The Root's Country Market & Auction - A Visit!

Another good place to shop for food such as veggies, fresh fruits, bread and many more, is at Root's Market in Lancaster County.

Since its humble beginnings as a poultry auction in 1925, Root's Market has evolved over the years to become a piece of Lancaster County heritage offering fresh food and a wide variety of items for sale. Root's Market features its produce auction as well as fresh meats, deli, bakery items, flowers, handmade crafts, antiques, collectibles and household items from over 200 stand holders.

It only opens every Tuesday of the week. It celebrated its 85th Anniversary in May of 2010.

"Joseph" at Sight & Sound Theater

It always feels great to feel blessings when Bible stories come to life at Sight & Sound theater (Millenium Theater).

Sight & Sound is considered to be the nation's largest professional Christian theatrical company and one of the mostly attended live theaters in the East Coast and in the Midwest as well. It has a 2,000 seat capacity and has a 300-ft.stage that surrounds 3 sides of the audience and an amazing variety of live animals participating in the show.

The story of Joseph in the Bible is already a familiar one to many Christians. It's considered as legendary. It is a story of a great dreamer (Joseph) who underwent tough challenges and trials from people whom he loved and trusted, yet chose to forgive in the end.

His story grips the heart, that can keep people coming back returning with more friends to watch the show! :)

"Joseph" is a show full of energy that will leave you laughing, crying and uplifted with the life-changing message of God's forgiveness.

The entire show is mesmerizing filled with innovative dream sequences, lavish Egyptian staging, colorful characters, live animals and memorable songs. The climax of the show is a soaring Joseph above, infront and beside the audience!

One word description....SPECTACULAR!!!

Tasting Local Sweet Flavor From Edward's Nut & Candy Co.

While doing a tour trip in Lancaster, PA, I was surprised to find a candy company somewhat hidden away from the town.

The Edward's Nut & Candy Co. has the largest selection of candies, chocolates, jams, jellies and all related to sweets in Central Pennsylvania. specifically Lancaster.

It is good to know there is at least an ideal place worth visiting if you're a "sweet tooth". They also offer some candy products that are no longer carried in many modern candy stores nowadays.

Most of their products are repacked into smaller, sealed bags and you can also choose to mix and match a bag candy however you like.

"Moses" @ Sight & Sound's Millenium Theater

Me at the lobby of Millennium Theater showing "Moses"

This is one way of making you spiritually enriched, being a Christian.
We all know the story about Moses in the Old Testament. He was more than just a Biblical icon. He was an ordinary man who had his flaws and weaknesses, struggles ad was much like an ordinary person like us who tried to find his personal identity with God.

The show "Moses" is one of the Bible's most epic sagas that comes to life through this all new adventurous presentation by the Sight & Sound. In the show, you can journey back in time as you'll witness the moment God first speaks to Moses at the burning bush, and also experience God's awe-inspiring power as you sit in the midst of the parted Red Sea!
You can also feel the celebration of the Israelites as they brush past you on their path to freedom ;).

Don't miss watching this action-packed story as you discover God's unique plan for the first time on the Sight & Sound stage.
The show comes in 2 Acts, in which Act 1 has 8 scenes, while Act 2 has 9 scenes.

The life of Moses is truly an epic. Visual and sound effects of each scenes are made through computer-based 3D modeling, then these produced equipments out of the 3D models were constructed, - painted, welded and handcrafted in details.
Owe it all to the Sight & Sound staff.
The theater has been ding a great step on their mission on moving people's hearts, mind and spirit by bringing the Bible to life on stage through the power of story.

Kudos to all of Sight & Sound's blend of creative talents who continue to have passion to share the love of Christ.
It's God's way of letting you use your spiritual gifts through the Holy Sprit.
Thank you for continuing to spread the Good News & God's promises.

Buffet Lunch @ Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant

Outside the restaurant, after my sumptuos lunch!

One thing I would always enjoy when I'm on a trip is food! Trip and food for me are perfect match! ;)

Well, how would you like to go on a smorgasboard dining with real home cooked meals on the dining menu - buffet style??

If you're around Lancaster area, the Brid-in-Hand Family Restaurant would be the ideal place to go to. This is not a paid promotion, although it sounds I am promoting it, lol! But I am strongly recommending it because I have a positive experience dining in here. It's here where you will find a whole host of traditional Lancaster County recipes that are always perfected daily on their menu. They are family traditional recipes shared with homemade goodness, and fresh foods.

If you're going in there starving, you'll be coming out full and happy...that's for sure! An, oh, beware when you're on a strict diet! You'll end up breaking your diet rules. :)

By the way, it's a shame I didn't even take photos of the restaurant itself! Probably, I was so overwhelmed with too much food and I was so full!

Trip date: April 14, 2012

American Music Theater with The Gaither Vocal Band

Me & Wes Hampton

Me and my ever supportive and kind, loving hubby ;)

The concert

Michael Phelps doing his solo.

The venue - American Music Theater

 We have been into Rill's Bus Service with my husband whenever we think of having some weekend trips and whenever they offer some trips that seem interesting to do. One of the best thing they had in one of their itineraries was a trip to see The Gaither Vocal Band's Homecoming Tour 2012 at American Music Theater. I have been actually wishing to see one of their concerts someday, I said. Then that perfect timing came when Rill's offered the tour and so I didn't let the chance go off my hands this time, lol! My husband signed up for the tour right away, and finally, it was such an excitement while we were on the road in the bus! :)

GVB became one of my favorites ever since I started seeing and hearing their songs in Youtube and DVD's, and I really have to agree that they are one of the best-loved voices in gospel music. The band roster is comprised of Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, David Phelps, Michael English and Mark Lowry, all of them gifted as musical artists and men of authentic faith. They are incomparable because of their powerhouse vocals, innovative harmonies and life-altering message - a message of grace, hope and redemption.

I love Michael Phelp's powerful high notes and I was aiming to have a remembrance photo with me, but I ended up having Wes Hampton instead! I still was so happy! Just letting one of them have a photo opportunity is one golden dream I got! ;)

Truly, I felt so blessed in a full evening of entertainment and meaningful music and is a rare treat anytime.

Taken: April 14, 2012

Bird-in-Hand Farmer's Market

In one of our bus tours, we had the chance to drop by the place for a quick shopping. Although we knew we lack time for the shopping, the fact that we were briefed by our tour guide about "food sampling" is for sure a lot of fun!...foody fun, that is! :)

Pop corn samples..taste good!

Crowded!

The day was a weekend (Saturday) and rather was busy and a bit crowded. This place is more of an indoor market and most vendors you could meet are Amish.

Inside are mixed gift shops stores of handmade crafts and mostly are homemade cooked meals, fresh produce and freshly-baked pies. So, it is mostly fresh and homemade in this store, food wise.

We were able to get free food samples of pop corn with various flavors. They are all pretty good and if you have money, you might be tempted buying all of them! :)

I love the caramel-flavored ones! We didn't buy them though, I guess we ate more than enough just by the free samples, lol!...but we instead bought a funnel cake which was also cooked fresh right from the pan. What a nice food trip experience! I think I'm gonna enjoy this type of trips ;).

Taken: April 14, 2012

Summer Family Getaway Adventure

Summer means "vacation" for many school-aged children, so better yet make it a memorable one for your kids ;).
Lancaster, Pennsylvain is one of the ideal place to go to and explore. Kids can explore the modern side of Lancaster by visiting theme parks such as Dutch Wonderland. It's not as big as other theme parks, but kids aged 5-10 years old can enjoy it.
If the kids love the train, the Strasbourg Railroad offers a ride in a replica of the famous talking train.
Other great opportunities to explore is the Amish culture. let them catch a buggy ride, visit a quilt museum and have dinner at Pennsylvania Dutch Restaurant.
Another kid-friendly activity is the Herr's Potato Chips factory which offers free tours. You can also bring them to Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery where each person on the tour gets a chance to twist his or her own pretzel.

Dutch Wonderland

It's such a perfect timing that our hotel (Continental Inn) was just beside this amusement place! Since we ran out of itinerary, it was the last stop we visited before heading back home.

Dutch Wonderland is a 48-acre amusement park that offers entertainments such as story telling and theatrical high diving, and with a large water-play area. It has 32 rides ideal for families. It's a small theme park, but you can still do lots of things in there.

We did the Sky Ride, hubby was scared and so was I, lol! We both have phobia of heights, but the height was not too high enough to give me shivers on the spine. That helped us eased a little bit :). Then we had fun riding on the tug boat as well.

The Amish Farm & House Tour

It's just interesting to be learning all about the lifestyles and beliefs of the Amish people. This tour was really informative. One good thing you should sign up for an Amish tour is you can surely learn about the correct information about the old Order Amish lifestyle.

We got the chance to visit the actual Amish community, saw 18th century farm house, wide variety of farm animals that they raise, an authentic Amish room school house, a typical Amish residential home, etc...

The Amish people don't want themselves being captured for photos. So, cameras are not their "cup of tea." Although you can take shots around the community as much as you want, just don't include them on your photo shoots! A belief you should respect, and they would respect you in return.