“It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…”

…it really does feel like that to me, anyway! The thermometer might read +40° but it feels much, much colder, especially when the wind blows. My poor hands are just freezing and in need of some soothing lotion.

Regardless of the temps, the time spent here is good and already going by too quickly. Saturday began with driving out to Cleveland to meet Lynn for breakfast. The restaurant is located in an apple orchard and serves nothing but fresh-made foods. As often happens, I met someone I knew, this time a woman named Cheryl who was two years ahead of me in high school. Her first time there, and its right down the road! That often happens, can’t see it right under your nose!

On the way out to Cleveland, I managed to get a photo of syrup buckets hanging from trees near the road. Not the shiny gallon metal buckets you’d imagine, but the 5 gallon white plastic kind. Probably more efficient this way, but by far, less romantic a picture.

Buckets hanging on the trees

Jill and I decided to go to Copp’s after breakfast which turned out to be big fun. As I found a place to park at this very busy grocery store, I mentioned needing to visit Auntie Marie this time, as my last trip here she was gone to the cottage with Barb and Jim.

Copp’s is obliviously Jill’s turf as she knew so many people there, some with whom she’d worked at Sentry and others from her neighborhood or the ice cream parlor. It was just like when I go shopping in my town, always run into somebody I know! We got the good cookies, found my popcorn, another 24 cans of diet Coke, and my wonderful natural-casing hot dogs. Jill got some needed food items and we headed to the checkout.

While waiting there, I greeted the bagger at the next register, Betty, who has worked there for years, and is the mom of a friend from my youth. All of sudden, Jill spotted someone pulling into line behind us---Auntie Marie! WOW, it was so cool to see her and she was blown away finding us there. Her son, Jon, was coming to pick her up from the store so we got to say “hi” to him as well. I just love it when this type of thing happens!!!

For dinner we met Lisa and her family at Timeout and I gave the boys their cute M & M backpack/rolling suitcases puchased in New York, which they adored. Gabe was still feeling a bit poorly but it was so fun to watch Manny chow down on cheese curds and mac ‘n cheese. He is just the cutest little guy! Eats like a thrasher! Gabe did manage to eat some of his food and perked up a bit when they got here to Mom’s. He wanted to play a game of hide ‘n seek, which isn’t too easy to do in Grandma K’s little apartment.

Manny eating his dinner (it's a dark photo because of my camera phone)

This morning, of course, was worship at First German, followed by Bible study in the Heritage Hall downstairs. I love that room, it’s like a museum, features the history of our congregation up to the present. Neat! It was wonderful to see Pastor Hahm and we hugged each other. I told him how much his singing edified Mom’s and the others’ worship and he thanked me and God for allowing him to do it. He sang on Good Friday, accompanying himself on the guitar, joined in voice by his wife and cousin. I understand it was quite lovely.

It was also good to see and greet the many members of FG, those I remember and who remember me. Linda and Tom are gone on a cruise with their son and daughter-in-law so didn’t get to see them today, but will get back in touch after my weekend to the Cities. Lynn, Alayna, Mom and I had a late breakfast at Warren’s Restaurant, a hangout from my grade school days, and it dates older yet than that! As Justin text-messaged me, “You can’t beat a dirty griddle”, which is what I say about the good food at Koko’s!

He sent a couple messages while we waited for our food, one concerning seeing our former Pastor, Richard Hennig, at Victory this a.m. He is the man who baptized Timmy in 1996, and for whom we built the parsonage in 1991. Well, we were building it anyway, they were just the first occupants. Justin said he had to re-introduce himself to pastor because Justin looks quite different now: big, tall, and quite hairy!

This afternoon I brought Subway sandwiches and soup to my father-in-law, Arno and my niece, Allie, giving John and Mona a needed break. They went down the road to have lunch and then to Copp’s (must be THE place to go!). Not much of a break, but a break nonetheless. Arno and I had a nice visit while they were gone with Allie keeping busy shooting baskets (in this cold weather??) and bathing her dog. She modeled a lovely black dress she’s wearing for an end-of-year party—my, what a young lady she’s become! I just love her!

While at Arno's, I got a phone call from the music director at Victory, where Justin worships. Rachel was calling to ask me to sing for a pastor's conference at their church next month but I had to explain I'd be up here at that time. Nuts! I thanked her deeply for the offer, however. She complimented me on what a good son I have, that she can hear him singing in church, and how he's faithful in his attendance. Aw, shucks.....

Mom and I enjoyed some of the wonderful hot dogs for supper, on fresh hard roll buns…..yum! Life is so good! We hope to have a better night’s sleep tonight, the tenants upstairs being quite disruptive last night, making it hard to sleep. I hope that I’m never that noisy to my downstairs neighbors. I have even suspended practicing my clogging practice at nine p.m………………….