Pen Pals United 2002

So Many Memories to Treasure

By Penny Helton

July 22 was the first day of PenPals United. It started with the morning devotions which I led and it was well attended. I was real pleased with how many people were willing to get up and be at devotions by 8am on their vacation. Then we registered and got our goody bags and then we were done until the dinner that evening. I walked around and talked to some of the penpallers who were coming in and then we drove around the area a little bit and found cheaper places to eat than the hotel.

That night was the first dinner banquet. We weren't able to sit together because we were a few minutes late and couldn't find four seats together. But by doing that we won the center piece at both tables because it was for the one who had the closest birthday to that date and we all have August birthdays except Ben.

Tuesday was the day of the bus tour. Since we didn't go on the bus tour we took the kids out for an adventure. We found a bowling alley and let them bowl and then went to the mall. We found some bargains at the Hallmark store and Disney Store and did a lot of looking.

That evening we saw Elvis. Yeah we really did. The banquet was decorated with Elvis memoribilia but I didn't think about what that might mean. They had gotten a wonderful Elvis imiator and he did a really great job. After the show we had our pictures taken with him.

July 24 Sandi Powell sang at morning devotions and did a wonderful job. We all went to a recyling class and learned how to make some really nice looking cards and other things from those cards that are too pretty to throw away but I never know what to do with them.

Then we went to a note card workshop and learned how to decorate note cards with used stamps. After the morning workshops we had a luncheon. The work shop leaders and other helpers were called to the front and recognized and I was included in that because of leading the morning devotions. We were given a gift of 40 postage stamps!

After lunch I took Ben to the playground while Stephanie and Jacob went swimming. Then we took them to McDonalds for supper and let them play there for a little while.

That night was the country carnival. Everyone dressed in something that showed people where they were from. Most wore tee shirts, but Mary Kugel wore a cheese head hat. The kids had fun playing games and eating PA pretzels. They won a few little prizes. I won a tea pot playing Trivial Pursuit.

July 25 was our last morning devotions and I gave away the last of the goody bags. Jessie Davidson from Scotland did a reading, making it a truly and international event. Then we attended Janie Schmidt's workshop on scrapbooking. I was interested in learning about that because my other daughter in law, Kelly, does it. Then we went to the gift baskets workshop. We went out for pizza and then back to the room to begin packing up. We got most of our stuff put in the car that evening.

The final banquet was held that evening and the meal was delicious. There was lots of picture taking going on. The prizes were given out for the hand made items pick a prize. Ben won two, the rest of us none. Earlier in the week there had been a pick a prize for holiday items. All of us won something at that one. Both of mine were Easter items. The boys won Easter and Hallween and Stephanie won Easter too I think.

We left PA about 9:30 Friday morning and got home about 8:30 that night. Stephanie drove straight through.