Ladies Fall Tea - A Friendship Theme

Gone are the lazy days of summer
around here. We are back in school,
busy at church, in the candle season
and so much more.

But last night at our church we had our
second ladies tea. You might remember
the Christmas Tea from last year.
Mrs. Rabe of Creekside Cottage is very
good at hosting teas and I insert myself
as her sidekick.

Much to my frustrations I left my camera
at home for both the preparations and the
actual event. This means you will just
have to take my word on how nice it truly
was.

Last week I had gone to Kirklands for some
Fall decor. They had some very cute ceramic
leaf plates

that were just perfect for holding
the spent teabags.
They were just $1.88 each.

I also got mercury glass
votives

with leaves that shimmered as tealights
burned inside. These were three in a package
for $5.99.

I got a five pillar candle holder with
adorable metal leaves winding through it and


a large glass hurricane style centerpiece,
which we used on the serving table.
As you can see these items were very
reasonably priced and thankfully the
website had some great
pictures of them to show you.
If you are in need of Fall decor I highly
recommend these items.

Mrs. Rabe supplied all of the glass plates,
teapots, teacups as well as gold and silver pumpkins
for the centerpieces. What a fun event.

I spoke very briefly about the changing face
of friendships in our lives. As we grow,
change, and get more responsibilities our friendships
change too. I said that in the early years of
marriage I had one really close friend and we
would spend hours on the phone together...
because we didn't get out much. A direct result
of having young children with nap schedules, etc.

Then as the children have grown we have been
pulled appropriately into their lives and our
friends tend to be most often those we bump into
as we pursue their interests or education.

I foresee a time as the children grow and move
out that there might be that one special friend
again with whom I go shopping, travel with our
husbands or chat on the phone for as long as
we might want....but not in this season.

I closed with a hope that we would be content
in whatever season we are in right now.
For that is exactly where we are to be.

Kelly, of the Cozy Comforts Blog, spoke next.
She shared the relationship of Jonathan and David
in the Bible. Theirs was a very close friendship
and God used it to save David's life.

Mom was the featured speaker and she shared
about the friendships that can develop with
our children as they grow older. She related
our relationship and how we have grown into
dear, dear friends.

It is so true that, as I have related before,
Mom and I can melt into giggles about the
silliest things and those around us just have
to shake their heads.

Mom closed her talk relating that Jesus is
her best friend. I have seen this in her
life always, but it has become even more
evident since Daddy has gone on to Heaven.

She is leaning on His Everlasting Arms.
They are strong.
They hold her close.

We had many guests last evening which was
so very nice. We all felt very badly
that one lady from the church is sick and
only one of the eight from her group came
without her. But, all in all it was a
superb evening. Candlelight, pretty hats
provided by my Chinese friend Jenny,
delightful chatter, great food, and
lovely decor.

I am ever so thankful for all of my
friends, near and far.
Thanks for being among
those I call Friend.

I raise my teacup to you.
Oh, and it is Tangerine Spice!
Yum!

Have a great day!!!

Great Sunday!

It was questionable as to whether
or not we should cancel church since
at 6:30am when we got up ice pellets
were hitting the windows and it was
nasty outside.

However, our Landlord said that he
would be at the church about that time
to salt or plow as was needed and if he
couldn't make it up the hill to the building
he would let us know. There was no call so
we went ahead.

It was probably at its worst when our family
and Pastor Mike got there, we are always about
30 - 40 minutes ahead of everyone else to start
the coffee and run through the songs for the
day....just that one more time.

As the morning went on the sun came out and
everything was great.

This was the morning for taking in new members
and one special girl was baptized...my Chelsea!!!


Then she and Mikey took communion for the first time.

Did you see Duane, Kelly and the boys?



They are new members also.
Chelsea wanted a sprinkling baptism.
Mikey and the others who are waiting want
to be immersed. So, we will have to make
other arrangements...ice pick, anyone?
Ha!

We had a special visitor from California yesterday.
He is Evan.
Nephew to Mrs. Rabe.

She loves him!

This picture is for you, Miss Paula!

I did give him a hug.
He didn't run screaming or anything...
don't know what he was thinking though!


There was a fellowship meal after the service
and can you believe we hung out there talking
until after 4pm.

Jonathan snapped this picture after most everyone had gone home.
I know I look bored...but I was probably trying
to listen to three conversations at once.
Fascinating people!
Interesting lives and stories!


I took this picture of Duane, Kelly and the boys.

I love it!
They look great...you would never know that Nicholas was feeling less than wonderful.


The kids were getting bored so took the camera and this
is a sampling of what I found on it when I looked this morning.








Then they made this...
Never mind Miss Emily's hair around the neck...
That is not her head...or anything like that...lol



Bit of an airhead...I think!
((totally laughing here))

Love these kids!!!!

Then we brought some friends home with us...
Warren's and my Mom joined us after a while.

Lovely people! All of them!
We missed a couple of families who usually
join us...

The kids went outside at some point in the
very frosty and windy evening and did this!





And then they did it again...
Looks like fun...at their age!

Pretty soon they all needed Hot Chocolate!
Needed it!

Finally, it was time...all of our friends went home.
Another week has flown by.

This week will be a bit different since we have the Christmas
Eve Service on Wednesday. I am really looking forward to it.
There will be a brief drama by one very dear family, several
pieces of special music and all I have to do is play for the
congregational singing!
Yay!

Beautiful.
Anticipation.
Candlelight.
Singing Silent Night.

Well, I guess you have things you need to
get to and here I am going on and on.

Thanks for visiting.

Come back soon!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Baked Potato Bar...and a Puking Cat!

Baked Potato Bars are wonderful things.

It has been a long standing tradition to
have an "Open House" on Sunday evenings
at our place.

There were some people from the church
who came nearly every week.

Then the church started to grow and that
number of people coming out grew too.
It seemed a good idea to move it
around to different houses.
Keeps the kids interested, different
scenery and a blessing to me...for example,
yesterday I did not have to hurry to put away the
candles from Saturday's final Christmas
Show. I laid down for a quick nap instead.
I can get to it today...

I also didn't have to deal with this...

...there was a comforter on the kitchen floor.
I have to tell you about that...
There we were, sound asleep early Sunday Morning.
When I say early...1:15 AM.
All of a sudden between Warren and I came this
terrible sound. The sound of...there's no nice
way to say this...throwing up.

Ollie, our white cat, had become sick.

This is an old picture...but this is likely what he looked like just
before he became ill...

All over our comforter...while we were under it.
I chased him off the bed and he continued to be
sick in the hall. Not what I wanted to be
experiencing at that hour...

I quickly got him outside, cleaned up the hallway
and simply gathered up the comforter and threw it
in the kitchen. I don't know why the kitchen
except that I guess I figured I would take it outside
in the morning to "deliver it" from its contents.

Well, Sunday Mornings are always a bit of a rush
at our house and this one was no different. The
comforter remained balled up on the kitchen floor.

So....I was very relieved when Mrs. Rabe offered to
host us.

Her tree is so gorgeous. I am beginning
to think that we will have to go back to a real tree.
My little fake one is looking pretty sad these days,
in comparison.

Warren is not convinced!
He likes the ease of it and the lack of
needles.

Anyway...back to the story...
We all piled in to their home and enjoyed a
Baked Potato Bar. Scrumptious!
This was actually Kelly's idea, but they have been "under the weather"
this week so they headed home right after
church...she posted about her day...her
post made me cry.

Mrs. Rabe baked massive potatoes, the toppings
were bacon, broccoli, cheese, chili, butter and
sour cream. Yum!

I made a crockpot full of chili.

I highly recommend this as a fun and tasty
get together menu.

And, from personal experience I can tell you
that the perfect combination is:

1 medium to large baked "tater", butter, bacon,
sour cream, and a large scoop of chili.
10 pounds of weight gain, me thinks!

To die for!

But first you have to add in gobs of great
conversation...lots of laughter...and loud,
loud children to totally get the experience.

Oh, and Mr. Rabe's freshly popped popcorn was the
great topper to the evening. Two huge serving
bowls...gone...poof....as if by magic!

Thanks guys!

You are very, very appreciated!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

It is a Sickness

Immediately following the Thanksgiving Concert
I walked back the aisle, perhaps ten feet to
the spot where Mrs. Rabe met me.

We looked at each other...smiled...
and she said,
"So, what are we going to do next?"

I responded,
"The Christmas Tea!"

I am guessing that this reveals a lot
about our sanity...or lack thereof. lol

So...yesterday four of us went on a hunt
for paper to make invitations for our first
ever Sonrise Christian Fellowship Ladies
Christmas Tea.

Such fun!

It was made all the more fun because we had
to stop off at "that church" on the way and
pick up the candles.

These ladies wanted to see where it was that
I made a fool of myself at the funeral. They
read this blog...gets me in trouble sometimes,
as you can imagine.

Anyway, to get to the Flower and Craft Warehouse
we had to cross a lot of Lancaster County Miles.

It is nearly the entire County's difference from
Quarryville to Blue Ball, especially if you go by
way of Rohrerstown.

The sky was full of wintry clouds.

I say full, but there were breaks in the clouds where the
sun was blasting through.

The sky ahead would be steel grey but the land would
be illuminated so brightly that the white fences seemed
to be glowing. It was so pretty. I was driving...and
did not have my camera so you'll just have to imagine it.

Do you remember when our imaginations did all of the work?

Before we watched so much TV.

When we read for pleasure on a regular basis.

I grew up without TV and so I read all of the time.
It was so fun to get lost in the world an author created.

Anyway, I digress.

The several hours we spent out traveling the countryside
getting these things accomplished was made even more
special by the fellowship inside of the car.

It was sweet.

I am so thankful for the ladies I spent time with yesterday.

We are all strong personalities.

Sometimes this can cause struggles.

But, I love each one dearly.
God has put them in my life...
and I THANK HIM for doing so.

I hope you have those someones in your
life for fellowship, and who will keep
you accountable in your daily walk.

Have a super day!

Becky K.

Time with Miss Paula

A highlight of this week has been getting to spend time with Miss Paula, of Gathering of Friends. It is so easy to just chat away. Sometimes it feels like I have known her for a long time. I guess in a way I have, through the blog.

Monday we went to Longwood, as I told you.

Thursday Paula and her dear MIL, Phyllis, joined Myself, Chelsea and my MIL, Georgia at a local family restaurant called C.R. Lapps. It was a very good time. I have really enjoyed getting to know Phyllis at our weekly bowling challenges and am claiming her as a member of my family. Chelsea is always so excited to see her too.
It was Grandma Phyllis who hosted the surprise Birthday Party for Chelsea in July. She scored really big points for that!

Anyway, here are some of the pictures Chelsea and I took at our little luncheon.

Miss Paula...I tried to take an interesting camera angle and got a great shot of her glass and the ceiling. But she is pretty, right?


Georgia, you can't tell that she is saying.."Noooo"....




Chelsea spilled her full glass of water and was not amused. Poor kid.
I was just glad it was water.


Grandma Phyllis and I solving the world's problems.
So have no fear...we are here!
I can't get over how serious we look...




It was fun.

Paula and I both enjoyed the salad featured that day. It was huge! A bowl of mixed greens with toffee cashews, craisins, cheddar cheese, and cherry tomatoes as toppers. It was a great combination. We both agreed that we loved it.

Well, as usual Saturday is a busy day around here. Sunday is just around the corner and there is music to prepare, the church to "ready", and kids to take to their various jobs. So I am off.

Have a great Day!

Becky K.

This Much Fun Could Kill Me....

I got an interesting call yesterday afternoon.

The voice on the other end of the phone was rough
and frustrated. He said "I have a delivery of chairs for Sonrise Christian Fellowship and I don't know how to get them off the truck."

We had ordered 60 new chairs for the church on Tuesday.
We really did not expect them to come in until next
week. Both of our boys and all of the men I would have scheduled
to help were at work.

The truck driver went on to explain that he had no tailgate
to lift these pallets down on. I told him I would be there
in five minutes and flew out the door.

When I got to the church there was the huge truck. No driver.
I went ahead and opened the doors in preparation. I had called
Warren on my way there and we agreed the only thing we could do
was take the chairs off manually. I would cajole the driver into
passing the chairs down to me and I would take them into the
church.

Then the driver came back...he had been at the carpet store across the
street asking for help with a skid loader.

The man who could use the skid loader wasn't there at the time...
although they thought he would be back soon.

We looked into the truck at the two pallets of huge boxes. Four
chairs to a box. My heart sank. No single chairs to be passed down
out of the truck. We would wait.

So, Tom, the truck driver and I went into the church to get out of the
90 degree heat and had a very nice conversation. Turns out he lives near here and has an interesting story involving a car accident and a brain injury. As my Dad had once had a brain bleed when the golf clubs in his car flew forward and hit him in an accident, I could relate somewhat to the sudden impact that can have on one's life. Tom is a very nice man and I am glad I got to know him.

After a while, though, I figured we had chatted long enough and I asked him if he thought we might be able to try to get the chairs out. He agreed. We unwrapped the first pallet of boxes and Tom began passing the large boxes out of the truck and I would ease them onto the ground and then move them to the side in preparation for the next. We got through one pallet...about seven of these huge boxes when we saw the man from the store across the street headed our way with the skid loader.

Relief!!!! When asked what we owed him he said he will send us a bill carved in ice and send it over in August.
Sweet, isn't he?

I ran to get my camera as the skid loader was driving through the front doors of the church to find that I had not replaced the memory card when I left so quickly.

After all fifteen of these huge boxes were in the church we had to open several to make sure there were no damages. Some of the boxes were a bit messed up. I am fairly certain that this was not in Tom's job description. His face was red from the heat as he ripped open boxes and helped me.

I kept thanking him.

Finally, we decided that we had seen enough to think that the order was in good condition. Tom declined a tip...hope I didn't offend him. But I know that we were a truck driver's worst nightmare. Too bad his trucking company didn't let us know they were coming so we could have had help there.

Last evening after our Bible Study the guys assembled chairs. It was so fun to see them working together and enjoying the process. I think that is how men bond best. Working side by side.

The women found ourselves cheering them on as they neared completion and the sang out a pathetic round of the Hallelujah Chorus as the last chair was put in place.

Finally, after midnight we rolled back into our driveway. I had succumbed to drinking a cup of coffee around 11:00pm and so was wide awake until after 1am.

It was a good day and a fun night.

I love our church!

Friends and Family = Wealth

I am a rich, rich woman.

Not in the sense of money...
I am ok with that.

I have the best friends and family
one could ask for. Last evening was
the second Sunday in a row spent with
two other families and our parents.
This time we were at Creekside Cottage.
Last week we were right here at Hospitality Lane.

Three generations talking, laughing
and sharing a meal. Bliss!!!

Our oldest son, Jonathan, always loved
to get our entire family together when
he was young. The Grandparents, the Aunts,
Uncles and cousins.
It was comforting to him when we were
all in the same place. That is kind of how
I felt last evening. As if this is how it was
meant to be. Family and friends together...


Grandpa Bob



Miss Becca


The younger children enjoyed playing in the creek...



Chelsea riding Lindsay's horse, Sandy, while Grandma Ruth watches. Grandma Ruth should have ridden the horse. She needs to prepare for her mule ride into the Grand Canyon this fall. I would never even think of riding a mule down a steep narrow path to the floor of the canyon....but my Mom is going to do it!



Mikey rides Sandy...Do you think we could convince him this would be better than a motorcycle? Mommy does not like the idea of a motorcycle!


Sneaky shot of Warren through the deck


As if it is part of the strategy the kids waited until after we had eaten our fill of Yummy grilled meats and potato salad, chicken noodle soup and brownies then agreed to a re-match of the Ultimate Frisbee game from last week at our place. The Dad's were ready! There was talk at church yesterday morning from Carl about his excitement to get back to the game. I think in this picture, taken earlier in the evening, you can see him plotting his moves and strategy. Can't you see it?


They played until it was too dark to see the neon pink frisbee. We, in the cheering section, were being chewed on by the many mosquitos. It was time to call it a night.

Thank you to our friends at Creekside Cottage for your hospitality and friendship. To the others who joined us...you are very special to us and we are glad to get to know you better.

Dear Reader, I truly hope that your family has opportunities to fellowship in such a rich and meaningful way.

Our Church has Come Home!

After six months of "living out of a suitcase",
as our pastor puts it, we have a home!

It is so wonderful!

Did you know that you subconsciously hold
back when you know that there is a full
dining room of people attempting to eat
their breakfast just on the other side
of the door? Or...that it is a bit
distracting to the sermon to hear a
server introduce herself and go over
all of the items on the buffet? One of
our elders said he was gone after she
mentioned the waffles...lol.

So this week was Amazing!!!!
Loved it...multiple floors and ugly
walls and everything!!

Here we are after all of the "stuff"
has been brought in and we were cleaning
and situating for Sunday. It is all gone
again because we will paint and have
carpet laid this week, but it was fun to
see this space transformed into something
that looked like a church.







Our newest family, whom I will refer
to by initials, B&C,
were such a huge help!
I believe that they were cleaning
the bathroom for about two hours!
Really!
The building has been empty for more
than two years and everything was
very, very dirty. The bathroom was
the worst. After the fact, I told B.
that it was their initiation and they
passed!
Of course, I think I am funny...

Their children worked so hard!

L. vacuumed everything that could be vacuumed...
and that is a lot! Their boys carried things
here and there at our request and E.
helped set up chairs and place hymnals and
Bibles on them. Awesome family!

As I mentioned before, our first service was
great! The music, prayer and preaching were
wonderful and then there was a time of prayers
of dedication of the building.
Love-ly!

Then...anticlimactic...we took everything down
in preparation of this week's renovations.
Even as we were doing it we said...this is the
last time! After this it stays up! Yay!

Last evening a bunch of us gathered at a local
park. It was my first time there. Beautiful!
Here are some shots...Unfortunately all of the
work of the weekend caught up with me and I was
in a lot of pain...but here are a few pics.





I am sending you wishes for a wonderful week.

"See you" soon with more fun.