First Snowfall in Pennsylvania

Thanks to Jonathan's free miles, our whole family was able to fly back to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving with my side of the family. 

I loved the harvest decor on Craig and Joella's front porch, and the scene in the background as the first big snow of the year fell the day before Thanksgiving.

 Family worship in the morning with Joella's family was a rich experience, full of four-part singing.

 

It was special for four of us five sisters to get to be together. This photo was taken after the girl cousins' little Pioneer Harvest Party, the day after Thanksgiving. The girls were supposed to all come in two braids, and they invited my mom, too, whose hair the girls made into two braids as well!

 My mom has a lark at such occasions.

She just hoped no one would think she just came out of a nursing home! :)

Here, she is wearing a sunbonnet, which the girls had been passing around.

 Joella told me that she has made a tradition to go for a walk with her children to celebrate the first snowfall every year. 

I was tickled to join her. 

 It means a lot to me when another mom takes time for joy with her children--

focusing on things that do not cost in dollars and cents--

just taking time and using common sense.

Enjoying our walk

 You can actually walk under trees in Pennsylvania.

 We stop and wait for my sister, almost six months pregnant, to catch up with her little ones. 

It always touches me to see another mom holding hands with her little ones,

helping them along,

loving them,

smiling at them, 

valuing them enough to sacrifice her comforts for them. 

 Several of us took turns carrying sweet little Laura, whose boots kept falling off!

Here is the grape vine that yielded enough grapes to make 40 or 50 quarts of grape juice.

 On Thanksgiving morning, we ladies appreciated Jonathan going out and rolling snowballs with the children. The little road/lane in front of the house is seldom used, and cars can be seen from a long way, so the children can safely bike or ride scooters--or roll snowballs!

 They were all happy to help.

 Craig came out long enough to help get the poor snowman's head on!

 Decorating cold Mr. Snowman

  The snowy lane before we walked it.