Kate is 21...

Kate has turned 21 years old,... how the years have flown. Since she has already lived in Europe on two occasions for several months at a time, she has been looking forward to the day when she can once again enjoy a glass of wine legally. That day having arrived, she chose to have a gourmet meal, straight out of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with wines appropriate to each course, naturally.

We first had a quiet little gathering of the family to open presents, and then the boys where shooed away so the girlie time could begin!

Kate had been planning and preparing for this meal all week, and she began slicing and dicing, simmering and sauteing early in the afternoon.

Rachel arrived early to lend a hand, and was wearing the very same boots that Kate has! She had borrowed Kate's favorite footwear for a wedding a few months ago, and loved them so much that she ordered her own pair online! So comfy!

Aren't they cute?

The marvelously buttered chicken is roasting deliciously in the oven... oh, butter.

Rachel brought her own cookbook along as well. Every kitchen should have one of these!

Far be it for our chef to miss this feast preparation. Today Bekah assisted Kate, not the other way around. A gift, from her to her sister.

Christine arrives dressed to the nines! Isn't she beautiful?

Mmmmm....

Appetizers.

Rachel makes Hollandaise sauce. Yum.

Sweet Sarah.

Good things are happening in the kitchen!

Served in courses, the meal progresses beautifully.

The delicious and- literally- flamboyant main dish, Poulet au Porto,
(page 245 in Mastering the Art of French Cooking).

Rachel made the chocolate mousse at home... scrumptious!

Make a wish!

Kara, recently home from a visit to see her sister in Ukraine.
We're so glad she could join us tonight.

Erin has also lent a lot of support behind the scenes today.

Well done girls! Happy Birthday Dear Kate!

Birthday, New Friends, Driver’s License, Oh My!

What a busy week and weekend we have had! Kate celebrated her 20^th birthday on Tuesday… Twenty years old! We took her out to dinner and the hilarity and laughter, fortunately, did not get us kicked out of the restaurant! After dinner we returned home for cake- chocolate- and gifts. The kids delighted in finding special things for their sister and we all enjoyed watching Kate open her presents.

On Wednesday morning, Rebekah passed her Driving test on the first try! She was somewhat nervous since many of her friends had taken the test twice before passing. Once she successfully parallel parked, the rest was easy. But then, that's Bekah; determined, methodical, cool as a cucumber. Give her a task and she sets her mind to get it done. Once licensed, Bekah dropped me off at home then drove out to the Noble's farm to show off her precious piece of plastic.

Wednesday afternoon Erin, Isaac and I went to our new friends' house for a visit and a dip in the pool. I met Doreen through a convoluted method only possible through the working of the Lord. A friend of mine in another state knows her sister, and the rest is confusing, so I'll just say that we eventually became friends on Facebook, a couple of weeks later we had lunch, and an instant connection was made between our hearts. Doreen is a gardener with "mad skills"- her yard is amazing to see and clearly a work of love. While the kids swam Doreen and I talked about everything under the sun, circling around throughout our conversation to the working of the Lord in our lives and His mercy and grace. God's steadfast faithfulness to His Word and His loving care of His children is a theme that never grows old and I pray that I may always be ready to declare His praises in every situation I find myself.

I feel sure that I'm forgetting something, but these are the high points- and high points they are indeed! Add in yard work here and there, transplanting flowers and assessing our landscaping chores ahead and that's about it. The weekend will take a different post, being so full, but this covers most of the activity of the week.

Kate Has Arrived!

I spoke with Kate last night and she was as excited as I've ever heard her. She arrived safely in Dublin and was met by Alan and Ruth Boal at the airport. By the time I spoke with her she had already purchased an Irish cell phone, had a brief tour of downtown Dublin, and started unpacking in her new apartment. Her adventure has begun! I'm sure it will take a few days for her internal clock to regulate to Irish time,... (one wonders, however, if she was ever adjusted to Pennsylvania time...).

This morning she went to church at Abbey Presbyterian, and one of the Praise choruses they sang was "In Christ Alone", which was a little taste of home for her. Her every message she writes ends with exclamation points, so I can read her ear-to-ear smile even in her writing.

Ruth Boal, the wife of Abbey's Pastor and Kate's "Irish Mom", posted photos of Kate's arrival right away yesterday, which was such a treat for us. I've "borrowed" a couple of them to post here so you too can see the delight in my baby's eyes.

Kate and Ruth Boal at the airport- does she look excited?

Kate enjoying a cup of coffee with Alan Boal at their place.

On the streets of Dublin; cold, windy and rainy...
yet her smile is not dimmed in the least!

Fly Away Baby

My first thought upon waking this morning, as I tried to focus my eyes on the clock, was, "is she there yet?!"

I am engaged in a curiously doubled dilemma. We took Kate to the airport for her flight to Ireland which will launch her 10 months of Missionary service. Additionally, she is no longer in possession of her cell phone, having decided to get a local Irish phone instead of racking up enormous costs with her US phone. Therefore we did not receive a call from her to notify us that she was boarding the aircraft, safely arrived in Frankfurt, securely awaiting her connection from the right terminal in Frankfurt, boarding the final flight or happily arrived in Ireland!

When she was in Switzerland and hopping all over Europe to Rome, Germany, and France we at least had the knowledge that she was a mere phone call away. Now the cellular umbilical is cut and she is on... her... own.

(sniff, sniff)

So this is what that separation feels like.

Over the years we have spent enough collective time "waiting for Kate" to have discovered a cure for Cancer,... (if we were so inclined and gifted). Now we are once again waiting, this time to hear from her.

I know that she is so very excited; over the moon excited, to actually be embarking on this phase of her life. She has been preparing for it for so very long. Leaving behind family and fiance is in no way simple for her. But she knows deep within herself that this time in Ireland is what she needs. That is ample proof to me that this really is God's will for her. The Lord has plans for her that we cannot from this vantage point imagine. Our prayers go with her.

Now for some photos-











Now, phone,... RING!

Kentucky Photos

As promised, I did take pictures in Kentucky, though fewer than I thought I might. Our time was simply so relaxing and homey that I forgot much of the time to have the camera out!

We've just arrived, and head straight to the kitchen for refreshment.
(Mary, Sarah, Alex, Kate)

Mary's first look at the ring "in person"!

Kate and Jina Mei looking at family scrapbooks.

Mary has a whole flock of hummingbirds that zoom from
one feeder to the next almost constantly.

Mary and Alex in the kitchen, preparing something absolutely wonderful.

Mother and son- beautiful.

Mary's amazing Bruschetta... oh yeah.

How cute can they be?

We are savoring the Bruschetta as fast as Mary and Alex can plate it!

Cute Sarah (sorry Kate)

Mary and I took a walk around their lovely property.

Alex's Artichoke and Spinach dip- yum!

Kate, Alex and Hans

Sarah, Mary and Jina Mei.

Alex and his China Doll.

This could end badly...

Mary and me, at the end of our weekend, and the beginning of our friendship.