Graduation Party Weekend at the Lake


And to think just a year ago Ellen was up front being recognized for graduating! made me sad to think how fast the past year has gone and how soon we will see another graduate in our home with Amy entering 10th grade next year!

The Graduates at PVBC: Laurel, Mary, Tori and Doug




Josiah graduated from GCCC, on to Liberty Univ.




Pastor Wally sharing a prayer from scripture for Tori




One of the Weeks horses, Emma took this great shot! This is Ladigo




another shot by Emma, this is Sarah




ahhhh, the serenity and beauty of Garrett County




Ruby was so excited to brush the pony





Mr. Ray, I'm sure sharing how big his last fish was!




Tori on Harlan's Harley! you can tell why she had her Dad take the photo, I cut off part of the bike!



Trip to Lancaster/Harrisburg

 Last week on Wednesday, Steve, Emma, Stephen, Ruby & I headed out to Lancaster and Harrisburg for a mini trip to attend the CHAP (Christian Homeschool Association of PA) Homeschool Fair. Something we figure we have been doing for about 14 yrs. now (except for last yr. as Kara & Derrick were having a reception after their wedding up in Milan, PA).  We decided to go a few days early so we could go to eat at Shady Maple Smorgasboard! no I'm not kidding, we did go just to eat there! if you've ever been there you know why and if you haven't well you really need to go there yourself and then you'll know why.  We stayed at this Farm Bed & Breakfast which was literally over the hill from Shady Maple, this way we could actually go there twice on our trip!! lol! We knew we had been there long enough when we arrived for lunch the second day and the cashier looked at us and said, "Weren't you here yesterday?".  Now that was quite a feat seeing that they seat thousands of people every day.  Look it up on line and you'll see how humongous this place is!  Well worth the trip, in fact the lady who has cut our hair will make the 4 hr. drive in a day to go there to eat, well you get the point! 

So after pigging out as much as possible, we headed over for an enjoyable evening to explore the farm.  This is more of an agricultural farm with a minature horse, donkeys, cow, fish, a big dog, chickens, and some cats that were not to be found. (Emma was looking for the cats).  We enjoyed the beautiful weather and sitting outside till evening when we headed into sleep.  We got up in the morning and did some local shopping at the Re-Uzit Store, 2 giant floors of stuff! while the guys went to the Sporting Goods Shop.  This is all in the little town of New Holland, we've made some big purchases in this little town, including our big van, which we bought years ago out there at 4-Way Auto Sales.  Then we at a huge lunch and made a stop over in Lancaster at a few of our favorite shops.  Kitchen Kettle Village was one of those stops where we went to buy snickerdoodles (do you think we like to eat??) and the leather store where Steve bought his new cowboy hat you see below.  He always wears one when he's volunteering at the fair.  Then we drove on to our hotel.

We rarely stay at the same hotel in Harrisburg, but this time I believe we will be repeating our stay at the Country Inn & Suites.  It was a lovely hotel that served, you guessed it!, choc. chip cookies in the lobby!  and a full hot breakfast in the a.m.  They had a nice pool and fitness room (which I did check out & use, seeing as how we were eating so much!!). The price was super reasonable for all that was included.  Steve says we will be staying here again unless the rates jump tremendously  We headed to bed early as we had to be up at 6a.m. so we could be at the Farm Show Complex by 7:30 a.m. 

We had a wonderful day, looking at books upon books! seeing Doug Phillips, Ken Ham, and some other wonderful folks.  Then we headed back to the hotel and ordered pizza with our friends the Emslie's.  Now that meant that there were 11 of us eating together in the lobby!  We asked if we could go to a conf. room or the breakfast area and they said no they were closed but we were welcome to eat there.  So we sprawled out our giant pizzas and took over the couches and ate.  Then it was more swimming and to bed early to get up and repeat the day.  We stayed till the traditional American Girl Doll drawing was over at 1:00 and then decided we could go ahead and start home rather than stay till the fair ended at 5:00.  

It was a wonderful trip and went way to fast as do most trips.  I'm enjoying looking through my purchases today.

Emma

Feeding the cows



Emma, Ruby & Stephen





Ruby & Jez, Ruby throwing a rock in to get her to dive for it!



Jez rolling on the rock she dove for

The upstairs of the bed and breakfast

The downstairs of the bed & breakfast

Stephen feeding the chickens some grass

Emma & Jez

Taken from the car obviously

At the hotel in Harrisburg

oops out of order! breakfast at the B&B

Yummy!

lol! Steve's strike a pose, working security at the CHAP Fair

the new entry to the fair, see all the crates and suitcases ready to be filled

Show me your wristbands!

Ruby ready to go to church at Valley Chapel & Stables

After church checking out the horses

Resurrection Day Weekend Pics.

Emma and Ruby enjoying some time by the lake.

Ellen's "other vehicle"

Getting the boat ready, this is a several week job.

Just loved the sunlight and trees.

Ruby fishes every opportunity she gets.

Kayak and Canoe Fun!!

Passover.... final home church meeting

well here we are at the end of April and ending our little home church group for the year.  We've met weekly since the end of October (except for a few health bumps).  We ended our time with our study in I Corinthians with the chapter 13, the 'Love' chapter.  This led to some great discussion and contemplation, I found it to be particularly fitting as this was the very text talked about on the Doorposts blog this week to study.

After a good discussion we headed to the dining room to celebrate the passover feast. Joe & Barb organized this and directed the celebration.  I think as you can see it was a very informative time for all ages.  It's awesome to see and contemplate God's plan through the ages.

check out this awesome new book and enter the giant giveaway

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If you are interested in getting your home clean in 31 days but yet having a Mary heart, then you are in for a treat.  Click the link above and read about this new ebook and the giant giveaway they are having right now.  This is a combo. of a lot of things I am really interested in.  I've wanted to get one of the flexiclips from Lila Rose for a year now for Ruby to try, we even got on the website and looked them all over to order, but haven't done it yet.  Cleaning products, well who couldn't use some nice, safe products, so be sure and check this out and enter your comments for a chance to win!

March Memories

It's both hard to believe March has come and gone and exciting.  Well exciting if the winter weather ever truly decides to exit Pennsylvania!!!  Here it was 70 degrees yesterday and today it's been hailing, snowing, raining, and blowing all day.  We are very anxious for 60 deg. to come and stay so we can start tilling, pruning, and planting. 

So here we are at April, Ellen celebrated her 18th birthday this past weekend.  She is thrilled to be 18, something she has been looking forward to all  year.  She is looking forward to a busy summer doing her college internship with TJZ Creations and doing a few weddings on her own.  So most weekends she'll be somewhere snapping photos of a lovely bride and groom and she says spending as much time at Deep Creek as she can. 

Speaking of Deep Creek, Amy, Emma and I went to an overnight Ladies' Retreat last weekend with the ladies from Pleasant View Baptist Church.  It was a nice little getaway and time to reaquaint with our church family there.  We are looking forward to seeing them on a regular basis soon. 

As for our home fellowship we will be meeting twice more this month.  We will have our normal service on Sunday, then on Palm Sunday we will finish out our time with celebrating the Passover Meal together after our service.  We are hoping all of our families will be here, but one is expecting a new little blessing anytime now so we'll just have to wait and see when he's going to make his debut.  We will finish up our Wed. night meetings this month as well.  Right now we are in the planning and praying process of what we'll do over the summer.