tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19923314151300902512011-12-03T16:56:53.101-05:00A Catholic-Homeschooling-Wife-Mom &amp; Artist Trying to Live a Life of Virtue.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-21973361739105636612011-09-24T18:36:00.000-04:002011-09-24T18:36:56.590-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">I spent some time last week (10th, 11th 12th) </div><div style="text-align: center;">trying to figure out what to say about my <em>personal 9-11.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;">35 years ago </div><div style="text-align: center;">my mother had a massive coronary on September 2nd...</div><div style="text-align: center;">she spent nine days in ICU and never regained consciousness.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Each of us: Dad, brothers, sister, myself, had some time to </div><div style="text-align: center;">come to terms with the fact that Mommy was </div><div style="text-align: center;">simply not coming home ever again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;She died on September 11, 1976...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am 47now... 35 of those years have been "Motherless".</div><div style="text-align: center;">This year was more difficult than many...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I finally figured out</div><div style="text-align: center;">- with the help of the Holy Spirit-</div><div style="text-align: center;">what was bothering me...</div><div style="text-align: center;">My eldest daughter is now the same age as I was </div><div style="text-align: center;">on that awful day...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I prayed so hard that she would not have to experience</div><div style="text-align: center;">the pain of a loss like that at so young an age.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a wonderful day on Saturday the 10th at a Healing Mass,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and having some spiritual direction as a family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seeker Man was approaching a big legal date</div><div style="text-align: center;">that we have been praying about for many months.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a difficult weekend, but we made it through...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then Tuesday morning the phone rang.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My Sister-in- Law sounded horrible...</div><div style="text-align: center;">her voice caught...</div><div style="text-align: center;">she told me that my brother had a heart attack...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I waited to hear that he was in the hospital...</div><div style="text-align: center;">he was not.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was dead</div><div style="text-align: center;">at 52.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6gFaMJxVZ8/Tn5aH_tUQfI/AAAAAAAAApU/imOqrRhUbwY/s1600/Autumn+2008+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c6gFaMJxVZ8/Tn5aH_tUQfI/AAAAAAAAApU/imOqrRhUbwY/s320/Autumn+2008+079.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(This photo was from one of&nbsp;his 50th birthday gatherings)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He was my eldest daughter's God Father.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the last week, I have seen my Dad and Step-Mom,</div><div style="text-align: center;">My eldest brother and his wife from Florida,</div><div style="text-align: center;">My sister and her family who live in Illinois,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Many cousins and Aunts and Uncles...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I <u>loved and hated</u> every minute of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We laughed alot and cried alot...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and prayed so very much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Surely, we do not know the day nor the hour...</div><div style="text-align: center;">make those phone calls.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Write those letters.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Say "I Love You" more often.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Give big hugs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You will be glad you did.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2197336173910563661?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-38440192908252920472011-09-03T08:59:00.000-04:002011-09-03T08:59:51.756-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">Well, I HAD intended to use the summer months </div><div style="text-align: center;">to catch up and try to post AT LEAST weekly...</div><div style="text-align: center;">HA!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here it is September 3rd and I have been away from</div><div style="text-align: center;">this blog for months again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I blame all the fabulous bloggers out there who</div><div style="text-align: center;">attract my attention with their wonderful writing</div><div style="text-align: center;">and keep me reading other's work</div><div style="text-align: center;">instead of writing my own!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I really have to do some housecleaning on here to </div><div style="text-align: center;">update the blogroll, etc.&nbsp; I have been behind</div><div style="text-align: center;">in keeping this place organized...</div><div style="text-align: center;">sort of like my house : )</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to try to catch up on some of the things we did</div><div style="text-align: center;">this summer: <em>Catholic Familyland</em>, family funeral,</div><div style="text-align: center;">family wedding, the girls trip to <em>Morningstar Camp</em>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the boys and I in Massachusetts while the girls</div><div style="text-align: center;">were in New Hampshire...</div><div style="text-align: center;">oh, and the eternally ongoing </div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>"minor"</strong></em> kitchen renovation...</div><div style="text-align: center;">as well as planning for our homeschool co-op...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the first time I am teaching something more </div><div style="text-align: center;">difficult than the art classes...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Middle School History!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pray for me!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phaBUMTw5nM/TmIjs7iojrI/AAAAAAAAAow/Z_vLg736QsI/s1600/100943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phaBUMTw5nM/TmIjs7iojrI/AAAAAAAAAow/Z_vLg736QsI/s320/100943.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">July 2011at Catholic Familyland!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3844019290825292047?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-21463995154945853872011-06-28T10:40:00.000-04:002011-06-28T10:40:17.018-04:00<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the 16th of June we had our "Portflio Review" </div><div style="text-align: center;">and "officially" ended our school year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">of course we still have things to do and to finish </div><div style="text-align: center;">over the Summer, but we are done with the heavy stuff...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still have to drop the portfolio off the </div><div style="text-align: center;">School district for review...but that is a formality.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You'd think I'd be nice and rested this week...<br />But last week was Vacation Bible School and I was a teacher.<br />We ALL had a great time, but it is flat out <br />EXHAUSTING!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been ages since I posted last...<br />(March 29th to be exact)</div><div style="text-align: center;">so many things have happened,</div><div style="text-align: center;">gone on, are in the works or are happening...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot talk about some of it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot remember all of it...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would like to share a few things...</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would like to get back to&nbsp;my original intention</div><div style="text-align: center;">for starting this blog...I had such plans!</div><div style="text-align: center;">HA!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">God has His own plans and HIS purposes for everything.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today I read an article encouraging Catholics to just </div><div style="text-align: center;">BE</div><div style="text-align: center;">on electronic media. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I like that idea. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My Catholicism, My Faith, </div><div style="text-align: center;">should be evident in my life &amp; in&nbsp;my posts...</div><div style="text-align: center;">no need to hit anyone over the head...</div><div style="text-align: center;">no need to preach...just be.<br />I am going to try to post more often, though<br />with summer upon us and a couple of trips planned, <br />I won't PROMISE anything : )<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2146399515494585387?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-54022457583585505122011-03-29T15:37:00.000-04:002011-03-29T15:37:23.479-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dhPVvQsij8/TZDCwbHTMLI/AAAAAAAAAoU/5EAeR5FsRN8/s1600/March+2011+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dhPVvQsij8/TZDCwbHTMLI/AAAAAAAAAoU/5EAeR5FsRN8/s320/March+2011+056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a great photo of Scooter...but the only one we took </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with just her and her sponsor with the Bishop...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMZZMbzIsNA/TZDC0dt4mrI/AAAAAAAAAoY/95NlLj7i8ts/s1600/March+2011+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMZZMbzIsNA/TZDC0dt4mrI/AAAAAAAAAoY/95NlLj7i8ts/s320/March+2011+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Much better photo with the whole family!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouQ6w5kCCmE/TZDC9xd1ztI/AAAAAAAAAoc/bg03ZD0Gpww/s1600/March+2011+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouQ6w5kCCmE/TZDC9xd1ztI/AAAAAAAAAoc/bg03ZD0Gpww/s320/March+2011+065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a very fancy dinner out for our newly Confirmed Catholic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used to waitress at this restaurant...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE the tableside cooking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFQRPhOCJY/TZI0Kl3629I/AAAAAAAAAok/lk9-CqXzNJE/s1600/March+2011+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFQRPhOCJY/TZI0Kl3629I/AAAAAAAAAok/lk9-CqXzNJE/s320/March+2011+060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CONGRATULATIONS Scooter!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5402245758358550512?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-9208628991233987012011-03-15T21:59:00.000-04:002011-03-15T21:59:25.088-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ever since my kids&nbsp;watched </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Night at the Museum: </u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Battle of the Smithsonian</u>,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">they have all ('cept the baby)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">been able to quote "Pi" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to&nbsp;eight decimal places....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>3.14159265</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We love that scene with the Bobble Head Einsteins...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Soooooooooo</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">we <u>HAD</u> to celebrate </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>PI Day</strong> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">March 13th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(get it...3.14) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">some go so far as to </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">celebrate at exactly 1:59 pm...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For dinner, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">e had </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">homemade Turkey Pot "Pi"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and simple baked apples </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">in Spelt flour "Pi" crust...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(dad gave up sugar for lent)...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was so much fun, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">especially because&nbsp;Scooter&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">just finished studying the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Area and Perimeter of a circle!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tilly and Snorkie&nbsp;have been doing fractions this week...</div><div style="text-align: center;">"pieces of the pie" and Scooter started Pie Charts!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perfect Timing!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8e07SFTQgOM/TYAW82BuEWI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/RhX7Rd_jTxo/s1600/Easy-as-apple-pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8e07SFTQgOM/TYAW82BuEWI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/RhX7Rd_jTxo/s1600/Easy-as-apple-pi.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;(found this image and thought that I will </div><div style="text-align: center;">HAVE to do this next year...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is an Actual apple Pie</div><div style="text-align: center;">baked to look like a math book, </div><div style="text-align: center;">with Pi cut into the top crust!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-920862899123398701?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-82046417054059379232011-03-07T21:03:00.000-05:002011-03-07T21:03:56.605-05:00Here it is...the feast before the fast...<br />a few decadent photos before Lent begins...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9-lLr-dwpOU/TXWLkJ5WamI/AAAAAAAAAn4/-MefZYd6eK8/s1600/February+2011+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9-lLr-dwpOU/TXWLkJ5WamI/AAAAAAAAAn4/-MefZYd6eK8/s320/February+2011+043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scooter and Snorkie's </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Voyage of the Dawn Treader cake...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they are 12 nad 6 this year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:::sniff:::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amazing how time flies...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m_Fji90BLVA/TXWLqHiCLbI/AAAAAAAAAn8/TArLAOXOySA/s1600/February+2011+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m_Fji90BLVA/TXWLqHiCLbI/AAAAAAAAAn8/TArLAOXOySA/s320/February+2011+039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the ship is 4 layers of brownie...yum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the ocean is yellow cake and Aslan on the beach is plastic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A "Despicable" birthday event....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HLzgy1ASgvU/TXWL16ZF90I/AAAAAAAAAoI/_Uv-u2ZSxpQ/s1600/February+2011+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HLzgy1ASgvU/TXWL16ZF90I/AAAAAAAAAoI/_Uv-u2ZSxpQ/s320/February+2011+019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snorkie's "Best" friends party...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Welcome Minions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">9 little minions in flannel minion shirts with felt goggles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had so much fun...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hJlTytgxymk/TXWLttGrNOI/AAAAAAAAAoA/dZ_AywZQTV4/s1600/February+2011+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hJlTytgxymk/TXWLttGrNOI/AAAAAAAAAoA/dZ_AywZQTV4/s320/February+2011+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all the little minions after games...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wgqDgkUfwDU/TXWLyuFKlQI/AAAAAAAAAoE/Wa-nYY9IICg/s1600/February+2011+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wgqDgkUfwDU/TXWLyuFKlQI/AAAAAAAAAoE/Wa-nYY9IICg/s320/February+2011+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Munching Minions....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snorkie wears his shirt at LEAST</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">once a week...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had all minion food...Goldfish crackers, cheese doodles,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">popcorn, mini pretzels, lemonade...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v1vWsE-Apug/TXWL9Lwru8I/AAAAAAAAAoM/9bjo4OUrVL0/s1600/February+2011+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v1vWsE-Apug/TXWL9Lwru8I/AAAAAAAAAoM/9bjo4OUrVL0/s320/February+2011+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My FAVORITE Minion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::::hugs::::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe that he's 15 month old already???</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-8204641705405937923?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-47933329710896259532011-02-16T13:45:00.000-05:002011-02-16T13:45:36.389-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Today my beautiful Scooter MacDougall turns 12!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eeeeek</div><div style="text-align: center;">She got her ears pierced for her birthday gift </div><div style="text-align: center;">(yesterday)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we had the "party" last weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;">(cake photos to follow).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tonight we are having her "choice" of dinner</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Bacon and Eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">(the<em><strong> real</strong></em> stuff)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to try homemade English Muffins...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazing how time flies!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xxcwa1pLW0Y/TVwaGFmFAfI/AAAAAAAAAnw/kgqeakKAhZw/s1600/New+York+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xxcwa1pLW0Y/TVwaGFmFAfI/AAAAAAAAAnw/kgqeakKAhZw/s320/New+York+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Museum of Natural History Nov 2010</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5g2VRLssCE/TVwaayFJlmI/AAAAAAAAAn0/EDYHoTOcEDk/s1600/16162_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5g2VRLssCE/TVwaayFJlmI/AAAAAAAAAn0/EDYHoTOcEDk/s320/16162_26.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Springtime in the back yard with Daddy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2002</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::::::::::::sniff:::::::::::::</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-4793332971089625953?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-29515132437551095542011-01-26T11:09:00.000-05:002011-01-26T11:09:43.413-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a snowy day in Easten PA</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will have to shovel in a little while...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BUT...I can waste some time by</div><div style="text-align: center;">catching up on some of the photos </div><div style="text-align: center;">accumulating since November.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_cknizFI/AAAAAAAAAm0/0FhRnYZh9YA/s1600/December+2010+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_cknizFI/AAAAAAAAAm0/0FhRnYZh9YA/s320/December+2010+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tillie's family Birthday Party cake...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mommy Hedgehog and 12 babies...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(German Chocolate cake with Chocolate Mousse icing)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">encrusted with chocolate sprinkles...YUM</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_gv3CrfI/AAAAAAAAAm4/W2uaBITon70/s1600/December+2010+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_gv3CrfI/AAAAAAAAAm4/W2uaBITon70/s320/December+2010+004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lumpy is my "Turtle Man"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the red looked more "brown" without the flash...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_jZ5hnMI/AAAAAAAAAm8/TiXifdYclYY/s1600/December+2010+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_jZ5hnMI/AAAAAAAAAm8/TiXifdYclYY/s320/December+2010+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hedgehog baby faces were Hershey's Kisses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">covered in fondant...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tilly did the faces and ears for all the babies...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_lUFDzVI/AAAAAAAAAnA/LU4XMjAo584/s1600/December+2010+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_lUFDzVI/AAAAAAAAAnA/LU4XMjAo584/s320/December+2010+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lumpy's cake was <em><strong>RATHER</strong></em> Large...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">three layers of orange cake with vanilla icing and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">covered with almond flavored homemade fondant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We took all the leftovers to my sister's house...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we left the next morning to get there...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_6bkMdYI/AAAAAAAAAnE/scTq3LgLDaA/s1600/December+2010+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_6bkMdYI/AAAAAAAAAnE/scTq3LgLDaA/s320/December+2010+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At my big sister's house in Illinois...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grandpop and Grandmom celebrating all five</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">November and December Birthdays...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(two of my kids &amp; three of my sisters)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Day after Thanksgiving : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We celebrate Thanksgiving, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">five birthdays and Christmas...in three days!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_96sg3xI/AAAAAAAAAnI/UzP5NX4rjnM/s1600/December+2010+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUA_96sg3xI/AAAAAAAAAnI/UzP5NX4rjnM/s320/December+2010+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back home for...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tilly's actual Birthday </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pumpkin Pie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apple Crumb for the rest of us...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tillie's "friend" Birthday Party was a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><strong><em>The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe</em></strong></u> theme...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had bows and arrows to shoot at the witch's wolves,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">put the tail on the Beaver and a white witch's wand piniata...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she had @ 20 boys and girls at the house for the day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBD_fQTJbI/AAAAAAAAAnU/RqJrlSsG7y0/s1600/New+York+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBD_fQTJbI/AAAAAAAAAnU/RqJrlSsG7y0/s320/New+York+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a brownie cake with LOTS of Decoration...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEA-WIytI/AAAAAAAAAnY/D6K_0sd5cxM/s1600/New+York+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEA-WIytI/AAAAAAAAAnY/D6K_0sd5cxM/s320/New+York+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">everything but Mr Beaver and Aslan was edible...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEEvPsO3I/AAAAAAAAAnc/6-CyB3_K6oE/s1600/New+York+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEEvPsO3I/AAAAAAAAAnc/6-CyB3_K6oE/s320/New+York+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trees and Wardrobe were chocolate...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the snow was icing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the water was piping gel...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEGwKd9pI/AAAAAAAAAng/fuiSGpFaqvs/s1600/New+York+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBEGwKd9pI/AAAAAAAAAng/fuiSGpFaqvs/s320/New+York+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made a "mold" for casting </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the wardrobe pieces out of craft foam...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we drew the light chocolate designs first, and then</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">poured the dark chocolate over top for an "inlaid" look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This party was actually in Early November : )</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBACT6Ek7I/AAAAAAAAAnM/Dx6OgEnbxgE/s1600/December+2010+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBACT6Ek7I/AAAAAAAAAnM/Dx6OgEnbxgE/s320/December+2010+041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>(gratuitous cut baby photo)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewba Grabowski in Scooter's Beret...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">what a face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBAIgwRa0I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/TRwu3xj4TgY/s1600/December+2010+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TUBAIgwRa0I/AAAAAAAAAnQ/TRwu3xj4TgY/s320/December+2010+060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snorkie and Santa in their Jammies!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2951513243755109554?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-78704942147986810332011-01-21T10:45:00.000-05:002011-01-21T10:45:55.282-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TTmmE-zR9dI/AAAAAAAAAmw/pRGOrI6BZsA/s1600/January+2011+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TTmmE-zR9dI/AAAAAAAAAmw/pRGOrI6BZsA/s320/January+2011+017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Back in 1964, my very first Christmas,</div><div align="center">my father got an 8mm&nbsp;movie camera,</div><div align="center">So, basically, my entire childhood (at least major events)</div><div align="center">has been captured in 30 second increments....</div><div align="center">(that film was EXPENSIVE)</div><div align="center">Anyway, I think this was the origin of the </div><div align="center">"New PJs on Christmas Eve"</div><div align="center">tradition in my family...</div><div align="center">(sometimes it was a new bathrobe and slippers)</div><div align="center">This allowed us to look cute in those films</div><div align="center">that Dad made on Christmas morning...</div><div align="center">no holes in our footies or torn jammie pants.</div><div align="center">So, now, even if my kids have perfectly presentable PJs,</div><div align="center">I generally make them something new.</div><div align="center">I love to sew.</div><div align="center">This is one fun way to keep</div><div align="center">all the kids matching</div><div align="center">at least for bedtime.....LOL.</div><div align="center">My "eldest" has been trying </div><div align="center">to sleep in her sweatshirts all year...</div><div align="center">So....I decided to make this year's jammies</div><div align="center">out of <strong>sweatshirt fleece</strong>...</div><div align="center">I had a 50% coupon for a single cut of fabric...</div><div align="center">I snuck out of the house on Friday evening...</div><div align="center">and the only color they had enough of...</div><div align="center">was<strong> WHITE</strong>.</div><div align="center">THAT gave me the idea for sailor suits...</div><div align="center">and the rest is now family history.</div><div align="center">Little guy looks so cute </div><div align="center">running around in his sailor outfit!</div><div align="center">when he sways like a drunken sailor, he cracks me up!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Thanks Mom, for the tradition!</div><div align="center">Thanks Dad, for the home movies!</div><div align="center">Thanks Big Brother, for making me a video copy</div><div align="center">of so many of those home movies...</div><div align="center">THREE HOURS worth!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7870494214798681033?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-28713170383479683182011-01-18T19:51:00.000-05:002011-01-18T19:51:20.887-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TTYyyjRLgvI/AAAAAAAAAms/-BfF3yUGNJE/s1600/christmas-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TTYyyjRLgvI/AAAAAAAAAms/-BfF3yUGNJE/s320/christmas-2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lovey's company holds a </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Party for the Children </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the first weekend in December.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Santa is Wonderful, Lovable &amp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">OH, SO, Real.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have known him for years</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and my girls have grown up with him.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gotta love a happy Santa picture!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BTW: the last two years have been </div><div style="text-align: center;">a Pajama Party!</div><div style="text-align: center;">They get their pictures taken with </div><div style="text-align: center;">Santa and then have a craft (decorating</div><div style="text-align: center;">sugar cookies) then they have milk and cookies</div><div style="text-align: center;">and got crayons and a coloring book.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Santa gets into HIS jammies </div><div style="text-align: center;">before he reads the kids a story...</div><div style="text-align: center;">They also get neat gifts...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Good Time Was Had By All!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The girls are wearing the satin nightgowns,</div><div style="text-align: center;">lined with flannel,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">that I made for them last year </div><div style="text-align: center;">for their Christmas Eve gift...</div><div style="text-align: center;">A tradition started by my mother...</div><div style="text-align: center;">THAT will be another post : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Lumpy is in "Clifford" jammies</div><div style="text-align: center;">complete with ears and tail...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Snorkie is wearing Star Wars flannels...</div><div style="text-align: center;">of course.)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2871317038347968318?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-36842256499523459852011-01-17T14:01:00.000-05:002011-01-17T14:01:10.529-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been reading...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(the Blogs I follow as well as some classic Lit)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">doing Crossword and Sudoku puzzles, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">checking email, searching ebay....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">all while lounging in my recliner, nursing the baby...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Darling Hubby got me a ColorNook for Christmas!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">woo hoo</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3684225649952345985?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-51201842288904084562010-11-07T19:49:00.000-05:002010-11-07T19:49:11.217-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lovey and I were married on </div><div style="text-align: center;">October 12, 1996</div><div style="text-align: center;">Columbus Day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We chose the date for several reasons...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">not the least of which is </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">low humidity in New Jersey in Oct.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and as I have always said...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marriage <strong><em>IS</em></strong> a Voyage of Discovery!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We were married in the morning </div><div style="text-align: center;">with an early afternon reception.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a 4 day Honeymoon in Ocean City Maryland</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazingly, the church we attended that weekend was having </div><div style="text-align: center;">their annual 40 Hours Devotion.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We went.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My husband was not yet Catholic : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every year Lovey brings me&nbsp;one red rose </div><div style="text-align: center;">for each year that we have been Married...</div><div style="text-align: center;">This year, there were 14!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TNdFY5DQo4I/AAAAAAAAAmY/7iaSpOLJSOc/s1600/October+2010+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TNdFY5DQo4I/AAAAAAAAAmY/7iaSpOLJSOc/s320/October+2010+023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">Beautiful, aren't they?</div><div align="center">All flowers are offered to the Blessed Mother</div><div align="center">in this house...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Some things that I have learned on this Voyage...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I am capable of loving my husband even more today </div><div align="center">than</div><div align="center">the day that I married him!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We can look forward to the next 14 years with </div><div style="text-align: center;">fascination and excitement!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am amazed at the faith life and desire for sanctity</div><div style="text-align: center;">that my husband has.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He is one of the most loving people I know...</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I don't tell him that often enough.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He is an AWSOME DAD!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TNdHzqFOlZI/AAAAAAAAAmc/N2TLsg9mrJ4/s1600/T028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TNdHzqFOlZI/AAAAAAAAAmc/N2TLsg9mrJ4/s320/T028.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">I wish we were young enough... </div><div align="center">to have a <strong>dozen</strong> children together!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I know I will think of 20 more things after I post this,</div><div align="center">but, I had better go...</div><div align="center">Lovey will be home from his Holy Hour with Snorkie soon</div><div align="center">and Chewba is calling...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5120184228890408456?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-21459678003817305872010-10-20T20:45:00.000-04:002010-10-20T20:45:07.067-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has been so long since </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I&nbsp;have written&nbsp;anything meaningful...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I <u><em>still</em></u> don't have time...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I had better </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">put some of these&nbsp;vacation photos</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;on the blog...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before Christmas arrives!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(we left home on Sept 15th and arrived home on Sept 27th)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are totally mixed up </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I'm not taking the time to try </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">to arrange them chronologically... : p</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(This is one thing that drives me crazy about blogger)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qeh6KXRI/AAAAAAAAAls/MHnxUoaLUYY/s1600/florida+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qeh6KXRI/AAAAAAAAAls/MHnxUoaLUYY/s320/florida+121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of the "Jesus" players at the Holy Land Experience...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notice Snorkie is very happy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qkWKd_jI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Ygca89qWmgg/s1600/florida+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qkWKd_jI/AAAAAAAAAlw/Ygca89qWmgg/s320/florida+128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also at the Holy Land...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, my kids were playing "Narnia"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with "Aslan"</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qrAQ0GcI/AAAAAAAAAl0/l04-pyZXw6Q/s1600/florida+114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qrAQ0GcI/AAAAAAAAAl0/l04-pyZXw6Q/s320/florida+114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are at the Magic Kingdom...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notice Snorkie is NOT thrilled to meet Mickey &amp; Minnie!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8q2P0bhaI/AAAAAAAAAl8/4G2WQ1ju8rs/s1600/florida+095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8q2P0bhaI/AAAAAAAAAl8/4G2WQ1ju8rs/s320/florida+095.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is Lumpy with his sweet&nbsp;Uncle ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He liked the crutches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Uncle&nbsp;Silly-Man&nbsp;is my "Biggest" brother who lives in Florida...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He and His wife came to the Townhouse we were renting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for dinner...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8q--t-DsI/AAAAAAAAAmA/M36P4nEFVRA/s1600/florida+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8q--t-DsI/AAAAAAAAAmA/M36P4nEFVRA/s320/florida+091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Birthday Cake!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His Birthday was the month before...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rDVJxr4I/AAAAAAAAAmE/4GfDdnUtXI4/s1600/florida+086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rDVJxr4I/AAAAAAAAAmE/4GfDdnUtXI4/s320/florida+086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stopped in St. Augustine </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on the way to Kissimmee from Jacksonville Beach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We did the Trolley Tour and stopped at the little shrine to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Lady of La Leche...I thought it was appropriate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">since Lumpy nursed any time he had a chance!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the ENTIRE vacation)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rHetmxUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/TX-985R-Vd8/s1600/florida+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rHetmxUI/AAAAAAAAAmI/TX-985R-Vd8/s320/florida+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the little church we attended </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in Orlando on Sunday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sacred Heart Parish</span>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Traditional Latin Mass...so Lovely</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rNKOOmxI/AAAAAAAAAmM/-5Elud8LUMk/s1600/florida+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rNKOOmxI/AAAAAAAAAmM/-5Elud8LUMk/s320/florida+083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the site in St.Augustine where the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">first Mass was celebrated in the "New World" !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(it was the first thing that they did)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rSFTj0cI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/AYedj2KBik8/s1600/florida+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rSFTj0cI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/AYedj2KBik8/s320/florida+070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With Lovey's Aunt &amp; Uncle in Jacksonville Beach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On their Balcony right on the ocean.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snorkie got a stuffed snake at the gift shop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at th Jacksonville zoo...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tilly got an Ostrich...adorable!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rXSSKABI/AAAAAAAAAmU/sCKjHfR-KRc/s1600/florida+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8rXSSKABI/AAAAAAAAAmU/sCKjHfR-KRc/s320/florida+063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Jacksonville Zoo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I LOVE those critters!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mine &amp; the others...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qwharuXI/AAAAAAAAAl4/96tHMt1Hw1o/s1600/florida+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qwharuXI/AAAAAAAAAl4/96tHMt1Hw1o/s320/florida+107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids sitting on Minnie Mouse's couch...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qXzr0FmI/AAAAAAAAAlo/BZqxOAnGWNU/s1600/florida+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qXzr0FmI/AAAAAAAAAlo/BZqxOAnGWNU/s320/florida+144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PapPap's 80th Birthday celebration at Red Lobster...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Lovey's Dad and Step Mom live in Bradenton and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">came to stay with us for three days while we were down there)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...turns out the waitress was from Doylestown, Pa...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">about 20 minutes from my house...Small World.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snorkie is totally <strong>into</strong> Red Lobster now...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He doesn't realize that you can get </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mozzarella Sticks just about anywhere...LOL.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qOlGJFZI/AAAAAAAAAlk/SdPij9MKrO0/s1600/florida+161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qOlGJFZI/AAAAAAAAAlk/SdPij9MKrO0/s320/florida+161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sea World...the<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Manta</span></strong> roller coaster...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my first roller coaster ride in 13 years...WOW that was fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Scooter and I rode it together...twice)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had some drizzle and rain this day but not enough</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to dampen our spirits!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qF6oUz6I/AAAAAAAAAlg/csxbc6e_Iyc/s1600/florida+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8qF6oUz6I/AAAAAAAAAlg/csxbc6e_Iyc/s320/florida+191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scooter rode the Journey to Atlantis ride TWICE...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">once all by herself...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was the last run of the day and our last ride of the Vacation.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8p-NkQwWI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OiGn4gQ4PDs/s1600/florida+211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8p-NkQwWI/AAAAAAAAAlc/OiGn4gQ4PDs/s320/florida+211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After Sea World, we went to <em><strong>Downtown Disney</strong></em> for dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a Dinosaur themed restaurant with a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">meteor shower every 20 minutes and moving</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lifesized dinos!&nbsp; WOW!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Ha! Hadn't noticed that Scooter looks so thrilled...LOL</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tilly is happy with her tall bone shaped slurpee).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8pcy82oiI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Y_hgtGBzfB0/s1600/florida+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8pcy82oiI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Y_hgtGBzfB0/s320/florida+052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back at the Jacsonville Zoo...baby Manta Rays to pet!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8plf-4pcI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/ti_FGVO4PYI/s1600/florida+236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8plf-4pcI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/ti_FGVO4PYI/s320/florida+236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stopped in Washington, DC on the way home...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Amelia Earhart's airplane...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the Air &amp; Space Museum!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8pvf12kdI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Q_lljORzLG4/s1600/florida+220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8pvf12kdI/AAAAAAAAAlU/Q_lljORzLG4/s320/florida+220.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a cool experimental room in the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Museum of American History.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It just re-opened...they did a great job renovating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are close enough...it is well worth the visit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">if only to see the original</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Star Spangled Banner".</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8p3Um1twI/AAAAAAAAAlY/Y85Qy9QYWeM/s1600/florida+214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TL8p3Um1twI/AAAAAAAAAlY/Y85Qy9QYWeM/s320/florida+214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Family Photo on the Mall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(with the Capitol in the background)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was our only really rainy day of the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">whole 12 day adventure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got home around 9 that night...whew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now my yearly&nbsp;<em>Marathon</em> starts...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Halloween&nbsp;/ Holy-Ween costumes...</div><div style="text-align: center;">November Birthdays Tilly (10)&nbsp;and Lumpy (1)! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(yikes, that was fast)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankgiving trip to my sisters in Illinois</div><div style="text-align: center;">(we celebrate 5 birthdays ((three of hers, two of mine)), </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving and Christmas)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas at home</div><div style="text-align: center;">Followed by February birthdays...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Snorkie (6) and Scooter (12).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I get to breathe again around Ash Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I LOVE Lent : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2145967800381730587?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-86530844671585531252010-08-25T10:12:00.000-04:002010-08-25T10:12:28.540-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">Chewba as: &nbsp;<em><strong>SUPER BABY</strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/THUitL_FlGI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Y1vqIwBOVMI/s1600/July+4,+2010+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/THUitL_FlGI/AAAAAAAAAk8/Y1vqIwBOVMI/s320/July+4,+2010+040.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Late Summer is often a lovely time, but this week has been yucky.</div><div style="text-align: center;">60's overnight and overcast or rainy days make lousy weather </div><div style="text-align: center;">for getting in a few more pool adventures.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still have to make my own swim Skort...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chewba loves the water and wants me to take</div><div style="text-align: center;">him in whenever I can...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I desperately need to order books...</div><div style="text-align: center;">today...</div><div style="text-align: center;">actually, now would be good : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Chewba is almost exactly 9 months old RIGHT NOW</div><div style="text-align: center;">(it's 9:55am and he was born 10:12 am)</div><div style="text-align: center;">He needs me soon...</div><div style="text-align: center;">He has been eating everything he is given lately...</div><div style="text-align: center;">doesn't like baby food, just the real stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and nursing...though those teeth are becoming</div><div style="text-align: center;">rather....painful : (</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(for me)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We started back to school last week.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I like to do 2 or 3 weeks of half days before the </div><div style="text-align: center;">BIG SHOW...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our Co-Op starts to meet next Thursday!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking forward to regular time with all of our friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have TONS of new families joining us this year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yippee!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We will be heading South in Sept. for our first trip to Florida </div><div style="text-align: center;">since Scooter was a baby...yikes, 11 years!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trying to get Chewba to spend some time in his own bed at night...</div><div style="text-align: center;">not easy...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it would be easier to just leave him in my bed...</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is nice to be able to cuddle with the Hubby </div><div style="text-align: center;">once in a while, though...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Without a baby between us!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another playdate today...three this week...eek!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trying to catch up for an August that slipped by me...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pax Christi!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-8653084467158553125?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-23275643737032137572010-08-13T18:53:00.000-04:002010-08-13T18:53:09.715-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">WARNING:</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">This post is a mess </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I don't have the energy to figure out how to fix it...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it IS similar to a 7 quick takes, but I don't have</div><div style="text-align: center;">the umph to link up there, either...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The last few weeks have been pretty interesting...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scooter planned all year to go </div><div style="text-align: center;">to Morningstar Camp in New Hampshire</div><div style="text-align: center;">with her best friend...The camp is run by </div><div style="text-align: center;">the Sisters Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary...</div><div style="text-align: center;">in FULL Habit.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;">They are amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She developed a cough in the week before camp started...</div><div style="text-align: center;">it wasn't too bad...</div><div style="text-align: center;">until I dropped her off on Sunday&nbsp;: (</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully we were staying at </div><div style="text-align: center;">a Benedictine Abbey in Still River, Mass-</div><div style="text-align: center;">just two hour south of camp...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday night I had to drive up and pick her up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She loved the camp and wants to go back next year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">hmmmm.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure Mom has the energy for a repeat...</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CXfW4ExI/AAAAAAAAAj0/j_UuUwKAuVw/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CXfW4ExI/AAAAAAAAAj0/j_UuUwKAuVw/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+011.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Chewba Grabowski" in the Kelty backpack ....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He loves ridin' high!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CbYUdrAI/AAAAAAAAAj8/qmA28YizEU8/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CbYUdrAI/AAAAAAAAAj8/qmA28YizEU8/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tilly and Snorkie at the Lake in Harvard, Massachusetts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lovey weather ALL week...only needed the AC two days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spent Tuesday afternoon at the lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made it to evening prayer several times </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and morning Mass Mon, Wed, and Fri...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewba is a high energy guy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it is like wrestling a baby crocodile during Mass-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trying to keep him quiet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Compline was easier because he would nurse</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the Monks chanted the prayers so I didn't need</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to worry about following along...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Monks were SO gracious...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll be going back again, I'm sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8Cer-cxyI/AAAAAAAAAkE/U-yX_-Lhq8Q/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8Cer-cxyI/AAAAAAAAAkE/U-yX_-Lhq8Q/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+024.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Louisa May Alcott's house in Concord, Mass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fee was WAY too high to tour the inside</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with four small children and two adults, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it would have cost $35.00....eeek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It sure was pretty on the outside : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CkRNudPI/AAAAAAAAAkM/0NBIP4A-Hmc/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CkRNudPI/AAAAAAAAAkM/0NBIP4A-Hmc/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+037.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Minute Man Statue at the Old North Bridge...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "shot heard 'round the world"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">was fired here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good thing we are all studying American History this year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we actually got a field trip done in July!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CvE8EAcI/AAAAAAAAAkU/FQZu8FJCOB4/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CvE8EAcI/AAAAAAAAAkU/FQZu8FJCOB4/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I could not have gone a week away from my husband </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">without my friend "J".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewba just loves her and she made it possible </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for me to actually EAT a meal once in a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Chewby visiting with a gal named "L" who lives</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the Abbey.&nbsp; They had SOOOOOO much fun </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">making faces at each other!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have to send a copy of this photo to her!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CzHWFWzI/AAAAAAAAAkc/WRGwTT2DDqM/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CzHWFWzI/AAAAAAAAAkc/WRGwTT2DDqM/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+053.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">As soon as we got home Chewba started crawling "for real"</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">He had been scootching around and cruising a little,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">but now he is officially ON THE GO!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8DjlPNXxI/AAAAAAAAAks/sORy6pi7acg/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8DjlPNXxI/AAAAAAAAAks/sORy6pi7acg/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+054.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And away he goes...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">LOCK UP THE VALUABLES!!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8ExCwYivI/AAAAAAAAAk0/o-SSevBiY7A/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8ExCwYivI/AAAAAAAAAk0/o-SSevBiY7A/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+056.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Both Scooter and Tilly needed new swim dresses...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I got these put together the week before we left.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8C7HuyLbI/AAAAAAAAAkk/oYTQl7xtCI0/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8C7HuyLbI/AAAAAAAAAkk/oYTQl7xtCI0/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+058.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">They are comfy, cute and easy to swim in...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">the dresses each have a full swimsuit sewn inside</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">so that they wont fly up over their heads in the water.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The leggings stay down because they are cut very slim.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If I wasn't nursing, I'd make one like this for myself!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Actually, I AM going to make a swim skort for myself</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">out of the blue floral fabric : )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CL9lJJVI/AAAAAAAAAjk/MoulqPPMKOg/s1600/MassachusettsVacationCamp+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TF8CL9lJJVI/AAAAAAAAAjk/MoulqPPMKOg/s320/MassachusettsVacationCamp+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The first night that we arrived at the Abbey</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">we made it to evening prayer before dinner </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">in the guest dining room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It had been threatening rain for hours...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">as the kids and I headed back to our rooms,</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">this sight greeted&nbsp; us...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">It was so big, I couldn't get the whole rainbow in one photo!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Blessings, all!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2327564373703213757?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-27752277207825684042010-07-16T09:21:00.001-04:002010-07-16T09:40:48.783-04:00<div align="center"><br />I have been meaning to link up to<br />&nbsp;<a href="http://conversiondiary.com/">Seven Quick Takes Friday</a>&nbsp;<br />for quite a while...</div><div align="center">We'll see how it goes!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">1</div><div align="center">We handed in our Homeschooling portfolios on June 29th...</div><div align="center">you'd think I would have gotten them picked up by now : (</div><div align="center">Too many activities going on...</div><div align="center">Play Dates for instance...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">2 </div><div align="center">Went to see <em><strong>Despicable Me</strong></em> with the kids and a friend </div><div align="center">on Wednesday...I really enjoyed it..</div><div align="center">I loved the accents and critical Mamma's change of heart...</div><div align="center">It looked very PIXAR-ish to me...</div><div align="center">Very sweet story in a "fractured fairytale" way.</div><div align="center">The Minions are hysterical! He He He...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">3</div><div align="center">We have to start baby-proofing again...</div><div align="center">Lumpy is ready to go...</div><div align="center">This week he pulled himself up at the ottoman </div><div align="center">and took a "cruising" step...</div><div align="center">He also crawled a bit and </div><div align="center">can scootch himself around pretty well.</div><div align="center">Add&nbsp;the LONG ARM of the BABY and we are in TROUBLE</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">4 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBWqKRsW-I/AAAAAAAAAi8/eZnAmn4qyn8/s1600/April+2010+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBWqKRsW-I/AAAAAAAAAi8/eZnAmn4qyn8/s320/April+2010+006.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">The biggest trouble is the fact that my house is covered with these</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBWmuJcF8I/AAAAAAAAAi0/Ys-LITlGLME/s1600/April+2010+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBWmuJcF8I/AAAAAAAAAi0/Ys-LITlGLME/s320/April+2010+001.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and these...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also those adorable little erasers in many shapes..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">not to mention marbles and action figures...ugh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All choking hazzards to a baby who </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">puts EVERYTHING in his mouth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">5</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I missed doing anything for the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should get to the local </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carmelite Monastery for Mass,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but probably won't...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have lost my momentum lately in my prayer life...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the Grace of God I can get back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on track SOON...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scooter and her best friend are going to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a camp in New Hampshire the last week in July...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so much to do to prepare...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is called Morning Star Camp &amp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;is run by the Sisters Slaves of the immaculate Heart of Mary...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They have Latin Mass every morning and must wear </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">modest clothing and swimwear!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I have one more swim dress </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to make for Scooter before she leaves)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While there, her best friend's mom &amp; I </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">plus the rest of my little ones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">will be staying @ two hours south at the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">St Benedict Abbey in Still River, Mass...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been wanting a retreat forever...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just not sure how the little ones will do...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pray for us Please!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lumpy O'Toole has acquired another nick name...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He makes these hilarious noises that sound just like </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewbacca from Star Wars...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and he CHEWS EVERYTHING...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plus he grabs anything he can from your hands, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so his Father has dubbed him:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chewba Grabowski</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBZR6OJihI/AAAAAAAAAjE/h7HhsBj5tNU/s1600/June+2010+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBZR6OJihI/AAAAAAAAAjE/h7HhsBj5tNU/s320/June+2010+004.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He just Devours books!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes he DOES go to sleep...just not very often...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBZ7mUeyxI/AAAAAAAAAjU/q5lZKN074u8/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TEBZ7mUeyxI/AAAAAAAAAjU/q5lZKN074u8/s320/VBS+St+Ignatius+021.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chewba really liked his babysitter at VBS this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you believe he will be EIGHT months old next week???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pax Christi to you all!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2775227720782568404?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-90989961593169445362010-07-15T23:02:00.000-04:002010-07-15T23:02:10.566-04:00<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Last Day of Vacation Bible School....</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Theme was <strong><em>Son Quest Rainforest...</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our DRE retired several days before, but</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">graciously stayed with us 'till the last day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_HNPxgHyI/AAAAAAAAAiU/5RA7JQxY0ek/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_HNPxgHyI/AAAAAAAAAiU/5RA7JQxY0ek/s400/VBS+St+Ignatius+025.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She and her husband </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(one of our Deacons) </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">were in charge of </span><span style="font-size: large;">RCIA </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">when my husband came into the Church.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_G3v0SNaI/AAAAAAAAAiM/EXPymco3m1E/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_G3v0SNaI/AAAAAAAAAiM/EXPymco3m1E/s400/VBS+St+Ignatius+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to do something special for her...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_HnmmQHRI/AAAAAAAAAic/RxC3EAVLm90/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_HnmmQHRI/AAAAAAAAAic/RxC3EAVLm90/s400/VBS+St+Ignatius+006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The kids and I had a great time...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snorkie made the lizzard and aligator...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tilly made the Jaguar and Ant Eater...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_Hubj-CII/AAAAAAAAAik/o8Vjftf435Q/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_Hubj-CII/AAAAAAAAAik/o8Vjftf435Q/s400/VBS+St+Ignatius+010.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scooter made the flowers </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and painted them with food dye details</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She also made the Toucans and one Parrot...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_H1m6UDII/AAAAAAAAAis/UyO3IHCeiWY/s1600/VBS+St+Ignatius+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/TD_H1m6UDII/AAAAAAAAAis/UyO3IHCeiWY/s400/VBS+St+Ignatius+014.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This thing weighed a TON.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luckily I have a lazy susan just the right size.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was Brownie on the bottom,</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">yellow cake in the middle</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and carrot cake on top....whew!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-9098996159316944536?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-33483501176668884812010-04-14T19:22:00.004-04:002010-04-14T19:47:44.488-04:00<div align="center">I just realized that I never posted any photos</div><div align="center">of this year's Birthday Cakes!<br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460138702486400114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S8ZPOIoQbHI/AAAAAAAAAhM/6NKhC3rZNIE/s320/November+25,+2009+038.JPG" /></div><div align="center">Tilly's Birthday is November 30th...</div><div align="center">Since Lumpy was due on the 26th, </div><div align="center">we decided to do her party at the Beginning of the Month.</div><div align="center">Her American Girl Doll (Mia) is an ice skater...</div><div align="center">So we did a skating party.</div><div align="center">That way I didn't need to do much.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This was my first attempt at "sugar glass"</div><div align="center">I over cooked it so it was yellow, </div><div align="center">but I thought it was cute and it tasted like caramel.</div><div align="center">The lower "boards" were white "chocolate" candy.</div><div align="center">The ice was Fondant and the decorations were</div><div align="center">drawn on with food dye markers!</div><div align="center">The cake was brownies.</div><div align="center">One of her "Pollys" stood in for her and "Mia" .</div><div align="center">All of her guests brought their dolls, too.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460138694756297858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S8ZPNr1QbII/AAAAAAAAAhE/1JdP7HdbrAs/s320/February+2010+006.JPG" />Snorkie is Star Wars obsessed.</div><div align="center">I bought the pan that you use to make a perfectly round ball</div><div align="center">this is the Death Star with Luke and Vader circling...</div><div align="center">they are made from candy melts.</div><div align="center">The cake is covered with fondant and the decor </div><div align="center">was done with the food dye markers.</div><div align="center">We put it on the bottom of a cake server turned upside-down.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This was yummy </div><div align="center"><em><strong>and</strong></em> my first attempt at home made Fondant!</div><div align="center">Very easy and much better than the commercial stuff.<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460138687784036130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S8ZPNR28JyI/AAAAAAAAAg8/daRK_tGxT8A/s320/February+2010+007.JPG" /> <p align="center">Scooter is still trying to talk us into getting a dog.</p><p align="center">She loves Schnoodles...</p><p align="center">This is the one she got.</p><p align="center">I used the "Teddy Bear" cake pan and </p><p align="center">altered it as needed.</p><p align="center">Eyes, ears, nose, paws, etc. were fondant </p><p align="center">painted with black food coloring.</p><p align="center">I used a combination of chocolate and vanilla icing.<br /></p><div align="center"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460138682749609986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S8ZPM_Go6AI/AAAAAAAAAg0/tF-DQxOqbmI/s320/April+4,+2010+009.JPG" /></div><p align="center">This is our most recent cake</p><p align="center">It was for my best friend's little boy.</p><p align="center">The kids got to help by making most of the animals</p><p align="center">Snorkie did aligator heads, snakes and birds.</p><p align="center">Scooter made the elephant and giraffe.</p><p align="center">Tilly made the whole lion family (we didn't eat them)</p><p align="center">We used green candy melts for grass and tree leaves</p><p align="center">and sugar cones for the tree trunks. Lots of fun.</p><p align="center">I'm loving the fondant!</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">Blessings All!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3348350117666888481?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-59284775755536436732010-04-07T15:36:00.005-04:002010-04-07T15:45:55.678-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S7zgDFtMIGI/AAAAAAAAAgE/RJRfwdSCkSs/s1600/April+4,+2010+092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457483192142143586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S7zgDFtMIGI/AAAAAAAAAgE/RJRfwdSCkSs/s320/April+4,+2010+092.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> (our Traditional after Mass family photo)</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lent is Over</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Easter is HERE</strong>!</span></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center">All 50 days of Easter!</div><br /><br /><div align="center">How Wonderful is that?</div><br /><br /><div align="center">We didn't even put out Easter decorations -</div><br /><br /><div align="center">until Easter Sunday this year!</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I like to leave them out...</div><br /><br /><div align="center">We had a lovely gathering with my Mom &amp; Dad</div><br /><br /><div align="center">DH's Mom,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">my Brother, Sister-in-Law, and niece...</div><br /><br /><div align="center">lovely weather </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Joyous Occasion!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457482900401467730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S7zfyG4ysVI/AAAAAAAAAf8/SZ2rO8lSNgA/s320/April+4,+2010+100A.jpg" /><br /><br /><div align="center">He Is Risen!</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Alleluia!</div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5928477575553643673?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-69017893584694281842010-03-24T13:05:00.006-04:002010-04-05T12:02:57.192-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S6pLNZY3yDI/AAAAAAAAAf0/d9UMKVrv05k/s1600/February+2010+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452252992410994738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S6pLNZY3yDI/AAAAAAAAAf0/d9UMKVrv05k/s320/February+2010+052.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">tired...</div><br /><div align="center">I am tired today...</div><br /><div align="center">and yesterday...</div><br /><div align="center">and last week....</div><br /><div align="center">Baby Boy is sleeping pretty well,</div><br /><div align="center">He still nurses in the night but we snuggle together well </div><br /><div align="center">and usually sleep 'till 7 am or so.</div><br /><div align="center">I should really be getting to bed by 9:30 and up by 6...</div><div align="center">But then I would never have any time with my </div><div align="center">darling longsuffering Husband...</div><br /><div align="center">AND I need to get back to exercising... </div><br /><div align="center">I feel yucky...10# heavier than I was </div><br /><div align="center">when I came home from the hospital. BLECH</div><br /><div align="center">I keep thinking I will be able to get back </div><div align="center">to more frequent blog posts...</div><br /><div align="center">maybe even have something good to say,</div><br /><div align="center">instead of just posting photos...</div><br /><div align="center">SOMEDAY!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Lumpy just does NOT LIKE to be separated from me</div><br /><div align="center">for more than 15 minutes : (</div><br /><div align="center">I wear him in the sling a lot...</div><br /><div align="center">He is pushing towards 15 #, though...</div><br /><div align="center">OH, my aching back!</div><br /><div align="center">I am behind on so many things and </div><br /><div align="center">want to do so many others that are just</div><br /><div align="center">out of the question...</div><br /><div align="center">Snorkie is playing T-Ball this year and </div><br /><div align="center">Scooter has started Softball </div><br /><div align="center">(an amazing slugger, she is)...</div><br /><div align="center">We are trying to schedule the Summer and</div><br /><div align="center">Fall vacation plans are being made...</div><br /><div align="center">(Gotta love Homeschooling for allowing September trips!)</div><br /><div align="center">The end of the school year is rapidly approaching </div><br /><div align="center">&amp; PA is a pain for documentation : (</div><br /><div align="center">I am looking forward to Holy Week &amp; Easter.</div><br /><div align="center">My parents will be visiting and then soon moving...</div><br /><div align="center">to Nebraska.</div><br /><div align="center">I will miss having them closer by, </div><div align="center">but they are very excited.</div><br /><div align="center">I am praying that all goes well with their move.</div><br /><div align="center">Blessedly, I have THREE wonderful spiritual </div><br /><div align="center">"retreat" days planned...All in April...</div><br /><div align="center">One is a LONG day WITH my </div><br /><div align="center">Darling Husband</div><br /><div align="center">(and baby, of course)</div><br /><div align="center">Well...off to make lunch, check on a semi-sick 5 year old,</div><br /><div align="center">change over the laundry, get baby back from big sister,</div><br /><div align="center">though he is happy enough right now : )</div><br /><div align="center">and figure out the rest of my afternoon...</div><br /><div align="center">Hmmm, Maybe a<strong><em> Nap</em></strong>.....</div><br /><div align="center">LOL</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6901789358469428184?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-43717333576644155512010-02-11T16:31:00.007-05:002010-02-11T16:57:19.696-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5JQzRxAI/AAAAAAAAAfE/mYETuvcJFbs/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103850178855938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5JQzRxAI/AAAAAAAAAfE/mYETuvcJFbs/s320/feb+10+2010+043.JPG" /></a> This was after the LAST storm (Friday and Saturday of last week)</div><div align="center">Light flaky snow blew everywhere...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5IxDV7dI/AAAAAAAAAe8/DnsVkeho2K0/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103841656303058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5IxDV7dI/AAAAAAAAAe8/DnsVkeho2K0/s320/feb+10+2010+070.JPG" /></a>This is Last Night's 15 MORE inches<br />Scooter and Tilly out at 7:30 PM building a snowman!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5IbMyPbI/AAAAAAAAAe0/81HPMu0wdBA/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+068.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103835790327218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R5IbMyPbI/AAAAAAAAAe0/81HPMu0wdBA/s320/feb+10+2010+068.JPG" /></a> Front entryway<br /><div><br /><br /><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103091030652594" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4dEwPdrI/AAAAAAAAAek/aazlpUyaErs/s320/feb+10+2010+045.JPG" /> Last Saturday's snow (12")</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103081333932530" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4cgoXQfI/AAAAAAAAAec/wEMI7UAccOM/s320/feb+10+2010+028.JPG" /> Friday was Snorkie's "friend" Birthday party</div><div>My little Jedi Boy was very excited<br />He is "totally into"</div><div>Star Wars: the Clone Wars...</div><div>He likes it when Anakin was still a good guy...</div><div>Thsi Sunday is the "Family party for Snorkie and Scooter</div><div>5 Years old and 11 years old</div><div>WOW...</div><div>did that time go fast!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4cZS24GI/AAAAAAAAAeU/DZoytowcM50/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103079364681826" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4cZS24GI/AAAAAAAAAeU/DZoytowcM50/s320/feb+10+2010+022.JPG" /></a> Brownie cupcakes with earth sand icing </div><div>(crushed Graham Crackers stuck to chocolate icing)</div><div>with pressed fondant "Anakins" on top...</div><div>I never got around to adding color to them : (</div><div> </div><div>Scooter asked for a dog cake and Snorkie is getting a </div><div>"Death Star" cake for the Family Party...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">A few weeks ago we had a Homeschooler's field trip!</span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4b3iH6-I/AAAAAAAAAeM/ngJWXcB4quE/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103070301907938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4b3iH6-I/AAAAAAAAAeM/ngJWXcB4quE/s320/feb+10+2010+018.JPG" /></a> Snorkie and one of his best friends at the </div><div>Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ...</div><div>Waiting to leave to get on the light rail river line train</div><div>What fun!</div><div>They have Hippopatamii at this Aquarium!</div><div>PU!</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">CUTENESS ALERT!!!</span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4bkZHTQI/AAAAAAAAAeE/jX6lUkiH89w/s1600-h/feb+10+2010+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437103065163844866" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S3R4bkZHTQI/AAAAAAAAAeE/jX6lUkiH89w/s320/feb+10+2010+002.JPG" /></a> A BONUS!</div><div>Too cute for words photo of Lumpy O'Toole...</div><div>Can you believe that he is </div><div>Two and a Half months old already?</div><div>He is playing with "play gym" type toys and smiling</div><div>like crazy...he even chuckled at me the other day!</div><div>23" and over 12 pounds!</div><div>::whew::<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-4371733357664415551?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-49690409219184353042010-01-22T09:15:00.003-05:002010-01-22T09:25:45.508-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S1mzjFE1S9I/AAAAAAAAAd4/GEKR0Snzly0/s1600-h/January+2,+2010+024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429568241011084242" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S1mzjFE1S9I/AAAAAAAAAd4/GEKR0Snzly0/s320/January+2,+2010+024.JPG" /></a> Time passes so quickly...</div><div align="center">We took this photo on the </div><div align="center">Feast of the Holy Family...</div><div align="center">Lumpy was only 5 weeks old...</div><div align="center">Now he is 8 weeks old!</div><div align="center">We are settling in somewhat...</div><div align="center">even though he has another cold,</div><div align="center">we are getting a little more sleep : )</div><div align="center">This little man is so very sweet...</div><div align="center">his little smiles and coos melt everyone's hearts.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Scooter bought herself a camera last year,</div><div align="center">and Tilly and Snorkie got digital cameras</div><div align="center">from Santa Claus this year...</div><div align="center">Needless to say, Lumpy is a</div><div align="center">VERY well Photographed little boy.</div><div align="center">Well LOVED, Too!<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-4969040921918435304?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-31897410789752151512010-01-05T09:53:00.005-05:002010-01-05T10:11:53.721-05:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:180%;"> <em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!</span></em></span></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">(a few images from our Christmas card photo shoot)</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423270299250773570" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S0NTmnvEzkI/AAAAAAAAAds/kp3pg_e7-Do/s320/November+29,+2009+028.JPG" /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"> Did you know that "Rest" in Old English </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">meant to </span><span style="font-size:130%;">keep and protect...</span></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423270293231349426" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S0NTmRT7rrI/AAAAAAAAAdk/6X3aweB766U/s320/November+29,+2009+020.JPG" /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">And "Merry" meant "Mighty"...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#006600;">(makes "Robin Hood and his Merry Men" make more sense,</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#006600;">doesn't it? Mighty in Faith and Valor!)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#006600;"><br /></span></em><em><span style="color:#006600;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423270284631582114" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S0NTlxRlpaI/AAAAAAAAAdc/t4d96MUJFso/s320/November+29,+2009+014.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">May God Bless, Keep and Protect you all...</span></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><em>Mighty in Faith, Hope, and Love!!!<br /></em></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423270283797581714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/S0NTluKvz5I/AAAAAAAAAdU/_vL83oVmee8/s320/November+29,+2009+024.JPG" /><span style="color:#990000;">Hey, I'm not late...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#990000;">We <em>ARE</em> still Celebrating the Christmas Season!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Georgie was only 5 days old in these photos!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Thank goodness it was a beautiful day...</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3189741078975215151?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-78295800055698292242009-12-18T10:03:00.003-05:002009-12-18T10:22:14.972-05:00<div align="center"> My husband's company holds a Christmas Party for </div><div align="center">the children every year...</div><div align="center">This year it started at 6PM...</div><div align="center">all of the children were asked to come in their "jammies".</div><div align="center">First they had their chance to tell Santa what they wanted...<br /></div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416592756068958610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Syuaac5xwZI/AAAAAAAAAdM/Y92JtYrnZ_8/s320/December+2009+023.JPG" /> <p align="center">Scooter is "old friends" with Santa<br /></p><div align="center"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416592744962971602" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyuaZzh519I/AAAAAAAAAdE/ukUZXyDfjoM/s320/December+2009+022.JPG" />Tilly is pretty fond of the "Big Guy" too!</div><div align="center">We have known him personally for seven years...<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416592737430102370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyuaZXd7YWI/AAAAAAAAAc8/wCcvv9tXCdk/s320/December+2009+021.JPG" /> <p align="center">Last year Snorkie wouldn't even </p><p align="center">be in the same ROOM with Santa!</p><div align="center">This year...He RAN up to him when we arrived</div><div align="center">to introduce his little brother!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">He <em>Really</em> wants that motorcycle video game system...</div><div align="center">um, I don't think it is coming...<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416592732393355682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyuaZEtEuaI/AAAAAAAAAc0/5b8rpjc55qw/s320/December+2009+024.JPG" />Lumpy was fussing like crazy with me...</p><p align="center">He calmed right down and enjoyed his time with Santa!</p><p align="center">After pictures the kids went to another room for Milk &amp; Cookies...</p><p align="center">Then off to the last room for a story read by Santa...</p><p align="center">in HIS pajamas!</p><p align="center">(Bright red Union suit with "Santa" </p><p align="center">embroidered in silver, on the shoulder...)<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyuaYpvWERI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pWOnrGSREmA/s1600-h/December+2009+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416592725155123474" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyuaYpvWERI/AAAAAAAAAcs/pWOnrGSREmA/s320/December+2009+029.JPG" /></a> Snorkie scratching Santa's itchy beard...</div><div align="center">He had a BLAST!</div><div align="center">They even got presents...and it was held on the </div><div align="center">Feast of Saint Nicholas!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7829580005569829224?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-70735582697347785952009-12-14T16:40:00.003-05:002009-12-14T16:47:49.235-05:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;">He has received his "Gaelic" nick name...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He is officially </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#006600;">Lumpy O'Toole!<br /></span></em></strong></div></span><div align="center"> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415210570548939586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaxUqmCi0I/AAAAAAAAAck/MIxAuq2pZU0/s320/December+2009+054.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415210559989558082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaxUDQfK0I/AAAAAAAAAcc/-IjLTirlHPM/s320/December+2009+036.JPG" />Can you guess <strong>why</strong> he is our Lumpy-Man?<br /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415210558218532994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaxT8qPeII/AAAAAAAAAcU/PWOenc6PeN8/s320/December+2009+035.JPG" />This kid <strong><em>LOVES</em></strong> to be "worn"!<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7073558269734778595?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-6871766707176537342009-12-14T16:12:00.003-05:002009-12-14T16:35:25.785-05:00<div align="center"><em>T</em>here are so many wonderful things about being home</div><div align="center">with my kids all of the time.</div><div align="center">When I had my last infant, the girls were only in </div><div align="center">First grade and Pre-school...</div><div align="center">Now they are in Third and Fifth Grade...</div><div align="center">They can also read independently (pretty well)...</div><div align="center">and they help with a good deal of the house work...</div><div align="center">(They get a reasonable allowance).</div><div align="center">They are great kids </div><div align="center">and I love being around them...</div><div align="center">It is only hard when I want to do </div><div align="center">something to surprise them...</div><div align="center">THAT can be difficult!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">This is with whom </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">I prefer to spend my time!</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyarJPVb8PI/AAAAAAAAAcM/P23U3S9RIHM/s1600-h/December+2009+016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203777183215858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyarJPVb8PI/AAAAAAAAAcM/P23U3S9RIHM/s320/December+2009+016.JPG" /></a><em> Snuggly</em> little boy...</div><div align="center">in the cutest "swaddling" blanket ever!</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyarIfcnGuI/AAAAAAAAAcE/i-mtEep0YO8/s1600-h/December+2009+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203764328405730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyarIfcnGuI/AAAAAAAAAcE/i-mtEep0YO8/s320/December+2009+001.JPG" /></a> I even manage to regularly get a shower </div><div align="center">and keep up with the laundry...</div><div align="center">Thanks to big sister "Scooter"</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Syaqz4zTERI/AAAAAAAAAb8/kAP8M59Eq1o/s1600-h/December+2009+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203410357195026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Syaqz4zTERI/AAAAAAAAAb8/kAP8M59Eq1o/s320/December+2009+002.JPG" /></a> A <strong><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">GREAT</span></em></strong> advertisement for homeschooling!</div><div align="center">(Scooter is reading Anne of Green Gables...)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqzUbYL3I/AAAAAAAAAb0/YjJc85LJrSM/s1600-h/December+2009+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203400593190770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqzUbYL3I/AAAAAAAAAb0/YjJc85LJrSM/s320/December+2009+006.JPG" /></a> My very alert two week old!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqzAdk4VI/AAAAAAAAAbs/ISag47lqVCc/s1600-h/December+2009+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203395233702226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqzAdk4VI/AAAAAAAAAbs/ISag47lqVCc/s320/December+2009+013.JPG" /></a>Sponge Bathing can be <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><em>COLD</em></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Syaqy_4EYbI/AAAAAAAAAbk/S1wNi6_boFI/s1600-h/December+2009+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203395076383154" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Syaqy_4EYbI/AAAAAAAAAbk/S1wNi6_boFI/s320/December+2009+019.JPG" /></a>Boppy Pillows are SO Wonderful!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqyJJpOlI/AAAAAAAAAbc/FFmtjohTyUg/s1600-h/December+2009+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415203380386150994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SyaqyJJpOlI/AAAAAAAAAbc/FFmtjohTyUg/s320/December+2009+034.JPG" /></a> One VERY Proud Big Brother...</div><div>and his Little Brother.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I have about a dozen posts to put up in the next couple</div><div>of days...Hang in there with me...</div><div>There are BOUND to be lots more PHOTOS!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">:::<em>Grin</em>:::</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-687176670717653734?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-60655579397723328482009-12-05T16:30:00.005-05:002009-12-05T17:25:46.109-05:00<div align="center">Here are some additional photos of our newest family member...<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Still working on the nick name...</div><br /><div align="center">but my Sister-in-Law brought an adorable outfit </div><br /><div align="center">with "Snugglesaurus" on it...</div><br /><div align="center">That will do for now!</div><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxrSF5Pv-VI/AAAAAAAAAbM/qjK7XO4jdQs/s1600-h/November+29,+2009+005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411868900947130706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxrSF5Pv-VI/AAAAAAAAAbM/qjK7XO4jdQs/s320/November+29,+2009+005.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>Here he is with his sisters...about seven hour old</p><p align="center"></p><div align="center">Home on Friday...gotta love the Boppy Pillow!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411868895614695314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxrSFlYZd5I/AAAAAAAAAbE/-6pEFc3OhFg/s320/November+29,+2009+009.JPG" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxrSFbQxi8I/AAAAAAAAAa8/x3jE6xZnpbY/s1600-h/November+29,+2009+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411868892898364354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxrSFbQxi8I/AAAAAAAAAa8/x3jE6xZnpbY/s320/November+29,+2009+001.JPG" /></a> Happy Siblings!<br /><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"> </div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6065557939772332848?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-64274516431575975452009-11-28T16:33:00.003-05:002009-11-28T17:03:42.294-05:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"> We interrupt the unfinished flood story </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">to update you on our most recent activities...</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409271354458905378" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxGXoyg4GyI/AAAAAAAAAas/W54jfGvTvw4/s320/November+25,+2009+057.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxGXobiGlvI/AAAAAAAAAak/efY70xbdMe0/s1600/November+25,+2009+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409271348290033394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SxGXobiGlvI/AAAAAAAAAak/efY70xbdMe0/s320/November+25,+2009+052.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">This is what I have been doing lately!</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Our newest <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>BABY BOY</strong></span> arrived on </div><div align="center">Wednesday, November 25, 2009</div><div align="center">10:12 am</div><div align="center">7 pounds 15 ounces</div><div align="center">21 1/4 inches long</div><div align="center">He has not received his "Gaelic" nickname yet...</div><div align="center">though my sister suggested we call him </div><div align="center">"Pierce" or "Lance"</div><div align="center">because I was on injectable </div><div align="center">Progesterone supplementation...</div><div align="center">twice weekly shots for 36 weeks...</div><div align="center">and diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes...</div><div align="center"> had to test my blood sugar levels 4 times a day </div><div align="center">for the last three months...</div><div align="center">Luckily, he didn't need to be poked or prodded</div><div align="center">very much after arrival!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I realize that many of my blog readers had </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NO IDEA...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">For that I am sorry...</span></div><div align="center">I spent so much time at the beginning wondering</div><div align="center">if we would lose this baby, that I never did quite</div><div align="center">figure out HOW to mention this pregnancy on this blog...</div><div align="center">By the time I was SURE that he would be joining us,</div><div align="center">it just felt funny... : (</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Needless to say, the last few days,</div><div align="center">I've been cuddled up with the little munchkin...</div><div align="center">We got home from the hospital yesterday &amp;</div><div align="center">the "milk truck" pulled in last night.</div><div align="center">We are busy establishing a balance between sleep,</div><div align="center">nursing and a chance to get to the bathroom : )</div><div align="center">Blessedly, Scooter and Tilly are AWESOME</div><div align="center">at holding and snuggling with him when I am occupied!</div><div align="center">The "sibling rivalry" in this house is something like...</div><div align="center">"No, its MY TURN to hold him!!!"</div><div align="center">Snorkie spends his time kissing the baby's head,</div><div align="center">and saying, "He's <strong><em>SO</em></strong> <em><strong>CUTE</strong></em>, I can't stand it!"</div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#660000;">Happy Thanksgiving to you all!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Pax Christi</span></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6427451643157597545?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-87789964580678120152009-09-27T18:49:00.005-04:002009-09-27T20:13:15.410-04:00<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">2004 Flood...the photos</span></div><div align="center">This is one of the first images we saw of our neighborhood</div><div align="center">The tree "line" you see at the top of the photo</div><div align="center">is the Delaware &amp; Raritan Canal.</div><div align="center">Our house is just in front of the clump of trees </div><div align="center">a third of the way down from the top &amp; right in </div><div align="center">the middle of the photo (too bad I don't know </div><div align="center">how to edit to put a big red circle around it.)</div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386288219009665826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wmO_xSyI/AAAAAAAAAaY/xiSONjoe9bo/s320/yardley15_jpg.jpg" />You can see how the "back" of the neighborhood</div><div align="center">is still dry ground. </div><div align="center">Our neighbors behind us had no water...(in <em>this</em> flood.)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386288207008238770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wliSaDLI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/9TCEvZXPWr4/s320/backyard.jpg" /> <p align="center">All the "stuff that accumulated against the fence</p><p align="center">behind our house...much of it was NOT ours! </p><p align="center">The top of the 4' fence was the "high water mark"</p><p align="center">at the back of our house...</p><p align="center"><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386288200812667410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wlLNRIhI/AAAAAAAAAaI/TzH3tsQhMVk/s320/PC040133.JPG" /> <div align="center">Hydrostatic Pressure damage to the "upriver"</div><div align="center">side of our basement walls.</div><div align="center">Significant restoration work was needed to repair this.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wk-NxOFI/AAAAAAAAAaA/IvfMhw9A64I/s1600-h/P9220131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386288197325109330" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wk-NxOFI/AAAAAAAAAaA/IvfMhw9A64I/s320/P9220131.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Much of our property piled up in front of our house.</div><div align="center">Thank Goodness for all the help we got...</div><div align="center">We never could have done all of this so quickly! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The Trash company decided to do "extra" pick-ups for </div><div align="center">the entire week...Our stuff <strong>alone</strong> probably filled </div><div align="center">half of the truck...cudos to them for making the effort </div><div align="center">to help us all clean out the junk in <em><strong>DAYS</strong></em>.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wkdoFLMI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/CVePrSYHXwg/s1600-h/P9200128.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386288188577098946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_wkdoFLMI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/CVePrSYHXwg/s320/P9200128.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">How High the river still was...</div><div align="center">"on the road" on Monday evening...</div><div align="center">we were able to drive in on Tuesday.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_v0XQqnwI/AAAAAAAAAZw/nUKLD7LsFEA/s1600-h/P9200054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386287362234556162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_v0XQqnwI/AAAAAAAAAZw/nUKLD7LsFEA/s320/P9200054.JPG" /></a> The view at the foot of our basement steps...</div><div align="center">before we got a sump pump running to drain </div><div align="center">the rest of the standing water.</div><div align="center">The shelf lying on it's side held art stuff as well as extra</div><div align="center">"pantry" stuff, like pasta and canned goods...YUCK.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Keep in mind it was <em>PITCH DARK</em> </div><div align="center">with no power when this photo was taken...</div><div align="center">it looks "better" because of the camera's flash. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vz5FqRSI/AAAAAAAAAZo/AVxXqDINXWQ/s1600-h/P9200046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386287354135332130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vz5FqRSI/AAAAAAAAAZo/AVxXqDINXWQ/s320/P9200046.JPG" /></a> This is an Entertainment system that DH and I </div><div align="center">built together while we were expecting Scooter...<br />The turntable was on the bottom left (trashed)</div><div align="center">and all our "Home Videos" in the </div><div align="center">drawer on the bottom right.</div><div align="center">We couldn't imagine them being salvagable,</div><div align="center">but we put them in a box because we </div><div align="center">couldn't bear to throw them away...<br /><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vzk7TIEI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Ju4n2UdzWQQ/s1600-h/P9200040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386287348723163202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vzk7TIEI/AAAAAAAAAZg/Ju4n2UdzWQQ/s320/P9200040.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>(notice the portfolio in the background of this photo...</p><p align="center">It was all of the artwork that I had taken <em><strong>OUT</strong></em> of </p><p align="center">the minivan...<em>SOME</em> of it was ruined...</p><p align="center">most of it dried...damaged : (</p><p align="center">Hard to believe, but our Living/ Dining room carpet </p><p align="center"><em><strong>WAS</strong></em> white...</p><p align="center"><br />The ottoman next to the couch was another </p><p align="center">"project" that DH and I created...It housed all of the girls</p><p align="center">dress-up stuff...the lid lifted off!</p><p align="center">Lovey built the box, I upholstered it...</p><p align="center">It went in the trash </p><p align="center">with most of the other upholstered furniture...</p><p align="center">except the chair on the right,</p><p align="center">which only got wet at the "skirt"...the chair was fine...</p><p align="center">this made me happy, </p><p align="center">because the chair had belonged to my mother<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vzPWxaZI/AAAAAAAAAZY/sbwOBcLdwMQ/s1600-h/fence.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386287342932814226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vzPWxaZI/AAAAAAAAAZY/sbwOBcLdwMQ/s320/fence.jpg" /></a>This is the way that the Good Lord protected </div><div align="center">my lilac bush...I don't think it would have survived the </div><div align="center">the force of the water &amp; debris if the fence post</div><div align="center">hadn't risen and wedged against our driveway.</div><div align="center">This was the ONLY spot where a fence post </div><div align="center">came out of the ground!<br />(the lilac was a mother's day gift from</div><div align="center">my mother-in-law several years before...</div><div align="center">it is still living...in my current backyard)<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vymynf7I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/EZijrw8Legw/s1600-h/P9200017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386287332043751346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vymynf7I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/EZijrw8Legw/s320/P9200017.JPG" /></a> We tied up the canoe INSIDE the fence during the</div><div align="center">evening before we left...the river rose about 12"</div><div align="center">above the fence in the "front yard"...</div><div align="center">All the stuff that I left sitting on the picnic table</div><div align="center">and benches stayed dry...It was all of my </div><div align="center">painting stuff that I used when working on the </div><div align="center">playground mural...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vQT-axvI/AAAAAAAAAZI/pInoNE9SZhU/s1600-h/basement-bags.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386286742877423346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sr_vQT-axvI/AAAAAAAAAZI/pInoNE9SZhU/s320/basement-bags.jpg" /></a> This is what the contents of our basement looked like</div><div align="center">stuffed into contractor plastic bags...</div><div align="center">Members of The Knights of Columbus as well as many other</div><div align="center">friends and aquaintences worked with us for days</div><div align="center">clearing all this stuff out and washing down </div><div align="center">the things that we could salvage...</div><div align="center">Our Parish Priest was there slogging our trash</div><div align="center">for us too...what a great guy he is! </div><div align="center">We made sure that he was the one to Baptize</div><div align="center">Snorkie Boy when he was born!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I promise the next "<em>chapter of the story</em>"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">before next weekend....</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">:)<br /></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-8778996458067812015?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-74690642862481840492009-09-27T17:11:00.004-04:002009-09-27T17:56:23.273-04:00<div align="center">It was Sunday morning, September 19, 2004.</div><div align="center">We awoke after a rather short night and much worry, </div><div align="center">showered, dressed and took the girls down to the </div><div align="center">hotel breakfast room. We discovered that we were among </div><div align="center">many in our neighborhood that wound up </div><div align="center">at that particular "Macintosh" hotel. </div><div align="center">We also discovered that we were National News!</div><div align="center">Watching our town engulfed in water on TV was</div><div align="center">VERY STRANGE.</div><div align="center">We checked out, not knowing what to do next...</div><div align="center">except that we had to get to Mass.</div><div align="center">Our Pastor spoke about the need to postpone our </div><div align="center">Annual Parish Picnic that afternoon due to the </div><div align="center">"difficulties of our neighbors in the flooded areas of town"...</div><div align="center">He went on and on... making me wonder </div><div align="center">if we would have water above the roof line...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">My Darling Husband tried to track down a youth group volunteer</div><div align="center">to give them a donation and ran into an aquaintance from the</div><div align="center">Knight of Columbus. They exchanged pleasantries and then </div><div align="center">Lovey blurted out that we really had NO IDEA where we would</div><div align="center">live for the forseeable future. That wonderful guy immediately</div><div align="center">invited the four of us home with he and his wife. WHEW!</div><div align="center">They fed us and helped us to get some info and then we ran to </div><div align="center">Walmart because we had NO CLOTHING AT ALL !!!</div><div align="center">Our daughters fell "In Love" with the man of the house...</div><div align="center">he is a big, cuddly, teddybear of a man who loves children.</div><div align="center">(let DH and I get out to do some stuff and when </div><div align="center">we came back, both girls were sitting with him </div><div align="center">on his BIG chair watching Sleeping Beauty!)</div><div align="center">We tried not to watch too much coverage while the girls</div><div align="center">were awake, but at night, we couldn't help ourselves.</div><div align="center">I began to pray that the water would stop rising </div><div align="center">below the 4 foot mark. I had a picture on the wall </div><div align="center">in the girls room that my mother had made in school </div><div align="center">when she was about ten years old.</div><div align="center">I thought that if only that picture was spared, </div><div align="center">I would be OK.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">DH and "teddybear" got a look at the house from </div><div align="center">the back of the neighborhood on Monday afternoon...</div><div align="center">Blessedly, the water had stopped rising and began to receed</div><div align="center">as of Sunday night...We got into the house onTuesday.</div><div align="center">Because of the elevation of the house, </div><div align="center">we had 8-10 inches of water in the "upstairs" </div><div align="center">(remember, it is a ranch house so everything was </div><div align="center">on the first floor) of the house. </div><div align="center">The basement had filled completely.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We stayed with the Teddybear &amp; his wife for a week.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The mess was incredible. The only visual description </div><div align="center">I can give is of a local pond where everyone is encouraged </div><div align="center">to dump unwanted stuff... for 20 years...then drain the pond...</div><div align="center">THAT'S what my basement looked like.</div><div align="center">We threw out lots of wet stuff from upstairs that I </div><div align="center">later realized could have been washed...</div><div align="center">but there was little looking back...</div><div align="center">what can you do about it now? </div><div align="center">We spent the first day </div><div align="center">(when we still had running- cold-water) </div><div align="center">salvaging what we could from the basement. </div><div align="center">One wrench in the works was that I was </div><div align="center">5 months pregnant with Snorkie at the time </div><div align="center">and really had to be careful about the (semi-treated) sewage</div><div align="center">and propane oil that had contaminated the flood waters...</div><div align="center">(and made EVERYTHING smell awful for months).</div><div align="center">We wore masks and gloves and grungy clothing and used </div><div align="center">Gallons and Gallons of BLEACH.</div><div align="center">I spent a good deal of time at the house, </div><div align="center">thanks to Grammy watching the girls </div><div align="center">&amp; even taking them overnight one night.</div><div align="center">That first week was a revelation. </div><div align="center">It is amazing what the power of friendship, </div><div align="center">volunteerism and hard work acn do for the spirit.</div><div align="center">I will never forget </div><div align="center">the effort and help of relatives, friends &amp; strangers.</div><div align="center">GOD IS GOOD.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">To be continued...some more.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7469064286248184049?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-55136248968336441532009-09-19T08:26:00.007-04:002009-09-19T09:25:05.484-04:00<div align="center">In September of 2004 I had been working for two years </div><div align="center">with a few other women in our small river town</div><div align="center">of Yardley, Pennsylvania </div><div align="center">to design and build a children's playground. </div><div align="center">September 19th was to be our GRAND OPENING!</div><div align="center">We had a beautiful reception on Saturday the 18th</div><div align="center">for all the "Major Sponsors" that donated $1,000, or more.</div><div align="center">It was held at the lovely historic Library at Lake Afton.</div><div align="center">Many of our corporate sponsors were local Realtors.</div><div align="center">One of the Realtors, </div><div align="center">knowing how the home prices were still rising,</div><div align="center">told me that if I ever wanted to sell, </div><div align="center">she would be glad to handle the house.</div><div align="center">I told her that I intended to "grow old" in my house.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(I think I actually said that I would die in that house.)</span></div><div align="center">I LOVED where I was living...</div><div align="center">one block in from the Delaware River, </div><div align="center">one block over from the </div><div align="center">Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.</div><div align="center">I could walk up town to the store, post office, playgound...</div><div align="center">We canoed on the canal with the girls in the summertime,</div><div align="center">bicycled and walked on the Canal Path...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The weather was yucky that weekend </div><div align="center">and we had to postpone the <em>Grand Opening</em>.</div><div align="center">Predictions were for rain and chill, </div><div align="center">due to the remnants of Hurricane Ivan </div><div align="center">passing through Pennsylvania and upstate New York.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">By the time I got home from the little "party",</div><div align="center">My husband had gotten word that we should move </div><div align="center">our cars out of the neighborhood.</div><div align="center">Often, when the river rose, it would block off our </div><div align="center">little area of Yardley by flooding Delaware Avenue</div><div align="center">and make it impossible to get around. </div><div align="center">The "back" of the neighborhood was dry, </div><div align="center">but you couldn't get to town from there by car </div><div align="center">because of the canal.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We emptied the minivan of all the Homeschool Co-op stuff </div><div align="center">I had in the back and loaded up the "mural" </div><div align="center">that I had painted to be hung on the back wall </div><div align="center">of the playground.</div><div align="center">We moved the cars uptown to a municipal parking lot,</div><div align="center">and decided to grab some dinner at a local restaurant</div><div align="center"><em>overlooking the river.</em></div><div align="center">We learned some things...including that NOAA</div><div align="center">was predicting major flooding...</div><div align="center">we didn't know what that meant really...</div><div align="center">but when we got home, we started bringing things </div><div align="center">up from the basement "just in case".</div><div align="center">Our house was only 20 years old, so it had been built to newer </div><div align="center">code requirements and was elevated above the road somewhat.</div><div align="center">Our home was a 1,000 square foot rancher</div><div align="center">with a 1,000 square foot basement</div><div align="center">(multiplied by the 7 foot ceilings, </div><div align="center">made 7,000 CUBIC feet of storage).</div><div align="center">We had a VERY FULL basement.</div><div align="center">We joked that this would help us get the basement </div><div align="center">cleaned up once and for all....LOL.</div><div align="center">We worked all evening trudging stuff up, </div><div align="center">somewhat indescriminently...</div><div align="center">I left BOTH of my sewing machines, </div><div align="center">too many art materials and art works to count,</div><div align="center">all the scrapbooking stuff/photos that were already organized,</div><div align="center">all of our old vinyl records, lots of decorator items...UGH.</div><div align="center">We realize at about midnight that we were going to have to </div><div align="center"><em><strong>LEAVE</strong></em>.</div><div align="center">At around 1:00am, we woke the girls </div><div align="center">(who were 3.5 &amp; 5.5 years old at the time)</div><div align="center">We gathered clothes for Sunday Mass, </div><div align="center">one toy for each of the girls,</div><div align="center">and hiking out the back of the neighborhood, </div><div align="center">each of us carrying a sleepy daughter, </div><div align="center">got to our car and rented a hotel room for the night.</div><div align="center">I'll admit, </div><div align="center">we were still chuckling...singing"Climb Every Mountain"</div><div align="center">and debating whether we should have </div><div align="center">turned off the power to the sump pump, </div><div align="center">we thought it might only be a little water in the basement...</div><div align="center">We were WRONG, <em><strong>Very Very WRONG</strong></em>.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">...to be continued.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Hopefully Blogger will let me upload some photos next time...</span></em></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5513624896833644153?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-81262102953554536552009-08-11T16:08:00.011-04:002009-08-11T16:59:05.286-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHV1gAK3gI/AAAAAAAAAY4/_jxLkHai0sI/s1600-h/July+15,+2009+067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368807345902771714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHV1gAK3gI/AAAAAAAAAY4/_jxLkHai0sI/s400/July+15,+2009+067.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Assateague Island National Seashore near Ocean City, Md</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">July 2009...A very nice beach day</span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHVrbbh6DI/AAAAAAAAAYw/6jKDzVgbbB0/s1600-h/July+15,+2009+059.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368807172876658738" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHVrbbh6DI/AAAAAAAAAYw/6jKDzVgbbB0/s400/July+15,+2009+059.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">So sorry that I have been MIA this summer.<br />It seems everytime I have a little time...</div><div align="center">I use it to read <em>OTHER PEOPLES</em> Blogs...<br />or do something else.<br />I have been reading, indulging in Crossword puzzles,<br />learning about Sudoku puzzles,<br />watching old movies with the munchkins...<br />getting <em>SOME</em> house cleaning and organizing done...<br />We have been having TONS of playdates<br />with friends and we have spent more time<br />at the beach this year than I have since<br />I was a teenager...<br />It is SO much more DIFFICULT with kids!!!<br />All that STUFF to lug...ugh.<br /><br />Blessedly, Lovey is a great beach Dad...<br />In OC he let me sit under the umbrella and read!<br />Just <em><span style="color:#cc0000;">LOVE</span></em> that Man!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368806152739731634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHUwDH7uLI/AAAAAAAAAYo/j-U6oWzztL4/s400/July+15,+2009+024.JPG" /></div>Ocean City Maryland...<br />Thanks to Lovey's Aunt for loaning us her house!<br />...I swam more that day than I have in <em>Years</em>...<br />took it really easy the next day : )<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368804695700858194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHTbPOy5VI/AAAAAAAAAYY/kWkIJwKWKJg/s400/July+4,+2009+020.JPG" /> Independence Day in our own back yard...</div><div align="center">Our home backs up to a school field, so we get our</div><div align="center">very own fireworks display!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368804685914818370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHTaqxnx0I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/DhrDOKt4zyo/s400/July+4,+2009+026.JPG" /> Lovey's Dad and Step Mom were visiting from Florida... <div align="center">and a good time was had by all!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368804677312842738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHTaKuwC_I/AAAAAAAAAYI/TwGTE9PEC4M/s400/July+2,+2009+035.JPG" /> Scooter catches a BIG fish!</div><div align="center">Tilly helps her to show off...that thing weighed a lot!</div><div align="center"><br />Snorkie still prefers to "cruise" the pool.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368804673537121954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SoHTZ8qjHqI/AAAAAAAAAYA/7xqyEu3EdLE/s400/July+1,+2009+041.JPG" /> </div><div align="center">And now, it is time to finish planning the upcoming school year.</div><div align="center">We have our curriculum in house, </div><div align="center">I'm reading and organizing materials,</div><div align="center">having a Moms Meeting for our Co-op tomorrow night...</div><div align="center">(Ya think I should be writing up the agenda?)</div><div align="center">In short, we are getting ready to start our school work.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I hope you all are enjoying the wonders of the end of summer :)</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-8126210295355453655?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-52893946945475820572009-07-23T09:58:00.003-04:002009-07-23T10:12:14.255-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SmhtbIc4itI/AAAAAAAAAX4/2WkahZ5hvgk/s1600-h/P4100049-a.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361655669277100754" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SmhtbIc4itI/AAAAAAAAAX4/2WkahZ5hvgk/s400/P4100049-a.JPG" /></a><span style="color:#993399;"> Isn't this the sweetest picture!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">It was taken when she was about four and a half.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">She'll be nine this November.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">She is still a very good snuggler</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">and very sensitive.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">I look at that face and just melt.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">She is my "pink" girl.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">Loves her American Girl Doll,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">playing "restaurant" with Snorkie,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">drawing and coloring,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">swimming in the pool and ocean, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">watching movies, and cats....</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">ALL CATS.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">She is loyal and has friends who are </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">very attached to her...I can see them</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">still hanging out when they are adults!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">Tilly starts third grade this fall.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">I'm very excited... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;">to see where the future takes her.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5289394694547582057?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-77621036330402015392009-07-19T20:24:00.003-04:002009-07-19T20:27:55.631-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Thanks to <strong><em>Dawn</em></strong>...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">My blog Finally has a little </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#003333;"><strong>Personality!!!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">What a great experience.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">Stop by her design studio </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">(see the sidebar)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">for some fabulous ideas</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;">and her help!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#003333;"></span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7762103633040201539?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-31112437625145250352009-07-18T16:34:00.004-04:002009-07-18T16:46:58.990-04:00<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This is the lovely gift that my </div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#990000;">DARLING HUSBAND</span></em></div><br /><div align="center">ordered for us to give to each other for </div><br /><div align="center">Mother's Day/ Father's Day...</div><br /><div align="center">He arrived two days before the </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus!</div><br /><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359902070715051586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SmIyiQvZ7kI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Bzh1PMP5h1s/s400/July+2,+2009+002.JPG" />Our neighbors already have </p><p align="center">a large statue of The Blessed Mother</p><p align="center">in their front entryway...</p><p align="center">We thought Jesus made a fine </p><p align="center">addition to the neighborhood!</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#996633;"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">I recently read and interesting question...</span><span style="font-size:78%;">If it is ever against the law in the United States</span></em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#996633;"><em><span style="font-size:78%;">be be a practicing Catholic...</span><span style="font-size:78%;">will there be enough evidence to <strong>convict</strong> YOU?</span></em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3111243762514525035?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-61475754301836164002009-06-17T10:17:00.003-04:002009-06-17T10:19:43.069-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sjj7GofcezI/AAAAAAAAAXc/xuNxZGElTkw/s1600-h/March+2009+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348300648869559090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sjj7GofcezI/AAAAAAAAAXc/xuNxZGElTkw/s400/March+2009+091.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc0000;">Yup, that's how he often goes to sleep.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Some would say I am "spoiling" him...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;">I think I'm spoiling me!<br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6147575430183616400?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-15816328378569188082009-06-12T18:12:00.005-04:002009-06-12T18:28:33.637-04:00<div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I <em>FINALLY</em> got to meet my best friend's new baby...</div><br /><div align="center">on May 31st (yeah, I know...I'm behind again!)</div><br /><div align="center">He is adorable!</div><br /><div align="center">Got a chance to hold him...</div><br /><div align="center">but best of all...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346567644453324114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLS8f88xVI/AAAAAAAAAWk/5LRpCM7ix2A/s400/May+2009+077.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">I managed to get him off to the Land of Nod!</div><br /><div align="center">We had a nice picnic and then wandered across the street ...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568153238064178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTaHUrzDI/AAAAAAAAAWs/0bGU5te1-js/s400/May+2009+080.JPG" border="0" />TO THE BEACH!!!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">My kids are such beach bums...but little did I expect them... </div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">TO GO IN THE WATER!!!<br /></span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTao-n7jI/AAAAAAAAAXE/E3efvexPJpU/s1600-h/May+2009+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568162272341554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTao-n7jI/AAAAAAAAAXE/E3efvexPJpU/s400/May+2009+091.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Thay had a blast...</div><br /><div align="center">Fishing....</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTaszSwWI/AAAAAAAAAW8/DGjdoSsFMjA/s1600-h/May+2009+084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568163298558306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTaszSwWI/AAAAAAAAAW8/DGjdoSsFMjA/s400/May+2009+084.JPG" border="0" /></a> Digging...</div><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTaZBxGeI/AAAAAAAAAW0/7ijf_Tw-urg/s1600-h/May+2009+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568157990558178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTaZBxGeI/AAAAAAAAAW0/7ijf_Tw-urg/s400/May+2009+082.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>for sand crabs...</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346570980896649394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLV-tLBsLI/AAAAAAAAAXU/c33HP1ysTR0/s400/May+2009+098.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>While we ladies just sat back and watched...</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346568168943321554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SjLTbB1HAdI/AAAAAAAAAXM/OcQ9-nk6NnE/s400/May+2009+085.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>(thank goodness for Lovey...</div><br /><div>He's the one who kept an eye on the munchkins!)<br /></div><br /><br /><div>NICE DAY....AHHHHHH.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-1581632837856918808?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-36499518399520257072009-06-01T20:19:00.007-04:002009-06-01T20:41:34.336-04:00<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I can't believe I have not posted for a MONTH!!!</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center">In that time, we had Tillie's First Holy Communion party...<br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342520026309342818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiRxqHWUNmI/AAAAAAAAAVs/VLp0eaEVCTE/s400/May+2009+118.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">to which she actually wore the dress and veil (sans shoes).</div><br /><br /><div align="center">We finished our Homeschool Co-op year...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342520373749665826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiRx-Vqi0CI/AAAAAAAAAV0/BpEHo-7Da88/s400/May+2009+007.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">and I was elected President for next year (ugh).<br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center">I offered to be one of the class "leaders" for </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Vacation Bible School this year.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">The girls got a four good riding lessons in...</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">We went to Chicagoland to attend my nephew's </div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342520990083031634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiRyiNr3olI/AAAAAAAAAWM/44q-L3cXr9w/s400/May+2009+060.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">High School Graduation...and</div><br /><div align="center"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342520985911072754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiRyh-JMl_I/AAAAAAAAAWE/LCiKHc1MJjM/s400/May+2009+058.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">And Eagle Scout Ceremony...</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342522706505138546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiR0GH2ygXI/AAAAAAAAAWc/KpmoP4lox0E/s400/May+2009+037.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#990000;">(these are the scouts)<br /></span></p></span><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342520977221393026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SiRyhdxamoI/AAAAAAAAAV8/yXAhqGd6bgs/s400/May+2009+046.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#990000;">(these are <em>FUTURE</em> Scouts)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center">We Drove. ('nuf said).</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Thank the Good Lord for DVD players in cars :)</div><br /><div align="center">It has been fun &amp; crazy...</div><br /><div align="center">Hopefully, I will be able to post more often this month...</div><br /><div align="center">HA...this month is even busier!</div><br /><div align="center">Yikes!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3649951839952025707?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-20680892847982495982009-05-01T12:14:00.004-04:002009-05-01T12:22:41.807-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SfshF2joaRI/AAAAAAAAAVk/88-3olx-sD8/s1600-h/February+2009+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330890968351140114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SfshF2joaRI/AAAAAAAAAVk/88-3olx-sD8/s400/February+2009+046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Tilly is my most sensitive child.</div><br />She frightens easily,<br /><br />takes offense readily...<br /><br />PANICS regularly.<br /><br />We decided to prepare her for her<br /><br />First Holy Communion<br /><br />this year anyway.<br /><br />She Wanted to receive Jesus<br /><br />she just worries...<br /><br />Well, today, May 1, 2009<br /><br />at the 7:15 am Mass,<br /><br />with NO fanfare or fancy dress...<br /><br />SHE DID IT!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />I am so absolutely proud of her.<br /><br />It was hard<br /><br />(maybe not as hard as the First Confession)<br /><br />but, she went through with it.<br /><br />I cried.<br /><br />She is so sweet,<br /><br />and now she has a better idea<br /><br />of how Sweet Our Lord is too.<br /><br />She plans to wear the fancy dress to Mass<br />on Sunday...our parish has a nice event<br />crowning the Blessed Mother<br />with all of the First Communicants in attendance.<br />We will have a party for her Sunday afternoon.<br />WHEW!!!<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2068089284798249598?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-77159395345470919922009-04-26T15:54:00.005-04:002009-04-26T16:23:29.622-04:00<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;">This Photo has nothing to do with this post, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">except that I love it...and especially those in it!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Scooter the shepherd, Tilly &amp; Snorkie the sheep!)</span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329092077316058466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SfS9AnPFrWI/AAAAAAAAAVc/WBzt8u-FuYI/s400/March+2009+088.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Today is my ONE YEAR </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">BLOG-A-VERSARY!</span></div><div align="center">This has been a really interesting year.</div><div align="center">I started out reading other blogs,</div><div align="center">then commenting, then felt compelled to start my own.</div><div align="center">I had great plans...SO many ideas, </div><div align="center">posts being composed in my head most hours of the day.</div><div align="center">It got crazy. </div><div align="center">I had a post idea that I still haven't written,</div><div align="center">that took over my waking and sleeping time...</div><div align="center">It was about Humility...</div><div align="center">I still can't write it...<em>Someday</em>, maybe.</div><div align="center">Our family has run the gammut </div><div align="center">from serious illness and injury...</div><div align="center">Happiness of conceiving, sadness of miscarrying...</div><div align="center">Finally losing MOST of the weight that I need to...</div><div align="center">the fun of Scooter becoming a really good reader &amp; Tilly </div><div align="center">Reading Dr Seuss to Snorkie on a regular basis.</div><div align="center">I have gotten some organizing done around here...</div><div align="center">but not nearly enough...</div><div align="center">I've spent HOURS reading other blogs</div><div align="center">that I don't even have on my blog roll because</div><div align="center">I have NO TIME to update the silly thing!</div><div align="center">I wanted to say deep and interesting things...</div><div align="center">about my life, my history, my Faith...</div><div align="center">and some funny ones, too...</div><div align="center">Mostly I seem to post about the kids...</div><div align="center">but that<em><strong> is</strong></em> good for the In-Laws out of state!</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">So all in all-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">it has been fun.</span></div><div align="center">I can't promise more posts,</div><div align="center">or more interesting thoughts,</div><div align="center">or even humor that doesn't come from Snorkie...</div><div align="center">But I <strong><em>do</em></strong> promise to keep trying.</div><div align="center">and I promise to get one of those "follow" buttons</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">on my blog one of these days!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">PAX CHRISTI<br /></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SfS8s1W1gaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/R9elt1diLO8/s1600-h/PPD0003.BMP"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7715939534547091992?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-24427638760955174472009-04-13T18:43:00.005-04:002009-04-13T18:59:30.490-04:00<div align="center"> We had a GLORIOUS Easter Mass...</div><div align="center">Entering the church to the organ and brass </div><div align="center">sounds of Beethoven's Ode to Joy...</div><div align="center">Beautiful vestments, our parish's lovely </div><div align="center">statue of the Risen Christ in it's honored position...</div><div align="center">I am not afraid to say that I had a hard time</div><div align="center">singing...I was so choked up...</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">His sacrifice</span></strong></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">For Me...</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, how wonderful is the Holy Mass!</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324310806554200850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAeBpvyxI/AAAAAAAAAVM/ygpM1Q8_bwo/s400/March+2009+095.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center">After Mass, we <em>HAD</em> to try to get our annual</div><div align="center">Easter Picture...</div><div align="center">We decided to close the dining room drapes</div><div align="center">for a backdrop...every other square inch of my walls</div><div align="center">has Stuff on it...that just does not work well </div><div align="center">behind a family photo...</div><div align="center">Of course on the first one (bottom)</div><div align="center">we didn't think to pull the shades down...oops)</div><div align="center">I think they came our fairly well...</div><div align="center">Somehow, </div><div align="center">I like the more candid one that hubby snapped</div><div align="center">without being in it...maybe it's because</div><div align="center">Snorkie was giving me a hug!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAd9lIXII/AAAAAAAAAVE/dXA8dM7PEJo/s1600-h/March+2009+094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324310805461097602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAd9lIXII/AAAAAAAAAVE/dXA8dM7PEJo/s400/March+2009+094.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAdtOzNSI/AAAAAAAAAU8/4i-TK3narCU/s1600-h/March+2009+093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324310801072469282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAdtOzNSI/AAAAAAAAAU8/4i-TK3narCU/s400/March+2009+093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAdRJM8gI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vrNt4ItDD_c/s1600-h/March+2009+092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324310793532797442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SePAdRJM8gI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vrNt4ItDD_c/s400/March+2009+092.JPG" border="0" /></a> Now, we get to CELEBRATE Easter</div><div>for 50 more days!!!</div><div>(Snorkie reminded me today that we <em>could</em> </div><div>buy donuts, since Lent is over!)<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Happy Easter Everyone!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>He Is Risen, Indeed!<br /></strong></span><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2442763876095517447?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-56235386395671548462009-04-04T11:13:00.010-04:002009-04-04T11:41:47.502-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sdd7Hud84aI/AAAAAAAAAUI/0exbSt7aX9I/s1600-h/11-Agony1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320856857424486818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sdd7Hud84aI/AAAAAAAAAUI/0exbSt7aX9I/s400/11-Agony1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Holy Week</span> is upon us...</div><div align="center">I have found myself in the position of having</div><div align="center">to abandon the fasting that I had planned </div><div align="center">and executed so far during Lent...</div><div align="center">for various reasons...</div><div align="center">SO,</div><div align="center">I've decided to take a <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">RADICAL</span></strong> step.</div><div align="center">I'm FASTING from</div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#663366;">BLOGGING</span></em></strong>.</div><div align="center">It may well be more difficult than</div><div align="center">giving up sweets, or coffee, or even limiting</div><div align="center">myself to "fasting bread".</div><div align="center">I know that I learn so much from so many</div><div align="center">of you wonderful bloggers out there, </div><div align="center">but I have to do it.</div><div align="center">I will catch up with you all...</div><div align="center">(my reader will be rediculously full)</div><div align="center">after Easter Sunday!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sdd6tvBd-MI/AAAAAAAAAUA/1NrutNLkdPI/s1600-h/11-Agony15.jpg"></a><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">PAX CHRISTI</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/Sdd5ucBu6hI/AAAAAAAAATo/LV4OrRcWVuI/s1600-h/11-Agony6.jpg"></a><br /><div><div><div> </div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5623538639567154846?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-4024840100201955132009-04-01T14:29:00.005-04:002009-04-01T14:33:25.433-04:00<div align="center">My Dad sent this to me a while ago...</div><div align="center">those of you who read my </div><div align="center"><strong>Very Short Fairy Tale</strong> post</div><div align="center">might enjoy reading this one, too!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">World's Shortest Fairy Tale...</span><br />Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl </div><div align="center">'Will you marry me?' </div><div align="center">The girl said, 'NO!' </div><div align="center">The guy lived happily ever after </div><div align="center">and rode motorcycles and went fishing</div><div align="center">and hunting and skiing </div><div align="center">and played golf a lot </div><div align="center">and drank beer and scotch </div><div align="center">and left the toilet seat up </div><div align="center"> and farted whenever he wanted! </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">THE END</span> <br /><br /><br /><br /> ____________________________________________________________<a href="http://offers.juno.com/TGL1142/?u=http://www.ftd.com/17007" target="_blank">Save $15 on Flowers and Gifts from FTD!Shop now at www.ftd.com/17007</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-402484010020195513?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-17332422461629025752009-03-28T07:53:00.003-04:002009-03-28T08:12:49.558-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Baby Patrick is improving by leaps and bounds</span>...</div><div align="center">His mom attributes his condition to all your prayers!</div><div align="center">Mom's doc discharged her on Thursday, knowing</div><div align="center">how much she needed to be with her baby.</div><div align="center">He was out of the incubator, but still on oxygen, </div><div align="center">plus many more issues...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Yesterday when his mom &amp; dad went to see him</div><div align="center">he was <span style="color:#ff0000;">NO LONGER on oxygen</span>,</div><div align="center">and they had removed </div><div align="center">the drainage line from his lungs!!!</div><div align="center">Mom held him for THREE HOURS!!!</div><div align="center">(She gave him up to Daddy for a little while.)</div><div align="center">He cooed and cuddled and just wrapped those</div><div align="center">two big adults around his tiny fingers!</div><div align="center">They even got to change diapers!!!</div><div align="center">It is so cute, how much the little things mean,</div><div align="center">when you are in such a challenging situation.</div><div align="center">Patrick Joseph is still on IV feeding...</div><div align="center">We are praying that all the doctors agree to let him</div><div align="center">have some of Mommy's milk...</div><div align="center">she has plenty of bottles full, but would be </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">OVER THE MOON</span></div><div align="center">if she had the chance to nurse him today!</div><div align="center">The biggest question going forward is the question</div><div align="center">of whether he has something called</div><div align="center">Hirschsprung Disease...</div><div align="center">It is a condition where the nerves that line the </div><div align="center">large intestine are not functional, or missing...</div><div align="center">This results in constipation, because the nerves are</div><div align="center">what "move things along" down there.</div><div align="center">It can involve a small or large length of bowel.</div><div align="center">They took a biopsy and are awaiting results...</div><div align="center">If it turns out to be Hirschsprung Disease,</div><div align="center">they will probably have to do surgery...</div><div align="center">In the meanwhile, the little guy decided to go </div><div align="center">and start pooping all on his own!</div><div align="center">We are praying for the least invasive </div><div align="center">and disruptive situation.</div><div align="center">Thank you for praying for this family</div><div align="center">and for Patrick Joseph especially.</div><div align="center">Please pray, as well for all the other babies in</div><div align="center">NICU...at this hospital and many others...</div><div align="center">It is heartbreaking to see such little babies</div><div align="center">having such difficulties.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Keep up the good work!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Pray, Pray, Pray!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-1733242246162902575?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-35050350460953054872009-03-26T06:52:00.002-04:002009-03-26T07:00:59.317-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SctgQ-t-MLI/AAAAAAAAATQ/vdHeynGkgG4/s1600-h/fig19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317449629870993586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SctgQ-t-MLI/AAAAAAAAATQ/vdHeynGkgG4/s400/fig19.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Please pray for my best friend Anita and her new baby </div><br /><div align="center">who are both having tremendous difficulties.</div><br /><div align="center">Baby Patrick was born by emergency c-section</div><br /><div align="center">due to increasing toxemia. </div><br /><div align="center">He is about four weeks early, though just shy of 6#s.</div><br /><div align="center">He is having breathing and possibly bowel problems.</div><br /><div align="center">The worst part may be that he was transfered to a</div><br /><div align="center">different hospital than the one that Anita is in.</div><br /><div align="center">Pray that both their conditions are resolved </div><br /><div align="center">Quickly and Completely,</div><br /><div align="center">and that they are reunited very soon.</div><br /><div align="center">(she has only gotten to hold him for a </div><br /><div align="center">few minutes before thay transfered him).</div><br /><div align="center">Please add their names to any prayer lists you can.</div><br /><div align="center">This is her only child and she is beyond worried.</div><br /><div align="center">Thank you all &amp; God Bless</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3505035046095305487?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-76744087437841679572009-03-22T09:48:00.002-04:002009-03-22T09:53:06.063-04:00<div align="center">The post below is a Litany that I try to pray often.</div><div align="center">It reminds me not to put ME and MY FEELINGS </div><div align="center">at the center of my life.</div><div align="center">God wants me to take care of myself, surely,</div><div align="center">but not to the exclusion of others.</div><div align="center">Am I good at it? not so much...</div><div align="center">But I <strong><em>am</em></strong> trying to submit myself to </div><div align="center">God's Holy Will...meekly and humbly...</div><div align="center">I'm trying...</div><div align="center">Blessing to all !</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7674408743784167957?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-91452121765003083442009-03-22T09:19:00.004-04:002009-03-22T09:48:18.479-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#663366;">Litany of Humility</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(for private devotion only)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Which His Eminence Cardinal Merry del Val, was </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">accustomed to recite after the celebration of Holy Mass.</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, hear me.</div><div align="center">From the desire of being esteemed,<span style="color:#663366;"> <em>Deliver me, Jesus.</em></span></div><div align="center">From the desire of being loved, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span>.</em></div><div align="center">From the desire of being extolled, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span></em>.</div><div align="center">From the desire of being honored, <span style="color:#663366;"><em>Deliver me, Jesus</em>.</span></div><div align="center">Form the desire of being praised, <span style="color:#663366;"><em>Deliver me, Jesus</em>.</span></div><div align="center">From the desire of being preferred, <span style="color:#663366;"><em>Deliver me, Jesus</em>.</span></div><div align="center">From the desire of being consulted, <em>Deliver me, Jesus</em>.</div><div align="center">From the desire of being approved, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span></em>.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">From the fear of being humiliated, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span>.</em></div><div align="center">From the fear of being despised, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus.</span></em></div><div align="center">From the fear of suffering rebukes, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span></em>.</div><div align="center">From the fear of being calumniated,<span style="color:#663366;"> <em>Deliver me, Jesus</em></span>.</div><div align="center">From the fear of being forgotten, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span></em>.</div><div align="center">From the fear of being ridiculed,<span style="color:#663366;"> <em>Deliver me, Jesus</em></span>.</div><div align="center">From the fear of being wronged, <em><span style="color:#663366;">Deliver me, Jesus</span></em>.</div><div align="center">From the fear of being suspected,<em> <span style="color:#663366;">Deliver Me, Jesus</span></em><span style="color:#663366;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">That others may be loved more than I,</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"><em>Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it</em>.</span></div><div align="center">That others may be esteemed more than I,</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.</span></em></div><div align="center">That in the opinion of the world, </div><div align="center">others may increase, and I may decrease,</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.</span></em></div><div align="center">That others will be chosen and I set aside,</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;"><em>Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it</em>.</span></div><div align="center">That others may be praised and I unnoticed,</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.</span></em></div><div align="center">That others may be preferred to me in everything,</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.</span></em></div><div align="center">That others become holier than I, provided that </div><div align="center">I may become as holy as I should,</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;">Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#663366;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Imprimatur: +James A Mc Nulty, Bishop of Patterson, NJ.</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></em> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-9145212176500308344?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-59468216708997850362009-02-18T20:23:00.010-05:002009-02-18T21:13:02.738-05:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Snorkie</span></strong> turned <strong>FOUR </strong>on February 7th</div><div align="center">and <strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Scooter</span></strong> turned <strong>TEN</strong> on February 16th</div><div align="center">We generally have a joint "family" party for them...</div><div align="center">I still do two cakes, though!</div><div align="center">This year's cakes are some of my very favorites.</div><div align="center">Someday I'll do a strictly <em><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">CAKE</span></strong></em> blog post....</div><div align="center">this is where I get to be creative!</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy14YTmpsI/AAAAAAAAARo/zpVokH_d_CU/s1600-h/February+2009+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304314441337579202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy14YTmpsI/AAAAAAAAARo/zpVokH_d_CU/s400/February+2009+007.JPG" border="0" /></a> I offered Snorkie a Pirate's treasure chest...</div><div align="center">this is what HE decided on...</div><div align="center">He was adamant that there be beach and ocean.</div><div align="center">That treasure chest was molded </div><div align="center">from about three pound of chocolate!</div><div align="center">The sand is made from crushed Graham crackers...</div><div align="center">Even his cake choice was different...</div><div align="center">He picked orange cake and strawberry cake-</div><div align="center">I LOVED the orange cake...</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(We are trying to finish it off before Lent begins next week) </span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><div align="center"><br /></div></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1zesGI5I/AAAAAAAAARg/wjT1x-lKkbI/s1600-h/February+2009+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304314357151572882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1zesGI5I/AAAAAAAAARg/wjT1x-lKkbI/s400/February+2009+009.JPG" border="0" /></a> Scooter continues her life as "Kit Kitteridge"...</div><div align="center">This cake was a breeze...it is two layers of BROWNIE</div><div align="center">stacked up and iced...with fondant and chocolate for the cover.</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">YUM</span></div><div align="center">This one set me back a little...who can resist brownies?</div><div align="center">Oh and the binoculars are not solid chocolate...</div><div align="center">but they took about 1.5 pounds to mold!<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1eUUHUvI/AAAAAAAAARQ/q0xE-7s5FEs/s1600-h/February+2009+016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304313993589379826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1eUUHUvI/AAAAAAAAARQ/q0xE-7s5FEs/s400/February+2009+016.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of Snorkies Favorite gifts! </div><div>He put his "ord on the ouch"...we figure there</div><div>will be a few "ouches" with this one...</div><div>but as you can see...the gifts from his God Parents</div><div>made quite an impression on him!</div><div> </div><div>He felt kind-of lousy by the end of the party...</div><div>this is what he chose to curl up and "nuggle" with!</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304314150974485666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1nenpdKI/AAAAAAAAARY/eAP9IjVVung/s400/February+2009+019.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Scooter's Kit Kitteridge</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Mystery Party...</span></strong></div><br /><div>She had all her "best" friends over</div><div>for crafts, mystery solving, and food.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304321095597921698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy77tW5laI/AAAAAAAAARw/6AH0Cf8yEf8/s400/February+2009+029.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>We are still in the mode </div><div>of finding all sorts of "vintage-y" things...</div><div>Aren't those plates and cups cute???<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1VA2KDiI/AAAAAAAAARI/WvGJwms1E9o/s1600-h/February+2009+031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304313833744633378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1VA2KDiI/AAAAAAAAARI/WvGJwms1E9o/s400/February+2009+031.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong>Here's.........</strong></em></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Kit Kitteridge...girl reporter!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This is "Kit" pretending to type a story...</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">on her <strong><em>CAKE!</em></strong></span><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1JfR6upI/AAAAAAAAARA/WF6hy0mDa_0/s1600-h/February+2009+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304313635755702930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SZy1JfR6upI/AAAAAAAAARA/WF6hy0mDa_0/s400/February+2009+024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />OKAY...this is now my very favorite "art cake"</div><div>Yes, I reused the "pencil" (fondant)</div><div>and "binoculars" (chocolate) from the other party...</div><div>Why reinvent if you don't need to?</div><div>The surface under the Typewriter is just a cake board</div><div>iced to look like Kit's desk top.</div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">(I think my favorite part is the fruit roll-up typewriter ribbon)<br /></span><br /><br /><br />I think my children enjoy trying to stump me </div><div>when they choose their birthday themes!</div><div> </div><div> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5946821670899785036?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-33481581174256397132009-01-28T12:38:00.010-05:002009-01-28T13:22:05.102-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCeIL--4VI/AAAAAAAAAQY/PWxXuw5S8v0/s1600-h/January+2009+047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296407025280803154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCeIL--4VI/AAAAAAAAAQY/PWxXuw5S8v0/s400/January+2009+047.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;">Here they are!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><div align="center">My darling girls and the</div><div align="center">American Girl Dolls that Santa brought.</div><div align="center">Scooter now goes by "Kit"</div><div align="center">and Tilly will answer to "Mia"!</div><br /><div align="center">Mommy was busy in December </div><div align="center">making sure that "the Girls"</div><div align="center">all had enough matching outfits!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCY7m04FUI/AAAAAAAAAQI/cALr4PuYY1Y/s1600-h/January+2009+048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296401311589733698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCY7m04FUI/AAAAAAAAAQI/cALr4PuYY1Y/s400/January+2009+048.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here they are in the outfits that match the ones that</div><div align="center">the dolls came wearing...They were part of the package</div><div align="center">each girl got from Daddy and Mommy on Christmas.</div><br /><div align="center">Actually, Scooter has been wearing the hat... </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>everywhere...</em></span></div><div align="center">since July!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCYqgrLOXI/AAAAAAAAAQA/Js1-FUpObXc/s1600-h/Jan+2009+030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296401017880656242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCYqgrLOXI/AAAAAAAAAQA/Js1-FUpObXc/s400/Jan+2009+030.JPG" border="0" /></a>Snorkie is bummed that they don't make </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em>American Boy</em></strong> Dolls...</span></div><div align="center">He wants a "Sterling" doll...That is the little boy in the </div><div align="center">Kit Kitteridge movie ...(which Scooter also got from Santa).</div><div align="center">I have to say, <em>I think he is right.</em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">These are photos taken yesterday,</div><div align="center">of the girls and their dolls in their Skating Outfits....</div><div align="center">Mia was last year's Doll of the Year.</div><div align="center">She is and Figure Skater, and also plays Hockey.</div><div align="center">Tilly is wearing her matching hockey jersey that</div><div align="center">we fashioned using an adult small sweat shirt</div><div align="center">and fabric markers... Tilly did some of the coloring herself.<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296400844134254418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SYCYgZazh1I/AAAAAAAAAP4/1w_WzNihKvA/s400/Jan+2009+031.JPG" border="0" />We went down to Yardley, Borough, </div><div align="center">where we used to live, to skate on the "Lake".</div><div align="center">Last week, I broke down and bought skates for all of us...</div><div align="center">except Snorkie's...I got those from "Freecycle"!</div><div align="center">The girl's skates are made by RollerBlade...</div><div align="center">They adjust to three sizes!m WooHoo!</div><div align="center">Mine were on sale, and I don't think my feet will</div><div align="center">be getting too much bigger...</div><div align="center">It feels good to get out there, but I must say,</div><div align="center">Skating Rink ice is a whole lot easier to navigate! </div><div align="center">In all honesty, I fell backwards yesterday...</div><div align="center">and I'm still nursing a "goose egg" on my head...</div><div align="center">The worst part is, I wasn't even <em>Moving</em> at the time!</div><div align="center">The girls throw themselves around with abandon...</div><div align="center">I'm glad they are much more daring than I was</div><div align="center">when I was that age...</div><div align="center">'course, I got more daring as I got older,</div><div align="center">and that isn't so bad either!<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3348158117425639713?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-50648108669630778162009-01-12T17:38:00.005-05:002009-01-12T17:51:50.341-05:00<div align="center">It was well past the twelfth Day of Christmas </div><div align="center">before Elizabeth had time to add a new post </div><div align="center">to the poor neglected "Blog Baby"...</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SWvGxthOEHI/AAAAAAAAAOA/up63HSZqMDk/s1600-h/P1010928.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290540744611598450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SWvGxthOEHI/AAAAAAAAAOA/up63HSZqMDk/s400/P1010928.JPG" border="0" /></a> We took this photo just after we walked in from <div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Christmas Mass</span></strong>.</div><div align="center">What a lovely day.</div><div align="center">Santa brought the girls the American Girl dolls </div><div align="center">that they wanted SOOOOOOO much, </div><div align="center">and Snorkie got a Remote Controlled WALL-e.</div><div align="center">We played some and had </div><div align="center">hot fresh cinnamon buns before Mass. </div><div align="center">Then we opened presents from Mom &amp; Dad,</div><div align="center">and each other after we got home...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I really enjoyed letting <em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">JESUS</span></strong></em> take First Place</div><div align="center">on Christmas Morning!</div><div align="center">We visited Lovey's Mom and Step-Dad,</div><div align="center">Sister, Brother-in- Law, and nephews </div><div align="center">in the late afternoon.... </div><div align="center">after we made our own Pizzas and calzones!</div><div align="center">YUM.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I hope to be able to carve out </div><div align="center">some <em>"blog time"</em> in the near future...</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">God Bless you all &amp; Happy New Year!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5064810866963077816?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-21715421686466873552008-12-08T19:30:00.008-05:002008-12-08T20:36:41.571-05:00<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277585349222915698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2_6cw83nI/AAAAAAAAANg/EPOjnsNt8kE/s400/Santa+2008+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">November 30, 2008<br /><br />Happy Eighth Birthday to my Darling Tilly McGillicudhy,<br /><br />Such a sweet little baby and a lovely little girl!</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#663300;">"Gingerbread" Birthday Party #1...</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663300;">(held on November 22, 2008 to avoid the Holiday weekend)</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277585358244813970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2_6-X8HJI/AAAAAAAAANo/q1wSrMwnwts/s400/Santa+2008+036.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center">Tillie is a true original...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277582910392423986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST29sfac1jI/AAAAAAAAAMY/hyYU_EbWXAs/s400/Santa+2008+037.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">always thinking of some unusual way to celebrate!</div><div align="center">She decided to have a Gingerbread theme this year...</div><div align="center">at least her birthday is near the holidays</div><div align="center">&amp; gingerbread "stuff" isn't too hard to find!<br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277584197965545362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2-3b_zf5I/AAAAAAAAANY/17pK8b7lFnk/s400/Santa+2008+029.JPG" border="0" /> Happy girl with a cute and yummy house!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277584170164517506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2-10bheoI/AAAAAAAAAM4/Y-nI05VehTg/s400/Santa+2008+033.JPG" border="0" /> </p><div align="center">"Best Bud"<br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277582933427193538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST29t1OXhsI/AAAAAAAAAMw/4N4ZubJD6vI/s400/Santa+2008+027.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em><strong>Sweeeet......</strong></em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277588020102812658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST3CV6kV0_I/AAAAAAAAAN4/-zjuJsgR2EM/s400/Santa+2008+026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277582930711610898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST29trG7BhI/AAAAAAAAAMo/NS1IIWZehR0/s400/Santa+2008+025.JPG" border="0" />PEZ Windows, neat!</div><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277582926342377122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST29ta1NzqI/AAAAAAAAAMg/-rwLAbb64QY/s400/Santa+2008+032.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">The gingerbread "girl" is Mary Poppins...Burt is on the roof!</p><p align="center">Scooter had a blast with this!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277588017064265554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST3CVvP5R1I/AAAAAAAAANw/oxsnEkaQHZE/s400/Santa+2008+028.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277584181830849186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2-2f4_kqI/AAAAAAAAANA/3PZII_bHGyw/s400/Santa+2008+034.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277584183616146498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2-2mipDEI/AAAAAAAAANI/NhksYvGNsqg/s400/Santa+2008+035.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277584187250305250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/ST2-20FF6OI/AAAAAAAAANQ/lpT5jgBRJKY/s400/Santa+2008+030.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p>They all had a great time....</div><div align="center">and didn't even eat all the left-over candy : )</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I have to say it was pretty tasty, too!<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2171542168646687355?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-79788762485750351482008-10-23T20:56:00.005-04:002008-10-23T21:24:11.120-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SQEdbLoE2aI/AAAAAAAAAKM/4_ImDLTZ7e8/s1600-h/P1010182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260518192560003490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SQEdbLoE2aI/AAAAAAAAAKM/4_ImDLTZ7e8/s400/P1010182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">My darling Snorkie is quite a chatter-box these days...</div><div align="center">in his OWN way, of course!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">-------------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div align="center">Noticing a stinkie "behind", </div><div align="center">Lovey asked him the other night when he was going </div><div align="center">to use the potty instead of his diaper...</div><div align="center">He turned to his dad and replied:</div><div align="center">"Not Tonight!"...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">-----------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div><div align="center"><div align="center">Snorkie discovered the joy of Bingo on our vacation...</div><div align="center">He regularly informs me in the morning:</div><div align="center">"This is a good day for Bingo!"...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">-----------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div><div align="center">At around noon everyday he gets upset </div><div align="center">if we haven't had "Narnsch"...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">---------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Lately, his favorite expression is "O my, gosh"...</div><div align="center">only it comes out as "O me darsh"...</div><div align="center">with something of the Irish about it : )</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">-----------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Scooter has a book that shows the insides of a </div><div align="center">Bengal Tiger in layered pages, </div><div align="center">and Snorkie is fascinated by it...</div><div align="center">Asking about the "stuff" inside, daddy told him</div><div align="center">that they were the tigers organs...</div><div align="center">"Oh, Morgans...I see", he says...</div><div align="center">He refuses to say it any other way...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">-----------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Usually, if I look sweetly at him and say:</div><div align="center">"I Love you so much, Snorkie",</div><div align="center">He will look back and say:</div><div align="center">"I wuv You too, mommy"...</div><div align="center">One night while taking a bath, I inhaled deeply</div><div align="center">and he said: "I wuv You too!"...</div><div align="center">I wasn't even going to say it, but I loved it anyway!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">--------------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The next morning, Snorkie heard me leave my room,</div><div align="center">He called, "you can come in mommy"... ugh.</div><div align="center">I went in, snuggled a little and rubbed his little back.</div><div align="center">Looking sweetly at him, I said, </div><div align="center">"I Love you Soooooo much, snorkie."</div><div align="center">Looking deeply into my eyes,</div><div align="center">with his cutest morning voice, </div><div align="center">he replied: "<em>I love</em>............</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#990000;"><em>TO</em></span> </span><em>PICK MY NOSE.</em></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Ok, I almost fell off the bed with that one...</div><div align="center">the kid just cracks me up!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">------------------------------------</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Happy day everyone &amp; God Bless!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7978876248575035148?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-398127656790420092008-10-16T16:08:00.003-04:002008-10-16T16:29:44.544-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPefhOzK8uI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PGompv4FWzU/s1600-h/P1010082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257846483235566306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPefhOzK8uI/AAAAAAAAAKE/PGompv4FWzU/s400/P1010082.JPG" border="0" /></a> This Photo of Seeker Man, Scooter, Tilly &amp; Snorkie</div><div align="center">was taken on Thanksgiving Day 2006.</div><div align="center">I love to see the way the little ones</div><div align="center">have so much love and enthusiasm for</div><div align="center">their big brother.</div><div align="center">They have all been very excited about the</div><div align="center">prospect of a new baby brother or sister.</div><div align="center">Unfortunately, </div><div align="center">that won't be as soon as we had hoped.</div><div align="center">Our new baby was not meant to join us </div><div align="center">here in this life,</div><div align="center">we look forward to meeting her someday...</div><div align="center">along with our other baby girl that we </div><div align="center">lost to miscarriage about six years ago.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I am doing alright physically...</div><div align="center">emotionally is a little tough.</div><div align="center">But I look up at those smiling faces </div><div align="center">in that photograph at the top of the post,</div><div align="center">and just <em><strong>CAN'T</strong></em> feel sorry for myself.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>God's Plan ALWAYS trumps My Plan,</strong></span></div><div align="center">and He has been SO Gracious to me that I can </div><div align="center">only hand myself over to Him to do His Will.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The kids are doing OK, but we are all sad.</div><div align="center">We look forward with the hope that</div><div align="center">we will go on to have another baby </div><div align="center">(or babies?)</div><div align="center">if God wishes us do do so.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Pray for Us, Please.</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-39812765679042009?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-7722484667885462752008-10-13T12:48:00.009-04:002008-10-14T09:06:12.663-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPN8OthK6uI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bZia9VrQcmc/s1600-h/et2-wed3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256681782250236642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPN8OthK6uI/AAAAAAAAAJs/bZia9VrQcmc/s400/et2-wed3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">Saturday, October 12, 1996</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">The day my dreams came true!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, Lovey and I were married on </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Columbus Day...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and it has truely been a </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Voyage of Discovery!</span></strong> </span></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We met in August of 1995</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">when I was teaching a summer art program</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">that his son was attending.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He was the first one there and the last to leave.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It took us about an hour and a half to finally</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">leave that Friday when the class ended...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He DID ask for my number!!!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was on cloud nine.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We went out to dinner shortly thereafter...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">(The Chinese Place we went to is Still our</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">favorite restaurant...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">we go there every </span><span style="font-size:130%;">New Years Eve)...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We became nearly inseparable.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I met his family in early November,</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He met mine the next week at an early </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanksgiving celebration...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He proposed on Thanksgiving Weekend...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Got down on one knee and everything!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">What a guy!</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I knew he was the man for me </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">because we spent so much time </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">talking about our Faith...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">God has Always been at the Center</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">of our relationship.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He is sweet, kind, helpful, romantic...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>AND</em> a Great Daddy...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It doesn't get any better than that.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Four years after we were married, </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lovey entered the Roman Catholic Church.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He is dedicated and strong...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and he is my </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>Knight</strong> </span></em><span style="color:#990000;"><em>(of Columbus) </em></span><span style="color:#990000;"><em><strong>in Shining Armor!</strong></em></span><br /></span></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256682639556475826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPN9AnO5-7I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/eGP-yfBnhH4/s400/et2-wed4.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">I smiled so much that day...that when I woke up in the morning</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">my cheeks and neck were sore!...Can you tell???</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Today, I'm a bit heavier...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and his hair is a bit grey-er...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">But I love him more today than I did</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">the day we were married...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and I didn't realize back then </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">That it was even Possible!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256687719060611810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SPOBoR3EIuI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/YvgI8kntKE4/s400/et2-wed1.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">PS. I didn't get this post up yesterday,</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">because we were walking in the </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Philadelphia Columbus Day Parade.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We handed out Hundreds of Rosary Beads</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">and accompanied a beautiful statue of </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Blessed Virgin Mary.</span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">What a Day!</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></p><p align="center"></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-772248466788546275?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-71247994895580910332008-10-02T17:19:00.005-04:002008-10-02T18:23:27.734-04:00<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We've been home for almost a week </div><div align="center">from our first REAL family vacation in five years, </div><div align="center">And I'm just getting around to posting about it!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Friday, September 19th we loaded up and </div><div align="center">headed south to </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Chincoteague Virginia</span></strong>.</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Lovey works for an Architechtural Engineering firm</div><div align="center">that designed the Education Center on the</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Assateague Island National Wildlife Refuge</span>.</strong></div><div align="center">He actually did the fire alarm, security and</div><div align="center">power distribtion work, </div><div align="center">so we </div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Oooh'd and Ahhh'd</span></strong></em> </div><div align="center">over all the cool stuff</div><div align="center">that was mounted on the walls...</div><div align="center">that NO ONE else ever notices...</div><div align="center"><em>UNLESS</em> there is an Emergency, of course.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The Education Center is designed with </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>ALL</strong></span> <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>GREEN TECHNOLOGY</strong></span></span>, </div><div align="center">so it is pretty cool.</div><div align="center">The displays were awesome, too.</div><div align="center">Very Interactive.</div><div align="center">I liked the one where they told us how important </div><div align="center">Tidal Areas are both for </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Providing Shelfish</span></em>,</div><div align="center">and also cleaning<span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>impurities</strong></span> out of the water</div><div align="center">by being </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">FILTERED THROUGH THE SHELLFISH!!!</span></strong></div><div align="center">Not sure if the meant people to notice that little problem.</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">On the Island:</span></strong></div><div align="center">we saw the "Wild Ponies" of Assateague,</div><div align="center">drove on the beach, watched the wild surf,</div><div align="center">learned about sea creatures on display...</div><div align="center">those that were alive and not so much, </div><div align="center">hiked out to the "Pony Viewing Area",</div><div align="center">saw special boxes built as "squirrel house" for</div><div align="center">the endangered squirrels that live on the island,</div><div align="center">and took lots of photos of the birds of the island...</div><div align="center">none of which I can access right now : ( </div><div align="center">We also took a ride up to the beach after dinner</div><div align="center">and allowed the children to get out and see</div><div align="center">How Many <span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong>STARS</strong></em> </span></span>you can see on a clear night</div><div align="center">with <em><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;">NO</span></strong></em> light pollution.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Saturday, we noticed that our hotel had a cute pony </div><div align="center">in the "back yard".</div><div align="center">Snorkie kept showing Daddy the "Wild Pony"</div><div align="center">...He just didn't get it! </div><div align="center"> (we got it on tape though!)</div><div align="center">We hiked to the Light House, </div><div align="center">drove back to the beach,</div><div align="center">let the girls have a pony ride on ponies </div><div align="center">that were"veterans" of the yearly </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#330099;">"Pony Swim"</span></div><div align="center">(I'm bad at linking...but look it up, it's worth it).</div><div align="center">We packed up and headed <span style="color:#6600cc;">FURTHER SOUTH</span></div><div align="center">to <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Myrtle Beach, South Carolina</strong></span>.</span></div><div align="center"><em>Wonderful friends</em> of ours have a condo down there, </div><div align="center">and they let us "borrow" it for a week!</div><div align="center">We "hung out", went to the Ripley's Aquarium,</div><div align="center">"Mini Golfed" with Giant Dinosaurs,</div><div align="center">Played at the beach for two days...</div><div align="center">collecting shells and digging big holes,</div><div align="center">Watched movies, played "Clue"</div><div align="center">and discovered that Snorkie LOVES to </div><div align="center">"draw numbers" for BINGO using the "tumbler".</div><div align="center">He even likes to match up the numbers </div><div align="center">with the board used to </div><div align="center">keep track of the numbers already called!</div><div align="center">We also attended: </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#006600;">Dolly Parton's</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>DIXIE STAMPEDE!!!</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#330099;">It was really silly and really fun and we had </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#330099;">food left over for <strong>DAYS</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We came home again in one straight shot on </div><div align="center">Friday the 26th...getting home around 9:30pm.</div><div align="center"><strong>WHEW!!!!!</strong></div><div align="center">Luckily, there is a washer &amp; dryer in the condo,</div><div align="center">so I didn't have to come home with </div><div align="center">suitcases filled with dirty clothes!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We had a <strong><em>Grand</em></strong> time, </div><div align="center">and I am <strong><em>SO</em></strong> glad to be back in my </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">OWN BED!!!</span></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7124799489558091033?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-56263454467274894432008-09-09T15:53:00.003-04:002008-09-09T16:09:06.652-04:00<div align="center">Well, I have been amazingly busy these last few weeks.</div><div align="center"> I didn't even get a Vintage Thingie post up last week...</div><div align="center">The fact that I lost access to all my photos getting </div><div align="center">a new computer had something to do with that...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Oh, Well.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Anyway,</div><div align="center">Last Friday we got some GREAT News...</div><div align="center">There will be a new member of our family</div><div align="center">next spring...May, I think...</div><div align="center">I have an OB appointment on the 17th.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">My husband is Very Happy</div><div align="center">My children are THRILLED.</div><div align="center">Scooter informed me that she has been </div><div align="center">praying <strong>7 Hail Marys <em>in Latin</em></strong></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Every Morning</strong></em>...for a new baby.</div><div align="center">Snorkie wants a boy baby...</div><div align="center">The girls want TWINS...</div><div align="center">Considering the efficacy of children's prayers,</div><div align="center">perhaps I should be prepared!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">OK, now for the bad news...</div><div align="center">I'm BEAT, drag-out tired by the afternoons.</div><div align="center">NOT good news for the Blog.</div><div align="center">It's a little like the way that your</div><div align="center">"pet babies" suffer somewhat when the </div><div align="center">"Real" babies come along.</div><div align="center">Poor "Blog-Baby" will be a little</div><div align="center"><em>Neglected</em>...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Well, I'm going to TRY to keep posting </div><div align="center">at least once a week...hopefully more.</div><div align="center">I have so many good tales to tell</div><div align="center">Of meeting and marrying,</div><div align="center">school and babies,</div><div align="center">floods and homelessness...</div><div align="center">Oh, My.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Blessings All!</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5626345446727489443?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-37656840157376195512008-08-28T14:50:00.009-04:002008-08-29T10:18:42.408-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><a href="http://anapronaday.blogspot.com/"><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2346836816_8e2d27fb1c_m.jpg" /></center></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#336666;">Original "Fire King" Jade-Ware Bowls !</span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239643203268048530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SLbzu4iU9pI/AAAAAAAAAJk/z9_m9hb1anM/s400/P1010474.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">I don't know when my mother got these bowls, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">or if she originally had the whole set...<br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">(including 2-3 larger and one smaller bowl</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">that I have seen in antique stores.)</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">All I know is that these bowls were around </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">for my entire childhood memory!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">I was blessed enough to inherit them,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">and I use them all the time.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">My best friend found the new "Fire King" Jade-Ware</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">that Anchor Hocking started making in 2000, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">and she graciously bought me</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;"><em>EVERY</em> piece that she could find!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">It's hard to see, but my Kitchen walls </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">are a very close match to this green.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#003333;">Everything tastes better served out of these bowls.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3765684015737619551?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-34947685852444886902008-08-27T17:11:00.001-04:002008-08-27T17:14:28.814-04:00<div align="center"><strong> <span style="font-size:180%;">Wonderful Wordless Wednesday</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><br /> </div></strong><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239308454983154098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SLXDR9_4ubI/AAAAAAAAAJc/lrikI5ImuS8/s400/P4050384.JPG" border="0" /></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3494768585244488690?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-30640417826404919602008-08-25T14:00:00.003-04:002008-08-25T14:29:42.930-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SLL0ToD3OAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/SW8cO7sPWaU/s1600-h/P4140392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238517934593619970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SLL0ToD3OAI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/SW8cO7sPWaU/s400/P4140392.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:180%;">Seeker-Man turned 25 yesterday!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are so blessed to have him living with us again.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Scooter and Tilly remember having him at home,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">but Snorkie never had his big brother </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">around </span><span style="font-size:130%;">all the time, until now.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">The "little kids" are having a grand time</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">flying kites, playing "Goodminton",</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Playing games, playing with Play-Doh,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and watching old movies</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">with "the big guy".</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">They love showing him all their Favorite</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Classic Musicals and TV shows</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">(We've watched the ENTIRE first seasons</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">of both Little House on the Prairie and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">MacGuyver over this Summer.)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I get a big helping hand, because I can </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">run out of the house</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>BY MYSELF </em></span><span style="font-size:130%;">on occasion</span><span style="font-size:130%;">!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Woo Hoo!</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>-------------------------------------</strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">He will be starting back to school full time</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">this week and will be studying</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Web Design...Think I could get him</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">to help me with this Blog???</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">---------------------------------------</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lovey and I celebrated our </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">thirteenth anniversary of the week we met</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">on the 9th of August...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We met <em><strong>BECAUSE</strong></em> "Seeker-Boy" was </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">a student at a Summer Art Camp</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">that I was teaching am &amp; pm classes.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">So, I met Seeker Man 13 years ago too!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I got to spend a good deal of time with </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">That sweet, talented, silly seeker-boy</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">way back then...What fun to get to </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">spend time with him again, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">so many years later.</span></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">God Bless You Seeker-Man!</span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3064041782640491960?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-72428072293327361102008-08-21T13:46:00.004-04:002008-08-21T14:20:46.485-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong></strong></em></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong><a href="http://anapronaday.blogspot.com"> <center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2346836816_8e2d27fb1c_m.jpg" /></center></a> </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><strong>Crystal Arcade</strong></em></span></div><div align="center">wall mounted coffee grinder</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SK2qS8N619I/AAAAAAAAAJA/SUJf0XDI6sA/s1600-h/P1010453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237029184080631762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SK2qS8N619I/AAAAAAAAAJA/SUJf0XDI6sA/s400/P1010453.JPG" border="0" /></a> This coffee grinder may not be my </div><div align="center"><strong><em>absolute favorite</em></strong></div><div align="center">vintage thingie,</div><div align="center">but it is the most USED vintage item in my house!</div><div align="center">I use this grinder nearly every day.</div><div align="center">I keep 8 o'clock decaf coffee beans in it.</div><div align="center">I have it mounted to my kitchen wall </div><div align="center">and very few people can resist giving it a "spin"...</div><div align="center">especially small children!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It has <em><strong>"Crystal"</strong></em> on the pressed glass bean canister</div><div align="center">and <em><strong>"Arcade"</strong></em> on the cast iron grinder section.</div><div align="center">If you adjust the tightness of the wingnut</div><div align="center">on the grinder handle, you can </div><div align="center">control the size of the ground coffee.</div><div align="center">There was no container for catching the </div><div align="center">ground coffee when I got it,</div><div align="center">so I bought this cute little jar at a </div><div align="center">local craft store and it fits perfectly!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I know nothing about this wonderful item,</div><div align="center">except that it belonged to a friend's Grandfather.</div><div align="center">She passed it on to me </div><div align="center">when she downsized several years ago.</div><div align="center">Her children weren't interested.</div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">I LOVE IT!</span></em></strong></div><p><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#336666;">This is my first Vintage Thingie post...</span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#336666;">I hope you enjoyed the visit!</span></p><div align="center"><br /></div></span></em></strong><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7242807229332736110?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-31083371111135395232008-08-12T17:27:00.005-04:002008-08-12T17:42:37.416-04:00<div align="center">This was sent to me by a homeschooling friend of mine</div><div align="center">I couldn't resist posting it...</div><div align="center">Just TRY to read it without singing along! </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>I Will Survive</strong></span> </span></div><div align="center">(the first year homeschooling)</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">First I was afraid </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was petrified. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kept thinking I could never teach </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">'Cause I'm not certified. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">But we spent so many nights </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Reteaching homework that was wrong. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I grew strong, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"> so now I teach my kids at home! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We study math- </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and outer space. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I just kept on despite the fear </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">with a big smile across my face.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"> I bought a set of Base Ten blocks. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I bought books with answer keys. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">My parents think we're nuts,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"> but they don't even bother me </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Come on, let's go walk out the door. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">We're on the road now, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">'cause we're not home much anymore </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">My friends would laugh and say </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">we'd be unsocialized. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I heard one mumble </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">that I'd give up by July. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh no, not I!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I will survive! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">As long as I know how to read</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I know we'll be alright. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I've got all my life to learn.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I've got energy to burn. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and I'll survive. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I will survive. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It took all the strength I had </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">not to fall apart. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Decided to attend </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">a play date at the local park, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and I met oh so many moms </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">who offered eagerly to help. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">They used to cry. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now they hold their heads up high, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and so do we! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">My kids are cool! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">They're not those chained up little people </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">stuck inside at school. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">So if you feel like dropping by </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and just expect us to be free </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">you'd better call ahead first </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">'cause we're probably busy! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I Will Survive </div><div align="center">Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris</div><div align="center">Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor </div><div align="center">Mercilessly altered, with apologies, by Natalie Criss</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3108337111113539523?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-62769331848216688042008-08-07T17:29:00.003-04:002008-08-07T18:14:19.936-04:00<div align="left">Well, we are still having computer problems...</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Sadly, the "Old grey Dell, </div><div align="left">she ain't what she used to be"...</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I can't access the photos that are on the external drive. </div><div align="left">Crud.</div><div align="left">I have to go searching for stuff to use. </div><div align="left">RATS.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">OH, well...at least I can read everyone else's blogs!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The old homestead has been pretty busy trying to get </div><div align="left">as much done as I can before we start back to school. </div><div align="left">I've been purging papers, re-organizing, sewing some </div><div align="left">things for the girls and myself, doing a little home improvement, </div><div align="left">and trying to get hair, teeth, doctors, etc. taken care of </div><div align="left">(especially for me). </div><div align="left">(oh, and getting halfway through</div><div align="left"><em><strong>David Copperfield</strong></em>...I'm LOVING this book!)</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Two weeks ago, I had a regular check-up appointment </div><div align="left">at the dentist. Now, I know I need A LOT of work...</div><div align="left">I've got teeth like chalk.</div><div align="left">Quite a while ago, I broke a tooth...mostly it was the </div><div align="left">old filling that broke off...needless to say, </div><div align="left">I didn't deal with it in a timely manner.</div><div align="left">So there I was looking at an appointment in </div><div align="left">September to start the crown that I needed. </div><div align="left">YUCK. </div><div align="left">Well, I was making dinner last Wed, </div><div align="left">and the dentist's office calls to ask if I can take </div><div align="left">an appointment at 8:30am Thursday.</div><div align="left">I jumped at it!</div><div align="left">There I am lying back in the chair, all numbed up, </div><div align="left">and we discover,</div><div align="left">to my dismay...</div><div align="left">that a root canal is necessary. :(</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I had to wait till today to get the darn thing worked on.</div><div align="left">I am glad to say that not only was the </div><div align="left">endodontist one of the nicest people I've ever met, </div><div align="left">but he finished the job in <strong>ONE VISIT</strong>! </div><div align="left">YAY!</div><div align="left">I also got a chance to be an apologist for homeschoolers...</div><div align="left">Whoopee! </div><div align="left">Now, I just have to wait for that Blasted September 8th </div><div align="left">appointment to get back to working on the crown again.</div><div align="left">Oh, and the August 18th appointment for FOUR fillings.</div><div align="left">That's supposed to be our first day of school.</div><div align="left">I think it will be starting after lunch time...</div><div align="left">It'll be pretty difficult to instruct with a mouth full of</div><div align="left">Novocain..."Bwath ith the capithal of Penthylvaniath?" </div><div align="left"><strong>Oh, well.</strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Blessings to everyone...and don't forget to Comment! ;)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6276933184821668804?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-54074729678256708042008-07-27T19:02:00.002-04:002008-07-27T19:35:52.623-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>YIKES!</strong></span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></div><div align="center">A Funny thing happened the other day...</div><div align="center">My Darling Husband was doing a few things before work </div><div align="center">and the computer screen suddenly informed him:</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Hard Disk Failure Iminent...</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Back up all data!</span></strong></div><div align="center">So being the guy he is, he dropped any recent photos to </div><div align="center">our external drive and turned the computer over to Scooter.</div><div align="center">She played some games, then I did some "cruising".</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Later, I sent a cute little not to DH before a thunderstorm arrived.</div><div align="center">I closed with; "Signing off an shutting down before the lightening strikes!"</div><div align="center"><strong>The darn computer never came back on!</strong></div><div align="center">It kept saying that there was no Hard disk in the machine.</div><div align="center">Now we are using the "old grey Dell" and trying to</div><div align="center">figure out how to get the HP up and running again.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Amazingly, a girl we know from Church, and a </div><div align="center">three year old boythat she babysits </div><div align="center">(who we also know from our parish),</div><div align="center">were <strong>Actually Struck by Lightening</strong> in that storm.</div><div align="center">She was running to the car from the swim club...</div><div align="center">trying to time it to be running between strikes, </div><div align="center">when a tree right next to them was struck and it</div><div align="center">travelled into their bodies (she was carrying the boy).</div><div align="center">She was knocked out, and they were both burned where they </div><div align="center">came into contact with her silver necklace, </div><div align="center">but both are fine and home.</div><div align="center">The doctor's said that the necklace may have save them,</div><div align="center">because the lightening had an "escape route".</div><div align="center"><strong>Praise God!</strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">One of the <em><strong>Blessings</strong></em> of a comuterless home...</div><div align="center">has been an excess of time for other endeavors...</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I finished reading <em>Oliver Twist</em> and started</div><div align="center"><em>David Copperfield</em>.</div><div align="center">The kids and I cleaned and reorganized </div><div align="center">the play space in the basement,</div><div align="center">we dusted and vacuumed the entire house </div><div align="center"><em>and</em> cleaned the bathrooms...</div><div align="center">Oh, and I attacked an ironing pile so large that the girls </div><div align="center">have grown out of things that were on the bottom!</div><div align="center">(SINCE <em>WEDNESDAY</em>!)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I also had time to crochet hats for Scooter and Tilly </div><div align="center">like the one worn by "Kit Kitteridge"...Snorkie wants one too,</div><div align="center">but I insist it not be pink.<strong> </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center">I promise that I have about <strong>five</strong> posts </div><div align="center">travelling around my head...</div><div align="center"><em>with</em> accompanying Photographs...</div><div align="center">NOW, I just have to take the time to commit them to the Blog!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It is going to take me some time to check in with everyone.</div><div align="center">Hope to hear from you all soon!</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5407472967825670804?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-30100123207885896472008-07-16T09:33:00.005-04:002008-07-16T10:50:53.393-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SH4JxHU5_FI/AAAAAAAAAIY/WTuuADVqfmI/s1600-h/popcorn.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223623357181328466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SH4JxHU5_FI/AAAAAAAAAIY/WTuuADVqfmI/s400/popcorn.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Upon further examination...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thanks to Seeker Man...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It seems that the video that I linked yesterday:</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">was a joke.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It has <span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;"><strong>NOT</strong></span> been replicated </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">by </span><span style="font-size:130%;">"normal" people...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I guess you could still try...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It <em><strong>may</strong></em> have been done using a heated table.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Anyway, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">it is good to know that those of you</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">using cell phones on a daily basis,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">are not "Micro-popping" your Brains!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">At least, we don't <em><strong>THINK</strong></em> so.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#663333;">I still think the video was funny.</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo Credit: Google Images</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3010012320788589647?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-21856958633876284672008-07-15T09:44:00.003-04:002008-07-15T09:53:52.381-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I knew there was a reason that I didn't have a cell phone.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">This video is very enlightening...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sorry I couln't seem to load it directly.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Click on the link, though, it is worth it !!!<br /></span><br /><br /><a title="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-telephone-portable-mi" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-telephone-portable-mi" target="_blank">http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-telephone-portable-mi</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Have a wonderful day, and stay off the Cell Phone!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-2185695863387628467?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-33991229929932473532008-07-11T08:52:00.005-04:002008-07-11T09:00:14.347-04:00<p align="center"><a href="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quiz.php" target="_blank"><img height="300" alt="I am Elizabeth Bennet!" src="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quizlizzy.jpg" width="200" /><br />Take the Quiz here!</a></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, yeah, sure...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center">this is pretty fun &amp; funny though.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Go ahead, try it...</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I think I would rather have been Eleanor Dashwood!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sorry this post went up twice today under two different dates</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am SUCH a Blog novice... :(</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3399122992993247353?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-14641528567011964262008-07-04T11:01:00.003-04:002008-07-04T11:09:21.249-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SG48Bb89FII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/XVNmbqEToOQ/s1600-h/photo+(1)+copy+(48).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219175013549937794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SG48Bb89FII/AAAAAAAAAIQ/XVNmbqEToOQ/s400/photo+(1)+copy+(48).jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"> Scooter showing her Patriotic Pride </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"> July 4, 2001 !</span></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">She actually made the local paper...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Attending a John Phillip Sousa concert with her dad.</span></div><p><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span> </p><p align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">Hope everyone has a lovely Holiday.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">God Bless America!</span></p><div align="center"><br /></div></span><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-1464152856701196426?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-58497007529536074692008-07-03T08:08:00.006-04:002008-07-03T08:53:56.642-04:00<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SGzGHB-imII/AAAAAAAAAII/5bJ1kjya7zA/s1600-h/Aunt+Dot+and+John.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218763892307695746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SGzGHB-imII/AAAAAAAAAII/5bJ1kjya7zA/s400/Aunt+Dot+and+John.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is to my Aunt Dorothy ...</div><p>more commonly known as "<strong>Aunt Dot</strong>".</p><p>She passed away several years ago </p><p>and I miss her very much, </p><p>as do my children.</p><p>Aunt Dot's Birthday was July 2nd and I was </p><p>thinking about her all day yesterday.</p><p>She was such a lady...a <em>Perfect Lady</em>, always.</p><p>In the eighties, a book was published called:</p><p><em>Real Women Don't Pump Gas</em>...it was funny,</p><p>but really, she fit every description of </p><p>a "real woman" in that book.</p><p>Aunt Dot didn't really like having her picture taken. </p><p>Of the few that I have, this is one of my favorites. </p><p>It is also one of the last. </p><p>Aunt Dot taught me many things: to use a table cloth and cloth napkins just to </p><p>make an ordinary lunch special, to send a silly card just for the fun of it, </p><p>to write Thank You notes (I mess up on this one all the time). </p><p>Aunt Dot always called me Elizabeth, even when my own </p><p>Mother called me Liz...</p><p>in case you didn't notice, I "go by" Elizabeth ! </p><p>Aunt Dot and her wonderful husband Uncle Bob were </p><p>married for more than 50 years when he passed away leaving </p><p>her dreadfully sad. They were loving, constant, affectionate,</p><p>playful, kind, and a fabulous example to me of married life and love.</p><p>Thank You so much Aunt Dot for being such an <em>Amazing</em> <em>Aunt</em> and <strong><em>Friend</em></strong>.</p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-5849700752953607469?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-18687838038755618782008-06-22T15:42:00.011-04:002008-06-22T16:34:40.868-04:00<div align="center">I've always wondered why we never hear of people being </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Whelmed</span></div><div align="center">They are often <span style="font-size:130%;">Over-Whelmed...</span></div><div align="center">and sometimes <span style="font-size:130%;">Under-Whelmed</span>...</div><div align="center">but never seem to be <em><span style="font-size:180%;">"Whelmed".</span></em></div><br /><div align="center">It seems to me that whelmingness would be the perfect state.</div><div align="center">Not too much or too little...Make sense???</div><br /><div align="center">Lately our family has been somewhat </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Over Whelmed</span>.</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Seeker Man</em></span> has had some </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">MAJOR</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;">LIFE CHANGING STUFF</span></div><div align="center">going on...</div><br /><div align="center">We are thrilled and excited that he has </div><div align="center">moved back home...</div><br /><div align="center">Of course, he never lived with us in this house...</div><div align="center">but that's good because we have the </div><div align="center">ROOM for him here...</div><div align="center">Our old house was somewhat smaller.</div><div align="center">The little munchkins are SO happy to have </div><div align="center">their Big Brother with us,</div><br /><br /><div align="center">I think Big Brother is having fun being Adored too!</div><br /><div align="center">He's getting all sorts of things figured out...</div><div align="center">and seeking <span style="font-size:180%;">God</span> seriously for the first time.</div><br /><div align="center">Can I hear an AMEN out there, People?!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">There are still some tough times, decisions</div><div align="center">and Spiritual Warfare to get through...</div><br /><div align="center">But I have Faith and Trust in the LORD.</div><div align="center">and,Blessedly, we KNOW who WINS!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214800272063715618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SF6xN9732SI/AAAAAAAAAH0/HNhmDlTyKfs/s400/stmmichael.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>be our protection against </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>the wickedness and snares of the Devil. </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,</em></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="color:#663333;">by the power of God,</span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>cast into Hell, Satan and all the evil spirits </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>who prowl about the world </em></span><span style="color:#663333;"><em>seeking the ruin of souls.</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#663333;"><em>Amen.</em></span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Thanks to anyone out there praying for us, </span></strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">we appreciate it!</span></strong></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-1868783803875561878?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-44352673768338913212008-06-13T14:09:00.019-04:002008-06-13T15:39:39.869-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK6Qy6OToI/AAAAAAAAAHk/39rNx_AB9DA/s1600-h/CATH%26JO-BALLET1.jpg"></a>She started <em><span style="font-size:130%;">DANCING</span></em> before she was born.</div><div align="center">She kicked and twirled and made her presence known.</div><div align="center">We would watch her knees, feet and elbows </div><div align="center">dance across my abdomen as I lay on the couch in the evenings.</div><div align="center">She was born and became known as "<strong><em>Scooter</em></strong>",</div><div align="center">almost immediately.</div><br /><div align="center">She Began <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>LEAPING</em></span> on my lap at <em>ONE MONTH</em>...</div><div align="center">We had to buy a "jumper" for her by the time</div><div align="center">she was six months old...My arms were tired!</div><br /><div align="center">She FINALLY agreed to Potty Train </div><div align="center">just so she could start </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">BALLET!!!</span></div><br /><div align="center">At three and a half years old, she began lessons at </div><div align="center"><strong><em>Kasia Cultural Arts Academy</em></strong> in Yardley, Pennsylvania.</div><br /><div align="center">She LOVED it from the start...</div><div align="center">such a graceful little doll.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK6JwoMz3I/AAAAAAAAAHc/1fyX4Nluvuw/s1600-h/CATH-BALLET3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211432395656187762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK6JwoMz3I/AAAAAAAAAHc/1fyX4Nluvuw/s320/CATH-BALLET3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here she is in costume as one of the </div><div align="center">"Village Children" </div><div align="center">for her first performance: </div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">PINOCCHIO</span></em></div><div align="center">in May of 2003</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK6D5MuXPI/AAAAAAAAAHU/3GXQ86NYwfc/s1600-h/CATH-BALLET4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211432294877650162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK6D5MuXPI/AAAAAAAAAHU/3GXQ86NYwfc/s320/CATH-BALLET4.jpg" border="0" /></a> This was the costume for the "Jazz" section of </div><div align="center">the recital...They danced to "Buttercup"</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br />Here's the costume for the May 2004 Performance of: </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>THUMBELINA</em></span></div><div align="center">This was actually Mother's Day at the beautiful </div><div align="center">graduated assisted living community where </div><div align="center">Grammy and Pappy live.... As their gift,</div><div align="center">Scooter and Tilly danced for Grammy </div><div align="center">while Daddy played the piano.</div><div align="center">This is a regular event... </div><div align="center">(the girls think that auditorium is theirs)<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5-Io42kI/AAAAAAAAAHM/K4uoI9XtiMQ/s1600-h/JO%26CATH-BALLET.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211432195943094850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5-Io42kI/AAAAAAAAAHM/K4uoI9XtiMQ/s320/JO%26CATH-BALLET.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Next year she decided to try...</div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">TAP DANCING !!!</span></em></div><div align="center">She did a patriotic duo with her teacher,</div><div align="center">it was wonderful.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK51rRhvpI/AAAAAAAAAHE/R1wMLDpN6Gc/s1600-h/IMG002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211432050621529746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK51rRhvpI/AAAAAAAAAHE/R1wMLDpN6Gc/s320/IMG002.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">She was also the TITLE Character in:</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL</em></span><br />I was SO impressed that she was able to make a </div><div align="center">SOLO entrance, in front of the curtain...</div><div align="center">Even though I watched her practice this for months,</div><div align="center">I got so choked-up watching her.</div><div align="center">She had such poise and knew her dances so well.</div><div align="center">This was May 2005</div><div align="center">She was only SIX years old.</div><div align="center">She amazes me</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5vQ3V-3I/AAAAAAAAAG8/dxIrS3UqPtQ/s1600-h/IMG025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211431940453170034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5vQ3V-3I/AAAAAAAAAG8/dxIrS3UqPtQ/s320/IMG025.JPG" border="0" /></a>The following year, 2006, she continued at Kasia...</div><div align="center">"Miss Catherine" who ran the school was so kind,</div><div align="center">Scooter loved her very much.</div><div align="center">She got her start at Kasia Cultural Arts...</div><div align="center">The Ballet that year was:</div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">The Littlest Angel</span></em> </div><div align="center">My dancer did her part Beautifully<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5lJXYMoI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4vHU9K7dnbg/s1600-h/hP1010011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211431766641357442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5lJXYMoI/AAAAAAAAAG0/4vHU9K7dnbg/s320/hP1010011.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">In 2006-2007 </div><div align="center">Scooter decided to try Gymnastics...</div><div align="center">She loved it and they would have pushed her...</div><div align="center">I wasn't into "competitive gymnastics".</div><div align="center">This was our Mother's Day photo in 2007...</div><div align="center">Notice the <em><strong>Ballet Pose</strong></em>...</div><div align="center">You can take the child out of dance class,</div><div align="center">but you can't make her <em>stop performing!</em></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5YO-VwkI/AAAAAAAAAGs/SPR5zaRpQOo/s1600-h/P1010050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211431544808653378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5YO-VwkI/AAAAAAAAAGs/SPR5zaRpQOo/s320/P1010050.JPG" border="0" /></a> I just noticed Tilly and Snorkie are doing a cute little pose, too!<br /><br /><br /><br />She came back to Ballet for 2007-2008.</div><div align="center">Kasia was now closed.</div><div align="center">Miss Catherine passed away in August of '07.</div><div align="center">We signed up with </div><div align="center">The American Repertory Ballet's</div><div align="center">Princeton Ballet School.</div><br /><div align="center">Awesome school...Live pianists in Every class...</div><div align="center">very Classical...very formal.</div><br /><div align="center">She had a Three Hour Audition to try out for </div><div align="center">the ARB's Holiday performances of: </div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">The Nutcracker!</span></em></div><div align="center">She was cast as one of the children at the party...</div><div align="center">She was on stage for 20 minutes of the first act and had</div><div align="center">four different dances to learn...plus some acting!</div><div align="center">She was in four performances.</div><div align="center">I have no photos of her in costume...</div><div align="center">This was a free photo of Scooter with the girl who played</div><div align="center">"Marie" and the young Man who played the "Nutcracker"</div><div align="center">in the First of two performances at the State Theatre</div><div align="center">in New Brunswick, NJ on 22 December 2007.</div><div align="center">(notice she looks tired...we had to be at the theatre by 9am)</div><div align="center">She had another show to do that night, we got home LATE!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5M2LuYxI/AAAAAAAAAGk/osrlDimfpuI/s1600-h/Untitled-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211431349175345938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5M2LuYxI/AAAAAAAAAGk/osrlDimfpuI/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My Ballerina Doll finished the year with the school's recital...</div><div align="center">a Two and a Half Hour, Three act production of:</div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;">Don Quixote</span></em></div><div align="center">The children in her level at the Princeton school played</div><div align="center">little Spanish Princes and Princesses.</div><div align="center">She was in the third act...</div><br /><div align="center">Snorkie liked it but kept asking, "the <em>END</em>?"</div><div align="center">Eventually the end came and the applause was strong.</div><div align="center">She had a marvelous time.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">This is My Scooter (right)</div><div align="center">with her best "bud" and possible twin (SF)...</div><div align="center">after the dress rehearsal.</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5FAbBjNI/AAAAAAAAAGc/pGh7aRdindg/s1600-h/P1010260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211431214484917458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SFK5FAbBjNI/AAAAAAAAAGc/pGh7aRdindg/s320/P1010260.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"></a>Next year Scooter and Tilly are going to try: </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#660000;">Horse Back Riding!</span><br /></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-4435267376833891321?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-78541307125180740962008-06-10T19:02:00.004-04:002008-07-11T08:32:05.602-04:00<p align="center"><a href="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quiz.php" target="_blank"><img height="300" alt="I am Elizabeth Bennet!" src="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quizlizzy.jpg" width="200" /><br /><br />Take the Quiz here!</a></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Oh, yeah, sure...this is pretty fun &amp; funny though.</div><br /><div align="center">Go ahead, try it...</div><br /><div align="center">I think I would rather have been Eleanor Dashwood!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7854130712518074096?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-71214195204735096772008-06-09T13:03:00.006-04:002008-06-10T10:18:24.667-04:00<div align="center">Okay, I ADMIT IT...I'm LAZY...</div><div align="center">at least when it comes to being a "Pool Club Member".</div><div align="center">I HATE packing up </div><div align="center">all the STUFF that you need-</div><div align="center">especially when you have one still in diapers...</div><div align="center">lugging it to the pool</div><div align="center">sitting in the sweltering heat</div><div align="center">paying for over-priced snacks...</div><div align="center">even when we already have snacks with us...</div><div align="center">Not to mention that my girls didn't like getting their faces wet...</div><div align="center">and not all the other "pool patrons" are considerate enough </div><div align="center">to watch out for extremely sensitive little girls</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">So in 2006, we bought THIS:</div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6ECYRc2NI/AAAAAAAAAFc/3S2JO6j3Wbs/s1600-h/kP1010139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210246995324491986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6ECYRc2NI/AAAAAAAAAFc/3S2JO6j3Wbs/s400/kP1010139.JPG" border="0" /></a> It is one of those "Simple Set" pools...</div><div align="center">Not as simple as they make it seem, but it did a good job </div><div align="center">of allowing us to get wet- almost every day of the summer </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">...and never had to leave home!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">(Snorkie loves the ladder...but not so much the water)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">We liked the pool and it wasn't <em>too</em> annoying when it came</div><div align="center">time to put it away for the winter...</div><div align="center">So last summer, we brought it up out of the basement...</div><div align="center">Set it back up and started learning a little more about </div><div align="center">SWIMMING!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6ECijIQhI/AAAAAAAAAFk/HLZjZ0ZB3P4/s1600-h/gP2010006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210246998082994706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6ECijIQhI/AAAAAAAAAFk/HLZjZ0ZB3P4/s400/gP2010006.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are Scooter, Tilly and their cousin...</p><p align="center">last year's family picnic at our house was great fun...</p><p align="center">they only got out of the pool for the time it took them to </p><p align="center">eat and go on the swings for a little while!</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Well, as they started swimming better, we realized that the</p><p align="center">way those pools are made cuts down on the "useable space".</p><p align="center">We considered going right to a permanent above ground pool,</p><p align="center">but they are much deeper and Tilly's not ready...</p><p align="center">So THIS YEAR we got...</p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">THIS:<br /></p><p align="center"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6EDHUIpWI/AAAAAAAAAFs/fUwnAbPr1wU/s1600-h/P3100357.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210247007952217442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6EDHUIpWI/AAAAAAAAAFs/fUwnAbPr1wU/s400/P3100357.JPG" border="0" /></a> Snorkie LOVES his squirter...</p><p align="center">He keeps hollering:FIREWORKS!!! </p><p align="center">as he shoots water across the pool!<br /></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6EDdhW-YI/AAAAAAAAAF0/D_YkoX1gQgY/s1600-h/P3100353.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210247013913262466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6EDdhW-YI/AAAAAAAAAF0/D_YkoX1gQgY/s400/P3100353.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>This pool is 15 feet wide with straight sides</p><p align="center">It allows for a whole lot more swimming space,</p><p align="center">but it is still only 42 inches deep- </p><p align="center">so Tilly's head is out of the water</p><p align="center">Snorkie still thinks it is too deep...he likes to stand</p><p align="center">on the outside of the ladder and squirt water </p><p align="center">HIGH IN THE AIR!!!</p><p align="center">We also decide to purchase the </p><p align="center">Salt Water Chlorinator System, so all we add is salt</p><p align="center">and occasionally Baking Soda if the Ph is off...</p><p align="center">It is SO comfortable to swim in...</p><p align="center">Oh, and the price of the new pool AND the Salt Water System</p><p align="center">is still LESS than the price of a </p><p align="center">Family Membership to the local pool club!</p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">HAPPY SUMMER TIME EVERONE!!!<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SE6ED_ysGXI/AAAAAAAAAF8/8FpAzmnfh4M/s1600-h/P3100358.JPG"></a><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7121419520473509677?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-71326612720129109792008-06-04T14:16:00.005-04:002008-06-04T14:22:47.089-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SEbdAdu7X2I/AAAAAAAAAEk/kDbgYNDDBjk/s1600-h/P1010317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208093019151753058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SEbdAdu7X2I/AAAAAAAAAEk/kDbgYNDDBjk/s400/P1010317.JPG" border="0" /></a>Camo-Boy Before<br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208092736467776674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SEbcwAp0NKI/AAAAAAAAAEc/dlmNLNq78ms/s400/P1010341.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SEbcoSYtMDI/AAAAAAAAAEU/45wDw1UqEZ8/s1600-h/P1010317.JPG"></a>Camo-Boy After<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-7132661272012910979?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-90583247201041375312008-05-29T17:28:00.004-04:002008-05-29T17:51:53.219-04:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">OK, I haven't been around much lately </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">and the earlier post today was just a way of "staying in touch"...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Plus, I thought it was pretty funny.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">The "end of the school year" crunch is on...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Too many Doctor/Dentist check-ups...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">WAY too much to do, and NO desire to do any of it.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">The kids have been operating on <em><strong>High Energy</strong></em>...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I have not.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I'm tired.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I want a nap.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">oh well.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I have also rediscovered an</span><span style="color:#999999;"> </span><em><strong><span style="color:#660000;">Old Flame</span></strong></em>...</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">A former love that I spent much time with...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">One that I knew well Before I met my Darling Husband...</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>The Crossword Puzzle</strong></span></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Actually, Scooter got me going on one, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">and then I just Couldn't stop...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Don't you just love the clues they give in crosswords?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">It's fun to get back to "thinking" in crossword-ese.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">It has taken up some of my Blog-hopping time...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I Am Sorry.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">I just don't seem to have the energy to organize my thoughts.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">And, I volunteered to be Membership Chairperson</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">of our Homeschool Co-op......</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Can you say "open mouth, insert foot"?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#666666;">Silly me.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-9058324720104137531?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-38687982986536716302008-05-29T15:39:00.005-04:002008-05-29T15:43:55.908-04:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">One day, long, long ago.......</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"> there lived a woman who did not </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">whine, nag or bitch.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">But this was a long time ago.......</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">and it was just that one day.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">The End</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-3868798298653671630?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-15158526458080029492008-05-19T10:40:00.003-04:002008-05-19T10:48:16.301-04:00<div align="center">Scooter and Tilly were thrilled a couple of weeks ago when they found </div><div align="center">a Badminton Birdie in the <em>Summer Toy Mess</em> on our back porch. </div><div align="center">They love playing with their Dad when he gets home from work.</div><div align="center">He loves it too. </div><div align="center">We were at a friend's house for dinner, </div><div align="center">when they excitedly informed Daddy of the wonderful news:</div><div align="center">"We can play Badminton again!"</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Snorkie thought for a few seconds and said...</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em><strong>BAD</strong></em></span>minton....<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">NO</span></strong>....</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#990000;"><em><strong>GOOD</strong></em></span>-minton!</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Gotta love a three year old with a well developed moral code!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-1515852645808002949?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-64203766315789659802008-05-19T10:05:00.007-04:002008-05-19T10:39:00.836-04:00<div align="center">Snorkie McTavish is a very smart boy.</div><br /><div align="center">He walked at 9 months.</div><br /><div align="center">Climbed stairs by 11 months (yes it was scary).</div><br /><div align="center">He is ALL BOY!</div><br /><div align="center">At 18 months, he could follow three step directions.</div><br /><div align="center">Loves to dust, sweep, dry dishes, sort sliverware, load the dishwasher...</div><br /><div align="center">He just didn't like to talk very much.</div><br /><div align="center">At one year, he could open his father's tool box and would stand there and </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"><em><strong>grunt...</strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center">just like Tim Allen (wish we had that on video).</div><br /><div align="center">No Words.</div><br /><div align="center">As time went on, he learned a few words and a few "signs".</div><br /><div align="center">With two big sisters to translate, (and wait on him hand and foot),</div><br /><div align="center">he made himself understood.</div><br /><div align="center">Then he turned three.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I can't get him to shut his mouth!</div><br /><div align="center">He chatters ALL THE TIME!</div><br /><div align="center">(I believe God gave me that silent second year </div><div align="center">so that I could get school work done with the girls...</div><div align="center">He would have driven me crazy last year.)</div><br /><div align="center">His vocabulary is growing exponentially.</div><br /><div align="center">He repeats everything he hears from me, daddy, sisters, movies....</div><br /><div align="center">He tended to drop his initial consonants...still does sometimes...</div><br /><div align="center">so juice is 'uice, hood becomes 'ood.</div><br /><div align="center">Just a little Cockney English coming out...</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Last week, at out last Homeschool Co-op meeting for the year,</div><br /><div align="center">Snorkie approached a two year old "friend".</div><br /><div align="center">He said, "Hi!"</div><br /><div align="center">Friend replied, "I!"</div><br /><div align="center">Snorkie gets all instructive and corrects his friend,</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">"Not <em>'I'</em>, it's Hi!"</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">What a smartie-pants...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000099;">"Friends" Mom &amp; I chuckled all afternoon.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202090742243718370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SDGJ99zI9OI/AAAAAAAAAEM/6LAT2cX4S5w/s400/P1270034.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Snorkie in an 'ood with an 'amera on a nature 'ike with Daddy)</span></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-6420376631578965980?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-81484289163685362952008-05-10T10:47:00.017-04:002008-05-10T13:17:06.529-04:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#663366;">Just a few photos of my little...and not so little ones...</span></span><br /><br /><br />Okay, these are definitely NOT in chronological order...I'm just not so good at the upload thing, yet. This is my Seeker Man, when he was 18 (ish), Scooter was his side-kick!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198776709229531826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCXD32wzUrI/AAAAAAAAAD4/vSwMGzidRNI/s400/22F02-12-25(15-36).jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Scooter, one day old! February 1999<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769974720811618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW9v2wzUmI/AAAAAAAAADQ/QVBNGIL7iA0/s400/14_11A.JPG" border="0" /><br />Scooter (3?) and Ginger (7?) our overgrown "sheltie"....she was so patient and calm with the children... Just NOT with fireworks...or thunderstorms...or smoke alarms....<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198770000490615426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW9xWwzUoI/AAAAAAAAADg/yFr7mpyGvLc/s400/34F03-1-18(8-55).jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Scooter and Tilly in the bike trailer...being used as a stroller. Spring of 2001<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198770000490615442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW9xWwzUpI/AAAAAAAAADo/lg0RsB3Fddk/s400/IMG016.JPG" border="0" /><br />Tilly (aka Sweet Pea) looking too cute for words... Winter of 2005 ... (age four)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198770004785582754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW9xmwzUqI/AAAAAAAAADw/79jTaBeh5Hk/s400/Picture+031.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Scooter, aka Sweetie Pie...Just home from the hospital...a little yellow still, but that resolved...she sure loved to to be "bundled". That was the <em><strong>best time</strong></em> (I could still nap when she napped).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769034122973714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW85GwzUhI/AAAAAAAAACo/Aqrr3xMtXMU/s400/27_24A.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Scooter and Tilly helping to "paint" Christmas cookies. ( 2002)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769038417941026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW85WwzUiI/AAAAAAAAACw/pXLAY7rmsdc/s400/17F01-1-1(1-21).jpg" border="0" /></p><br />Taking the girls out in the canoe on the Delaware Canal in Yardley, Pa. (Late Spring 2001)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769042712908338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW85mwzUjI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Zg_74bqD4CM/s400/c%26jIMG021.JPG" border="0" /><br />Summer 2001...MacDougall &amp; McGillicudhy in the pool. we figured out how to put warm water into the pool from the kitchen faucet...boy did we have fun in the yard that Summer!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769042712908354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW85mwzUkI/AAAAAAAAADA/0lxs-xvJUSg/s400/IMG009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />Snorkie McTavish, one week old....such a cutie...He really did "snork" in his sleep! Winter 2005<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198769047007875666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SCW852wzUlI/AAAAAAAAADI/XTwU0yFMpQs/s400/Picture+043.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p><span style="color:#663366;">Well, <strong>That</strong> was just the right way to spend the day before <strong>Mother's Day</strong>... It is amazing how quickly they grow and change, such fun to look through all the pictures. I think tomorrow will be "Home Movie Day" at our house! Blessings and Happy Mother's Day to all my Mom friends out there (family, friends and blog-buddies)</span></p>Return soon for the <strong>Ballet Recital Post</strong>...Three hour ballet version of <strong><em>Don Quixote</em></strong> tonight!<br />I just have to find the pictures....Hmmmm.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-8148428916368536295?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-6943517002081391302008-05-04T19:41:00.001-04:002008-05-10T12:31:51.885-04:00<span style="color:#330000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Obedience </span></span><span style="color:#330000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">and </span></span><span style="color:#330000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Humility:</span></span> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SB5MqumcBcI/AAAAAAAAACQ/9O_m1Nalu-0/s1600-h/photo+(1)+copy+(29).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196675316979598786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" height="353" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SB5MqumcBcI/AAAAAAAAACQ/9O_m1Nalu-0/s400/photo+(1)+copy+(29).jpg" width="207" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330000;"><em>a path to peace</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><em><span style="color:#330000;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"></span></span></em></span><br /><br />This is one of my favorite prints.<br />It is an engraving/aquatint that<br />I did in 1994<br />drawn from a Photograph that<br />I shot in my sister's backyard<br />several years before that.<br /><br />I have a copy of it in my family<br />room right nearmy usual "spot"<br />so that I can look to it regularly.<br />I <em><strong>love</strong></em> that Sunflowers are symbols<br />of Obedience and Humility.<br /><br />I like to meditate upon this sunflower.<br />It was a MAMMOTH Sunflower.<br />They are truly the largest flowers<br />that I have ever grown, and yet<br />they <em>bow their heads.</em><br />Their foliage is large and shady and if planted<br />in rows, can actually form a sort of fort, that little ones can play in.<br />Their shafts are strong, but ultimately,<br />the beautiful brown and golden head carries too much weight<br />and they face downwards.<br />They also turn their heads to follow the sun.<br />Shouldn't we all have this attitude when contemplating<br />the blessings that we have been given?<br />Bowing <em>our</em> heads before <strong>God</strong> and turning <em>our</em> faces to the<strong> Son</strong>.<br />Can we be all that we are called to be without the support of our creator?<br />I was thinking about these mammoth sunflowers today, and remembering<br />those that the girls and I planted when they were very small.<br />They were fascinated watching them grow,<br />especially when the flowers towered over them.<br />Then they were a little afraid to go near them<br />because of the ever present honey bees.<br />We let the flowers stay in the garden long after they looked scraggly and old.<br />It occurred to me that this was when they were the most useful.<br />The seeds had dried naturally and were ready for the birds to harvest daily.<br /><br /><strong><em>I</em></strong> may not be my most beautiful right now.<br />My day doesn't always admit a shower, let alone make-up.<br />I am not the thinnest I have ever been.<br />But maybe-<em> just maybe</em>- I am at my most <em>USEFUL:</em><br />to my Husband, my Children, my Family, my Friends and my Lord.<br />I am at Peace.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1992331415130090251-694351700208139130?l=markofhumility.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505258364895249347noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992331415130090251.post-41822050676279398122008-05-01T14:12:00.000-04:002008-05-01T15:50:00.494-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BGH50mSjnY8/SBoIqemcBaI/AAAAAAAAACA/Y6jYsdWYxRA/s1600-h/Senior+Mom.jpg"></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#663333;">My Marvelous Mom circa 1951</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195474645987100066" style="DISP