Pennsylvania

We just spent some time in Pennsylvania visiting Diana and Peter. There's just something about having the whole family under one roof. We hung out, played games, went out to eat, it was good to be together. 

Our Airbnb was an old manor on about 10 acres. We did lots of exploring!

We had a good flight and got in a little after midnight. The inside of the manor was gorgeous and the beds were comfortable! We even all got our own rooms! Well, except for Chuck and I, we were willing to share. 😊 This was our room:

Ally took that picture. She's got such a good eye for photography.

In fact, Ally took all the pictures of the inside of the house! The upstairs reminded me a little of the Waltons house, the large landing at the top then all the rooms were off of that. 

Sometimes Diana, Peter and the kids came to the manor (as we called it) and other days we went to their house. We went sightseeing around Princeton University, went to Washington Crossing, played games, it was good to be together.

It was extremely hot the day we went to Princeton so we stopped and got some drinks on our way there. I love the architecture of that school. It's a photographer's dream!

Sharaya took this one

At Washington Crossing we got to see them shoot off a small canon. It was louder than I expected! This is where I took the header photo. Beth looking out at the Delaware River, where George Washington crossed the night of December 25, 1776.

Adelaide painted rocks

She explored the manor with Ally 

The 'bamboo forest' was on the side yard 

And played outside

Taking a break during one of the game nights

We played UNO No Mercy, and Mexican Train. I lost at both. We are competitive when we play games but there's also a lot of laughter. I usually laugh my hardest on game night.

We took this one at Washington Crossing. The first one of all of us, including little Oliver. He's such a sweet baby. I'm looking forward to watching him and Adelaide grow up together.

News and Big News

Hi everyone,

It's August already! I'm actually looking forward to the cooler weather and everything that comes with fall.

I'll start with the Big News. Diana and Peter had their baby this week! His name is Oliver Anthony and he was 8lbs 12oz.

I got to video chat with Diana and Adelaide this morning and she couldn't wait to show me her 'little baby brother.' Not just baby brother, oh no. Little baby brother. She is so excited to be a big sister! We fly out next week to see them. I can't wait!

I got home from work on Wednesday and Beth said she wanted breakfast burritos for dinner so I asked her if she would help. We have the tortillas, plus scrambled eggs, tater tots, and cheese. She carefully placed each tater tot on the pan, in perfect rows. I should have taken a picture of it. Her favorite thing though is to do the eggs. She loves cracking the eggs. And she's good at it too!

A prominent man in our city passed away two weeks ago and they're having the memorial at our church tomorrow. They're expecting more than 1000 people so I'm going in for a couple hours to help with last minute details. He died suddenly in an accident, and when they announced it during a Sunday service people gasped and one woman began to openly sob. His death has left a big hole in our city.  

And for the News. Beth had a routine procedure a few weeks ago and they called to let us know there was 'an area' they were concerned about and needed her to come back for diagnostic testing. We had to go downtown which makes me nervous because I haven't driven in downtown Seattle in probably ten years. But I know the Lord was with me because traffic wasn't bad, we got down there about 30 minutes before the appointment and the parking garage was open with plenty of parking. (It wasn't open when Chuck and I went down on Saturday so I could see exactly how to get there.)

She had the test done and we were told to stay there to wait for the results. The doctor came out and said they think the spots are benign but because this was her first time getting the procedure they don't have a baseline to compare them with so they'll just monitor them for now. They want to see her again in January. 

As we walked to the car I began thinking about how they would have probably done a biopsy if it looked more serious so I'm taking this as good news.

Other than that it's been a quiet week. I spent today in front of the TV. It felt so nice to just sit and relax all day! I did fix Chuck a burger when he got home from work but I've basically done nothing all day. And it's been so nice!

I pray you have a blessed weekend. 

Gardening Photos, Almost Fall, and A Log Cabin Across the Miles

 Hi!

We're in the middle of VBA this week at work (Vacation Bible Adventure) and it's been so fun to watch the kids get excited about the activities! 

The theme is True North. Magnetic North is one thing but True North never changes.  Just like the Lord. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. 

The Kids Team did a phenomenal job decorating and they did something in every room and every space. One fun thing, while we were in Iowa last month my niece was preparing for their church's VBA, they were doing True North too, and she had created a log cabin that was stunning! She used old carpet rolls, wrapped them in crinkled paper and somehow put them together to make this cabin. 

We were blown away! So when we got home I showed our Kids Team this picture and they went to work finding supplies and ended up making one like it!

It amazes me the talent that some people have! I am not those people. Here's some more pictures of our VBA decor:

The waterfall on the left? That's our drum cage. And one of the hallways, with another waterfall at the end:

This week I've spent my time helping at VBA. When it ends at 12:30 I head upstairs to my desk and start my 'day job.' Then I come home and water the yard. That's about all the energy I have left!

My hydrangeas. When my mom was little they must have had a white one in their yard because she used to call it the 'snowball plant.' I've been told that the type of soil you have determines the colors of the flowers. I don't know anything about my soil, but I do love the way this one bush shows off it's colors:

And the flowers are big. Each year they seem to get bigger.

I'll use these for my greeting cards:

It's almost August and we've got a whole lot of blackberries! Each fall we cook them and make blackberry cobbler. It's so good with a little vanilla ice cream. That's like the official start of the fall season for us. What says fall to you?

And one more of the front of our house. I have calla lilies, orange dahlias, (hiding behind the lilies) and red geraniums. What's a flower that you grow every year? Or vegetable?

Have a great rest of your week!