January 9, 2022

Posted on January 9, 2022 by

Rain, rain, rain. Ugh. But at least you don’t have to shovel rain! As long as it doesn’t freeze we should be fine! I’m waiting on Chris to call me about getting paint for her room. They are not early to rise and shine at that household!

Our Sunday school lesson for this morning was the raising of Lazarus. The boys (JJ & Max) were fascinated by the lesson – about Jesus loving that family, crying with the sisters for their brother’s death, and Lazarus walking out of the tomb. They made Lazarus with white yarn, then they took the extra yarn and wrapped Mary and I! Then they wrapped the snakes. They even helped clean up the crumbs after snack time. But they did really connect with the lesson.

I wanted to post the review for Elizabeth Bromke’s newest release, The Abbey House. It was a great story, and a perfect wrap-up to the Heirloom Island series. Now — waiting on the next series!

The Abbey House: An Heirloom Island Novel by [Elizabeth Bromke]

The Abbey House is the perfect ending to the three-book saga of three sisters, who are totally different yet totally committed to each other. Elizabeth Bromke uses the differences as strengths to create a foundation for these sisters to have a future of their own, yet together. She does an amazing job of bringing out the individual personalities and using these to unite them. Each sister follows her heart to what will fulfill her as a person, in their career, and as a solid support system for each other. There are several surprises and unique circumstances that make the book almost impossible to put down. Everyone needs an Abbey House, a place to go to find themselves, to find answers, and to escape – just for a minute – the uncertainties and fears they face. And ultimately, in the end, realize that they could embrace who they each were and move forward to overcome these uncertainties. The best line in the book sums it up: they could appreciate that families were typically a messy, broken bunch of people just trying to make it through life together. A truth, and a comfort.

My cousin Mark told me after church this morning that he traced the Steiner family back to the 1500’s. In the 1500’s, to Germany. In the 1600’s, Switzerland! My favorite country (other than Home Sweet America). How cool is that? He still needs to verify some facts, but that’s amazing.

Transfiguration = Hiking the Swiss Alps | by Saurabh | Ascent Publication — Could this have been where Heidi lived with The Grandfather???

Memory book January 9th – What was your father’s date and place of birth? Dad was born in a house just east of Byer, PA, and just west of Plumville, PA. They called the area Walppsburg. It was August 30, 1892.” I remember Mom pointing out the house, or at least the location.

Calendar inspiration today comes from Peanuts:

Yesterday’s vacation destination was Paris and surrounding countryside. The posted photo was Normandy. Just a few of the other points of interest are the Eiffel Tower, Seine River cruises (day and nighttime), Louvre, Versailles Palace, Mont Saint Michel, Loire Valley castles & Chateaus. Countless more!