Mike and Anna Himes brought Ryan, Molly, and Leela to Willow Valley from Macungie after Sunday School on November 24, 2013, in time for Sunday dinner with Al and I.

Ryan turned 12 last week and is now considered an adult at Willow Valley, which is only fair since he now eats as much as an adult since his football experience this fall.  He is doing very well in sixth grade. Molly is a talkative eight year old in second grade, and is an avid reader. Leela’s fifth birthday was in June, and she is becoming an independent kindergartener.

It was too cold for me to take Leela and Molly outside while the rest finished dinner, so we went back to our apartment and they spent some time looking at the photo albums.

Anna is so faithful about sending me e-mails and photos of their many activities, which I print.  Molly read the e-mails with great interest.

Leela loves to tussle with Ryan, who is a very patient big brother with both of his sisters. Mike was patient with me as he taught me many of the things I need to learn about my new iPhone.

Molly took pride in showing her Dad what she is learning in swimming classes, and Leela is now able to amuse herself in the pool while Anna and I watch and catch up on the news.

We had another very pleasant afternoon being together and watching a growing family enjoying each others company and sharing it with us.

They are planning to go to State College for Thanksgiving and spending it with Barby and Paul Ruskin and Becky, Dan, and Evy Shirer. Becky’s baby girl is due January 25, 2014, so they will make the most of this time together.

On Saturday, November 23, 2013, Matt Best arrived at Willow Valley from New York City about 11:30 AM for lunch with Al and me.

We were especially glad to see him since his job in New York City is about to end and he will starting a month long vacation in South Africa in the middle of December.

He plans to spend Thanksgiving with David and Janet and Jill’s family in Rochester, NY. He expects to hear from the Peace Corps by the end of November about a possible two year assignment, and is still enthusiastic about the experience.

I showed him the two prints from Geoff and Amanda Bennett’s wedding on September 1 that I had framed and just hung in our living room. All 37 members of our present family were there, and it is the first photograph I have of all ten of our great grandchildren..

Matt left about 2 PM and stopped to see Nancy and Gary Bennett before going to Philadelphia to visit friends. He returned to New York on Sunday for a Friendsgiving in East Village, which resulted in these Facebook photos:

We enjoy all our visits with our oldest grandson, but this was special because he is ending one phase of his life and starting an adventure that may make these visits less frequent.  We appreciate his sharing his time and attention with us.

Around noon on Saturday, November 9, 2013, I was surprised by an invitation from our son David Best in Rochester NY, to see him and his grandson, Ben Staggert, on my new iPhone through FaceTime. Al and I enjoyed seeing them and talking with them, and heard Ben speak with his new 14 year old voice. It is such fun, and adds a whole new dimension to family relationships.

We were expecting Suzy and Fran, Andy and Meghan Talarowski from Philadelphia that afternoon after lunch for a visit. When Suzy and Fran arrived alone I was alarmed to learn that Meghan was admitted to Penn Hospital on Friday for some bleeding and contractions too early for her due date of December 24.

We were reassured after making contact through Suzy’s iPad and seeing Meghan and Andy on FaceTime.

I found that I have a lot to learn about using the camera on my first smart phone, but Suzy was able to send me this photo:

We were able to have a virtual visit and see each other and talk about all that is happening in their busy lives. Andy sent me a text message around noon on Sunday to say that Meghan was getting ready to return home that afternoon.

It is amazing what technology can do, and is a great challenge for me to be able to keep up with all that is available and that seems to come so naturally to everybody else. I am so thankful for every opportunity to keep up with the family.