Birthday

So my birthday was this week. To celebrate we went to Nationals Park, where they had a big holiday event called "Enchant." It had a light maze, skating rink, and Christmas market. It was a fun outing, though the food court was disappointing. Since we went on Tuesday night, some of the special food booths were not open. :-( But we still had a good time, even though it was cold and rainy. Some pictures (though they do not do the light justice) . . .

A view from the entrance, walking down to field level.

On the skating trail. I didn't skate too well this night. :-(

Looking up at the large tree in the center of the light maze.

(See first picture for some additional perspective how tall it was!)

Part of the light maze was to find all of Santa's reindeer. This is one of them. You can see Ma Peasant peeking from under the head, and daughter Peasant as the silhouette in front. They were quite large, as you can see!

Just another cool light picture, and to give you more perspective on the scale of it all!

Looking down at the field from the concourse level, where the Christmas market was.

Been a While . . .

Yes, I'm still here. :-)  It's been a while since I posted. The "to do" list is long, keeps getting longer, and "blog" always gets pushed down the list of priorities. So, how about just a couple of random thoughts . . .

. . . Happy Birthday to my wife! We celebrated a couple of weeks ago. Last year, a big surprise party. This year, a quieter celebration.

. . . Happy Birthday to my daughter! She turned 21. We could not be with her as she is away at school, but proud of her.

. . . Abortion - how our country is divided! The March for Life is great, but New York passes a law allowing abortion at any time, the Virginia governor speaks of infanticide just because the baby isn't wanted (sounds like ancient Rome), and yet Missouri just passed the most restrictive abortion law of all the states! What's the answer? Change hearts, not laws.

. . . Speaking of the Virginia governor . . . Blackface in a 35 year old picture? Resign! Support for infanticide? Crickets.

. . . Speaking of Virginia politics . . . Governor with blackface? Resign! Lieutenant Governor accused of sexual misconduct? Resign! Attorney General with blackface? Resign! Oh wait. The next guy in line for Governor is a Republican? Never mind. Really?

. . . Death. Of a beloved professor at Patrick Henry College, where I do campus ministry. Unexpected in the night. Rough. Always be ready. You never know.

. . . Politics. When Republicans run the House, they act all civil and proper and the Democrats attacks them. When Democrats run the House, they act all civil and proper and the Republicans attack them. Can't they see the hypocrisy? Crazy. And some of the things being said? Crazier.

. . . Long, scraggly, unkempt beards. I just don't get it.

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was my father's 93rd birthday. Quite a milestone. Will it be his last? Only God knows. He's been in the hospital a lot this year, but right now is doing pretty well. Here's a couple pictures from our celebration yesterday.

You can see my father in the lower right. Going around the table counter-clockwise from there is my brother and his wife from Florida, my son, daughter #2 (daughter #1 couldn't make it up from school, though she tried!), my sister, my niece, her son, and her husband (also from Florida), and finally my wife. We were hoping for two more, another niece and her husband, but they couldn't get off from work in time. Even though my father doesn't do great with crowds anymore, he seemed to have a good time and enjoy having everyone there.

This picture was taken just a moment too late - it is my father meeting his great-grandson for the very first time. Just a few seconds before this, his great-grandson was looking up at him and staring at him as he was looking down - priceless! 

Sadly, my father will probably forget all this ever happened today. But we have learned to live in the moment with him and enjoy each moment as it comes. And each day that God gives.

Happy Birthday

My wife's birthday was last Monday. We couldn't celebrate it that day because of our having to be with my father in the hospital. So we celebrated on Friday night instead. My daughter and I made a cake, and I made her homemade spinach manicotti, but instead of manicotti pasta, the cheese was wrapped in crespelles - a crepe-like pastry. Spinach is not my favorite, but my wife loved it. :-)

Here are a few pictures:

The new bike my sister and I got her. So much better than the old clunker she had been riding!

Birthday

Cool cake, eh?  :-)

Snow! and Happy Birthday

Last week we got some more snow, I think almost a foot. I like living in a place where there are four season and having snow in the wintertime. Though I must say that I was very grateful for my son who helped me shovel out! The snow was pretty wet and heavy, but we got it all done, and then had time to build a snowman, who turned out pretty good, I think!

We also built a snowdog (a snowman's best friend!), and if you look closely you can see him just a little in front of his snowmaster.  :-)

In other news, today is my daughter Sarah's birthday. She turns 16 today! So Happy Birthday! I'm proud of you and love you very much.

More news: I already reported that my son had been accepted into one college - last week he received another acceptance letter, from Old Dominion in Norfolk, VA. So he's two-for-two so far! Now we're waiting to hear from the other three schools he applied to, and then we'll try to figure out how to pay for it!

And finally, I received a phone call this week from a long lost friend, the Very Rev. Gerald Sudick, the priest of the Russian Orthodox Church across the street from me when I was in New York. He finally retired and moved down close to me. So one day soon we will get together, enjoy a bottle of wine, and talk about old times.

Birthday Pictures

This week was my birthday. Yes, I am officially old! Here are a couple of pictures . . .

Beef Stroganoff for dinner! (On special birthday plate)

Grandpa and Pastor Peasant with "Yule Log Ice Cream Cake"

(Yellow cake rolled around peppermint ice cream and covered in chocolate!)