We Enjoyed a Very Happy Sunday

Our Sunday morning began with a candlelight breakfast for Warren and I 

made by Chelsea. 

She made us gluten free pancakes and sausage.

We used New York syrup on both.

This syrup comes from our friends

at Westbrook Maple Farm.

Real syrup is the best!!

Church was even brighter than usual with the surprise

return of a family who had been away for a few months taking care

of a family emergency in another state.

I love this family sooo much and had to blink back the tears

as we welcomed them back!

Since it was a third Sunday of the month we enjoyed communion

and a fellowship meal together.

Then hours of chatting before we separated only to meet up again

at Pastor Mike and Jenny's home for the evening.

Pastor Mike's wife, Jenny, is a very talented hair dresser.

She gave Chadd a hair cut yesterday that has all of us smiling.

This photo will make the photo wall. 

Definitely.

Jenny also gave my friend, Kelly, purple hair again yesterday.

Kelly loves the color purple and has attempted to 

have it in her hair before.

It is a hard one to keep in.

I'll be curious to see if it stays until next Sunday.

I love seeing our church body bless each other with their gifts

and talents.  It happens so often.

We are deep in organizational and cake baking mode.

Sometimes they come out perfectly....

sometimes they don't.

So we will keep at it until we have enough perfect cakes.

Please pray for Jonathan who re-injured his back yesterday.

It is pretty bad.

Hoping that when he wakes up this morning it will be

much improved.

See you soon!

Testing, Testing....

A piece of the table decor.

By the time I took this the candle had been burning for four hours straight.

It had burned at least that long before that on various days.

Look how clean that soy burns!

Fragrance?

Warm Vanilla Caramel Macchiato!

It is custom....for my girl.

Two weeks from today we will be headed to the venue

for the great big day.

Today I Order......

The Flowers!

You may remember.....

We are so excited!  Flowers are the main piece of the decor.  Flowers and Lighting.  We are having a professional lighting company fix us up with some antique fixtures and special lighting.  I am making candles for the tables.  It should be a sweet, gentle and romantic look overall.  The only tricky part is that the tent is so huge that things could look lost in the space.  Here's hoping they don't.  We are doing all in our power to scale our decor and arrangements to fit the space.

An artist friend has been making canvas art.

I have not seen them yet....other than in photos.

I think they are going to look small in the space but 

they are also going to be very sweet.

It will give people an excuse to get up and walk around to read 

them and appreciate the time invested in them.

Susan, from Divine Florals,  sent over the flower list last evening and was thrilled to have such a large budget to work with.  But with savings on the dress, a very affordable venue and the fact that this is our only daughter we wanted to splurge.

It also felt very good to drop off the list for the caterer yesterday.

Andrew, at The Daily Grind, is going to do a great job!

Chelsea has loved that place since the day it opened.

In fact she started campaigning for a job there before they opened.

Over this past "changeover" of shows at the theatre she worked at The Daily Grind part time.

It was great!  Andrew and the rest of the staff are wonderful.

It ended up being too much when she went back to the theatre so she had to 

give it up....but we are thrilled to have them cater.

Chelsea has worked so very hard to have every detail in place.

As you know, things will happen but they should be minor with all of her

attention to detail.

I made my shopping list for the appetizer tent.

I even purchased some of the items for it....you know, the ones that won't go bad.

I need to focus more on the decor for that area very soon.

It needs to compliment, but not duplicate what Chelsea has designed for 

the main tent.

I hope our friends coming into town for the wedding won't mind

helping to make tray after tray of appetizers with me.

Another big detail I need to get put together yet is the order for the 

rehearsal dinner.  Rehearsal will happen almost a week in advance of the big day

and so it is sneaking up quickly.  It should be a big ball of fun!!

When it was time to do Michael and Emily's rehearsal dinner they wanted a picnic

in the park beside their venue.  The link above takes you to my blog post about that day.

There was a lot going on in our lives at that point too.

I tried to add some touches that included their colors but it was pretty 

straightforward.  I "catered" that one mainly from Costco.

Chelsea and Chadd's will include many of their favorite foods from 

their favorite restaurants.  I'll keep the decor simple because it will be held in a very 

sweet cafe looking room at the venue.

It is going to be very fun!!

One of my projects.  This photo wall.  I "stole" this from Mom's house while she was in Europe.
No worries, I had her permission.
 I was just very thankful that the police officer
 who lives next door to her knows me
 and wouldn't question me hauling
 a large piece of decor out of her house when she was away.

If you know me you know that I don't work "ahead" as well as I work

nearer the hour of need.

The adrenaline that comes from panic helps my brain work better, I guess. 

That's my excuse anyway.

Perfectly opposite of how Chelsea works.

This both makes her crazy and makes us a great team.

She's getting tired...and I'm just getting started.

We've got this!

Anyway...those are the exciting, rambling and optimistic

thoughts running around my head today.

I'll get to more of the details even as I make candle orders and

prepare for a candle event this evening.

I really considered dropping out of the event after Jonathan's accident

but just can't bring myself to do so.

So...if you happen to be local I would LOVE to see you at 

Good Harvest Supply in Strasburg this evening.

They are having a Ladies Night Out from 6:30 - 8:30pm.

I will be offering my final clearance on Fall/Winter candles in stock

at 50% off and will have a handful of Spring/Summer candles

at their regularly affordable prices.

Hugs from the crazy candle lady and mother of the bride!

Both hats are on today.

A Wonderfully Boring...But Nice Blog Post

We are down to three

sweet hens.

The golden one, Mabel, continues to thrive.

She made it through another Winter!

Now that Spring is here she calls out to me to bring her freshly pulled

grass.  Once upon a time they used to fear grass falling from above as I pushed

it through the chicken wire.

No more.

Now they eagerly wait for it and gobble it up.

I can no longer open the door and give them their grass in a nicer, more orderly way because 

of the foxes and raccoon  that attempted to get the chickens.

There is now additional chicken wire blocking the door.

But better safe than sorry.

Each Spring there is a temptation to add chicks, 

especially when at the post office you can hear chicks peeping

from other shipments.

However, for now we are just going to enjoy these girls and then 

are most likely done with our time as chicken farmers.

It has been a decade long run....and we have enjoyed much of it.

Should the need arise to have them again we know what to do and would do it in a 

heartbeat.  I love fresh eggs from our own chickens.

Merciful God

I know it feels like a drama a day around here.  Believe me, I know.  We are living it.  Today was no exception.

 Because Chadd had the day off from work and it was snowing we volunteered to drive Chelsea to work this morning.  Normally they carpool because Chadd doesn't have a car yet after his accident.
Maybe they would carpool anyway since they like each other, work similar shifts and save money any way they can. :-)

 We first had a nice breakfast together.   Chelsea, Warren and I, at our favorite local cafe, The Daily Grind.  Then we headed out across the road I hate, May Post Office Road.  It is a higher elevation than the rest of the roads that go north and south.  It is twisty and curvy.  Most times you'll find Amish buggies or pedestrians on scooters or just walking along the road.  This is the road that Warren slid off of earlier this year.  Mom has had very bad trips across it.  I've come across a car flipped over on a curve.  It is as beautiful as it is treacherous, though.  As you crest the big hill you can see for miles and miles over the Lancaster County vistas.  Rolling hills with green grass, pastures and even sheep make you think of Ireland in some places.  But for all of the beauty it is still a very nasty road.
I was doing my running commentary on this as we drove.  Poor Warren.

We had come through the highest and curviest area and I was beginning to breathe a sigh of relief as the snow was sticking on the road and getting worse by the minute.  One more curve to navigate and we would be on the straightaway that leads into Strasburg.

And then we saw it.  A vehicle on its side.  Honestly at first I didn't think about it being Jonathan because I thought he was already at home from his overnight shift.  Then I saw the type of vehicle and said that I hoped it wasn't him.  By then, Warren was pretty much sure that it was.  By the time our van was stopped I also knew....and jumped out.  As I headed alongside the road I saw Amish men and children, some English and no emergency responders.  Then my eyes focused on a tall guy in the midst and he raised his hand in a wave.  Yes!  It was Jonathan and he was on his feet.  Looking at me.

I couldn't believe that God had led us to the scene just after those wonderful people surrounding him had helped him climb up and out of his car by way of the passenger door above him.  With the help of adrenaline Jonathan had lifted his 300+ pound self up and out while others did all they could to stabilize the vehicle so that it didn't roll on over.  Jonathan just told us that one man put himself in danger to do so.  Gasoline was running from the car and he needed to be free from the vehicle in case of fire.

I do wish I could have seen their faces as he came out though.  I know they had no idea that someone so tall was about to come out.  Jonathan said he did see their faces and it was obvious they were shocked.

Shortly after we arrived the first responders started arriving.  We asked that he be checked out and so they called the ambulance.   I knew that his adrenaline was sky high and he wasn't feeling much.  He was dizzy and nauseous.  Since we didn't know if he had hit his head I'm glad we did have them look at him.  He seems to be ok.  But he will be crazy sore.  It is setting in already.

Everyone was very kind.  The witnesses all agreed that he wasn't driving fast.  It was just one of those things.  The police officer who responded was very nice.  She mistook me for Jonathan's wife, which I thanked her for.  :-)  In the end she said they would do an accident investigation and all but that Jonathan wouldn't be cited for the accident.  It was a freak of Mother Nature.



Warren was able to detour and get Chelsea to work on time while I stayed on the very snowy scene with Jonathan.  It all worked out just fine.

We are praising God that the 20 lb hand weight that Jonathan had in his car flew right past him and out the window...They found it on the road.  Jonathan is pretty sure it was what broke the window. He was picking gravel out of his hair....but not glass.  Whew!

This is the end of the saga with the blue Suzuki.....we think and hope.  There was only liability on this vehicle so there will be no discussion of repair.   Now to figure out the best way to be rid of it.  Believe it or not the hubby is thinking of moving the engine from the blue Suzuki to the red one. The red one came about after Jonathan's accident last year when he needed something to drive while the blue one was being rebuilt.  Warren has the red Suzuki in pieces in the garage right now rebuilding most of the engine in that one.  Oh my.  We really are the craziest people I know.  I'm rooting for a cleansing of Suzuki's from our property.  Completely.  They have not been good to us.

And with that I say....see you soon.  Hopefully with something very, very boring to report.

Rollercoaster Time

When we look back on these days I am ninety-nine percent sure that the thought which will come to mind is rollercoaster.  Beginning in July when Chelsea and Chadd were engaged to just over a week later when he had his accident.  That has been the pattern.  We are happy....really happy.  And then we are blindsided by deep darkness.  It has become common, not right... but common... for me to think, "Wow, that was fun....I wonder what horrible thing is coming next!".  I'm not sure how to break out of that since it has been months like that.

Recently, the highs have included a Bachelorette party for Chelsea.  All of her bridesmaids were able to attend.  Even this event was impacted by the craziest of events...two of them.  Emily had arranged for all of the girls to show up at our house on Sunday morning as Chelsea was just about ready for church to kidnap her and they were going to head to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival.  However, you may have heard about or experienced the insane windstorm that came in Saturday night.  With trees falling down, wires down and the cold temperatures these ladies made the wise decision to work around the storm a few hours later than planned and within Lancaster County.  And so, in the following photos you see them "kidnapping" Chelsea from church just following the morning service.

 They brought her coffee!!

Chelsea truly has the best friends.

they have been such a support system for her through

these stressful times.

Emily has been a fantastic Matron of Honor.

They headed out and I only know the rest of the day from what I've heard

until Chelsea and Emily unexpectedly showed up at our house

that evening.  They were all supposed to have a sleepover at Mikey and Emily's.

In fact, Michael was down with us for the night so that he wouldn't be 

in the way up there.

He and Jonathan had gone to dinner with Warren and I just prior to 

the girls return.  That was so much fun!!

Turns out that after going to dinner at Panera the ladies had headed back

to Mikey and Emily's only to find themselves redirected to the local fire company.

You see, some neighbor had gone a bit crazy and threatened to harm 

himself.  He had told the emergency personnel that he had poured gasoline

all over his apartment and was prepared to light it.

You can't make this stuff up!

Really.

So, while the authorities gave permission for all of the girls to go back 

to the apartment they let them know to be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.

This seemed a bit more stressful than fun so the others opted to go on home 

while Chelsea and Emily came down to our place to watch the planned movie

and sleep.

When Michael heard what was going on near his home he headed up

to be there and keep an eye on things....through his eyelids...since work

was coming extra early on Monday morning.

Can you even imagine???

I mean, the weather.  That's often unpredictable.

But for two crazy things in one day?

Thankfully Chelsea has commented several times that it was a great day!

She has no regrets!

Taken from Emily's FB page.  She commented that the day only drove her a little bit crazy

with all of it's twists and turns.

Monday morning found Chelsea, Emily, J the flower girl and I 

at the Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz for breakfast.

It was great!

And the perfect ending to a great but unpredictable weekend.

This week we have had news that the next hearing won't happen until 

after the wedding and honeymoon.

When the preliminary hearing was postponed with no new date we feared the 

worst...that it would be rescheduled for some critical time.

But thankfully, the kids are being spared that.

Our final highlight of the week was a dress fitting.

Chelsea looks so pretty.

I know you would expect me to say that....

but you'll see.

In time.

She really does.

But we have to find new shoes. 

The ones she got just aren't right for the dress length and style.

I don't think she is too upset

to shoe shop again.

Wishing you peaceful days.

I know I would enjoy some about now.

Confession....

I stress painted yesterday.

It's ok.  It needed to be done.

I painted the upstairs bathroom.

This is the patch it up paint job to hold us over until 

we remove all drywall, tile and start over with the floor plan.

We are planning to have a house guest all summer

and couldn't leave it all ugly and patchy

as it was.

In theory this is a light blue...

but it definitely looks white with so much other 

strong blue around it.

At least I didn't tackle the kitchen/dining room project.

That will definitely wait for a while.

The kitchen will be needed very soon to begin making 

bundt cakes for the wedding.

Many, many small ones and nine large.

Sweet.....literally.

Last evening was the concert we've been preparing 

for during the past ten weeks at the homeschool co-op.

The kids did so very well!

I'm very, very proud of them!!

One of the dads hit the nail on the head

when he told Warren and I that the role I get to 

play at co-op is like that of the grandma.

Unlike the years my kids went there and I was in leadership,

nowadays I get to go, teach, love on the kids....

and go home!

No stress of getting all of us ready and there on time.

No stress that comes with leadership.

Just the fun stuff, for the most part.

No wonder it is such a pleasure.