MERRY CHRISTMAS         

Hello, it's hard to believe another year, 2006, has about come to an end. We are all healthy and trust that all who read this is the same. Our prayer for each of you is that you will allow Christ to be number one in your life and follow His leading in your.

January started with Craig's 49^th birthday on the first. The square dance competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show was on Monday night January 9^th. The family spent the day at the Farm Show with practice and the competition. Mary and Sara will be dancing again this January 8^th. It will be on PCN (Pennsylvania Cable Network), if you have cable you might catch a glimpse of them. Mary and Sara had Leadership Program Training at camp. Mary ended the month with a Sr. Hi. Retreat. Sara worked on the work crew for the first time.July held even more VBS work. Sandy Cove (www.SandyCove.org) was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. We made new friends and enjoyed the nationally known homeschool speakers. A sore on Clover, Sara's rabbit, resulted in Ruth and a family friend taking her to a local vet while we were at Sandy Cove. She had a slight fever,was put on an antibiotic, and would need surgery later. VBS was held the week after Sandy Cove. Clover had surgery on the 19^th,, spent the night, and received more antibiotic. Sara stayed home from camp and nursed her rabbit. Sara was back to camp the next week.

The girls continued child care in Carlisle weekly, as well as down the street. Ruth did piano lessons and worked at finishing up her college correspondence work in February. Ruth also continued with the monthly Story Times at a local homeschool store.

In February Barb's step father died. Ruth bought a very nice used car. Not much else happened in February.

March held the Youth group's spaghetti dinner, and elementary retreat work for Mary and Sara. Sara participated in the church level and association level Bible Drill competitions. A neighbor gave us enough laminate flooring to finally put a finished floor in the living room. The end of March/beginning of April held a Jr. Hi. Retreat for Sara to attend.

In April we placed 5^th in a local yard make-over, winning several gift cards and church promotional items. Craig and Barb installed a new, larger fenced garden area for the summer. Mary held a 16½ birthday party and passed her driver's exam. Ruth directed the church Easter drama. Ruth then arranged a long weekend and flew to North Carolina to surprise her best friend at college. The surprise was a success. We also had our homeschool evaluation.

In May, Mary and Sara went White Water Rafting in WV with the youth group. Mary, Sara, Barb and Craig attend the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania's curriculum and workshop convention at the farm show complex. While there, we won an all expense paid week's vacation to the homeschool week at Sandy Cove Bible Conference in July. We also started working at church for VBS in July.

In June, more VBS work. Sara turned 14 on the 5^th. Mary left her job as cashier at Giant for summer activities. Mary went on the church's mission trip to AL. Sara attended camp training. Both Mary and Sara worked several weeks at camp this summer either in the kitchen or in a cabin with girls. The Sheffers' had a family reunion as well as the Smalls'. Craig's company held it's summer picnic.

August was a roller coaster of events. Clover developed diarrhea from the antibiotic. Some internet information stated that diarrhea could be fatal to rabbits. Sara came home and noticed Clover's poor health. Barb spent the day before our annual SNP trip calling around trying to locate another vet, one that was in on a Saturday, taking new clients, and worked with exotic pets. Yes, a rabbit is an exotic pet! We found one after many calls who actually had rabbits herself. Clover was dehydrated and needed critical care. We could not change our vacation at this point, so, she spent our vacation at the vets and we were to call back each day for an update. The day that they said she was nibbling the newspaper and sheet in her cage we knew that she would be okay. We picked her up on the way home from vacation. Clover and Sara were very happy to see each other. Sara and Clover visited the nursing home again. While on vacation we did a very different all day hike up Old Rag. Unfortunately, Barb decided to wipe out near the top on our way down. She lost skin on her left arm, elbow and palm, as well as, on her knee and leg. Ruth was the nurse who cleaned the arm and elbow daily, Barb tended the leg and knee. This was about the worst injury ever at Shenandoah. Mary assisted with food prep. Sara went to Assateague National Park and Mary back to camp to hostess in the dining room. Ruth also turned 19 on the 24^th.. Ruth also returned to the SNP for a day with some of her friends seeing 5 bears the most ever on one trip. Mary started work at a local coffee shop (www.xpressocafe.com). The larger garden did well with tomatoes. We also had some lettuce and a handful of green and purple beans for the first time in awhile. Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkins and melons were zapped by a bug after a very short harvest time. We are praying for better results next year. Sara and Barb made Peach jam for the first time. Mary also went on the youth group's beach trip, and for Labor Day weekend with a close friend during hurricane Ernesto.

September began Sara's freshman year and Mary's senior year of high school. Both attended the local public school homecoming with friends. Barb turned 49. We also purchased four newly hatched female chicks and named them Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (The Little Women). They should be laying eggs by spring.

In October, we ventured to Mt. Joy for a day of work at GAIN's warehouse. Several friends from church joined us. Barb sewed gospel aprons and was joined by Ruth and later Mary. The three of them managed to sew about 10 apron kits. Sara eventually migrated to the care bear section. Some other went and sorted clothes. Mary turned 17 and found another birthday buddy. I think she is up to about 4. This year the Dillsburg Farmer's Fair was attended by most of us at one time or another. Sara was this year's big prize winner at our house. Sara also started to do babysitting and lead songs for the local release time. Work on the Christmas eve program at church began and Ruth is kept busy with many aspects of it. Both Sara and Mary are participating in the choir part of the program this year.

November was mostly uneventful. Sara accompanied Barb on Black Friday for a day of shopping. Craig's parents came for a Thanksgiving Dinner the Saturday after the holiday. Ruth is very busy with music at the church.

December's Saturdays hold Christmas parties for at least someone every December's Saturdays hold Christmas parties for at least someone every week. Mary is going back to Giant part-time and for the most part is done with her high school work.

MERRY CHRISTMAS         

Saturday morning was a slow start.  Ruth left for play practice in the morning.  Craig and I started to work around 10 am or so.  Ruth picked up Travis, Mary's boyfriend, on her way home, dropped him off, grabbed a quick lunch and headed out to work.  The first two rows did prove to be the slowest.  Travis worked and when Mary came home she also assisted us.  We rolled very well.  Once we got a system going we were nearly done by supper time.  Mary and I prepared a large tray of chicken, baked potatoes, and salad for summer while Craig and Travis finished up the last row.  The floor looked impressive. 

We also had to set the clocks back.

Sunday we went to church.  Mary and Ruth took a packed lunch and headed to camp to pick up Sara. I had lined up a ride with a lady from church to drop us off on her way home.  We ate quickly, studied the miter saw and prepared to do the trim work.  Craig did a great job with the cuts.  We weren't quite done when the girls got home.  Sara was shocked, tired and a little grumbly about doing the livingroom instead of the kitchen.  Plus the fact that her bed was buried with items from the livingroom didn't help.  With the girls'

help I was able to talk Craig into staying home from church to work on the floor and do some real daily jobs.  When the girls got home we were ready to return many of the items that were removed.  We did much of it in the reversed order as we had removed the items.  The piano remained in the kitchen because we were unable to lift it and unsure of how not to mar the new floor. 

It was probably Monday evening before the piano was placed into the livingroom amd Tuesday or Wednesday until the returned much to normal.  Small piles were tackled and eliminated or hidden on Friday before the first piano lessons.   The room looks brighter because it is a very light colored oak.  I purchased some rugs for it the next week.  I tried to keep them light in color to keep the brightness of the room.  A small stack of planks still remain behind the couch...where they will go is still a question that will need to be answered some other time.  For now the pile is managable and it's spring!!!

Wow!! over a week again.  Life has been busy.  Last Thursday as usual was errand day with at least a 1/2 dozen stops usually.  Ruth had an interview last week on Wednesday and got the job as cashier at Country Market Nursery.  She had orientation with other new employees on Saturday.  Fortuately she had no drama practice.  Friday I took Mary to work and did my shopping at Giant.

Saturday the girls and I attended a postponed Ladies Tea and Cookie exchange at church.  Sunday was church.  Sara had attended a small girls Bible study near Pinchot State Park so Craig and I had a small picnic lunch and walked for a bit near the lake.  Sara wasn't done when we returned for her.  I was slightly disappointed.  It was nice to walk and see the world waking up from it's long winter's nap. 

Monday I helped Mary and Sara prepare their portfolios for Thursday evaluations.  Tuesday I went outside and trimmed some trees.  It was nice to be outside and working.  Some wood chips did end up in my eyes, but seemed to work their way out over night.  Wednesday I was doing better and preparing for flooring to be laid in my kitchen over the weekend.  I cleaned my stove's drawer and eliminated many small pans that have not been used for year and discovered that I could fit my broiler in there.  I also cleaned out under the drawer only the back side remained to be cleaned.  I also moved my cookie sheets and pizza pans to under the sink, a location that I discovered helping at my sister's.  This was also Ruth's first day at work.  Mary also worked at Giant today. 

Thursday was errand day. With Ruth at work; Sara and I started after dropping Mary off at Giant around 1pm.  We did Weiser's, Agway (price checking), Library, ACMoore's, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Karns and Weis.  It was a long, long, long day.  We gathered the few products we needed to do the flooring at Home Depot.  The quarter round trim was very expensive.  I decided to open a credit card so to get a 10% discount off my a purchase.  The wait was about 10 minutes. 

Friday, I shopped Giant when Mary went to work and then came home and processed veggies and fruit to store in the frig for consumption.  It seems as tho it doesn't wash itself, but gets eaten after I wash it.  Ruth worked a half hour extra at CMN and was just a tad late to give her first piano lesson.  Sara prepared for junior hi retreat pick up at 5pm.  I made a huge batch of chicken leg quarters and baked potatoes.  After Sara left for camp and Craig came home we decided to up the laminate in the livingroom...Ruth and Mary assisted a little with moving the small stuff before they left around 6pm.  Ruth went to small group at the church and Mary was spending the evening with the Patrick girls so she would be ready for the SAT on Saturday.  Craig and I continued to empty the livingroom...piano, couch, chair, mirrored hall piece, and entertainment center all went to the kitchen.  The 2 big bookcases were emptied, books stacked in the big Ford van and then the cases themselves were slidded onto the benches.  The books were folded bench high in the back.  We also watched a video about installing the laminated twice before moving the tv.

It was a long evening, but the room was empty when we went to bed.

Tuesday was chillier than Monday and not very inviting to venture outside.  Besides there is a pile of laminate flooring in the center of my livingroom floor.  I have no idea how much there is to know which floor to plan to lay it permanently.  I decide to wipe each board off and inspect it for damage and if able to reuse it. After sorting I had 59 great complete board and 21 that weren't perfect.  Sara assist me in measuring it and discover that each board contains about 3 square feet.  Not quite enough to do the kitchen or livingroom.  Perhaps we should do the bedroom...eliminate dust mites...what to do with all the furniture

...the carpet would also need to be disposed of..  I showed Craig my efforts...three neatly stacked sorted piles of boards...discussed the problem of markings on some...he suggests

...paint thinner...nail polish remover...rubbing alcohol.  I made supper, did dishes and headed to the Keystone Bapt Association's office across from Giant for a 7pm meeting with Joan and Judy.   We are looking at material to develop a program for the elementary age kids at church.

Wednesday...I tackle that pile of wood again and am glad that I did I was able to transfer 14 of the 21 not perfect board to near perfect  condition and move them to the piles with the other wood.  I now have enough to do the kitchen...YEAH!!!  I also sort the used boards as to which end had been cut.  If we work it right they might be able to stretch the full board further and guarnetee that we have enough board.  I ran Mary to work at the Giant, Craig will pick her up on his way home and then we will be heading out to church for the evening.

Sunday was busy as usual.  Small group and Church in the morning and then figuring out how to get to the nursing home in York Springs by 3:30, to the church by 5 for Sara Bible quizzing and then wondering if any elementary or younger kids would be there for the evening service.  I was also still exhausted from all the activity on Saturday.  I had enough forethought to place do a pot roast in the oven before we left in the morning.  Mary also stayed home tired from the pace of Friday and Saturday.  Sara went to sunday school but went to the van for a nap during the morning service.  The service was overcoming obstacles to worship...and of course it had many obstacles includind a dvd player not working and then in time there was a scratch in the dvd itself and we never did get to see the end of the dvd lecture.  Mary drove to the nursing home for more drive time.  She also came inside with us ladies and sang with us.  Sara advanced to the next level of competition which is this coming Saturday night this side of Gettysburg.  Emily was at church so she and I watched a couple of videos in the nursery.  Not a bad day.  I was still exhausted so I went to bed soon after arriving at home.

Monday Ruth and Sara her assistant were doing a story time at the local homeschool shop.  There was talk of the first day of spring and free Italian Ices at Rita's.  Wished that I could go:(  The printer was throwing a fit and printing every other copy in red.  It delayed the girls departure until after my hubby called at 10am.  I could go:)  I also ran to make more copies at a local copy shop while they started story time.  Mary actually assisted Ruth.  Sara was still not in top form so she visited with her friend Cassie.  Cassie mom accompanied me to Karn's for a pot roast for Thursday and chicken on Wednesday.  It was nice to be out and about a bit.  We did get free Italian Ices at Rita's and then checked at Maggie's on the way home and managed to get second free Ices. Burrr...it was a chilly day to start with. In the afternoon I went outside to finish the raspberry patch by the chicken house.  I made it through the jungle and it looks fairly tame.  Now to keep those weeds at bay!!!  Ruth changed her oil in her car while I worked at the berries.  I think we both finished about the same time.

The weekend was a very busy one.  The youth had their spaghetti dinner at church on Friday night.  So my 3 girls headed out early in the morning to assist with the prep work. I decided to use the day alone at home to start some spring cleaning in my bedroom.  I go the front wall and under the bed done, windows washed and curtains hung, and a little bit eliminated from the room.

Hubby and I went to the dinner leaving here around 7pm to head down to church.  When we arrived we learned that one of his coworkers had been there for about an hour.  He had not said for sure that he was coming.  Dinner was nice.  We had missed the rush and enjoyed the pace.  The girls got home between 1-2am.  Ruth was glad to have her senior license so they didn't have to leave early to be home by 11pm.

Saturday started early...6:15am or so.  The smoke detector outside our bedroom door had been chirping for about the past 2 hours.  We figured that the battery was low. Sara and Mary were going to a youth mission conference in Lancaster with the camp where they are invovled in their summer training program.  We were to meet the bus at the Mechanicsburg exit of Rt. 81.  They were coming from Chambersburg up 81 to go to Lancaster...It made the trip shorter for us to meet them there and it had an easy off and on ramp at this exit. 

This year another girl from the area is also involved.  That makes it nice because we don't have to do all the running and car pool.  Unfortuately Saturday morning their car was not working so I made the 10 minute trip to her house to pick her up, returned to pick up my crew on the way and drove for the meeting point.  The bus was waiting for us.  The 3 changed vehicles and were on their way. 

Craig and I went to a local grocery store that had recently changed owners on the way home and he got to see the changes that have been made since it was sold.

We then went to our local Giant to get Mary's hours for the next week, since she did work there on Friday she needed to know what time to start on Monday.  We were also given her paycheck and did my shopping for the week.

We returned home just in time to see Ruth off to the church for the Easter Sunday Morning Drama practice that she is the directing.  Craig and I had had breaksfast but each ate an apple.  The second load of laundry was started...then Craig and I headed out to do some yardwork.  We cleaned the front flower beds and then went to work on the southwall's.  While working there the one neighbor came over and asked if we thought that we could use some laminate flooring?  I asked how much of it?  He thought possibly enought to do a 14x20 room.  I have discussed the possiblity of doing laminate sometime.  Well,  he loaded it on this little trailer and delivered it to our front door.  It now sits in OUR LIVINGROOM in the center of the floor.  I pray it doesn't sit there to long.  Hopefully we can have it down before Easter.

Returning to the yard we did the south side of the row of bushes and combed out the dead growth from last year's flowers. We then proceeded down by the chicken's yard.  Raspberries grow there that are 3 times the size of any other that grow here.  It must be that fresh chicken droppings.  It was very hard to pick berries last year due to the honeysuckle and other wild growth there.  My goal was to eliminate anything that was not raspberries plus the older dead berry canes.  We started and used a wild peach tree as an arbor for the some of the canes and eliminated the older.  Craig pulled the honeysuckle and other stuff.  We soon discovered that the chicken's yard was starting to fall like the walls of  Jericho.  We got the chicken to enter her house, shut the door and opened the window.  We had fencing that we brought home back in July after VBS to redo the chicken's yard.  Craig had been twist tying additional wire here and there to the yard all winter.  It was good that we were on the project together so either could be upset with the other for the change of plans and the need rebuild the much needed chicken yard.  We broke for lunch.  Ruth had gotten home and made the frozen pizza for us.  She continued on the laundry and we on the chicken's yard.  About 4 pm we were done outside and headed in to make supper.  WOW what a long day and it was just supper time.

After supper I did most of the dishes and then grabbed a shower.  Amanda called on their way from Lancaster to Harrisburg and I learned that they had not stopped for supper yet.  Mary called after my shower and said that they were just on the other side of Harrisburg and would be leaving soon.  We left to meet the bus, this time we waited.  I prefer it that way because they are doing us the favor and saving us travel time.  They also have more youth on the bus than we do in our van.  They finally arrived about 9pm.  We had to stop at the Giant up the road from the pick up because we forgot the milk and batteries in the morning. 

Amanda's mom was waiting at our house when we got home.  Once home Mary got a shower and I went to bed. 

Sorry for the delay in posting.  Nothing new with my sister Judy.  Her youngest still remains with her mother-in-law.  Sister Connie who has been assisting her alot has had her oldest one at home reenter public school from cyber-school, but she went only 2 days in the past 2 weeks due to stomache and diarrhea.  Things are stressful there.  Things have been stressful here as well.  Sara my youngest has been having dizziness, headaches and stomache so we went to the doctors on March 1st.  We have since been to the hospital for a MRI, the EarNoseThroat doctor and back to our regular doctor. Nothing has been found, but all the big and nasty have been thrown out like tumor, strep, diabetes, and other infections. 

Ruth has applied for an appreniship as a midwife.  She needed CPR certification.  Both of us went and took a friend along, who actually signed up first.  There were FREE classes this month in Harrisburg sponsored by the Red Cross.

Mary soon goes for her SAT.  She continues to work and do school.  Our evaluations are next Thursday and the end of this years school is sometime in April or June depending on who you are and how your work is going.

My husband has been having a stressful time lately.  He is very responsible and is having a difficult time understanding things at my sister Judy's even tho he helped there once.  Uncertainities and changes are difficult on him.  He tends to get uptight and stressed.  Please keep him and us in your prayers.

My friend Peggy is also sick.  She is having problems with her bladder/kidneys.  She was not at church yesterday. 

I was able to book our vacation to Shenandoah National Park for this summer.  In the process I learned that there is a 20% discount for Shenandoah Park Association members...That's US!!  I also learned that there is 50% off for April and May.  It has been a long time since we were down that early...maybe even...bc...before children...well you can't blame a girl for dreaming!!!

I also just posted Monday, October 31st which was last day in Sweetwater.

Wow! two days in a row. 

I did do some more deep cleaning in my bedroom yesterday. It still needs more, so I guess that I will continue to chip away at it slowly. 

I'm taking Sara to the doctor's today.  She still is not feeling the best...headache, dizzy, and earache...they seem to come and go...the only way to shake it once and for all is to see if she has some type of infection. 

I also booked reservation for Shenandoah for August.  I forgot about AAA discount.  I seem to only think of them for car emergencies.  I call back today and discovered that we will save about 10%.  It went from 98 to 89 dollars.  Today I emailed Shenandoah Natl Park Association and discovered that they have a 20% discount so I guess that I will call again.   I also need a coupon from the association stating that I am a member.  The association members can save 50% in April and May.  Who knows I could ask about a spring trip.  It has been a long time since we have been down in the spring.

Still things remain the same at my sister Judy's with Mysti staying at her grandma's.  We continue to clean and prepare short of physical changes to the house (relocating stuff) incase Mysti has to leave her grandma's for some reason.

Not much new.  Children and Youth did inspect at Judy's late in the week apparently her caseworker broke her leg somehow and some of her work has been given to others.  The new worker said that he was impressed and that he could not believe what he said in light of the photos that he had seen at the office.  There were just a few items that still needed improved...the child safety gate installed, it leaned on a wall nearby...some very sharp knives returned to what use to be their home...instead of their new home, force of happen.  After a few more weeks of inspection Mysti, 2, can come home.  Apparently the safety risk was so high and each week they pass the risk rating goes down a level.  

Church was very nice Sunday.   Mary drove both time.  She needs more drive time for her 50 hours that the law requires.  The whole weekend was nice.

I need to continue this week weeding through the extra things that my room seems to acculutate.  Tomorrow night there is a meeting at the CampHill Giant about financing college.  Mary is leaning towards HACC for their daycare program.  She loves little ones.

Sara's achievement test scores came back last week.  Math computations were low.  I'm leaning towards more drill for her to correct that.   Nothing much more new. 

It's hard to believe that it's been more than a month since I last posted. 

I have been busy with life and my half-sister Judy's family.  (Judy is mentally bearly a teen herself.)  Children and youth have been invovled in her life since early last year.  It's now to the place where her youngest, 2 years 4 months, is at her mother-in-law.  Judy and family had one week to get the house cleaned and safe for the youngest.  Her other children are in their teens, 14, 15, & 16.  Judy's father died the dad after Mysti went to grandma's while Judy and Jim were at Children and Youth.  The deadline for cleaning was to be last Thursday, but an extension was given until today.  Today is a holiday so we are thinking that the inspection will be tomorrow.  The inspection will either result in Mysti coming home, but going to daycare while dad is at work, or else the three older children will be going to foster care as well as Mysti.  I have spent 2 days over there cleaning this past week. 

There have been some times in the past month when our sister Connie who lives 5 minutes have called and we have brain stormed over different situations that have occurred at Judy's.  Connie has spent much time and energy on Judy's family since things brought the family in on 12/21/05.  

I also have connected Children and Youth with a offer to bring Mysti in case that  she can't return home after the inspection.  So...my family cleans our house and thinks of childproofing that will be needed here if Mysti came...more uncertainities would be how long would she be here..., but the little girl needs a safe place to be if she can't go home right away. 

Ruth has finished college, bought a car and still searches for a job.  Mary still is loving work (most days) at Giant, working hard on school, has started a girls' Bible study, and remains social.  Sara is still busy with school, babysitting, camp work and friends.  Craig has been doing fairly well but, needs more sleep.  Me, I just had work done on a root canal tooth today...2 more visits and it will be done...no more cinnamon heart candy : (     .

As usual I will try to do better posting but, if Mysti comes I might not be able for a while and I still have my trip posting to finish I know....

I wasn't feeling to well last week.  I guess I ate to much that didn't agree with me over the holiday week. 

Saturday I went to my sister Judy's to assist in cleaning.  Wow!! I'm glad I clean weekly or nearly weekly.  Ants are bad, but roaches are worst.   My 14 year old Sara was a real trooper.  She did their pantry and did their bunny's nails.  I did the bathroom closet, cupboards and tossed outdated meds.  Another family did her livingroom from wall to wall.  Please continue to pray for this family to get their priorities straight and keep them consistent.

Sunday was church, potluck and WOM meeting. The girls had practice for the state farm show's square dance from 5 -7.  They missed youth group. 

Monday was the Pennsylvania State Farm Show square dance competition.  This was the 3rd year that they have danced there.  They have 3 blue ribbons for their efforts.  They have also developed some new friends, skills and some coordination.

Today is back to routine: school, work, CIA, chiropractor appt, and Mary and

Ruth's small groups.

Wow!! Christmas has been here and is gone.  Sorry I did not post more over the last few weeks.  Let me see if I can update you quickly.

Our 88 caravan died on the way to church on the 18th.  We replaced it with a 95 caravan.  It is still unnamed.  Perhaps it will get a name soon.

Things at Judy's meeting turned out fairly well.  Our mom moved in to help assure the children safety when Jimmy's not there.  Our things are in the work there and prayer is still needed.

We had turkey at Christmas and a ham on New Year's Day.  We also did food trays with everyones favorite foods on them.  I think I ate to much of something I have not felt well for awhile.  I think I have some hives.

The food boxes that my church assembled for the Gulf Coast Region was finally shipped south with another Church that left the day after Christmas for Biloxi.  I just the guess that that was "the fullness of time" to borrow from the season.

Everyone was kind of pleased with their Christmas presents.  School started up again yesterday.  I am starting to plan my garden.  Hopefully I will get some stuff out this spring. 

Wow, more than a week has past.  Much has happened as usual.  Sister Judy is having problems with Children and Youth.  Apparently most of it goes back to the guy who raped Chrissy and fathered her child.  There will be an extended family meeting with a group called "It Takes a Village" on Wednesday, Dec. 21st to try to draw up a plan that will allow the children to remain in the home.

Monday I surprised my in-laws with supper.  Apparently we missed understood each other and she thought I was done with meals. She thanked me and said that she was able to get around a bit better and could handle the meals on her own.  I was not sure if I was ready to give up this way to assist them.

Mary picked up a cold and spent time either on the recliner in the living room or on her bed doing school.  She did get some drive time in. 

Sara did school; CIA on Tuesday; Library, errands and square dancing on Thursday.

Ruth has been dubbing old vcr tapes, doing school, practiced piano, giving lessons, library and square dancing.

Thursday night it snowed.  All of Friday's events except work was cancelled.  A big PE day - snoveling.  It took 3 of us 2 hours, plus the neighbor did do some plowing. Ruth did go to see Narnia though with a friend.  She had a standing date with Bec, but she was in NC and she went with the college Thursday night. 

Mary and Sara spent the Sunday afternoon, the 11th,  at the Patricks' and then went to Crossroads for the concert part of their Christmas Dinner Concert.  It was a first time for Mary since she left about 2 years ago this past August.  Sara had been back a few times that fall.  It was awkward but both are still happy with Faith Baptist.  Melody Patrick's brother was traveling with the couple that sang.  The rest of us did the Sunday paper, Ruth baked cookies, I put them in containers,  Craig did the trash.  We watch a little television. 

Mary got hired at Giant, 2 miles away, and starts later today 2 -6 p.m..  Right now all the girls are doing child care.  It's a quiet morning for mom.  I did tighty up a little, folded laundry, took care of email, called Connie, and ate breakfast, filled this week's pill cases with supplements, washed up and got dressed and even did today Sudoku.  I also called Grammy and took her that I would not be bring supper tonight and thought I would let her know. 

I'm up around 4:30. I can't recall when I last saw 4:30 a.m.. Arriving outside by 5 a.m. I help to get round one of lunch started. Lunch will be Sloppy Joes, buns, peaches and green beans. We are expecting do another 5,000 for lunch.

Seven a.m. brings breakfast of Eggs, Bacon and toast. The left over breakfast food is then left to sit for any police officers or Red Cross workers who need it.

We return to work. The first batch of lunch is processed out of the tent and into cambros to wait for the second round so all drivers can leave around the same time. The pots, kettles and ovens are refilled. The peaches are started into the process and more cambros prepared so when round two is done clean up can begin and supper started.

We are all sore and stiff. We welcome our water and short breaks even if it's just for a minute or two. The FL health department comes to inspect our kitchen and whole process. While she was there one of our gal had a fall but we were all able to assist her and cover for her so not to draw the attention of the inspector. Betsy and Walt returned today to assist. Angel and her family will also be returning today.

Lunch was ready and out before noon. Yeah, lunch and siesta. What no siesta today! We are disappointed but some where find the strength to continue to get supper ready. There was a Donald Duck custom character on the lot today. With a closer look it turned out to be Mayor Manoro. He apparently visits the local children's hospital every Halloween. This year he was Donald Duck instant of Tigger like the last 3 years.

Supper will be Mac & Cheese, Peas and Banana Pudding. It's taking about 200 #10 cans to do the meals. The Mac & Cheese came frozen and were set out to thaw earlier in the day. The number or servings were estimated for it was not listed on the packaging anywhere. It turns out that we have to many frozen trays out and need to return them to the frozen food trailer. The temperature was taken of several of the unopened trays and it was determined that they had not thawed to the point of being dangerous if refrozen.

I returned today just in time to witness one of the older ladies back up to sit on some cases, unfortunately for her they were empty cartons. Fortunately for her she was not hurt. Most of the ladies on my side of the tent had seen it happen and it was a good chuckle for and relief for us all.

There was a celebratory cheer as the last cambro left the tent today - another 5,000 meals. Many of us will be leaving in the morning.

After supper while waiting for the new placements to arrive. Ken Phang told Matt and I his story. Back in 1994 Hurricane Andrew hit FL. Many SBCs came from all across the country to FL to assist in the clean up. They didn't sing, preach or take an offering. This impressed Ken to the point that he said to his wife Angel, "I want to raise our boys, then around 7, in the church just like my mom raised us." She said, "To which church do you want to go?" He replied that little SBC over there. Their folks came when we needed them and asked nothing return. They quietly lived out their faith." Today Ken is the head of the local Disaster Relief and leads training sessions every spring gearing up for the summer's hurricane season.

Jimmy from MD had a police escort to the airport to pick up the replacements that MD had sent down. The escort was to assist in directions and speed, their plane landed at 5 p.m.. Upon his return the new arrivals also received a cheer of greeting. Jimmy exited the van shaking his head. Apparently a motorcycle police man is capable of moving a vehicle to another lane. One vehicle would not move to right for the escort. The cycle motored right up beside the driver's door and gave in a swift kick or two and the previously unwilling vehicle moved to right without further delay. 

We greet the newcomers and then look for showers and then bed.  It might not be super late but it has been a long day and we don't want to be totally exhausted on the trip home. 

We might have done a super long day last Wednesday but we were fresh for the journey ahead.  We are still unsure if we will try to drive straight through or not.  Maryland is checking to see if we could bunk in with them.  MD pays lodging and gas for their volunteers, PA doesn't.  Something to check into once we are home.   

Well, off to the Police Department for the shower.   We are passed by some trick or treaters.  It's just 3 (2 ladies and 1 man escort) on our trip down, but the next bunch is there before we exit the locker room.  We wait for escort to shower and then we return to the site to hit the sack.  We are shooting to leave by 8 a.m..  A little more catching up on the journal entries. 

We are up about 5:15 and at breakfast by 5:30. The breakfast folks have been up since 3 to prepare our eggs, toast, bacon, milk, cereal and oj. About 6 a.m. I started to assist in the kitchen tent. I dumped cans, opened cases, and wiped cans for the opener. Lunch will be canned chicken, with rice and fruit. After all available cookers are cooking we take our breakfast break. The polices often stop by after we are done with our breakfast to grab something to eat. We dump the first round of lunch and start round two. We run out of chicken and went to beanless chili corn carne (77% sodium, I'm watching my sodium). Some chicken was held back for us for our lunch at 1 p.m.. I'm thankful.

After lunch we are told that we can have an hour siesta. Yeah! Sue mentions that her phone is fully charged and that I can call home if I want after Matt is done. I have a great chat. I discover that everyone is going to pick up Grammy and then go and visit Pappy at the hospital this afternoon. Pappy is doing well. Mary informs me that she finally is getting Science without anyone assisting her. Sara is feeling better. The asian ladybugs finally pulled (I'm glad I missed them.) Ruth tells that Mrs. Baddorf is bring over supper tomorrow night. All 3 girls share the bedroom phone and Craig is on the kitchen one. The girls have been having fun with my absence by telling folks I'm in Florida. They enjoy the various responses that they receive. I'm off the phone by 2 and am able to get a 30 minute nap before getting up to start with supper.

There were some local Floridians who came by after their morning service to assist us.  There plans are to stop by and help as much as possible.  Walt and Betsy are retired.  Angel will come as soon as she can and her husband and son when done working. 

At 2:30 I start to open cartons, wipe them and put them over for Joan who is running the can opener. Corn Beef Hash, Green Beans and Applesauce is on the menu for supper. Some folks from FL have come to assist since their morning service. I assume that them were given our location at the service and came to assist. Supper involves two times of cooking. Two television stations come through today. All of supper is shipped out to the various communities. Another 2 meals of 5,000 servings each were done today. Supper was all shipped by 7 p.m..

Pizza is ordered for us. We are told that the laundromat across the street has agreed to give us free laundry since we lent him a generator. Kitchen laundry can be done tomorrow. We learn that the MD replacements will be flown down tomorrow and arrive around 5 p.m.. We were hoping that they would be able to prepare a meal with us so that the transition would be smooth for those coming in and those remaining. Both the original MD folks and PA are leaving Tuesday.

Our Sunday service has finally arrived. The local SBC-NAMB missionary has arrived with his family and a couple to lead us in music. The man plays the guitar while his wife sings and leads us in mostly praise and worship type music. The lady plays a tambourine at times. After about 3 or 4 songs the missionary shares a devotional with us on Amos 1. He also shares his story. About 40 years ago there was a natural disaster in the country of Cuba and some SBC from the USA came to Cuba and ministered there. In the process his parents were saved. In time they immigrated to Manhattan and then on to Miami, and here he is today. We ended the service by singing "Blessed be the Tie That Binds"   

I decided to grab a shower tonight. How many other opportunities will I have in my life to shower at a police station? Sometime during the day I discovered that the police station is but a half block up the street.  In the photo below you can see the police tower.  It's the first one on the left slightly in the distance.

We are not allowed to leave the lot without the blue caps permission. Robert from SC accompanies a bunch of us ladies to the station. The ladies room still is not fixed

so we still need to use the men's. Two ladies shower while the rest stand guard. By the time Janet and I are done more have joined us, so one man escorts us back to the site while another stays with the rest. Janet and I returned to the lot with one of the men. I don't what time it was when I went to bed. Journaling has been difficult. I have been running about a day behind. Then it's difficult to sometime sort the days. One more day to go and it's to start early.

I have been busy.  Monday the 21st we received an early Christmas present from a friend, a 27 inch tv/vcr/dvd all in one.  Our other tv/vcr are 13 years old and smaller like 12 inches maybe.  But we were content.  Now we are thankful.  It was nice to be able to see the parades this year and decided that we had not know what we were missing.  Now to control the time that it is on now that it's much bigger.  We never wanted life for our family to revolve around the tube anyways.

We did do school up until almost Thanksgiving.  Mary has started to drive with other family members in the car now. 

We did Thanksgiving here this year with a turkey with all the trimmings.  Saturday we did a ham and had Craig's parents in.  It was nice to have them over.  It went well. 

I did shop black Friday.  I saved nearly $300.  I spent a little over 200 for sneaker, towels and other items that were on sale but could not count as Christmas.  I did spend about 200 on Christmas.  I was to Super Shoes, Joann Fabric, Rite Aid, Hancock Fabric, and Kmart.  I was home before noon.

Tueday, the 29th, Mary went for an interview at Giant and was hired.  She returns this coming Tuesday for training. 

Thursday we exchanged jackets at Boscov's before square dancing.  I had grabbed them the Tuesday before Thanksgiving on sale and they were either the wrong size or wrong size and color.  They will be sending them here from another store.

Today I take Mary and Sara and Amanda Cree to JoyEl to work their elementary retreats and then Amanda's dad is to bring them all home on Sunday.  The weekend should be quite.

Monday was caught with Sara day as well as with folding the laundry.  Ruth when to hear more about a modeling position.  Mary and she went to the Patricks' late  in the afternoon.  Mary did not return until later.  I went to a friend's house for meeting with other homeschool moms. 

Tuesday was school and CIA for Sara and driving practice for Mary.  We also deposited coupons at various businesses to win a turkey.  Ruth went for a follow up appointment with modeling in Lebanon this time.  Peggy Ford went with her.  Ruth drove.  We had a kind of quiet evening.  I went to bed just after 9:30.  Just about 11:30 the phone rings.  I heard words that makes a mother's heart stop,  " Barb, there's been an accident."  It started again after the next sentence.  "But everyone is okay."  It seems that the other driver crossed over the line and struck Peggy's car around the tire.  Both Ruth and Peggy were taken to the York Hospital.  Mary travelled with me to the Ford's where we followed Peggy's son, Jeff,  to the hospital.  There we learned that Peggy had been sent to Hanover instead.  So, Jeff's travels for the evening wasn't over.  Ruth was xrayed and sent home.  She stiffening up some now.

Wednesday was spent recovering from Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning.  There were Christmas pictures in Carlisle and a power outage until 3pm. 

Thursday was spent with school, running errands, supper, taking Ruth to a meeting at church, running an errand for my in-laws and coming home.

I am also caught up with what has been written up so far on my trip to FL so that is why my posting with that is behind.   I do plan on finishing it soon.  Hopeful before the Christmas rush.

 Our alarm goes off at 6 a.m.. We needed to re inflate our air mattress about 2 a.m.

We are outside about 6:30 with eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast.

Our work is still maintenance and cleaning. I finish cleaning the 40 gallon cooker and rest for awhile. I have a pounding headache. Chuck suggest a nap. I don't argue. I awake after an hour to discover that Sue has come for the same, so I grab another hour. When I arise my headache is gone. Some of the convection ovens are not working nor the instant hot water heater.

Lunch is pb and jelly and oranges. Lynn takes Blood Pressures of all the workers to give to the EMTs when they arrive. I am to assist the female Red Cross leader, Judy Baker, to the supermarket for supplies. I assured her that I had experience pushing one cart and pulling one (A skill acquired by shopping with 3 small children at once) so we did not need a 3rd person to push a 3 cart. We go to Winn Dixie. There is no fruit except apples, no frozen food, no fresh veggies except head lettuce, and no foam cups. While Judy returns to the store for more bacon the bagger taxis my groceries to the car. Mostly Spanish is spoken. The bagger speaks less English than I do Spanish. I ask a lady going to her car if she speaks English, she does. I ask for directions to another store that would have the foam cups and bananas. She sends us to Publix about 2 miles down the streets. The traffic lights still do not work. You need to stop, check, and go when clear. State Police help with traffic at major intersections. The grocery stores are crazy. Judy then figures out that the people have no way to refrigerated so they need to go to the stores daily.

I return to discover that food has arrived and it's time to do what we came south to do - prepare food for those who can't. But our time to this point has been blazing the trail for those who will replace us in the week or weeks to come. We have heard that some places might not have their power back until or about November 22nd.

Supper will be ravioli, corn, and fruit salad. I assisted with dumping cans into very large pots, stirring the corn, and assembling cambros which resembles large red coolers. The cambros had been rewashed with soapy water, rinsed in clean water and then dipped in bleach water to be sterilized. Then were then stacked to dry. When we are done we are told that we prepared 5,000 meals.

Our kitchen has 2 traffic patterns. One goes right to left across the tent and the other goes in the back and out the front. The across one is the one that prepares the food. The cases are opened, the cans removed and wiped with bleach water, the cans are then sat to the right of the can opener, the cans are opened, and then passed to the kettles/oven to be cooked or warmed. The back to front action involves assembling the cambros, and preheating or chilling them, and the food is put in when ready. Matt is then called to haul the filled cambros out the front of the tent, label them as to contents, temperature, and servings. Matt stacks them on different skids or palettes for the ERVs (Emergency Rescue Vehicle - Ambulance like - Red Cross vehicles) to load and take to their serving sites. The meals will be delivered to different sites for lunch and supper.

(This is the right side of the tent with the drying racks, palette of food, can opener, and tables.)

Our kitchen as shelves for drying, a pneumatic can opener, tables, 2 convection ovens, a tilt skillet, a 40 gallon cooker, several buddy burners (short washtubs with heating elements inserted into them that burns from propane and have an open flame), we also have a sink at which to wash up with every time we enter the tent.

(The equipment shown here is the 40 gallon cooker, the tilt cooker and 2 convention ovens.)

(Here a picture of our scrub up sink, buddy burners with pots and our grill.)

We have some special visitors at our site today, NAMB reporter and a local television station reporter and cameraman. We also had our steady stream of usual visitors, the mayor, lots of police, some city workers. The Red Cross EMTs also arrived. They are here to take care of cuts, sunburns, and any other injuries that occur. One is an older man from the Midwest and the other a young guy from CA. We learn that Red Cross workers are to be willing to stay for up to 3 weeks if needed. I can't imagine many of us staying that long with our work load, now that we are up and running.

Sue tells me that she had Matt check our air mattress for leaks. (We three from PA have seemed to bond like a family of sorts.) He found none but did tighten all the valve, that was a few hours ago and the mattress seems to be holding air. Sleep will be more than welcomed tonight.

Showers privileges were given to us by the local police at their station. Sue goes for a shower, I decide to wash up and go to bed early. I was laying down writing yesterday's journal entry when she returned. We finally turn off the light about 10.

We're up and moving a little later than the South Carolina bunch. They have further to go (Homestead, FL) and their site is more sure than ours. Our team is 2 from NY, 8 from MD, and 3 from PA. We are asked to think about which job we want once we are set up. Matt and I have had no training in a feed unit, not even the book lecture, I inform Lynn, who is the wife of our blue cap (leader, Chuck). We also do not have a yellow cap, yellow shirt, or id badge. MD has extra shirts and NY has extra caps that we can borrow for this trip.

We investigate our surroundings. It's a very large complex. It hold the main sanctuary, a Spanish church, a Korean mission, a day care and a Christian School, whose trophies date back to at least 1977. The entire complex is in fenced. The State of FL has set up temporary head quarters in another building on this site.

Breakfast is muffins, bananas, and donuts from yesterday's stop. We are told to top off our tanks with the gas from the back lot where they have several 50 gallon drums with gas. We are on the road again by 9:49 a.m.. We are on our way to Sweetwater, then we are phoned and told it will be a lot in downtown Miami.

On today's travels we saw a 2 block long gas line plus folks with gas cans and two police cars to help keep peace, no traffic lights, endless city, and every 6th or 7th palm destroyed. We pass the airport and glue ourselves to MD's back bumper because the lights still do not work and we are at the end of our convoy. At 10:50 a.m. we are at Sweetwater. We take a few turns and navigate a few side streets uncertain of were we are going. Soon a police vehicle spots us and escorts us to our site, 10899, a fenced building and lot and recently sold United Cerebral Palsy Building. Our odometer reads 1260 miles. The new owner is going to tear it down and put up a high rise. The building is checked by our leader it does have running water and flush toilets, but no showers or electricity. If we can't stay here will will have to commute back and forth from a local church which also has no power. Someone from the city would check with the owner.

We eat our first meal of peanut butter and grape jelly, and start to unload the truck. We try to sort some of the items as it exits the truck. We assemble the tent which covers 5 parallel parking spaces and is as wide as the parking spaces and the center aisle. The kitchen tent has 5 poles down each side and is tied down by 5 gallon buckets that are filled 90% full of bleach water. Our rig is parked on the side where the other spaces would be. We also assemble 2 carport size tents, one will be for sanitation and the other for drying. Our equipment need to be wiped down, some even cleaned. The folks who had it last didn't clean it the best. Some things were not working and needed to be fixed. We needed a source for propane.

Our lot has become a beehive of activity. Four more SBC relief workers from South Carolina, a different bunch join us. The Red Cross folks start to arrive. Police of every sort, also, appear. Their shirts say SWAT, SWAT sniper, Crime Scene Investigation, and Special Operations. (Their belts give a whole new definition to the term utility belt!) We hear the motorcycle cops who love to use their sirens. The local missionary from the area arrives with his family to offer their assistance. A young Mayor Manny Manoro is also on site to greet us and to assist. He drives a black Excursion with the city seal and his name on it. We have also attracted the attention of the kids across the street as they watch us from their second floor balcony. We seem to have become the center of entertainment.

Soon our first FEMA truck arrives. It's ice, but can not enter the lot due to a Toyota Corolla that is in the way. After the owner can not be found, I heard that 4 officers picked up the rear half of the car and moved it a quarter turn. The second FEMA truck arrives with water.

Supper arrives - pizza. The electricity flickers on and off in the building. It finally stays on. Permission has been given to use the building for our lodging and headquarters for us and the Red Cross. We still have no food to cook for the Red Cross to serve. But the Red Cross has purchased food for our and their breakfast tomorrow. Sue and I have our own room. Bedtime is about 10:30.

The weekend was good.  Friday night was dinner out at Red Lobster.  Followed by shopping with my hubby doing his errands.   We visited Pep Boys, Home Depot, and the gas station.

Saturday morning saw the leaves raked and removed to near the garden.  My garden was turned under for the winter and mulched and covered with leaves. The yard was mowed both the front and the back.  Ruth and the girls got their bedding washed and then I got pies baked with Sara's help - 2 Pumpkin for the church Thanksgiving potluck on Sunday. 

Sunday had church...small group, morning service, and potluck.  The WOM was cancelled and the youth group staying until later.  Jeff took all the youth home.  Mine were last since we live the furtherest away.  Craig and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon with a home maintance project and scanning and uploading Sweetwater pictures.