Monday marked the 58th anniversary of my sprouting from the Pfeiffer and Vent family trees. I often write about the place that my birth family holds in my life and heart. My earlier post, Making Family History, described special times had during recent visits from family members, making memories with my mom and my sisters. This week, I’m journaling about a few days spent with the family I was blessed to marry into, a family that was both different and similar to my own as I shared in 2016’s Three Good Men-Part 2.
My husband, Dave, was the seventh and last to be born to his parents, the baby brother to five girls and one boy. His brother and sisters married and had children who had children. Years passed and the Seven Frisch Siblings and their spouses began to retire. Sadly, the two older sisters passed away. We went on a vacation with all but one of the remaining siblings and spouses in 2011. All agreed that as many of us as were able would continue taking trips together, getting away for some precious family time.
Dave and I enjoying breakfast, compliments of Anne and Mike in Michigan 2011
This year, twelve of us returned to Seven Springs Mountain Resort for five days and nights together spent making great memories. Wanting to preserving those memories while answering the question, “What do you do at a ski resort when you don’t ski?,” I present to you:
7 Things from 7 Springs
Fireworks! We had settled into accommodations high on the mountain and enjoyed a homemade dinner around our table for twelve when someone exclaimed, “Fireworks!” It was 9 PM, dark and chilly, and a dazzling display was exploding at eye level from our deck, being set off from somewhere at the bottom of the ski slopes, surprising and delighting all.
Festival Our trip was timed with one of Seven Springs’ Autumnfest Weekends so we could enjoy outdoor live bands, artisan and craft booths, views of the resort from a ski chair lift, roasted almonds, kettle corn and the like. The weekend was a bit wintry, however the leaves had not come close to peak fall color this year, as they had in 2015.
Fall Color at Seven Springs 2015
Pumpkin Carver at Seven Springs 2018
These Alpaca friends of mine are always dressed for the weather! 2018
Food! Food! Food! Dave’s sister Anne and her husband Mike rise early each morning, turn on the coffee pots, plug in the griddle, and prepare made-to-order breakfasts for all of us every time we take a trip!!! They got to relax a couple of mornings as we drove down the mountain for the Slopeside Restaurant’s phenomenal breakfast buffet. This farm family likes its meat and potatoes, as well as pie and ice cream, so we prepared several hearty dinners to enjoy at the condo, making an exception to dine at Out of the Fire Cafe on Sunday evening.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture The famous Falling Water and the not-as-famous Kentuck Knob are both located near Seven Springs. We toured Falling Water in 2015 and visited Kentuck Knob, a National Historic Landmark also known as the Hagan House, this year. We all grew up in the flat farm counties of Ohio. The beauty of the Laurel Highlands in the Allegheny Mountains is a breathtaking change of scenery. Our Monday morning tour, complete with a hike through the sculpture garden was completed just before rain began falling for the rest of the day.
Kentuck Knob October 2018
All twelve of us at Kentuck Knob 2018
Enjoying the view at Kentuck Knob 2018
Family Dave and I have lived several hours away from our families for a long while. Even though we are relationally close, the distance, coupled with busy lives, makes staying in touch tough. During this time spent living together, we get to catch up on how each one is doing and hear what is going on with their grown kids and grandchildren. I love those conversations and love just hearing my husband talk with his siblings and in-laws.
Funny Movie When our last evening arrived, Dave’s brother Joe announced that it was Movie Night. All were invited to the basement to watch The Longshot, a 1986 comedy loved by him and his kids. I knew that even if the movie disappointed, the sound of laughter would make it worthwhile. The year between last October’s trip to Michigan and this October’s trip to Pennsylvania has held some very hard stuff for the family. To be able to sit together and laugh at Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, and Jonathan Winters – priceless.
Faith We attended a Catholic mass held in a meeting room at Seven Springs, during which the priest taught about what really matters in life, not worldly success, but treasure stored in Heaven and faith. We prayed together before every meal, led by Dave’s older brother, saying a heartfelt Catholic prayer, feeling blessed and thankful. And once each day, one of us read the handwritten prayer sent with Joe from his wife who survived a massive stroke in the spring and continues to work hard to regain abilities. She was unable to come along this year and is in our prayers often. What an extraordinary blessing it was to hear her laughter over his cell phone and her words “thank you” when we told her we were reading her prayer. Thank you, Joann, for praying for us!
Five of our seven men at our table for twelve. 2018
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13