Donna and Terry's Adventures in Maryland

Sunday, March 8, 2009

EMILY'S BIRTHDAY-POLKA PARTY!!!!!!

Two weeks ago we attended a wondeerful birthday party at a dance hall/restaurant. It was the most fun I have had since we moved down here!

A couple of blogs ago, I wrote about the BLOCK PARTY in our neighborhood. It was there that I met Emily and Del. This is the couple who travels all over the world, and rides on elephants! Emily loves Elephants. She actually was able to have her own elephant to take care of for 3 whole day and nights! They were in Thailand, this time. I think Del loves her so much that he will do anything to make her happy...sort of like the relationship Terry and I had for 27 years.

Emily turned 70 on March 2nd, and of course Del threw a big party for her. He even wrote a love song for her, and got up and sang it to her from the orchestra pit. They are avid dancers, so of course it had to be at one of their favorite dance halls. The place was called "BLOBBS". (Quite an unusual name, but then, Emily and Del are very unique too..)

There was a live band and the majority of music played was the polka. (when I told our "adopted son," Lawson, about doing the POLKA, he said, "you went to a dance hall to play cards?"--He thought we were playing POKER!)

I remember doing the polka at all of my aunts' and uncles' weddings when I was a small kid up through teenagehood.
I always enjoyed the polka, and danced the night away many times with my uncles. They always gave up way too soon. (You might say, they "cried UNCLE"!!!) Ha Ha...

We danced with Seamus almost every dance, and he really picked it up very quickly. For a 3 year old young man, he was excellent. This time I HAD TO CRY UNCLE!!!

There was good food, birthday cake, and we danced the night away! A good time was had by all!!

MY "ADOPTED" FAMILY STEPS OUT IN FAITH!

I HOPE YOU HAVE ALL READ ABOUT MY "ADOPTED FAMILY"........
Our assistant pastor from our previous church actually "adopted" Terry and myself about three weeks after we met him. Pastor Lawson is from Nigeria, and he has a wonderful wife named Kathrina, and a 3 year old daughter, Zoe. It took a long time, and lots of red tape to get them over here. I could say that we took him "under our wing" while he was waiting for his family, but actually it was quite the opposite! He was the one who reached out to us, helped us move 3 times, and was there for me when Terry was hospitalized so many times. There were several people who helped us of course, but only Lawson became our "son"!

Almost a year ago now, Lawson's family arrived and we were so excited to meet them. The first thing that Kathrina said to us was: "Hi Mum, Hi Dad"!! Zoe calls me "Miss Donna". It is tradition I guess, because wherever I go, I become, "Miss Donna".

Anyway, after 7 years of serving at that church, Pastor Lawson got a calling to go to Washington, D.C. (3 miles from us..), and evangelize the whole city, "one person at a time". He started a small church with the help of some good friends and family, and he is doing God's work each week by ministering to the people in the area where his church resides. He was "given" full use of the building for Sunday worship. He has made me so proud, not because he started the church, but because he followed the Lord's plan for his life.

Last week Kathrina gave birth to another baby girl, named Renee. Kathrina was only 6 months pregnant, and she had to have a Cesarean section, in order to save her own life. The baby weighed only 1.7 lbs., but came out yelling and breathing on her own. Please put this family, especially Renee in your prayers as soon as you read this, and please put her on all of your prayer chains. Thank you. I will keep you posted.

You may ask why I left the other church, because we were so happy there. All I will say is that it was necessary. I felt like a "man without a country" for several weeks, but I knew that the Lord had prompted me, in a unique way, to leave, so I did.

I do know that we were sent to that church for a reason, and that reason was to meet our wonderful new family, Pastor Lawson, Kathrina, Zoe, and now baby Renee. Praise God!!

STARTING OVER!!

Alot has happened in the last couple of months. I left the church I was attending since we arrived in Riverdale in Oct., 2007, and went shopping for a new one. I was praying for a Calvary Chapel that would be close to drive to, but did not think it was possible. Of course "all things work to the good for all those who for all those who know God, and and are called according to His purpose." Romans, 8:28... I actually did find some very nice churches around here, and went to their services. Everyone I met was so friendly, and welcoming, but my heart was set on a Calvary Chapel after attending one for over 24 years. I finally found one which was 20 minutes away from my home, and I was so happy when I walked in there. I knew I had found my new home!! I met several wonderful people right away, and am going to a home bible study which is near my home on Wednesday nights. When Terry was well, we travelled quite a bit after we retired, and wherever we went, we ALWAYS found a Calvary Chapel! It was so comforting knowing that they were all the same, and we were always warmly welcomed.

I thank the Lord for giving me direction, and know He put me in a Calvary Chapel for a reason. I wish Ter could come to this church with me, but he is smiling right now, knowing that I am happy with my new church family.

I have even signed up for the ladies retreat coming up in July. I was never able to go to it before because of Ter's illnesses, and now I only live an hour's drive away from it, since it is located in Sandy Cove, Maryland. I am so anxious to see my Rochester friends when I get there. Ladies, if you are reading this right now, please look for me at the Cove, in July!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

THE OPEN HOUSE!!!

On January 3, 2009 we held an Open House at the Coleman/O'Donnell home. We invited many friends and relatives. All in all we think about 45 people took part.

The day before the event, James and I went to do the grocery shopping. Huge lines and crowds of people were everywhere we went. It was quite a challenge, with lots of calls to Jules, at home with Seamus to check and make sure we were purchasing the right items, as she had requested.

Finally we both came dragging our bodies into the house, and after several trips to the van and back, we opened all of the bags and while they put the groceries away, I started to cook. Soon Jules was cooking too, and then James. James' brother Rick arrived from Pennsylvania. He was very helpful in entertaining Shamey while we cooked. We had a good time making the preparations. Everything had to be just right. Finally we were almost done, and we decided to call it a night. We all dragged ourselves to bed and said "good night everybody!"

On Saturday morning we had MORE food to cook, and we were busy, busy, busy... clean the house, clean off the porch, make the horsdouvers, make the desserts, make the dips, set up chairs, make the punch...pick up the toys... Just before the first guests arrived, we all got dressed in acceptable attire. The first guests at 4:00 p.m. were Pastor Lawson and his family. Shamey was so happy to have Zoe for a playmate.

Soon more and more guests arrived. Most of them were bearing either gifts for us, or some kind of food. Thank goodness we had put all of the leaves in the dining room table, because it was pretty loaded before they even started arriving.

Jules and I would take turns giving tours of our new home, even including our new laundrey room, which we all love to use. (We used to have to take the laundry to the basement...now it is wonderful to have it on the first floor.)

Many people kept showing up, even our architect Marc, and our builder, "Frankie"! (Shamey named him that. His real name is Fran.) We hoped that once people saw how beautiful and unique it was with the skylights and the moving walls, etc. that they would get some ideas of hiring them to do some work for them. Frankie gave out a few of his flyers, explaining his business, and I saw Marc give out a few business cards too.

All in all, it turned out to be a very nice evening, and I think everyone had a good time. At church people are still talking about it, and Jules and James have workmates who just loved it.

We are pretty happy with our new space too.

I wish Ter could have seen it. He would have loved it. After all, there are many "handicap accessible" features specifically built in just for him. He is probably looking down on us right now saying, "way to go!"

[Wish you were here, Honey. We all miss you and love you very much. It would be so much better with you here....]

Sunday, January 18, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I can't believe that I have celebrated (2) New Year's Eves in Maryland already!!

Time just seems to go by so fast. That is what they say is a sign of aging...WHO,ME???

NAH!!! NOT ME!!

I guess it really creeps up on you..... I can't believe I will be turning 67 in 2 more months! I don't know where the years have gone....My baby boy was just born a short while ago, BUT he just turned 43! My baby girl just turned 40! I guess it must be true, but you can't prove it by me.

New Year's Eve I spent the most interesting and gracefilled time I have ever experienced. I went to church...(something new for me at this Holiday...) The service was so sweet, filled with praise and worship, and prayer for the new year.

Towards the end of the evening..(way past midnight) the doors of the church opened and we could hear a group of people come in. Pastor Ben eventually called them forward. It was a whole family. (A mother and 4 teenagers..) Apparently the family was in some sort of distress. It became evident that they were all angry at each other for some reason. Pastor Ben prayed over each one, and asked them to forgive each other. Apparently the Lord poured out a blessing on each one of them, as they all began to cry and hug each other. I have never experienced anything like this in my life! It was evident that the Holy Spirit was there with them the whole time.

I did not get home until 1:45 a.m. Those of you who know me, know I am not a night owl! I wasn't even tired as I drove home and parked my van. I was met by Jules and James waiting up for me. They are always looking out for my best interests.

They are a blessing to me EVERY DAY!!
Thank You, Jesus!!

CHRISTMAS, 2008 (OUR FIRST ONE IN THE NEW ADDITION!)

Here it is, January 17, 2009, and I am just getting some time to bring you up to date on the Holiday season, and other events in my life. I have no excuse other than that I have to prioritize my life right now, and now I have the time to catch up.

I made my usual homemade soups and distributed them, along with my pumpkin breads to several friends. Pastor Lawson and family came the day before Christmas and had a nice lunch with me. I gave them a gift of a very special painting that my friend Dorothy McGee had done for me and, a beautiful frame I had found. I did not have any place to put it in my new apartment, so I gave it to my "son" and his family. They were blessed to receive it, and I was blessed to give it to them.

Christmas was a very nice layed back day for all of us. We opened up gifts and had a nice dinner together in our new dining room. James surprised us and bought some huge scallops, which are a favorite of mine and Jules. James broiled their's and I cooked my own with a recipe I got many many years ago from the chef at a well known restaurant in Auburn, N.Y., where Ter grew up.

We had all day to eat and enjoy each other's company. Seamus was the most excited of all! He received many great gifts from "Santa", and we just relaxed and played with him most of the day. Shamey's friend Stephanie came over and played with him that day, and he was thrilled.

I really missed Ter on that day, as I do every day, but for some reason, Christmas day is the worst time for me to be away from my loved ones.

All in all, I was glad when the day came to a close.