JEAN TELLS OF THOMAS' BIRTHDAY AND MORE

Since my last post, we had a birthday party for Thomas.  As he is fairly new here, we invited some folks that Michael and Edward knew about their age.  Also Elmer and Anna came, David's parents came and my parents came.  Thomas is on the shy side until he meets someone so we introduced him to everyone he didn't know.  We let them play softball but we wouldn't start dinner and Thomas didn't know why.  Finally the car pulled up and we had Thomas go near as the car door opened and the young lady he was going with from Seneca Falls got out.  Her parents were also there, too.  He was so surprised when he saw her.  He kept asking us how we did it.

We had them sit together at the dinner table.  For dinner we had hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, coleslaw, chow-chow, pickled beets, and more.  Anna brought vegetable salad and cookies.  The young ladies parents brought two pies.  My parents brought chili sauce and pies.  David's parents brought jello fruit salad and baked beans.  Grandmother Olive and Edward made and frosted the cake. So we all ate very well.

After dinner we had Thomas open his presents.  He had tears in his eyes as he opened them.  Thomas got slacks, shirts, gloves, jacket, socks, handmade sweaters, fishing equipment, gift certificate for ice skating boots, and more.  We mentioned skiing items for him, but he doesn't ski and doesn't care to learn.  David told him he would take him hunting with him and if he enjoyed it would get him a rifle.  Thomas was pleased with all the gifts he received.  He said he had ever received anything like this before.

We told him and his lady that somehow we make arrangements so they could see each other now and again.  Maybe on singing Saturdays she could come here and stay over night.  Or he could get a driver and go to Seneca Falls and back.

Which leads to another subject.  Right now David and Michael, Edward, Thomas are working on remodeling the attic.  We have run out of bedrooms.  At this time, we have Katie and Susan in the same bedroom.  They don't mind it, but if we have guests, we have to move David Jr. into our room with us.  Thomas said he would sleep on the couch if we had quests, but we told him not to worry until we got guests.  Michael's bedroom has two single beds in it.  If push came to shove we could put two of the boys in together.  If it is one of Grandmother Olive and Grandfather Albert's friends, the guest could sleep in Dawdy Haus as that has two bedrooms in it.

So we are going up to add some more bedrooms.  David wants to put five more bedrooms and a bathroom up there.  We could take in more foster children and/or guests.  But, he said that is as high as we can go.  Already some of the boys are arguing who gets to bed in the first bedroom in the attic.  We decided to keep David Jr., Katie and Susan on the second floor along with some of the boys.  They all have excuses for why they should be in the new bedrooms.  David told them to wait until we get the bedrooms and bathroom up there.  It probably won't really be worked on until winter.

So we have been busy here.  It is now harvest time.  We are going into fall.

Be with God,
Jean

P.S.

Next week I will be on October 7th.  It is a special day on New York State of Mind.