Day 303: 10/31/11- Watch "The Incredibles"

Day 303: 10/31/11
New Thing: Watch The Incredibles                        

Inspiration: Family Movie Night
Cost: $0
Time: About two hours   
Bottom Line: Incredible.

Reflection: Tonight we all watched one of Ken's all time favorite movies, The Incredibles. Delia had never seen it before. It was supper fun and enjoyed by all.

Day 302: 10/30/11- Trunk or Treating with Ali

Day 302: 10/30/11
New Thing: Trunk or Treating with Ali                       

Inspiration: St. David's, Halloween
Cost: $0
Time: About half an hour  
Bottom Line: Delicious.

Reflection: This sure is a happening parish! Today where Ali and I got back from an Ikea trip (which was awesome) we found out that they were having a "Trunk-or-Treat" event in the parking lot. Parishioners decorated their trunks for the youngest members to have a safe place to come and trick-or-treat. It was alot of fun and we all had a great time meeting other members.

Day 301: 10/29/11- Snow Walk in the Graveyard

Day 301: 10/29/11
New Thing: Snow Walk in the Graveyard                      

Inspiration: Snowfall
Cost: $0
Time: About half an hour  
Bottom Line: Hauntingly beautiful.

That is our new house in the background!

Reflection: How about that snow?! We spent the whole day snowed in unpacking and stuff. At the end of the day we decided to take a walk in the church's graveyard which is across the church property near the old church. It was beautiful and we really needed the break.

The Old Church

Snow Angel

How pretty is this tree?!

Day 300: 10/28/11- Trick-or-Treating

Day 300: 10/28/11
New Thing: Trick-or-Treating                     

Inspiration: Halloween
Cost: $0
Time: A few hours  
Bottom Line: Spooky.

Picture and moment curiosity of Miss. Rebecca.

Reflection: DAY 300!!!!! We ventured back up to Bethlehem today for a day of fun and friends. Delia spent the first part of the day at Miss Rebecca's wonderful school with her best friend, little K. While she was there, Ken and I went back over to the old house to clean it up. However, we soon threw up our hands and agreed to hire someone to clean the whole place it and booked them right then-and-there. Seriously, best decision ever made. Later in the day, we went over to Ellyn, Andrew, and the gang's for some much needed fun and trick-or-treating. (Pictures to follow if we can find the camera in this mess). I am so happy to celebrate this 300th day with the people I love!!

Day 299: 10/27/11- Checking out the new office

Day 299: 10/27/11
New Thing: Checking Out the New Office                     

Inspiration: New Job
Cost: $0
Time: A few hours  
Bottom Line: Great people.

Reflection: Today I checked out my new office and got my new business cards (it's totally official!). After a quick meeting, the whole family went and toured Delia's new school which seems very nice. Then it was back to unpacking and my first trip to the grocery store down here. We fished up the day with a visit from Bill. Busy, busy.

Day 298: 10/26/11- 1st day of Unpacking

Day 298: 10/26/11
New Thing: 1st day of Unpacking                     

Inspiration: Moving                     
Cost: Hard to say.
Time: All Day 
Bottom Line: Well, we are here!

Reflection: Sorry about the delay, folks. As anyone who has ever moved knows, it is a beast of a chore. So, we have had a few adventure so far. The house is even more lovely then we remember it since they did some beautiful painting and deep cleaning. We are also very grateful for all the wonderful people who have come by to greet us with food and warm welcomes! In fact there have only been two bumps so far: our box spring will not fit upstairs and the cats were lost for a few days. Horatio was found the first night behind the washer and Jezebel arrived 3 days later by coming out of the attic wall at 4:30am. The best part was when Connie brought Delia here after having her for a few days. We set up her bedroom first so that she could have a stable place all of her own to come into. We are already loving it.

Day 297: 10/25/11-Moving Day

Day 297: 10/25/11
New Thing: Moving Day                     

Inspiration: Moving                     
Cost: Alot
Time: All Day 
Bottom Line: All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

Believe me, with all the comics that Ken has, this is very appropriate.

Reflection: Ken and I spent our last evening in our little house last night. This morning I took my last 8 mile run around the sweet town of Bethlehem. And as I write this, the movers have just arrived. I am sure I will have much more to write tomorrow, but today is all about action and tears. Good-bye our first home as a family. We will miss you so very much.

Here is the Holy Spirit leading us to the new place.

Day 296: 10/24/11- Packing Day

Day 296: 10/24/11
New Thing: Packing Day                     

Inspiration: Moving                     
Cost: Alot
Time: All Day 
Bottom Line: OK- Now this feels real. 

Reflection: Before today, this move did not really feel real. But the packers are here today and Ken and I are cleaning like crazy so I guess this is really happening. Weird.  

Day 295: 10/23/11- Write a Term Paper

Day 295: 10/23/11
New Thing: Write a Term Paper                     

Inspiration: Drew                     
Cost: $0
Time: About 10 hours  
Bottom Line: Oh! Now I remember what I didn't like about school!

Reflection: Today was all about locking myself in front of my computer and banging out a 16 page term paper which is due in early November. Sure, this is not a new thing, but I haven't written one for a while. Done!

Day 294: 10/22/11-Start A Meditation Journal

Day 294: 10/22/11
New Thing: Start A Meditation Journal                    

Inspiration: Yoga and Prayer                    
Cost: $0 (Already had a great journal)
Time: About 10 minuets   
Bottom Line: Feels like a dream journal

Reflection: For this week's new spiritual practice, I started a Meditation/Prayer Journal. I have normally been using my regular journal for this kind of thing, but that is not that handy and I am thinking that having one that I can just jot down a few things at my fingertips would be a more effective way to keep me accountable in my prayer time. Today, I wrote down some of the sensations that I was feeling after my yoga practice and how difficult it was to clear my mind. However, I was happy to see how still my body was, so it's not all bad! Do any of you have a prayer journal? How do you use it?

Day 293: 10/21/11- Visit to Unangst Tree Farm

Day 293: 10/21/11
New Thing: Visit to Unangst Tree Farm                   

Inspiration: Delia's Last Day of School                   
Cost: $6 per person
Time: About Two Hours  
Bottom Line: Chilly Fun on the Farm

Delia's First Hayride

Reflection: Today was another bitter-sweet one for us. We went to Ungangst Tree Farm in Bath, PA on a field trip with Delia's class. It was also her last day which was definitely sad for us all. She has loved her time at GMS and we have seen her blossom there. So, between picking pumpkins, taking hayrides, feeding livestock, playing in corn, getting lost in corn mazes, and learning about different kinds of pumpkins, we also said tear filled "good-byes" to her amazing teachers and friends. Farewells are the worst!

Searching for the Great Pumpkin

Feeding the sheep

Day 292: 10/20/11- Mulligatawny Soup

Day 292: 10/20/11
New Thing: Mulligatawny Soup                   

Inspiration: Tea with Maria                   
Cost: $5ish
Time: About a hour 
Bottom Line: Delicious!

Reflection: Maria and I had a lovely tea date today at my favorite Irish Tea Room where I tried my first ever bowl of Mulligatawny Soup. It was as delicious as the company was delightful. Yum!

Day 291: 10/19/11- Third Day of Fall Hike- Boiling Springs

Day 291: 10/19/11
New Thing: Third Day of Fall Hike- Boiling Springs                   

Inspiration: Dad and the Appalachian Trail                  
Cost: $0
Time: About 10 miles
Bottom Line: Home of the Bubble Boy

The Bubble

Reflection: Today we finished up our hike with a visit to my Dad's new hometown of Boiling Springs, PA. Here is the Wiki description:

Boiling Springs gets its name from the natural artisan well springs located in and around the town, the most prominent of which is known as "the bubble," a name the Boiling Springs High School has taken on as its mascot. Another story of the name comes from how the lake in the center of the town steams (as if boiling) in the winter, as the water in the lake stays at a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius) year-round. The town is situated near the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, and a regional office of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is located in the center of the town. Boiling Springs is the first town in Pennsylvania and currently one of nine towns in the nation, to be designated as an Appalachian Trail Community.

It is a beautiful little town and my step-sister Maddie swears that their mascot truly is a bubble. We didn't get rained on until the last hour of the hike and we could actually hike right up to Dad's house from the trail. I had a wonderful hike which was good for the soul. Thanks, Dad, for being the best father a girl could ask for.

Best of luck to SOBO Through Hikers Nola, Super Turtle, and BMW who we met on the trail.

Day 290: 10/18/11- Second Day of Fall Hike-Halfway AT Mark

Day 290: 10/18/11
New Thing: Second Day of Fall Hike-Halfway AT Mark                  

Inspiration: Dad and the Appalachian Trail                  
Cost: $0
Time: All Day-about 12 miles
Bottom Line: "Ohhhhh, we're half way there!"

Reflection: Today we made it to the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail with is in Pine Grove Furnace. PA. It was pretty inspirational to read the log book and hear the stories of the select few people who have tried to hike the whole trail this year. Trekking the whole AT is on my life's "Bucket List" and some day I hope to be able to be standing at this point knowing I had only 1090.5 miles to go.

Day 289: 10/17/11-First Day of Fall Hike-Pack and Stove

Day 289: 10/17/11
New Thing: First Day of Fall Hike-Pack and Stove                  

Inspiration: Dad and the Appalachian Trail                  
Cost: $0
Time: All Day                                        
Bottom Line: So good to be back on the trail!

New stove and pack!

Reflection: Today is the first day our fall hike! My Dad and I have always loved hiking together (in fact on my first hike, I carried in my own diapers--true story) and this is the first time we have been out all year! Today we went about 11 miles on the Pine Grove to Boiling Springs section of the PA Appalachian Trail. The weather was perfect and we made it to our camp-site in record time. I also got to try out my new stove and backpack. The stove was a gift from Ali and Doug as a "thank-you" for officiating at their wedding (so very cool) and it worked even better then I thought it would since it has a simmer mode. My new pack was a birthday present to myself since I have had the same pack for 13 years. I went with an internal frame pack this time and it was a delight. Those 35ish pounds strapped to my back never felt so manageable. Great first day!

Day 288: 10/16/11- Last Service at Trinity, Bethlehem

Day 288: 10/16/11
New Thing: Last Service at Trinity, Bethlehem                 

Inspiration: Trinity                  
Cost: $0
Time: Several Hours                                       
Bottom Line: Sad and sweet at the same time.

Midnight Mass, Christmas, 2009
Photo by Gary A. Becker

Reflection: Today was my last Sunday service at Trinity. After a beautiful service (which included my final sermon, a Litany of Farewell, and lots of crying) we had a wonderful reception where we received some lovely gifts and said our tearful "good-byes". Truly, our hearts our very full with love and gratitude for this dear place and people. Thank you everyone for all of the many blessings.

Day 287: 10/15/11- Sun Catcher Sleepover

Day 287: 10/15/11
New Thing: Sun Catcher Sleepover                

Inspiration: Ellyn, Delia, Little K                  
Cost: $0
Time: All Day                                      
Bottom Line: Fun for all ages!

Reflection: Delia and Little K have been best friends since they were six months old. She and her family are some of the people that we will be missing the most with this upcoming move so we are trying to spend as much time together as possible before then. Today, Little K and Delia had a sleep over and to celebrate, Ellyn brought over sun-catchers to paint. Everyone tried for a rainbow motif and they turned out really well. The two girls had a blast and I they even slept a little.

Day 286: 10/14/11- Try Pumpkin Butter

Day 286: 10/14/11
New Thing: Try Pumpkin Butter               

Inspiration: Ellyn                  
Cost: $0
Time: A few minuets                                      
Bottom Line: Delicious!

Reflection: Today Ellyn introduced me to the wonder that is pumpkin butter. I had never even heard of this, but I though it was even better than apple butter. Thanks Ellyn!

Day 285: 10/13/11- Headstand

Day 285: 10/13/11
New Thing: Headstand              

Inspiration: Yoga Class                  
Cost: $10 (for class)
Time: 30 seconds (and a three month build up)                                     
Bottom Line: Exhilarating. 

ok- so this is not a handstand not headstand. you got me.

Reflection: Today my yoga teacher helped me achieve a headstand! She assisted me getting into the pose and then let me hand out there for about half a minuet. It was awesome and refreshing.

Day 284: 10/12/11- Christ the Redeemer Meditation

Day 284: 10/12/11
New Thing: Christ the Redeemer Meditation              

Inspiration: The 80th Anniversary of the Christ the Redeemer Statue                  
Cost: $0
Time: 8 Minuets                                     
Bottom Line: Ouch. 

Reflection: Today if the 80th Anniversary of the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. To honor this in my prayer time this week, I decided to do a type of body prayer. I decided to hold my hands and arms straight out for 8 minuets (one minuet for every year) as a meditation on the Redeemer, both his work on the cross and the loving embrace that he uses to welcome us. Before this, I had only ever gotten up to 5 minuets in this pose, but this was good motivation to go deeper. While you attempt this, you are trying to get you mind to rise above the pain in your arms and focus on God. This is easier said than done, however, and I almost didn't make it. The relief that comes with lowering your arms is its own prayer of gratitude.

Day 283: 10/11/11- Bike Buggy

Day 283: 10/11/11
New Thing: Bike Buggy              

Inspiration: Delia, Ken                 
Cost: $??
Time: About 45 mins                                     
Bottom Line: Low Rider

Kitty Helmet

Reflection: Today, Delia and I tried out Ken's birthday present to me--a bike buggy (or buggy-bug-bug as Delia calls it)! I have wanted one of these for a while and was thrilled to have it as a surprise. Ken even put it together for me which was double the present (thanks, Honey!). Delia loved it and we swung over to her best friend's house (Kit-Kat) for a double ride since it holds two riders. Fun had by all!

Day 282: 10/10/11- Visit Klein Farms

Day 282: 10/10/11
New Thing: Visit Klein Farms             

Inspiration: Family Fun Time, Rebecca, Ellyn, and their crew                
Cost: $0
Time: About 2.5 hours                                    
Bottom Line: Great time had by all!

Corn Maze!

Reflection: Today Ken, Delia, Ellen, Andrew, Little K, M., P., Rebecca and little W. all headed out to Easton to visit Klein Farms. We had a blast and totally picked up some amazing foods at their market. Here are some pics: