My Vacation

We had a fun time in Alpena. The place we go to is so wonderful. It's isolated from the major roads. The cabins are all along this gravel kind-of service drive that loops around about a quarter mile circle. The kids can ride bikes endlessly and always within our sight. In the middle there's a playground. And that's not even the best part. There's a wonderful sandy beach on Long Lake, as well as a sand volleyball court, two different campfire circles, as well as a dock with rowboats and canoes to use. And nearly everyone there knows each other since the cabins are primarily rented though word of mouth. It's just a really safe, fun place.

The cousins who were there (not everyone could come) had a great time swimming, biking, and running around.

It was a nice, quiet, relaxing (for the most part) week.

We're Back.

This hammock was a favorite resting spot for the whole family on our vacation to Lorien Resorts in Alpena. We had fabulous weather and a lot of fun all week. I will post more but I woke up this morning with an awful headache and I'm trying to pull myself together to get to a 5:00 Mass. Thank you for all your well wishes. Hope to read what's going on with you later tonight.

I'm leaving today for Northern Michigan and I probably will not be able to post for the next week. My brother and my sister and their families will be there too. We will miss my Dad because in previous years he has always come too.

God bless your week. I'm sure I'll have a lot of reading to do when I get back.

My sister is here!

My sister is here visiting from Saint Louis. On Saturday our families will go to Northern Michigan together for one week. We do this every summer. The kids love it-- A whole week to hang out with their cousins.

Tomorrow we'll meet with my brother to (hopefully) get a lot done on my father's house.

It's nice having her here. She's eight years younger than I am. We're having a lot of laughs.

Collapse of a Minneapolis Bridge-- no evidence of terrorism?

Lord, have mercy on all who have died and may your peace and your healing presence be upon the injured survivors and upon all the families involved.

Does anyone else find it odd that the Department of Homeland Security would be downplaying the possibility that this is an act of terrorism? Federal and local officials are saying there is no evidence that this is an act of terrorism. Well, I should think so. There probably isn't much evidence of any kind yet. In this day and age are we to believe that an engineering error or a construction error led to the collapse of an entire bridge? No inspections? No warning signs? ALL of the people involved in maintaining the safety of that bridge dropped the ball? I find that hard to believe.

I understand that there may be a desire to not give "credit" or attention to evil people who wish to do us harm. I understand the desire to not get people terrified (which is, of course, what the terrorist wish). But I do think there is still an issue of honesty here. Should they not be saying "We really don't know the cause of this terrible accident yet and therefore can't comment on it."? Wouldn't that show a greater measure of integrity and transparency?

There have been other incidents in recent years that I have thought the same about-- incidents with dubious explanations or no plausible explanations, about which we are told there is no evidence of terrorism. Sometimes I just wonder if we're really being told everything.

Memorabilia

This week I have been doing a lot of work on my parents' estate. So many little items bring back so many memories. This is one of them. (If I've written about this before bear with me.)

In our neighborhood growing up in Fort Wayne, IN, my mother always had a neighborhood May Crowning at our house. It was very simple. We made a little crown out of flowers from the yard. We carried candles. We giggled. And all the moms came to watch. This is the statue we used to crown. It's little. Nothing special. But it means so much to me now to have it on the windowsill above my sink and to remember that my mother took the time to teach us about the queen of heaven.

I took it from the house with the candles that were still in it. They were all dusty-- perhaps from the last May Crowning. I can almost feel my mother smiling.

Things are not always as they appear.

I love gardening but I am not particularly good at it. I plant perennials and then the next year I can't remember what the foliage looked like and I often end up pulling them out, thinking they're weeds. I've done this so many times that now if there's any doubt in my mind I leave them in until I can tell for sure.

Well, in this case, it took a long time. I left them because the same plants were not trying to grow all over the garden, although there were three distinct areas with the same plant in it. Just before John's party I decided they were weeds, but they took up so much space in the garden I didn't want to pull them out and leave a big hole.

Well.... lucky for me I didn't get to it right after John's party either because look what they were! Black-eyed susans-- lots of them!!! (That is what they're called, right?) I came so close to ripping them all out.

God is good. They look so sweet and I can see them right from my kitchen window.

I love this flower. It's on the path to my front door. I believe it's a dwarf hyacinth. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) The blooms only last maybe 24 hours, but there are a lot of them. Each is a little vulnerable gift for the day.

I'm having a lot of trouble with Blogger. I have more pictures to share but Blogger (or my computer is not cooperating....maybe later.)

What a gloriously beautiful world we live in. I so often take it for granted. This park is about ten minutes from my house. I thank you, Lord, for the beauty all around me.

Maternal Bragging Warning (and disclaimer)

On Friday when I did not feel well I said to my three youngest children. How about if you guys make the macaroni and cheese for dinner since I don't feel well. Much groaning and whining. Not in the mood for an argument or lecture I just said quietly, "I always take care of you guys when you're sick." Their response? "Yeah. You take care of us!" OK, I thought. I have no energy for an argument. Maybe I'll talk to them another time about sacrificing for others, etc.

After a few minutes I thought I heard some pans moving in the kitchen. Next, my daughter came upstairs with a few questions about noodle equivalent measurements... They were making the mac and cheese without actually being told to do it. I told them I was so proud of them I wanted to take their picture. They thought that was pretty funny, as you can see in the picture. Anyway, they made it and it was good.

Now for my disclaimer: On my blog, I only talk about the good and the positive in regard to my family. What I write about is very selective. I don't air our dirty laundry here. We have "stuff" just like all families do. We're just a group of imperfect human beings trying to do God's will, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. Never perfect......just so you know (smile).

Upset tummy

Today I woke with some kind of intestinal virus. YUK!!! My daughter Elizabeth has illustrated how I feel in the above drawing. It's pretty accurate. Tonight is the swim team dessert awards banquet and I hope I will be able to go. We volunteered to pick up the ice cream, but fortunately hubby has agreed to take over if I can't.

I'm sitting around in my pajamas feeling yucky. The girls walked up to the dollar store to get me a coke. That was nice.

Hope you're all having a good day....

I am sooo tired. 11-12 year old swim championships went from 9 to about 1 today. Then, 9-10 dive championships from 2 until about 7:30.

I'm exhausted. Still, the day was fun too. We belong to a neighborhood pool. All my children have learned to swim by being on this swim team. Most of the swimmers live in the neighborhood. It's a nice community activity. And my kids can walk to the pool!!! Yea!

We have a storm coming in tonight. I'm going to bed. I love a good thunderstorm when everyone is home and safe.

Liz as Hermione

Here is Liz in her latest "disguise" as Hermione of Harry Potter fame. She was on her way to a Harry Potter fun day at our neighborhood pool.(despite the long coat and scarf).

My children are really enjoying the Harry Potter books. We have three copies of the latest book and all are finished. My seventeen year old waited in line at Borders at midnight and then heard you could buy it at Krogers with no line. He and his friends went to Krogers, bought their copies, went through the Wendy's drive-thru, and started reading in the parking lot. Well, I guess several teenagers sitting in a parking lot, all quietly looking at their laps looks suspicious. A police car pulled up behind them with its lights flashing!!!! The officer came up to the car and asked what they were doing. They explained they had just gotten something to eat and were reading their new Harry Potter books. Did he want them to leave? He burst out laughing and said no, they were fine. LOL

I'm sure someone will say I am not really Catholic for allowing my children to read Harry Potter. I have seen no harm come from it. They seem to be imaginative and intriguing stories (although admittedly a little dark). And there is clearly something very good coming from the phenomenom. We have children and young people of all ages sitting down with a 759 page book!!! (Not a video! Not a computer game! A book!!!!! Yea!)

My old glasses....

This is my daughter Elizabeth who will be in sixth grade this Fall and these are the actual glasses that I wore at her age. I really did wear these things. LOL They were my first glasses. I was only slightly near-sighted but boy what a difference it made to look through these glasses. I remember so enjoying looking at the trees in the distance and being able to see so much detail in the leaves. My prescription is not much different now, and I still always wear them when I'm outside so I can see the glory of God's creation in as much detail as possible.

I was at my parents' house today, organizing some things, throwing other things out, etc. We're just starting to scratch the surface of the enormous job of clearing out the house. I opened my old dresser drawer to see these lovely glasses sitting right there in the front. "My glasses!" I said out loud and started laughing. It was nice comic relief from the bittersweet flow of memories mixed with sorrow. All by myself, I had a lot of tears, a few laughs, and many moments of sweet, silent smiling....

But, hey, how about these glasses....

The Good Samaritan

Last week Deacon Steve from our parish gave the homily. It was his last Mass as deacon at our parish, Christ the King. He is being transferred. (I realize this should have been last week's post:-)

The Gospel was about the good Samaritan. Deacon Steve gave a very insightful analysis of the symbolism in the story. But what really struck me was his final words to the people of our parish.

"GOODBYE For twenty five years you have been my neighbors, my friends and my sisters and brothers. I hope that I have served you well and loved you with the love of Christ! If I’ve succeeded - thank God and remember to occasionally pray for me. If I’ve failed - Please forgive me, thank God that I am leaving - and please remember to pray for me! To all of you whom Jesus the divine samaritan has treated with mercy, GO AND DO LIKEWISE!"

I immediately thought of the time some five and a half years ago when Deacon Steve blessed my family with an action of true charity. My sister-in-law had been suffering for over four years with breast cancer. She was approaching death. My friend Ann K. who some of you may have read about in Kitchen Madonna's recent apron giveaway, asked if Linda would be open to having some people from our parish come to pray over her. (Ann, who had lost the baby Stella Marie was the winner of the apron:-) She asked several people if they would come, including Deacon Steve. Steve had never met Linda. She was not Catholic, and she lived over an hour away from here. But he agreed to come.

Linda was very sick. We prayed over her from some time. Steve talked to her about a lot of things. Linda was very moved. Then we prayed over her mother who was also present. She was also very moved. Linda died a few weeks later. My brother and Linda's mother still occasionally mention this visit. I am not surprised.

Linda was a wounded neighbor by the side of the road. Deacon Steve did not even know her. But he knew she was a neighbor in need of help. He spent a whole afternoon loving his neighbor whom he had never met-- just a stranger in need of help.

Deacon Steve, you have indeed served us well and loved us with the love of Christ. May God bless you, your family, and all of your work. You can read some of Deacon Steve's wisdom at his blog, I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel.

Aprons!!!

Don't you just love a nice apron? I love wearing an apron and my new favorite apron I ordered from Kitchen Madonna. She has a lovely collection of aprons including the one pictured here, which I may buy for a dear friend of mine. You can order them online at KitchenMadonna.etsy.com.

They are just as lovely in real life as they are in the pictures. They're very well made and sturdy and I can personally guarantee that your mood will be lifted just wearing one :-)

Just thought I'd recommend these aprons to anyone contemplating a special gift for a nurturing woman. Think Christmas!!

A new Apple store

A new Apple store is opening in our local mall tomorrow. I have never used an Apple computer and I'm thinking of going in to check them out. Everything I've heard or read about them sounds so positive. Course, if I go look at them I might decide I just HAVE to have one, right?

Maybe I'll just go in to enter my name in the many drawings they're having on their opening day. That would be the only reason. Or would it?

OK. I'm not trying to get excessive attention for my wedding anniversary, but I just figured out how to scan this picture and get it posted by a different route. This is my wedding picture! (Case you hadn't figured that out. LOL

Twenty-seven years.....

Today is my twenty-seventh wedding anniversary.

We were married at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak. It was very, very hot that day.
I wanted to post one of my wedding pictures.....well, maybe I'll try. (This is so frustrating. For the second day in a row I've spent so much time trying to scan and then post a picture. I've done it before. Just don't know what I'm doing wrong this time and no kids around to help.)

Anyway.... maybe I'll be able to post a picture tomorrow. I'm pretty tired.

My husband bought me red roses and I baked him his favorite dutch apple pie. We went out for dinner and came home for dessert.

Twenty-seven years. Could I be that old??

Happy Birthday Mike!!

Twenty-three years ago today I became a mother. Michael was born. What an amazing moment that was. I remember feeling that everything I had ever experienced before seemed trivial in comparison.

It was my intention to go back to work after his birth. I took one look at him and decided it was completely out of the question. There was no way I could leave him. I guess I had just been completely clueless about motherhood. I had no idea what the bond and the love would be like. Suddenly there was another person in the world for whom I would do anything. I have tried to scan a baby picture of Mike to post here but no luck.

Everyone was home for dinner tonight. How delightful it is to look around the table and see the whole family.

So Happy Happy Birthday, Mike!!! We are so proud of the man you have become, all you have done, and all you are setting out to do. May God bless you today and always. I thank Him for the priviledge of being your mom!

It was fun!!

Oh my goodness, the party was so much fun. I had fun, anyway, and it looked like everyone else did too. We had a big turnout, perfect weather (sunny and mild), and plenty of food. Our neighbor lent us all their patio furniture so we had plenty of room to spread out and sit and eat. Kids were on the trampoline, on the swings, playing basketball at our driveway net, and playing volleyball in the front yard. From 9 to 11 we had our neighborhood pool rented and even though it wasn't real hot, all the kids went down and swam. Some even came back after swimming and took a sauna and ate leftovers.

Our guests seemed to feel comfortable and most stayed quite a while and chatted and ate. I love that.

Wish you all had been there!!! (Well, I know a couple of "you" actually were. Thanks for coming!)

One More Day...

One more day to prepare for the party. Have to buy hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, the boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are on sale at our local grocer for $1.88 a pound (!), peppers of different colors, the veggie tray, and the strawberries at Sam's Club, plastic table cloths, pick up the borrowed tables and chairs, finish gluing the photos on the picture boards, get the other groceries (including coffee which we are completely out of and I forgot to get it yesterday!!!), pick up Jim at camp, make brownies and rice krispie treats, hard boil the eggs for deviled eggs, maybe make the cookies if Anne is still sick, pull out that big weed that's still sitting in my garden, last minute dusting and bathroom cleaning....and everything else I'm forgetting at the moment.

But what I want to stay focused on is the fact that this is a celebration of my son John's achievement in graduating from high school and an honoring of his life as he embarks into adulthood. I want him to enjoy himself tomorrow and have fun with his friends and ours. And I want all our guests to feel welcome and loved and cared for. Really, it seems to me that hospitality can be a demonstration of charity.

The above plaque is on the wall above the entry to our eating area and kitchen. Welcoming people into my home is not about how good the house looks or how tasty the food is. It's about honoring each guest as the son or daughter of God. It's about reaching out to them in interest and making them feel comfortable. May each of them know that the sentiment expressed on the plaque is true. In spite of the stress of preparing, especially for a big party like this, I really love having people over. I enjoy sharing my home and food and family. And let's not forget that in doing so, some have entertained "angels in disguise."

I'll let you know how it goes. Wish you could all come. (And if I have any readers nearby who know me, by all means, come on by!!)

Graduation Party

We are having a graduation open house for my high school graduate.
I'm wondering if this is just a custom in the Midwest or if it's all across the country. When I was in high school we might have a kid-party for the teens-- you know, chips, pop, etc. That's it. The family might go out to dinner and the graduate given a card and a check that was somewhat more than what you would get for a birthday.

Now we have graduation open houses where large numbers of people are invited. Many adults bring cards and checks. Lots of food is provided. Some people rent tents. It looks like a small (or even not so small) wedding reception at home. It seems overdone to me. We're having one because it is so customary here that I think my graduates would feel a little neglected and left out if we were the only family to not provide one. (OK, I have bowed to peer pressure:-)

High school graduation is not a sacrament. It's not a wedding reception. It's not a college graduation, which ironically around here is celebrated the way HS graduations used to be celebrated-- maybe a nice dinner with family and perhaps a larger than usual gift or check. The college graduation is really much more of an achievement to be honored... hmmm. I have pondered what started all this.

Someone pointed out to me that it is a kind of rite of passage. This is when many people leave home for the first time. Relationships will change for the graduate. New expectations of responsibility will begin. True enough.

Anyway, we are frantically preparing for this party. The great thing is we're getting all kinds of things done on the house that otherwise would have been put off. Some people rent tents and tables and chairs around here. I draw the line on that. It's not a wedding reception. If it rains, people will have to try to squeeze into our not-so-very-big-house. If they are uncomfortably crowded, they'll leave.

My prayer is that through the intercession of that champion of hospitality, my friend Saint Martha, the guests at this party will feel welcomed and comfortable, that they will enjoy the refreshments that we will provide (and that we will have enough), that the Lord's grace would fill our home and our yard and that everyone, especially our son John, will feel well loved.... (and that I will be gentle kind and loving during the whole preparation process :-)

I love the ocean...

Fun, fun, fun...

Don't you just love the ocean? It is so magnificent, so powerful, and so awe-inspiring. On this last trip my children really enjoyed riding the waves in the Atlantic on body boards. They are all good swimmers but I still rather compulsively counted heads after each big wave....

The boys accidentally piggybacked their boards. That's why the laughing faces....

The crashing waves....

What is the definition of an over-protective mom? One who worries about her "children" swimming in the ocean when three of them are certified lifeguards!!! I'm guilty as charged. I knew it was completely irrational but those waves were really BIG. LOL

More Clouds....

Since Deb from Ukok's Place has never seen these views from an airplane I thought I'd post a few more pictures that my youngest daughter took while we were flying to Florida. I love the way the clouds cast shadows on the land.

I told her she could take a few if she saw something really pretty. I think she took about 50. LOL WELL, they really were all very pretty. She was right.

Where ARE those cherubs and the harps and the choirs of angels?? Not for our eyes to see just yet.

We're back.

We had a nice time in Florida but in July is it ever HOT!! But it was sunny and beautiful and we had a nice time visiting relatives.

Here's a picture from the plane. Don't you just love seeing clouds up close? There's something about seeing the top side of a cloud that just fills me with awe. I guess it's because it's a view of the glory of God's creation that we don't usually see.

I'll post more soon. We got back on Friday. Went out to buy a wedding present, had to get Jim ready for camp by the next morning (laundry, trip to the store to get a new toothbrush since original was left at Grandma's, etc.), swim meet first thing Saturday morning, picked up the dog, ran to the mall and actually found a dress to wear to the wedding, and made it to the wedding on time. It was a lovely wedding which I'll write more about later.

It's nice to be back and catch up with all that's happening with my blogging friends!

Leaving for Florida...

We're leaving for Florida in two days!! (Well, some of us are.)

We will be visiting my mother-in-law and I don't know if she has an internet connection, so I may be out of touch.

Anyway, hope to post a time or two more before I go, but if I don't get to it you'll know what happened.

Here is my thought for the day from Saint Josemaria Escriva:

"If you fall, get up with a greater hope. Self-love alone is incapable of understanding that an error, when put right, helps us to know and to humble ourselves."

Have a blessed day.

Happy Birthday Mary O.!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mary O.!!!! What a fun time we had tonight celebrating Dear Friend Mary O's birthday. It was a ladies' night out for dinner. The food was great, the conversation lively. We had a lot of good laughs, as you can see. I hope Mary O. and I didn't bore our other two friends too much with our enthusiastic discussion of the joys of blogging, why it's so much fun, how Jim met Suzanne, how it works, you don't have to know much about computers, etc. They may indeed have decided we're both nuts....smile

Anyway, happy birthday to Mary who often comments on my blog as "anonymous" but of course, I always know who it is. Thanks for inviting me to this fun party-night. May God bless you this birthday and for many, many more to come.

Jim Meets Suzanne!!!

Many of you have already seen this picture on Suzanne's blog. She took it at the Steubenville conference where Jim had the pleasure of meeting her in person!! I am so happy it worked out.

Sounds like it was a wonderful retreat and I can't wait to hear more about it from both Suzanne and Jim. Btw, Suzanne has a lovely montage of the retreat posted today....

Solemnity of The Birth of John the Baptist and the anniversary of the dedication of our church!!!

This is the interior of my church, Christ the King. It was dedicated 6 years ago. Someday, when I'm not so tired, I will tell of it's coming to be.

My son Jim from A Catholic Teen's Thoughts has just gotten back from his retreat at Steubenville where he met Suzanne from Sincerely My Thoughts!!!!!! I'm so happy they found each other!!! Sometime, Suzanne, you and I will meet too, I'm sure.

What a beautiful day today was!

Cool, sunshine-- just lovely. (My camera needs new batteries so I have no pictures :(

Swim meet this morning. Sat next to a warm and friendly mom from the country club we were swimming against. There was nothing in her manner to suggest any disdain for the little neighborhood pool we frequent. Nice.

Took care of some financial stuff with my father's estate. I don't understand finance. I am signing things that are rather confusing. I completely trust the professionals we are working with, but it's kind of unnerving. I like to feel in control and that is not at all the case here. (An opportunity to develop humility and greater surrender to God.) Don't worry. I'm not being stupid, though. I'm just learning about these things a little more slowly than the need to act on them.

The "O-family" came over for dinner along with three Notre Dame friends of my son. What fun that was. We had a simple spur-of-the-moment dinner with little planning-- the kind you have with sweet friends there is no need to impress. It was a peaceful, enjoyable time. We turned our amish table sideways so there was more room to expand, and added three or four leaves to seat 15 people. I love that table and the feeling of unity it brings when we can all sit together.

Lovely day. Another gift from our God who is so good.

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

Wow, there is another fascinating discussion going on at Ukok's Place regarding the Catholic Church as the one true church. Deb just does a fabulous job of explaining the truth. She is a true evangelist. Check it out!

John the Piano Man

John's recital was a lot of fun. I told him he would never have a friendlier audience. Family, friends, relatives, former teachers, etc. everybody thought he was amazing. :-) This is a picture of his warm-up, before anyone arrived.

Our little reception at the concerthouse was nice too, although after driving all the way to Party Central to pick up little music-themed confetti I forgot to put it on the tables. Oh well, probably no one would have noticed anyway. What they wanted was the food. Several of my friends brought delicious dishes and we had a very nice spread.

So... thanks to the intercession of Saint Martha and others, the whole evening seemed a success. (It was not accomplished without sin on my part, however. I had a short time of raving lunacy. While looking over his shoulder grinning, my son James played for my benefit "When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues," which was funny. Then Lizzie played "Cruella Deville," which was not so funny. Still, I got the message. Had to apologize a few times.)

It was a memorable time. A couple who had been at John's first piano recital came. Good friends, old and new, good music, good food....fun night.

Concert at Kerrytown Concert House

For those of you who may be reading my blog locally I must tell you that tomorrow night (Wednesday, June 20) my son John will be having his senior recital at Kerrytown
Concert House at 8:00pm. He will play for about an hour, Sonata 23 "Appassionata" by Beethoven, Ballade Opus 23 in G minor by Chopin, and Sonata in B Minor by Liszt.

We're planning refreshments for afterwards and I've been running all over, shopping for it, baking, planning, etc. You know, being Martha. But, let's not forget that Martha was also a saint. When I am planning something that involves entertaining or hospitality, I always ask for Saint Martha's intercession. I'm sure she knew how to put on a party. Don't you think? God bless her and may she pray for me.

Anyone who would like to come is cordially invited.

Fathers Day

This is the first Fathers Day without my dad. He is in a crypt in a mausoleum. This is the stained glass window at the end of the room. I went there today and took flowers. I wrote that we all missed him a lot and that he was a great father. My oldest son and I said a rosary for the repose of his soul.

Then we came home and celebrated fathers day with my husband. We went to an Italian restaurant. (above) We had to sit at two booths because we hadn't made a reservation. Oh well. At least we got in. Afterwards we came home and Daddy-o opened his presents. It was actually a very fun and peaceful today-- one of those rare opportunities to celebrate with everybody here (except my dad, of course...)

I hope you all had a Happy Fathers Day!!

The Real Presence

Wow, Deb at Ukok's place had a fascinating discussion going on with some Protestants on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.


I was so impressed with the skill with which Deb and Alexa and Suzanne, among others defended the Real Presence. Are you all studying theology? I know Deb is. Anyway, it's a great read if you haven't seen it.


The original post was about why Protestants are not to receive Communion in the Catholic Church. To my astonishment there were over 50 comments!!!

Rushing and Living Well....

It seems, at least for me, that it is difficult to live well when I am consistently rushed. It is when I am in a hurry that I forget to pray, forget to notice things that need to be noticed, and generally neglect to keep the priorities that I normally would. I need in my schedule breathing room, thinking room, praying room, and plenty of room to love those around me. The schedule can become a false god.

"Catholic and Loving It"

Andrew Salzmann is a 2005 alumnus of Notre Dame. Sabitha Narendran is a 2006 alumna of Notre Dame. (Yes, 2006!!!) Yeah, that makes her about 23 years old. Sabitha is the daughter of a Hindu father and a Catholic mother. I know her mother. I remember when Sabitha was born. Here is her first book. Four years at Notre Dame and she's "Catholic and loving it."

Who knew?

I have my copy but I haven't read it yet. I will comment more on it when I have. It looks like a great source of information on Catholic traditions. Mark Hart describes the book in his introduction as "a great resource for the young, single Catholic who longs for a deeper Church experience.

Congratulations, Sabitha. And congratulations to her mother and father for raising such a faith-filled capable daughter.

(I just checked Amazon for this book and it's not listed yet, so perhaps it is not out yet.

As John graduates....

Here is my third oldest just after his baccauleate Mass. He had played the piano for the Mass. How appropriate that the piano should be in the background of a picture of him. He lives and breathes music. He is the only teenager I have ever known who will only listen to classical music. Popular music bores him. He started Suzuki piano lessons at age four and what fun we had over the years as I attended each lesson and took notes. It's been a hold-onto-your-hats ride as his gift mysteriously unfolded and our house became filled with music...

Congratulations, John, as you enter this new and exciting time of your life. God is good.

Canoing on the "Mighty" Huron

Today my husband and I and our three youngest rented one canoe and one double kayak and canoed down the Huron River. It was about a one hour trip. the weather was perfect. Blue sky, sunshine, not too hot. It was so beautiful there were times it seemed hard to believe we were still in an urban area.

They were not expensive, I didn't think. For an Ann Arbor resident it was $19.00 for each craft. There was actually a small current so if you didn't even want to paddle you would still reach your destination.

It was a fun, peaceful afternoon with the family, doing something different.

Let's motivate Ruthann!!

Ruthann at Jabberwocky who rarely writes in her blog has written two new posts. I urge you to read them and offer her encouragement by leaving a comment.... Here is why Ruthann should continue to write in her blog:

She is an intelligent, creative person with interesting, insightful things to say.

She is a good mother with a great son to prove it. :-)

She is a good Catholic who could contribute to discussions on things Catholic.

She must enjoy the blogosphere because I know she is reading at least this blog sometimes...

I think she would like the momentum of writing every day once she got into the habit. (despite childhood experiences with journals which you can read about on her blog... I did the exact same thing with diaries when I was young.)

I think it would prove to be a creative and intellectual outlet for her as it is for so many of us.

She is a reasonable, even-tempered person and it would be nice to have more of such people writing.

She uses words in a clever way. I enjoy her writing.

She has wisdom to share and we could all benefit from it.

So....... go Ruthann!!!!!!!

4New x 2 Meme!

Mrs. V and Deb have both tagged me for the



4 New x 2 Meme!


Here is the jist: You have to share four things that were new to you in the past four years. Four things you learned or experienced or explored for the first time in the past four years. New house, new school, new hobby, new spouse, new baby, whatever. Then you have to say four things you want to try new in the next four years.



In the last four years:



1. I started my youngest two children in school after about 14 years of home schooling.



2. I experienced the death of both of my parents. (my mother 3 years ago and my father six months ago)



3. My oldest child graduated from college.



4. I started a blog!!!



In the next four years:



1. I would like to get my house cleaned and organized.



2. I would like to write a book.



3. I want to get in better shape and lose some weight. (I have experienced this before but I would like to experience it again:-)



4. I would like to experience a richer prayer life and a closer relationship to God.



I tag: anyone who would like to do this one :-)

Title Blending Meme

Deb from Ukok's Place has tagged me for this meme.


Here are the rules:
Blend two book titles together by using the last word of one title and the first word of the second title. If you want, you can blend the authors’ names too. Like this:


The Divine Comedy 0f Errors by Dante Shakespeare
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince of Tides by J.K Conroy
The Canterbury Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Geoffrey Blume
The Screwtape Letters to a Young Poet by C.S. Rilke and of course,
The Last Don Quixote by Mario de Cervantes.


Here are my attempts:



In Conversation with Dummies by Brad Fernandez


A Christmas Toad by Arnold Dickens


The Legend of Sleepy Leagues under the Sea by Washington Verne

A Wrinkle in the Blue Dolphins by Madeleine O'Dell


Cover Letters for a Soul by Joyce Lain of Lisieux


I tag the following (should they want to do it) and anyone else who is inclined:


Mimi

Jodi

James

Mary Poppins Not

Kate

Suzanne

Do as many or as few titles as you like and tag six people. :-)

This is going to be a slow blogging week for me. There are just so many end-of-the year events that I must participate in or attend. Above is the Spring music concert for my two youngest. (Mary playing the flute....) And above that-- opening day bike parade at our neighborhood pool.

Tonight is the baccalaureate Mass for my graduating high schooler and Thursday is the graduation. Thursday morning is the senior breakfast which I'm bringing food for. (I still have to buy it.) Today and Thursday are the final volleyball games and Wednesday is the track banquet. Yikes, I have to get off the computer. I'm way behind on reading everybody's blogs, but the end of the schedule crunch is in sight. (I hope.) I've been tagged for two different memes and I am going to do them but it might be next week. God bless everybody who sometimes reads my blog. (I'm finished writing about Notre Dame for a while :-)