Pennsylvania Roots

At the end of June I took a trip to Pennsylvania. My sweet friend Tanya lives there now. She moved from EC about 8 years ago but we have been able to stay in touch thanks to technology. 

Even though we haven't been able to physically be there for each other when we went through some of life's toughest trials- we have always been as close as the other end of the phone. I spent 2 days at her house with her amazing family. Her kids and husband were wonderful in letting me hog her the entire time and we talked non-stop for pretty much 18 hours a day. I'm trying to lure her to the beach to stay with me but there's this thing called a schedule and it's pretty annoying when you have to work around 13 different ones. (That's the number of people in both our families combined) 

Ughhh- busy kids, busy parents!

The other reason I went to PA was to see my parents!

Mom and Dad were there for a Yoder Reunion and since I was the only one of their children to attend I'm pretty sure that moves me to the very top of their favorites list and gave me rock star status amongst the Aunts, Uncles and cousins. 

First I met them and we did a tour of Pearl Buck International. This was the Main Office and Gift Shop. 

The grounds were beautiful~

This was the barn. It was pretty cool. They do a lot of weddings there and they've converted it to a place where the bridal party gets ready.

Back side of the Barn

This was where Pearl Buck lived when Dad was at Welcome House. They turned her home into a museum.

I loved this room with the walls that were covered in bookcases. Emil Michael said he would definitely like a house like that.

This was a writers studio. I can't remember if it was her or her husbands, Richard Walsh. Maybe both? I love that the desks are side by side.



But the really cool feature was the loft that overlooked the studio. I love lofts and I'm planning on having one in my dream house. This photo really doesn't do it justice. I would have loved to have gone up there!

Richard later became ill and couldn't leave his room so they had this porch built on so he could go out and get fresh air.

This was a courtyard between the 2 buildings. It grew and expanded over the years. It was really quite beautiful.
After the tour we went to Welcome House where Dad actually lived for 3 years. Its privately owned now but that didn't stop Dad from giving me a tour of the outside. He had met the owners earlier but they weren't home when I came with them.

Next we went to see Mom's old home. This is the place where she grew up. I stayed there when I came for one of 2 visits I remember to PA as a child. It was a very fond memory. I had a horrible ear ache. (I was always getting them) and cried myself to sleep one night. Grandmom Steinhauer left milk and cookies on my windowsill in case I woke up and was hungry. It is one of my few memories of her but by far, my favorite. 

This was Mom's church when she was growing up. I love the stone work.

We then drove to the park behind her house where she use to ice skate and play. Even though it's more developed than it was when she lived there it was cool to walk it with Mom and listen to her describe what she remembered.

I think the thing I enjoyed the most was seeing the places my Mom and Dad grew up around and hearing their stories and memories first hand.

Saturday we went to a picnic at a local park. It was good to finally meet people I've lived my life hearing about.

Uncle Scott, Aunt Nicky and Uncle Dale (The one who wrote the Pearl Buck Book)

Dad & Uncle Charlie 

(Back Row) Scott, Dale, Ray, Dad, Leon
(Front Row) Sumi, David, Lillian

I pretty much charmed the pants off of them- thus insuring that I was the coolest in the family and this is why I and I alone was allowed to attend the reunion. ;) 

Actually Dad told them I was the most rotten of the bunch!