Lancaster County

We headed to Mennonite country today. Not for the reasons you would think. Nope, we were not there to study the Amish or Mennonites. We went to see a life-size replica of the Tabernacle and then off to a Christian Musical.

We drove for an hour and half to first go to the Tabernacle site. While not exactly what I expected it was still pretty cool. We were able to get a glimpse inside what it looked like. The tour guide was very nice to ask our children the questions. I think he was most shocked by the fact that all the kids new the answers to his questions. And probably shocked him more by using some "bible" terms.

The seating during the opening tour. Notice

the wall. It was the only pictures we could

take. We were not allowed to take photos

of inside were the tabernacle is.

This is a depiction of the east part of the court

just outside the Tabernacle. Here is where you

would bring your offering to the priest and he

would place it on the altar for you for your sins.

We packed a lunch that we ate in the parking lot. So glad it was a nice autumn day. Then off to the theater for the musical. I did very poorly as the co-pilot and we missed our turn which in-turn made us late for the show. (We only missed 3 minutes.) I was afraid they would not let us inside. As the tickets stated that late-comers will have to wait until intermission to get in!! I was horrified. But as we were walking up an usher was outside and escorted us into the building where another usher directed us into groups based on our section. Then they let us take the elevators up to our section for some temporary seats. Whew!!!! (God is so good!)

We had very good seats. I purposely picked the balcony so my kids would be able to see everything. And I am sooooo glad I did! This stage was amazing. It was wrapped around the outer walls of the theater. The name of the play was called "In the Beginning" and it began with creation and depicted the life of Adam and Eve. Both inside the Garden of Eden and then outside the garden. Great Production!!! Stephen said he liked it even better than the performances he has seen at Disney!!! (Way to go Sight and Sound)!!! Oh yeah and since they were doing the creation they even had some live animals that ran across the stage. Rode in on some horses. Had lots of goats and sheep. Very cool! They even had a live skunk! For some of the animals they had people inside costumes but for some they were animitronics.

A picture of the stage. Believe me when I say

it doesn't do it justice. It was magnificent. Here

was the opening scenes in the Garden of Eden.

Wicked

Wicked the broadway musical!!! What a great wonderful time. Back in March my younger cousin wanted to give her aunt (my cousin) a ticket to Wicked for her birthday (April). She asked around who might be interested in purchasing a ticket so we could all go as a group. The best available she was able to book was today (9/26). We had a wonderful time. It really was a beautiful day. We had wonderful weather - the rain held off until we were on the train ride home. Beautiful sunshine all day. Timing of the trains and getting to the theater as well as our seats - dead center in the balcony all went swimmingly. We arrived early for our dinner but they still seated our party. Then when we walked back to the train station to go home. We were able to board onto our train without any wait. The only wait time occurred en route home when they had to slow down due to some type of accident. so we arrived 10 minutes later in the station. Bill and the young ones were waiting for us. Drove back to apartment where my Dad was just arriving to drive my Mom back home. They even took the young ones back home with them for a sleep over!!!

Times Square during the day.

Gershwin Theater

Black Licorice Martini = delicious

At dinner. Me, Jill, Miranda, Emily, Tracy,

Mom, and JeanMarie.

Times square at night.