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! 

Fields of Gold, Graduation & Drummer Boy

This is the field right across from the entrance to our development. The winter wheat is ready to harvest. I love this time of year when you look everywhere and see fields of gold. They're harvesting it today. We've had a dry week so it's a good time. While I would never want to be a farmer, I do love watching the progress of the crops and find a peace and calm assurance in the routine of it all. 

Now on to the rush of life. 

Noah ended the year with accolades. When I went to his end of year award program he was given the Outstanding Musician of the Year Award. 

His Band Director said he was the only student to get 100% accuracy on his playing test. That means out of all the playing tests he had this year he never missed a note. That's thousands of notes! You go Noah!

Noah playing the drum set at the faculty vs. students basketball game.

We got him a drum set for Christmas this year and he's really enjoyed it. He's decided to continue with the marching band this fall. Emil and I are both excited for him. I think it will help him find a good peer group.

 Emil and I at Kirstin's Seminary Graduation. 

Kirstin went to visit Emil M. at work one day and discovered the dress she's wearing. She promptly told him he could get that for her graduation present and like a good brother he did. He'll make someone a good husband one day! (It is a cute dress!) He's back at the Cotton Gin working 40 hours a week and earning money to hold him over for his senior year of college. I can't believe he'll be graduating college next year!

 

Kirstin graduated on June, Friday the 13th but despite it being a unlucky date all went well. 

It was held inside since the entire week before we had had thunderstorms. It was a good thing since one hit right in the middle of graduation and caused the electricity to go out but it came right back on! We only had 4 seats since it was limited seating. Emil and I and his parents were the ones to attend.

Grandmom Moster, Kirstin, Grandpop Moster

Emil, Kirstin & Me!

We had Kirstin's graduation party the next day. I wish I had thought to take some pictures but I was pretty busy with entertaining. Kirstin left for the US Virgin Islands on Tuesday but on Monday I asked her to trim my hair. She did a good job but I decided that I needed it just a bit shorter. So I trimmed it some more on my own. I figured out a easier way to trim my hair with less mess. Cut it in the shower. We actually have a mirror in there since Emil shaves his head in the shower. I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out. Sometimes I do actually pay someone to cut my hair but more often than not I do my bangs and touch ups.

 So here I am with short hair again. I was trying to grow it out but I guess I'll wait until the summers done. It makes it much easier to take care of and I really don't mind it short until the weather gets cold and my neck is freezing! 

Speaking of summer, it's here and I love it. (I would marry it if I could) Last week Emil and I went down to the beach after he got off work. He surfed and I tanned and talked to my sister on the phone. It was perfect. Life is good!

Prom is the Bomb!

So I'm going to start with the most recent and work backwards. 

Last night was Kirstin's prom. She went with Josh Fly and her best friend Catherine went with Enoch Councill. Josh and Enoch live in Va and the girls knew them from our church youth group.

Kirstin and Josh just started dating a few weeks ago. They're a goofy pair. We really like Josh. He's a very polite young man.

Catherine & Enoch

Chocolate Mousse bowls.
Prom dessert for the cafe.

Because it just wouldn't be prom season without us working on renovations we decided to put a new backsplash in our kitchen.

 This is the tile for the wall. 

 This is for the wall behind the oven. 

Here's the before pic. 

 I did demo earlier in the week.

 And Emil hard at work on Saturday.

We only got halfway around the room before we were both exhausted. 

Hopefully we can get the rest of the wall done this week, I'll let you know how it turns out!

We've been pretty busy with Kirstin's Senior activities. Here she is before her Beta Ceremony. Looking so grown up!

Kirstin and Noah had Band concerts. 

Kirstin also sang with the chorus this year. She was actually a Teachers Assistant for the class but enjoyed it so much she ended up singing with them.  

Over spring break Noah and I went to Jockey's Ridge with the Johnsons. Zachery and Noah are really good friends and Riley and Toby absolutely adore Noah. 

Zachary, Shelby, Riley, Toby, Noah

 We were lucky and got to see them teaching a hang gliding class when we were there. 

A long time ago there was a putt putt golf course in front of the ridge with a castle as part of it but over time the ridge took it over. Every year we go to see how much of the castle is showing. This year quite a bit of the turret was showing. 

I took some pics of the kids for Mother's Day. I had grand plans to do something crafty with them but didn't manage it. Hopefully I'll get to do something soon. 

 Mother's Day pics   

In March I began running again. I'm going every morning with my friend Jaime. We get out at 6am. Which is really early but helps with not having scheduling conflicts. Plus I get to see amazing sunrises like this one. So far no injuries!