Hershey Weekend/Family Reunion

Over all our weekend was a delight! Not without frustrations and trials and a few disappointments but over all wonderful.

Our adventure started around noon on Friday.  Our girls and their partners headed out in Mikayla's car, Rhett and I followed shortly in his truck.  Ryan and Nicole were headed down after Ryan got out of work in the afternoon.  

We had not recieved check in instructions for our AirBnB- so Rhett messaged our host. We had about a 4 hour drive ahead of us.

A short while later the host called us stating there was an issue, but she had a solution. Not to worry we had a place to stay.  Um, Okay? Apparently there had been a fire and the house deemed a total loss May 1. All future reservations for that house "were supposed to have been canceled". It wasn't. Solution- they just happened to own another house in a nearby town- a little more "secluded" and "nicer" and "bigger"- which by some miracle- just happened to be available this weekend. (Which never happens Karen informed us).  We hung up feeling a little flabbergasted.  I texted the kids to let them know our accomodations were changing and to stand by for the address.

An hour later we still had not recieved the address which was suppoed to be texted right away. We called again- call went straight to voicemail and we began to feel genuinly concerned. 😅 Karen did return our call a few minutes later and sent the address. We arrived without further troubles. 

We set about settling in. Hannah and I made pesto tortelini bake, garlic bread and salad for dinner.  Rhett and Dylan made a quick wlamart run. I conversed with my sister about them joining us as they were currently at our parents AirBnB a few miles away. Sadly we had to scrap our sister coffee date plans since we were now in another town and though we could have driven to the Book Bar, it seemed like our window was too small now to make it happen. So we let it go. (I felt very disappointed about this!)

Our house had a theater room and a game room.

I felt the kitchen was pretty poorly equiped. After dinner I was looking for a pot to make some mac and cheese for Evan (he rejected my tortellini pretty vehemently). I found these two tiny pans and just about died laughing- tacos were on the menu...how was I going to make tacos for ten with these tiny pans!? (We did find a slightly larger skillet too so it worked out).

Saturday was our Hershey Park day! We all met up at a gas station for my cousin to divvy out parking passes and tickets. Then we headed to the park for a looooong day of rides and oddles of walking.

Our kids also did the "create your own candy bar" exprience at Chocolate World.

Sunday we had a picnic at a local park. Everyone had a blast on the playground and we found a Little Free Library too.

Mom(in middle) with two of her siblings

We went to mini golf with my cousin and her family and then our for ice cream.

Back "home" we had some walking tacos, Rhett did a mini fireworks show, some watched The Princess Bride in the theater room and we played games until bedtime.

Monday it was time to pack up and go home. On our way we detoured to check out the house we were supposed to have stayed in. It seemed oddly intact- a house a couple doors down was definately burned out- so we're not sure of the story there.  But the area was very tight and congested, no drivways for parking and we ended up being closer to Mom and Dad, so maybe it all worked out for the best in the end. (Except for the bookstore/coffee date sadness ).

We all arrived home safely.  Happy to be reunited with our Pups.  They were over joyed to have us back home!

Weekend

Friday-

My sister and I hosted a family dinner at our church. Our cousin and her family were driving through and stopped for a visit.  Laura and I took half a day off work to cook and prepare and it was a delight!

7. How do you take care of yourself when you are stressed?

I pray, sometimes I journal (need to do this more). Look up Bible verses for encouragement and listen to KLOVE (Christian radio). When all else fails curl up with my dogs in bed and read.

Saturday-

We got a few miles in but ended up cutting it short because it felt brutally cold. And my watch died so no official data and this pains me.😅 But still counting a win because we got out there for a while.  We ended up doing about 4 and half miles.

My thrifted hoodie from last week. Super soft! 

Also my spring paperwork and three little products I earned FREE came!

I always love checking out the new recipe collection. Doesn't that chicken look delightful! Wondering if I can get brave enough to spatchcock a chicken 😬

8. Five things to do less often

• Complain
• Procrastinate
• Eat candy
• Sigh
• Put things down (instead of away!)

Sunday! It is of course Super Bowl Sunday. I did not partake in any football.  Rhett went to a friend's house to watch the game. I did make myself and Hannah some yummy snacks.  I watched a couple new episodes of Sweet Magnolias, hung out with the pups and worked on my Sungold blanket...only two more rounds to go! 

I made the Hot Honey Wings in my air fryer and they were super delicious and picture perfect, I cooked them like 35 minutes on air fry (400* in my air fryer) and used the NEW Crunchy Garlic Crisp seasoning.

9. Five things to do more often

• Look for the good
• Drink water
• Eat Salad
• Say what's on my mind
• Move my body

How was your weekend? What's something you need to do less or more? 

60th Anniversary

I have been having a lot complicated feelings about my church for the past couple years.  Change is so hard for me and this transition time has been rough.  Also in that two years, two of my children have stopped attending regularly or at all.  And that is so hard. 💔

There have been good things too, don't get me wrong.  But my heart still mourns people and dear friends who have left. Although my heart is joyful over new friends who have come. I guess its like that old Girl Scout song... make new friends but keep the old... one is silver and the other gold....

If I am honest, I was dreading this day. I was not on board with this whole anniversary celebration.  I wasn't sure I wanted any part of it. Why? Let's just leave it at there's been a lot of hard lately.

I was over joyed though to learn my sister and her boys were coming and my son was coming. 

At 9 o'clock there was a Church History lesson- which sounds dry and boring but it was a delight. Funny and nostalgic, I enjoyed every second. The Nemitz family has a long legacy at Alive Wesleyan Church.  My grandparents were part of the original charter members that literally broke ground and built our church. 

In the worship service my Dad was honored for his legacy of prayer leadership.  I, for one am so thankful for my Dad and his prayers through the years.

Here is a link to the worship service.

This picture makes my heart explode with happiness. Miss Kim was the children's ministry leader when my kids were small. She has since moved away and has another fruitful ministry but it is always a Delight when she is back "home" to visit. Crazy that the littles she used to love on now tower over her.

Later in the afternoon my mother gave her testimony as well.  Emotional and heartfelt, I'm proud to call her MOM. 💖

Alive felt like home again and my heart was overflowing. I had conversations that gave me hope for the future. I can not even express how much joy it gave me to share this day with my sister and my two youngest children, also friends, old and new.  I know my grandparents would enjoyed this day so much. 

I can honestly once again say I am excited for the things happening at Alive Wesleyan Church.  The love I have for this body of believers, the outpouring of love from this body of believers. There are no words.  It's not a perfect church, but what church full of humans is? Its home though, its family and its where I belong.  

I encourage you to find a place to belong; when you do get involved. It doesn't become home by just sitting in the chairs every Sunday and going home.  Find your place to serve. It will fill your heart, I guarantee.

Saturday morning Bruno and I did our virtual 5K for The Corporal Kyle Schneider Honor and Remember Run.  We ran down to the creek walk and then through the park and around the pond to home.

In the afternoon I went out with Mikayla for a belated Mother's Day.  We got pedicures and went out to lunch.  The restaurant we went to was right by the bookstore so we popped in there too. 💖  We had such a lovely time.

Monday brought another run. I was kinda annoyed Bruno woke me up at normal time, even though it was a holiday and I had turned off my alarm.  But it by the time we finished running it was getting pretty warm and I was happy we got it done early.

We spent the afternoon at my parents and celebrated my brother's birthday.  

The kids really enjoyed the cookiewiches and water guns!

I lounged a little with Chance in the yard after we came home before crashing with my book.

A busy, full and wonderful weekend with family. 💖