Maybe This One?

 

 

Or this?

Maybe something totally different....

Lindsay took a couple that were excellent.

She and Chelsea took off and went to a quiet

garden where they captured some very nice

poses.

Now, you have to know that originally Chelsea

wanted to use a red umbrella as a prop.

We went out and bought one specifically for

the photo shoot.

However, when we arrived in Colonial Williamsburg

I was all excited for Chelsea to whip it out and 

try it right away.

She was a bit shy.

Who could blame her.

Jonathan decided to chase some of her

nerves away by showing Chelsea just 

how not to pose.

I'm afraid we will have to work on 

Jonathan's self confidence.

LOL

Finally Chelsea decided to give it 

a try.  Perhaps just to stop Jonathan

from drawing so much attention to 

us...I'm not sure....

However a couple of hours later

she was "working" that umbrella.

 

Of course having Emily to goof

around with helped a lot.

You have to know that for this series

of shots I was walking backwards very

quickly snapping away with a quick peek 

every now and then to make sure I 

didn't run into anything....

or anyone.

Taking our own senior photos is an 

adventure....

of a very fun kind.

We are not done yet.

Next we go to 

Longwood Gardens for 

some photo opportunities.

We had hoped to go on Thanksgiving Day

but the weather was simply atrocious!

It Looks Like a Postcard....

I love this house in Colonial Williamsburg.

Definitely one that I think I could enjoy living in....

if it were not in the center of a major tourist area.

The Christmas decor was being put 

up as we visited on Tuesday.

These were very fresh and 

quite lovely.

I loved this photo of young Kyle

right after his Dad threw him into this pile of 

leaves.......

I will continue to share photos from our brief

trip to Virginia over the next couple of days.

It was such a treat.

As for what is happening now,

We had a very lovely Thanksgiving day today.

Warren's Mom, Georgia, hosted us

and it was very lovely.

It is time to go and make a turkey sandwich.

I look forward to that all year....

the leftovers are just as wonderful as the 

main event, if you ask me.

I'll leave you with these photos of 

Chelsea and Emily

just "Chatting" at a gate

in the colonial village.

So many fun places to take

pictures.....

Have a very wonderful weekend.

Are you shopping or staying home 

on Black Friday?

I'll be staying home and preparing

for the craft bazaar tomorrow.

Williamsburg, Home and Hospital....

All in one day!

Oh my goodness.

We were just one vehicle of many on 

Interstate 95 today.  It took a very long

time to get home from our amazing days

away.  We arrived back just in time for 

Jonathan, Mikey and Chelsea to head into

Lancaster for Rollerblading....

(The many faces of Chelsea.......
taken on  Monday at the Beach.
These are not in the running for 
her senior picture but I love the different 
expressions, nonetheless.)

They were so happy and excited to go
rollerblading together again.
Today was Mikey's last day as a seasonal
employee at Longwood Gardens.
He has just over a month before he
returns as a student.

Anyway, both Chelsea and Mikey were hopeful 

that we would return in time for them to 

get to skate this evening......we did!

Before long, though, a call came.

Warren and I were to come 

to the skating rink immediately.

Chelsea had fallen and had a serious

cut on her chin.  She was awake and 

talking so they would wait at the rink

for us.

It was a very long ride from our home

in the Southern end of the County to 

the city of Lancaster.  

Warren was tense.

I could tell....he was very worried.

Of course it goes without saying that 

I was wondering if Mikey 

had told me everything. 

We arrived and Warren dropped me off

as close to the front door as he could get

and went to park the car.

I found my girl, surrounded by her brothers

lying on a carpet covered bench.

She was bandaged and holding ice to her chin.

There was no point in removing the bandages 

there to look.  We were headed for emergency 

treatment.  One of the employees at the skating

rink is a nurse.  She had been the one to do the 

first aid treatment and said that Chelsea would 

need stitches.

At the Emergency Room 

Chelsea got so scared...

but she was great during the treatment.

The doctor was very, very impressed!

She got three stitches inside 

and about eight or ten on the outside.  

Poor girl.

This has been a crazy day.

From Virginia this morning

to the Hospital this evening.

We are thankful that stitches could

make it all better.

We are also very proud of all three
of our children.
For sticking together in a time of
difficulty and showing
genuine caring and concern.

My heart was so blessed when we walked
to the car....
one brother on each side of
Chelsea.
Holding her steady.
So gently.
She...and we...are thankful to have
such special young men in our lives.

Just a Peek

We are sitting in McDonalds this evening....

Just to use the Wi-fi....although this necessitated 

orders of hot fudge sundaes, drinks, and even some

Chicken McNuggets.  

One wouldn't think we would need anything since we

had a full dinner of Roast, Potatoes and Salad....

but it would seem that we can always find a place for more.

Especially when it comes with an internet connection.

I just thought I would pop in here and show you a couple 

of pictures from our past couple of days here in Virginia.

Our time here is finished tomorrow.  We will head home

in the morning.  It has been time well spent.  Sweet fellowship 

with our dear friends, The Rabes and gathering pictures of 

the girls.  Well, sometimes we had to take photos of all of the 

children....they are just too cute.

From Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA....
not the senior photo choices but some fun ones.

 

And then in Colonial Williamsburg...

Warren discovered connectivity while we were sitting

on  Mr. Carter's porch.....

The girls were chatting with each other.

Too funny.

Well, it is late.  

It is taking a LONG time to load

photos.

Tomorrow at home will go better.

I am anxious to show you some

of the potential choices for senior photo

as well as some silly ones.

The girls are so good at being silly!

Having so Much Fun!

Well, The Rabes ...of Creekside Cottage...

and some of our family are in Williamsburg, VA.

As I type this Mrs. Rabe is at the next

computer in the shared computer room of

our resort typing a post as well.

I am so curious to read what she wanted

to share from our day....

We are having a wonderful time.

The weather could not be better!

Autumn continues to shine here.

The trees are absolutely gorgeous!

We drove on the Colonial Parkway

and I was overwhelmed with the

beauty of a winding road and such

brilliant colors.

Ahhhh.....

God is such an amazing artist!

Today we went to Buckroe Beach

in Hampton, Va. to take some

photos of Chelsea. 

We are trying to get her

Senior pictures completed....

The blue of the ocean just seemed

to suit her somehow.

That and her love of the water.

Tomorrow we will go with the Rabes to some other

more local sites with our girls to take pictures.

It should be a LOT of fun!!

They are both sweet girls and have such

a great time together.

This evening my Mom, Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Rabe

and I went out for the evening.  To dinner and then

for ice cream.  The conversation was interesting, and

it was fun to just enjoy our time just sharing.

So often the busyness of our lives at home limits

opportunities such as these.

I can't wait to share some of our photos with you

but we don't have access to wi-fi at the moment so

this quick update will have to do.

I do hope you are having a great week.                         

Another Kick-off and an Invitation

Hip, hip hooray!  

I am meeting a new group today.

So many of my fundraisers have been with groups 

who have come back to me that this is exciting.

Getting to meet a whole new group!

This time it is a basketball program for homeschoolers.

They play teams from Christian Schools and other

homeschool teams, I believe.

I had better get running to finish up the last

minute details and get out the door.

Here's to a great fundraiser for TEACH Basketball!

You can see more about the groups that are currently 

selling at my candle website...

We're All God's Children

Lapeer Quiz Team

CHALC 2011 Graduation

TEACH Basketball

Oh!  And I wanted to tell you that

if you are in Lancaster County you should 

come next Saturday.....the 27th 

to Mt. Hope United Methodist Church

where I will be one of the many vendors at a craft bazaar!

This church is just outside of Quarryville

in a beautiful country

setting and is the church of one 

of our favorite neighbor families.

The church name link will take you

to a map for directions.

I only go to one 

craft show per year now 

but am asked

to do several.  

I chose this one because they planned

so far in advance and were so organized.

I think this is going to be GOOD!!

It is their first time to host

a Bazaar but every indication is that 

they have everything well under control.

So, if you are in the area....

Stop in! 

I would love to see you!

Tell me you saw it at Hospitality Lane

and you can choose one candle, 

any size,

at half price!

Funny Faces, Funny Girl and a Book Recommendation

I just love the little smiling faces of these

snowmen.  The hot cocoa mugs in process 

are so fun......

 One just has to smile back!!!

My funny girl....

O.k. so she is right about this.

Chelsea is definitely a "keeper"!

An interesting read....

I am currently reading this book.

It is fascinating on so many levels.

The life of one who's persona is so public

and yet Anne has dealt with many private 

struggles which began with the death of her

nineteen month old daughter so many years ago.

As a woman in business, I also find the story 

of Auntie Anne's Pretzels to be one that is fascinating

and one that I somewhat relate to.

I don't ever anticipate having the level of success

that she has experienced, and frankly, don't know

that I would want to.

It was all consuming in her life and I believe 

that it cost 

she and her family dearly.

But, God has brought so much of it around for 

good and while I am not yet finished with this 

book I would recommend it.

It has given me many, many things to 

think about.
I appreciate the heart of both
Anne and Jonas Beiler
for their community,
which just so happens
to also be my community.