Charlotte's Web

The very first chapter book that I read to the kids was Charlotte's Web. We've only reread a few chapter books over the years, but I decided to read Charlotte's Web again because it's such a good book, Oliver was very young when I read it the first time, and we were going to see the play. Meadowbrook usually puts on a musical in March every year. Last year we saw their production of Annie right before the lockdown began. Over the past 13 months we only saw one other theatrical performance - Queen Esther at Sight and Sound in Lancaster. Meadowbrook wasn't sure if they would have a show this spring due to COVID, but several weeks ago they decided to do a smaller (non-musical) production - Charlotte's Web. We saw it last night. We were especially impressed with the performances of the boys who played Templeton and Wilbur. Nadia sat with friends, and the boys sat with me. Milo was only alone in the house in his crate for an hour as Paul got home from work at 7:30. Milo was very, very happy when the kids and I came home!

Photo credit - Nadia

Most weeks we only leave Milo alone in his crate on Sunday morning when we're at church. Because Milo had just had surgery, Paul stayed home with him last Sunday morning and watched the livestream of the service. Milo was alone at home for about one hour yesterday, and I believe he'll spend some time alone at home today and tomorrow. It's so hard to listen to him crying when we're getting in the van to leave. Hopefully as he matures separation won't be as traumatic for him. Ian is attending a birthday party today! I think it's the second time he's been invited to a birthday party in his life, and the other time our family was invited. I believe it's the first time he's attending a birthday party without any other family members present. Micah turned ten yesterday and invited ten friends to go bowling with him today. Nadia can stay home with Milo when I drop Ian off at the bowling alley, but I'll bring Nadia and Oliver with me when I pick Ian up because then we're headed to the Children's Museum for their annual Maker Faire. It's been years since we attended that particular Children's Museum (in Bloomsburg). We had a membership there in the past. Since we attended a play last night, we are actually having two field trips two days in a row. That's a big change. I put FAR fewer miles on the van over the past year than normal. In the last six months I drove fewer than 3,000 miles total. In contrast Paul drives 3,000 miles to and from work every 5 weeks. How much time Milo will spend alone in his crate today will depend on when Paul gets home from work today. 
 

Tomorrow Milo will be alone in his crate while we're at church. The following Sunday we will be voting on the candidate for our next senior pastor. Our current senior pastor is 70 years old. He started at the church as an assistant pastor in 1981, was the first administrator of Meadowbrook Christian School for several years, and has been the senior pastor of the church since 1989. Since the church reopened after the lockdown the attendance has been much lower than it was prior to the lockdown, but more and more people have been transitioning back to attending in person rather than attending online. The average attendance over the last several years has usually been around 1,500-1,600 and typically 2,000-2,500 attend on Christmas Eve and Easter. This Easter we definitely had the highest in person attendance from the past 13 months as about 1,200 people total attended the three Easter services. 

Photo credit - Nadia