Legacy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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....

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

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

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!

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

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!