GroshLink

At our Pittsburgh reception on Sunday, I chatted w/the Beidemans, fellow Grovers and former IVCF staff, with regard to strategy games for kids with some chance/randomness to provide a leveling factor across kids of close age (they have 2 boys, ages 10 and 7). The family already enjoys Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan.  In addition, they were looking for what GCF-ers termed Das Flicky Game.  I introduced them to Cartagena and recommended Bohnanza (a favorite of mine) and Lost Cities.  On Monday I emailed our game master friends for advise.  From the Great North, Mike shared the following (note: to research these games and more, go to Board Game Geek):

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We have family legends to share regarding our trip to and from Cedar Campus. For starters, here's some pics of

1. Hayley and Ellen taking turns steering a motor boat (great prep for their time in a motor boat at Cedar Campus and in a jet boat on their trip to Mackinaw Island w/Theresa) at a BP customer appreciation day (an excellent idea considering the cost of fuel) at which we learned about semi-twins (twins which are not fraternal, w/fraternal being defined as one being a girl and one being a boy, and not identical, of course) from a semi-twin as we received our hand-dipped ice cream.

 

2. BRONNER'S CHRISTmas WONDERLAND. The other year we hit Sea Shell City. We couldn't pass up the tourist World's Largest Christmas Store and the opportunity to drive through Frankenmuth, MI.

3. And what may be an annual deja vu playing on the swing set which Carl built at 3366 Parkview Ave and having lunch w/neighbor friends.

4. The memories are still being made. Libby told me it was a good thing I brought my laptop as I wouldn't have anything to do. While the younger girls are in bed, I believe the older ones are shedding tears over Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front AND we still have 2 days to go!

Heading out to Cedar Campus for Faculty Conference 07. Pray for safe travel, helpful conversations regarding vocation, the girls to be well occupied on the road and at Cedar, and good connections with friends in Ohio and Pittsburgh which we'll see while we're on the road.  Don't worry, updates will be come from afar.

 With some extra time this morning, Theresa happened upon the newly opened Fractured Prune (note: even the chain site doesn't have them listed as open), right next to the Elizabethtown AmTrak station on High Street. For made to order options click here -- how about the Sundae Glaze / Nut / Mini Chips?

If I have the story right, Theresa was going to try one out for us, but they gave her a free OC Sand honey glaze, cinnamon suggar and it was too good to be true and she brought a 1/2 dozen home for us to divide and conquer.

Initial reviews, These are good donuts, I have 2 more to try . . . I have one more (donut) to taste . . . Dad, quick you better eat lunch to get your dessert!. Looks like Conewago Coffee already has some in town competition which opens much earlier 6am rather than 9:30am). We'll see if it carries on like Rita's, struggles along like the Etown Diner, or goes the way of the Hardees (happy to have missed those days).

Theresa saw the Scharmers on-site. Wonder how Seattle's Best Coffee compares to Dunkin Donuts? I'll have to get over to breakfast sometime on my own to get a fresh hot donut made to order.

Taking advantage of the first night of summer vacation and a promise of a clear night, Hayley, Ellen and I camped out last night on top of our sand mound, not because of any special affinity for our sandmound, but just because our backyard is essentially all sandmound. Some of you faithful blog watchers may recall reading about our last camping adventure, in the woods, on the "family" farm. Suffice it to say, that adventure was ill-fated from the start. This one held much more promise. My mom and dad recently bought a "fire pit"; I don't know what it's called. It's a metal drum contraption on legs that you use in your "outdoor living" environment. One can make a wood fire in it and roast marshmallows or grill. So they wheeled that over and we made smores. We kept Eden up late so that she could wear, I mean eat, one. Then of course H and E were too excited to settle until I finally went to bed with them. I think they fell asleep around 9:45pm. And were up at 5:50am. Normally they sleep from 8pm-6:30/7am. Grandpa was already over here when we awoke, getting the fire going again to cook pancakes and bacon. Pancakes cooked in bacon grease over an open fire, smothered in real maple syrup are sufficient to make you forget any rocks you slept on top of the previous night. By 7:15am breakfast was over and we were cleaning up! How did this camp out compare to the last one?

1. It didn't storm. Therefore, we remained in the tent all night.
2. No flat tires.
3. Indoor plumbing was conveniently only a few feet away. My dad did suggest bypassing the indoor plumbing on account of our proximity to the sandmound, but I decided against that.
4. No one sleeping next to me was suffering from a hacking cough.
5. No one threw up in the middle of the night.

You be the judge. Check out our new file of 07 summer pics, which at this time are mostly of this adventure.

On Saturday, 3 parties crossed the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge for the 7th Annual 5K River Run & Walk.  Theresa and Eunice took the lead, even though Theresa had a viral infection which took her out of commission most of Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday!  Hayley, Ellen, and Tom took the middle.  Carl and Eden took the back.  At the 2nd mile marker Carl crossed to the other side.  Hayley and Ellen caught up and walked with Carl and Eden, giving Tom the opportunity to blaze ahead, unable to catch-up to Theresa and Eunice who had already crossed the line, cheering me on.  Then Tom turned around and coaxed Ellen to run up the hill to the finish line.  Lots of Gatorade and granola bars later, we left to drop-off Theresa for an instant strep test which came back negative. Comparatively speaking, Theresa's feeling better this morning, but her voice is still scratchy. Tom's hoping she's back together by tomorrow so she can visit some friends this week and give him space to write.

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Ellen's response to Heidi's creme pie w/graham cracker crust after a fabulous stromboli provided in order for Theresa to focus her attention in care for Eden. Our family has been blessed by the people of God at Etown BIC and their desire to be present with us through the thick-n-thin of less than a year of presence in the congregation. AND we look forward to growing even closer together as we share leadership for a weekly fellowship/Adult Elective time of discussion and prayer based upon Philip Yancey's Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?. FYI: earlier post regarding prayer conversation at CPYU morning prayer time.

Does Prayer Make a Difference? Yes!
1. High on the transition list was finding a local congregation which would care for and value our whole family. And we have found that in Etown BIC.
2. Eden's doing much better than we expected with the collarbone break on her favored left side, eating w/her left hand and even crawling for short distances . . . which can be painful to watch at times. We're particularly careful when she's standing by supporting herself along a piece of furniture. She has not yet tried to stand-up unattended.
3. Even w/all the buzz, Theresa was able to visit the Melon Man for 19 cent a pound bananas today and give me space to press on with more writing to address ESN Question 1.

Praise God for his answered prayer of finding a supportive local congregation in a few short months, his rapid healing of Eden, and progress made w/ESN material.

Intercede for a deepening connection with the people of God at Etown BIC through communion with God in prayer and Scripture, Eden's full healing, and the completion of the first draft of ESN material by early June.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see a number of Grosh family photos which stretched from the late 19th century through the 1980s.  Lots of memories and loss of memories.  This morning, when I began the new day, I had once again remembered my dream from last night.  But almost an hour with the girls and it has faded away except that it was about remembering, possibly even living in, the past.  Maybe it will come back to me later, in another form  

Eden is fascinated with the pictures on the computer.  Sometimes I set them to scroll as she calls out for baby (i.e., Ari, Jaycob, and herself), at other times she catches them on the screensaver feature.  Yesterday, instead of bemoaning every picture that wasn't a baby, she started to identify the pictures (Hayley, Ellen, Mommy, Daddy).  I think that Hayley and Ellen may have nurtured her in that direction by sitting w/her at times and reminding themselves (and her) of the various people and places (including a number of our old house).  Eden identifies all our basement project pictures as Gock-ah (Grandpa Ginder) . . . She always thinks he's close by waiting to visit.

Just woke up from a dream in which I (Tom) woke up in a bad mood while staying at my parent's house with our whole family (Theresa, Hayley, Ellen, Eden).  My disposition was so poor that I was basically sent back to bed and told I could not lead the adult education class on evil, unless I shaped up. 

Father, grant me the grace to live today as a member of your new creation.  By the power of your Spirit, fill me w/the love and care given by Jesus, the Messiah of the world, through the cross. Shake me out of my dark dreams and into the light of Kingdom living as an individual, as a father, as a neighbor, as a member of IVCF GFM staff, as part of the People of God, as a steward of your creation and the gifts you've given me . . . As I turn to breakfast conversation w/Hayley and Ellen, continue to open our eyes to your word in the Gospel of John.  Enable us to more deeply embrace and be embraced by the grace & truth which came through your Son Jesus while rejecting the father of lies and those which follow him (brief study of John 8:42-7, John 3:31-6; Beginning with John's Gospel by Susan Harding).