Haven Heartbeats

I love Facebook…but I want some of my thoughts permanent……especially the family memories…..….and I want to blog more than I want to Facebook……

Since I met Facebook, I have rarely used my blog……..and I am not satisfied with that. So, I am going to try to put my Facebook thoughts on the blog sometimes instead of Facebook. (as if anyone cares  :)  )


I also have to let go of my tendency to always think the blog post must be long……..or more than random thoughts and ideas.  And, I will try to give up thinking I must always include links......just because I can.
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I kind of feel like my summer is just getting started. What with cool weather, baseball and preparing and going to Hawaii…..I feel like I missed the beginning of our summer. Then, we were home for only a couple of weeks…I worked more than usual……and we were quite busy….and then we took a trip to San Diego for Aunt Beth’s wedding to Uncle Tim……and then getting Sarah off to Austria…..I feel like only now can I breathe….and begin to face all of the organization needed in my life.
I just wish I could get enough sleep to support my endeavors. I will begin a very busy work schedule shortly…and then time will be tight again. So much to declutter and reorganize……sigh.

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Two summers ago, we sent our two oldest baby birds into the world…….one literally INTO the world.


This summer, we send three out into the world….the same two, plus the third oldest. We sent her literally INTO the world: a year in Austria.

Sarah left on Monday this week. Matthew returns to Thomas Aquinas College as a sophomore on August 20th. Marty will take him back to school. It is an 11 hour drive from our Hearts’ Haven.



Lucky us…….Anne will not return to Southern Oregon University for her final year until the end of September. This is the MAIN reason I have come to love the quarter system, finally.  We are all so excited to have over a month of quiet (ha!) life with her. She and Maddelyn are going to love this time together. And, Anne says she wil help me with meals so I can get some decluttering done.

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Hanging over my head is the school planning for 2011-2012. I mostly know what I need to do…I just wanted to have so much organization completed before I start into the final planning………sigh.

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Prayer requests that come to mind:
For my mom who is suffering from a nasty chronic disease.
For my daughter who must file a lawsuit against the company who caused her car accident almost two years ago…….come on, people…….just admit blame and let’s all move on!!!

For all of the folks I know who need St. Joseph’s help…….including our own private intentions.



For a friend and her husband who just recently began doing foster care.

 For my co-workers, especially one in particular. Things are pretty overwhelming right now at work. Pray for me, too…for when I have to be there. I am praying for a new situation.

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Just re-watched/listen to The Phantom of the Opera movie while I cleaned my room and bathroom. What an amazing piece of art! If you have never seen it, do! The summer of 2005 (?) was our summer of Phantom. We fell in love with the movie then......and the music.






We saw the musical on Broadway in summer of 2007. While it was good, I DO prefer this movie over the play. It is so well-done. I think it is one of the best musical-to-movie ever done. I hope the Les Miserables movie will be just as high quality. I hope!!! Cannot wait to see it!

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Blessings,

Chari



Happy 18th Birthday to Sarah L'il Beth!

Our beautiful daughter Sarah Elizabeth was received into our family on this day 18 years ago. 

From birth, she was such a uniquely, beautiful baby....all of the nurses ooh'd and ah'd over her...strangers always noted her beauty.

Named after a couple of ancient grandmothers on both sides of her maternal side and her Aunt Elizabeth, she always thought her name was

"Sarah Little Beth"

.......but of course, being little, it always came out lil Beth.

Congratulations, Sarah L'il Beth!

We love you!

And, we promise, we will let you maintain a part of your childhood for yours to come......we won't make you give it up yet!  ;)

This next year will be full of so many new experiences & adventures, just for you!

Have an amazing year!

AND..........

we must not forget to wish my niece a

VERY HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY

to Alexis!

We love you!

Have a beautiful day......and wear the one green, one purple stocking!

What a treat to have two cousins share the same birthday!

Love, Mama/Aunt Chari

PS:  As I write this, Maddelyn is fingering a lovely rendition of Happy Birthday on the piano.

Oh, and Alexis's dad and I share the same birthday, too!

Praying for a New Saint!

This was a surprising find today! 

Doctor Giancarlo Rastelli

It turns out that the doctor who invented the procedure used  by Sarah's pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon to rebuild her heart is up for beatification  for sainthood.  What a fun connection!

I am looking forward to learning more about his life.  He died so young, at age 36 years.  He must have been a pious man at such a young age to be considered. 

His story reminds me of Dr. Moscati's story.  Have you read this?  His story is a great one for our modern times........especially for the boys.

Sarah's surgeon, Dr. Frank Hanley, may not be a saint, but he is one of the best surgeons on the world.  We found this out a few months after her first surgery.  In the last decade, he has invented a procedure for Tetralogy of Fallot.  It is pretty exciting. He will be known for this procedure forever.

Just wanted to share........and find a place to store the link so I could find it later.

St. John of God, patron saint of heart patients, pray for us!

Blessings,

Chari

My Hearts' Haven Daybook

Originally written on Monday evening, April 26th, while sitting in The Sharing Place in Sacramento where Sarah is recovering from a heart catheterization this morning....a follow-up from the congenital heart defect she was born with.....someday, I will write that whole story......

Outside My Window.......it is so obvious a storm is blowing in this evening.....you can feel it....and smell it.......the sky is dark, the clouds menancing......

I am thinking........that I am so very tired. Being at the hospital at 5:30am was not conducive to much sleep last night......and neither was sitting around the hospital all day.

I am thankful for.......Sarah having responded well to her recovery today and this nice place to stay right next to the hospital. I am most especially grateful to my friend Shawna...who has my boys......and to Louise who has Maddelyn....while we are gone....freeing Marty to be available to his boss this week. Thanks, ladies...and Jacob, too! I am grateful for good medical care.

From the kitchen.........Sarah and I each just had a cup of hot tea...she enjoyed chai spice and I sipped Stash's Christmas Morning Tea........mmmmmm! Otherwise, it was hospital food all day.....not much to get excited about......

I am wearing......a pretty cotton skirt, red with white flowers and a long-sleeved red shirt...barefoot and sans leggings....which means...I must not be at home! :)

I am creating........at this moment: this daybook....it has been a very long time...November 20th to be precise!

I am going.....to get a good night's sleep tonight! How is that for positive thinkin'? Got to drive home from Sac tomorrow, in a rain storm....I need the rest!

I am reading.........Tom Playfair aloud to the boys.....and to the girls when they get a chance to listen. I just started a book called Sandy, I think...written by a man who raised a sandhill crane from an egg. I am loving it! I so enjoy books written by naturalists! I have also just read three Nicholas Sparks' books...for some easy, mindless reading: The Wedding, which I enjoyed a bit...not great writing, but distracting enough. I think iy has a great reminder about what is important in a long marriage. Worth a read for the marrieds, if just to remind a couple to keep those things in mind. It would be good if MEN would read it. :) Another: True Believer.......distracting.....but not worth recommending. The last: A Walk to Remember. This was a re-read.....I was pre-reading it for Sarah, so she could see the movie. I loved the story the first time through...and this time as well......even if the writing is not great. The movie bums me out. I am over half way through The Confessions of Saint Augustine...I LOVE IT!!!! He is my new best friend. ;) I am also about to wrap up De Wohl's The Endless Flame, about St. Augustine. It was an excellent idea to read the two together. Sometimes, DeWohl would write something about St. Augustine that I would find totally unbelievable...only to find it was true in the Confessions. How is that for verification of a story?

Since my last daybook, I have also read Dicken's Bleak House, Gaskell's North and South.

I bet I read other books......but I cannot remember right now..... :)

I am hoping.......to call Willa soon....we have some visiting plans to discuss.

I am hearing......music: Swing.....Tangoes......Waltzes......Salsa......and more! Sarah is watching SWING TIME........depressing movie about some German kids during Hitler's rise to power. So sad.

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And, that's all I had got...before I went to bed!

I just wanted to make sure that I kept these memories some place retrievable and I did not want to waster the work I did........

Blessings!!

Love,

Chari......visiting the Sierra Nevadas

Our Wee Maestro!

Tonight, finally, Malachy was able to put his own composition to paper.

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He has been playing his own composition for months.......begging someone to help him write it down.

Tonight, Sarah was sitting at the piano, working on a piece, when Malachy (age 8 years) approached her. In his hand was the music composition book I had finally unearthed from Matthew's things.

After helping him for a bit, he says to her:

"Thank you SO much!! I have been needing to get this written down. You know, Sarah........I have to start sometime. I mean, Beethoven started when he was eight. Of course, I will not be completely like Beethoven ........or like August Rush." :)

Not quite sure where he got the "Beethoven was eight" info..........but he sure brings a smile to our faces with frequency! Gotta love that kid!

I guess I should create a video of him playing his piece, eh?

Maybe tomorrow......

Lenten Blessings,

Chari

A Little Ballroom Dancing!

Here are two videos of the four younger children and their friends dancing on an August Saturday night at "open ballroom" held in a hall built in 1906...where generations of people have danced....and where the swing was danced in its hey day! They had only had one lesson as of that night...and have since improved....more videos later.....

I am still trying to figure out why I have no sound on my videos......sorry about that! Just play any song on your computer......it will work! Even if it is Lynyrd Skynyrd...ask me how I know! :)

The first is Malachy, 7 yo, dancing with Peggy, one of their instructors.

Looks like Garrett, 12 yo & Sarah, 16 yo are dancing below.....followed by Dan, 19yo, dancing with the instructor, peggy.......and then Sierra, 16 yo & her brother Kyle, 15 yo....and my Maddelyn, 14 yo, dancing with Gavin, 17 yo. You may notice a cute little 7 yo "waltzing" throughout the video....he was partnerless....and wanting to dance....so...what's a fella to do, but dance with an imaginary partner!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Love, Chari

SARAH SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM......

.....for our community's Fourth of July celebration tomorrow!

Our town has frequently been voted the best small town 4th of July celebration.........and it attracts 6,000-10,000 visitors every year.

The day starts with a FUN WALK/RACE........at 8:30am sharp

.......then there are prizes given away.........including a new car every year. At least once it was won by a kid.

There is an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the local Catholic Church.

There is a street fair for four days.

There are happenings at our parks.

At noon, the parade starts. It is not all that interesting of a parade, but we used to go every year. Garrett will be in it this year with his baseball team that won the season.

Then, we head to the lake with lots of food.......because we will be there till midnight! The fireworks over the lake are wonderful and every year we have more and more friends join us........last year I bet we reached 50 people. This year I think may go up!

Then..............we go home, absolutely exhausted! :)

And, the parade is always started off with the NATIONAL ANTHEM.

And, THIS year, it will be sung by our own Miss Sarah!

She will have her biggest audience yet.......and probably will never be able to top this number in the future. And, it is her first public singing performance.

We will take any prayers for her to do her best, of course!

Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians,

PRAY FOR US!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

With love from,

Chari & the family at Our Hearts' Haven

Girlfriends

Remember those picture booths?

The ones where you and your friends squeeze in and take four photos?

Well, I recently did the same for Sarah & Sierra.

Sweet.

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Spring blessings!!!

Love, Chari

PS.......anyone living anywhere remotely near me is welcome to come see the kids in their show this weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!

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***** A YEAR IN PICTURES *****

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In honor of Sarah's birthday last week, I have compiled her last year, in photos.

Boy, will she be surprised!

My crafty & generous little fella, 7 yo Malachy, announces Sarah's age for this birthday!

The photo above: A candid of Sarah, taken during the rehearsal of "Don't Mention My Name"

photo by J. Young

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Sarah has had quite a year!

Let's take a look,

SEASON by SEASON!

WINTER 2008

Snowboarding at the base of the beautiful Mount Shasta!

Hugging her 11 year old brother Garrett, in the ski park parking lot.

SPRING 2008

Visiting Muir Woods, with oldest sister Anne, and little friend Claremarie.

Sarah, kneeling, with Anne, planting seeds in our garden.

Jiddee (Arabic for grandpa) with three granddaughters:

Maddelyn, 13, Sarah, 15 & Anne 19

Taken after Anne's Jazz concert

Sarah, preparing grape leaves for our grape leaf rolls for our annual Lebanese Feast, with our Lebanese Grandpa, aka Jiddee.

The next four pictures were taken during the rehearsal and performances of Disney's Aristocats, put on by a cast at a local public school.

Anne was the choreographer.

Sarah was the stage manager.

Maddelyn was the dance captain.

The girls assisted in making this back drop for the show.

Sarah, Maddelyn & Anne.

Three sisters.

Sarah with a cat and with our little friend Clementine, who came to watch one of the shows.

Sarah & Maddelyn model the caps made by Linda V. for the geese in the play.

Kathy Y., the director in the background, with smiling Sarah.

Annual May piano recital.


SUMMER 2008

The two photos above:

Sarah is dressed up for a part in a murder mystery play for Sierra's 18th birthday.

What fun!

A very pregnant Aunt Jennifer came by for a visit in June. Big sister Anne looking on.

The next large batch a photos represent a most wonderful and fantastical visit to our friends in the Sierras. It was like time was stopped. It is usually like that with these friends, as we float through our days. All four girls: my three, and their only one, Clare, had sewn Regency Era (Jane Austen) dresses before they got together. The plan was a photo shoot, with Matthew as the photographer. The site: a lake high up in the Sierras. There were about 200 pictures!

Sarah & Clare

Sarah, Clare, Anne & Maddelyn

Sarah does EVERYBODYS' hair, from little girls to big sisters, like Anne.

Sarah with Kevin and son Aidan for a ride on an "old" boat :)

Sitting on the dock at the lake

In Willa's kitchen.....the girls were trying to hide from me while I tried to get their picture.

Maddelyn & Sarah

Later in the week, after we returned from the lake, the girls found vintage costumes to wear for another photo shoot. I could not pick just one.........there were at least 30!

On our last night, there was a swing dance!

Sarah & partner 5 yo Paddy have at it on the dance floor!

When we got home from Willa's home in the Sierras, we greeted our friends the Z Family of Carson City, Nevada. Here are photos of Sarah during that visit:

Chatting at the table.....

Watching the boys being goofy........from our porch swing, built by Matthew

Sadie is at her feet

Sarah sweetly made this cake for the youngest Z, Jace..........who turned 13 while visiting us

He is an excellent baseball player.

A few days later, we headed north to visit Crator Lake National Park. Mine and Marty's first visit since our honeymoon 23 years before, almost to the day.....and the kids first visit ever.

The three sisters.maddelyn.anne.sarah.

The six siblings

Anne, Matthew, Maddleyn, Garrett, Malachy & Sarah

Those same six

Anne, Matthew, Sarah, Malachy, Maddelyn & Garrett

Two weeks later, Marty's cousin Debora & family came for a visit. We visited many lovely sopts.....including these falls, where Sarah took a jump

And, the week after that........we headed south, to meet up with my dad at Disneyland...but, first, a few stops on the way........

Sarah & her siblings: Garrett, Matthew, Malachy & Maddelyn on Sunset Blvd, stopping by a favorite store.

Sweet sisters, Sarah & Maddelyn, in the Pacific Ocean, right next to the Santa Monica Pier

Ahhhhh, we have arrived at Disneyland!

Hearts' Haven kids with their grandpa: Georgie-pop, who treated for Disneyland

Garrett, Maddelyn, George, Matthew, Malachy & Sarah

Sarah on the left, in black, grinning. I am in the back with my hands up. silly.

Next to me is my niece Kaydance, and in front is my niece Venice.....Teresa's girls.

This was the last photo I took........before my favorite camera BUSTED!

I love this photo or Sarah and her two cousins: Kaydance, 12 & Venice, 15

Gotta love this horse's tongue on the carousel at Disneyland.

A candid

FALL 2008

Sarah meets her new cousin, 2 week old Jaylen Reeves, 4th child of Aunt Jennifer & Uncle Rob

Sarah meets my godson, Benedict Michael, for the first time, just before his baptism.

Sarah drew these pictures in the fall.....

The weekend before Thanksgiving, my kids were part of a production at our local charter school.

Anne was the co-director, Matthew had the lead....and Sarah & Maddelyn each had good parts. Garrett did the lights.

Sister Sarah & Brother Matthew during a rehearsal

Sarah, aka Sylvia Dutton, & her partner in the play, Dexter Chandler, played by Gavin B

Funny, these two were married to each other in their first play, in Charlotte's Web. :)

Matthew, with his partner in the play, and Sarah with hers.

Sarah & her Georgie-Pop, during Christmas Season, 2008

And, that is it!

What a long year........what a lot of work to create this! :)

Happy Sweet 16, Sarah!!!!!

Love your family