MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

My Monday musings will almost always be from the Sunday before.........

or it will never get done. :)


My Hearts' Haven Daybook

August 17, 2008

Outside My Window..........I see a cooler looking sky than I expected to see today. We even had a few sprinkles when I was out hanging up a few clean swimsuits at 7:30 am this morning. The expected high is 91*..........it may well get there, but at least the sun is not glaring like it has been. I also see the trees moving with a lovely breeze................and can feel it coming in through my bedroom windows, which I have not had to close yet. yay.

I am thinking.........about how I dread TOMORROW. I am pretending it is not going to happen. but it will anyway. Tomorrow our summer basically ends...............that is, our free time is OVER. Anne starts the fall semester at the JC tomorrow. Matthew, Sarah and Maddelyn start beginning voice class at the JC tomorrow. Piano lessons start tomorrow...........and unfortunately voice is in the middle of piano lessons.........both of which are in different towns...........so I have to run to one town, then to the next.........and back again. And, this all gets more complicated first week of September, when we add play rehearsals........which were supposed to be in the same town as piano......but are now switched to the other town......so I go back yet again. And then, it will get even worse in October, when the JC play rehearsals start for the two oldest that begin at the exact same hour the other rehearsals end. ugh. Oh, and I forgot, Maddelyn needs violin lessons somewhere in there. This is my Monday........every single week for the semester. Do you see why I dread tomorrow??? I am so not ready for it. I think I better make up a master plan for the day. Oops.........and Matthew will have math tutor, too. Enough already.

I am thankful for........the time when I was 8 months pregnant with my second child and my first was newly two, and my husband said: I'll go do the shopping for you so you do not have to go out so pregnant and trying to manage a two year old, too.



Then, when the wee critter was born, my husband said: I will go do the shopping for you, so you do not have to manage a newborn and a toddler. And, with that, he promptly took over the family shopping.



That baby is a few months shy of 18 years. I am SO grateful to have had that chore lifted off of my shoulders all of these years. Yesterday on the way home from our Crater Lake camping trip, we dropped him off at the local airport to pick up a friend's car, and he did the family shopping for us on his way home. Today, my family with the good appetite devoured 4 pounds of fresh strawberries in about an hour. Yikes.....but, you know......you have got to eat them fast.....they start to go bad after a couple of days.

And the last decade, the shopping is not just stopping by the local grocery.......but a 2-3 hour round trip for just the driving, depending on if he goes south or north to do the shopping...........and a huge ordeal. He needs to stop by Costco, WinCo, for chicken feed supplies, Wal Mart or Office Depot, if needed ......and anything else we can think of....... He does this every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how low our supplies get. Which is unusual except for the fresh produce. We have a very well stocked pantry......he likes to keep it that way......always staying ahead. And, he is SO generous with the fresh produce........this is what our family eats the most. He usually tries to double up other needs for the trip, like building supplies or things need for his job.

From the kitchen..........on the menu for lunch today: whatever you want. For dinner: We have pulled from the freezer some of our Lebanese food from our annual Lebanese Feast, which took place in May this last spring. Jiddee (Arabic for grandfather) made the kibbee (baked ground lamb stuffed with ground hamburger, pine nuts and bulgar wheat) and we all made several hundred stuffed grape leaf rolls. There is only one more batch of each left in the freezer. :( We will round it out with a Lebanese salad and some kind of squash dish.........since our garden is prolifically producing different kinds of squash, including the coosa (Lebanese squash).

I am wearing........should I admit I am still in my summer nightgown? I think I can........seems most posters are either still in jammies or shorts. I guess most of us write in the morning. Mostly I am still in my nightie because I need to take a bath before my big day begins tomorrow......and who wants to dirty extra clothing.

I am creating........hmmmm......not sure if I can think of anything.....oh, I know! I am going through the dirty laundry so fast, I am creating a mountain of clean clothes for the kids to fold.......excuse me while I go tell them they need to get folding while they watch a movie.

I am going.........to the other room to tell the kids to fold the clean clothes......and then I am going to go get that other load off of the clothesline.....and the one out of the dryer to add to their pile. :)

I am reading.........Random Harvest by James Hilton and looking through Lasting Moments magazine, the scrapbooking magazine put out by Creative Memories.......and through Willa's blogs:

Schola et Studium

Every Waking Hour



I am hoping........tomorrow is not as bad as it seems like it should be......and that my breathing issues will soon be cured. Please, God.

I am hearing......the train going slowly by......screech........chunk........bang.........more screech.....sounds like home........the sprinklers in the garden........the fan from the bathroom........quiet chatter of the kids..........the hum of the sewing machine...........Anne is sewing eight tablecloths as a volunteer effort for a fundraiser evening at the local crisis pregnancy center later this week............the kids are listening to the music of the Jekyll and Hyde musical. It is good music. Anne and Matthew and I saw the movie of the play starring that "hunk" from Baywatch. What's his name????? Hmmm.......David Hasselhoff, Yeah, that's him. He acted this part splendidly. It is one of the best filmed plays I have ever seen. Very well acted, very well sung and very well filmed.

Around the house.......lots of things on a to-do list........oh, what happened to the summer??? Oh, where to start????

One of my favorite things.........is visiting National Parks. Hope to share more about our visit to Crater Lake National Park this week. Can't promise anything! I'm still me. :) No way around it.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week........ Well, let's see.........piano lessons, classes at the JC, math start this week.......translated: I become one serious chauffeur. Hope to scrapbook in the evening on Tuesday at Louise's lovely home. I am scheduled to work on Thursday. In addition to the tablecloths above.............we have promised 40 cupcakes for the Crisis Pregnancy Center Fundraiser evening........which takes place on Friday evening.........and I believe Anne and I are going, for at least part of it. And Saturday? Well, I just checked the calendar and it is empty.....oh, shoot! I forgot.........that evening Matthew needs to go recite a poem at the local county arts council.....since he was the county winner for Poetry Out Loud last March. It is their big fundraising gala. But, that's okay........at least it is in the evening, and we will not stay the whole time. I need to email his committment. So, I guess the whole DAY will be free...........I will probably work on homeschool stuff.

Special prayer requests on my mind this week..........Those two expectant moms I keep mentioning (Jennifer and Gloria) and I want to add my friend Maria who is expecting her 8th baby in October. All three of them think they are going to go early........and I do, too. Esp the first two as they have higher risks...........and babies just like to get out of those high risk environments as soon as they safely can (and sometimes sooner!). Cool the way the body works.

Also pray for my oldest as she has a chronic disease that seems to be harder to deal with in the summer.......and as she starts her last year here at the local JC and tries to figure out where to go to school to finish her degrees. She has some ideas...........now, where does God want her to go?

For our new school year.............I wanted to be more ready than this. :/ I repeat: Where the heck did the summer go????

Also, a special private intention is on my mind.

Please pray I can persevere with the Rosary Novena I started last Thursday. If you read my blog......your intentions are covered as well.

I am currently scrapbooking.........not anything done in this last week, except the reading of the magazine above. I am going to put an order in soon to Creative Memories. Look here to see the paper set I am going to use for the first page of Our Star-Spangled Adventure 2007 scrapbook, which I am almost ready to start........just need some of the new pages CM just updated. I LOVE these new papers! Don't you? they are made just in time for me!

NOW SHOWING........."Love Letters".......rated PG-13 for a reason.........came recommended. I don't, even with the good acting and filming. The kids are watching "The Thin Man" in preparation for a whodunit musical they are auditioning for next week. And somewhere on the list is "Sunset Blvd"........a couple of us saw it last year. The next set of kids wants to see it now.......to see what the musical is based on.


Here is picture thought I am sharing........

One of the flowers from our garden, planted along the edge.

I may have a hard time getting back here to journal anymore this week........it looks too busy.........so, now you know what to expect. :) And, you are not surprised.

Blessings this week,

Chari

Follwing up on Hearts' Haven Cats.......

You may remember I wrote a post titled:

For My Friend Aidan: The Cats of Our Hearts' Haven way back in June.

Well, I MEANT to send the reply that Aidan and his mom put together for me........it was SO thoughtful. And I was so pleased. I was also very surprised how many photos Willa had of my cats. :) Click HERE to see what they had to say!

Willa wrote this in a private email.........with her permission:

Sigh -- we really do miss you -- seems like our Bryan clock is set for March, July and October -- and we are missing some of the clock-strikes : (

I thought it was so clever. And true.

The nice thing is............a bunch of things fell through and changed and made it so we were able to strike the July dong........just differently then we ever thought we would. Such a blessing.

Thanks Aidan and Willa.

Blessings,

Chari

PS.....In case anyone was wondering...........our kitties are called Jane and Lizzie.....and they LOVE Malachy to hold them............which he does as much as possible!

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

For yesterday.........

My Hearts' Haven Daybook, August 10, 2008

Outside My Window.......it is still a bit smokey.....see my Summer of Smoke post...........at least we can see the mountains today. Yesterday started out lovely and by late afternoon the mountains had been obliterated............by 8pm it was a very creepy place.......dark, and yet it was not night. Ugh.

I am thinking..........I wish I could breathe more easily. I need to remember to email the homeopathic physician today!

I am thankful for..........my husband of 23 years today.......and my great kids that have come from this love.

Oh, and Anne overheard Marty talking to my friend Su last week while she was scrapbooking..........and he told her how much he loves Christmas because he gets a new scrapbooking album from me and a scrapbook calendar from my kids. I am glad he appreciates it.........esp when I need him to pay for the supplies. :)

From the kitchen.......shall I be too embarrassed to say??? As we have been company away from home, or had company at home for 14 days straight.......we are exhausted. We are tired of chopping and baking...........there is a Costco Lasagna in the oven for my meat-eaters.........the vegans will be fending for themselves tonight. Will probably add steamed verggies fresh from the garden.

I am wearing........oh, no......not again!.........another camping dress :) I got out of the shower and put my swimsuit cover dress on because it is light, airy and flowing.............and it is just what I needed today.

I am creating.......this, I guess. I NEED to be creating a meal plan for our camping trip this week. So not in the mood. (update.........I am starting to be inspired, finally)

I am going..........to try to go accomplish something.....anything.......maybe clean-up the garage a bit to please my hubby who got stuck at work today :( It is just a grocery-run that needs putting in its place. And, then, maybe a school check-list for my almost 7yo. I think he will like that. I will revamp someone's past list. I am also going to call my youngest sister. Update: garage is done and I cleaned the car out............ready for camping packing.......and I started collecting some of the camping supplies.

I am reading.........same as last week, plus a bit of the first issue of mater et magistra that showed up here last week.

I am hoping..........I can get the school stuff in order for starting ALL of the kids by next Monday. Four out of six are accounted for.............I saved the two easiest for last.........and will need to go over everything with the other kids again...........to give them a reminder. THIS is SO much better than last year's start.

I am hearing......Josh Groban singing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. I LOVE his voice..........I LOVE that song........and Malachy imitating 2yo Charlotte saying: "Say you berr not, you berr not."

Around the house.......LOTS of laundry to be folded..............scrapbook stuff to be put away..........mostly quiet with three of the kids off helping a friend to paint for $$.

One of my favorite things.........is a Rosary novena. I just love the grace. Praying to start one on the 14th, so it can end in time for the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Please leave any special intentions in my comment section, and I will add it to my Rosary novena. I would love to pray for you!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Prepare to go camping near Crater Lake National Park, go camping near Crater Lake National Park and clean-up from camping near Crater Lake National Park. :) Enough said.

Special prayer requests on my mind this week: Continued prayers for two of my favorite people who are expecting baqbies the same week of September. My kids are SO excited.........two cousins in one week! (one is blood and the other via friendship) The only thing better is a new sibling of their own ;) This they will tell you.............(no, I am not pregnant) ......and my private intentions.

I am currently scrapbooking........I am just SO excited.........I never got to do anything on my wedding album till this morning.......and I got the WHOLE thing finished today......it only took two and a half long years.......but it is DONE!............AND, all the photos are in place in the other album.......journaling and extras to follow. I will plug away at that over the next few months in order to hand it finished to Marty for Christmas. Now, ready to start the next album, which includes my college graduation and the birth of my first niece and my firstborn.

At this point, officially, slightly less than 21 years behind! yes! I think I now have six albums done:
~Christmas photos and newsletters
~Wedding
~Our Hearts' Haven (building the house and developing this property)
~Marty's family and pre-marriage life
~My family and pre-marriage life
~what I call "Our Story"......Volume one is completed for viewing

YES! Only a million to go!!! I keep taking photos! :)

Malachy finally started his own album: he did great and has four pages done. He has been paying attention to the details of my scrapbooking and his siblings, too, and has style already. And, show him how to use the tools once...........he gets it. Very cute. He is scrapbooking our trip from last fall: Disneyland, Getty Museum, ocean visit, Aunts and Uncles..............

NOTE: I stand corrected from a past blog post: My friend Patty, who so graciously tutors my boy in math (not remedial......just to keep him moving forward.......which HAS been difficult this summer. All too soon school will officially start.....then he will be on task......anyway.........), has let me know that my grandma is not the only one who reads my blog regularly. Thanks, Patty. :)

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

I LOVE this photo..............straight out of my raspberry patch, last June, just as they were ripening.

God bless your week.

Keep our travels in your prayers, please.

Chari

PS: School starts next week.......so, do not get too used to all of this posting......it is short-lived. :)

It's Our 23rd Wedding Anniversary

August 10, 1985

St. Mary's in the Mountains

Virginia City, Nevada

Father Bengal officiating-

please pray for the repose of his soul

************

Is that altar something?!

**************

We offered our marriage to Our lady........too bad someone cut her out of the photo!

****************

Mr. & Mrs.

*****************

My mom made the beautiful cake.

****************

*******

They slammed us with bird seed......it hurt! :)

********

Please pray for us, as an anniversary gift.

****

Thank you!

*

Chari

Haven Heartbeats

Work stuff: I wonder if I am allergic to WORK.............I almost always, and have for years......get PWTS:

Post-Working Tramatic Syndrome

It almost always includes a headache......mild to migraine.......often includes nausea, and usually major tiredness, with or without the other symptoms.

This is why I rarely work two days in a row (much less in a month :) )

I have always wondered if it was the lights or chemicals.........I am pretty sure it is related to blood sugar issues as my meal times change, or even disappear, when I am at work. Or, could it be my brain is being forced to work? Who knows.............but it IS consistent. It sucks. These are twelve hour shifts........but we can count on being away from home no less than 13-15 hours each time. ugh.

Yesterday my legs and feet were trobbing after work...............they ached for a massage. :)

Phone calls: I REALLY needed to call some folks........it has been months.......or even longer since I talked to a few of these people. Since I had to chop so many vegetables for dinner tonight..........I decided to make a few calls. I tried my father-in-law.......guess he is out of town, in New Hampshire, for his annual August trip to see son #2, 9 of 10 grandchildren........and 6 great-grandkids. So I ended up talking to Aunt Dana, wife of son #4. It was so cute when Malachy yelled at the phone spontaneously: "Hi, Aunt Dana! Hi, godmother!" He was embarrassed by his cuteness. :)

I talked to my friend Jeanne in Sacramento area..........we were sad to miss a real life visit together last month............so we made up for it with a chat. She is a dear. Keep her in prayer, please.

My cousin Julie...........we have not chatted, I THINK, since we met at Disneyland last year........but we MAY have talked around Christmas.......not sure. It was fun catching up.........she is finally in nursing school. I do not envy her, being so "old" and going through nursing school. :) She is my closest age cousin: only 16 months younger. Now my dad can be reassured that I DO sometimes listen to him (and call my cousin).

A new friend: A Catholic homeschooling mom recently joined our online camping group......she only lives 2.4 hours away...........she has big and little children. My older kids are impressed that that her two oldest are Thomas Aquinas College students (one just graduated). So am I. Very cool. She lives on our way to visit Reno, so we expect to get to meet them in person one day........plus, they may have soccer games out our way this fall.

Gloria: Anne and I were doing dinner-prep, for John's meal (her husband), and I said: Why does cooking for John always have to be such huge amount of work??? :)(Since most of the year Gloria and John visit about once a month, Gloria and I do this together regularly........so, I already knew. :) )

Anne responded: Imagine what Gloria does, and with all those babies underfoot!

So, we called her to tell her we understand how hard she works, and to tell her we would pray for her always, to keep up the pace. :)

We also told her we are praying for her pregnancy and her risk factors. Please join us!

Hmmm.........was that ALL of the phone calls?

Tubing on the river: John took three of my kids tubing today......one of them took the last rapids without a tube..........a few scratches and bruises, but otherwise okay. They said it was pretty cold.

Now Showing: We saw a delightfully engaging old movie classic today! Random Harvest starring Greer Garson (one of my favorite actresses and the reason I had ordered it from Netflix) and Ronald Colman. It is based off a novel of the same name, by James Hilton. I knew I recognized the name! He wrote Lost Horizons. I read that once in high school and again last year. He also wrote Goodbye, Mr. Chips. I ordered both from the library............and will then watch the "Chips" movie with Greer Garson in it. There are three other re-makes after that, too. There was a newcomer in the film named Susan Peters. We looked her up on Google to see what else she did because we enjoyed her acting..........and found she had a tragically short life. It was depressing. :( My friend Clare just HAS to see this movie.........she will love the story AND the costumes. :)


We also saw The Errand Boy with Jerry Lewis. He was also the director and producer. Hardly funny at all, though comedy was the point........must have been just below Malachy's level (almost 7 years old) because he only laughed some of the time. :) WAY too predictable!

Going off to bed..............

God bless!
Chari

Haven Heartbeats

Well, my day most certainly did NOT go the way I thought it would!

I started this post last night, and planned to post it this morning before my Grandma got to the PC to check. Alas, my phone rang at 6:15am (ugh) with someone begging me to come to work today. It was a good day to go, I guess.....I only had lots of things I wanted to do......not anything I had to do. So, I went.

On the way there, I begged God not to let any deliveries happen on my shift (I am an OB nurse, for those that are unaware).......I told Him I was not in the mood. :) WHILE I was driving there.......the patient went from 6 cm to delivery in the fifteen minutes I was driving. :) God was so good to me. :) Even so, it was a crazy kind of day. In the end........I still got out of the hospital an hour and half early. yes.

But now........I was too tired to do anything I had written, at almost midnight, on my to-do list for today. I could not even veg in front of this screen........there was a teenager in my way. :)

Speaking of teenagers, there were two extra ones here tonight:

John G and son Walter (14.5yrs) and nephew Ian (15 years?) and friend are here for a couple of days at the end of their week of camping. My boys were supposed to join them.......but we went to the Sierras instead. Good move. :) Their last day of fun is tubing tomorrow on the river.............I believe my boys are planning to join them. One is thinking of backing out since it will not be too hot. Our high tomorrow looks like only 79*.....though it is usually warmer on the river.

So, here is the post that was supposed to run this morning.........before I was interrupted this morning in my sleep.....ugh........

****************

From our garden: Last night we ate steamed coosa with dinner. Coosa is the Arabic word for squash.......our squash just happens to be Lebanese. My father-in-law is Lebanese, first generation......my husband, half........my children, one quarter. The beans and peas are ready............I planted two different kinds of each. We also ate buttercrunch lettuce on our sandwiches today. Malachy ate three large carrots straight out of the garden this evening........he did wash them! Our garden is about a month behind normal in growth and produce.............could it be because we planted it about a month later than usual???

Scrapbooking: My friend Su Z got about 31 pages done while she was here.....including the finishing of her European Trip album......well, except for that journaling part. I am just about finished with the first of many chronological albums from the time Marty and I met in 1982. I hope to finish it tonight or tomorrow........it ends in the middle of 1987.............so I will only be 21 years behind! Of course.........I still need to do most of the journaling in that album. For the rest of the weekend I will try to cram time in to finish my wedding scrapbook........our 23rd anniversary is on Sunday.....and it is a surprise for Marty..........ONLY three years in the making..........He gets it whether I finish the last bit or not!

Kid focus: Sarah was so sweet.........On Tuesday morning, she got up and started preparing a birthday cake for our newly 13 year old visitor............she knew exactly what she wanted for the baseball All-Star Pitcher........who just may go somewhere someday with that arm of his............a cake made in the shape and design of a baseball. His mom told him that if he agreed to STAY 12 years old...........she would let him have his birthday presents. He agreed. The poor mother..........this is her baby. :)

Update of the Gun Fun around here: Matthew tried to convince me that these airguns were safe enough to shoot people: "Come on, Mama, shoot me and see." So I did. He is right. They are not very unsafe. So, the boys played with the guns.........wore eye protection...........and Maddelyn found if you shoot at close range........you can get a tiny little welt. So, they have to avoid shooting at close range.......except for that little tiny welt on Garrett's face. The boys even made a mini-movie with the tractor lawn mower and the airguns. A few have broken already.......argh.


I am happy a two-day class I was required to take next week has been post-poned till September.....yay...........I only just got the book on Tuesday........and have yet to start studying. Less pressure for the moment.

We are trying to decide where to go camping next week with Marty for a few days..............looks like somewhere close to Crater Lake it will be.

An update to this post:

Well, as you can guess..........NO scrapbooking got done today.......and I am too tired tonight..........so, I will focus on the wedding one tomorrow......in the midst of working on that to-do list.

Tonight the girls made homemade pesto from our garden basil. It was very tasty.......John RAVED about it........said "This is the best pesto I have ever eaten." GREAT compliment from John.

Walter and Ian have been very anxious to use their airguns all week........John told them they had to wait till they got here.............so he dropped them off here before heading to their home spot. I think they enjoyed themselves, warring all the afternoon away.

Matthew and Garrett got our new out building painted today........a shelter for the dogs. I will try to photo it soon to share. Malachy and the dogs also got painted, somehow :)

It is a bit chillier out tonight......I actually have had to close a few windows.

And, now.......good night....I think I am a bit tired....... :)

Yaaaaaawwnn.....just a bit!

With love,

Chari

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

Find The Simple Woman here


I hesitated to start doing this.....I always hesitate to do what everyone else is doing :) ....but I enjoy the simplicity of the idea........plus the fact that it is a record of a historical moment......that would be MY history.......so a bit of journaling that I do not usually get done, would get done. I may not do it every Monday.......and may sometimes be late. No surprise there! :)


Another reason I have hesitated to start this was because I sometimes do not always keep things simple....I like to write with lots of details............and be chatty......and then, I found Elizabeth's blog post the other day, and found she knows just what I am talking about. So, I will go for it.......and it will be my style in the end........as it usually is...... :)


My Hearts' Haven Daybook, August 4, 2008

Outside My Window...my garden has grown a lot in a week. I am happy to see the basil doing better than when I left. The tomato leaves look a bit unhappy. There were some snow peas to munch on and a few cherry tomatoes..............and we see baby squash, peppers and eggplant. The flowers Garrett planted on the edge just for fun are a pretty sight for the eyes. We picked a huge turnip, a small beet and a small rutabaga. We are so excited about this because we have never grown these plants before. We will be eating them with tomorrow's meal......baked root vegetables with Lebanese salad and barbequed tri-tip. Mmmmmm.

I am thinking...how excited I am that I am only 21 1/2 years behind on my scrapbooking now after last week's run of scrapbooking. I am doing more this week with my friend Su Z who is on her way here now.

I am thankful for...our "soulmates" for friends.......Willa and family.........and the most wonderful visit to their home we just had! And also for my grandmother.........I LOVE to know she reads my blog. She is the only one who reads it regularly.

From the kitchen...we are having spinach fettacini alfredo topped with baked chicken and steamed broccoli and red bell pepper. It is SO pretty: two different greens, a red and the white...........lovely contrast. I am baking Italian crust bread..........experimenting with some chopped sundried tomato and minced garlic mixed in.......and a green salad with lettuce from our garden and toppings with homemade balsamic dressing from my oldest daughter's expertise. Oh, and olive oil and garlic for the bread dipping. I think that is it. Can you tell we are having company? This is my new company meal this summer. Not sure if I have time to whip up a dessert.............I may save that for tomorrow night. I am pretty sure one of the boys visiting has a birthday tomorrow.

I do not usually make such a nice meal. :) My poor kids.

I am wearing........my camping clothes: an old very flowery and flowing skirt with an old shirt that has a splatter of paint on it somewhere.

I am creating........a letter of reference for a dear friend's daughter, who would like to go to Thomas Aquinas College in Fall of 2009. I am also creating a Literature Evening with Howard Pyle for our next literature evening.

I am going...to try not to stay up too late tonight!

I am reading.........Charlotte Mason's Formation of Character and The Four Loves by CS Lewis. Willa and I are reading the CM book at the same time. She keeps ahead of me as she started first. :) Still trying to figure out what to read next......my list is overwhelming me. There are A LOT of books still left for me to discover!

I am hoping...well.....I have some private prayers big on my mind right now...........but I am also hoping my company can find a way to stay through Friday and not have to leave on Thursday! :)

I am hearing......my six children, aged 6yrs to 19yrs, belting out along with the music from The Scarlet Pimpernel........they do this regularly, all day long..........if they can......... from different musicals. This is why I have to have a rule during school hours: ONLY Classical music before lunch. :) (The funny thing: I worte this on Monday morning.........and then later about 7:30pm when I came back to finish writing this.........they were doing it yet AGAIN! :) )

Around the house.......we have the leftovers of stuff and sleeping bags and piles of dirty laundry that I am slowly whittling down (already have one on the line.....one ready to go....and one in the wash!) from our trip to visit our friends in the High Sierras of California. We returned late last night, just after 10pm...........and are quite pooped out!

One of my favorite things.........is looking through my most recent pages of my scrapbooking endeavors.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: We have company arriving in just four hours........we will hang and play with them till Thursday.......this includes scrapbooking moms, swordfighting boys..........and girls who love to be togther doing girly stuff. The boys have new airguns and will be begging to use those. I hope to hold my ground and say NO. I am SO naive, that when they were buying "air" guns, I thought that meant they shot "air".........I was very surprised to learn they needed to purchase beebees (how does one spell that word???). I am NOT so happy about this. They will need their father's intervention to convince me they can have what they want. :)

(Update: my husband has helped me to see this is possibly okay...........and Matthew let me shoot the pistol.........I am a GOOD shot! :) I hit my target twice, with my first time ever shooting ANY gun in my life. It was kind of fun.........shhhh.........don't tell the boys!)

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

It is hard to tell in this photo........but that turnip is about 5-6 inches in diameter! fresh from our garden!!

I want to add two more comments to the Simple Woman's Daybook for my blog:

Special prayer requests on my mind this week: For my friend Gloria and my sister Jennifer who are due the same week with their 6th and 4th babies..........and it is only about 7 weeks to go. And of course my private intentions: I have three special ones........just waiting patiently for God to come around to my way of thinking :) Oh, and for our coming homeschool year! We DEFINITELY could use some prayers!!

And, I cannot for the life of me remember what the other comment was.........par for course!

God bless you for reading this far!

Chari

PS: I wrote this on Monday......but ran out of time to post it!

IN THE SIERRAS-Last Day!

Well....I was actually going to post something today.....but I found I would rather spend time with my friend....or scrapbooking....or napping......so, this is all there is!

Tomorrow we hit the road for home.......and the Z family arrives to visit us on Monday.

It is late now...I need to hit the pillow......and there are a lot of children exhausted from an evening of swing dancing. :)


Returning soon....please pray for our safe travels.

Thanks.

Chari

IN THE SIERRAS-Day One

Hello, there!

I actually have a few moments and internet access, so I thought I would let you know we arrived safely to the Sierras last night.

We left Our Hearts' Haven about 11 am yesterday.........only had a couple of stops before we got past Sacramento......gas.....Starbucks........

The night before, I had found a Joann's Superstore in Stockton. We had NO idea there was such a thing....but we LIKE it! :) My kids may always to demand a stop in Stockton at this Joann's store, they liked it so much. :) Anne finally found some fabric for another Regency dress.....and then, the kids REALLY scored. Butterick Patterns were on sale for 99 cents each, and no coupon needed. I think between four of them they purchased about 25 patterns. Almost all of them are costumes: more Regency Era and some medieval......and many 1950's style (think grown women's style, no the teen style, with Poodle skirts), as well as a few modern patterns. I found a swet nightgown pattern for myself.

Then, we headed to Walmart for a few items, including the all important Star Wars Light Saber for Malachy. :) His last one is WORN OUT......and a boy can always use a working light saber :) It is an early birthday present.

Grabbed a dinner of Subway sandwiches, which really hit the spot....and got into our friends' house about 10:30....10:24 to be exact. We all guessed the time of arrival....and Matthew got it ON THE SECOND.

We chatted till about12:30am........and still made it to Mass about 30 minutes away this morning, near the Lake House we will be staying at with our friends. My friend Willa's husband's family has owned this lake cabin since at least the 1930's, I think. We are back at Willa's house and are packing our things and will leave in a few minutes to join them at the cabin.....we will be there till at least Wednesday....so probably no news from us till then.

Oh, the smoke...well, it was not until we were in Stockton, that the blue sky showed......the entire drive down I-5, the sky was a sickly pale gray color.....often reminded me of what it may have looked like in The Stand written by Stephen King, after the nuclear blast. I have been thinking about re-reading that book........I do not go in for much written nowadays.....but I read that as a teen and I always remember that I enjoyed it.

Well, we are off to the Lake and cabin....I just bought new oars at a local store for the rafts.......the boys are raring to go!

Prayers for all of you!

Love,

chari

Ten Beautiful Things.....July 2008

I have been kind of grieving over the fact that I have not had beautiful "things" to see this smoky summer........

........woe is me. :)

And, then, Thursday evening, just before dusk, I drove into town, and I do what I always have done, for almost two decades, and certainly all this summer..................I smiled to myself, GIDDY, every time I see the wild sweet peas all over my hometown area. I LOVE sweet peas............they are April's flowers........and April is MY month. And, they are every where............I can't wait for them to arrive to arrive each year............as it means summer is finally HERE. I watch them growing on the sides of roads.........till they bloom......and bloom and bloom. I just love their smell.........don't you?

Those sweet peas reminded me that I cannot find Ten Things Beautiful. I have been trying.........and it just depressed me to look up at the mountains. Being the optimist that I am, I decided I had to get rid of that negative thought, and to search out ten beautiful things, IN SPITE OF the smoke. I thought out my plan and kept my eyes low, out of the smoke, looking for beauty. I just had to lift my spirits. :) And, I guess that means..........look LOW!

So, here is what I came up with yesterday, in no particular order:

1. Sweet Peas...........everywhere around here...................around every turn in the road..........they are so familiar to me............my heart and eyes expect them............and they prove themselves all summer. I wait expectantly each June............it does my heart good, trusting God, that out of the depths of winter.......I KNOW He will always return the sweet peas to me.

Taken June, 2006.

Taken June, 2006......Paddy (3 1/2) and Malachy (4 1/2), playing and exploring a field of sweet peas. Paddy belongs to Willa and we will be leaving tomorrow to go visit them for a week. This is the photo Anne has on her computer desktop.

2. Miss Miranda's sweet smile and yummy smell when she got out of the bath to give me a goodnight hug Thursday night. Five year olds are so yummy, aren't they!?!

Miss Miranda visiting with us and our kitties last week.

3. Miss Miranda's mommy: Louise...........got to love her beauty, both physically (great smile, sparkly eyes and gorgeous skin........love the dark colors God painted her........) and the beauty within her soul. She has a great big heart............and I love my friendship with her........and scrapbooking at her house, as often as we can. :)

4. Amazing sunsets through the smoke..............see previous post.

5. The little plastic "bubbles" Miss Miranda left in the dirt and flowers in front of her garage........they look like little fairy bubbles...........and I was so delighted when my eye caught them. I definitely had to look low to catch them! :)

6. The other wildflowers growing on the side of the roads.......and in the meadows I drive by daily. Yellow is an especially prominent color!

7. I passed so many beautiful ponds during my drives on Thursday. The reeds growing in the ponds are so pretty........love the strength they bring to my mind.

8. The little Western Scrub Jay hopping across my road as I drove out to town.

photo from google

9. Delicious kitties cuddling together.......all day, every day. Malachy cannot get his fill. He drags me out of the house, sometimes a few times a day, to see what they are up to......."how cute they are! Take their picture!"

Our sweet babies

10. "Farmer Jacob".........you know, like Farmer John. My friend Shawna and her husband, Jacob, have just purchased 11 acres of beauty.......ponds, streams, wildflowers, birds, dragonflies..............etc. Oh, and A LOT of work. :)

So, I drove onto her drive-way yesterday, and there was Farmer Jacob, which I vowed to call him from now on a few weeks ago when he and Matthew were lifting hay bales.........yesterday he was standing by the pasture fence, tying the sprinkler to the fence with wire........just like I see farmers do all the time..............they are always messing with their fences, you know. :) Anyway...........seeing Jacob there brought a grin to my face........and he was wearing his usual great grin. I said: "And this work will never end".......and He said: "And, this is only the beginning." Another big grin. He is SO happy. :)

So, there you have it! I actually came up with more..............maybe for another day!

I feel better already........and today, I could even see more beauty, now that I have changed my attitude! :)

God bless,

Chari

HAVEN HEARTBEATS

Remember I mentioned the hospital bill here? Well, I got a chance to chat with someone from billing when I was at work Monday.....she "chased" me down, she said..............and she gave me some very good news!

Looks like I am ging to get a 30% discount and monthly payments for 30 months, no interest. That makes me feel slightly better. But only slightly...........I still want that gazebo...........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a lot of sewing going on around here! The girls are going nuts sewing two more Regency costumes and making Regency bonnets to take with them out of town. They are having such fun! Here is a link to Anne's blog where you can see the first one that she sewed.

Blessings to our dear friend Shawna who blessed them with the borrowing of a sewing machine when mine decided to FIGHT them. Also thanks to Kathy's mom who gave them a Serger in May.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are going out of town this weekend. We will be gone for a week. I know you are used to me not getting posts on here......but I have a good reason next week. Most of the time will be without internet.......but maybe at the end of the week I may find time to post something.

We are visiting our dear friends (a Catholic homeschooing family) in the Sierra Nevadas, on the western side. We are SO excited. And, Anne gets to go, too! One of her best friends is here, as well as Matthew's.......as well as mine.........and probably Garrett's and someday Malachy's, too!
We will being staying part of the time at her in-laws "lake house" which I just found out is one of the best recreational lakes in California.........who knew? I always pictured it as a little mountain lake. What a special treat!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, when we return home, we will have some of our other best friends over for a visit from Nevada..........another Catholic homeschooling family. This family also contains one of Anne's best friends.........Matthew's too......and mine also........and another fun playmate for Garrett.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One of the exciting things this summer is that Anne has managed to do a six-week math course in three weeks at the local JC...............her teacher just happens to be a Catholic homeschooling mom...........and has allowed Anne to work on ahead of the class. This means Anne will have THREE weeks of summer off from school..........she SO needs this! So do I! :)> It will start this Friday afternoon...............and includes all of the visits above plus a camping trip to the coast with her family..........um, that would be us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to go write a letter of reference for a Catholic homeschool young lady for a wonderful college.............please pray to the Holy Ghost that I can write the words needed!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless you until I "see" you again!

Love,

Chari

2008-----THE SUMMER OF SMOKE-----UGH

Most of you know that last summer was barely spent at home........there was a two-month cross-country trip, the Star-Spangled Adventure, followed by six weeks of rehearsals and performances of three plays and then two weeks at Disneyland and San Diego.

Our family was SO looking forward to staying home all summer..........we had wonderful plans.............exploring new hikes and old favorites (since we live in one of those hiking-central kind of places), taking daily walks in the evening and or morning (since I really need the exercise), walking out to "our meadow," inviting friends over.........breakfasts, lunches and/or dinners at the Lake, like we used to do in the old days.......really working on the property, establising new beds of flowers and herbs........maybe working on a Mary Garden and sunflower houses.

Sigh........VERY BIG SIGH..................

As you are probably aware..........there have been a lot of fires burning in Northern California.

At the end of that week I was ill..........there was this strange evening, on Saturday, June 21st........when this big lightning storm came over the top half of the state. There was little rain.............but someone reported more lightning strikes than anyone had ever counted in a storm before. The sky was so forbidding.

By Monday afternoon, it was reported by Sacramento that there were over 840 fires in the Golden state of California..........and all, but three were north of Sacramento. Isn't that scary?

And then, the SMOKE arrived..................and it has barely lifted in the four or five weeks since.

The air quality is too poor for hanging outside, for opening windows, for seeing our beautiful scenery.

The only thing it is good for: are amazing sunsets. When else are you able to look directly at the sun without being blinded???

I have included some photos below..........to share what we have been seeing here.............

The photo below is our backyard view, taken just before dusk last week. Today, you could not even see this mountain.

The view from the site of my future gazebo:

Um, what do you mean you cannot see Mount Shasta therebehind the trees???? This has been our view of Mount Shasta all summer. VERY BIG SIGH..........my husband says he is miserable this summer...........like it is another very long winter. sigh. poor guy, he has such a great view of Mount Shasta from his desk at work......and......he is getting so tired of winter. this does not help much. oh, well........

Two views, above and below, of the same sunset. I love the close-up of the trees below. I LOVE my zoom on my camera..........I am at least 100 feet from this tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The photos below are a series of one sunset in particular. Both Matthew and I took these photos.

They are kind of amazing.........but not like what we saw in person...........

WOW

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This last one is so cool.

Matthew got the weathervane on top of our chicken coop.

It is much clearer before I had to shrink the photo to get it on the blog.........but, you get the picture. Pun Intended. :)

I posted all of these photos a few days ago, waiting for time to journal.......only to have such two clear days, I thought maybe our summer would be redeemed. On the way home from work yesterday, I saw this amazing and HUGE wall of smoke in the north........you could see the sun-kissed, orange smoke floating to the west. Well, we went from one of the clearest days all summer to one of the worst days all summer. Today was so bad, I do not think even non-respiratory-impaired folks should be out. It was very painful. All of the mountains in the photos above did not even exist today.......... :(

Please remember all of the fire-fighters in your prayers, and their families. They make great sacrifices for us. I appreciate what they are doing..........and I feel bad for them having to work with no rain in sight........high temperatures.........and in all of that smoke. I hear the smoke is worse in the towns south of us. UGH.

Blessings from Smokeville!

With love,

Chari

ANOTHER SENIOR YEAR TO PLAN

Yay! I can finally sit down and just write for a few moments.

I spent the entire day yesterday with Matthew in our school room planning out his senior year....and collecting resources. Boy, does he have a lot to accomplish this year! Let's all pray for him, he may need it! :)

I am very excited for his year. He will enjoy the learning. He is like his mother and older sister..........a compulsive student. :) That is one of the reason I LOVE homeschooling.........*I* get to keep learning..........and..............without the tests!!!

He has on his plate:

Religion & Catholic Apologetics (Book 4 of Our Quest for Happiness & Apologetics using a TAN book and syllabus from Our Lady of Victory School)

Latin I (yes, we are REALLY behind in this :/-one semester of Latina Christiana I and II and then to Henle with Mother of Divine Grace's (MODG) syllabus)

English IV (probably a combo of every other subject: we are working on spelling of SAT type words, Classical vocabulary, papers will be written in all other subjects this year, possibly a Shakespeare Club, and our Literature evenings, etc)

American Literature (a Junior College class with a great teacher and friend-both semesters)

Public Speaking (a Junior College class-one semester-one of Anne's fave classes & teachers-she thinks it is a perfect class for Matthew)

Chemistry (combo text & Great Course from The Teaching Company-Matthew LOVES their stuff!)

Geometry, with Patty, our wonderful math teacher & friend, using Jacob's Geometry

Voice (a Junior College class), with his two youngest sisters

Drama (a Junior College play, maybe more than one.......AND also one at our local charter school)

Piano lessons & practice----his last year with our favorite piano teacher :(, who happens to be a "descendant" of Beethoven, as a piano instructor :)

American Government & Economics (first semester only?? I doubt he will finish in ONE semester---using MODG's Syllabus and an Economics course from The Teaching Company)

Ancient Greek History/Ancient Roman History (one each semester---though, knowing HIM, he may spend all year on Greek :).........using MODG syllabus as a guide)

Driver's training (1st quarter only--online course)

SAT prep (1st quarter only--SAT Prep book and practice writing timed essays)

Next semester we will add:

Health

Logic, if there is time. We tried this semester, but as you can see, it seems something had to give...........it was Logic, yet again. It is the Logic program from Memoria Press. He and his youngest sister (a professional argue-er) will be viewing the Teaching Company's Argumenation DVDs during the whole year.

Script Analysis (at the local JC with his favorite director)

Creative Writing (at the JC with Anne's favorite instructor)

Computer Course......not sure what yet, maybe a class at the JC?

And then, graduation with our local charter school at the end of May! YAY! He SO deserves this. I was worried when he entered ninth grade, since he came to reading a bit late.........and he has pulled off the most wonderful learning in these past few years. His memory is outstanding. He is so amazing and gifted intellectually. A very good actor, too. And he can play Devil's Advocate very well. He needs to go to college somewhere where he can practice arguing, so he can become very proficient. :) He and Maddelyn LOVE to argue.........that is why they are excited by those DVDs. And, of course, you realize I mean ARGUE in the intellectual sense, right? :)


After graduation, we expect he will have a GAP YEAR, while he hones his skills for the college he wants to attend. Who knows what will change between now and then...............

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Funny, this started out as a Haven Heartbeats post and turned into something else......hey, but at least it is SOMETHING! :) I may even post again tonight, with photos! :)

God bless you today!

With love,

Chari....

....who is going off to plan the new high school freshman and eighth grader today........thankfully, I already did most of the freshman.....just need to fine-tune! Phew!

THE DIAGNOSIS IS STILL A MYSTERY

.......and will remain so, I expect!

I know it has been awhile since I got a post in lately.............(besides the 4th!).......my excuse is kind of a good one, this one time :)

On Father's Day I started having strange symptoms.......that by Monday were so severe, I needed to go to the ER, per my primary MD, and homeopathic MD, too......they were worried I might have a spinal infection, and the pain was beyond tolerating, even for my high pain tolerance.

Thankfully my labs came back without proof of infection.....I think it may have been the prayers of my friends and family.......but I was hospitalized for pain control, which we got by about 1:30am. I had more medications in 24 hours than I have had in 24 years. Ugh. Most of you know that was beyond MY comfort zone........I ended up feeling weak and wiped-out with nausea and a severe headache for the whole week. Funny, I had some fantasy that once the pain was under control, I would be feeling my normal self........I guess not! The recovery time shocked me.

Oh, I also had an MRI which showed that I have what we KNOW was wrong with my back (and unrelated to these issues)........and thankfully, nothing else.

So, that is my excuse. :) Once I got better..........it was too hard to get to the computer to write when I had just lost a week in my life.......lots of catching up to do. Has not happened yet, of course...............but I am plugging away. Barely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The insurance paper just came in for this hospital visit...........and I am in a state of shock. For a 32 hour stay in the hospital.......and I was not even that sick..........it looks like the charge is about $8,800. Is that SICK or what? I NEVER go to the ER............I rarely go to the doctor's office............this amount $$$ may be a deterrant in the future. This does not even include the MD bill or the radiologist's fees. Yikes! If I am going to spend $3,000 I would like to see a new used car sitting in the drive-way.........or take a wonderful trip somewhere.........or that gazebo I want.......ya know?

And, all of this money, for a day in the hospital........and no real diagnosis to show for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In suffering this trial, I was SO blessed by my friends........I owe thanks to some special people during this time........


In order of blessing:

My dear friend Willa kindly posted a prayer request for me, and my 4-Real friends came in mighty strong and generous, and for that I am most definitely eternally grateful. Even if I felt lousy, getting to talk to Willa daily was fun. :) Looking forward to continuing the habit! :)

My husband..........for staying with me at the ER even though I told him I was just fine, he could go back to work. :) I REALLY needed him there. I am glad he stayed.........plus, at least he knows I really needed to be there.........especially when he looks at that bill. :/

Oh, and he also drove four of the kids up to Oregon to see their orthodontist, since I was still too ill to deal with the three hour round-trip drive to the appt.

David......he is my friend, and also my doctor. I had called him that morning and he sent me to the ER. In the ER they were unable to do anything more than vital signs till the ER MD could come see me...........David walked into the door to find me, and got the ball rolling, ordering me pain meds and fluids and the tests I needed. Phew! I had to wait at least 45 minutes on that guerney for help......he was such a sight for MY pained eyes! He is the best doctor for ME. I appreciate how respectful he is about understanding how I can take responsibility for my family's healthcare....and in using alternative therapies and avoiding drugs most of the time. And, it is nice we can pray for each other. He was surprised to hear from me that day, even asking me on the phone: How urgent is it, Chari??? teasingly, only seeing I meant business. He KNOWS I never call unless I have a REALLY good reason. :)

I left a message for my dear friend Louise to let her know I was going to the ER, and when I got to the "floor" she asked what she could bring. She started listing items.......food, tea, magazines.......and in the background I hear little Miss Miranda (5 years old) chime in with "a fresh cut flower?" :)

......that is SO Miranda :)........so, I said YES, a fresh cut flower would do me just fine. The girls also brought me some yummy hot tea, one of my favorites, Vanilla Hazelnut by Celestial Seasonings, and some House Beautiful magazines. The next day they brought me fresh fruit because the hospital food for breakfast was disgusting, truly. Hmmmmm.....I think Miranda brought me some chocolate, too. These two are such gems! And, I am not sure..........I cannot remember, but I think Louise may have given a ride to one of my kids for a class.

(Interesting side note: Louise and I were born in the same hospital in Los Angeles less than a year apart...... :) )

I tried to call my dear friend Shawna to let her know I needed prayers as I headed into the ER, but was unable to get through to her.........I asked Louise to let her know..........when Shawna returned Louise's call......Louise's husband said she went to see me in the hospital........and immediately after Louise arrived, Shawna's cheery face was besides hers! Wasn't that sweet? It is so fun how the three us of make such a perfect trio of friendship. We balance so well. It SO reminds me of C.S. Lewis's descriptions in The Four Loves about friendship. I want to read it to them someday.

The three of them stayed and chatted with me, as once the pain medicine began working, I felt better.......no surprise, eh? :)

The rest of the week, was tough, as I mentioned above, a severe headache and intermittent seasickness.........so on Friday, I had two of my kids needing to be in the town about 40 min north of us for dentist appts I had already cancelled due to my Aunt's funeral in May..........and because I was too seasick to drive, Shawna drove me up there.......... Now, how is that for friendship? :) Such kindness...............

While I spent that one day in the hospital, I wandered over to my own department, OB, where I found my friend and co-worker, Micki. We chatted about what was going on, and she said she would come to my room and give me a massage, from the shoulders up. My nasty headache looked forward to that! Micki has a healing touch......I very much appreciated her coming to take care of me. Thanks, friend!

The nurses at the hospital took good care of me.........Donna G was working the desk and was very sweet, making sure my needs were met. I hope I was a good patient........some RNs are not :) I may not always like to be at work...........but I know there is no where to be found the quality of folks who work at my hospital. Our customer service is second to none........which is documented.....in spite of being the smallest hospital in the third largest hospital corporate system.....with the highest customer service....consistently over the years. We have won big $$$ awards for it.....over 21ish other facilities.

Thanks to Meg, one of my husband's faithful employees........she and her roomate sent me a get-well card. She is so sweet, always doing things like this.

I know there were friends who were praying for me......even if I was not chatting with them...........Patty was out of town.......and she told Maria..........and I know they both were praying for me. And Gloria, I am guessing was praying for me :).........she was there all day with me on Sunday, when I could not face life........and then on Monday when she came to pick up her oldest child who was staying at my house, I was already off to the hospital. And Sheila, too.........who told Jen! Thanks, friends!

And, lastly listed, but of course not last, my wonderful kids..........who did not skip a beat but kept the house going all week, and took care of me..........and my own family, who were praying for me in Nevada and California.......wherever they were.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, at the end of the week, on Saturday, June the 21st, was a lovely day spent with some lovely women at a homeschooling mom's retreat at my dear friend Shawna's beautiful home. And then this was followed by about 2.5 hours of rambling Shawna's new home on 11 acres with her and her mom and her two little girls. The meadows were in full bloom, we waded in the creek.........it is SO Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie.......just like Plum Creek! And, I mean the ACTUAL Plum Creek......I would know, I have been there! :) We walked through grass taller than the little girls, and sometimes us. Such a nature preserve......and just what my house-bound soul needed.

Thank you again to all of you who were praying for me. Hopefully this is the end of the story (with the exception of paying those bills......ugh!).............though I am occasionally feeling tinges of that same discomfort. I seriously doubt I will head to the hospital for any next bout. :/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, I will try to get back to regularly scheduled blogging :)

God bless!

*Chari*

Cousins Came for Visit

Two weeks ago I realized if my youngest sister Jennifer did not come for a visit soon, she would not be able to come. You see, she and her husband Rob are expecting their 4th and Goal in September. Plus, she starts her new teaching job the first Monday in August......AND they have to run over to Minnesota at the end of July. The time was right.......and it gave her a chance to travel in her new car.

~~~~~~~~~~~


I have two sisters.....and a bunch of nieces and a few nephews:





Teresa, two years younger than me:
Alexis 20 years
Venice 15 years
Kaydance 11 years


~~~~~~~~~~~



Jennifer, about seven years younger than me:
Hudson 6 years
Avery 4 years
Carter 2 years this month
Baby, aka 4th and goal (dad's a football coach) expected in Sept


~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Then there is me:

Chari
Anne 19 years
Matthew 17 years
Sarah 15 years
Maddelyn 13 years
Garrett 11 years
Malachy 6 years


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jennifer brought her three kids plus Teresa's youngest.

Now....here are a bunch of photos taken just before they left yesterday.........enjoy, Grandma!

Girl cousins on the swing: Sarah, Anne standing

Kaydance, Avery, Maddelyn on swing

Twin cousins, born three weeks apart: Hudson & Malachy

Big girl cousin Maddelyn & little girl cousin Avery

One from each of the sisters: Garrett, Carter & Kaydance:

Again, one from each of the sisters, the three youngest girls:

Kaydance, Avery & Maddelyn

Anne, Aunt Jennifer & Sarah

Oldest nephew Matthew hugging little cousin Hudson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, off to the 4th of July parade and then all day at the lake followed by fireworks about 9:45 pm....because it does not get dark until then!

Happy 4th of JULY to you!

With love and prayers,

Chari