Keeping our distance

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood

and  I was excited

Just last week I met our neighbors. They moved next door in January. Why I only met them this week?   ( I don't want to talk about it )

The mom and dad and two little girls were very friendly and before I knew it, I had told the littles I would have a tea party, by the fence.

Got permission from Mom,  placed the yard sticks on the ground for "good measure"  and today was the day 

                                Invitation accepted.

Hubby helped with some of the grunt work.

Using what is in the cupboard and pleasing a 5 1/2 year old and a two year old means no pressure.   And prepacked, to be safest. 

Social distancing         and

                                               Here they come

Can you see the bubbles?   Well, little one was very impressed with Mickey making bubbles

A little tree climbing

Good conversation

And then... time to say goodbye



My take away:  
  The  simple pleasures of children, priceless.
  The confidence and assurance that  they had permission to help themselves to  all that is set before them...a reflection of the sweet family values.
   When you give a little joy to someone the joy comes right back
  And, a feeling of being..the old lady that lives next door.
(BTW, just found a thank you picture at my front door. And two more pieces of Dove chocolate.  This little gal knows how to spell and draw ... in the picture, her mom in pants, me in a dress, her sister in a pink dress, and she was in  white with blue edge trim.... just like yesterday )

 I am pretty sure we will "party " again, soon.


I live an exciting life

End of a chapter

Such a short chapter, but  one I will always remember.

Well, hard to forget that in March 2020 our nation,  our world entered a harsh season. Even the youngest members will remember "learning from home".  And much more for the rest of us. 

Our young man was going to be learning on line in his last term, and his hours at Arby's were getting less and less.   Then his parents became concerned that he was bringing potential contamination into our house, so, they bought him a ticket and in two days, he  had packed and flown off  to California. That will be his new home for a while.

But, lest I forget, the chapter started on February 6. 
     He moved in and did a bit of changing in the room.
  We had some fun and interesting chats, especially around midnight. 
    We both tend to stay up late and like puzzles 

Then things changed, for us all.    The Corona Virus hit and Richard had to leave Microsoft and go back to Vancouver until... we do not know when.  

But, Danylo was able to continue classes on line and work too.   Little by little the boundaries changed and soon, with spring break, there were no classes and very little work.

That brings us to March 26.  The call came from Dad and Mom.  On line classes will work anywhere and a few hours of work are not worth much.   So.  March 27, we had a goodbye dinner.
Not too festive since we could not go out to the store, and it was short notice.

No complaints on the entree...pulled that out from the freezer, homemade by Connie.  The butter rolls, also from the freezer, thank you Christian.  Molly made the strawberry jam and me, well I caramelized onions ( Danylo's recipe ) and Godiva chocolates for dessert 

We tried to keep our "social distance", but he did let me hug him goodbye.  Eyes swimming... 


Very quiet around here  these past few days.  Our guest room changed from "Guest room" to  " Danylo's Den"   to "Guest room"

We put Eva's coverlet back on the bed and we are ready for the next visitors.

Come on over..... very lonely around here...

Movie time

Ok,  on the plane, free movie going east and west.

Movie going east was great.   Eyes swimming in the first 1/2 hour.
I gave a hint in the Chicago post, but here is another

Opening with the face of someone almost everyone over  30, in America, would recognize.  We did not even have a TV  and I recognized him.   

Not sure if all of it is a true story, but it could be, in fact, very close to home.

Got any guesses?

J and K, you are so good at this....



OH... the return flight... not sure why it got academy awards,
 but I will never recommend, or admit I viewed it. ( though on the plane it is a little "milder" )  

enough

Chicago

Yes, we flew to Chicago last weekend.

We were sure that it was the right decision to attend a Family Bible Camp near Chicago.

So, Thursday, on a flight with less than 1/3 capacity, we did it.

That night, we go the call...Cancelled.

Before we could catch our breath, a new idea was in place.

             Shipshewana  

This is a small Amish community in Indiana that is just a 3 hour ride from Chicago and our faithful friends did all the planning and driving and, we a great time was had by all ( four of us ) 

There are a few outstanding features, highlights, in Shipshewana.

In this community there are some homes that Amish and some are not.  You can tell the difference by the electric wires.  No power in the real Amish homes.  Also, at the stores.  So, during the winter, the hours are shorter.

But all year round they travel by horse and buggy.   Not just any buggy, but here is what we saw on every street.

We ate dinner in one  ( without the horse, of course )

A few interesting sights around town

Hubby could not believe the price of these packages of cheese....check it out  

And a buggy for sale.  Can you guess the asking price?  

and to my delight......

I rode twice....once in the afternoon and then we went back the next morning.  



We stayed at a nice motel and had a typical huge breakfast
but that did not stop us from eating our way back home.

And,  a few other fun times in Chicago

   Curious?  This is the coffee table at our favorite B & B in Chicago 

And look what happened to our host's jacket
Just a friendly hello?

I do live an exciting life....
and these past few days have been very... different...We are thankful for a lot of things,
 along with our wonderful friends in Chicago

our neighbors... very unexpected, have been checking in on us and adding our needs to their shopping.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood 

Blessed  

When saying goodbye

is more like saying... I want to come along with you

Today, I attended the memorial for a Little one, she was 19.  On my way I got to thinking, I am going because her grandma calls me her best friend, and because I wanted to. I know the family, and love them.

Fourteen years ago, in May, it was my mother’s memorial I attended. A friend told me that she did not come because she had never met my mother.  For me, that was a new, different reason.

Now I am thinking, I do not know Little One very well at all.

Outside the church were pink and white balloons. I knew that Little One loved pink and sparkle. I did not have pink, but I was wearing sparkle. Shoes, earrings, scarf and sweater.  ( I also reminded myself that no one would be looking at me, and I probably would have my coat on the whole time… I did )

At the door we were given very sweet programs and …. Hand sanitizer.  It is March 2020 and I am sure this will be a never to be forgotten time.   

The church is light and pretty and already full of guests. 
I find a seat.  

The time had come.  It was quiet.   Music begins and we are asked to join in singing “Amazing Grace”. There are several more hymns that are played on the grand piano. “I’ll Fly Away”, some I  did not recognize, but the strong voice of the man at the ivories was dynamic…. and then the sharing begins.

First the siblings then open mic, then the parents. 

Little Ones mother is dressed in a gorgeous pink dress.  She had felt like she was coming to a wedding. Her little girl was the bride. ( Funny, I had been looking for sparkle in my closet and thought to myself, this is not a wedding…but… it is a celebration and those two events are gatherings with friends and I decided to dress for Little One.  ) 

Because of her challenges, the caregivers from day one until day 7117, were all  gathered here . Family and friends, and neighbors that had known, really known Little One, are like an inner circle to the family. Like a hedge of love surrounding them.

Listening to all the sharing, I had to admit, I did not know Little One.  I had seen her a few times. I knew that she was very challenged.  Here are some things I learned.

Though she could not talk or walk on her own, she was a good communicator.  She loved her brother. Maybe she favored him.  She loved football and watching it with her Dad. Several said she was generous, loving, fun, had a great laugh. She could let you know if she wanted to do something, or NOT.But, more than anything, she loved Jesus. All part of the sharing. Almost everyone confirmed the same loving description of Little One.  In fact, by the time her Daddy got to the mic, he said just that…everything that I would say, has been said….but he did speak about his Little girl with great love.

  Her iPad  was equipped with  prompts that Little One could let her thoughts and wishes known, audibly.    After many friends shared how Little One had blessed them with the love of Jesus, her favorite caregiver used her  iPad to give the message that Little One would have given.

 She began with a question.. Do you know where  you will go when you die… and the answers began with verse after verse from the Bible .  She gave the plan of salvation.  There  is a date that she herself asked Jesus into her heart.  She was a witness for Jesus. And yes, she knew Bible verses.

In the closing prayer :  this is indeed worthy of celebration, but only Jesus is worthy of Glory.

Guests were invited to a very lovely catered luncheon and espresso bar, as well as a candy center. There were a couple tables for writing notes, and painting rocks to be placed in the family garden.  There was a basket of tiaras and we were encouraged to take one and wear it.

I did not feel hungry and I did not have my hubby or a friend by my side, so I did not go through the food line.  I wanted to go hug my own grandchildren.  I wanted to absorb/ process the big picture of a life of purpose and love

Often I leave a memorial thinking I wish I had known that person better. Today I am thinking that this is an amazing person, and she has blessed many, many people. But I am also thinking, I have many friends who are amazing. I want to spend a little more time learning about them.  I am starting with the two men that are staying with us.    

That is one take away for me

Another.. if a young lady without a voice can share the good news of Jesus’ plan of Salvation, may the Lord open my voice more and more.

We were encouraged to speak to those in our path that appear challenged, with special needs..  Smile and tell them something .. your hair is so pretty,  I love your shoes, I would love a shirt like that
you get the idea !   Me too.

Oh !   and Listen.   Not just hearing, like the music in the background, but listening to one another while they are with us

The tiaras …  not child's party favor,  no these are pretty, silver, and they sparkle a lot.

I took mine  home, and I am wearing it now. I feel like Little One has brought about some sparkle in me,

“Let your light so shine,before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

Singing, Sparkle, Sweetness, Salvation 

Chapter two

Moving in to another chapter of surprise and good things...

We started out with a new coverlet so the room would have a less feminine look
( out went Grandma Tanner's pink and green crochet blanket )

Then our new lad moved in.   He brought a desk, his own bed spread, computer, clothing, etc.
We borrowed a nice desk chair and he was now good to go.

The next chapter is underway.  He is very mature, polite, smart and full of energy.

He likes to do puzzles...so do I. 
A couple of nights we have been up past midnight working on a puzzle, chatting, oh and sometimes he quizzes me...on math !
( I don't want to talk about that )

Tonight he is fixing dinner. Well, we are going to do it together, he is teaching me his favorite Ukrainian delights.

He is fitting in very well.

The other night he said
" you are pretty active for your age "

enough said.

A night to remember

An invitation to dinner at a neighbors turned into a 5 hour evening of delights

A small,, very small hostess gift 

First look....dinning room 

and the living room

( about now, we tell our hostess that hubby should have worn his tux )

Hostess in the kitchen 

Host serving first coarse... Cheeses 

Then the lights were dimmed and the evening was spent by candlelight and
Vivaldi, Mozart and a little Ricky Nelson 

First by the fire and then
to the very elegant table 
A word of thanks

Soup, vegetable, pure 

Our third course,  Salad  

Warmed plates
we serve ourselves

No explanation necessary 

Freshest, sweetest berries,bathed in sweet cream
 Girl scout cookies too



The evening was an unexpected delightful entertaining evening to remember

( unedited...for now..but needed to document the delights )

I live an exciting life....


OK family... name the neighbors
hints:  they live even closer to Cherry Crest than we do
They have 3 gorgeous daughters and one handsome son, like our family
    ( the hosts comment described ours as exquisite )
enough