After a rousing Easter service at church, Al and I went to Nancy and Gary Bennett’s home in Lancaster for a quiet day together.

Cheese and wine and conversation preceded a delicious dinner, followed by great chocolate cake.

Their four children’s families were busy elsewhere, but we caught up on all their activities. In the afternoon we walked and sat in their back yard in warm sunlight, most welcome after a long cold winter. Nancy is planning to remove several large trees that have been causing problems, and Al was happy to give his advice on her plans.

About 3 PM we went back to Willow Valley and had our usual naps. In the evening David and Barby called and we enjoyed hearing about their families. Suzy called on Monday evening and arranged for their family to come to visit us on Saturday, May 10, 2014.

It was a very satisfying Easter, and we are so thankful to have a loving family to be the center of our lives.

On Thursday, April 17, 2014, Matt Best stopped in about 10 AM on his last round of visits to friends and relatives before leaving on Saturday, April 26, 2014, for Washington DC, where he will leave on Sunday for the Republic of Georgia.

We had several hours to hear about his experiences since his last visit, and his plans for the future. He expects to be a part of about 80 other Peace Corps volunteers in Georgia, 15 of which will be in Economic Development as he will, and the rest teachers. They will have orientation there for 3 months and then be assigned a location for 2 years.

He expects to spend Christmas in England with friends and to see us here next spring. He left for the Poconos about 12:30 to visit friends, and returned to Rochester NY, for Easter.

We are so glad for Facebook and iPhones and blogs which will keep us in contact over time and space. Here is their Easter photograph that I copied and one Jill posted today.

We are all proud of Matt’s decision to devote this time in his life and career to using his talents for others. We wish him Godspeed and pray for a safe journey and many fascinating experiences to tell us about.

Barby and Paul Ruskin arrived from Penn State about 11 AM for our Palm Sunday dinner at Willow Valley. Becky and Dan Shirer brought 4 year old Evy and 11 week old Cora about 11:30 AM for our first meeting with our 12th great grandchild. Anna Himes arrived alone because Mike needed to take Molly and Leela to church to sing with their Sunday School group, and Ryan to baseball practice in the afternoon.

Cora decided she preferred to be walked by Dan while I ate a hurried meal at our 8 table, giving me an opportunity to take her to our apartment until Becky finished her meal. It was good to be useful and find I had not completely lost my touch with small babies. She is adorable, and enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror.

When I returned to the dining room I took Evy to the court yard to see the fish and ducks and release some of her exuberance in the beautiful spring day under the cherry blossoms.

Paul and Al joined us, and it was not long until Dan, Anna, and Barby, finished dinner, also.

We returned to our apartment and soon Becky finished nursing Cora.

Everyone admired the quilt that Aunt Nancy made for Cora.

I got a chance to hold a sleeping Cora and determine that she had Becky’s nose and Dan’s eyebrows.

When Al asked to hold her he got a crowd of photographers eager to record the oldest member of the family holding the youngest for the first time.

Evy was also a center of attention of her loving family.

She is in full time pre-kindergarten in Albany, NY, and loves to read and write. She will turn 5 on July 11 and go to full day kindergarten in the fall.

Anna and Becky appreciated the opportunity to be with their parents without having to go to Penn State.

About 4 PM they returned to Macungie where Becky’s family had been staying over the weekend. Evy and Cora are a delight to each other and to us, and we are so happy that they all came to spend a glorious spring day here after the long cold winter.

Barby and Paul returned to Penn State about 5 PM, and we basked in the joy of a wonderful, warm family day,

Jaime Lassman came to Lancaster with Jack and Reed on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, to celebrate spring break at The Lexington School, where he coordinates curriculum and technology. On Friday evening Al and I were invited to share dinner with them at Nancy and Gary Bennett’s home.

Jack and Reed were playing with the Wii when we arrived, and it was so much fun to spend the evening with children running around.

Nancy, Jaime, and Jack had just returned from seeing the Muppet movie, while Gary stayed with a napping Reed. We had a delicious dinner with the boys.

Geoffrey and Amanda Bennett joined us about 6 PM after work in Philadelphia.

It was so good to hear young people chat about their busy lives. Amanda just took her GRE exams for graduate work, which she plans to start soon. Geoff had been to Lancaster last weekend to help Elly move some furniture for their new home in Washington DC. Jack and Reed joined us for dessert.

Jack is six years old and in first grade at the school where Jaime works. Reed is 20 months old and goes to day care nearby. He is beginning to talk and is on the move every minute. They had been to Wilmington to see Marty Lassman, their grandfather, and were returning to Lexington on Saturday.

Reed is recovering from a sinus infection, and came to say goodnight to us before an early bedtime.

It was a happy evening – there is nothing I like better than to spend time with people who enjoy each others company.

Al and I were also delighted when Matt Best emailed this week to say that he would be able to come to Willow Valley for dinner with us on Wednesday evening, April 2, 2014.