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

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

Looking back on last month......

Remember this Spring Semester Springs into Action post last month???


Well, Willa thought I should revisit it after a month, and see how it went.


I am afraid I am not real thrilled to see the list........it sure is undone.....and of course, there is more to add. :/


I guess the real saving grace is.........I did lots of things that were not even on that list.

Okay, that makes me feel better. :)


Maybe it would be better to make a list of what I HAVE accomplished.....instead of what I NEED to accomplish. Maybe I should be looking at it from Elizabeth's point of view............small successes.


More info here.........




Now, let's get back to the list from last month. I have highlighted in GREEN, all the things I mamanged to get done. New comments are in PURPLE.


-I am trying to get Matthew out of the country. :).....still working on this.......I suppose till he is actually OUT of the country! Supposedly we should know something by TODAY.......according to the last thing we heard from Rotary. The sooner we know the sooner he can start learning a new language and research his country. ......and the sooner we may believe he is actually going far away.


-I am trying to get Anne to a four-year school.........this will require just a bit more work. I almost have an the scholarship app. in.........by Monday that one important one will be done. And, then we wait......and then we know where she will go........Nevada-Reno or San Fran State.


-I am trying to get Matthew into his dream-school when he gets back from being out of the country. Have yet to go beyond printing the application!


-I am smack in the middle of an intensive basketball schedule for Garrett through our charter school, the first sports team ever, with a VERY GREAT COACH!!! Still there.............but it ends the first week of March. Phew! It is fun, but time-consuming. We have great parents working out a great system of car-pooling. I so appreciate that!


-I need to get Malachy to basketball clinic because he has been asking for it for months....before soccer was over! He loved this! That made getting up and out of the house too early on a Saturday morning worth it.......barely! ;)


-I have four kids taking classes at the local junior college. Ongoing.......means driving and organizing, daily.


-There is ski/snowboard school on some Thursdays.


-There is skiing or snowboarding whenever there is free time........and, sadly, snow. :(

SNOW UPDATE: Our snow is now up-to-date..........and we have more than enough now.......though two more feet is expected in the next two days! And more after that!


-I am teaching childbirth classes. This will repeat in March!



-My house desperately needs re-organizing on one half & decluttering on the other. Yep, it sure does! :) I did get a dresser cleared off.......but I am not sure you could tell. :/


-I need to get my seed order in. Working on that today.......I have almost gone through the whole catalog........just need to fill out the order form.




-I need to get my chicken order in......The list is compiled........last night I will completed the order form. I am very excited to get new chickies! I only need to write the check and get it in the mail..........


-I need to get the chicken coop cleaned out & ready for the chickies. ......we are 80% done.......I need the two older boys to finish it up....I cannot this time........due to my breathing issues. :(


-I need to organize the garage.


-I need to write a round-robin letter. .....but get it MAILED asap!


-I need to get Matthew a passport.......but first a certified copy of the birth certificate. Oh, boy, do I have a story about THIS!!!!! Another post, maybe, someday! Needless to say, while I actually got it DONE......it is not yet DONE! Argh!


-I need to research and purchase a new camera. I did some research............will be talking to a shop in the big city down the road..........then I will buy. It is SO hard for ME to live life and not be documenting it. I DO have a lost and found camera from Marty.........it allows me to take 13 pictures at a time...........but the psi is low and the zoom is only 3x.


-I need to help the kids make Marty his VERY late, homemade, scrapbooked 2009 calendar, poor guy! DONE, DONE, DONE!!!! And is he very happy about that!


-I need to iron lots of shirts. STILL...........maybe today.


-I need to help my struggling readers. ONgoing.............


-I need to help my struggling writers. ONgoing..........


-I need to plan out a new way of homeschooling. Still.........


-I need to plan out a new way to do chores. Moving forward.........slowly.


-I need to help my 13 year old with her first college class. This may be ongoing.......but she is managing quite well.


-I need to drive people everywhere. This is NOT ONgoing..........this is ENDLESS. :)


-I need to help my 15 year old pick poems for her Poetry Out Loud competition this week. This needs an update of its own.


-I need to work a few days a month at the hospital. One day down.........two to go........then we start over next month........and every month.


-I need to re-vamp my childbirth classes. And I am supposed to do this when...........


-I need to figure out a meal plan that works for us, with two vegans in the house. Help!


-I need to get more sleep. Ah, while I am getting to be earlier a couple of times a week.......the last two mornings included 5am phone calls from our various employers........ugh!


-I need to get to mass.


-I need to pray the Rosary. Rosary novena going strong...........have not missed a day yet, THANKS BE TO GOD!


-I need to run down to the Bay Area this coming weekend for an interview for Matthew. It was a wonderful weekend...........I SO want to blog about it.....but I doubt I will make that happen. The interview went well!


-I need to finish Christmas newsletter & proofread it & get it mailed out via email & snail mail.



-I NEED TO PRAY!!!!!!! WITHOUT CEASING!!!!!

New tasks:

-Sign youngest boys up for the baseball season..........do I hafta???? :)

-Teach more childbirth classes.

-Gather learning records for last month.

-Get abirthday present to a friend.

-Celebrate a birthday today. :) SOMEONE in this house is 16 years old, today!

-Organize a big shopping list.

-Make an appt with the homeopath, for me.

-Write a letter for Matthew's passport.

-Journal a lot of scrapbook pages!

-Desperately need to get the schoolroom re-organized.

-Need to pick up some French Doors for Matthew's set.

-Clean my bathroom.

-Give the laundry room a re-vamp.

-START, finally, Malachy's First Holy Communion notebook! I think I may start today!!!!!!

And, as I am finally getting loopy trying to think of things that need to be done........BESIDES the usual: laundry, lessons, living............which happens daily, weekly......I think I shall publish this post.......probably too late for Grandma to catch it today.

God bless YOUR day.............and MINE!!! :)

Love,

cHARI

Poetry Out Loud Video, with Matthew!

I have been meaning to place a video here for months. I cannot figure out how to embed it. So, to see the Poetry Out Loud California State Finals Documentary for 2008, please go here.

While we watched it the first time, we were disappointed they did not include Matthew reciting, and only a few seconds of Matthew's interview (they interviewed them twice, once after each recitation). We only "saw" him here and there in the group shots.....he is the tall one, clean-cut, with the shirt and tie. Then, at the very end....we got a surprise.

So, when you go to see this video, realize it is a little over 9 minutes. It is well done.

You will hear Matthew speak at 4 minutes 2 seconds and then, our surprise, can be found at 8 minutes 20 seconds. You do not see him at first, you will only hear his voice over the video footage...and then you will see him....his comment is the LAST one heard on the video, again from one of the interviews.

Funny, I never noticed before, but just before Matthew's quote, a poet says something about some people need religion or a fundamental belief system....and that poetry can fulfill that. Whatever. :) I think it just expresses that, myself.....or adds to it, as with Matthew's choice of poems. And, sometimes, I think poetry expresses a person's LACK of religion or fundamental belief system. :)

I just noticed he has one of those ski goggle sunburn lines on his nose. :)

I think he is hoping for one of those this weekend! :)

Well, I only had a bit of time here, while I wait for the kids in their college class. Maddelyn and Matthew this time. I had to drive them, including Anne, because we got about 18 inches of snow. YES!! We actually have ten days of snow on the 10-day forcast! Boy, do we need it! At least the ski park will be set for a while. They were barely open before the storms hit. Skiing tomorrow, on Saint Valentine's Day.

I will have to come back later to get Anne. Unless I get called into work....as I am on call till 1900.

Garrett got up and outside early and has been shoveling the property all by himself. This includes the driveway! I know it is a pride thing for him....he loves to please his father.....who loves to see his kids shovel. Someday, I bet his father will buy a snowblower.......after all the shovellers leave home......or, he will move somewhere where there is NO shovelling needed!

God bless your day, your weekend!

Love, chari

There's been some good news around here.....

Let's see, where do I start?

How about pregnancy announcements?

Having kept mum for almost three months, we are finally allowed to share: my friend Louise is pregnant! Her birthday is this week...and then she and I will be the same age.......this is is her second baby....and my kids, who just found out last week, are absolutely estatic! I do believe they believe, the next best thing to me having a baby (don't panic, Grandma! :) ), is Louise having a baby.

We also have another local friend due the same week...and she is over 40, too! Yay, Victoria! This will be number 4 for her family.

And, we just found out today, that our dear friend Erica in San Diego is expecting baby#8 the exact same week....and she is over 40 also.

Isn't this exciting!

Congratulations to all three of you........and I am excited that I will be able to share Louise's birth with her.

You are all added to our daily Memorare for expectant moms!

Next good news, it looks as if I have actually found a Certified homeopath, who really and truly does live and practice in my town!!! I will make an appointment shortly to see if we can get these asthma symptoms cleared up once and for all! I met her yesterday. She has been a nurse practitioner for over 28 years and seems to fit the bill. Please pray this is so!

And, more GREAT news! I have not found my way here to mention that one of my close friend's husband had lost his job two weeks ago. We have all been scheming and praying........and on Saturday, he was offered a job.....and, from an employer who had told him almost two weeks before that there was no room for him at their place of business! We are so grateful to God for this opportunity!

And, our community good news.....THERE IS SNOW!!!!!

Our poor little community was so hurting, being a tourist town. We depend on snow for the businesses to make money. This feels so much better.

There may be other good news......but I am at a loss to remember anymore, right now.

So, onto HAVEN HEARTBEATS:

I have finally got the Christmas newsletter finished.......I just need to finish proofreading...and then I can get copies made and mailed. I will not be finishing that project, till I have all of the college & scholarship application stuff cared for........so, a couple of more weeks, I guess! I am getting closer....and will look forward to when this batch is done!!

We have TWO graduates this spring!

Anne will be graduating with her AA.

Matthew will be graduating from high school.

One on May 15 and the other May 28th. And in between? Well, they have college finals and a show........that Anne is directing and Matthew is starring in....plus doing all of the set design and building. And, three other siblings are in the show as well!

I am having these few moments to post because I am waiting for 13 year old Maddelyn, who is in a 50 minute class here at the college. It is a music fundamentals course.....and ugh, it is FIVE days a week! Thankfully, Anne can drive her and Matthew and Sarah three of the days. Marty has been good about driving Maddelyn on one of the days.....so, that leaves only one for me. Phew!!

I am in the college's library.

Garrett, aged 11, for only another month or so, has been on a REAL basketball team. Our little charter school was able to form a team this season. Some weeks, this has meant basketball 6 evenings a week! We have an amazing coach, with amazing experience. He also happens to be the director's husband. that is how we got such a great guy.........he has two boys on the team. We combined with another small team from a private Christian school after the season started......and doubled our game schedule! It has been so good for Garrett......and Malachy loves going to the games. Me, too. They finally had their first win last Friday, in a tournament. It was a great comeback!

I guess the biggest drawback, besides the busy schedule, is the fact that our sparsely populated county is so big...and we have to do a lot of driving for games......most over 30 minutes away from home...and some over an hour!

Last bit of news.........Sarah will be 16 years old on Sunday!!!!

Well, time is up! Maybe I will come back here next Tuesday!

God bless your week!

Chari

Poetry, at Hearts' Haven

You may recall last year Matthew won our charter school and then our county Poetry Out Loud competitions and made it to the California State level.

Well, this year, Sarah is eligible to compete............and she won our charter school competition. She was great! I think she has a good chance in being in the top five of county, based on last year's competing students and the schools expected to be there this year. Please pray she can do her best! The competition is this coming Wednesday.

In the meantime, we are searching the Poetry Out Loud website for one more poem for her, and we found this poem below. We ALL fell in love with it immediately! We wanted to share.

Be Music, Night’

By Kenneth Patchen

(1911-1972)

Be music, night,
That her sleep may go
Where angels have their pale tall choirs

Be a hand, sea,
That her dreams may watch
Thy guidesman touching the green flesh of the world

Be a voice, sky,
That her beauties may be counted
And the stars will tilt their quiet faces
Into the mirror of her loveliness

Be a road, earth,
That her walking may take thee
Where the towns of heaven lift their breathing spires

O be a world and a throne, God,
That her living may find its weather
And the souls of ancient bells in a child's book
Shall lead her into Thy wondrous house

Oh, my! Isn't that just lovely! What visions do you see when you hear this poem?

And now, here are Sarah's two poems for competition:

A Psalm of Life

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Her Kind

By Anne Sexton

I have gone out, a possessed witch,
haunting the black air, braver at night;
dreaming evil, I have done my hitch
over the plain houses, light by light:
lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind.
A woman like that is not a woman, quite.
I have been her kind.

I have found the warm caves in the woods,
filled them with skillets, carvings, shelves,
closets, silks, innumerable goods;
fixed the suppers for the worms and the elves:
whining, rearranging the disaligned.
A woman like that is misunderstood.
I have been her kind.

I have ridden in your cart, driver,
waved my nude arms at villages going by,
learning the last bright routes, survivor
where your flames still bite my thigh
and my ribs crack where your wheels wind.
A woman like that is not ashamed to die.
I have been her kind.

Poor Anne sexton. She was obviously mentally ill. Can you see that in her poem? Sarah reads both of these poems so well. She has great emotion. She makes you believe that she believes every word she is saying. Marty and I are so proud of her.

And, now, one last thing.

My friend Gloria is going to have her 8th baby on Friday. Would you please pray for her?

(And, for those of you who think this is Gloria G....remember that her baby is only 4 months old! :) )

Blessings,

Chari

More Word speaking right to me......

With what we are currently doing these days, these words from God speak to my heart:

From the same source as the last post:

He leads me in right paths for His name's sake.

Psalm 23:3

I don't feel in no ways tired,

I come too far from where I started from.
nobody told me that the road would be easy.
I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.

American Negro Spiritual




Our next path includes an unexpected trip to San Francisco too take Matthew to an interview on Monday. Thought we would spend time with our "family".........John & Gloria.....as long as we are down there. Considering on Wednesday morning the path was wiped out from under our feet suddenly........and then just as suddenly restored to us this afternoon........we certainly feel God at work here, leading us.

And, as for feeling "in no ways tired " .......well, let's just say I need to get together with God and work that one out. :)


Also, please pray for Sarah because first, before we go tomorrow, she is competing at the Poetry Out Loud competition at our local charter school.

I should have know I would take the time to blog (instead of pack) after I said no more blogging. :)

Now, off to figure out the passport info......maybe we will sign up tomorrow on the way out of town.

Love to you all! God bless!

Chari

Just the words I need to hear.....

Isn't it always that way with The Word?


The Lord's mercies are without end.

Psalm 100:2

God will give us strength to serve him.
St. Francis Xavier, 16th century

I have finally found a Catholic "scripture a day" website............which also includes a quote from a saint. Now that's convenient! :) I am so happy about this!

Please pray for my cousin. She is in the ICU with a very serious condition.

Love, chari

Spring Semester Springs into Action

Hello, my friends & loved ones, the few still checking in. :)

I think I am taking a blogging break. If you look at last year's blogging statistics on this blog......you would find things are not much different this year. :)

I have so many things I have wanted to blog about.........ah, well.

I THINK I got our Christmas newsletter done...it just needs photos. I will try to send it out before Lent starts. I promise, I THINK! :)

In the meantime, I cannot blog for awhile because........

-I am trying to get Matthew out of the country. :)

-I am trying to get Anne to a four-year school.

-I am trying to get Matthew into his dream-school when he gets back from being out of the country.

-I am smack in the middle of an intensive basketball schedule for Garrett through our charter school, the first sports team ever, with a VERY GREAT COACH!!!

-I need to get Malachy to basketball clinic because he has been asking for it for months....before soccer was over!

-I have four kids taking classes at the local junior college.

-There is ski/snowboard school on some Thursdays.

-There is skiing or snowboarding whenever there is free time........and, sadly, snow. :(

-I am teaching childbirth classes.

-My house desperately needs re-organizing on one half & decluttering on the other.

-I need to get my seed order in.

-I need to get my chicken order in.

-I need to get the chicken coop cleaned out & ready for the chickies.

-I need to organize the garage.

-I need to write a round-robin letter.

-I need to get Matthew a passport.......but first a certified copy of the birth certificate.

-I need to research and purchase a new camera.

-I need to help the kids make Marty his VERY late, homemade, scrapbooked 2009 calendar, poor guy!

-I need to iron lots of shirts.

-I need to help my struggling readers.

-I need to help my struggling writers.

-I need to plan out a new way of homeschooling.

-I need to plan out a new way to do chores.

-I need to help my 13 year old with her first college class.

-I need to drive people everywhere.

-I need to help my 15 year old pick poems for her Poetry Out Loud competition this week.

-I need to work a few days a month at the hospital.

-I need to re-vamp my childbirth classes.

-I need to figure out a meal plan that works for us, with two vegans in the house.

-I need to get more sleep.

-I need to get to mass.

-I need to pray the Rosary.

-I need to run down to the Bay Area this coming weekend for an interview for Matthew.

-I need to finish Christmas newsletter & get it mailed out via email & snail mail.

-I NEED TO PRAY!!!!!!!

I SO cannot do this alone.

Thanks be to God for His Presence.

I am sure I have more to do.....sigh.....but, for the moment, this is all I can think of........for now.

So, this is why I am not blogging for the moment.

If you actually read this, would you please leave a comment. I am just curious to see who will show up. :)

Blessings from busy Hearts' Haven.

Love, chari

Haven Heartbeats

I am just going to spend 15 minutes writing random thoughts.



On working: I have PTWS again.........since one of our night nurses lost her daughter a couple of weeks ago, she is out on bereavement. Therefore, there a few night shifts that need to be covered. Last night I worked the first four hours of a night shift. I left there at 1am. Ugh. I enjoyed taking care of my patients, who were both women I already knew............but I was too tired to be there. I just thank God there was no labor patient needing my constant attention.



So, there have been at least four shifts where our nurses' names have just appeared on the schedule, without our permission, in the last week and a half. I was one of them for the day after Thanksgiving. This is SO stressful as you are proven guilty till you can prove you did not agree, which most of the time is difficult. That is why I keep an email record of what we agree. Luckily I had proof! Phew!



Two of our nurses have called an "emergency" meeting on Monday to try to make sure all shifts are covered. Also very difficult to do, when two of ten nurses are out, and one works full-time and the other, as a supplemental, likes to work as much as possible.



Could you please pray for this meeting and our department? If you read my blog regularly, you know we have been having problems for months on end with nurses out for more than a month. This is hard.

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

Well, my littlest sister called me before I got a chance to finish this few minutes of journaling..... and that's okay, because relationships are more important than blogging. :)



I have A LOT on my plate right now, responsibility-wise. I need to get back to that focus right now.......so, if I can come back later, I will write another Heartbeats post.



Right now, I need to get going, Anne & Matthew have their final show this afternoon.......and Marty and I are going. It is my third showing, his first. Sarah and Garrett will be joining us.



Please pray for a very special and serious issue at Marty's work. Thanks!



Here is picture to share, one of those "blasts from the past"

This is my mother, holding my chubby little sister Teresa, aged 2yrs,

and my paternal grandmother Julia, and little 4 year old me!

Must be circa 1968. Love the ladies dresses. :)

I love you all!

Chari

Cute things at this blog

I was visiting my friend Anne at her blog and found her friend's blog........where there are pictures of cute things she has sewn........purses, aprons.......go see!

I found the book she recommends at our interlibary loan site. Yes!

The book is: Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Carol

I peeked at the table of contents.....I think my girls will like this book. It even looks like something I can sew!

Gloria L.......you cannot order it from ILL until I am done with it! :)

ENJOY!

Love, chari

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2008

You can find The Simple Woman here

My Hearts' Haven Daybook


First day of Advent

Sunday Afternoon

November 30, 2008



Outside My Window............a sunny and quite UNseasonably warm day........about 60 ish, maybe! Sunshine is SO cheerful......and the warmth doubles my cheerfulness! :)

Marty and some of the kids........Matthew....Maddelyn....Garrett.....are outside splitting wood and having a bonfire.

The views are simply gorgeous, wherever I look...............the sun does us good!

I am thinking.........Gloria and I need to have "mom's night out" EVERY time she comes to visit. Well, we decided that this last spring......but have only been able to really start it NOW.

I am thankful for.............John. Yesterday, Gloria and I could not spend the day together due to her kids being ill. So, John suggested we do a "mom's night out" at the end of the day. Then, while we were out having dinner, he called and asked if we were having a good time......and then offered to TREAT for dinner, and "have some dessert, too." Wasn't that sweet? I am also thankful for John for other things, too.......like barbequing for me........and especially for taking my kids out to do cool stuff like fishing, bike-riding, skiiing/boarding, hiking, shooting, tubing down the river............

I am ALSO EXTREMELY thankful ...........to my husband for playing football with the kids at Matthew's 18th birthday celebration.............AND MOST ESPECIALLY for cutting up the WHOLE turkey, all 24 pounds of it! A hard job and one I was NOT looking forward to.........and he did an amazing, perfect job..........now, to run and get the stock started!

From the kitchen.........left-overs from our Thanksgiving Feast on Friday....chips & salsa, too.....oh, and I found Gloria's little gingerbread cake......mmmmm, it is good!

I am wearing........a black knit skirt and a pink "paint shirt".

I am creating........a shrinking mountain of dirty laundry......it is now only a mole hill. YES!

I am going..........to be seeing my sister and her husband and my niece for a short visit as they drive by on their way to "somewhere".......they are late! Very late!

I am reading.........The Last Battle, by CS Lewis to the little boys, I have read a few pages of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

I am hoping.........to get some sense of a schedule around here............now that one play is over. Fat chance, if you look at my past. :)

I am hearing.........Matthew singing in the shower: Sunset Blvd, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

I am wondering........if I should give up this weekly Daybook till my Christmas newsletter has been written. For those of you who have never received my tome of an annual Christmas newsletter....I need A LOT of time to get it written. I toyed with making it short this year......but, when I remember that, in the end, the newsletter is really for my kids, as it is their family history, I have to concede, and go long. So, sorry, for all of you who thought you were off the hook.......the good news is.......our year was less eventful than the previous years....so, it just might be a bit shorter.


So, NO MORE Daybook, till after the new year...unless the newsletter is written.


Around the house.........my house, on the front half, is clean.........and decorated for Advent.......we have the wreath ready for tonight.........and the felt Advent calendar I made when the three oldest were so little......they do not remember ever not having it. I put greenery on the window sills.....I keep it bare for Advent, and add ornaments to it on Christmas Eve. Mary & Joseph and their donkey have started their way to Bethlehem.

As for my clutter spot......my one dresser I was going to clear off..............well, I ended up organinzing my oldest boy's clothes.....he has too many.......and now we need to reduce. I did that instead.......but, I would really like to clear off that dresser. I will try this week. Oh, and to clear my hallway of clutter, too.....half-way there.

Now Showing...................Monarch of the Glen.......season three is now over. After three seasons, we have come to love this eccentric family in the Highlands of Scotland. The last episode of this season we said good-bye to one of the main characters. This has made us all sad. :) ....and with Gloria's family here...............the little girls enjoyed a few Pixar movies, such a Monsters, Inc and Finding Nemo, and a few musicals, like Annie Get Your Gun and Meet Me in Saint Louis........favorites around here!
In the schoolroom.........What can I say????

It was Thanksgiving week........we had company and an 18th birthday celebration and a baby shower........and Thanksgiving.......and recovery from a play.

We kept up math...............and that it is about it.

Fractions, skip counting by twos, fives and tens and mulitplication.

Oh, yeah.......and...... Piano-Voice-eeeeendless singing here :)


One of my favorite things.........a woodstove fire. My house is SO cozy!!!!

Signs of the seasons......see above, about Advent. Cold..........brrrrr.......nights!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........

Monday ........violin for Maddelyn, piano for the four middle kids, voice at college for three, a visit with Shawna....
Tuesday........I work for a few hours in the morning and then probably an Advent wreath project at Shawna's house with some homeschool friends
Wednesday.......I will take five kids to see Anne and Matthew's play at the local college.....and then followed by voice class for three......and then........
Thursday..........opening night for Anne and Matthew in the play
Friday.......Shawna & I have schemed a day to go thrift store shopping all day in the big city (town?) north of us, for Christmas gifts......Anne and Matthew perform in the play.put our shoes out for Saint Nicholas's feast day tomorrow
Saturday......Saint Nicholas' Feast day.............and Anne and Matthew perform in the play
Sunday.........Anne and Matthew perform in the play, a matinee, right after mass

Somewhere in this week: Keep working on Matthew's application for Rotary's youth exchange program

Special prayer requests on my mind this week......................for two people I know who have recently been told they are going on the transplant list (heart, a little boy and lungs, a homeschooling dad).......continued prayers for my friend whose son needs help with special needs......for the play the kids are doing......for Sabine's little Michaelman..........for a local friend whose father is dying of brain cancer...........for the family and friends of a Catholic homeschooling mom in San Diego who died this week..........for my co-worker whose daughter died last week in a car accident.........for a newly pregnant friend......for a friend who has the sweetest kitten who has had intestinal problems for over a month......please pray for complete healing so the little 5 year old owner can keep her cat......for an issue my husband has at work tomorrow..........for a serious issue that desperately needs resolving........for special private intentions


St. Gerard's List..........
Stacy, Shawna's sis, is about to have her baby any moment now.......ACTUALLY, he is here!!!! Please pray for the breastfeeding to go well! Sherry is due any week now................and then there are Lissa, Alice, Bridget, Gloria (a different one!)


I am currently scrapbooking...........hmmm............maybe I need to talk to Louise about tomorrow night!

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

A scene from the play: Dont' Mention My Name

Matthew, as the lead, with Kayla, Gavin & Sarah.

Matthew designed and built this set, with the help of his team, of course!

Have a lovely first week of Advent!

Love, chari