Bits and pieces of unit life...
Good afternoon! Time again to type about our lives...Ron and I both had a long nap, too many midnight nights and a person does get weary! This morning consisted of laundry, last load is in the dryer. It fortunate that for the most part I enjoy laundry 🧺!! I had other jobs to attend too also, so it was a busy morning! Ron was down in the tract room for quite some time. He is working on the tract route system....not sure what all, but said he wasn't done! Roger, Alex and Spencer are on a walking hand out tour today. Wanting to dine at a Brazilian restaurant at noon. David and Tyson are at Lincoln. This evening is Alex's eat out, the restaurant, what time we are leaving, is not for us to know at this time! He invited Roger and Elsie to join us! He leaves on Friday morning....😢 The time just flies over here and now we are looking at saying goodbye again!
Personal note: we are excited!! Our oldest granddaughter, also our oldest grandchild is engaged and was announced yesterday morning! Olivia lives in Southern Ohio and is planning to marry Dustin Brubacher, Lavern and Kelly are his parents. ( Weston and LaNae are Olivia's) So with joy we look forward to November 29. I mean, we sure hope we get to go!!!!!
I noticed I concluded last weeks letter on Monday afternoon. We did journey to Tribeca service.... Clay and Dana also joined us. Alex had the thoughts and was inspired to talk about friends and of course Jesus is our best friend. He took along the song, My Jesus has broad shoulders and he read that to the listeners and then we also sang the song. Supper was at Da Gennaro....he had mentioned Katz earlier in the day, but decided against that.
Tuesday, our lazy morning...we walked to Lincoln as the weather was good! Singing went good, although no special encounters! When we left, Ron and I caught a 2 train at Grand Concourse and went downtown. Got off at Penn station and first went to JPT and got the hoodies that were done. Then walked to Paris Baguette and each had a fruit matcha latte. Mine was strawberry and Ron's was mango. Just sat inside and looked out at humanity and also listened to a street preacher expound! Ron had a 4:00 barber appointment and I just sat and waited. Ron's hairs on his head are fewer in number and it looks pretty small, when the barber gets done with him! We caught a D train on home. Alex's turn to cook...steak tacos, toppings and fruit tray were his menu. Rogers also came and she brought watermelon. They had just got home from a long day in New Jersey. Tyson made the dessert.... cookies and brownies. He claimed the cookies were too crispy and the brownies didn't get done! The brownies truly did have some issues, were soupy in the middle! But taste was good, they said! 😃 We practiced songs for sing out...
Wednesday, a day where I usually spend at home. In the evening was Bible study and sing-out. David was in charge of lesson and he chose one, Believing in God. Peter and Eric were the only attendees, Alistair and Eric had doctrine class up in Rogers apartment later afternoon, Clays also attended. Anyway Alistair had zoned out the last 30 minutes or so....and didn't stay for Bible study. Sing out didn't go great....lack of practice and some harder songs equals some frustration. Hoping this Wednesday evening goes better!! 😊And I should add, I'm not a top notch singer!!! Supper was comfort food though!! Meatloaf and potato casserole!!! Cabbage salad and muffins. I invited Clay and Dana to join us!! Which they did! Talking Clay's, they leave tomorrow morning early for Kansas!!! Furlough time!!
Ron and I had a added bonus of not having to make breakfast on Thursday morning either!! The 4 guys all went with Alistair to a NCS meeting. They said it was interesting, a former fire fighter, who had been retired, because of a injury spoke. It was 9-11 day, 24 years! So added maybe a poignant message! The 4 boys went to pantry at 109 from there. We went shopping 🛒, BJ'S, Food Bazaar and Target. In the afternoon, Ron and I left about 4:00 and took the subway down to Rockaway Park. We walked the boardwalk, watched the surfers and bought us each a Pina Colada!!! 😋 A favorite! We got off at about beach 98 and then later walked to beach 101. Or wherever the water taxi comes in and departs! Guys left and came down also, as soon as they could!! We all met at the water taxi.... hadn't seen them yet that day and was missing them!! We watched the golden ball of a sun sink into the western horizon. We don't get to see many sunsets, so they are special! This one was extremely beautiful!! It colored the sky for a long time. The black of the tree lined the horizon,made me think of long ago art projects, when you colored brilliant backgrounds and added trees or what ever to silhouette it all! We boarded the water taxi and this time had prime seats on top! A bit cool air up there, breeze blew our hair, we took off and then I get quiet, except for now and then saying, look at that....it was so incredible! The 2 twin beams were lit for 9-11 and they stretched far into the skies.... such a beautiful evening and wonderful time for us 6. It's things like that, that memories are made of!! My heart aches just a little even writing this! Once off at Wall Street, we went to Francus Tavern for a late supper. Ron and I shared the pulled pork sliders. As we were walking to a subway station to go home, guys were going down to the lights yet....we noticed in the beams Ray, what looked like oversized confetti bopping around in the light. Ron looked it up, it's birds and bats....they get hung up in that intense beam!!! Interesting!
Friday was just a busy day at home, laundry, house cleaning and a bunch of cooking! Later afternoon, shortly after 4:30, we left for Kendon's at New Jersey. Traffic was terrible, pace was slow and it took 1 hour and 40 minutes! GPS showed us the quickest route, so we did enjoy some new scenery! Kendon's made 12 pizzas in the pizza oven! Don't think large pizzas!! Different flavors and much enjoyed. I took along green salad. Later had s'mores around the fire. They got out glow sticks and so we had fun with those! Nice memories...a little singing, much laughter and soon the evening was over! Went on home and just cruised.... before hardly knew it....we were on the George Washington bridge!
Saturday morning the alarm rang off early for Ron and the guys and they left the house by 4:45 am!!! Mama roused enough to say bye! Drove down to Brooklyn and boarded a boat and went fishing 🎣 Clay also joined the crew! A boat captain and his helper....one interesting thing about those 2 men, that our guys commented on ...was: how those 2 men's language all of a sudden just cleaned up!!! 😊 Truly the Holy Spirit goes before! They fished in the bay, mostly in front of JFK airport. They had a really good time fishing and caught their limits. Fluke, weak fish, blue fish and 1 sea Robin. Plus at the last Alex reeled in a Ray..... they truly had a remarkable time and no one got sick !! They all loved the experience!! Headed back in and got back to their van around noon. They stopped at a Italian restaurant for lunch yet! The helper on the boat cleaned their fish and fillet them!!! Mama just had a quiet day at home and loved every minute of it!! Do Mama's just sometimes need a little alone time???!!!! Or is it just me? I love our boys, every one of them and would defend any one of them in a heartbeat and was glad to see Papa and the boys when they came home!!! But with rejuvenated soul and spirit, I carry on!!! I did some work around the apartment, peeled 10# of potatoes, cleaned out some dirty kitchen drawers and also just relaxed! In the evening, we went to Clay's for supper and the menu was ----------- FISH 🐠 Clay grilled some and they fried some! And anyone that knows me truly, knows that seafood isn't my first love! But I proclaimed it very good and Ron looks at me and says, if you say that...it must be good! Dana also had rice and biscuits. Pumpkin cake bars.....fun evening!!
Sunday.... Poughkeepsie Sunday, so those 8 were here! Only 2 attendees and 1 visitor. Peter and Eric....Diana was here again...she is the DR girl....she is a case!! 🫢 Roger had the SS opening and Ron had the sermon thoughts....both were good!! Right before lunch, we told our mission family about Dustin and Olivia!! Lunch was jalapeno roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. Green salads, bread and dessert. Lemon cake and ice cream and cinnamon rolls! Have you ever had Oreo cookies crumbs on top of the frosting on rolls...try it sometime!!! 😁 In the afternoon, Ron and I stayed home and just rested...did listen to the lecture at Lonetree on Friday evening. Kendon's went to Central Park, among other things... Olivia and Thomas got a carousel ride!! They watched the bubble blower ....the guys joined them for awhile. Then they met Peter....and went to a museum, out for supper and then went with Peter to his church....which was Catholic....and the guys decided when they got home, they did not have to attend there again, but it was quite the experience!! My thoughts have been, how can Peter join us at our worship and Bible study and still attend his church....but we leave that to God. He loves our community, like he calls it!! Kaitlyn made poppyseed hot ham and cheese sandwiches and veggies with dip and Rogers joined us and she brought watermelon 🍉. Guys were gone, until after 9:30. Clay and Dana went to Fleetwood for a reception last evening and weren't around either. Later evening we all put tracts together....
Guys are all home.... reporting on days!
As far as I know no missionary couple has signed on yet!! Are they looking for you? ☺️
Signing off with love, Mama Carol