We Survived January!

After 2 weddings in as many days to start the month, then two weeks of 9-5 rehearsals for LBC's musical "The Pirates of Penzance" (while still homeschooling and trying to keep up with laundry, cooking, and cleaning), then a case of either the stomach flu or food poisoning, January is finally over, and February promises to be more calm.
The show has been running for two weekends and has its two final performances this weekend. Rob says this is the most he has ever enjoyed working on a show. He is getting lots of "atta-boys" from the college administration, faculty, students, friends....well, you know how everyone loves Rob!
Danika has increased her hours of dance at Susquehanna Dance Center to once again pursue professional dance. This time however, her focus is more broad than before and will include an apprenticeship to prepare her for teaching and choreographing as well as performing.
Derek is preparing to try out for high school baseball next month. He will be "the new guy" once again, since we are in the city school district now. But I think all these challenging experiences have really helped shape Derek's character.
Delaney is growing up so fast (of course, she is surrounded by adults!), but is still such a sweet girl. She loves to sing and dance, play with friends, and "hang out at the college."
I am LOVING having teenagers - what a blast! We have great talks about things that really matter. The best is when I see an evidence of God's work in their hearts. They are both going through ALPHA this semester and have expressed their desire to be baptized this Spring. Praise God! His faithfulness and mercy are beyond measure.
We are definitely home here in Lancaster, but miss our friends and family on the West Coast more than we can say.

Long-awaited House Photos

We have had multiple requests for photos of our new home, so I thought I'd better get on that. For photos of the outside of our house, please see the snowstorm blogs.

Here you go...

FIRST FLOOR

Great Room view from Front Door


Great Room view from Family Room


Family Room


Kitchen


New Powder Room off of Kitchen


Staircase


SECOND FLOOR

Girls' Room



Guest/Derek's Room


Hall Bath


Master Suite (with new bath and laundry room)





THIRD FLOOR

Ballet Studio




Third Floor Bedroom/Craft Room


View From the Third FLoor

Snow - Final Measurement

Well, after 24 hours of snow, I had to resort to my tape measure for the final measurement...13 inches!

And, here is a view of our street from our front porch. In the foreground you see our two cars, both of which had been brushed off twice during the storm. But, check out the little red car on the corner - almost completely buried. It reminded Kendra and I of our days in Rochester, NY!

Even More Snow!

Here is our picnic table - notice the little blue tip of our ruler sticking up? Eleven and a half inches and still coming down!

Winter Wallup

We are enjoying our first major snow storm since moving into the city. These photos were taken when we still only had 6 inches of snow. Now we have 11 inches with several more in the forecast!

Our house in the midst of the blizzard


Delaney and Ginger frolicking in the back yard


Derek and Delaney trying to create a sled run at the Seminary across the street from our house

Giving Thanks

We are celebrating our first Thankgiving in our new home. We have just finished our wonderful dinner - turkey, sweet potato fries, green beans, crescent rolls, home made cranberry sauce, and Rob's newly-invented sausage stuffing - and are going to walk (that's right WALK - something we city dwellers get to do) to our friends' house for dessert!

We are thankful for God's richest blessings on our family and hope that you, too, will experience His grace during this holiday season.

Diploma

It is with great pomp AND circumstance (because pomp alone wouldn't suffice) that we are celebrating the arrival of Rob's doctoral diploma from the University of Washington. It is the last tangible reminder of the six years of our whole family's investment, and of God's providence.

So that you can celebrate with us, we are posting a photo of our family at LBC's fall convocation. Note the spanky, purple doctoral regalia Rob is sporting!

(the photo was taken on Kendra's phone, which explains the "stretching effect" leaving us all with 40 extra pounds each, but you still get the idea)



Nun danket alle Gott!