Pilgrim Footsteps

God is so patient with us, and so gracious. This year was full of God's sweet reminders of His presence, goodness, grace, provision, and love. FAMILY We had so much to be thankful for, with the recovery of my aunt and my cousin's husband from Covid, the latter of which can truly be called a miracle. For my niece's birthday, my sister and I took her and her brother to the zoo for the first time. My mom and I did a short weekend in Delaware. We went to a new location for our annual fall family vacation. Fun evening chats on the phone with my sister and mom and surprise visits from my brother. Sunrise at Cape Henlopen State Park Fall vacation Fall vacation FRIENDS Hikes and a new church connect group; friends got married, and friends had babies. A fun weekend camping trip with friends at Black Moshannon State Park. Visiting the Lancaster Liederkranz Oktoberfest with a friend (where we confused everyone by not drinking), which gave me a chance to wear my Dirndl somewhere and ma

 A year of change, of ashes and beauty, and God making a way through it all. Thank goodness tomorrow is always a new day, full of His new mercies. Shall we take a backward look at 2021? Ah yes, covid was definitely still around. Thankfully, the restaurant I work at opened along with the new year, our 2nd re-opening from forced closures due to covid. A much smoother transition this time around. [Not long after that, my niece got too big for me to pick up anymore...how do kids grow so fast?] February is usually a boring month, but not this year! My family's "covid adventure" all started with my mom; it then spread to me and then my dad. Thankfully, it wasn't horrible for any of us, and yes, I was even still doing my department schedules from home. During that time quarantined away, I participated in a writing intensive/conference for the first time, and most special of all, my newest nephew was born. We were excited to meet him when we were healthy again. In March I bra

2020, the year I had been eagerly anticipating, began as though merely a continuation of the previous year. After all, we finally got the new furniture in the office at work that we had been expecting for a while, and on my new desk I placed a vase with shiny stones and a fake fish as a continuation of an inside joke. I was still dealing with some frustrations at work. Eventually, things started to happen. A person that many had been praying would visit church visited church, my nephew turned one, and I made my first solo flight down to North Carolina to visit a friend. February Then, some losses. Several employees, gone; many of them I would miss. To my delight, our inconsiderate neighbors with a barking dog moved to another state. The worst loss of all was the death of a dearly loved employee from cancer; our loss, however, was her gain as she got her hug from Jesus. March Things began to look up a bit as we had a lovely weekend spending time with some relatives, including a day expl