This is the Gemeinhaus. It was built in 1788 and is the only remaining German Colonial Church in the United States with minister’s quarters attached. The plaque left something dangling there, and I’m unsure whether there are other German Colonial Churches out there but they don’t have attached minister’s quarters, or if there are other ones out there in which the minister’s quarters have disappeared. It’s a mystery I shall never care to solve. 
Unfortunately today’s post comes with tragic news. My Aunt Jackie, mother of Charlie, who passed away November of 2010, succumbed to the same condition that Charlie had. Of course I am devastated, but my pain can only be a small sliver of that which her remaining children, my cousins Kyle and Shannon, must be feeling. They had the unenviable task of deciding whether to keep the ventilator working, or letting her go. I hope they always remain at peace with their decision, and not second guess themselves, for they understood their mother well, and knew that this would have been her choice.
Much of what I remember of Aunt Jackie is tied to the son she lost. As I stated after his untimely death, he was my first friend, and she was someone to be counted on. But this is the woman who I remember.
She was tough, as you can plainly see by the toughness in her kids.
She was unflappable in her convictions, and relentless in her faith.
She was warm and welcoming, even for those of us who hadn’t seen her in 20 years.
She was a person who let the people around her know they were loved, in all the ways it is possible to show it.
She was patient. She had to be, raising 3 kids largely on her own–especially those three kids. 
And lastly, as you can plainly see, she was simply good.
May she rest peacefully.
We are around.
Sent from my IPad
Wonderful picture of Jackie. Such an awesome lady.