Sunday - Visit to Mom and Dad and Food Preparation!

Ken was up early and did his morning routine till I got up at 6:30.  I did 2 loads of wash before we left for Masonic Village at 8:30.  We stopped for drinks for everyone and then spent from 9 to 11:30 playing Pinochle.  It was a good day for the men who won both games.  It is always hard to say good-bye when we are leaving for about 3 months.  It is especially hard for my mother to see us go and even though she doesn't like it, she understands!  

We came right home and we headed to the kitchen to begin the food preparation!  I mixed a double batch of oat bran muffins to take to Florida while Ken made us omelettes for lunch.  He also helped mix the muffin batter.  At the same time I was finishing my laundry.   After lunch, we watched some of the Eagles game and then started making our family Christmas food tradition - potato stuffing.  I also made some finger jello and a jello/pudding dessert.  Ken was such a trooper and helped the whole time including washing and drying most of the dishes.  

I was able to see some of the football game and it was certainly a "nail biter"!  I was thrilled with the outcome!  One of our neighbor's daughter brought us a box of candy that her mother wanted us to have for the holidays.  So, Ken and I went down and visited the 2 of them and had a wonderful time.  We had taken some of the homemade candy I had made and gave a box to each of the tenants in our apartment building on Friday night.  We really enjoy doing that each year!

We made a pizza for dinner and spent some time watching the Steeler's game.  What a disappointing, but exciting game!  Hallelujah, I completed the camping scrapbook pages during that game and even downloaded them to a zip drive so I can order them from Costco.  What a job it has been, but it's done!!!!!  I plan to send them to our granddaughters on Valentine's Day so they can add them to their camping albums!

We did some more packing for Florida and I did some catch up work on our blog.  All in all, it has been one very busy day!   Bed by 10 and I was very tired!  Looking forward to our family Christmas tomorrow at Jamie's!

Saturday - Hosler Family Christmas Gathering!

Ken and I were up by 6:30 and got ready to go to Ephrata Church of the Brethren for the Hosler Christmas gathering!  This year Ken and I were in charge so we got there about an hour before the 10:00 catered breakfast buffet.  Ken's sister and her husband came early to lend us a helping hand setting up the tables and creating centerpieces.  I had borrowed some gorgeous Christmas decorations from Jamie and I must say, the tables really did look gorgeous.  Priscilla had brought some fresh cut greens to complete the arrangements.

What a wonderful time of good food, fun, and fellowship.  There were 39 of us and after we finished eating, we formed a circle and a spokesperson for each family gave a short informative sharing time about what is going on in their family in the present, past and future!  There was lots of interaction which made it very special.  Then our daughter, Lanie, had planned some games for the children and one included knocking over a pyramid of solo cups with these soft, but sturdy snowballs.  The kids loved it but it didn't take long for the adults to get in on the action - snowball battles in the fellowship hall.  The "party" ended around 1:00 and a good time was had by all!

Just a few photos of family members -

Lance, the son of Ken's youngest brother, Phil!

Bob, Tim and Dane!

Ken's youngest brother, Phil, is in the back and older brother,
Paul, is talking to Lance!

Here is a photo of the youngest members of the Hosler clan.  Well, that isn't quite true!  Bryant, the son of Ken's youngest brother, and his wife just had a baby girl about 1 week ago and they also have a 2 year old son.  Unfortunately, they were not able to join us.

Upon our return home, Ken decided to rest and I continued with the scrapbook pages - I hope I soon get them completed!!!!  We left again at 3:30 for our church's Christmas service.  They have about 7 services at our Ephrata Church from Saturday till Monday.  It was a very beautiful service.  

After leaving there, we headed to Funck's Restaurant to have dinner with 2 of the couples in our card club.  But, we had gotten a text message from Dan and Jackie, tonight's hosts, and Jackie was still sick (has been for over a week) and could not host or join us.  So, we had dinner with Gary and Marcia and then came back to our house so the 4 of us could play cards.  Fortunately, they were able to overlook the chaos of our apartment, for between Christmas gifts and packing for our return to Florida it looked like a tornado went through.  We were so glad they came back, because we had such a good time together, but we certainly missed having Dan and Jackie with us.

They left around 11 and we went right to bed!  What a great day!

Friday - Fun Day with Curvettes and Lanie's Family!

I was up by 5:30 and on my way to Oregon Dairy to have breakfast with my Curvette ladies for our "Christmas party"and what a fun time it was.  Becky had reserved a small room for just us (she works at Oregon Dairy) and it was a perfect place to exchange gifts and have a good breakfast at the same time.  Becky had to work, but she "popped in" every now and then to see what was happening!  There were 9 of us and I got so many delicious goodies, mug, wooly slipper socks, and beautiful cards!  I am so blessed to be part of such a special group of ladies.

Ken had his monthly breakfast meeting with his mentor this morning and got home about an hour after me.  I had done my "final" Christmas grocery shopping on my way home, at least I hope so!  I spent a lot of my time working on scrapbook pages for our granddaughters.

We left at 1:30 to meet Lanie's family at the American Music Theater for their Christmas Musical show called "Christmas Noel"!  It was the 1st time Lanie's family was there and Ken hadn't attended for at least 6 years.   The show was well done and all of us really enjoyed it.  It was 2 1/4 hours and I was concerned it might be long for Samantha and Katelyn, but they had a good time.

The 6 of us went to dinner at a local buffet owned by some Amish folks and the food was delicious, but unfortunately we ate too much.  

Ken and I were back home by 7 and spent the evening watching some TV and I continued working on the scrapbook pages which I want to finish before we return to Florida.  Bed by 10!

Thursday - Time with My Parents!

Ken and I had a relaxing morning and it felt good!  He left to go to a local woman who bakes a kind of bread in her home that Ken just loves and she sells it only periodically.  Today was the day.  So he went to get 2 loaves to take to Florida.  I spent time organizing around the house and getting more things together to take back to Florida.  After breakfast, Ken went for a walk and then rested before lunch.  

I spent time doing some scrapbook pages for our granddaughters on my computer.  We left at 11 to meet Cindy and John at Gus's in Mt. Joy for lunch.  I had seen Cindy on Tuesday, but the 4 of us had not been together for about a month.  We had a fun time and our lunches were delicious.  

It was raining when we left there to stop to get drinks for our afternoon of card playing with mom and dad and at the grocery store for a few items for mom, including a gift certificate for Christmas.   We were at Masonic Village from 1:30 to 4:30 and played 3 games of Pinochle and the women won every game - Yes!  We were so thankful that the quarantine on Dad's floor had been lifted and he was feeling so much better.  He looked great, but he said he lacks energy and sleeps a lot.  He had a bad case of an intestinal bug and hardly ate or drank anything for several days but feels good otherwise!

It was a positively miserable drive back home with lots of rain and so much glare on the back country roads!  We spent the evening watching TV and I did more work on the girl's camping scrapbook pages.  Ken did some reading, messaging and Facebook posts!

Bed by 9:30 where we did some reading before turning out the lights at 10.

Tuesday and Wednesday - Sunny But Rather Chilly!

After our normal morning routine, we both left at 9 going in different directions.  I went to Jamie's to get my hair highlighted and cut.  Ken ran some errands and then was at Jamie's by 10 to get a haircut while my highlights were processing!  He left and kept busy most of the day.

He spent time at the Post Office signing forms to get our mail forwarded to Florida, buying chocolate at Wilbur Chocolate Factory here in Lititz, then visiting a friend from high school and having coffee with one of his CR brothers.

I had a good time at Jamie's and when she finished my hair, I asked her if she would have any extra Christmas decorations that I could borrow for table centerpieces for the Hosler Christmas get together this Saturday.  Ken and I are in charge for this year and decorating the tables is part of our responsibility.  So, Jamie took me to her basement storage area and she had numerous items that she was so willing to share for the Christmas party.  I was so grateful!

I met my sister and mother at Miller's Smorgasbord for lunch.  For the past several years Cindy and I take mom to lunch and then to the great Christmas Productions at the American Music Theater.  This year I only met them for lunch, because Ken and I are taking Lanie's whole family to the show on Friday as part of their Christmas gift and I really didn't want to see it twice.  The 3 of us had a fun time and the food was delicious.  I decided to just have the soup and salad bar and with 8 different soup choices and a large salad bar, I had plenty!

We parted at 2:15 so they could go to the show and I headed back home.  I spent the next 3 hours working in the kitchen.  I baked a double batch of oat bran muffins for my mother and then made some waffle pretzels "sandwiches" with melted rolos or Hershey kisses in the middle.   Ken did the dishes and unwrapped the chocolates when he had gotten home!

He left at 6 for Celebrate Recovery and I finished in the kitchen and then did more x-stitching while watching the finale of The Voice.  Ken returned at 9:30 and by 10:30 he was in bed.  I watched the whole show and was a bit disappointed that Kennedy didn't win.  I thought she was the all around best performer.

Today, Wednesday, was a great one.  Ken was up very early, but fortunately he was able to go back to sleep on the sofa.  I got awake at 7 and did my stretches and devotions in the bedroom.  I got ready, ate breakfast, and then dipped my pretzel sandwiches in white chocolate.  Ken took a long walk around town, stopping at a local coffee shop and to visit one of the young men he has been mentoring.

The window at the Chocolate Cafe here in Lititz!

I spent a lot of time putting my cross stitch jar together.  I have finally figured out the best way to do them, but it has taken some "practice"!  By then the chocolate pretzels had "set" and I was able to bag them for gifts for the folks in our apartment building.  Of course putting them in a bag wasn't enough for this gal.  So, I stamped some small gift boxes, put the bag inside, and then tissue paper completed the package.

By then it was 1:30 and time to leave to meet Jamie's family at Sight and Sound for the show, "Jesus".  First of all, the theater is positively amazing.  It is located about 30 minutes from our apartment in the Strasburg area.  The only shows they present are Christian ones and they are done so professionally complete with unbelievable sets and actor and actresses that are incredible.  It is like going to a broadway production.  There are live animals too including camels, horses, sheep, goats, doves and pigs.  When it was over, Cali's first response was, "Can we come again next year"!  The 6 of us went to Panera Bread for dinner and Jamie and Dane said they would like to make this a tradition every Christmas -Yes, that would make Ken and I so happy!  What a wonderful time of fellowship with our family!

Sight and Sound is very impressive from the outside!
Unfortunately you are not allowed to take any photos inside
during the production!

Their Christmas decorations inside
and outside were beautiful!

Some of Ken's favorite ladies!

When Ken and I got home, I finished packaging the Christmas gifts for my Curvette ladies, the girls, and our granddaughters.  Then it was time to work on this blog and watch a Christmas special with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We were in bed by 9:30 after a very special day!

Monday - Cold, Windy Day!

I got up later than Ken because I had stayed up to watch the entire Eagle football game.  Ken left at 7:30 to meet his friend, Gary, for breakfast.  I left at 9 and because "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard was Bare",  I stopped at a local Turkey Hill (large gas station) to get a breakfast sandwich and a delicious white chocolate peppermint hot chocolate - Yum!

I made several stops including Sharp Shopper, Dollar Tree, and then Wal-Mart for some needed groceries and items for Christmas.  I got home around 12:15 and Ken had been busy working at his desk - so much mail to go through and bills to pay!  We left by 12:45 and went to Costco to pick up some photos I had ordered and a few more needed groceries.  We also had lunch while there - can't beat the $1.50 foot long hot dog plus a drink.

After putting things in their proper place, Ken and I both decided we were tired, so we took short naps.  I spent the evening putting photos on the pages of the calendars we are giving as Christmas gifts to friends and family.  While watching The Voice I worked on x-stitch jars I am making for Lanie and Jamie.   There was a Christmas, America's Got Talent" that I watched till 11, but Ken had gone to bed at 10.

Sunday - Nice to be Home For the Holidays!

What a great night's sleep Ken and I had.  I guess we were both exhausted!  Neither of us got up at all during the night and Ken was only up at 7.  We had a brief conversation about when we wanted to go to church today and decided on the 4:00 service.  I went back to sleep and only was up and about by 9.

Ken had turned on the CBS Sunday Morning Show and they discussed such interesting topics that we watched the entire 1 1/2 hour show.  I did do some laundry during that time.  After the show, we showered and continued putting some things away that we brought home.  We both did our devotions and Ken worked at his desk before resting.  I went through more photos on our computer and placed another order with Costco for additional photos for the calendars I put together for Christmas presents.  I also worked on our blog.  I finished the laundry and by 3:30 we were on our way to church.  

We had made plans to get together with Fred and Doloris tonight before we left Florida, so I text her to see if they wanted to join us at a local restaurant for dinner.  Instead she graciously invited us to their home for dinner.  So right after church we went to their house for a wonderful fun-filled evening.  The men won a game of Skip-Bo (I continue to wonder why I play that game EVER!)  and they also won Haus.   We really enjoyed our time with them.

We were home by 9:45 and I worked on the blog while watching the Eagle's game.  Ken went right to bed and did some reading.  I also ordered a few additional photos from Costco that I want to put in frames for our granddaughters!