Two Milestone Weekends for VT Grandpa

 On Saturday, January 6th, my dad celebrated his 45th year as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Essex Junction, VT.  Two pastors from the Vermont area 'happened' to be visiting the mission organization BIMI to put the word out concerning the church's need for a pastor.  My dad's friend from Bible college, who was a missionary with BIMI, 'happened' to learn of that need and mentioned my dad was from New England and might be interested in returning.  We had just purchased a house in the Valley Station area of Louisville, KY.  My dad was the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Radcliffe where he worked during his Bible college days.  Not sure of the rest of the details involved in the decision, but we ended up moving to VT in January of 1979 for him to become the pastor of the church.

On Saturday, January 13th, Tammy, Lizzy, Charlotte, and I drove up to Vermont to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday.  As is usual this time of year, ran into snow in the Randolph area to spice up the trip.  Upon arrival, Randi and Gabe from OH were there.  They had already eaten breakfast, but dad reopened the grill for a second round of dad's blueberry pancakes and eggs along with mom's sausage and cinnamon rolls.   The NY Gangwer's arrived as we were finishing up eating.  So another round of pancakes and eggs were cooked for them.  We then sat around and listened to and told stories.  The official party was at 4pm at dad's favorite pizza place - Zachary's.  Rachelle, Randi, and I each had brought photos of dad and our families that we had put together.  I had also put together a Pop's 80th Party quiz  for everyone to fill out to see who knew the most about dad.  From Zachary's, everyone headed to Rachelle's house for hot chocolate and birthday cupcakes.  There dad opened his presents and more stories were told.  All the grandkids stayed at Rachelle's house for games.  We old people head to our lodgings for the night.  We spent the night with Lizzy and Charlotte at the Sonesta Suites in Williston and returned Sunday morning to CT.  

Link to pictures https://photos.app.goo.gl/ycAkXnLEeqycY7rdA

A Mother/Daughter Visit to Martha's Vineyard 2023

For only the second time in 15 years, we have a guest blogger.  Enjoy her tale. 

On December 19th Lizzy and I (Tammy) took the steamship authority ferry from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard.  We first stopped for breakfast at the French Market and Cafe, getting raspberry and chocolate croissants.  They were delicious.  We explored the Tisbury area and shopped.  Next, we took the bus to Edgartown and explored there: the Whaling church, lighthouse, beach, shops...  At this time, the weather was beautiful, and we took many pictures.  We took the bus past the Jaws bridge to Oak Bluffs.  We explored the Gingerbread houses/Camp Meeting Association area and Circuit Avenue shopping.  We ate dinner at the Lookout Tavern.  The food was very good.  I had the surf and turf burger special (cheeseburger and lobster roll combined).  Lizzy had the fish and chip dinner.  We stayed at the Morgan Hotel in Oak Bluffs.  It was very nice.  Our only complaint was that it was very warm.  We literally opened the door to the outside porch at times.  The next day we explored Oak Bluffs and Tisbury again.  My favorite shopping was the Chicken Alley Thrift Shop.  Go figure. We had breakfast at Nat's Nook.  The savory crepes were wonderful.  We took the ferry back fairly early as the weather was much colder and very windy.  On the way home, we stopped at the Wrentham Outlets for final Christmas shopping.  This was my first visit to Martha's Vineyard, but I'd like to go again and explore Aquinnah and other areas of the island.

Photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/y6YKdMZxF6iYFW5Y6

A Holiday Trilogy

 Holiday One:  Thanksgiving - Lizzy and Stas were to come over Thanksgiving Day, but both were sick that day.  So Tammy and I had a quiet Thanksgiving of just the us two.  Tammy did take the sick children a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole.  On Friday, Tammy had to go to work while I had it off.  I used that day to clean the house and decorate the house for Christmas.

Link to photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/N8gGTZV2jXm1yUDw5

Holiday Two:  Christmas - We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve with Lizzy and Stas.  We started the festivities off with a dinner of prime rib, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a dessert of chocolate walnut kolachi roll.  We opened the gifts we had gotten for each other.  The day ended with us all playing together the games we had gotten.  Christmas day was another quiet holiday, Tammy and I opened our gifts.  VT grandparents gifted every family a puzzle of Calvary Baptist Church with the challenge of the first to finish it gets 100 dollars.  Needless to say, we spent the rest of the day doing the puzzle (and most of our free time after work the next week working on it).

Link to photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/rwk5reTBFFn7so8F8

Holiday Three:  New Years - Tammy and I drove to VT early on December 30th to take part in the annual VT White Elephant Party.  We had Little Caesar's Pizza to eat followed by the gift exchange.  Tammy and Lizzy then broke out the acrylic paints, brushes, and canvases for those in attendance to paint a picture of their choice.  On Sunday, we attended church services, a potluck, and another service.  After getting back from church, we played some games with Rachelle and Alan, Lizzy and Stas, VT grandparents, Brandon, and Jordan.  When everyone left, we broke out the puzzle to finish it.  Rachelle texted us around 7 that evening that she had finished her puzzle.  We finished our puzzle an hour and a half later.  We brought in the New Year sound asleep in bed.

Link to photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/ga9Sdbi12EJR28q58

Link to candle making photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/A5xfDuftVhTGyVuy5