I kissed both of my grandies goodbye and handed them back to their parents...aw, such bittersweet moments! 💕
Good day to all readers of my blog...the sun, ( by now ) is shining....has been a somewhat gray day. Yesterday was simply gorgeous! The washer machine is still churning out a last load. Been a busy day.... cleaning and laundry! This morning, after breakfast...which was Dutch Babies...( one of Maeli's favorites) Rod and Megz, packed up and out...we jumped in the Sugar Hill mission van and took them to JFK to fly the friendly skies to Seattle. They had a 6 hour flight, so a longish day with sick children. Both Maeli and Kian have nasty colds and of course weren't feeling top dog with that. Hopefully they did a lot of sleeping on the homeward way!
This evening is Bible study & sing-out. Tim is leading the lesson and discussion this evening. On the table lays the lesson, Protecting the Heart. First though, we got invited to Darrel and Darla for supper....so we will go down one floor at 6. Bless her kind heart 💜!! She thought I was a little busy... guys worked at Bronx pantry today and were home before 1:30. Guys practiced their songs earlier afternoon. The house is filling with a sweet aroma, as I'm baking a pan of bars... never know when you might need them!!
Last Tuesday, May 19th.... after a good afternoon of singing at Lincoln.... numerous good touches, lots of thank- you's and joys and blessings...we drove to Piscataway for supper. Last time there with Kendon's being there... last pizza supper in their little pizza oven. So supper was of course pizza, green salad and Nutella pizza...later s'mores around the fire 🔥!!! One didn't need fire for warmth, but just for the vibes it gives off!! The 2 neighbor children, Memphis and Frankie were there for quite awhile... playing with Olivia and Thomas! Later the parents walked over to collect their children and play things. Glow sticks were also the name of the game!!
Last Wednesday evenings lesson was on submission and surrender....got interesting! Attendees were Clay's, Peter, Eric and Simone. Sing out followed...we made a batch of popcorn " after" church.... Ethan, Jamin, Papa and Mama....left the rest on the counter and Tim and Carson must have finished it later.... empty bowl in the morning!! 🍿
Thursday morning was shop morning!! In the afternoon, I stirred up cinnamon roll dough and rolled them out & baked them. I all of a sudden had this message from Darla..." Thinking I had better hide those rolls... they smelled so good...I promptly took her down one pan!!!! " 🫓 The guys and us left the house at 4:45 and walked over to Hook and Reel in the Bronx. We walked right by the Yankee stadium and there was a game and people everywhere!!! Ms. Taylor and Demarius met us there for supper.... really had a good evening.... most of the group got a boil and received their supper in a bag! ( Bib and gloves!) I enjoyed the popcorn shrimp and hush puppies I ordered. After supper, we told goodbye to the ladies.... guys and us split ways, but we all walked back home!!! At 8:30 we went downstairs and helped Darrel with tracts. English and Spanish assorted.... Darla baked a pan of cookies.
Good morning, this is Thursday the 28th! We arose and shone at 4:45 this morning!! 😝 Breakfast was at 6:30 and the guys off to 109 pantry! Ethan is excited and I know the feeling...his family arrives today!!! We know his Mother, Robin from an earlier time in our life, but looking forward to reconnecting with her and meeting the rest of the Litwillers! Ron and I went shopping, put everything away... ordered new shades for the bedroom windows...the old ones went kaput....strings are broke, so we live in a dark bedroom day and night. Although the daytime hours are come and go!! This evening, the 5 of us, minus Ethan are going to pack a picnic lunch and head out!! The guys want to play pickleball also!!
( Last evenings Bible study and sing-out went off without a hitch...Peter, Tony and Simone graced us with their presence, as well as Clay's. Ron and I didn't stay and linger long after church last evening...too exhausted! And everyone was off to bed before 10:30!!)
Friday the 22nd.... laundry and cleaning... BUT the big news was....Rod, Megz, Maeli and Kian came into Penn station via the Acela, the fast train from Washington DC!! We weren't sure if they were coming in at the Moynihan Train hall or Penn...( They are connected) So we were at the wrong station at first....then a glimpse of them and Maeli comes running to Grammy with a huge smile and giggles! Kian looked on with his cute shy grin and actually came to me! Just the cutest grandies, btw!!!! 🥰 Good to see Rod's also...we had the double stroller with us and thus began the challenge to navigate that, elevators, stairs and subway. We stopped for gelato and then on home!! Home for supper...Ron made smash burgers and I did baked beans and sweet potato fries. Guys were home too and then went to Martha's after supper! We were home all evening, just doing the fun family things.... some sang, I read aloud....
Saturday....guys did their cleaning chores after breakfast and then left for Long Island. They visited the Sagamore Hill National Historic site, touring the home of Teddy Roosevelt. Then they also decided to drive to Montauk also...the 6 of us went to Conwell coffee, quite disappointing this time...it was raining.... stopped at a gift shop and Rod's bought blanket and hoodies for all 4 of them! Ended up going to Chelsea market, had planned to eat at Los Tacos, but line was way too long! Then over to a noodle place, again line way too long....so settled for a pizza slice shop and Rod also got a hotdog with sauerkraut. Joey bats for dessert.... they never disappoint!!! 😋 For supper, we just stayed close.... walked up 145th to Bricola.... still raining!! Super good pasta dishes, lava cake with ice cream and cheese cake!!!! They brought a scoop of ice cream to Maeli in a espresso cup, just the cutest!! Rod's and Ron sang awhile again!
Bowery Sunday.... it's exhausting, fun, interesting, amusing and worshipful...all rolled into 1 huge busy day!!! I think we were around 50 people!! Belleville came and they were 5 couples, no children and no youth!!! I think it's kind of funny, when a congregation comes and no youth are with.... like this is a boy's unit!! 2nd time for Belleville to do this, but I'm sure they have good reasons!!! We had 2 families visiting from Dumas. Jaylin and Felecia Smith and 4 children and ? and LaNae ? With 3 children. ( They drove to Fleetwood in the afternoon and did not attend Bowery with us. ) Michael Peachey had the opening and Papa Isaac the sermon. His topic being, First Reactions!!! Rod and Megz of course were in attendance, as well as the normal gang, beside Laurence's. Tony, Shelly, Peter, Eric and Simone also attended. Lunch was white BBQ chicken, potatoes and rice, green salad and bread. Dessert. ( This is for Roger and Elsie, you would have appreciated where Ron and I ate lunch.... just us 2, all alone in the sewing room! You always loved the quiet space!!!!! 😂) Dishes and clean- up... singing in the subway station, was fun... favorite of mine! It seemed like a quieter Sunday though... Then to Bowery.... service as usual...one of the Belleville brethren brought the thoughts there and another man closed in prayer. Rod's and us stopped at Arabic percent for coffee, before journeying on home... Kendon's, Clay's, Darrel's and us 6 were in our apartment for supper... Kaitlyn made pork sandwiches. Our guys headed to Fleetwood after getting home from Bowery. Attended a after church deal at Dane and Amy's and to Ornan's for night. Stayed all day on Monday for Fleetwood's school play day!!
Memorial day...Rod and Ron scoped out some city and coffee shops and brought home bagels from Tompkins Square for a very late breakfast!! And 4 flavored cream cheese!!! I did the normal Monday laundry....in the afternoon, we all left and went to Black Fox coffee shop and met Lamar, Mendi, and their 4 children there. They are Newswangers from Finger lakes. So good to see them!!! Teagen, Zane, Rhett and Mason ( pudge ) are their children's names. From there we went to American Doll store and then ate a early supper at Bill's Bar and Burger!!! Came back to 762 St Nicholas Ave after that....the children played.... Lamar's, Rod's and Ron sang....I took care of the children.....we visited...we dined on cookies and cheese cake!!! A fun evening with them all!!! They had a hotel for night....Ron and I were still up at 11:30 and were surprised when the guys walked in.... tired and sore....🙂 So we visited awhile and caught back up in their lives!
( Darrel spent a good portion of his day at a hospital ER. He all of a sudden got a bum knee and he had lots of pain, fever etc. They drained it, said it's a form of gout and needs to see a surgeon. Clay's took him in, as the mission van wasn't available. Darrel is doing quite well at this point, or so it looks like anyway! )
Tuesday, Rod and Ron toured City and coffee shops again and came home around noon. We all went to Penn station to Los Tacos and got some gelato and to a gift shop. Guys, Rod's and us went to Patsy's for supper!!! Brought a Uber black home...Rod thought he was supposed to be meeting up with a mobile notary man, but that got cancelled. Just spent the rest of the evening at home. Guys did too, in fact they practiced singing for sing out.
A nap is calling!!
Love and prayers, Mama Carol