NO PICTURES TODAY….

As Monday was a holiday, my sister Kathy did not have to work.  I used 1/2 of one of my credit Christmas Holidays and left work at noon.  Together we jumped in my Mazda and headed Home (PA).

As I’ve stated many times before, Home is where our heart goes to de-stress!  Our extended family are there, and all of our good childhood memories, as well.  We had a plan.  First we’d stop and get cheese at the Smicksburg Country Store.  Then a short hop over to the Chocolate Shoppe (I was anticipating the making of Easter candy shortly!).  It was a beautiful, 60* day – unheard of for mid-February!  The sun was shining and the sky was bright and blue.

After nibbling on some snacks (including double-dipped chocolate covered peanuts!), we headed over to see Uncle Clifford and Aunt Joan.  Our dear aunt had been in the hospital 53 days, and was finally home and doing very well.  We had left a message of our impending visit, then set out up the hill.  It didn’t take long to discover that about 1/3 of the road surface was complete MUD!  Ugh!  We did a considerable amount of slipping and sliding and splashing.  Alas.  When we got to the house, there was a note on the door:  Be back at 3pm! 

We set off out over the muddy roads and went to see Aunt Dolly.  The TV was on, but no one answered the door.  We went out the drive and across the road to see Susan.  No one answered the door.  Now we were 3 for 3!

All was not lost, however.  We walked next door to visit Gail and Andy, and Susan was there!  So we spent an hour in a happy visit with them and two very opposite (tiny and huge) dogs.  By the time we left there (wonderful visit!!!), we had called Aunt Dolly and she was waiting when we walked back over.  We visited there for a bit then headed back through the mud to Smicksburg.

By now UC and AJ were home and resting comfortably (smile!).  Hugs all around, a delightful visit, a drink from the roadside fresh-water spring, a head of cabbage from the root cellar, sweet conversation (wonderful visit!!!), and we were back in the mud again.

Those visits and the time spent at Home are a joy and treasure to me.  Family is so precious, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their love and support and Christian example.  It’s who they are, and who they are to US, that leave little bright trails across the skies of my mind.

The next trip scheduled is to Albion, to see our parents.  It will be grand and wonderful – but I’m hoping for less mud!   Love you guys!!! 🙂