It's Almost February...

It's been quite a week so far!
The weather has been agreeable, and so far there is not snow on the horizon.

Yesterday was Nina's birthday, and I was so excited to celebrate with her. I made a big Lasagne, and got her favorite kind of salad, and some bread for garlic bread. I also got her some ice cream. In the middle of the afternoon she texted me to tell me that she had gotten the stomach bug that Dougie had had over the weekend. It's a bad one.
Poor Nina!! Her birthdays just always seem to have an obstacle of some sort.
On her first birthday the tragedy of the Challenger explosion took place, and every year it has been something.
Well, we had the lasagne and Dougie came down and met dad and ate some. He took leftovers up to Nina for later.
This morning she told me that Lilly got sick over night.....
So now we are on watch.
I didn't work today because I didn't want to risk exposing Tom, and I am eating very lightly.
I am gratified to find that I am hungry, so that's a good sign.

I am making a baby blanket in honor of Monica, my spiritually adopted baby. It is nice to be working on something to Bless someone with. I will donate it this Summer at our baby shower for the pregnancy centers.


Tonight we have small group. I am glad we are getting together. I bought some goodies today.
Tomorrow I am going to lie low and see what happens.
Hopefully a lot of nothing.
I will certainly have time to write!

New Things

It was a very nice weekend. For most of us...

Saturday we wound down after the March for Life.
I went to the grocery store and most of us went to Confession.
Then Tim and I went to Mass so that I could hand out fliers for the Immaculee retreat.

We came home and had dinner and then just watched random stuff on TV.

Sunday we had all day to prepare for Nina's birthday dinner. I made a cake, and a lasagne. I was all ready for the big meal and then Nina called. Dougie was sick....and we had to postpone dinner.
So tomorrow is the big day, and it really is her birthday!!
And now the first little lamb of the year has been born at the farm.

I still have the lasagne and I just have to grab bread and salad. So I 'll call dad and we should have a nice time. Just hope no one else gets sick.

Today was a busy one, with Rosary and Mass, and then Adoration. Then I worked on some things that I had to catch up on.

These are the Lillies that were delivered on Friday!

I made a new fish recipe and it was actually really good!

Paul also finished his taxes!

2020 March For Life!!

What a day!!

The March For Life 2020 was truly historic.
I think more people probably showed up than ever before, and the biggest reason for that was that, first the time in history, the President of the United States came to speak to those that March for Life!




Here are a few sights:

Just Keeping an eye out

A few people showed up

Contentment

A nice day here in Havre de Grace.
The weather is warmer. Not warm, but not frigid!
Today was so busy!
I went down to Rosary and Mass, got a couple of errands done, and then came home and had breakfast.
After breakfast I went up to Kimie's and we had a very powerful prayer time.
When I got home I got some housework done, and then took Brendan to work.
I picked up something from the parish office and then came home to wait for Lilly.
After she got off the bus, I took her up to the barn so that she could ride.

I came home and waited for my delivery from Amazon.
I got my charging brick and charged it all up, so it's ready for tomorrow!
I packed all my stuff, and will do my lunch in the morning.

Tomorrow is the March for Life, and I should have great pictures from that.
Tonight I just have two cats....

Tuesday

Sterling on a stolen bed

Today was COLD!
It was probably in the mid-30s all day and the wind made it really biting!
So glad that it is supposed to warm up for the March on Friday.

After Mass I came home and got started on my reading. I read some Brothers Karamazov and then did some housework. I also spent some time on the test for the TOB course.

This afternoon I went to a friend's house to help her figure out some pieces of her homeschool plan.
They just started and mom says that she is pretty overwhelmed. The student, however, seems to be more than capable, and is a very sweet girl.

I will be giving her tips and helping her out until they get things set up and get into a routine.
They also have a few organizing tasks to get done, so I will be going to help out with that as well.

I can home and we had Taco Soup and salad for dinner.

I should probably get some more work done, but I am running out of energy, so I'll probably watch something until I can go to bed.

I miss football.

Bedroom Bliss

It's all done!!
I am so thrilled with the way it all came together.
I was a bit worried about my judgement at times, but Tim did a beautiful job, and I am very happy!
Cozy, warm and home. It's the best.

Football Frenzy!

Well, it wasn't the Ravens, which was disappointing, but our Football Frenzy Fundraiser at St Patrick's to watch the AFC Championship, was a huge success!

And the Kansas City Chiefs won!! So glad to see them beat the Titans.

We had such a wonderful day.

The food was so great, the company was wonderful, with a table of friends and a whole roomful of wonderful parish family!
There were raffles, and a football pool, and some really great door prizes donated by local businesses.

It is so good to see the parish coming together to enjoy each other and have fun raising money for things that we need to do around the campus.
This fundraiser was to raise money to help refurbish the Ministry Building.

Winter Hawk

This fine fellow was hanging around our back yard all day, probably looking for something to eat.
I was lucky enough to get this picture while he was sitting in the tree.
I just love winter birds!

Catching Up

Argghhh!
I missed four days!!
Dang. It's only January.
Well, it's been pretty busy around here. On Tuesday I went down to Fr Henry's to work on putting away his Christmas things.
So. Many. Things. It really is a two man job now, and Tim wasn't able to help me. Next year I will wait until he can come down. Fr sent me home with a couple of boxes of books, and I kept a few to read myself and then will pass them along.

I made the most amazing Carne Picada! That's a win that is going to happen again!

Wednesday I went to Mass and then to a fundraising meeting. We had our small group after that and a great discussion! It was a full house!

Thursday I went to Kimies and it was my turn to make them a meal so I put together some Chicken Enchiladas. I made Cornbread too, but it burned, which was a bummer.

I have been reading "The Brothers Karamazov" furiously, because we had our first book discussion coming up.

So Friday, yesterday, I went to Mass, as usual and then came home to read. I got almost to where I needed to be! I got caught up in a couple of things and so I didn't have all day to read.  I went down to the study and we had such a great discussion! These kids are sharp! I am just loving this book! The story is so well crafted.

I had to leave a little early to get to Adoration at 4:00, and when I got there, there was a Pro-Flowers box on the sign-in table.
It was address to someone, but the address was the one at the Chapel. We called the company, but they said that they would take care of it and just to keep the flowers! So my friend Diane opened them and arranged them and put them in front of the altar.
They are going to be gorgeous when they open up!
They are a deep blue, with white Lillies. The card was addressed to "Mom". So we gave them to our Mom, Mary.

I will take a picture on Monday, when they have bloomed.

Today has been a bit frustrating but a quiet day at home, for the most part.
Somehow I have lost the plug-in box for my phone charger and the phone really doesn't charge any other way. So I had to run out to see if I could find one. No luck. I had to order one on Amazon.
Should be here tomorrow. Ugh.
Tim put the headboard on the bed, but it is too wide, so it can't be attached the way it is supposed to be. He made it work, but it messed up on the measurements and that is annoying.
It is really pretty and it matches the wood in our room perfectly!

Tonight we are going to Mass, and tomorrow to the Football Frenzy at St Patrick's.
Should be a really fun day!
I'll be sure and get lots of pictures for that.

Just a Day

Today was pretty dreary.  Rainy and chilly.

I kept to my usual routine. After Mass I came home and ate breakfast so that I could leave at 10:00 to go down to see Fr Henry and put away all his Christmas decorations. That is a pretty big job.

He gave me a few boxes of books and I am going to offer them to people. Some really wonderful things to read!

When I got home I found out that my new shoes had come while I was gone.

I have been looking for a simple pair of leather all purpose shoes, and after a LOT of research I found a pair that I thought would work well.
I am so tired of wearing tennis shoes and having my feet freeze.
I have hiking boots, but they are really just for hiking.
I am also tired of the cheap fake leather shoes that fall apart after a short time.

These shoes are Timberlands and they were a very good price.
They are leather and they have a really good sole.
I put them on and wore them for a few hours and they are very comfortable.

They should get better and better.

After dinner I went to a meeting about an event that we are planning at the parish.

Immaculee Illibigiza it going to be coming to do a retreat in March.
She is an amazing woman and it is going to be wonderful.

I will be sharing a lot more as we go along.

Right now we are advertising and selling tickets.

So tonight I am going to work on some ministry stuff and get a few things done around here, and then I am going to watch something and relax...

Monday, Monday

Today it was back to business as usual, and what a nice day it was!!
I woke up at 5:30 to my lovely bedroom, that Tim has put so much into over the last few weeks.
What a nice place to wake up!

I got back to the treadmill and got my shower, but I had to take Brendan to work at 6:45. That will take some getting used to.
I was able to spend some time with Jesus and had my coffee before I woke Lilly to put her on the bus.
Then it was out the door to Rosary and Mass.
I just love our little Chapel. It is a little slice of Heaven, and it is so much a home to me now.

After I got home I ate and got ready for Bible study.
We had a really nice gathering. James is a wonderful book!!
We discussed the power of words and how they can hurt or heal.

At 1:00 I had Adoration for an hour. Bliss.

After I got home I sat down to get the work out of the way. Emails and catching up to do after being away.

A good day so far!

Ravens Saturday

A  beautiful Saturday for a Raven's game at home in Baltimore!

The weather is actually warm! No rain. It's gonna be a great evening!

The sunrise this morning was so beautiful!

I had to step outside and take a picture.

It has been a very nice day. The weather was warm, I went to the grocery store, and stocked up.
I was able to get all my Christmas stuff put away, and then worked on dinner.

Dad came by and we had Buffalo Chicken Chili for dinner. It was yummy!
I do have to get back to my regular exercise and eating habits though.
Next week, it's up at 5:30!

We watched the San Francisco 49ers beat the Vikings, and then we sat down to what we thought would be another amazing Ravens Game.
It's not going the way we thought. The Titans are a forse to be reckoned with. They are ahead and it's almost the 4th Quarter.

It's a sad thing for Lamar Jackson, who was just stellar all season. But, it's the way it is. The Titans are playing really well, and they aren't giving the Ravens an inch.

Ah well, it is what it is.
Tomorrow is another day.

Home Again

It was such a wonderful week, and I was so blest to be there, but I am SO glad to be home again!

I was so glad to see John pull up outside the building at Blackrock, and it was a wonderful feeling to pull up to the house, and walk in the door!
I got to catch up with the boys, and dad stopped by.
 I had such a nice afternoon puttering around the house.
Tim came home from work and it was lovely to sit and talk and have dinner.

Tim has done such a beautiful job on our bedroom!
I got my laundry done, did a little bit around the house, and went to the grocery store.
It was all so normal!

I have been thinking about all that we learned, and the time that I had with Jesus.
I feel like this was probably the most transformative course so far, in the area of spiritual growth.
Every time I go, The Lord does wonders in my heart. I keep going over all that He showed me.
Mama Mary was right there with me the whole time, pointing the way to her Son.

And as much as I learned there, in those rooms, under the instruction of some truly brilliant people, I realize, as I have returned to my home and family, that this is where the real learning and growing happens. This is where the Grace flows and my vocation to holiness as a woman plays out.
What a beautiful life we have and what a journey it is.

Praise God!

The End Of a Beautiful Week!

Hard to believe that this course is over already!
I will be unpacking what we have learned for a very long time.

Tonight 16 people graduated. I can't imagine being one of those people, but if Jesus wants it to be, and Mary is praying for me, it will happen someday!

I am excited to get back home. Back to my dear Tim and my wonderful boys. Back to the school days with Lilly and chatting with Nina.

I look forward to Adoration in our little chapel at St Patrick's and so many other things that you have to go away to appreciate.
All of our dear friends. Rosary and Mass in the mornings. Meetings and events.
It is so good to be about God's business.
What a Blest life!

Beauty Everywhere!

We have been treated to such natural wonders over the last 24 hours.

I am still here at the retreat center up in PA, and the course has been just wonderful!

Last night while we were at dinner it started to snow.

There is a reathe large contingent here from Mexico and Central America, and most of them had never seen snow. What a treat for them to see the snow start to fall and pile up, and for us to see the joy that it gave them.

This morning the world looked very different!

Today we had such a full day, with sessions on the teachings of John Paul II and others.

Tonight, after Mass, God gave us another gift....

Thank you God!

Heart Food

Good Friends, great food, hoping for more sleep tonight.

It has been quite a day up here at the Theology of the Body course on the Writings of St John Paul II!
We have been going all day! There is so much to try to wrap my head around.

The weather is cold, but I didn't even go outside today.

Tomorrow is another long one, so i am gonna keep this short.

Hope all my dear ones have a good night!

Windy Epiphany

Well, this Epiphany is a windy and chilly one!
The Sun is out this morning though.

I still have a cold, but I am excited for this coming week! Talk about Epiphanies! I have such expectation for so many amazing insights! A week with the writings of my Papa, John Paul II!

I am now ensconced at Blackrock Retreat Center in Quarryville PA and so far it has been very illuminating!

So many familiar faces and so much Grace!

I'll post again tomorrow.

Sick

Today was a pretty low-key day.
I took Nyquil last night, so I woke up really late, however, it was a good choice, because while I still have a rip-roaring cold, it is just a cold, and not the flu, and I can live with that.
I have to leave tomorrow for my TOB course, and I have been so worried that I was going to get really sick. I am moderately sick. I'll take it.

It was rainy and dreary off and on all day, but not really cold. I'll take that too.
I got through most of the laundry, returned something to Amazon, and got myself packed.
I also got a walk on the treadmill in. I think that really helps to boost the immune system.

I started this book. I was really glad it came beofre I left, because I am on a schedule and I need to take it with me. I am still reading the introduction, and it is really interesting. I love this translation.

And Stirling was enjoying the fact that I put Maggies bed under ours. He loves sleeping on it, and having it under there is just even better, because he feels like he is being sneaky. He loves being sneaky.

So I am winding down with a little football. Wild card games. 

The Buffalo Bills looked good to win against the Houston Texans, but the Texans have pulled ahead.

...and...now they are in overtime 19 to 19. This hasn't happened in a wildcard game since 2011. 

...and...the Texans won with a field goal!

In a little while the Patriots will play the Titans. They should win that one, but if they do, then they have to play the Chiefs. That probably won't go their way. 

OK...now this....

And the Titans beat the Patriots! By 7 points!!

This is going to be very interesting. 

The Ravens will play the Titans next week, and they haven't played them this season. Hmmmmm....

I am just really hoping that our Ravens make it to the Superbowl. They have worked so hard!!

Three in a Row!

Wow.
Good For me! Third day in a row blogging life....

So the weather is rainy, which is not so great for Tim, since he is still using power tools, but I got to wear my fun rain boots to Mass, so there's that.

We had a great discussion of "Jane Eyre", at Paula'a house,with some of the highschoolers from the co-op.
There were five kids and four parents, and the kids had some really great insights.
Paula also served some really great food!

I certainly enjoyed the conversation.
That is one of my favorite books, and every time I read it I get something new from it.

I told the kids that if you love a book you need to read it every ten years. It is amazing what you see in the story as you get older. I should dig out a couple of my favorites again.

Next time we are doing "The Brothers Karamazov".
I haven't read it so I am looking forward to it.

Yum!

Day Two....

Today was very nice!
The weather was great. Dry and not too cold, I think it got up to around 53.

Tim and I went to Mass and we saw the Hoppels, then we came home and I got to work on the house, and Tim got to work on the room.

At 1:00 I headed out to the dermatologist who confirmed that I had a problematic spot on my nose. He "took care of it" and after it heals it won't bother me any more.

I went to the grocery store on the way home, and got groceries. We were out of a few important things and a few not so important... I do love goat cheese on my salads.

After I got home I put dinner together. BBQ chicken sandwiches and home-made fries.

TJ is here and the guys are working on their army game pieces in the basement.

I am taking the rest of the night to do some writing.