Friends near and far....

Technology and me....a love/hate relationship! I love the old-fashioned ways...cooking and baking from scratch, gardening, hanging laundry outside on the clothesline...the old time crafts, sewing, quilting, crocheting...a fire in the fireplace, popcorn popped on the stove...."snail mail".....but, I do like the convenience of some technology...emails, cell phones, free long distance and digital cameras. But, I think, I like how easy it is to foster relationships. Email, free long distance, cell phones and yes, blogging, allow me to feel connected with friends and family out of state, and friends that we don't get to see as often as we would like. Today, with various errands to run, we combined the errands with short visits with friends...and what a blessing it was!

My dear friend, Marla....laughing while we all helped make pies for their church picnic tomorrow. She is expecting her 8th baby...while preparing for the wedding of her oldest daughter and homeschooling her other children....any visit we have is so precious, as time is full and they don't live very close to us.

Marla's 2 oldest girls....in order: Meghan, Hannah, Courtney (who will be married in December) and Sara


Anna, Morgan and Kenzie....both Ronnie and Anna had fun outside playing today! Ronnie had a friend over yesterday at our house to play, and today, he stayed and played with two of his "guy" friends, while we took 2 of their sisters home with us for an afternoon visit.

With...these sisters! Morgan, Michaela, Meghan and Sara....played the card game "spoons"....a very NOISY, but fun card game!

Then, after dinner, Sarah and Rachel came over for a quick game of spoons, popcorn and the movie 'Enchanted'...as I'm typing this, the movie is almost finished....all quick visits, but memory makers all the same.

My friend, Jolyn, lives in Ohio. Even though we are not close enough for 'quick' visits or get-togethers, thru our blogs, phone calls and emails...we are able to share pictures and share our daily lives with each other.
Sara and Jolyn's daughter, Autumn....even the girls have developed close friendships thru snail mail, email, long 'giggly' phone calls and blog photos with friends all over the country.

Of course, Gabrielle....back home in Idaho. Sharing our lives with her, thru technology and phone calls...and then the precious 2 weeks that she was with us....priceless! (We miss you, Gabrielle!)

Oh, my friend, Dayna! Now in Mozambique, Africa! I think it is incredible that we can keep up with each others daily lives and families thru blogging, photos, email and phone calls....even across the world!!!

~So goes my love/hate relationship with technology! I hate texting, network television, too many appliances and I am not good with machines...but I am so grateful for the relationships that technology helps to sustain. So here is to all of our friends, near and far....we love you guys! ~Sue~

Some of the special things in life....

How blessed I am! First, an update on Hayden and Crystal. Crystal had to have a transfusion today, but I hear is feeling much better. Hayden is doing well...both Ben and Crystal have gotten to hold him...can't wait to see a picture! The hole in his lung is healing nicely, but his white cell count is up, so they are keeping him on the anti-biotics..no word on when they will be home.This morning, I woke up to this smiling face...minus his front tooth! He was so excited...and I think he looks so very cute!

Had to get my picture for my license taken today...no fun...and I never like the picture. Came home and Ron, Meghan & I had to go to the bank for some accounts...Meghan opened her first checking and saving accounts...(sigh) another milestone for my 16 year old. We switched to a local bank, where we know the manager personally (she was even in our wedding), and the teller...it is so nice to deal locally with people who know you! Sara took the little ones to the library, then we all hit the farmers market!
Check out these nectarines and golden plums!
Ron can never pass up fresh bread...and this garlic herb potato bread was calling his name! Along with wonderful chocolate milk from the "Springhouse".

This zucchini was from our garden...what the deer haven't eaten!

Fresh cucumbers and tomatoes
My wonderful helpers...shucking corn! One of the main joys of my summertimes is fresh, hot, sweet, corn on the cob! We all got some shaved ice at the farmers market as well...Sara even got a lot of EXTRA flavoring in hers!
So...dinner consisted of the bread, cucumbers, tomatoes (these cherry tomatoes were from our garden, too), corn on the cob and a mushroom, cheese, spinach frittata. It was so good!

We got a call today, that our Uncle Ralph passed away. He wasn't really our uncle by blood, but that's what we always called him. My Uncle Rich, who passed away over Mother's day weekend was Ralph's brother....Ralph was the last of the Sacco brothers. So, when I called Aunt Helen to check on her, she said she'd like a visit...so we all piled in the suburban and went to visit her. She now lives with my cousins, and is doing well. Little Tyler, who just turned 3 keeps her busy!
Me and Aunt Helen...my Gram's only living sibling. She is so special to me!

Now that my cousin, Stacy, has Tyler, Ronnie and Anna love playing with him. He is so cute and funny! They all had a great time tonight, and the girls did too....Stacy's brother and his wife are having twin girls soon, so we had a lot of fun looking at the baby girl stuff that they have already bought, and talking about the shower coming up on August 22nd. Two twin double flannel blankets to make! I have to finish Hayden's airforce blanket, first.

Ty is coming tomorrow morning, and the girls are being picked up early for their babysitting job....so I'm off! God bless! ~Sue~

The way I was made.....

I want to live like there's no tomorrow
I want to dance like no one's around
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down
I want to give like I have plenty
I want to love like I'm not afraid
I want to be the man I was meant to be
I want to be the way I was made~Chris Tomlin~

~ I was listening to this song in the car after dropping the girls off at work...the breeze was cool, the sky blue and clear...after a whirlwind month...actually, a whirlwind summer so far, I was thinking of "whatever happened to my "simple life"?! What did I want my life to be like...and most of the day was just that! I was made to be a keeper at home...a helper to my husband, and a mother to my children...to live simply and to be content and grateful. I love what I call "reminders from the Lord"...such as this song by Chris Tomlin! I needed to be reminded...and now to plan to get back to the simple, quiet life that I love so much and have to guard very well...or "busyness" settles in...and robs us all of our peace and contentment. It has happened to our family before...and it is so sneaky, that if we are not careful, we can allow 'busyness' get us again! So, today....here are some scenes from my simple day...(although I forgot pictures of my laundry!)LOL I want to be the way I was made!

Warm, apple cinnamon oatmeal...more fresh apples than anything!
The view from my rocker on the deck...while I read God's word, watched my children play and shared fresh peaches with my little ones.
I like to write reminders thru out my Bible...and re-read them frequently...along with my favorite devotional "Streams in the Desert".



juicy, sweet peaches!
Playdough fun! I love the smell of playdough...and their creativity!
Hooray! I planned my menu for the week...along with any obligations and activities we all have....I actually felt a sense of relief....planning and organizing brings me peace of mind...and makes my life so much easier! We eat much healthier and cheaper as well!

Gluten free, healthy homemade bread! Again, I feel relief that we will in a way that is the healthiest for our family...and that I was able to make plenty for us!
And, after playing outside, my little ones eating GF bread with jam and kefir smoothies...yum!
Crocheting and creating always relaxes me...especially crocheting! Yes...this is STILL the infamous "Dr. Who" scarf...but I am enjoying finishing it! It is actually much lighter than the afghan that I just finished! Now...off to read "Mother" by Kathleen Norris and HOPEFULLY, get a good nights sleep! Part of what works best for me is definitely 'early to bed, early to rise'! Tomorrow, after getting my drivers license picture taken, I will hopefully be able to get some more organizing done around here in hopes of starting school up again and getting into a workable, peaceful routine around here! I hope to have a picture of little Haydon, too! Goodnight! ~Sue~

Prayer request....Haydon Lee Reese!

I am a great-aunt! My nephew Ben and his wife, Crystal had a baby boy early this morning at 3:40am. Haydon Lee Reese. They had to do an emergency c-section and when they did, they discovered that his cord was partially severed, so his heart rate kept dropping. Also, when he took his first breath, he has a tiny hole in his lung that needs to heal...so he is in the NICU for about a week, Ben said. Please pray for Haydon! He was full term and a good size....7 lb 8oz....so he is strong....I haven't seen a picture yet, but Ben said he has tons of dark hair and his dad's nose...just like Ben! Please pray for healing for the hole in his lung, strength and healing for his blood as well. (his blood mass was down due to the cord not being whole...at least that is how it was explained to me) Ben and Crystal are doing fine, and her family is there for a while. Thanks! Hopefully, I'll have a picture to post soon...as well as news that this little family will be going home! Love, Sue

A Simple Sunday.....

A simple Sunday....I was able to brown a pork roast and get it and some sauerkraut into the crockpot on low before church....worship was awesome, as usual, and I am teaching Sunday school for the month of August....God's providence.....we had a great discussion! After church, we had a church picnic at a beautiful park! Lots of wonderful food for the potluck....barbeque ribs, sandwiches, chicken, lots of pasta salads....my friend, Rhonda, made the most wonderful salad....cheese tortellini, dressed with spinach, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper...and lots of feta cheese...YUM!!!! I had to bring a main dish, so I took a crockpot full of 32 hotdogs and buns...and they all went....will have to take more next time! The rain even held off!

This is Anna and her little friend, Lydia....they have so much fun playing together!

Meghan and Sarah C! After the picnic, Meghan went home with some friends to play the card game "spoons"...hang out and have hotdogs....she came home around 7:30pm.

Ronnie and David...born on the very same day! Ronnie ended up on the field, where they were playing 'ultimate frisbee' , as did Sara....after a few minutes though, he decided it would be much more fun to play in the water and get soaked....he had so much fun today!

Belle and Sara...the back of Belle's shirt said "eating the competition"....it's a swimming t-shirt....I thought it was for an eating competition! LOL
Sara came home, relaxed, had dinner then babysat for our neighbors for 3 hours...she just arrived home.

(Above is a lightning bug in a jar...in case you were wondering!) typical summer evening activities....catching lightening bugs, playing outside, Ron washed his car....then we sat on the deck and had some icecream....a perfect Sunday evening!

We picked these up at the picnic....biology "toys"! Disecting a plastic frog...and a human body...Ronnie (otherwise known around here as "Boy Genius") spent hours working on these! They are so cool!
The end of our evening....all my children are home, the girls are gabbing about their day...the little ones are tucked in, Ron is going to take a short snooze before going to work...and I'm going to settle in with a good book before I fall asleep.....a very blessed, simple Sunday! ~Sue~

The first summer wedding!

Yesterday was the first of our two special summer weddings! So, the Gorecki family set out for a wonderful day and evening with all our special family members! We left here before 3pm, drove thru a torrential downpour, made it to the church....then finally made it home at 11pm....we have had a whirwind month of July!

Julie is Ron's cousin. I've known her since she was 6 years old...she is so sweet and we're so happy for Julie and Jim!Mr and Mrs Jim Fry!!!
Cutting the cake....it was pretty cool...each layer was a different cake batter, filling and flavor...they had a white cake with rasberry filling, mocha cake with chocolate chips and mocha frosting and a "snickers" cake...with a crushed snickers bars filling....WOW!
This little Angel, is Jim and Julie's daughter, Kyley...she is 2 years old, and so precious!

All the "little" cousins....they had a blast! L to R: Michael, Anna, Mia, Madison, Julia, Molly, Ronnie, Logan and Alex.

A special father daughter moment....Ron loves dancing with his girls!

Ron and his "Sara Bear"! Seems to us that the girls are growing up so fast!
Lots of dancing...and Sara & Anna were in the middle of all of it!
Cousins Brian and Lea came in from Harrisburg. They will very shortly be celebrating their FIRST wedding annivarsary!~
Uncle Mike and Aunt Janine...they came up from Florida. It is so special to be able to spend time with precious relatives that you don't get to see often!
Anna...doing the Twist!~

Ronnie dancing with Molly...while Sara watches in awe! LOL
Sara took our picture dancing....I love weddings for so many reason, but especially the opportunity to dance with my wonderful husband of 20 years!

My mother-in-law loves to dance!
Ronnie dancing with Julie!

And...Tommy and Kelli....our next bride and groom! Only 5 more weeks until their wedding! We're really looking forward to their wedding!

~Well.....that was our excitement for yesterday! We spent today cleaning, doing laundry, grocery shopping.....in general, trying to get back to a little normalcy around here! Tomorrow is church, then we have a church picnic at a park...that will be fun. Then it is home to relax and have a nice pork and sauerkraut dinner....Ron loves a big, relaxing Sunday dinner! Hope your Sabbath is very blessed!!!! ~Sue~