Velta's Blog

FINALLY!

2012-05-27T20:26:06Z

Well, I’m about to wrap up the final leg of our 50^th anniversary trip to the Amish country in Lancaster, PA and surrounding areas. Thank you for your patience as I’ve jumped back and forth between other topics, and long lapses of “nothingness”. I decided that I’d better put the finishing touches on our trip before another anniversary rolls around!

Concluding our memorable trip was a visit to chocolate country! Yep, you got it. We took a short day trip over to Hershey, Pennsylvania. At first glance, you know you are in the kingdom of chocolate. The streets welcomed us and were practically paved in chocolate! (Well, I'm taking a few liberties here, but you get the idea. Truthfully, they were paved in a chocolate-y brown something or other!)

How could we not turn on this street!

Of course the entire city of Hershey is all about chocolate and the Hershey story. Milton Hershey founded the town, wanting to provide a community with a safe environment for his workers. His heart was for his employees and their well-being. He also had a compassion for orphaned boys and gave away much of his fortune to support the orphanages he founded.

We thoroughly enjoyed our self-guided tour of the Hershey museum; the displays were so interesting and captured in great detail how Mr. Hershey went "from bankruptcy to brilliance, transforming chocolate from a luxury to an everyday treat." I'm happy to say, after all these years, "It still is a treat!"

Upon entering the museum, we, of course, had to take advantage of a photo opportunity!

Wasn't it kind of all the original Hershey pioneers to line up and pose just for us? I thought so, too.

A bit of nostalgia is always good!

Our only disappointment during our museum experience was that the labs are no longer open for visitors to create their own chocolate creations! Small problem, however, because the gift store was adequately stocked with any and everything chocolate! No problem! Our expectations were to participate in a hands-on class, including molding and dipping chocolate, etc. (I can see how this could easily get out of control and create quite a "stir", in light of FDA requirements, most likely)! Still, our visit to Hershey was very fun-filled and I highly recommend a visit there when you are in that neck-of-the woods. For the entire story go to: HersheyStory.org.

After leaving the museum, we enjoyed lunch at Friendly's, a regional restaurant, and then made a brief ride through Penn State and its College of Medicine, in the same area as all the Hershey buildings, etc. Judging from a quick drive-by, the campus was impressive and definitely had a "country" feel to it; all in all, the town of Hershey left us with a laid back, comfortable feeling and one that we'd enjoy re-visiting.

Our last real day, June 23, with a bit of nostalgia, we made one last visit to a few of the local woodworks/crafts businesses. Mostly, we did a lot of "look-see", enjoying the fine craftsmanship of the Amish woodworkers. Swings, birdhouses, fine dining furniture, desks, breakfast and kitchen furniture were all displayed in abundance.

We got fuel at a Hess station and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at one of the local eating establishments. Then it was back to the camper for "winding down" and readying it for our goodbyes to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With this entry, I think that about concludes our ramblings in Pennsylvania and beyond. What a glorious several days in such a lovely part of the U. S. We began our journey homeward on Friday, June 24, with an overnight stop in Harrisburg, VA; from there we finished the trip the next day, all the way to Lancaster, SC - Home.

With a heart full of gratitude for the blessing of 50 years together, I certainly had much to think about; so many friends would love to have reached this same milestone but for one reason or another, were unable to do so. As we celebrated the actual anniversary day on June 17, Bill gave me a letter he had written a few days earlier, reflecting on our marriage of 50 years. With his permission, I'd like to share a portion of his letter to me, not to bring any honor to me, but to encourage each one of you, my friends and family who read this, to strive for excellence in all that you do, whether it's a marriage relationship or some other commitment you have made. I cherish these words from Bill and believe this is a fitting way to close out my account of our 50th anniversary celebration trip:

"... These years have brought losses - but that's life - Daddy Polk, Mother Morris, Granny Gray, Grandmother, Fleet, Edsel, Harry, Lou, Butch, Uncle Jimmy, Don (Bearden), Sally Kay (Brown Pierce) Hank, Opal, Bailey, Jim, Dad, Bert, Bill Quin, Mother, Mary Ann, Guy, and Arlyne. I know I have missed many, but through all these losses I had you to lean on and comfort me. I read the other day what I wrote in your red Bible that I gave you at Christmas 1959, and a year later at Christmas 1960 I gave you your ring. I wrote ... 'for a whole lot of fun - a pat on the back - a smile - a "you can do it" and help in every respect'; 50 years later all those things are still true. Thanks for these 50 years and I am looking forward to whatever time we have together. And, Miss Velta - I would marry you again in a heartbeat, for marrying you is without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you and I am committed to you for whatever time the Lord lets us have."

I love you, too, Bill! It's been quite a ride - and it still is! As Vestal Goodman said in her book that my cousin, Betty Anderson, recently gave me: I Wouldn't Take Nothin' for my Journey Now."

June 17, 1961

KEEP ON LOVIN'!

2012-03-20T13:48:29Z

Yesterday, as our Classics Choir members were getting in place and ready to
sing at a local convalescent home, there she was: a lovely lady was escorted
into the dining room; wheeled in, just like so many others. She was no doubt
only a wisp of the vibrant soul she used to be, and quite unaware of her
striking presence, or even of her own presence, perhaps. I say she was
striking because at once she grabbed my attention. In her arms she lovingly
clutched a baby doll, ever so tenderly. The baby doll looked very much
alive and appeared to receive her every stroke of love.

We were there to bring joy, perhaps brighten the days of the residents who
call the facility Home. Through song, we hoped to bring a measure of hope,
renewed happiness, help them recall memories of former experiences -
whatever, and however, the Lord chose to use us that day was our defining
purpose.

But, as we sang our songs, my eyes could not leave the sweet soul caressing
her baby doll. Often, she lovingly stroked the little head, touching his
face, moving the baby from her shoulder to her chest, and then cradling the
baby doll in her arms, always looking down with pure love and admiration in
her eyes. Barely able to control my tears, the thought occurred to me that
no matter how long ago our recall abilities may have left us, what does
remain is our ability to love; if we've known how to love in the past, I
want to believe that God allows this ability to remain, even when our other
faculties have diminished.

Did it matter that the baby doll could not feel the gestures of her love?
Not a bit. No, the giving of the love - even to an inanimate object - is
what mattered to her. Afterwards, I asked her the name of her baby. "I'm
trying to remember," she said. "A boy or a girl?" She wasn't sure, but I
said that, "Well, today he's a boy. Let's name him Little Boy Blue because
he's dressed all pretty in blue and white." (Maybe I'm partial just a bit
to boys?)

I left "the home" with mixed emotions. Yes, we gave what we could; yes,
they were blessed; yes, we were blessed as we watched several sing along
with us, He Touched Me, Oh, He Touched Me, and The Longer I Serve Him, the
Sweeter He Grows. Emotionally, I had a hard time because my mind kept
seeing my sister as she once sat in a similar facility but who now is
sitting at the feet of Jesus. I looked into the eyes of a resident, a fellow
church member who is "no longer with us" in some ways. The resident smiled
and a brightened countenance appeared when we began to sing At Calvary.
Songs will touch you and refresh your memory when everything else seems to
fail.

As we left, one sweet lady in particular thanked us for coming and remarked,
"It (that we enjoyed singing) showed on your faces, and singing is better
than preaching sometimes." So, watch out, Pastor Bert. Covenant's
Classics Choir is getting to present some strong competition, at least
according to one wise soul.

Bottom line from my heart this morning: let's pray our ability to love never
diminishes, and even if there is no recipient to visibly receive it, our own
heart will be the beneficiary. Thank you, Jason Burley, for leading us in
paths of worship in so many ways.

"Keep on loving your little baby doll," you dear, sweet, striking lady at
the home. I felt it.

Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong.
Hold tightly to what is good. Romans 12:9

Anniversary trip: Runnemede, New Jersey - the Baileys

2012-02-27T20:36:08Z

RUNNEMEDE, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 21, 2011

All aboard! Today we are on the road very early. After doing our usual morning routine in the camper, we hit the road bound for Runnemede, NJ, just across the Delaware River. A very special friend moved there a few years ago, Audrey Joan Richardson Bailey. Joan and I first became friends while we were students at Tennessee Temple, a Christian Bible School and University in Chattanooga, TN. The year was 1955! We were suitemates and formed a close friendship. Sidebar: Joan has one of the most beautiful, lyrical soprano voices I’ve ever heard. She can soar with that voice of hers, and used her talents for the Lord by singing solos, in groups, etc. At one time she toured with the Lester Roloff Evangelistic Association, an icon of that era. If you are old enough to remember the song, It's Real, from the red Favorites series, then you can appreciate how her version of that beloved song must have blessed so many.

We stayed in close touch for the next several years, but then we lost contact around 1970 or so. Through the years I often wondered about her whereabouts, and so badly wanted to find her and reconnect. I remembered hearing that she had remarried, but without a last name it was a little more difficult to search. (One of my bosses in Greenville, Tommy Wyche, used to tell me I was relentless! I would never give up until I found what needed to be found.) Also, I have an intact “detective” (nosey?) gene, so through a diligent – and I do mean diligent - Internet search through several sources, I found her! I remembered she was originally from Clinton, Tennessee, so initially I contacted the newspaper and high school there for information. This led me to her full name and to the property records in a county in Texas. I wrote a long epistle to whomever was at the address listed on the property records and my letter was ultimately forwarded to Joan! A relative who lived at that mailing address forwarded my letter. BINGO! One day I happily received that long-awaiting phone call. The rest is history as they say, and I have previously shared some of these details, but they definitely are worth reminding us again.

I learned that Joan had relocated to New Jersey, where she and her husband now live with her son, Jimmy Bishop, and his wife, Janet, along with their darling little daughter, Elena. Elena was THE highlight of our visit, of course. She is the most beautiful little 4-year old girl from Guatemala, adopted by her loving parents, Jimmy and Janet. She can have you wrapped real tight in no time! She especially enjoyed playing with a puzzle I brought her; in fact, Joan tells me that it is still her very favorite puzzle and they often work it together. That makes me smile!

Garmin told us it was only 51 miles from our campground to her front door. That was surely doable! BUT, it took almost two hours because of the early morning Philadelphia traffic that we encountered! A nightmare in every sense of the word. But Bill had full command of that big red Ford truck and he maneuvered among the many lanes with grace and style.

Joan still has that captivating smile!

As soon as we arrived, Bill Bailey, Joan’s affable hubby, greeted us with a warm Texas welcome (they met, fell in love and married while living in Texas), and of course, I am a Texan by birth and Bill and I lived there for a few years following our marriage. So, we had Texas all over all of us! It was so good to finally put a face with a name and meet “the other Bill.” (Joan had made a flying trip to see us in 2009, so we had actually seen Joan, but had not met her Bill.) They live in a quiet, cozy neighborhood and enjoy a private upstairs apartment, convenient for both families to enjoy each other and yet maintain their privacies. The best part is that Elena can run up and down the stairs at will to enjoy spending time with her grandparents. Doesn’t get much better than that for all parties. What's the saying: If mom says no, ask Grandma?

Precious Elena and her mom, Janet Bishop. What a blessing to each!

Can you tell who is having the most fun?

Joan had prepared a delicious salad luncheon for us: homemade chicken, tuna, and tossed salads, topped off with lemon ice box pie! Wow! We feasted and had such a wonderful visit; so much to talk about; thankfully, most of our memories were intact. The “Bills” enjoyed "boy talk" while Joan and I yacked about any and everything! I mean, how do you even begin to catch up after being apart so long? But we made a good dent, that day, for sure. Joan even let me “play” in her bookshelves! You know how I love to fool around in other folks’ what-nots and collectibles! And, she had even saved a box of treasures for me! The catch was: I had to come and get them! Fair deal, right? Absolutely!

I came home with several of Joan's "pre-loved" treasures. Among them: a box of blue and white dishes! Yes! Joan had carefully preserved them after visiting us in 2009 and seeing how much I loved blue and white. Also, some beautiful aqua blue glass pieces that now sit prominently in my kitchen window! So each time I am at my kitchen sink, Joan is there with me. How special is that! She had enjoyed her blue and white dishes through the years, but storage space for many of her things was now at a premium, so I promised to give them a good home and I was delighted to receive them. Something else may have to go, but there will always be room for blue and white dishes in my kitchen. I also received a beautiful coverlet/bedspread that I am now enjoying. Joan is a gracious, giving person.

Some of the blue glass Joan gave me; (the little short vase is from another sweet friend)

A few hours is not enough time to catch up on all that we wanted to, but to conclude a wonderful day, before saying our sad goodbyes, we all enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at Famous Dave’s Barbeque in Philly. Yummy ribs and all the trimmings! Finger lickin' good! Our only regret of the day was that Jimmy was working out of state and was unable to be with us. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to meet him at another time.

My heart was full when we left. The Lord had enabled us to once again have a visit with dear friends and get caught up on our "hugs deficit." Thankfully, Joan is quite accomplished on the computer, so we can now stay in touch all the time! God is good! On another note, her husband just went through quite an extensive heart surgery and is recuperating well at home, thank the Lord.

Blessings, everyone. Tomorrow I am taking you to Hershey! Chocolate kisses? Maybe!

Donegal Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, Mount Joy, PA

2012-02-25T17:58:11Z

Let’s wrap up this trip! At least, let's get another day or two down today.

On Monday, June 20, 2011, we plugged in our trusted Garmin GPS and headed for Mt. Joy, PA., specifically looking for Donegal Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (http://www.donegalpc.org/). My niece, Judy Richardson, had given me names of some of our ancestors who are buried there and I promised to find them if possible while we were in that part of the world. Judy is our official family genealogist/historian and trust me, she knows her stuff!

We found the church among a lovely setting of ancient trees, well-tended grounds! The church was quaint, but we could tell that she was not dead or out of business, by any means. And then we spied her: an old – I’m talking old - cemetery dotted with mildew blackened headstones, some inscriptions legible; others, not even a clue as to who lay beneath them or what tribute was inscribed. Most of the ones whose inscriptions were almost non-existent were made from sandstone, according to what we were told. Some had “slept” in peace for a century or two, no doubt. Surrounded by a massive stone/rock wall, the cemetery had an open gate which beckoned us to come inside and stroll among its silent inhabitants, many of whom had been planted for centuries.

At first glance there didn’t appear to be anyone on the premises, nor did we expect to find anyone, necessarily. After all, it was a Monday and obviously there would be a small church staff who perhaps had the day off. We were about to begin searching the graveyard on our own, when we were warmly greeted by the Rev. Thomas J. McKinnon, the pastor, who was just finishing a meeting with a fellow pastor who was going to use their church for a wedding in the near future. Normally, it was his day off on a Monday, so it was truly our lucky day!

We introduced ourselves and explained our purpose for being there, and he extended us a true southern welcome right there in Pennsylvania! He was also eager to show us around inside the church – the foyer of which resembled a museum -and in fact, the entrance/foyer had been preserved through the years for just that historical purpose. Many documents and artifacts were displayed, all of which presented the church’s history in an orderly, informative fashion.

The pastor retrieved a very old book from among the archives, and inside the book were translations of the inscriptions found on many of the tombstones, markers, etc. It also contained an index of names and the rows, sections, etc., where the deceased were buried. The book had been published in 1900 by someone who wanted to be certain that these identifiers were preserved. So, “the book” was handled with great care, and we felt privileged to be able to touch it. The pastor pointed out a note inside the book with a strong admotion: The book must never leave the church; it was not for loan under any circumstance, because it was rare and irreplaceable. Judy had researched the numbers of the rows where our ancestors were interred; however, even though the rows had been marked, when the cemetery was restored a number of years ago, the row information was not replaced. Had we not had the book it would have been virtually impossible to locate the graves we were looking for, at least during the few hours we had to search.

Charming and so eager to help, the pastor also gave us a personal tour of the entire church property including its newest addition with a large glass wall overlooking a lovely garden and springs area below. From there, you could enjoy a very serene view of Donegal Springs which flowed at the base of an incline, along shaded, well-kept grounds. Talk about conducive to worship! So tranquil. A grand piano completed this perfect setting, and it is in this new addition where one of the two morning services is held. Even though the church is very old(http://www.archive.org/details/authentichistory00zieg), apparently it is still a vibrant, mission-minded Presbyterian church today.

Donegal Presbyterian Church Cemetery - Can you sense the tranquility?
(Entrance to cemetery, courtesy website)

I'm not certain if the Watsons interred beneath the above markers belong to our Watson relatives, but my guess is that back there somewhere our trees merged!

Pastor McKinnon
Can you tell I'm excited about THE BOOK that contains the names of some of our families way back when?

I can only imagine the marvelous sounds from the pipe organ above. An acoustical paradise, with no carpet, window treatments or other obstacles to distort the sound.

Pastor McKinnon told us that the Celtic cross above the pulpit area was made from a portion of the original floor of the Donegal Presbyterian's mother church in Ireland. This, of course, held a very special meaning for the congregation.

It might be my imagination, but do you see a happy face in the church above?
Donegal Presbyterian Church, Mount Joy, PA. (COURTESY WEBSITE)

We were so grateful for Pastor McKinnon’s hospitality, and we felt as if we were walking on Holy Ground as we searched among the graves. If only the voices of those departed could speak to us today, I’m wondering what they would say?

Strolling among the graves on a lovely day caused us to ponder, for sure. We were thankful we had accomplished the mission we had set out for that day and grateful for the heritage of those who years ago had influenced my very lineage.

Leaving there, we toured more of the little town of Mount Joy and around lunch time, we found a local diner – much like one you see on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and visiting with the friendly staff. Of course, we always brake for thrift shops wherever we are, so of course Bill stopped at Barely Used and let me get my “fix”.

Before finally getting back to our RV park, we stopped at a vegetable stand in an Amish farmer’s yard and bought some homegrown tomatoes. Get this: our transaction was totally on the honor system. How refreshing is that! Located across the road from his home, the stand was a little covered shed that advertised the tomatoes: Help yourself. And we did just that. A little container was there for you to put the money in and the tomatoes were already in little baskets and priced accordingly. Plastic bags were provided to transfer the tomatoes to “take home” containers. Trust. Almost forgotten in modern times, but not in Amish country.

Our day was now complete. I’m not positive, but I'm thinking we enjoyed tomato sandwiches for dinner that night! Another delightful day had come to a close in the lovely, rural country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Ellicott City, Maryland: Here we come - finally!

2012-02-18T21:30:41Z

I promise I am going to get to the end of this anniversary trip before too long, so thanks for bearing with me on our journey.

We left our camper very early on Sunday morning, June 19, bound for Ellicott City, MD. We arrived there around ten o’clock and found the church pastored by Dan Crow. Now, it's important to know that we go back a very long way with Dan and his lovely bride, Becky Cade Crow. So far back, that’s another whole blog in itself, having originated in Kentwood, LA in the late 1960s, early 70s.

For starters now, though, Dan pastors The Church at Covenant Park in Ellicott City, and we had been wanting to see those “kids” for a very long time. So, since we were in the general area of the US, our time had come! To add more sweetness, we would also get to see Del and Connie Morgan – another whole story that is way too long and involved for one simple blog entry. Del is worship leader at the same church. Double blessing.

We arrived between the first and second services, and as soon as the first was dismissed we received a robust welcome by Jonathan, Stephen, David (and his fiancé Krista), and Allen Crow! (4 of the 5 sons of the Crows)

Soon thereafter we were engulfed in hugs from Connie Morgan, along with son Michael and his wife; also Danielle and her husband; and daughter Rachel. Lana was unable to be there because of an obligation at her church in Washington, DC. (She and Danielle attend the same church in Washington.) It was Father’s Day, so all the Morgan “kids” were present (except sweet Lana) to lavish their love upon their father Del, and the Crow kids did likewise.

The Morgans, plus Velta and Bill

I was so moved at the realization of being united with all these wonderful friends, who are more like my family, most of whom I had not seen in years! The Morgans came into our hearts and lives when Del came to Kentwood (LA) FBC. They lived next door to us; Rachel was only 3 - and there she was, singing and praising the Lord! She is now nearing 30 and graduated from Wheaton, working on her master's. Then there was Michael, a bundle of pure energy, sweet Danielle who was the sweetest, most lovable baby in the world! And then little Lana came along! Oh, how we enjoyed the Morgan kiddos! Connie is a wonderful mother and recently received her master’s in writing children’s literature. Del and Connie are Louisiana natives from Cajun country! In addition to his music and worship duties, Del founded a wonderful ministry, Lamplight Artists; from his website: Del founded and is currently Executive Director of LAMPLIGHT ARTISTS, a non-profit organization committed to raising up artists who are passionate Christ followers. Sharing Christ through music and the arts continues to be a life-long pursuit. Taking others along on the journey has deepened the joy of knowing Christ.

Connie and Del Morgan

As I mentioned, the Crows go way back to days in Kentwood when Becky, a young girl who had recently lost her dad, came to work for Bill at our store. Bill became a surrogate father of sorts and even gave her hand in marriage to Danny Crow whom she had met while both were students at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. (After Danny was thoroughly vetted, of course!) Through the years we have followed them and their FIVE SONS, and now are watching them as they are proud grandparents! Becky and Danny (we still call him Danny!) have blessed us immeasurably through these many years.

Becky and Bill (don't miss Bill's cap! Had to have a taste of home!)

Following church, we enjoyed a wonderful Father’s Day of feasting on steamed crab and all the sides at the hospitable home of Adrian Crow, the first born son. Our elbows and mouths were moving 90 to nothing. Delightful weather allowed us to enjoy the outdoors. Emeril Lagasse would have been proud, 'cause we definitely kicked it up a notch - or two. Actually, I got pretty good with those pliers!

"Now, pay close attention: this is how you do it," per Bro. Dan

True Southern hospitality was extended to us, and old war stories were revived and enhanced a bit, perhaps. Lots of laughter and fun times abounded while cracking those crabs, and there were plenty of belly laughs, to boot! The “star” of our gathering was Colton, the darling little son of Jonathan and Beth Crow. I tried my best to sneak away with him but there were far too many eyes watching me! I did bank some hugs and smoochies, though.

Beth, Colton and Velta

Jonathan Crow, proud father of Colton

We returned to our camper after having an unbelievably great day of sharing with dear friends and recounting our blessings. A few final words about Becky Crow: for as long as Bill and I can remember – we’re talking 35 years or more – she has faithfully, without fail, remembered each of us on our birthdays, Father's Day, etc. Each card has words spoken from her sincere heart and causes us to pause and thank God again for Becky and her devotion to us. She is a rare jewel, and we treasure her and her family. Professionally, she is a nurse; however, as I recall, she has chosen to spend her time guiding and nurturing her sons, homeschooling them, and by being a constant companion and helper to Dan in their ministry. Currently, she is very active in a non-profit ministry in addition to the women's ministry at Covenant.

We have been blessed by so many who have touched our lives and hearts; the Crows and the Morgans are etched there. We were so thankful for the opportunity to visit them and have a true picture of where they live and work. Our cups were full and overflowing.

Longwood Gardens ... 50th Anniversary trip

2012-02-17T16:37:10Z

Well, it’s me again! One of my favorite cousins – don’t tell anyone: she may be my very favorite cousin who is several layers removed, Betty Zager Anderson, has been bugging me: When are you going to start blogging again? So, Betty, here we go! Back to our 50^th wedding anniversary ramblings:

Well, the first day after the first 50 years was also magnificent – June 18. After a leisurely breakfast in our-home-away-from-home overlooking an indescribably beautiful meadow in Amish-land, we set out for Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a couple or so hours away. Little did we know what spectacular beauty we were about to behold!

Our first rest stop while enjoying Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens had been highly recommended by several friends who had visited there, so it was definitely on our must-see list. As its brochure boasts: It was a feast for the eyes! Also, its claim that there is a wonder in every sense is true! I will share some of the photos we took that will give you only a glimpse into this world of wonder. There was so much to see, and how we would love to make another trip back there, because even after 3 hours we still had not experienced everything. Thank you, DuPont family, for your vision many years ago, and for those who make sure the gardens and museums are maintained for the enjoyment of everyone.

Among the things we enjoyed the most were the dancing fountains in the amphitheater (photo below). Mr. DuPont designed the Main Fountain Garden after visiting the gardens of Italy and France, and also after seeing hydraulic displays at several world fairs. This five-acre hydraulic masterpiece runs continuously through the day! We were spellbound as we enjoyed the dancing fountains which kept perfect time to the orchestral melodies.

A tiny snapshot view of a few of the dancing fountains

The beauty of the gardens, which showcased every imaginable species of flowers, trees, shrubs – you name it – was perhaps what most awed us. June has to be the best season for viewing, because there was such an abundance of blooming beauty everywhere! The lush arbors and walking paths, with comfortable benches for resting or viewing, just made you want to park there and just soak in - bank, if you will - the loveliness. What a tribute to Our Lord, Our Creator, who provides us with more beauty than we can ever think of or imagine with our finite minds. Heaven? Original Garden of Eden? I believe we had just a tiny taste of it at Longwood Gardens!

Perhaps the most unique and surprising feature was the display of water lilies. These unique pools were myriad and among them Santa Cruz water-platters (amazing - see photo below), aquatic cannas, lotus, water lilies, and other plants in the elegant courtyard. I was left speechless, never having seen anything like this in my long years.

The water platters were amazing!

Beautiful, huh?

Notice the bee; something wonderful is happening!

This thing must have been shipped in from Texas!
(Just so you know: Bill hails from Louisiana)

Guess who had fun in one of the tree houses?
Little boys are like that, aren't they?

Well, maybe I've shared enough to whet your appetite. If you want a day of sheer beauty and relaxation, marveling in the majesty of Our Lord and His creation, it's well worth your time to stop and rest awhile among the gardens and structures, fountains, museums, displays that beg description, and many sights and sounds, entertainment of superb quality. I suggest that you make http://www.longwoodgardens.org/ a favorite place for your next vacation for the entire family. My trying to adequately describe Longwood Gardens is akin to advising Robert Kinkaid how to properly paint light! But I hope you have grasped a bit of the joy that Bill and I had the day we visited Longwood Gardens. Thanks to everyone who inspired us to visit there.

I'll leave you with this beautiful image of one of the thousands of orchids:

Pausing to reflect a moment ...

2012-01-04T16:43:48Z

Hi Everyone,

Before I get back on track and continue our travels in Lancaster, Pennsylvania - like I promised, and sharing more of our ongoing celebration of our 50^th wedding anniversary, I want to pause for just a minute to reflect on God’s faithfulness. I don't do that often enough. But in recent days I've been challenged personally to rely more on God's grace and power in my life and to reflect on what is important and what is rubbish. Facing uncertain medical issues has a way of doing that, doesn't it?

As many of you know, I often post to my Facebook page the daily words of wisdom from Max Lucado. Today, his quote really reminded me of a truth I needed to let sink in again … and again. Just in case you could use an infusion of this truth as you hurry and scurry about, or as you struggle with uncertainties of one kind or another, I am posting his comments for you to ponder. He has a way of honing in on the truths of God’s Word, and often, just when I need them the most.

May you be blessed and encouraged by them, too. By the way, his daily posts can be found at: http://www.maxlucado.com/articles/category/daily_text/

He’s Faithful by Max Lucado

If we are not faithful, God will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself. 2 Timothy 2:13”

"We don’t get it!

Because God’s blessings are dispensed according to the riches of his grace, not according to the depth of our faith.

Why’s that important to know? So you won’t get cynical. Look around you. Aren’t there more mouths than bread? More wounds than physicians? More who need the truth than those who tell it?

So what do we do? Throw up our hands and walk away? Tell the world we can’t help them? No, we don’t give up!

We look up. We trust. We believe.

Christ has proven worthy. He never fails!

That’s what makes God—God. "

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-31T20:51:08Z

I'm back! Happy New Year's Eve Everyone,

After being away from my blog for several weeks, I am up and running!

Hope each of you had a terrific Christmas and that your 2012 will be smack
full of love, joy, peace and good health!

We had a very wonderful Christmas. Eating, visiting, eating, opening
presents, eating, hugging, eating, regretting that we ate too much, eating
again. you get my drift? I'm thinking I will take up my same resolution
from last year because I really neglected it in 2011 and I'm sure it is just
waiting for me to give it a second chance! How about the rest of you?
Let me know what worked/'works for you and maybe I will cut and paste it
into my new year's resolutions column! Deal?

I'm trying out some new features on my blog and will get into some serious
blogging in the days to come. Thanks for your interest and encouragement!
I appreciate all the love and prayers on my behalf.

Love you all.

Velta

50TH ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY 6 - JUNE 17 - the real day!

2011-10-19T03:27:44Z

Good morning, everyone.

Many of you have asked: “When are you going to start blogging again?” So, I hope I can finally say, “Now!” Thank you for your interest and concern for me while I’ve been away from my home base for quite some time. I will save the details of my time away for later blogging, perhaps, but the short reason is that I’ve been away much of the past few months due to the illness and death of my sister, Beatrice Gray Miller, who lived in East Texas.

When I last blogged I was just getting off to a good start on detailing our wonderful 50^th anniversary trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, so that’s where I will pick up today. (There will more to come when I tell you about the fantastic week with the entire family in the mountains of Franklin, North Carolina, a gift from our sons and their families.)

June 17^th finally arrived! It is finally the actual date of our wedding when we tied the knot back in 1961 in Longview, Texas. It is hard to believe that 50 wonderful years have passed, but I suppose the calendar doesn’t tell falsehoods. Nor do the age spots and wrinkles here and there I will admit, though: celebrating 50 years causes one to ask certain psychological questions. I’m supposed to feel old, right? Golden is old, right? Longevity from this point on? Really realizing the real meaning of ‘happily ever after’? Waking up, cooking breakfast, Facebooking, texting! Life hasn’t changed overnight just because I’ve been married 50 years! I’m not feeling older! Earlier that morning a dear friend from home called to see if I wanted to go to an estate sale in her neighborhood. Sure hated to miss that, for sure, but the distance from PA to SC was a little too difficult to master. Now, we got all that old stuff settled, I think I agree with whoever said: Old is in the eyes of the beholder.

This special day brought more exploring of the lovely area of Lancaster, PA. We never ceased to be amazed at the lovely farms of the Amish folks. Well-tended, lush, and not a blade of grass anywhere. Precious children, dressed as their parents were in modest, very basic garments, were all playing and having fun in the well-manicured yards.

We found a Walmart (never far from one!) and selected a matted frame for our photo/puzzle/collage we had worked the night before and hung it right away in our camper! We then enjoyed a light lunch at Arby’s. Max and Sara called us and wished us a happy anniversary! That was special to hear from them.

All day we kept recounting our blessings, marveling at the number of years God has given us together. 50 years sounds like such a long time, but it’s only five 10s or ten 5s. Doesn’t sound so long that way, does it? We wondered aloud: how many more will we have together? So many couples only dream of this milestone. Why are we so blessed?

Completing our day of celebration was a candlelight dinner in a quaint, historic restaurant, “Revere Tavern”. Dating back to 1740, it was one of the better inns along 62 miles stretching from Philadelphia to Lancaster, PA. It had been recommended by several of the locals and we were not disappointed. http://www.reveretavern.com/ While there we did commit a grave transgression! (See photo below) Maybe the calories won’t be in effect when I next visit my sweet doctor, I remember thinking. Somehow I just felt certain that calories did not compute when ingested on one’s 50^th wedding anniversary. Agree?

Adding to the day’s wonder was reading the myriad of sweet wishes and congratulatory Facebook messages from our treasure trove of friends sprinkled over the United States. Beauty surrounded us both in our tranquil setting and in our hearts. A call from Art and Merritt was the perfect ending to a day that we only dreamed about in the past. We are so blessed.

We face the future with hope and confidence, knowing that our remaining years are in His hands – where they’ve always been – and we are grateful. We pledged to each other once more to live each day to its fullest. God blessed us with two sons, two daughters-in-love, two grandsons and two granddaughters, extended family, and an abundance of cherished friends. What more could we ask for? The “rain” in our lives has been a result of our own wrong choices, but these never obliterated our joy of family and the legacy of family that helped to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Celebrating our Anniversary Dinner

Doesn't this just look too yummy for words? Shared decadence!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP DAY 5 - JUNE 16

2011-08-05T11:54:45Z

Another great day! After some necessary housekeeping we left the camper around 10 o’clock and started our day of more exploring.

Our first stop of the day was a quaint little town called Lititz, also known as Lancaster County’s Sweet Spot. Its streets are literally “hugging” homes and small businesses, each separated by scarcely 2-3 feet. The tiny, well-manicured yards had lush greenery, stunning ground covers, and climbing vines and their porches often had exquisite hanging baskets, in full bloom and bursting with variety of colors. I could not help but notice that many of the homes also had a decorative metal star displayed near the front door, or in some other noticeable place, maybe on a brick wall or even hanging inside their windows. At first I thought they were Moravian stars, but when I inquired about them I was told they were barn stars. A brochure said that the barn star originated within the German farming community and that the farmers would often mount a large star-shaped decoration onto their barns. Its significance varied. Some farmers considered the stars good luck; others viewed it simply aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. The tradition of the barn star in America can be traced back to the 1700’s and to at least the 1870’s in Pennsylvania. (Source: Tin’N’ Treasures, Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse, PA.) As an aside, while in Texas recently, I saw many of these same stars gracing homes and other structures! But that’s another whole story! I must get them started here! We thoroughly enjoyed our slow drive through this sweet little town and admired its cleanliness and small shops and residences that were very well-maintained. While cruising, we saw a cute sign in one yard:

In case you can't read the wording, it says: To the person who took my A.C.... it was not free for the taking! I would greatly appreciate it if you would return it!

Later we had lots of fun in Intercourse, PA, where we enjoyed a nice lunch and browsed in several shops, most of which had locally made wares, but also offered many other items found in similar “touristy” towns and villages. All of them were set right next to a rolling farm land being tilled by an Amish farmer guiding his team of big, strong horses! What a pastoral view we had! Farm land is abundant in Lancaster County and enjoys prime spaces right in the towns and villages. In fact, a large percentage of farm land must be dedicated to farming, rather than to commercial or industrial use.

Perhaps you might be wondering (nosey?) about the unusual name of Intercourse? It’s an eyebrow-raising name, for sure! Well, I will tell you what I found out:

Formerly known as "Cross Keys", this village was founded in 1754. The name was changed to Intercourse in 1814.

There are several explanations concerning the origin of the name of Intercourse, but none can really be substantiated. The first centers around an old race track which existed just east of town along the Old Philadelphia Pike. The entrance to the race course was known as "Entercourse". Some suggest that "Entercourse" gradually evolved into "Intercourse".

Another theory concerns two major roads that crossed here: the Old King's Highway, which ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now called the Old Philadelphia Pike), and the road from Wilmington, Delaware to Erie, Pennsylvania. The intersection of these two roads was thought to be the basis for the town of "Cross Keys" or, eventually, "Intercourse".

A final idea comes from the "old english" language which was is use in the early 1800's. It refers to the "fellowship" or social interaction and friendship which was so much a part of an agricultural village and culture at that time. These roots mark the community of faith to this day, and the many evidences of it are experienced by those who care to dig a bit more deeply while visiting this area.

Intercourse is a town full of delightful treasures and friendly shopkeepers, nestled among the scenic Amish farmland. For visitors of any age, there's plenty to do in Intercourse.

So, take your pick about the name. I agree: there’s plenty to do in Intercourse! It is teeming with fun shops, tasty, local cuisine, all in a lovely setting where you can sit on a bench and watch the team of horses do their thing. A wonderful respite!

Couldn't resist this photo op while in Intercourse! This wonderful shop had celebrated 50 years of cannin' & jammin' a few years back and still sported its sign ... and we were doing the same thing - celebratin'! We've had lots of "we can do it!" times in our lives and we've been in and out of a lot of jams!

We were framed in Intercourse!

After more exploring we arrived at the Sight and Sound Theatre to see the performance of “Joseph”. Words fail me to adequately describe this incredibly moving re-enactment of the Biblical account of Joseph. The power of forgiveness was so gripping my eyes welled-up with tears. We were captivated from beginning to end. We would encourage everyone to see this dramatic presentation if at all possible, either at the Lancaster, PA or Branson, MO Sight and Sound Theatres. I won’t even attempt to describe the majesty and excellence of this event. Currently, the cast is working on Jonah. I can only imagine how moving this will be. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this type of presentation, but the scenery and drama literally surrounds you, in front and on the sides of the massive auditorium. The narrator will tell you upfront that certain liberties have been taken for purposes of the drama, but the thrust and overall story line of the presentation is true to the Biblical account. http://www.sight-sound.com/.

We topped off another special day by feasting at Hershey’s Restaurant’s marvelous buffet, and by far the best cuisine we had enjoyed thus far.

Once back home at the camper, we found the surprise package that Merritt had sent by UPS. It contained a very unique and intriguing jigsaw puzzle that had been hinted at earlier in my Mother’s Day gift! I was told then that on “our day” I would receive more clues about the plans they were putting together to celebrate our 50^th wedding anniversary! The puzzle, when assembled, contained photos of Art and Merritt, Max and Sara, Andy and Karen, Luke and Hannah, and Anna and Justin, all holding different signs with various messages. We stayed up until midnight working the puzzle and had a ball! Here is the message when each saying was deciphered: “Happy 50^th Anniversary! You and Daddy Bill and we will spend a week in the mountains of North Carolina. We have rented a house! We’ll go fishing and shopping and enjoy the cool mountain evenings. The trip will be from August 6 – August 13. It is going to be awesome! We love you and can’t wait until we’re all together in Franklin, NC. Hope you’re happy!” Isn’t that the neatest thing you’ve ever heard or seen?

Before calling it a night Bill and I exchanged anniversary cards and affirmed our love, hopes and dreams for many more years of togetherness. God is good and we are blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren, and an abundance of friends. Tomorrow is the REAL anniversary day!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY FOUR

2011-08-03T15:15:25Z

On day four another invasion of bright sunlight interrupted our slumber! Cool temps had also crept in overnight and I was almost wishing I had packed my Granny gown! Moving around the camper and getting some caffeine took care of the chill!

After a leisurely breakfast, we headed out to the office of GAIN (Global Aid Network) in a nearby town (Mount Joy) to deliver the package of supplies that Kent Jewel, a member of our church here in Lancaster, SC, had asked us to deliver. Kent and Jean have been associated with this wonderful organization for several years and have taken many trips to Russia in connection with its mission work. From its website ( http://www.gainusa.org/):

Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries serving to demonstrate the love of God, through word and deed, to hurting and needy people around the world through relief and development projects.

Our Mission was now accomplished and we were happy to be the transfer agents for such a worthy cause!

Proof of Delivery

Later, we enjoyed a bountiful lunch at the Good and Plenty Restaurant in Smoketown, Pa., a nearby village of sorts. To set the stage, Smoketown is a small farming village in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, PA, west of Bird-in-Hand, PA. Population in 2000 was 119! So now you know what we were up against. I'm sure the population has swelled (as well as its tourists) by dining at the Good and Plenty Restaurant. http://www.goodnplenty.com/ Interesting facts from its website state that: When Good 'N Plenty first opened, it sat only 114 people. As word of Good 'N Plenty's delicious and satisfying PA Dutch food spread, hungry customers would sometimes wait up to two hours on a weekend to enjoy the restaurant's food. It didn't take long for the Lapps to realize that they needed to expand!

In 1971, the Dutch Room was added to the rear of the restaurant, making it possible to seat 570 guests. A larger waiting area was added in 1978, and, in the winter of 1994-1995, the restaurant underwent a major facelift and addition. Today, the restaurant can accommodate over 600 guests at one seating. Christ and Dolly Lapp, along with their children and grandchildren, continue to run the restaurant, serving delicious home-cooked food in the Lancaster County tradition. So, please come and enjoy what others have since 1969...Family Style Dining At Its Finest!

Hungry yet? The food was very good, akin to our meat and three establishments, but on a much larger scale! Served family style, the meal accommodated us and another family who joined us – Mom, Dad and 4 children. The appetizers were delicious and also the multiple entrees were tasty and filling! Fried chicken topped the list. Butter noodles seemed to be a local favorite. Just let your imagine run wild here. Trust me: All American cuisine was front and center! Refills on everything were offered throughout the meal.

And, we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our meal with our new Florida friends. (Bill has often said that just give me a few minutes and I will make friends with a stump! Guilty as charged.) The father was a landscaping engineer and owned a contracting company, but the family had a unique hobby. Raising miniature donkeys! Actually, the children were very involved in the care and raising of the donkeys and showing them at various festivals and that type of thing. I just love learning new information! J Now, when I think of Donkeys they have a whole new meaning! Just thought you’d be interested in this tidbit of information.

The Good and Plenty Restaurant was highly advertised in the area, and also recommended by some friends from home who had visited that neck-of-the-woods. So our appetite was duly whetted. I can attest to the fact that it lived up to its name: it was both good and plenty. And I might as well confess right here that we both yielded to great temptation and had dessert on top of all the other questionable carbs! I’m certain Bill must have given me the first taste of shoo-fly pie … the best we good do for the evil apple. J After all, we were celebrating an important event in our lives. Right? (I can usually justify most all of my transgressions! J) The shoo-fly pie was widely touted as an area must try. Every area restaurant seemed to offer this local delicacy. My assessment was that it is basically a pecan pie without the pecans! Or, very similar to an old-fashioned syrup pie that I remember my mother baking. Just a taste did it, because right away I could feel the sugar coursing through my diabetic veins after just a tiny bit! What was I thinking to even let a taste get near my lips! The day after this exhilarating experience may have also been a day that I decided to skip checking my blood sugar! I’m sure there was no good basis for making this decision; it just seemed like a wise thing to do.

Very near the restaurant was a Goodwill! Can you feel the excitement building? Yes! It seems that no matter where we go there is always a Goodwill (my favorite boutique of choice) in our path of travel and the vehicle automatically swerves across lanes or makes a fast exit to the right! A U-turn is sometimes necessary, legal or not. My sweet husband of 50 years was happy to drop me off and later even helped me load the dishes in the truck! Actually, we did have some time to kill ... any excuse will do when needed. And love truly does endure all things! I always gravitate to the dishware section of whatever thrift store I find myself enjoying. Every woman needs a few more dishes, right? I knew you would agree.

From there, we went to the American Music Theatre where we enjoyed a delightful evening of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s music. What a treat! We were spellbound every moment of the performance. The cast and orchestra were all outstanding and the talent was truly amazing! Broadway at its finest. There were many favorites, but Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera was one of the loveliest, in my opinion. If you are interested in upcoming events check out AMT’s website: http://www.amtshows.com/category/events/ You will not be disappointed in the quality of these musical performances.

Afterwards, a drive through rural Amish farms back to our camper completed our day of exploring, eating, shopping, and being entertained by superb performers. So far, we are enjoying every minute of our trip!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY THREE

2011-08-03T01:16:39Z

Good morning!

(After about a month of being away from blogging, I will begin - again - recounting our wonderful 50th anniversary trip to the Amish country in beautiful Pennsylvania. Due to the unexpected illness and subsequent death of my sister, Bea Miller, I spent the month of July in Texas. Later I will publish my tribute to Bea. I miss her terribly.)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

After a restful night in our RV, we were awakened by a brilliant sunrise. The sun was up very early, long before 6 a.m. We raised our blinds to reveal the most tranquil scenery imaginable! Perfectly manicured farm fields with silos and barns and residences greeted us. The beauty surrounding us was punctuated with an occasional clickety-clack of an Amish farmer's buggy and his horse, loping along the road, a short distance from our RV. We were parked in a prime spot for enjoying the unimaginable scenery and traffic of the locals going about their daily activities. Talk about a room with a view!

Excited is much too bland a word to describe the anticipation of all that awaited us as we set out on our first day to explore and enjoy this part of God's beautiful world. Our first stop was at the Visitor's Center near downtown Lancaster and there we received an abundance of literature about the area attractions and sights to see and enjoy. We decided on a bus tour, and since we were the only guests on the bus, we received all the attention and soaked up the guide's talking points. She was very, very good, and totally knowledgeable of the area and its people. As a native of that part of the country, she was well-versed in its history and culture and patiently answered our many questions.

Along the way, our guide pointed out a one-room school house, noting its outdoor toilet facilities, one each for the boys and girls. She mentioned that all children are educated only through the 8^th grade. Even the teachers only attend 8 years and are mentored by an older person before they begin teaching. She stopped at a covered bridge and let us walk through, viewing the serene Conestoga River below. We viewed many homes of the Amish farmers, homes which were easily identified by their typically dark window treatments which provided both privacy and a certain degree of cooling from the outside sun. We saw cisterns (or holding tanks) which are used to supply water to the homes. A windmill powers the tanks and gravity causes the water to flow into the homes.

Almost every home had one or more clotheslines, proudly show-casing their washed garments, flying high in the air at an angle. The Amish are very predictable and disciplined in all that they do. Even the clothes were hung in an orderly fashion. Dark work clothes dominated the wash, but there were clothing representative of the young children all the way to the grown men. Even intimate feminine apparel was blowing in the wind! The lines were anchored to the house or other nearby structure and then to some taller building - perhaps a barn or tree - and the clothes were raised and lowered by a pulley mechanism. This allowed the clothes to be hoisted very high in the air, permitting horses and tractors or other farm equipment to pass underneath them without soiling the freshly washed clothes. With an average family of seven, every day but Sunday is wash day! Interestingly, clothes washers are powered by gasoline - which is legal - but no electricity is permitted in the home, lest potential for evil influences enter inside! Telephones or other electrical devices are permitted in outside buildings, so there seems to be a bit of legalism to the outsiders trying to grasp an understanding of the practices of the Amish. And, not all clotheslines were hoisted; many lined the front porches or yards, but these were not adjacent to the areas where the farm animals were kept.

Our guide explained the practice of "shunning" in the Amish Church. This is a form of discipline when a member commits a sin or transgression, if you will, against the church. If someone does commit an offense against the church's disciplinary rules, that person is "shunned", even in their own home, to the point of taking meals alone. They are even forbidden to transact business among other Amish folks until they repent and are restored to fellowship. Church gatherings are held in Amish homes on a rotating basis. Benches to accommodate the worshippers are hauled by a "bench trailer", and extra dishes are also transported from home to home for serving the meals. No paper products are permitted, ladies! I'm sure there are enough hands to wash, dry, and store the dishes and utensils before the next gathering.

There is a deep respect and reverence for the Amish folks, and all visitors are encouraged to honor their beliefs, practices, and customs. No photos which show their faces are to be taken except in unusual circumstances where permission is first granted (as in a documentary, for instance). There were still many wonderful photo opportunities, however, which we took advantage of without dishonoring their requests.

Day 3 was fun, informative, relaxing, and just what we needed to get off to a wonderful start in our exploring of Lancaster, Pennsylvania!

Hard at work!

The contrasting stages of the plantings and harvests were eye-catching.

Love that orange triangle! This is a very common sight on all the roads within and without the city.

Doesn't this give you a feeling of contentment?

This particular clothesline was not "hoisted", as you can see.

Love the layers of color! Such great care in tilling the earth.

Flowers alongside the corn!

Can you find the darling little boy in the garden among the onions?

We watched each other!

All in a day's work!

ANNIVERSARY TRIP - DAY TWO

2011-07-01T15:34:52Z

The morning was cool and calm as we began the last half of our journey to Lancaster, PA. We had a very restful night and we were greeted by chirping songbirds as we woke up and prepared to leave. Exiting our campsite, and dodging a huge tree right at our site, took some careful maneuvering on Bill’s part. The camp was quiet, shady, and very adequate. We would definitely return to Natural Bridge, VA!

So Day 2 got off to a great start. All was going well – or so we thought – until we stopped for a brief break at the tourist bureau just inside West Virginia. Bill noticed the left rear wheel-bearing on the travel trailer was leaking fluid and the hub cap was extremely hot – so hot that when he touched it (as he always does when doing his walk-arounds) it actually burned his hand, though not severely. Obviously, this leakage was something very serious which had to be addressed immediately, so we called our roadside assistance folks who directed us to Ray’s Auto Repair shop in nearby Bunker Hill, W. VA. Here we go, hoping we can find the place before anything gets worse.

Finding Ray’s Repair was much like I imagine finding Tobacco Road must have been! Located way at the end of a country lane, we found it! One of the guys was nice enough to back the RV right up next to the garage doors so it would be convenient to do the work. He got us going after a few hours of waiting on parts, etc., including replacing a defective tire on the right side that we did not even know about before this incident. This tire was very near blowing-out, apparently damaged on the road somewhere along the way. It could have caused a really bad wreck and severe damage to the camper had the tire actually blown out. We did not even want to go there in our minds!

God’s hand of protection was all around us. This delay was not programmed into our travel agenda and Bill kept beating up on himself for not have the wheel bearings re-packed before we left on our trip. It was quite an experience, to say the least, including a panoramic view of the classic Old McDonald’s farm! A live production played out right before our eyes as we waited, the cast being a multitude of farm animals and then some! The activity all around the repair shop included crowing roosters and just about every species of chickens imaginable. There were White Leghorns, Dominecker, Rhode Island Reds, and other “brands” that I cannot recall from my days of growing up in the country. Ducks fiercely competed with the chickens as they scratched the earth for a few morsels of feed. I laughed as one White Leghorn hen – well, maybe she was a pullet - literally chased a duck away from the grains. The duck finally escaped to safety by going airborne several yards away! (No, she wasn't a Gamecock, you South Carolina folks. I'm sure.) I suppose the Leghorn got the corn, or whatever it was they were in a war about. And there were too many kitties to count! Dogs lounged lazily and quite comfortably on discarded carpeting that had been tossed from the owner’s mobile home across the road. Never a dull moment around this repair shop, for sure.

Also, there some children around the shop; one in particular was a cute little girl, 4 or 5 years old, who wagged around and cuddled her teeny Chihuahua named Jelly Bean. She graciously offered to let me cuddle Jelly Bean, too. I should have accepted her offer, but I declined. At one point I decided to rest a bit inside the camper as we were waiting. About that time a rooster slipped up very near the camper door and let out an extremely loud crow that scared the willies out of me! It very much resembled the Fox News rooster who crows each morning as Fox and Friends comes on! In fact, I’m sure that rooster had escaped the set in New York and made its way to Ray’s Repair Shop. I tell you, it was a sight to behold around there. But were we grateful for the expertise of the mechanics? You bet we were! If we had not had the wheel bearing issue, who knows when the other defective tire would have been discovered. God is good! We were – and are – thankful.

Sorry I was so busy watching the farm animals I failed to get their picture! Trust me, they were everywhere!
Also, the photo was made before the camper was backed into place at the garage door.

Well, finally we got on the road again, hastening to our campground, and hoping to arrive before the gate closed at 9 p.m. Bill was a little antsy, to say the least. He is a planner and several hours delay was not in his plan! The owner of the campground had told us if we did not register by 9 p.m., the gate would be locked and we would just have to park in the driveway until morning. Not a deal breaker, but definitely not something we wanted to experience our first night in Pennsylvania. With God’s blessing, Bill’s expertise and Garmin guiding us every step of the way to Lancaster, and through a myriad of corn and wheat fields, we were brought right to the campground at 8 o’clock p.m.! One hour to spare! (Bill says I am giving you the sweet, "Miss Velta" version. His version? Not so much!)

Bill relaxing; notice the highway. We would sit and enjoy the horses click-clacking along as the Amish went about their daily activities.

Velta - just outside our camper. The grounds were well- maintained. The countryside view was incredible. Our information said there was a five mile view from the campground.

Meandering through beautiful, lush green landscapes and yielding rights-of-ways to horses and buggies guided by the wonderful Amish folks, we were so thankful to reach our campground without any more surprises! As an aside, I caused us to miss the entrance to the campground – thinking this particular entrance was for other types of campers and thinking there was another entrance just ahead for rigs like ours! Big oops on my part, but to my great relief, there was an area just beyond where Bill could turn the RV around and back track. After a rather exhausting day full of surprises, we happily settled into our “nest” which we would occupy for the next several days!

50th Wedding Anniversary Trip - Day One

2011-06-29T17:13:27Z

After a wonderful several days with family and friends at Myrtle Beach and Mt. Pleasant, SC in late May and early June, Bill and I returned home for a short time to prepare to go to the Pennsylvania Dutch country of Lancaster, PA to celebrate our upcoming 50^th wedding anniversary. For the next few blog entries I invite you to journey along with us as I record a portion of our experiences in the wonderful world of the Amish, as well as some side trips to visit dear friends. For brevity, I will post in several different entries so that you do not become completely exhausted! (Unless you are really bored and have nothing better to do, read on. I am recording our times in this blog so that my children and grandchildren can one day read about this special time in our lives.)

50^th Anniversary Trip – Day One – June 12, 2011

We left Lancaster, SC shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Earlier that morning we had a call from Kent Jewell who had just learned that we were traveling to Pennsylvania. Kent asked if we could deliver a package of missions supplies to the headquarters and warehouse of Global Aid Network (G.A.I.N.), a Campus Crusade for Christ ministry that Kent and others in our church faithfully support in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, very near Lancaster, PA. We told him we would be happy to do so, so Kent quickly brought the box of supplies to us before he went to early church; then we were ready to go!

After making some last minute preparations and checking over our 5^th wheel camper again, we were all set and ready to pull out! As always, Bill prayed for us, for our truck, the trailer, and everything concerning our trip, that God would protect us. We had looked forward to this trip for such a long time and were full of joy and gratitude that the Lord had allowed us to reach this milestone in our lives. Bill had planned for weeks, getting our route just right, what we would see and do, and everything was all set. June 17, 1961 was only the beginning! Traveling with us, of course, was our trusted GARMIN, without whom we would have been totally lost on some of the back roads we traveled. Thank you, Art, for this wonderful gizmo.

The day was bright and sunny, and we were excited and full of great anticipation as we made our way out of Forest Hills subdivision, heading to I-77 in Rock Hill, and the first leg (Natural Bridge, VA) of our ultimate destination: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

We stopped for lunch in the lovely area of Christiansburg, VA. Since a Cracker Barrel usually has adequate parking space for RVs we often stop there (not to mention their consistently good food)! After a nice lunch and stretching a bit, we journeyed on to our first stop - the KOA in Natural Bridge, VA, arriving there around 3:00 p.m. It was a lovely campground, nestled in a shaded, mountainous area of VA, the town well-known for the historic Natural Bridge, which we did not get to see on this trip, due to navigating the camper in uncertain areas, etc. Bill did a terrific job driving, and we were happy to stop at this beautiful place for our first night. The registration area was lovely, with blooming shrubs and an abundance of butterflies flitting here and there on the blooming butterfly bush. The “tepee” type construction of the office was typical of KOAs, which are generally well-maintained, safe and predictable. A youth camp - or something - must have been going on because the swimming pool was teeming with little ones!

Our journey there had taken us through majestic mountains standing guard over lush, green valleys. Patches of brilliant wildflowers provided ample eye candy along our way. Farms, modest homes and steepled churches punctuated the countryside, showcasing abundant crops and mown, baled hay. Rows of tree farms were noted here and there, adding beauty to the landscape. I would say that the interstate was virtually free of any litter. What scenic beauty all along the way, bringing to mind the thought: How Great Is Our God! I love the mountains, ear-popping and all!

By the way, maintaining one’s sense of humor is a necessary element when “RV-ing.” It also helps to have seen the movie “RV”, starring Robin Williams, in which a family experiences the joys and traumas of novice RV-ers, a stage from which we have hopefully graduated!

As background, a few weeks ago the roof of our camper sustained damage – well, actually two burst vent covers which were now sporting large, gaping holes - as a result of a bad hailstorm. Our close friend, Bud Wilson, while we were away one day, climbed on top of the camper and placed duct tape (the all in one fixer, right?) over the rather large holes. He’s just that kind of guy. (Bill had ordered new replacement vent covers, but it required much more time than we had - not a simple fix, in other words.) Bud’s duct tape had held beautifully, even through a couple of rather violent rainstorms. Good. All is well. So, you can imagine our surprise when several hundred miles later, we awoke to find “raindrops were falling our heads.” Somewhere between Lancaster, SC and Natural Bridge, VA, Bud’s duct tape had broken loose and flew away to unknown parts! No biggie! After a brief laugh, Bill taped a trash bag over the vents (see photo below), the rain had stopped, and we were on the road again! Redneck repairs are the best … at least until we find the nearest Camping World!

Our first overnight stop, KOA, Natural Bridge, VA

Lovely blooming butterfly bush at Natural Bridge KOA, VA

Our vent repair! Still holding!

HAIL VS. TOMATOES

2011-05-02T13:26:00Z

(Note: A few hours before I decided to publish this Blog, last night, May 1, 2011, around 11:00 p.m., EST, President Barack Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U. S. Navy Seals In a compound in Pakistan . His body was later buried at sea, lest a shrine to his body be erected. Finally, there is a resolution to THE HUNT that began on September 11, 2001, when 3,000 people perished . May God bless our President, our military, and our intelligence forces.)

Each Springtime, as new growth is exploding all around us with its promised abundance of beauty and sustenance, my memory flashes back to our humble dwelling, deep in the heart of Texas. I think of my godly parents, Claude and Odelle Gray, and a large plot of ground waiting its harvest of soon-to-be tomatoes. The farm was not large, by any means, in comparison to present day Texas farms and ranches, but in my child’s imagination, it loomed large.

A long time before my daddy entrusted his young, tender tomato plants to the large open field, he had already carefully cultivated and nurtured the soil, making straight, mounded rows that resembled soldiers saluting their authority. I’m sure that it wasn’t easy deciding on the right moment to release the plants from their protected “cold frames” to the uncertain elements and/or predators of the open field. No Internet; no radar; no 7-day forecast; no weather.com. The best daddy could do was pore over the most recent Farmer’s Almanac or search the skies for current conditions. At best, no one could accurately predict adverse weather conditions, nor prepare for their often devastating results.

Embedded in my memory is this one spring, probably in the early 1940’s. The tomato plants were thriving beautifully in the open field, laden with good-sized, green tomatoes – well on their way to near perfect maturity. In a short time, they would be ready for harvesting and transporting to the wholesale green-market, with no more than a blush of color - if any - on them. In a few days, they would then magically appear in the local retail markets in the area, showcasing their bright tomato- red color! Daddy was well-known in the area to be among the first to produce such early, mature tomatoes.

Suddenly, this particular spring, a tremendous hailstorm swept across our small farm in East Texas, pounding and wiping out my daddy’s tomato crop, taking with it the bulk of his monetary provision for our family that year. Unrelenting, the hail targeted all of the tomatoes, as I recall, leaving few to survive its onslaught. In my memory, the hail was large, looking like an invasion of frozen snowballs littering the ground.

I don’t remember how, or if, my daddy recovered any of his crop of tomatoes that year. I can say for sure, though, that no insurance adjuster was contacted to assess the damages to his prized beauties, or to our modest home, which no doubt sustained damages, too. Knowing my daddy, he started all over again and somehow provided for our family by his hard work and accepting the loss as it was: simply an act of God, permitted, for some reason, in His wisdom.

In recent days my heart has hurt for the thousands of families whose loved ones were killed and their homes reduced to mere splinters by unspeakable, 500 mph tornadic activity. Not only lives, but cherished photos and letters that once documented precious memories were lost or blown away to who knows where. Devastation that baffles the most seasoned meteorologists, and uncalculated heartache is being suffered, due to the unbelievable havoc across many of our southern states. There is no comparison of my daddy’s tomato crop that was wiped out, only that the lessons learned from these indescribable experiences should bring us to our knees in gratitude for our having being spared. Dare we ask why? If we allow our hearts to hear an answer, how will we show our thankfulness?

In honor of my daddy’s memory, a few weeks ago I set out two tomato plants in a pot on my deck. Bill filled the pot with new soil, a little Miracle-Gro was applied, and they took root and are on their way! The two plants have now intertwined, embracing each other! Bill placed some supportive caging around them and they are standing strong, surviving our recent hail storm! I don’t need the hail to remind me of my daddy, but I think he would be proud to know that I still remember the lessons he taught me, knowing just how to break off those suckers that don’t belong there, and pruning them often, as he would do. He would be proud, too, that if they make it to “picking, tomato-sandwich” time, I will gladly share! Any takers for future orders? Anybody got any watermelons? I’ve always loved bartering!

GARDENING TIPS

2011-04-06T12:57:00Z

A dear friend sent a devotional thought today which contained some very good advice for growing one's spiritual garden. In light of my blog yesterday, I wanted to share part of it: Here goes (and it's not just for Squash!):

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

Now, there's a garden we can all grow and everyone reaps the benefits! Have a lovely, sunshine-filled day!

Velta