to the clinic to receive care for her wounds, and she was treated with tenderness, love and mercy. Her husband was jailed for the crime (at least for a short time). "Hate the sin but love the sinner" became a reality when Pastor Dan visited the abuser in jail.....to counsel, to rebuke, but to ultimately show Christ's love.
Another wonderful woman revealed that she was with child! Sadly, it was outside of marriage. She was reticent to reveal this to us but eventually did. We enveloped her with an embrace and words of joy about new life. Later, we surprised her with a deluxe baby carriage, tied with blue and pink ribbons.
How sad we were when one of our women came to the clinic and was diagnosed by our doctor as having cancer. Fredesvinda was a pillar of the community and beloved by her family and her church. While walking in La Villa one day, her daughter, frantic and full of tears,explained to us that her mother needed transportation to the capital city immediately for treatment; she was throwing up blood. She did not have the money to pay someone to drive her to the hospital. Our own "Mother Teresa", Jean, reached in her magic bag and pulled out the necessary limpera for the trip. Mirna, the Pastor's wife, said we must go and pray for Fredisvinda immediately. So that is how I came to lay hands on and pray for a dying woman in the village. We watched as a pick up truck came and took her to Tegucigulpa. And we mourned with the family as we viewed her in her wooden coffin the next day in that same casa.
No, our interactions with the people were not shallow or ordinary or done out of duty. They were LIFE. Sharing. Rejoicing. Weeping. Kinda like the Scripture that says to laugh with those who laugh and mourn with those who mourn.
The experience was profound.

Transition

2009-03-24T09:16:00.002-04:00

Posts about work may be a little boring, but .....we spend an awful lot of time at work, so sometimes a work post is a necessity.

At my job, I have been scheduling the supervisors for at least five years, I'd say. There are 70 or 80 supervisors that my jobshare partner and I are responsible for scheduling....all of their trainings, all of their meetings, vacations, sick time, etc.

I have become very comfortable with that role and like it. Most of the time it is like putting together pieces of a puzzle, because we must balance their schedules every day with their call-taking responsibilities. Each supervisor takes 2 hours of escalated calls per day from you folks out there that are mad about your bill or your wireless service. So instead of just mindlessly dropping things into the sups schedules, it took some analyzing, rearranging and balancing. I liked it

Recently our department went through a national reorganization. They announced it to us close to six months before any real information was disseminated. Therefore, we had all of that time to panic that we were losing our jobs! Turns out, our jobs were not eliminated, but now our daily assignments have been changed. It was as if they put all of our responsibilities in a margarita shaker and just shook it and spilled it out on a conference table.

Yesterday was Day One of the Transition. Our supervisors, physically located in Cranberry Woods, are now being scheduled by a person in Tennessee.

My jobshare partner Linda and I will be responsible for mapping out all the training for five different calls centers, located in five different states. This will mean analyzing the call volume ebb and flow and deciding when best we can fit in a two hour training , for example, in five call centers. Then we will decide how many we can afford to have "off line" for the training. Also, we need to know what conf rooms in these five centers capacity is, and what equipment is in each room. If the trainer needs computers for each representative, only certain rooms can be used, etc. This will need to be done for approximately 3500 representatives. HELLO. Oh, and anytime we are asked, we must know the percentage completion of any given training.

I'm bummed. I also may have to change my work days, as the conference calls where we get all of our information, is on Tuesdays. In fact, I need to go get ready to run over to work today (my day off) to go on Conf Call # 1.

I am going to try to go with the attitude: Praise God I have a job.....right??

Loose Tooth

2009-03-14T18:23:00.002-04:00

Levi is here today and providing us with much love and laughter, as usual.

I brought Wendy's home after running some errands, and as he sat down to eat his chicken nuggets, a front tooth came loose.

Huge crocodile tears ran down his face. "I have a loose tooth," he cried.

"Why are you crying?" I ask.

"I've never had a loose tooth before. Will I swallow it?"

Jeremy told him that if he was lucky he would get money for the tooth.

"I don't believe in that stuff" Levi replies.

"You don't believe in money???" Jeremy retorts.

After thinking it over, Levi decides maybe he DOES believe in the tooth fairy.

Partying with the People

2009-03-10T07:20:00.002-04:00

An idea that my friend Linda had a few years ago while in Honduras was to have a fiesta with our Hope Families while we were there with them.
She divided the families in half.....eleven families invited the first week of the trip, twelve the next. If you were a mission team member during Week One and support a family, your family is invited that week to dinner so that you have a chance to visit and get to know your family.
My first time to experience the family dinners was last year, when my family was invited during week two of the trip. We had the dinner indoors last year, but this year we set up tables in the courtyard of the mission compound.
I was on a remote medical mission when they set the dinner up for week one. My family came that night, which was great because bethany was able to have dinner with them as well.
All the families come dressed up, and they often bring something to share.
Marj and Deb make up a great meal of paella.....rice with chicken and lots of other good stuff thrown in. There are sides of beans and watermelon. They order cakes from the bakery in town....you cannot believe the delicious and beautiful cakes they make in that little village!!! A good time is had by all.
During Week Two this year I was able to be in on the planning and set up for the family dinner. Others had gone to a remote medical clinic, but my help was needed with the dinner. A Honduran family, a translator, and a Mission team member are seated together at each table. The Mission team member and the translator serve the table.
I decorated the tables with balloons and namecards in colors of red, blue, yellow and green for the dinner, and scattered multi-colored jelly beans across each table. Linda added tall yellow candles. Once lit, the humble courtyard was transformed into a real party scene.
Through the translators, we are able to connect with the families on a social level and enjoy good food and share smiles.
After eating we have a short program indoors that included having the town Elvis lead "This is the day" in both Spanish and English. We also use that time to pass out to the families special large bags that were sewn by a Ladies Bible Study in Ingomar. The bags are for them to carry their groceries home from the food distributions. Made of beautiful decorator fabric in stripes and florals, each bag was filled with kitchen items we purchased for them: cheese grater, cutting board, measuring cups, and wooden spoons.
The evening ends with each family posing for a picture, their smiles assuring us that they indeed had a good time.

Saturday Somethings.....

2009-03-07T08:00:00.002-05:00

Here are Some Things I'm thinking about this Saturday............

1. I am loving Jer's new laptop ...it's a MacBook

2. PITT PLAYS UCONN TODAY AT NOON. I am excited/nervous!!

3. Josh gave up his very good seat for me at the Pitt/Marquette game on Wednesday night. I had a blast!!!

4. Saw that Neil Walker played in the Pirate game yesterday. Anyone got any updates on Neil's chances of making the team?

5. Heather needs our prayers! Saw on Facebook that she has bronchitis or possibly pneumonia. Get better Heather!

6. Had deep belly laughs last night with Bethany, Linda and Becky reliving Honduran memories.

7. Need your prayers about next year's mission trip to Honduras....we would love to see it grow but others want to scale back.
God's will be done.

8. There are other good b ball games on this wkend...WVU vs L'ville and UNC vs Duke. I will watch them all.

9. A pedicure in a massage chair is like a mini-vacation. Thanks for the treat, Bethany.

10. Carol, Charissa and Jake are coming in a week!! Good times!

Thumbprint

2009-03-05T20:14:00.003-05:00

The last full day we were in La Villa, we attended the food distribution for the Hope families. These families have been identified by the pastor as being the most needy in the village. They are supported through donations from some of us who are on the mission trip, but mostly by generous people back here in the Pittsburgh area.
They are given food once per month. Egor is who is currently facilitating the food distribution. Egor is a handsome 30-something, never- married Honduran. He lives in Tegucigalpa, so to handle the distribution means a 1 hour commute each way to our little village. I cannot tell you how many times he said to me, "Thank you for coming here and helping my people." Egor cares.
Egor is a man of many talents, and on this particular day, his expertise was needed on legal matters with one of the families. So, he let the Americans handle the entire production.
We had a kind of assembly line going in the back room/side alley of one of the pulperias in the village. The pulperia (grocery store) was very organized and had already pre-packed 2 pounds of rice, 2 pounds of spaghetti noodles, tomato sauce of some kind, corn meal, cereal, beans, butter, and oil to cook in. Separately, there was a frozen chicken; and in a small package, two pieces of what looked like extremely thick chalk. Lime green in color, this substance is what the women use to hand wash their laundry in their outdoor pila.
In addition, there was a flat of 2 or 3 doz eggs (wish I would have counted them so I knew for sure).
Ana, one of the translators, was handling the eggs; I was handling the laundry soap and frozen chicken; Deb was giving them their large bundle of groceries and Marge was taking their picture.
The other thing I was handling was having them "sign in" when they received their food.
Egor warned me that not all knew how to sign their name.
Three of our women, instead, made a thumbprint after dipping their digit in ink.
I suppose there are people walking around Pittsburgh that can't read and write, but I don't know any.
There are women in our program who said they would be willing to teach their peers how to read. I wonder if they will accept the tutoring. Would you?

Life Skills

2009-03-03T13:24:00.007-05:00

One of my favorite days in Honduras involved Jean (Mother Teresa), Linda and I conducting a Life Skills class for the 23 Hope mothers who are supported year round by contributors here at home. From the supporters they receive a food distribution once a month, school uniforms for their children (you have to have a uniform to attend school), and one improvement to their home per year.
For the Life Skills, we set up shop under an open pavilion in the Mission Compound. We had our young, strong male translators carry chairs to the area. One by one the ladies arrived.
It was a beautiful, sunny, cloudless day with the sky a bright blue. The pavilion provided needed shade while we conducted the class.
Jean brought with us a life-sized cut out of a Honduran woman that was made by an elementary class in the US. Jean named her Josephina. Jean used Josephina to illustrate to the women all the different "hats" they must wear to accomplish their job as mother. Josephina was taped up front and on her Jean taped these job descriptions: disciplinarian, nutritionist, teacher, friend, nurturer, cook, laundress, etc.
This was our launching point to begin our teaching on being a godly woman in their home and community. We used Scripture to support our points about good nutrition, raising children with manners, the importance of a devotional life, helping others in the community, etc. Amanda, a senior from Seneca Valley, gave a short presentation on the treatment and prevention of lice as well.
Each woman got a daily devotional and a Bible story book for their family. We had some jewelry pieces donated so at the end, each came one by one to pick a special piece of jewelry. I ceremoniously put the jewelry on them as if they had won a gold medal in the Olympics.
The women were attentitive and appreciative. It was a wonderful time of ministry to fellow women in Christ.

Ever

2009-02-27T08:35:00.005-05:00

In La Villa de San Francisco, Honduras, there is one "main street" that is partially paved and serves as the business district. On that street, a Cuban named Ever opened a restaurant. Ever became a main hook-up for us on the mission trip to Honduras. Not only does he speak very good English, he also knows how to get things done, and get them done quickly. He was able to change American dollars into Honduran limpera, a much needed service.
Ever was educated from K-8th grade in Miami (thus the good English). I owe him a debt of gratitude for what he did for me this past week.
Linda and I had an adventure into the capital city of Tegucigalpa, looking for some items for our Hope Families. That is a whole other blog. But we ended up with 4 sets of bunk beds, 3 tables, 25 chairs, and a baby stroller. What we DIDN'T get in Teguc was MATTRESSES for the bunk beds. They just wanted way too much money for them.
So, it was my job to find mattresses for our families.
Darren said, "Patty, go see Ever." Good suggestion, Darren.
Ever dropped everything he was doing when I stopped by his establishment to ask for help. He walked all around town with me and my translator, Karla (who looks like a young Eva Longoria). He personally went into all the little shops and stands to negotiate for us, telling us to stay outside because he knew he could make a better deal without the "gringo" (me) hovering around.
We needed eight mattresses. A canvas stand, much like a flea market, was run by two boys, ages 15 and 16. They had five of the needed items and Ever got them down to an acceptable price. But we needed 3 more! He skipped across the street to another place that looked like ...hard to describe, but not like a real store. Out he came with 3 more, at the same price.
We ended up paying about $22 per mattress. These mattresses were as colorful as Mardi Gras! One had Tinkerbell and Piglet and other Disney characters all over it. The others were in brillant shades of pink, yellow, blue, and green. Now here was the next problem to solve: how will we get them back to the Mission compound?
No sweat, Ever puts two fingers into his mouth and whistles for a taxi. One of the tiny motorcycle-on-front, jeep-in-back taxis came pronto. Ever proceeds to put five mattresses (they were rolled up and tied) into the tiny taxi; he unrolls the other three and ties them on top. He then jumps into the taxi (how does he fit, I wonder?) and takes them to the compound on his dime.
If I'd only had a camera, the sight was a hysterical, colorful blur as they sped away.

Milk Maids

2009-02-22T19:48:00.002-05:00

Who needs to go to Disney World when you can ride in a taxi in a third world country?
Today Linda and I were the milk maids of the Villa de San Francisco.
We had 23 cans of powdered milk to deliver to our Hope families. This was to be an addition to the food distribution they would get on Wednesday this week. But when we pictured them carrying 2 doz eggs, a chicken, corn meal, cereal, rice and beans home, we didn't know how we could add two pounds of milk to their already heavy bundle.
So we hired a taxi for the afternoon. A taxi here is little more than a motorcycle on the front and a jeep in the back, open air with a canvas top. We had Pastor Mirna come with us to show the way to the various casas.
Mirna is as wide as me so having the 3 of us in the back of the taxi was a tight squeeze.
This area of Honduras is very rocky. It sits at the foot of a mountain so the streets are mostly slanted. They are full of deep ruts from where the water runs down during the hard rains.
There were a few very steep hills a la Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I made Linda put her hands in the air when we careened down them and we let out a big "WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
Some of the conditions the people live in are very poor. Torn canvas made upa wall in more than one home. About half of the homes have dirt floors. Many have no furniture except beds which we have provided in past years.
our "better off" families have a paved floor of cement or maybe tile. They may have a table and a few chairs.
Almost all have school pictures and diplomas on the wall.
There is no indoor plumbing. The banyo (bathroom) is outside, as well as the pila. A pila is a cement laundry tub of sorts, where you do your laundry, wash your body and wash your dishes.
Our journey today brought nourishment and love, as each milk delivery included a kiss, a hug and a warm greeting.

Posting from Honduras

2009-02-21T21:00:00.003-05:00

I am now 9 days into this mission trip, and I have much to share but not a lot of time. So, here are a few nuggets:

1 Having Bethany here for week one was a dream come true. She charmed everyone, both fellow mission workers and the Hondurans with her huge smile and warm heart. She left little notes of thanks and encouragement all around the mission compound. I am still looking for one addressed to me.

2.I snored so loudly two nights ago that I had to change beds in the bunk room. Jon is so relating to the woman who had to sleep beside me that night.

3. This country is off the hook beautiful!

4. My family down here is the nicest family in town. Their hearts are huge. They are precious!!

5. Surprising a pregnant Honduran woman with a spur of the moment baby shower after dark is a really fun way to spend an evening! It beats watching The Bachelor any day.

6. The doctors giving their time work and sweat for hours on end with kindness and compassion.

7. Cleaning out someone's ears can be like restoring their hearing!

8. I nicknamed a colonel in the air force, who is also a doctor, "DJ", short for Doctor Jack. I think he was in shock since he is used to being saluted.

9. There are more stars visible here each night than I knew existed.

Travelling to Teguc

2009-02-11T20:56:00.004-05:00

Six hours til go time...yes, I should be in bed but I figure, maybe I'll sleep on the plane if I am REALLY tired.
I am really in a panic about being gone two whole weeks. I don't think I've ever gone anywhere for two weeks before. The longest vacation I've ever been on was 10 days. I am going to miss Jon!
Here is what I am excited about and what you can pray about: I am excited to really connect with my family down there. Maricella, Luz, Luis and Alejandra are just the best people. Such a beautiful little family. I have thought of some things I want to say and some things I want to ask them, and so I went to babblefish.com and typed in my questions and phrases. Babblefish is a website that will translate your words into another language. So, since I took Spanish, I was able to write down the translations and they made a little sense to me. I will hopefully get to converse with them a little in their own language. Of course I need the translators to tell me what they are saying back!!
The translators! Another thing I am excited about! I am in charge of them, and I have some devotions planned for them. I can't wait to get to know them and see where God takes us in the next two weeks. Most are University students and have so much on their plates. I hope they feel comfortable with me, can relax and reveal themselves enough to be ministered to.
Another area of ministry is a small part I will play in a class for the women. I am speaking to the women about Love in the home. It will be Valentine's Day when I do this, so I am taking heart-shaped items to illustrate my points. One item is a tin heart, and when I open the lid, it will say Jesus on a piece of paper inside. I am using scriptures like "Make love your aim". I am going to emphasis the love languages and the different ways they can show love to their children (including discipline!)
Working with the kids will be fun....using jellybeans to tell the salvation message through colors; candy canes for a lesson about the blood and purity of Christ; and for games, Lauren gave me a parachute to take and I found beach balls at Target.
Yeah, I'm pretty pumped. Will be home Feb 26 WITH PIX.

Welcome Little Hostage

2009-02-04T04:36:00.004-05:00

In February of 1981, my other half and I were living in Grafton, W Va. Teaching jobs were not to be found in W Pa at the time, so we traveled "south of the border" (the PA border anyway) for Jon to teach. That's a whole other tale. By February 1st I was very very pregnant, in fact, overdue with my first child. My due date was Jan 20th. On that day, (jan 20), Ronald Regan was inaugurated, and the hostages were freed from Iran. I, however, still had a little hostage inside of me. On that day also, I was RELEASED from the hospital, having come down late in my pregnancy with bronchitis. I felt it was so unfair that they released me ON MY DUE DATE WITHOUT A BABY.
On Sun, Feb 1st, I thought I had a slow leak of amniotic fluid....I had a doctor appointment on Monday the 2nd, and as the doctor and hospital were close to 30 miles away, I did not want to travel the snowy roads "over the river and through the woods" to the doctor unless I had to. When I called the doctor, he said, yes, come. I didn't take my hospital bag of packed belongings with me because I thought that would jinx the appointment.
My sister-in-law drove me from Grafton to Morgantown for the appointment. The doctor decided I should be admitted. He was sure labor would start at any time. Jon got there as soon as he could...but labor did not. Tuesday morning they decided to induce me. VERY SLOW LABOR. All back pain. The thing about back labor is, it doesn't ebb and flow like normal labor. There is no relief with back labor. They finally let me push around 11:15pm.....but by 12am when my little hostage had not moved, they decided I needed a C-section. Because it was not planned, Jon was not allowed to go into the operating room with me. He was a wreck. I was fine because I just wanted this baby out of me!! It was Wed morning, 12:51 am when he was born.
All was definitely worth it when I got to hold my baby boy, 8 pound, 4 oz Joshua Jon Grubbs. JJ had a slightly pointed head from the attempts to push him down the birth canal where he didn't fit. Luckily, that soon went away. I can honestly say it was love at first sight with my firstborn son. My first flowers were delivered that morning to my room. They were from my parents and the card read "Welcome Little Hostage".
Through these past 28 years Josh has brought great joy and pride to our family. I challenge you to find a more interesting person who can converse on such a variety of topics. Don't debate him; you will lose. He has loved words, both written and spoken, from the beginning. He walked before his feet were big enough to fit into any shoes that were manufactured. He read coupons with his Grandma Grubbs at age 2. Learning has been a quest for him. As a child he always loved maps, globes, and is the only person I know that read the glossary from beginning to end in the back of his textbooks.
I could go on and on about one of my favorite subjects (josh) for a long time. But instead, I will just end this with a big Happy Birthday Josh from your biggest fan.
Love,
Mom

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS, BABY!!!

2009-02-02T18:01:00.004-05:00

Wow, what a great feeling to be SIX TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPS! And I am old enough to say that I watched every one of them. Pretty proud of it right now.
Really thought we were going down in flames when Larry ran down the middle of the field after the catch and no one was close to tackling him. Started pacing in the next room, trying to wrap my mind around a loss. Ben, forgive me that I didn't have the faith. For I will not doubt you in the clutch again. Going back to Santonio after he missed the ball that was on the money in the end zone was gutsy and genius. I am forever indebted to my Pittsburgh Steelers for a wonderful year of entertainment!!! Lovin' the Burgh today, despite the horrible weather it's offered up this winter. All is forgiven.

The Clarion Connection

2009-01-28T22:00:00.002-05:00

One of the things that have been on my mind to blog about is the Clarion Connection to the Super Bowl. Jon and I both graduated from Clarion University. The starting guard for the Arizona Cardinals ALSO graduated from Clarion: Reggie Wells. His father was a star basketball player for Clarion when we were students. My roommate Jan had a huge crush on Reggie. I, on the other hand, had a huge crush on his teammate, the point guard, Carl. Jon and I as well as my dad and sister who are Clarion grads spoke a few times in recent weeks about a fellow alumni being a part of the big game.
Last Saturday Jon and I attended the La Roche basketball game (where Jeremy is an assistant coach). One of the referees for the game was none other than my college crush, Carl.
Weird.
Another Clarion connection to the Super Bowl is the voiceover for any Steeler videos you hear is none other than CUP (Clarion Univ of PA) grad Larry Richert of KDKA.

Tears

2009-01-27T13:22:00.002-05:00

WHY OH WHY WON'T JOSH BLOG? It's making me cry!!

And so it begins.....

2009-01-25T19:10:00.005-05:00

The week of Super Bowl is here!!! As much as the media likes to hype it up, I WANT US ALL TO HYPE IT EVEN MORE. We have several reasons to do so: we BELONG to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going for an unprecedented SIXTH Super Bowl win. Another reason to hype the Bowl high to the sky is because IT'S SO COLD OUTSIDE, WE NEED SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT. Can I get an amen?
What a way to start the week, to have the Pitt Panthers smack the WVU Mountaineers, at the Mountaineers' own arena, this afternoon. Although only leading by two at halftime, the Panthers charged into the 2nd half and beat the 'eers 79-67. Woo Hoo.
One week from right now we will be 45 minutes into THE BIG GAME. I want to hear what score the Blogging Bunch are predicting. Then, when it's all over, we can crown a winner. I'm dubbing it the Bloggers Bowl. Ready, set, predict!
P.S. In an interesting sidenote, a high school classmate of Bethany's is on the Steelers roster: Jason Capizzi. It doesn't say he is on the practice squad (which I thought he was). But here is the odd thing: it says his year of birth is 1985. That would make him born 3 years after Bethany. I'm thinking they got that wrong.

Playing with the kids

2009-01-24T08:32:00.002-05:00

One of my primary tasks on our trip to Honduras in less than 3 weeks will be playing with the kids. Bethany will join me in this. We have 23 families in La Vila San Francisco that we support year-round with a food distribution. These families will be first in line at the dental clinic which will be operating on Day 1. Once they get their dental check up and lesson in proper dental hygiene, they will be released for "play time and story time". That is because their mothers will be listening to a teaching on parenting skills and safe/sanitary practices in the home. These 23 families have more than 70 children.
One of the Christ-centered lessons we will do with the kids is the Legend of the Candy Cane. We will also do the Wordless Book, as colors are universal and should be an easy to understand concept.
For playtime, I have decided I want to take one of those nylon parachutes.....it is lightweight to get in my suitcase; it folds easily; and there are multiple things you can do with it to entertain kids.
My problem right now is, I don't have one. Does anyone out there in blogging land know of one I can borrow? If not, I can buy one on Amazon. Then I will have to decide if I want a 10 ft - 18 ft in diameter parachute. The cost, of course, goes up with the size. I can get one for as low as $30, but if I decide to go for the big one, it will be closer to $90.

Too sparkly for daytime

2009-01-20T20:18:00.003-05:00

Wow, there is so much to blog about......the Mighty Steelers, our beloved team, soon headed to the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh connections with the Cardinals (note to self, I must blog about that later)Josh and Jer going to the game.....The Pitt Panthers losing their #1 ranking in the national polls but then regaining some respectability with their win over Syracuse last night....our small group starting a new study on 90 Minutes in Heaven and the profound comments Bethany made....Heather getting a Snuggy.....the Inauguration.
But all I can think of right now is how odd I think Michelle Obama's choice of an outfit was for this big day.
The day started at like 10 in the morning with the Obama's first going to church and then to the White House to have tea and cookies with the Bushes (there's another blog: how I cried when the Bushes got on the helicopter to leave Washington)
Michelle Obama had on a "lemongrass yellow" dress and matching coat that was way too sparkly for a daytime event. It looked more like a cocktail dress. Who wears this look to church? Maybe it's just me but I thought it was a real fashion DON'T. Anyone else think so?

Soothing sound of running water

2009-01-16T16:08:00.003-05:00

Do you know that there is something soothing about the sound of running water?
Perhaps that's why so many people strive to have a vacation home near the ocean, a lake, or even a forest stream.
When you visit a spa these days, there is often a "water feature" in their relaxation room to soothe you as you wait for your next pampering treatment.
People sit for hours beside the ocean, listening to the sound of waves.
Many people who are into feng shui in the home insist that you should have the sound of water through a man made waterfall to relax the soul.
Well, right now, the sound of running water would soothe me more than I can tell you.
You see, our pipes are frozen under the kitchen sink. I have a small heater blowing hot air in the cupboard, but I have yet to hear that marvelous sound of the GUSH of water bursting forth from the ice encased pipes. Yes, the sound of running water would be very welcome right now.

This could be the year......

2009-01-14T17:34:00.003-05:00

I had a really great thought yesterday.
This could be the breakthrough year for the Pirates!

Why, you ask?

It will be Josh's first full year back in the 'burgh. And I really don't know a bigger fan of the Pirates than Josh.

But his "fandom" is not why I think this could be the year.

Consider this: Pitt basketball has reached #1 in the polls for the first time in school history. The Steelers are one game away from the Super Bowl. And Pitt football went to a Bowl game (yes, they smelled up the place, but that's beside the point). This trip to a Bowl game was the first time in many years.

The common denominator? Josh is back in town.

Honduras!

2009-01-10T10:05:00.002-05:00

In just a month, Bethany and I are headed to La Vila San Francisco, Honduras, on a medical mission trip.
I am so excited that Beth is going with me this year. It makes the trip 100 times more joyful for me to anticipate.
There are 23 families that are supported by people in this community all year long. A lot of what Bethany and I will be doing while in Honduras is work with the families. We have been assigned to interact with the children while their mothers are being educated in things like personal hygiene, parenting skills, self esteem, safe cooking methods, etc.
One of the ideas we have come up with is to tell the story of The Legend of the Candy Cane. It is a good visual that will hopefully tell them a lot about Jesus. I was able to purchase 200 mini candy canes for $2.00 this week! Another way we will reach them is through the Wordless Book, you know, the salvation message as told through colors. We figured colors are universal, and colors are one thing I do remember from my Spanish classes back in high school!
We will also hold a junior Olympic challenge to get some of their energy out. I will be visiting the dollar store for little medals or trophies.
Of course we will have an interpreter with us. I am hoping that we can snag Melissa, a young girl of 18 who was with us last year. Melissa is studying at University to be a doctor. But she loves the Lord and has a very sweet spirit. Melissa and I have kept in touch over the year since I have been to Honduras. She sends me the kindest messages via text messages.
One interpreter that we may not have with us this year is Wensen. Wensen emailed me this week to say he has an opportunity to study in Texas, to prepare to go to AFRICA to evangelize! It is his heart's desire to go to Africa to tell about Jesus. I hope he gets to do that.
Meanwhile, if you have any creative ideas as to what we can do with sixty plus kids please share!
And say a prayer for safety and blessing and all that will go on during our two week mission trip, Feb 12-26.

Book Review

2009-01-03T10:22:00.003-05:00

I read a book over this Christmas holiday that I really enjoyed, so I thought I'd share. It's Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. Tony loves football and God, so I should have know I would like it! There IS a lot of football in it, but don't let that scare you away if it's not a passion of yours. Because as passionate as Tony is about football, he is 100 times more passionate about serving God.
Tony has a lot in the book about Pittsburgh and the Steelers, since he played for and coached our beloved team back in the '70s and '80's. He is very respectful and appreciative to Coach Noll, the Rooneys, and the Steelers. Much of what he learned while with the Steelers translated over to his philosophy of coaching the Colts today. He had coaching positions with other teams that showed him what he DIDN'T want to do when he became a head coach. Probably the biggest lesson he learned from Coach Noll is that there is more to life than football; that time with family is paramount. A good lesson for us all.
If you don't like football, you probably know Tony Dungy for two reasons: his team, the Indianapolis Colts, won the Super Bowl; and his son committed suicide when he was only 21 years old.
Tony has been to the heights and the depths. And through it all, he has trusted a great God who does all things well.
Here is a snipet from the book that inspired me: "That's what this [life] is all about. Touching lives. Building a legacy-not neccessarily on the field but in those places that most people will never see......My purpose in life is simply to glorify God. We have to be careful that we don't let the pursuit of our life's goals, no matter how important they seem, cause us to lose sight of our purpose....We are all role models to someone in this world, and we can all have an impact--for good. God has placed each of us where we are for a reason:within our spheres of influence at work, in our neighborhoods, in our families. He wants us to touch lives wherever He leads us.....we can all change the course of our nation and world, one life at a time, for the rest of our lives."
May I live these words in 2009!