Pre Deployment Leave

I know that many of you have not seen Christopher since Mom's services, so it has been more than 3 months.  With that in mind, there are several events scheduled while he is home and many people he would like to see and spend time with.  There are still days with no activities scheduled, and we hope to see many of you before Chris leaves to head back to NY on January 5th. Chris will go back to NY and then deploy from there sometime during the month of January.  I will keep this blog updated with Christopher goings on as well as For Little Debbie events.  I will not be able to post Chris's mailing address on a blog, so please make sure that I have your email address in order to keep you updated on that in particular. Mom is so much of who Christopher and I are today, and I think that keeping her "smiley jack" in our thoughts is just as important as keeping Deb in the front of our minds <3

If something is listed below and you don't know about it or weren't "formally invited", please let me know and I will provide you with the details. 

Saturday - December 22nd - Winter Solstice Party at Terry's (evening)
Saturday - December 29th - Goodbye Party at Jon & Deb's (afternoon/evening)
Monday - December 31st - New Years Eve Party (all night long)

Much love to all of you this holiday season.  Thank you again for your love and support, and Happy Holidays.

Holiday Distraction, and My Apologies

Ladies and Gents - 

I wanted to take a quick moment and apologize for the lack of posting these past 10 days.  I know there are always tons of excuses, but I promise I have a good one. Those of you that know my family obviously know that Christopher (little brother) will deploy in January for Afghanistan.  Those are incredibly hard words to type or say, and my heart aches at the thought of saying goodbye.  BUT - He is home, in the 610, for 21 days.  Those 21 days have been my Christmas Insanity Motivation and with the exception of 2 gifts that UPS is holding hostage, I am done Christmas shopping.  I set a goal way back before Halloween that I would spend every available moment with Chris while he was home, and not in lines or fighting traffic at the mall. Being without Deb and Mary Elyn this Christmas is providing challenges I never knew we'd have to face. Tomorrow I take my dad's house hostage as he has absolutely zero Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree is still on the back porch, waiting for the stand, lights, and decorations. I hope a little Christmas cheer can find it's way into the Moyer household tomorrow and make the heart ache a little easier.

I hope you'll forgive what will likely be light posting over the next 18 days, and I'll catch back up just as soon as I can. I haven't forgotten about Gone With the Wind, but am trying to find a venue that is convenient and casual and will allow the most people possible to participate.  

As a thank you for hanging in there, here is my favorite family shot from Christmas a few years ago: 

Love, Jessi

February 2013 - Schwenkfelder

A few more specifics on the February event are listed below - I will be going through the year this week and next and then will post updates, questions, and requests as they come up. 
_________________________________________________________________________

I am excited to schedule a trip to the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center for February! I know this will not be interesting to many people outside of my family, but there are several items Mom discussed donating for years that I feel should be completed.  There was also an article recently published in the Schwenkfelder magazine that included Louisa (my great-grandmother), and I am very interested in learning what other information they may have.  As far as I'm concerned, Mom held all the knowledge I learned about our family, so I will be armed with a notebook and camera for this trip so I don't forget any important details! 

A little back story on the Heritage Center and some information on the Central Schwenkfelder Church is below. 

From the Library's website - 

We are a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history of the Schwenkfelders and the history of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Perkiomen Region. The Heritage Center offers educational programming and tours, exhibits, workshops, and events throughout the year. 

Exhibits that will be in place in February include "Modern Design in the Valley", focusing on furniture design and "The Art of Rebecca Ross" which features Rebecca's art focusing on traditional symbols and symbolism.   

This is Central Schwenkfelder ^

Courtesy of the Church's Website - The Central Schwenkfelder Church Mission Statement -

 "Love God. Serve Others. Grow Disciples."

_________________________________________________________________________

I can't wait to see what we can learn from the Heritage Center and what we can give them to continue their research and teaching process! 

Love, 

Jess  

 

January 2013 - Gone With The Wind

A few more specifics on the January event are listed below - I will be going through the year this week and next and then will post updates, questions, and requests as they come up. 

 ________________________________________________________________________ 

January - 
 
The dinner and wine portion of this is because that is what Mom and I would do about once a year when we watched Rhett and Scarlet battle it out.  Well, wine in the last few years since I stuck to Coke in high school.  I've read the traditional version of the book, and that is my favorite.  My second favorite is the book Rhett's People, which is the same story, but written from Rhett's perspective.  I found this very interesting, but less exciting since I obviously know the ending.  The movie is my least favorite as it is so very long, and much more difficult to stop and start than the books are. 

Without a doubt, my favorite line is - 

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." 

I had hoped Kevin and I would be in our own home by January, but thanks to the wonders of a leaking roof and us being picky, I may be seeking an alternate venue for hosting.  I know that Gone With The Wind is an almost 4 hour movie, so tentative plans (regardless of venue) are as follows: 

 - Start the movie drinks and appetizers at 6pm
 - Add in dinner around halfway at 8pm
 - Finish with dessert around 9pm 

I am hopeful that I can get at least 6 - 8 people to watch with me, and help spread the workload of food and beverage as well.  I am looking at the 19th or 26th of January if a Saturday would work for everyone? 

Love, 
Jessi

Schedule of Events

I know that there is no way to replace such a wonderful lady, but after much planning I am hopeful that we will be able to join together during 2013 and honor the memory Little Debbie has left behind.  The legacy of Mom, Mary, and Mary Elyn is one I am proud to call my own.  I will never do Christmas as well as ME, top Mary’s ironstone collection, or stitch with the likes of mom, but I will maintain my membership at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, visit the Christmas display at Longwood Gardens, and serve multi-course dinners with wine and too many dishes.

Here is my tentative schedule for 2013.  I am hopeful that your feedback will help me expand on the details, and that this blog will give me one place to keep our friends and family posted. As always, please call, text, or email anytime! (Jessica.Gehman@gmail.com)

January - Dinner, Wine, and Gone with the Wind

February - Schwenkfelder Heritage & Library Center

March - Fight for Air Climb (Philadelphia, March 23rd)

April - Stitching lessons & my first sampler

May - Bucks County Designer Showhouse (and lunch!)

June - Relay for Life Exeter (June 1st)

July - Hiking Ricketts Glen waterfalls

August - Wine Dinner

September - Frisbee Lessons & Frisbee Golf

October - Philadelphia Museum of Art (and lunch!)

November - Nemours Mansion & Gardens

December (2012 & 2013) - Lights at Longwood Gardens

This is the first time I've opened the listing up to more than just Kevin, and I am very excited for some feedback!

Thank You & Welcome

First and foremost, allow me to thank you for your interest in Little Debbie.  In a few short weeks this project has gone through many phases, many names, but the aspect that has never waivered is my goal.  My goal of keeping my mom's memory alive, my bonds with her friends strong, and making an impact on the Cancer & Lung Cancer communities.

I have decided to chose a specific event, projector, or goal for each month of 2013.  Over the next several days, I hope to introduce you all to a schedule of sorts for these events, some of which are very specific (Lung Cancer and Relay Events), some ofo which are general dates (Dinner and Philadelphia Museum of Art), and some of which are just for me (my first cross stitch project).

Please consider joining me on one or all twelve of the adventures I have planned for 2013.  I am so excited to celebrate the life of LD with so many of the people most important to her.  I am as guilty as anyone else of letting life get away from me and want each and every one of you to know that you mean the world to me.  I welcome your feedback, invite you to participate in any and all events, and thank you for loving my Mom.

*Please notice there are donation links set up on the right sidebar which will take you directly to donation pages for the Fight for Air Climb (March's Event) and Relay for Life (June's Event).  I will discuss these in further detail soon, but wanted to post the links for anyone interested in joining our team or donating for March or making a donation in my name for June.

Love,
Jess