April 24, 2025
Susan Hoover
Dear family and friends,
Greetings from lovely, springtime Pennsylvania! As we are winding up final things here and getting ready to move on to our next appointment, we are enjoying this season to the full. All the beauties are on full display. The pear tree has finished blooming. The cherry blossoms are in their full glory, but already fading a bit as the leaves push the blossoms away. Very soon the yard and street will be adorned with many, many fallen pink blossoms, which is in itself a beauty to behold.
And we have been busy, entertaining as well as visiting friends in other places. Abe and Judy (my brother) from Juniata County were here on Saturday. Stephen Burdette and Jonathan-from-across-the-street were here to help transport some boxes down two flights of stairs, and Stephen ended up staying a good while just to visit, which was pleasant. He enjoyed using our house as a quiet place of prayer while we were gone to Austria, and he had friends in to fellowship here too. He kind of took care of the place for us while we were gone, which we appreciated. It was very cold during that time and he made sure that there was enough heat in the house to keep the pipes from freezing, and such like.
We had a nice time with Abe and Judy, as always, but also as always, the visit didn't last long enough!! We look forward to living in new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells, and where there are no good-byes. How comforting that we serve the same God, and that always keeps us connected. And with modern means of communication nowadays, we can always keep in touch!
Good Friday was kind of a quiet, ordinary day. But on Saturday night, the night before Easter, a fierce storm went through here. It hit the house with a loud bang, startling us from our sleep. The wind was violent, it poured rain amid vivid flashes of lightning and loud booms of thunder. Something crashed. And as fierce as the wind sounded, I had to wonder if our roof was blowing off! As suddenly as it came, it passed over and the rest of the night was peaceful.
On Sunday morning when I
went downstairs to get my morning coffee, I was shocked when I
looked out the kitchen window. That big tree in our back yard,
the one I've often written about. A very large part of it was
ripped off! It was incredible. The tree was not at all rotten,
you can see the wood is still totally sound. A huge piece of the
tree was lying on my washline, and the steel parts of the line
were hanging sadly down instead of horizontal like they should
have been. (It's an umbrella type line). I guess I won't be
drying wash on that line anymore! I always loved to see laundry
out on the line, but now instead of that there is a tree on
it... The tree also fell across the shed, but that is not
damaged at all. But we can't get at the door to the shed.
Fortunately we don't need anything that is in the shed anymore!
And how wonderful that we got the full enjoyment out of the
blooming season of that tree yet, right before this happened. It
was so beautiful yet this spring.
So, it was Easter morning. Calm, beautiful, and victorious. I made a pan of baked oatmeal with mango pieces to take along, and we went to Wellspring Christian Fellowship for Easter breakfast and the service. A real blessing to be there. We had a bountiful breakfast and good fellowship and worship.
One of the families from that congregation DID have the roof blow off their house! And an electric pole landed on top of their vehicle, with torn electric wires dangling ... Of course they were without electricity for a few days. A good many other people were too. There was much storm damage in the area around here, and lots of trees down. It definitely was a twister. God shows His power, reminding us that nothing is impossible for Him! And that means, absolutely nothing.
Easter Monday we had a slow, relaxing day. In the afternoon we went to Hagerstown to a used bookstore. And wow, did they have books. Probably a million or more. Just long aisle after long aisle of BOOKS! They did have them categorized, fortunately, or looking for anything would have been akin to looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. It was almost like that anyway, even if they were divided into categories! We did manage to find some interesting-looking ones. Read-alouds that I can read to Peter in the evenings, as has become our tradition. Life stories. Like, there's one about Harriet Tubman, and another about Dr Ben Carson. We look forward to many reading evenings together!
Tuesday it occurred to me
that we haven't had ice cream for a long time -- strange
thought. But for some reason we never had ice cream at all in
Austria -- I guess it was the wrong season for ice cream to be
popular. We thought of the nearby Misty Meadows Dairy and ice
cream shop, in Ringgold, Maryland. Only about 15 minutes from
here. They have their own cows, and make their own delicious
ice cream in a large variety of flavours. We decided "Let's go!"
and so we did! What a treat. We sat out on the porch of their
shop, enjoying our ice cream in waffle cones.
And now! Tomorrow we are
expecting our son Chris and his wife Maria, and their six
children to arrive. Probably not till evening, but we are
excited about it and I've been planning where everyone will
sleep and getting beds ready. Peter and I decided we'll move up
to the third floor while they are here, and let them have the
second floor so they can be closer to their children. Two of the
boys will probably sleep down here in the living room. They are
staying a few days. We have not seen them for a couple years and
needless to say, are really looking forward to it! It's so much
fun getting beds and everything ready -- very special! I went
grocery shopping at Glenwood Foods today, and still need to get
just a few items at Martin's, which I plan to do tomorrow. I've
also baked extra loaves of bread, etc.
On Sunday evening we plan to have a picnic supper at PenMar park, with John and Velina, Leon and Lynette and family, Lamar and Lori and family, and Christophers and us. The other ladies are taking care of all the food for that! So generous of them. They actually planned the whole thing and bought supplies for it before the plans were totally fixed ... ! Everyone wants to see Christopher's family.
Velina was here for a few hours yesterday afternoon. She had a chiropractor appointment here in Waynesboro, and decided to stop in. Had a delightful afternoon!
And, surprises have no end!! My brother Peter and his wife Dorothy, from Ontario, Canada are also planning to come next week and spend at least one day with us, and probably two nights. Never dreamed we'd get the privilege of entertaining so many special guests yet, almost right up to the end of our time here! Dorothy has a brother living in Kentucky whom they are planning to visit, then come here to Pennsylvania to see us after that.
God is so good. We often
stand in awe and wonder of how He has planned every detail of
our lives. Joy and sorrow woven together, in dark days and
brighter days, making a beautiful pattern as we trust everything
into His hands. His very capable hands. Why should we worry
about what the future may hold? God has proven Himself to be
trustworthy. He's never let us down, and He won't start now! All
things work together for good to those who love God!
And with that, I will sign off!
Because He lives,
Susan for the Hoovers