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| Dear Friends,
Ethan and I have started keeping a blog! Its called "Mast Communications." The URL is:
www.themastblog.blogspot.com
Take care!
Queena Mast | | |
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Since leaving Delaware on June 9th our minivan has logged 3, 402 miles and we aren't even home yet! Ethan and I have had such a wonderful vacation that I wanted to write down the highlights so that I can actually remember them a year from now. I apologize that this is rough and boring, but it is more for me and my memories than for Xanga. :)
Sunday: We traveled 5 hours to Camp Deerpark, NY, home of our siblings Zach and Sarah Garber.
Monday: Crepes for breakfast and then we went on a fantastic hike--we even took James and Dorie. We had a lunch of campfire-toasted quesidillas on the summit and were back in time for a game. Supper was splendid--sweet and sour shrimp eggdrop soup and steamed Asian rolls. We love Zach and Sarah so much and we are glad our beloved fish (who cannot join us in Texas) have found a home with them.
Tuesday: Western New York Ho!We drove out to Mom and Dad Mast's place and arrived in time for supper. We spent the night.
Wednesday: We left James and Dorie with Dad, Mom, Jesse, Micah, Rhoda, Sam, Phoebe, and Keziah. They were in good hands. We journeyed to Chicago and spent the night at the Woods' place (Esther's old college roommate).
Thursday: This was a super-fun day! We logged a lot of miles--we traveled from Chicago to an hour and a half east of Bismark, North Dakota, our destination. We added a stop at the mall of America just for fun! Ethan loves roller coasters and so do I. We bought enough tokens to ride the spongebob squarepants coaster--that will take care of the long-car-ride-cramps! Our nighttime stop was at a rest area. We rolled out a mat in the back of our minivan and slept great!
Friday: We pulled into Bismark early enough for me to attend a Bride's brunch with Alicia and company. Hearing all the wonderful stories about my (future) sister-in-law was such a treat. My brother, Christopher, married well. We helped decorate the church, I swam a little in Comfort Inn's pool, and soon it was time for the rehearsal. Ethan was an usher and I lit candles. A lot of candles. The dinner afterward was terrific and I got to spend time with my good friends Anna and Deryek.
Saturday: Wedding day! Chris and Alicia didn't get married until 2:00 so Ethan and I had time to go to Starbucks with Deryek and Anna. They are expecting their first baby in October so it was fun to chat about that. The wedding was great, all the candles were lit without incident, and I particularly loved their foot washing service. After the couple left for the honeymoon Ethan and I watched Brian Reaggan in our hotel room and laughed and laughed. Alicia's parents provided a pizza party for the out of town guests and Ethan and I got to visit with Alicia's brother-in-law and sister--amazing, godly people. We stayed up late by the pool with Jason and Lydia Yoder, as well as Deryek and Anna, playing Settlers and enjoying the hot tub.
Sunday: We started driving early and made it to Wisconsin in time for supper at Ethan's uncle and aunt's house. Cliff and Lisa Mast and their three children were amazing hosts. We felt so welcome and we had a blast touring the kid's tree fort and playing scrabble with everyone. I didn't do as poorly as I expected!
Monday: The marathon. I started bouncing off the walls of the van. We listened to a lot of John Grisham's short stories about Ford County--books on tape are a gift from heaven on long trips. We watched the mile marker pass 3,000. We read 1 Peter and Vera's Journey. We ate the last of our free candy. We listened to a sermon. We had discussions about Anabaptist theology. We missed our kids like crazy and we finally pulled into the Mast home at 12:00 where our children were sound asleep and where Mom and Dad were waiting up for us.
Tuesday: I love my kids so much and I hope it is a LONG time before I spend six days away from them. They still love me and they had a great time with my in-laws. We had a busy day and a great ham supper. I slept from 6:30pm till 8 the next day. Whew, I was bushed.
Wednesday: Our good friend Abigail Kinem came over in the afternoon. We played Puerto Rico with her, Micah, and Jesse. Mom had put a turkey in the oven and I made rice, corn casserole, three bean salad, and gravy. When Mom, Dad, and the Pekins (the four youngest Masts) came home from the YMCA we were ready to sit down to a feast. Ethan's old childhood friend Jake and his wife Laura came for supper as well...we had a great time.
Today: Ethan, the Pekins, Mom, Micah, and Jesse are fishing at a nearby park. I'm home with James and Dorie :). Tonight Mom and Dad are taking Ethan and I out to eat. Yippie!
Friday: We are going to travel three hours west again so that Ethan's Oma can meet James and see the rest of us. We will be back at Pigeon Valley in time to see our friends Eric and Maria Holbien at 7:00.
Saturday: Ethan and Jesse travel five hours south to a cousin's wedding. My babies and I are meeting Jan Shilke in Houghton (one hour away) for lunch and I will also visit Heather Hill, Mrs. Chen, Absolut nursing home, and possibly a few more friends.
Sunday: Father's Day! Ethan is sharing at Faith Bible Chapel. Hopefully we will be able to take a deep breath and relax.
Monday: Home again, home again!
Thereafter: We pack for Texas, enjoy Chris and Alicia's reception in Delaware on Sunday, and, on Tuesday the 29th, we pull out of our driveway for a 25+ hour drive to our new home in Dallas, TX!
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| I'm not all about finding auspicious dates for things. Ethan and I got married on 7-7-07 because we wanted a weekend in early July more than because of the cool date. Dorie was born on 8-8-08 because my mother prayed that such would be the case and, let me tell you, I wasn't happy with her prayer at 11:30pm on 8-7-08! Now Dorie has taken matters into her own hands and arranged things so I will never forget when she took her first steps--9-9-09!
Silly Girl.
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| I had such good intentions of keeping this a secret until August 8. Dorie's birthday is only three weeks away but I have been forced to admit that I can't wait any longer to announce that I'm pregnant. My little one has been around for only three months, I'm only a pound heavier, but already he/she is pushing my belly out pretty far.
Once again, I love being pregnant. I can't wait to feel this baby move. I'm healthy and I don't feel sick (though to stay that way I have to eat frequently!...which makes this foodie happy, of course :) I feel like the luckiest girl alive.
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We put Dorie to bed five minutes ago and in baby language she is telling us that she had a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day. Of course, we already knew this, but we also know that (contrary to her opinion) we are not making her day worse by forcing her go to sleep. Not all of Dorie's day was miserable. She smiled wide when I swang with her on her great-grandma's swing. She discovered a new favorite beverage (homemade hot chocolate) and she said her first word. Our daughter exudes friendliness so I am not surprised that "hi" happens to be this word. Even with these bright spots, the fact that she is still complaining in her crib reminds me of the saddness in her day. This morning started wrong when she took a tumble and bumped her nose on the floor. The memory of this must have stayed with her for the rest of the day because something as minor as losing her balance would bring tears. While Ethan played piano with her on his lap, she gently slid off and then bumped her nose agian on the piano. More tears occured--understandably. Then, while she was eating, she decided to drop some of her pancake on the floor, and Ethan and I decided that today would be the day to beginning training her not to do such a thing. When I crinkled my brow and said a stern "no" I just broke my little girl's heart. She didn't drop anymore food on the floor but she did give a little sob. She soon cheered up, but when Ethan later looked at her and accidentaly hiccuped she started crying agian. Dorie is such a sensitive little thing. Well, I just checked on her and the sound of quiet breathing is coming from her room. May my little person have a happier Tuesday than this sad Monday. Goodnight Dorothea Rose; I love you. 
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