Cinderella's Closet

 

A photo Nadia took years ago that we recently downloaded from the camera

Last year was the first time Nadia attended a prom. We (five girls and some of their moms) shopped for prom dresses at the Cinderella's Closet at the YWCA last year. Last year four of the girls got their dresses there (for free!). This year I suggested that we have lunch at Panera prior to shopping to make the outing more special since it's Nadia's senior year. Three of the girls plus their moms had lunch at Panera, and four girls plus four moms shopped at Cinderella's Closet. The cost was $18 for each girl, which is very reasonable for a prom dress plus a pair of shoes. Nadia was hoping for a blue dress this year, and we found one that fits her perfectly. I think she looks beautiful in it! I'm planning to do a photoshoot for the 7 kids again this year (5 girls and two boys). Isaiah won't be in the group pictures this year as he's currently a freshman at Cedarville, but his younger brother (Joey) will be going for the first time this year. The other six kids went to the prom together last year. 

Here are some things I'm grateful for today:

1. Cooper spent 27 days with us. He went home on Tuesday. We are happy to help out our friends by caring for him while they're away, but we're also grateful to be back to having just one dog. Cooper went to the vet today, and she thinks he has an aggressive cancer. The vet doesn't recommend operating on him. Thankfully so far Cooper doesn't seem to be in any pain. Hoping he won't have to suffer much and that his family will know when the time has come to end his suffering. 

2. Nadia attended a Josiah Queen concert in Pittsburgh on Tuesday with her friend Maddie. Maddie's parents bought two tickets for the girls and drove them to and from Pittsburgh. Nadia didn't get home until 2:15 am as Pittsburgh is more than 3 hours from our house. I'm thankful for the many Christian friends that Nadia has. She and Maddie are both going to be attending Liberty in the fall. They've been meeting at least once a week to do a Bible study at a coffee shop, and other times they go shopping, bake cookies, or do watercolor together. It was Nadia's first-time seeing Josiah Queen in concert. She also would have loved to see Forrest Frank, but she'll be working at Camp Susque when he's going to be in concert in Hershey in June. I contemplated just getting tickets for the boys but changed my mind when I saw the price of the tickets. Paul and I aren't keen on his music, but I'll try to see if the boys or all three kids can see him at some point. 

3. The Eiffel Tower releases tickets 60 days in advance. I wasn't aware of what time they are released each day. Evidently, I should have gotten online earlier yesterday to get our tickets. When I tried to purchase them, I discovered I couldn't get any for the summit. Almost all of the 2nd floor tickets (via the elevator) were also sold out. I was stunned to see that the only time slot that still had tickets available was at 5:30pm, which was the exact time slot I was hoping to get. Thank you, Lord! Paul and I have already been to the top, and the boys didn't seem to care. Nadia was a little disappointed, but at least we are going to the Eiffel Tower. I have made some reservations for some of our dinners on this trip, and that is something I've never done on a vacation before. Although a lot of the planning has already been completed, I still have things to do over the next less than 2 months including making parking reservations and buying a few more tickets to things (ex. still waiting for the Parliament to open tour reservations for May). 

4. Ian had to visit an art museum for his humanities class this semester. The options for art museums within 30 minutes of our house are those connected to a university. I told Ian what the options were, and he chose to go to an exhibit by Lycoming College yesterday. As an added perk, the artist was there for a reception (which included some free food). It was challenging to spend a full hour there, but we did as that's one of the requirements. This artist isn't exactly going to be one of our favorites, but we made a memory. Since yesterday was the first day of spring, we got free small ices at Rita's before we went to the gallery. Usually that involves standing in a long line, but I think the rain kept people away and we didn't have to wait at all! I also use a coupon for a free Blizzard at DQ as a treat for Ian after the art gallery. We had dessert before dinner instead of afterwards. His first arts experience was attending a concert by a symphony orchestra. He enjoyed that more than the art exhibit, and I'm confident we'll all enjoy seeing Joshua at Sight and Sound next month which will count as his "drama" experience for the class. 

Nadia took this with her phone recently while walking near our home

Field Trip

We used to take a LOT of field trips. We go on far fewer field trips than we used to, but I haven't totally stopped scheduling them. On February 26, we went to see a performance of Riverdance; it seemed a fitting year to do so since we're planning to go to Ireland in May. Our homeschool group went on a field trip to Harrisburg today. Eighteen of us toured the capitol building, and twenty of us toured the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum. None of us had ever been to the fire museum before. Nadia and I had toured the capitol before, but it was the first time Ian and Oliver were there. I'm thankful the kids have had these opportunities. Other things I'm thankful for:

1. The VanHorns came over for dinner at our house on February 28.

2. I was able to be the substitute teacher for our Sunday School on March 1. I taught on Zechariah 1-4. If I am asked to teach again later this year, I plan on continue in Zechariah.

3. I was in a LOT of pain after my dentist appointment on March 4, which is not a usual experience for me. I am very thankful that after about four days of discomfort, the pain resolved on its own, and I'm hoping not to have the same experience in six months. 

4. Toby, Jenna, and Joshua spent about eight hours at our home on March 7. The boys (plus Nadia) played games. Jenna and I chatted. Jenna, Nadia, and I went for a walk. Paul beat Jenna in chess, which was the opposite outcome from the previous time they played most recently. I think everyone had a good time! 

5. We had a few days when it was absolutely gorgeous out (got up into the 70's!). It's back to cold weather now, but we took advantage of the beautiful weather on Tuesday. Usually, the kids play games inside our house from 12:30-1:30 when we have co-op, but this Tuesday we went to the park and most of the kids played wiffle ball.

6. Ian played the keyboard for the youth worship the last two Wednesday nights, and this week he didn't feel the need to rehearse the songs with his piano teacher. He's growing in confidence! I played the piano in the foyer after the first and second services this past Sunday. We don't use hymnbooks at our church, but I used a hymnbook when I was playing the piano.  Music is a gift from God! 

7. The kids have been obsessed with Gordon Korman books lately. I found another book that they are enjoying that is by a different author - No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam. 

8. The university Ian is taking college classes through was on spring break last week. He did some work ahead of time last week which meant that not only was last week a lighter week than usual for him, but this week has also been more relaxed. 

Fourth Quarter

 

We have officially entered the fourth quarter of our school year. The kids have already finished their Life of Fred books (Pre-Algebra with Physics for Oliver and Trigonometry for Nadia and Ian). Some subjects won't be wrapped up until May 7. I had planned on having Nadia and Ian read The Scarlet Letter and That Hideous Strength during the fourth quarter. Nadia read That Hideous Strength during the third quarter instead of Crime and Punishment. Ian is still going to read That Hideous Strength, but Nadia has opted to read Hamlet instead of Crime and Punishment. Both of them have selected Dracula instead of The Scarlet Letter. I still plan to have Ian read The Scarlet Letter sometime in 11th or 12th grade, but it seems unlikely Nadia will ever end up reading that book as she doesn't need to take any literature courses at Liberty. Oliver is currently reading Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan, and his other book for the fourth quarter will be The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum. He read six books from The Chronicles of Narnia in addition to A Wrinkle in Time during the first three quarters of seventh grade. 

Technically our last day of school won't be until May 25 because of the "field trips" we'll be taking in Europe in May. For months they've been showing availability to take one (expensive) tour of Buckingham Palace through the end of March, and then they had far more options starting in July. Yesterday they finally had tickets available for the expensive tour in May. Paul really wanted to go to Buckingham Palace. He didn't want to see the changing of the guard (which is free). We didn't go there when we were in London in 2002, and since Paul and I will probably never be in England again, Paul was willing to splurge. Most of the places we are visiting in May will not be "repeats" for Paul and me. I think the Tower of London will be our only repeat in the United Kingdom, and we'll visit four places we've already been during our one day in Paris. 

I only have two months left of homeschooling a daughter. The time has flown by. She is very excited about her new upcoming adventure. She and Maddie went shopping for clothes recently, and they got matching peasant skirts that they are both planning to wear on the first day of the semester at Liberty in August. In terms of my years of having at least one child at home (who hasn't yet graduated from high school), almost eighteen of the twenty-three years have been completed. I'm in the "last quarter" of my years as the mom of a baby, toddler, preschooler, or homeschooler. Nadia is taking three courses through Liberty this semester. The only math she's doing right now is preparing to take the College Algebra CLEP test. The only subjects I'm giving her a grade in this semester are economics and English. I had intended for her to do physics this year with Ian, but she really doesn't like physics, already had enough science credits for high school, and if she doesn't want to go to graduate school, she doesn't need to take physics in her undergraduate program. 

I've started to put a little bit of thought into plans for the next school year. It will be strange only having two kids at home. Oliver and Ian are not accustomed to doing science together, but I'm planning on having them both do biology next year and do the dissections with the coop in the fall. I think next year will be the only year the two boys do science together because Ian wants to do forensic science during his senior year, and I think Oliver will do general science when he's in 9th grade. I did Fix it Grammar with Nadia and Ian and had been doing it with Oliver, but it wasn't working this year with him, so I switched to the Giggly Guide to Grammar, which was a good fit, but it's just one book. This week I chose another grammar book for Oliver to do next year. I never did a vocabulary textbook with Nadia or Ian, but I started having him use Wordly Wise this year, and I plan to continue that next year. For social studies, I decided to have the boys do a year of World Geography by Notgrass. I used a Notgrass book for the first time in the fall (government), and I liked it. I'm not as crazy about the Basic Economics books I chose for this semester. Previously the kids had done four volumes of Mystery of History and four volumes of The Story of the World. For math Ian will do calculus (Life of Fred), and Oliver will do Pre-Algebra through Teaching Textbooks. One school related thing that will be new next year is that it looks like I'll be starting a three-year term on the MCS school board.

We have had at least one guinea pig in our house since December 2016. Most of the years we had two guinea pigs. Our time with Lily came to an unexpected end on Sunday. We have been dog sitting Cooper for fifteen days (he'll be with us for ten more days). Unfortunately, while we were at church on Sunday he pushed open Nadia's bedroom door, dismantled the guinea pig cage, and killed Lily. It was so shocking and heartbreaking. We know he was just acting on instinct, but it was very sad. Cooper has been in our house many months over the last 2+ years, so it really caught us off guard. If Nadia wasn't about spend the summer at Camp Susque and then move to Virginia in August, we'd get a replacement guinea pig for her but given how little time she has left at home and the fact that she was the only one who interacted with the guinea pig, we are not replacing Lily. Milo is our only pet. There's an elderly couple that lives near our home who has a 16.5-year-old Bichon Frise. Hopefully Milo will also live a long life and not have an untimely death like Lily did. Other unexpected (but much happier) news would be that my dad has recently become engaged. He and Karen are planning to get married this summer. The other unexpected, happy news is that my sister is expecting her tenth child. I say "unexpected" because my sister is 51 years old. I think my dad's third wedding and my sister's tenth delivery might both take place in July. Life is full of so many twists and turns. 

Skiing with friends

Ian did this during art class at our co-op (Nathan, Joel, Toby, and Andrew playing poker)

From 2021 to 2024 the kids only went skiing once per year because WVIA stopped offering free passes to Ski Sawmill. Last year I discovered that Montage Mountain has a good deal ($45 per person for lift ticket plus rentals) if you arrive before 4:00 pm Monday-Wednesday. Nathaniel had skied with the kids at Elk Mountain in January 2025 and loved it, so he also joined us at Montage last year. Abby skied with the kids last month at Elk Mountain. She also loved it so today I took six kids skiing - my three plus Nathaniel, Abby, and her brother, Joey. It just so happened that the day I chose for this outing is also Nathaniel's sixteenth birthday, so I asked him to choose where we stopped for dinner after skiing. He picked Chick-fil-A. Overall things went well. It was the first time Joey went skiing, and he said he definitely wants to do it again. Abby only fell one time the whole day, but the one time she fell she bruised her left arm near her elbow, so she stopped skiing a couple of hours before we left. Nathaniel forgot to bring a coat, but I was able to loan him my coat as I was in the lodge much of the time. Nadia forgot her ski goggles, and the snow from the snow machines was irritating her eyes so I bought her a pair of sunglasses at the shop. The kids played a card game in the van on the way there, and they mostly slept in the van on the way home. Some kids played a little bit of Skyjo in the afternoon in the lodge. 

My last gratitude post was on January 25. Here are some things I've been thankful for over the last month.

1. Ian had his piano recital on February 1. His teacher had two recitals that day. She asked Ian and Josh to play in both recitals. Paul's dad came up for the recital, which we appreciated. Now that Ian is done with the Rachmaninoff, he's working on a beautiful piece by Bach. He also played the keyboard for the youth worship on February 11. 

2. On February 3, Nadia and I both got a haircut, and Nadia also got a manicure in preparation for Jenna's wedding. Given she will not be living at home many more month, I want to seize the opportunity for making memories together while we have the opportunity. 

Homeschoolers are being included in the MCS yearbook this year. Here's Ian's photo.

3. All has gone smoothly over the last almost seven weeks with Nadia driving our new car. I'm enjoying a temporary reduction in the amount of chauffeuring as she takes herself to and from work and takes she and her brothers to and from art classes, youth group/Bible quizzing, and musical rehearsals.  

4. I had been praying for months that I would get some good pictures at Jenna's wedding. I wanted to get some photos that they could treasure for years to come. The Lord answered those prayers! Her brother, Andrew, has already asked if I will be his wedding photographer (if his future bride agrees). Thankfully, he's not planning to have a winter wedding, lol! 

5. Oliver and Nadia enjoyed ice skating to celebrate Abby's 17th birthday on February 8. Ian was behind in physics, so he had to take a test while they were ice skating. Our kids plus Faith and Xandir spent some time at the Seiberts house in between the ice skating and the youth group Super Bowl party. I made deviled eggs for the party.

6. Ian and Paul attended a Williamsport Symphony Orchestra concert on February 10 so that he could complete one of his assignments for his Humanities class through Cedarville this semester. He particularly enjoyed Gershwin's piano concerto. 

7. On February 12 Ian had his first chance to sing his Le Poisson solo at the musical rehearsal. He did an amazing job. He received positive feedback from other students and the directors that day and when he sang it at another rehearsal on February 21. For example, Lydia told me it gave her goosebumps. I can't wait to see the performances! 

8. On the rare occasion that Nadia isn't at a musical rehearsal, one of the directors (who lives in our town) has been giving a ride home to one or both boys at the end of the rehearsal, which is greatly appreciated! 

9. Nadia was able to babysit the youth pastor's kids on Valentine's Day so that he and his wife could go out for a date. 

10. We haven't had Peacock for a while, but I paid for one month so we could watch the Winter Olympics. That was a well spent $11. Nadia has enjoyed watching many hours of figure skating. Paul and I really enjoyed watching the replay of the gold medal men's hockey game. 

11. We've attended our current church for 12 years, but up until this year Nadia and I never attended any of the mother/daughter events. Usually, we had a schedule conflict. This year I thought we had another schedule conflict as Nadia planned to work at Camp Susque last weekend, but they didn't need her to work so we signed for a painting pottery event that took place on Saturday afternoon. Most of the events over the years were held in May (near Mother's Day), and that is often when we have gone on a vacation. I never would have guessed that I would have to wait until I was almost 54 years old to attend my first mother/daughter event as a mom. I'm glad that Abby and her mom encouraged us to attend this event with them.

One of the kids in the photography class (co-op) took this photo

12. Oliver came down with a stomach bug on February 14. Ian came down with it on February 17, and Nadia followed suit on February 18. Ian and I were the only ones to attend church on February 15, and all of us stayed home on February 18. Paul and I didn't get sick, but Pastor Eric cancelled our small group that night as he was away. I'm thankful that Paul and I dodged the illness and that all three kids are as my mom used to say "back to the land of the living." They didn't go to art class on February 19, and Oliver was the only one who attended the musical rehearsal that night, but Nadia worked a shift on February 20 and went out for coffee and Bible study with her friend, Maddie. 

13. Last November I decided to pay for one year of Walmart+. Paramount Plus didn't have a Black Friday special like they usually do, and you get a free year of that (or Peacock) with Walmart+. I joined when there was a 50% discount on Walmart+ so I paid only a little more than I usually have paid for a year of Paramount Plus. I have to say I love having Walmart+. I have only used it for delivery service (groceries) twice because you need to tip the driver, but I did the math, and between the two orders I paid only about $1 more towards the tip than I would have paid for gas for two roundtrips to Walmart. If you order items that are considered "shipping" they still typically deliver it the same day you order it, but there isn't any tipping involved even if you just have a small order. For example, one time recently I ordered the generic version of Imodium, and the total was less than $4, and they delivered it that same day without charging for shipping/delivery. I also discovered they come to your house to pick up returns at no charge! I ordered a pair of sneakers for less than $11 after I discovered the shoe I had been wearing was making one spot on my foot bleed. I ordered size 8.5. They were too small. They picked up the size 8.5 and brought me a pair of size 9 without any extra charges. I think they could improve the efficiency of their system though as they sent two different people to my house the same day (one to pick up the return and a different person to bring the other size - why waste the time and gas to do that?!?). Anyhow, I'm definitely a fan. We shall see if I like it enough to pay full price if I can't renew it at the 50% off price in November. We don't have Amazon Prime right now, but honestly if I had to pick between the two, I'd choose Walmart+ although I'm sure we'll pay for one month of Amazon Prime after they release the next season of The Chosen.

14. I routinely take pictures of every receipt for several apps, and we also use the Upside app when possible when getting gas. Periodically I redeem the points I've earned in each of those eight apps for cash or gift cards. Last week I received about $325 back from those apps - some as PayPal payments that I then transferred to our bank account and others as Walmart, Amazon, Red Robin, Panera Bread, and Domino's Pizza gift cards. 

15. Cooper has been at our house since February 18, and he's going to be with us for 25 days. So far, it has been going fairly smoothly. 

16. Although I wasn't able to get tickets for the optimal day (even though I was clicking right at 5:00 AM when they became available), I am very grateful that I did get five tickets for us to tour Big Ben another day in May before they were all sold out. 

17. Nadia's math score on the SAT wasn't high enough for her to be able to take a statistics course in the fall that is required for her major, but thankfully, her score on the university's math assessment was high enough for her to be able to register for that class. Their math assessment cannot be used to qualify for taking calculus, which she's also required to take. She has completed part of a college algebra course through ASU (only costs $25) and also has been taking a free College Algebra CLEP test prep course. At this point she's planning to take the CLEP test as the completion of College Algebra is another way to be given permission to take Calculus. She doesn't need to take their English assessment because she already passed English Composition through GCU. The only other assessment she still needs to take is a technology assessment. 

18. Although we haven’t done so every single week, most of the time Ian has been helping me make dinner once a week. Nadia continues to bake on a regular basis. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Earlier in our marriage Paul and I used to celebrate Valentine's Day by exchanging gifts and cards and going out on a date. I think it's been about 14 years since we went on a date around the time of Valentine's Day. We do have other Valentine's Day traditions. Brownie batter donuts are the favorite for the kids and I, but Dunkin only has them available in February. We usually buy a box of 6 donuts four times a year - once for each of the kids' birthdays and also for Valentine's Day. I also make heart shaped food for Valentine's Day - heart shaped egg inside a piece of toast and/or a heart shaped pancake. I bought the donuts on Thursday evening, and tomorrow for lunch I'm making egg in the toast with a heart shaped hole. Several years ago, I started the tradition of getting the kids each one gift for Valentine's Day. Some years I got them each a jigsaw puzzle, for example. This year I gave Oliver a book, Nadia a comforter for her dorm room, Ian a game, and Paul a t-shirt. This evening Nadia is babysitting at the youth pastor's home so that he and his wife can go out on a date. The girls had a Valentine's party on Wednesday night at youth group. Nadia and Maddie made sugar cookies at Maddie's house on Tuesday afternoon for that party. The homeschool roller skating party is usually the week of Valentine's Day, but this year it's not until February 25. Nadia got a Valentine's card and some chocolate from her boss when she was at work yesterday. If Jenna's wedding hadn't been on February 7, I think Paul and I would have attended a dance at the Methodist church. I'm hoping we make it there on March 7 as our last date (East Coast swing lesson) was on November 7. 

Nadia and her Great Aunt Janet

Jenna and Toby's Wedding

 

My preparations for Jenna and Toby's wedding began months ago. I purchased two (physical) wedding photography books and four wedding photography e-books, borrowed many wedding photography books through Kindle Unlimited, purchased gifts for the couple, purchased additional memory cards, a dual camera harness, and camera batteries, and created lists of shots that I planned to take at the wedding. Nadia and I had appointments for manicures and haircuts on February 3. The stylist was running behind so Nadia was the only one who got a manicure. It had been 12 months since Nadia had a haircut, and it had been 7 months since I had a haircut. I got myself a new dress for the wedding a few months ago. Last month I bought Ian and Oliver dress shirts for the wedding at a thrift store. Nadia wore the dress I got her for the Ray of Lights Awards event she and Ian attended with the cast of Seussical in 2024. On the way down to the church on Friday, we stopped at the thrift store and Boscov's. Paul got himself dress pants and a dress shirt at the thrift store as that morning he had discovered the ones he owned don't currently fit him. The kids got some clothes at the thrift store and also used the Boscov's gift cards that Paul's Aunt Debbie had given them for Christmas. Nadia and Ian got clothes at Boscov's, and Oliver used the last $10 on his gift card for a watch. Both Ian and Oliver are now wearing men's size small! Oliver loves the fact that he is now a smidge taller than me, and I think Ian might be taller than Paul. We brought a variety of things down with us including a ladder (for me to use for some photographs), clothes to donate to Yvonne's family (that the boys have outgrown), cameras, lenses, etc. 

Six of Jenna's cousins, three of her uncles, and two of her aunts

I started taking pictures on Friday afternoon of the dress (on a hangar), her earrings and necklace, her boots, their wedding rings, etc. I also tried to scope out where I would take photos outside the next day. I took a few pictures of their rehearsal. Paul ironed tablecloths for the reception for hours on Friday. Many people were working hard with decorating, cooking in the kitchen, etc. Since they met at a Chick-Fil-A where they were employed in the fall of 2020, food from Chick-Fil-A is what was served at the rehearsal dinner. 5 years plus 3 months passed from their first date to their wedding. Paul and I dated for 4.5 years before we were married. I have some of my niece's and nephew's birthdates memorized, but in most cases, I just remember what month they were born and use calendar reminders so I can send cards and such. Several of Jenna's siblings have birthdays that fall on holidays, so I easily remember those (Julianna's is on Valentine's Day, Wesley and Joshua's birthdays are on St. Patrick's Day, etc.). I am quite certain I won't memorize all the anniversary dates for my nieces and nephews, but I do think I'll remember Jenna's because February 7, 2026 was the 29th anniversary of the date Paul and I met at a ballroom dancing class at the Boscov's in Pottsville, and it's also Oliver's half birthday. 

Normally a macro lens would be used for this shot, but I don't own one. I still like the picture.

Ian spent the night on Friday night at an Airbnb that Toby had rented for one night. Toby's groomsmen plus Joshua, Nathan, Joel, and Ian spent the night together. They played games for many hours and slept a tiny bit. We had four rooms at a Holiday Inn that night. Aunt Janet had a room to herself. My dad had the room to himself on Saturday night, but Oliver joined him on Friday night. Drayton, Adam, Grace, and Rachel shared a room on Saturday night, but on Friday night their room was used by Grace, Rachel, and Nadia as Drayton and Adam joined Paul and I in the room we got for one night. I got barely any sleep. I ate breakfast as soon as the buffet opened (about 6:55 am) and then I drove to the church so that I could take pictures of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready. They showed up 30 minutes later than planned, and some of the groom's family weren't there in time for us to get some of the photos that we had planned to take before the ceremony, but we did get some photos done before the wedding. Jenna wanted a winter wedding because she wanted snow in her wedding pictures. The snow that fell two weeks before her wedding was still on the ground because it has been so cold lately. That was an answer to prayer, but it turned out that the temperatures that day tied a record low from 1948. It also was VERY windy (up to 50 mph). With the wind chill, it was as low as -20 degrees!! I went outside to take photos four different times. The first time it was -12 out, and I didn't have a coat on because I was wearing my dual camera harness. The fourth time I went out with a coat and just one camera around my neck (much better). The lighting was much better the fourth time we went out. The sun was too bright the first three times. I own a reflector and planned to use it, but no one was outside helping me with the photographs. If I am ever asked to be a wedding photographer again, I am going to make sure someone is helping me with things like a reflector. At one point it was also TOO windy. Toby's hair was standing straight up from the wind. I hadn't planned on taking pictures in front of the brick wall at the church, but we moved there as it wasn't as windy. I'm very grateful they were willing to brave the elements as most of my favorite shots from the day were taken outside. I wish we had taken a couple with the entire bridal party outdoors, but understandably some of them wanted to stay inside. 

The wind blowing the veil was a blessing in this shot

Almost everything went smoothly on their wedding day. Nathan (age 17) really struggled to play an arrangement of Holy, Holy during the wedding. It seems he was very nervous. The guests started leaving the reception long before Jenna *thought* the reception would end, so the plan to give the guests sparklers to use when they left was ditched. I took over 600 photos. Nadia also took a few as she stood behind Jenna when she walked down the aisle with her dad. Did I nail every shot? Absolutely not. Did I get a lot of good pictures? Definitely. I uploaded 333 photos this morning for the bride and groom and some guests to enjoy. Some of the pictures I deleted were from when I took multiple pictures of the same group of people due to the fact sometimes people are blinking, not looking at the camera, not smiling, etc. In other instances I deleted the photo because I hadn't done a good job in taking it (ex. the ones of the first kiss in the wedding ceremony). Thankfully I got some other good pictures of them kissing. 

I finished the photos this morning. I got up at 4:30am, which is definitely earlier than normal, because I wanted to get tickets for us to tour Big Ben in May, and the tickets for May were released this morning at 10:00 London time, which was 5:00am our time. Although I was clicking on the site as soon as the clock turned to 5:00 am, I was too late to get 5 tickets for any of the time slots on May 16, which was my first choice because the Parliament tours are only available on Saturdays. I then started searching through the time slots for May 15, but most were sold out and the others only had 1-3 tickets available per time slot. I then looked to see what was available for May 18. The first time slot that day would have been ideal, but it was already sold out. The earliest time slot that still had 5 tickets available was the 12:45 tour. I bought them before they also sold out. I had read that typically the entire month's tickets sell out within 10 minutes. I'm guessing they sold out within 5 minutes or less today. My mom always referred to our grandfather clock as "Big Ben." Paul and I didn't visit Parliament or Big Ben when we were in London in 2002. So I'm grateful that I was able to get five tickets even though it might mean that we won't be able to tour the chapel at King's College in Cambridge that afternoon as planned. I decided this morning that touring Big Ben was more important to me if I had to choose, and when I told Paul what happened later, he shared my opinion. I knew that I would be unable to get back to sleep even though I had only slept 6 hours, and I prefer to get 8-9 hours of sleep. So I continued to work on editing photos, deleting photos, and uploading photos to a Google photo album so that Jenna, Toby, and other friends and family could access them. 

I thought Jenna's boots were so cute! I took several pictures of them, ha ha!

I have zero desire to be a professional wedding photographer, but I am definitely willing to help out another niece or nephew in the future if any of them should ask me. I am quite certain I wouldn't be willing to do so for Brendan given I'm 52 years older than him and would likely be in my 70's if he got married in his 20's, but for those closer in age to Jenna, I would be happy to do this again. Her brother Joshua will probably be the next one to get engaged, and Andrew (who is graduating from college in May) also has a girlfriend. We shall see. In case I am ever asked again, I want to record a list of lessons learned that I can look back at should the need arise. I don't have any control over the time of year they will choose to get married, but I'm hoping any future weddings that I photograph will take place on a warmer day when we can take more photos outside (especially of all the wedding party). Borrowing Wendy's camera body and zoom lens were definitely helpful. In the past I've exclusively used prime lenses, but her zoom lens definitely came in handy on Saturday. The dual camera harness was also very helpful, especially during the ceremony. I had asked several friends to pray that I would get some good photos that Jenna and Toby could treasure for years to come. I think the Lord answered those prayers.

1. I need at least one "assistant" with me during the photo shoots - to hold a reflector, to help fetch the people needed for the next shot, and to help me with posing the people and giving them instructions. I had a list of instructions in my head prior to the wedding (ex. girls should hold the bouquet with one arm in the shape an L at their waist). Sometimes I remembered to give some instructions (ex. men put your hands in your pocket, Jenna lower the bouquet to your waist, etc.) but many times I had too many things on my mind (figuring out what lens to use, what settings my camera should be at, etc.) and we were very pressed for time and needed to move as quickly as possible as the reception was to start at 1:00. When I was editing the photos, I noticed things like Jenna's bouquet was often held too high (covering up the bodice of her dress). The pictures taken outside when I didn't have a coat on were rushed for another reason - we were all very cold! Two heads are better than one. 

2. The ladder was helpful. I would bring that again, but next time I will make sure the ladder is with me when I'm taking photos of large groups of people.

3. Next time I want to bring a pillow that I can use for my knees when I am kneeling to take photos. My knees were in pain for a couple of days afterward. 

4. I brought a black backdrop and clamps. I would have greatly preferred to use that for all the myriads of group photos that were taken in the sanctuary. A drum set and such is really not the ideal background, and it often looked like the cross was coming out of someone's head. The lighting in the foyer was MUCH better than in the sanctuary. For a whopping $30 I could buy an adjustable background stand. If I am asked to photograph another wedding, I'm planning to buy one so that will be an option (although outdoor photos would still be "plan a" for me). I could also have used that backdrop for the getting ready photos. There were NO windows in that room, and the walls were a really dark shade of teal, not exactly ideal! But I worked with what I had. Not every picture is going to be hung on a wall or in a photo album. Some are just for documenting the very special day.

5. I brought a squeaker toy to attract Brendan's attention, but it was downstairs while I was upstairs. I need to keep it with me in the future!

6. If I am taking group photos that include young children, I need to take MORE photos of each pose than I typically do. Usually, I would find at least one pose for each group that I thought worked in terms of people having open eyes, looking in the correct direction, and smiling, but that wasn't true for the photo of Jenna and Toby with Jenna's immediate family. Bummer! 

7. I was so busy taking pictures for Jenna and Toby that I forgot to get a group photo of my three kids or one of all five of us. If we're at another wedding in the future (even if I'm not the photographer), I want to make sure I get those! I did get one of Nadia/Ian, but it's nothing to write home about (taken in the sanctuary). 

8. If it seems like I'm going to be asked to be a wedding photographer more than one more time, I think I should invest in a macro lens for the detail shots unless I'm unable to borrow Wendy's zoom lens in the future. If that happens, then instead of a macro lens I should probably get a zoom lens.

9. Wear comfortable shoes! I was on my feet for many hours, and the boots I wore were not comfortable enough. 
 

Bridal Shower

 

Jenna with her three aunts at her bridal shower

1. My niece, Jenna, is getting married on February 7. I won't have trouble remembering the date of her anniversary because Paul and I met on February 7, 1997, and we started dating a few weeks later. She had a surprise bridal shower on January 2. Her mom, aunts, and Toby's mom hosted a shower for her yesterday at Toby's parents' house. At one point I wasn't sure if Nadia and I would be able to attend, but thankfully, we were able to drive down, attend the shower, and drive back home before it started snowing. I purchased the favors for the shower, took photos, and planned the three games that we played. Jenna wore a white dress and her very cute white boots that she will be wearing at the wedding. It was Nadia's first bridal shower. 

Here are some other things I'm thankful for today:

2. The window above our kitchen sink has been broken since 2018. Since it's a Pella window, it cannot be repaired. We have gotten estimates twice over the last several years for replacing it. The most recent estimate by Window World was far more reasonable than the first estimate we had several years ago. We decided to take the plunge, and on Friday we put down 50% toward replacing one window plus our sliding glass door. Thankfully, the salesman honored the quote we were given last May despite the fact the price of the door went up $800 over the last 8 months. 

3. I enjoyed taking my friend, Cheri, out for lunch on Thursday to celebrate her 69th birthday. 

4. When the boys had an orthodontist appointment last week, I visited the library that is across the street from the orthodontist. I discovered that you could check out board games! I checked out Blank Slate. We played it at co-op last week, and we've played it twice as a family over the last week. 

Jenna with Toby's Grandma and two of his sisters

5. I'm not a fan of cold weather. The last four years I walked outside almost every day no matter what the temperature was. A couple of months ago I decided to switch to exercising on the elliptical in our basement. When the weather is nicer, I definitely prefer being outside in the fresh air as I enjoy seeing plants, animals, and the sky, but I am very grateful we own an elliptical. We purchased it in 2016, but I haven't used it that much over the years. I don't go as many miles, but my heart rate is elevated far more as I can up the incline and the resistance level. I've gotten my time for completing 2 miles under 30 minutes, which is a big improvement for me. I know for some that would still be a snail's pace, but I'm pleased with my progress.

6. Paul and I were able to attend an 80th birthday party for a woman in our Sunday School class last Sunday afternoon. 

7. Our church cancelled the in-person service today. Thankfully, they had recorded a service on Wednesday night that they streamed today. So far, we've gotten 14 inches of snow today. As an added bonus, our former senior pastor (who retired in 2021) preached the sermon. I miss him!

8. A few weeks ago, Ian asked if he could start cooking a meal every Saturday. I was thrilled that he took the initiative with that. Since I was gone most of the day yesterday, Ian (and I) cooked our dinner tonight. I'm hoping we make this a habit so that by the time he graduates from high school he will know how to cook a variety of dishes. Nadia makes the majority of the desserts we consume. She made a delicious peanut butter pie today. Yum!

Thankful Thursday

1. The kids were able to participate in a Bible quizzing competition that our church hosted on January 9-10. Ironically the teams closest to us (also in Pennsylvania) didn't come, but some teams from two different churches in Indiana participated. Ian's team came in second place, and he also tied for fourth place in the individual part of the competition. I served as an official from 6-10 pm on Friday night and from about 9-4 on Saturday. I'm thankful the kids can participate in this program, and I'm praying that all three of them will put more time into studying I & II Corinthians over the next five months. 

2. While I was serving as an official, Paul took the van for an oil change and tire rotation. Typically, I'm the one who takes our vehicles for all their appointments, so I was happy to relinquish that duty this time around. Unfortunately, I forgot to give him a coupon he could have used at the appointment. 😞It was possible for us to be doing two things at the same time because we are back to owning two cars for which I am very thankful.

3. On Sunday afternoon Nadia, Abby, and her older brother went ice skating.

Nadia made this in art class at MCS - Lion Witch and the Wardrobe inspired

4. There are two shows that I look forward to watching the new episodes each year - All Creatures Great and Small on PBS and The Chosen. The newest season of All Creatures was released on January 11. Paul and I have watched three episodes together so far, which are sort of like little dates. I had planned for us to attend a ballroom dance at a Methodist Church on Saturday night, but Paul wanted to work on spackling in the kitchen. Hopefully, we'll make it to the next dance I have on our calenda (March 7). Wendy got me my first pair of ballroom dancing shoes for Christmas, and I want to try them out! My first ballroom dancing lesson was on January 31, 1997. It's about time I actually own the correct shoes 🤣. I've read or listened to quite a few of James Herriot's books. I'm not sure how many seasons PBS will make of the show, but they have no lack of material to use from his many books! 

5. Nadia drove the Subaru for the first time on January 10 while I was in the vehicle. She began driving herself to work and herself plus her brothers to church for art class, Little Mermaid rehearsals, and youth group starting on January 12. Thankfully, all has gone well so far. I don't take that for granted. I also appreciate a temporary reduction in the amount of chauffeuring. Ian plans to get his learner's permit this summer, but for the next about four months I shouldn't need to drive as much as I usually do. 

6. Ian's piano teacher was flexible and allowed us to move Ian's piano lesson from Friday to Tuesday so she could help him prepare for being part of the youth worship team on Wednesday night. In addition to working on his recital piece by Rachmaninoff, he also has begun working on one by Bach.

 7. Paul and I joined a new small group on Wednesday nights. We are discussing the book Hearing God by Dallas Willard. 

8. Our co-op resumed on Tuesday. We have 16 students participating this session as Ben has moved to New York and two girls have left our co-op to join one that just started this month. This session will be much easier for me as another mom is teaching art, Paul is doing chess and physics, and one of the students in the co-op is teaching ASL. I created the lesson plans for the ASL class, but the only things I am teaching are photography and book groups. In art the students studied some of Grandma Moses' artwork and then began drawing a sketch of a project they will be painting with watercolors. Some weeks I might be babysitting the art teacher's three youngest children for 90 minutes, but this week she didn't need to bring them along. Each week I have two different students choose what games are played from 12:30-1:30. This week Julianna chose Dutch Blitz and Lydia chose Jackbox Games. 

9. I'm continuing to make progress with planning our vacation to Europe, which is only four months away. We have our rental cars, lodging, and airfare. I've booked a few of the activities. Would you believe the time slot I had originally chosen for touring Jane Austen's house was already booked? For many of the attractions it's still too soon to book the tickets. Unfortunately, the Palace of Holyroodhouse will be closed on the days we will be in Edinburgh, but so far that's the only thing I've had to completely scratch from the itinerary. 

10. For most of the day yesterday I was unable to make or receive phone calls due to a problem Verizon was having. Thankfully, Nadia's and Paul's phones were not impacted so I was able to use their phones to make a few phone calls. Today I found out Verizon is giving me a $20 credit on our next bill due to the inconvenience.

11. I recently listened to The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. I did so because he's one of Paul's favorite presidents. I didn't know that much about him prior to listening to this book. I agree with Paul's assessment. I wonder if we'll ever have a president like him again. I am not at all happy with our current president, but I rest in the knowledge that God is in control. I am thankful that over the years *some* of our presidents have been excellent albeit it's been a while since we've had one I'd put in that category. 

7th trip to Elk Mountain

The first time my kids went skiing was in February 2017 when my dad and I took Nadia and Ian to Ski Sawmill. We could have also gone skiing for free at Elk Mountain that year, but we didn't begin taking our kids to Elk Mountain until January 2020. Ironically, February 2020 ended up being the last time that WVIA offered a free ski day at Ski Sawmill. Our kids have been skiing 4 times at Ski Sawmill, 7 times at Elk Mountain, and 1 time at Montage. I'm planning to take my three plus Nathaniel skiing at Montage again next month. The last time I went skiing was on January 19, 2021. I broke my ankle later that year and decided to retire from skiing and ice skating due to the plate that is now in my leg. We get four free passes through WVIA which we had been using for 3 kids plus 1 parent, but the last four years we've been inviting a friend to use the fourth pass. Jill, Nathaniel, and Julianna all went skiing with us in the past. Of those three kids, Nathaniel definitely seemed to enjoy it the most. We had invited him to join us again this year, but he is on a mission trip in Honduras with his church this week. He plans to join us at Montage next month. When we found out Nathaniel couldn't come to Elk Mountain, we invited Nadia's friend, Abby, instead. She took to skiing like a fish to water! Maybe she will also join us at Montage next month? 

Here are some things I am thankful for today:

1. Paul's dad was able to spend several hours with us on December 19 to celebrate his 84th birthday and Christmas. 

2. The five of us were able to help with packing meals for a food distribution our church did on December 20.

3. Although it was hard to drop Milo off at the kennel, I was very grateful to learn on our return that we would get a 50% discount due to the fact Nadia works there. 

4. The kids had a blast spending time with their cousins while we were in Chicago from December 22-27. We were also grateful that the Benners were willing to host the large group and that we didn't encounter and snow or ice while driving there and back. They played a lot of games, went bowling, (outdoor) ice skating, and (indoor) rock climbing.

5. Nadia and Ian enjoyed their time at winter camp at Camp Susque. Nadia was able to go sledding and also do some ice skating while she was up there. 

6. We celebrated Paul's 56th birthday on January 3 by having dinner at Texas Roadhouse. 

7. I found out on January 2 that Liberty expects the fall 2026 semester bill to paid in January. That totally caught me by surprise. My maternal grandpa paid for all twelve of his grandkids to go to college, and his money is now being used to pay for all of his great grandchildren to go to college, which is utterly amazing to me. I've been the one helping with the paperwork of getting the bills paid for my nieces and nephews, so I know from experience that most universities expect to be paid in August or September. Nadia's roommate paid her bill on January 2 so she was able to request a room in the dorm they had selected, and she indicated that she wanted Nadia to be her roommate even though Nadia can't accept that request until the bill is paid. The girls found each other through the Bunky app. Thankfully, the trust issued a check to Liberty this week which means in the near future Nadia will be able to request her dorm and roommate. It also means she can take her technology and math assessments over the next couple of months as those need to be completed before she registers for classes in early April. Thank you, grandpa!!! Nadia and her roommate (Carolina) have been making various plans including picking out a rug for their room, comforters for their beds, etc. There will be a total of seven girls in their suite, and they have picked two of their five suitemates so far. I hope the girls have a wonderful year together! 

8. Nadia is starting a weekly Bible study with a friend (in our town) who is also going to Liberty next fall. She also has a friend from church who is going to Liberty next fall so we have carpooling possibilities. 

9. Oliver enjoyed roller skating at Faith's birthday party on December 30. Nadia and Ian weren't able to attend due to being at Camp Susque. 

10. Paul had bloodwork done at the end of December, and his cholesterol had dropped some from last year. PTL!

11. Everything went smoothly with our skiing trip yesterday. Milo was very glad that Paul stayed at home. We stopped a Red Robin on the way home for dinner. I had received a $75 gift card to Red Robin from the co-op parents in November. Because it was the first Wednesday of the month, Ian and Oliver's meals were free, and they also each received a free ice cream sundae! This meant that even including the tip, we didn't use the full value of the gift card yet, which was great considering five people ate at a sit-down restaurant. 

12. We test drove a 2022 Subaru Impreza on Tuesday and paid a down payment on it. We hope to complete the purchase today. Paul's car was totaled a little over two months ago, so we are very grateful for the prospect of having two cars and are praying that we won't need to buy another car for the foreseeable future. At least this car is NOT gray (for a while both our minivan and Paul's Mazda were the same ugly gray). This car is red. It already has a lot of miles on it, but we only plan to use this car for short drives so we're hoping it will last for several years despite how many miles the first owner put on it in a short time span. I'm looking forward to a little break in the amount of chauffeuring due to Nadia being able to drive herself to work, take herself and her brothers to art and Little Mermaid rehearsals, etc.  

13. When the kids were little, I remember how Paul would laugh and laugh when I'd read a Ramona the Pest book aloud. We have discovered another author (Gordon Korman) who makes us all laugh, and his books are more geared for teenagers than the Ramona books. He's written over 100 books, so I doubt we'll read/listen to all of them, but we've enjoyed the seven we've finished so far. I think my top three so far (in no particular order) would be The Unteachables, Old School, and Slugfest. I used to read aloud to my middle schoolers in the early 90's. I'm confident my students would have adored his books if they existed back then. I'm glad we found another author we really enjoy! 

2026 first time experiences

Nadia and her friend, Abby

I used to post goals on January 1 on my blog, but in 2022 I started the tradition of posting a bucket list of sorts for the year by posting a list of first-time experiences. I modify the list throughout the year by adding things as well as deleting others, and I mark them off when they are accomplished. Last year's list ended up containing 123 experiences in the end. Two got deleted last week when we didn't go to the Art Institute or Indiana Dunes National Park. The majority of the items on the list are usually things we will see and do on one of our vacations. 

1. Take Abby with us when we ski at Elk Mountain - Done!
2. Watch season 6 of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS - Done!
3. See Riverdance performance at CAC - Done!
4. Ian and Paul attend a concert by the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra - Done!
5. Ian and I attend a reception at the Lycoming College Art Gallery - Done!
6. Tour the Pennsylvania Capitol and the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum - Done!
7. See Joshua at Sight and Sound  - Done!
8. See the movie A Great Awakening  - Done!
9. All three kids participate in The Little Mermaid musical at MCS - Done!
10. Ian gets his first job - done!
11. Have Nadia's graduation party at Trout Pond Park - done!
12. See the play It Runs in the Family at CWC - done!
13. Tower of London - Done!
14. British Museum - Done!
15. Kensington Palace - Done!
16. Big Ben - Done!
17. Westminster Abbey - Done!
18. Churchill War Rooms - Done!
19. Punt on River Cam - Done!
20. Camera Obscura - Done!
21. St. Giles Cathedral - Done!
22. National Museum of Scotland - Done!
23. Arthur's Seat - Done!
24. Alnwick Castle - Done!
25. John Knox house - Done!
26. Eat at The Piemaker - Done!
27. Kelpies at the Helix - Done!
28. Battle of Bannockburn - Done!
29. Stirling Castle - Done!
30. National Wallace Museum - Done!
31. Riverside Museum - Done!
32. Loch Lommond cruise - Done!
33. See Paddington the Musical - Done!
34. Eilean Donan Castle - Done!
35. Kilt Rock - Done!
36. Quiraing - Done!
37. Titanic Bellfast - Done!
38. C.S. Lewis Square - Done!
39. Gobbins Cliff Path - Done!
40. Blackhead Coastal Path - Done!
41. Carrik a Rede rope bridge - Done!
42. Giant's Causeway - Done!
43. EPIC Irish emigration museum - Done!
44. Eat at Leo Burdock's Fish and Chips- Done!
45. Christ Church Cathedral - Done!
46. Trinity College Book of Kells - Done!
47. Ha'penny bridge - Done!
48. Little Museum of Dublin - Done!
49. Eat at Indulgence Cafe - Done!
50. GPO Museum - Done!
51. Eat at Lemon Jelly Cafe - Done!
52. St. Patrick's Cathedral - Done!
53. Conwy Castle - Done!
54. Caernarfon Castle - Done!
55. Snowdon Mountain Railway - Done!
56. Caerphilly Castle- Done!
57. Jane Austen's House - Done!
58. Buckingham Palace - Done!
59. eat Welsh cakes at Cardiff Market - Done!
60. Cardiff Castle - Done!
61. St. Fagan's National History Museum - Done!
62. Sainte-Chapelle - Done!
63. Notre Dame de Paris - Done!
64. Musee d'Orsay - Done!
65. Eat at Moo Pie Gelato - Done!
66. Eat at Haggis Box - Done!
67. Explore Greyfriars Kirkyard - Done!
68. Eat ice cream at The Rinkha - Done!
69. Eat at Jack's Gelato - Done!
70. Arc de Triomphe - Done!
71. Eiffel Tower - Done!
72. Eat crepes, baguettes, and pain au chocolat in Paris - done!
73. Ride a train from Belfast to Dublin - Done!
74. Eat at Makar's Mash Bar - Done!
75. Ian attends cybersecurity camp at Messiah University - Done!
76. All three kids compete at Nationals at Houghton University - Done!
77. Vanderbilt Mansion* - done!
78. FDR* - done!
79. Eleanor Roosevelt* - done!
80. Saint Croix International* - done!
81. Fundy National Park~ done!
82. Hopewell Rocks - done!
83. Cavendish Beach and Cliffs in Prince Edward Island National Park - done!
84. Green Gables Heritage Place~ done!
85. Eat ice cream from COWS on Prince Edward Island - done!
86. Halifax Public Gardens - done!
87. Go kayaking with seals in Nova Scotia - done!
88. Peggy's Cove - done!
89. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - done!
90. Halifax Citadel - done!
91. Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site~ done!
92. Walk on the earth's mantle - done!
93. Fortress of Louisbourg - done!
94. Take ferry to and from Labrador - done!
95. Gros Morne National Park~ done!
96. Western Brook Pond boat tour - done!
97. Spillars Cove - done!
98. Dungeon Provincial Park - done!
99. Cape Bonavista Lighthouse - done!
100. Elliston puffin viewing - done!
101. Skerwink Trail - done!
102. Signal Hill National Historic Site~ done!
103. Cape Spear Lighthouse - done!
104. Salem Maritime* - done!
105. Saugus Iron Works* - done!
106. JFK* - done!
107. Nadia moves into a dorm at Liberty University - done!
108. See the elk in Benezette, PA
109. Compass program at Ricketts Glen State Park
110. Kinzua State Park
111. Army Expo in Carlisle
112. Nadia completes her first semester as a resident student at Liberty University
113. Ian gets his learner's permit
114. Watch six episodes of Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls
115. Watch six episodes of season 6 of The Chosen

~Denotes a place the kids can earn an Xplorers reward (Canada)

*Denotes a place the kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge

Thankfully, Oliver's cousins were happy to play Monopoly with him

*