A Delightful Dinner

At Cafe 24 Hundred

 

This annual evening of relaxation with our Pennsylvania daughter and daughters-in-law is always a highlight for us. Days and months and years are filled with routine and stress, so I treasure this time of talk and laughter.

I especially treasure it tonight as I listen to the memorial service in Connecticut. Good relationships are something to treasure and nurture.

 

 

When we saw peppadews on the menu, each of us wondered what they were, so I asked our waiter if we could have a serving to share.

 

 

I think each of us liked them except Debbie. They were a combination of sweet and hot. I will be looking for them in a supermarket.

 

 

 

 

Kristen ordered this meal - I think it was the Tenderloin Tip Sandwich.

 

 

Deb's French Onion Soup and Pretzel Bread.

 

 

Chris' 24 Hundred Market Salad...

 

 

...and french fries.

 

 

My Tomato Bruschetta...

 

 

...and Roasted Mushroom Soup.

 

~~~

Each of us commented on how delicious everything was. 

~~~

 

 

We had a waiter who was helpful and quite fun, which added to our refreshing evening.

 

 

 

 

Kristen, Debbie, and I chose ceme brulee for dessert...

 

 

...and Chris chose her favorite - chocolate lava cake.

 

~~~

Remembering the evening make me smile.

~~~

 

 

 

The Lord Almighty is my strength.
He makes my feet like those of a deer.
He makes me walk on the mountains.

Habakkuk 3:19 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

 

 

 

Pampering Our Feet

Monday Evening, December 10

 

On Monday evening I took "my girls" Deb, Kristen, and Chris out for our annual night of pampering.

 

 

We started by putting our feet in a regular pedicure water bath.

 

 

When the first part of our pedicures were finished we were asked to dip our feet in hot paraffin - three times.

 

 

Next our feet were put in baggies.

 

 

Then this amazing scrub was put on our legs.

 

 

 

 

Then our legs were wrapped in hot towels.

 

 

This is the most amazing time of the evening's pampering.

 

 

Removing the paraffin always comes too quickly.

 

 

Then it's time for the hot rock massage.

 

 

 

 

Happy Feet

 

~~~

Join us tomorrow night for a delightful dinner.

~~~

 

 

 

Pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.

Romans 14:19 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

 

 

 

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Gloria

We Love You!

Grandpa & Grandma

 

 

 

Visiting Roy and Deb and Their Critters

Sunday Evening, December 9

 

Since we would be going right by Roy and Deb's road on the way home from Wendell and Betty's house, we called to see if they were home. They have a new "baby" that we had not yet seen.

 

This is Presley - a raccoon that was near death when they got her. No one - epecially the vet - expected her to live. She weighed one-and-a-half pounds at that time. Now look at her. She weighs almost ten pounds.

 

 

She will be released in spring when she's old enough to be outside and on her own.

 

 

Keebler the skunk is in partial hibernation (sleeping approximately 18 hours a day).

 

 

He has been neutered and descented and is a household pet.

 

 

These two love to play and scrap - like brothers and sisters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at the size of him! I keep telling him that he needs to go on an exercise program.

 

 

He takes offense at that.

 

 

This is Jimmy DooLittle - their new baby flying squirrel. Someone else rescued him and several of his siblings and could not keep them all. He is six weeks old and weighs 1.1 ounce.

 

 

I like how he holds unto the tip of the feeding syringe when Deb feeds him. 

 

 

He is surely a cute little guy.

 

 

As you can see by the rear view mirror, it was still raining when we headed home.

 

 

We live about an hour away from their place.

 

 

It was a delightful Sunday.

 

 

 

The Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 (Good News Translation)

 

 

The Weekend

 

Saturday Visitors

 

Chaplain David and Mary Ann Roberts stopped in to bring photos for their December newsletter. They also wanted a new photo of themselves.

 

 

David is a skilled artist and always puts one of his paintings in the masthead of the newsletter. Notice the "hand" holding the chapel as it crosses a treacherous mountain road.

 

~~~

 

Going Visiting After Worship on Sunday

 

Since we had an hour-and-a-half drive to our destination, we left immediately after church and stopped at a restaurant for lunch. Do you recognize Chili's logo on the menu holder?

 

 

 

 

Cerwin's sirloin steak meal.

 

 

My shrimp tacos and black beans and rice.

 

 

It was a rainy day, and after getting into the countryside of southern Lancaster County, we came upon a lot of Amish buggies - which probably means they had church today.

 

 

Most Amish districts in our area have worship services every other Sunday.

 

 

Open buggies usually mean there are young people in the carriage.

 

 

Walking in a farm lane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three open buggies in a row.

 

 

We had a delightful visit with Betty and Wendell who live in Maryland.

Wendell had a tough year from taking chemo for cancer - which was first discovered in one of his tonsils. If I remember correctly, that was five years ago. The cancer returned and the treatment this year was especially difficult on him.

 

 

We learned to know them in the late '60s.

He was the trucker who first introduced our area to Transport For Christ by bringing issues of the Highway News (Highway Evangelist in those days) to our area of the country.

TFC began in Canada and had not yet spread to the eastern USA. Wendell was delivering mushrooms from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to Ontario, Canada, when he noticed the TFC Office, stopped in, and began putting the magazines in truck stops in our area.

Keep him in your prayers. His cancer has returned, and he was having a consultation with the doctor the day after our visit to learn what kind of treatment he would be taking this time. (He knows he does not want the same chemo he had in June.)

 

 

 

 I pray that you will enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

 the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:13 (Easy-to-Read Version)

 

 

 

End of the Evening

Kezi's Farewell Party

 

Opening Gifts

It was a "no gift" party, but there were still a few people who brought one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful clutch purse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved this thoughtful gift...

 

 

...a photo album of special memories.

 

 

Kezi spent the rest of the evening visiting with her friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't tell you what is going on in the kitchen, because it is another surprise.

 

 

Kezi knew something was going on because she was not permitted in the kitchen.

 

~~~

I love celebrations - and it was fun for Cerwin and me to host this one.

~~~