Growing Older, but not Growing Up!!

My heart is overflowing with joy! My children are all under one roof - Our roof!! Joy of Joys. I can't remember when I have laughed and smiled as much as I have these past few days. The fact that we see our children so seldom hurts our hearts, but add to that that we almost never see them together and there is a sad place deep in our souls.

But this week, they are here. Paige drove in about noon on Tuesday and Brian and Gretchen arrived at the airport at 4:21 P.M. Ask me if we are ecstatic. The laughter started almost immediately, and is still going on. From eating favorite meals to playing games together, we are just simply revelling in each others' company.

Yesterday being Halloween only added to the fun. After lunch with our friend Claudia, they were off to explore what they called "religions founded in Western New York". First stop, the birthplace of Spiritualism.

In the 1800's on this exact spot, the Fox sisters claimed to have contacted the departed, thus beginning the movement of modern spiritualism. Our resident Rev. Paige is very interested in learning more about this religion. Says she is going to write a book.

Leaving Hydesville, they moved on to Palmyra and the Joseph Smith farm. Joseph Smith was the founder of the Mormon religion right here in Wayne County, NY. Although we drive by historic Hill Cumorah often, the girls had never visited the home of Joseph Smith. They had a tour with a young woman who is serving her missionary year in Palmyra. After visiting the homestead, they took a walk through the Sacred Grove.

Immediately upon arriving home from their adventures, they went out to the screen porch and began cutting pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. It has been years and years since we have had that activity in our house and it was as messy as I remembered.

Although it was messy, the end result was quite fantastic.

As the evening wore on, we had more trick or treater's than we ever have. Our girls thought their presence caused people to flock to our door. I'm not sure that is correct, but something drew people to us.

We then invaded our friends Jason and Linda in masks and deely boppers. They were happy to see us and offered us candy, but I wouldn't let my children have candy before they had their dinner.

What a delightful day - Made much better because I was the big winner in our family game of Bonanza. YIPPEE!!!