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For All Mothers…

May 9, 2009 By Laura 2 Comments

for mothers

~A MOTHER’S LOVE~

A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

 

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Holidays, The Big Picture Tagged With: a-mothers-love-Helen-Steiner-Rice, Mother's Day, mothers-poem

May Basket Delivering! – SO FUN!

May 1, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Our May Basket Delivering Day was so fun! We wanted to share it all with you.
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There was no schooling on our agenda today – just delivering our May baskets for May Day, and the kids could not have been more excited! But, first, I had to have some of my own fun, taking just a few more photos, as detailed memories.

daisies

rose

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Ok, now I was ready. So next the kids loudly debated about which May basket was ‘theirs’, based on the tag they made, and who was going to who’s door, ringing the doorbell, and running for their life.   Once that was settled, they were very eagerly ready to go!  But you know I’m getting a photo of them first, and they know it too.

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I was so grateful that the light rain we had going on, went on hold for us once it was time to get down to business.  I didn’t mind the gray overcast day—it’s actually better for the photo taking. : )

Our first stop was right at the end of our road……

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This is the home of a lovely elderly couple who have nearly ancient history in our neighborhood. This home of their is new, but it is built right in front of the old and smaller home that they raised 11 children of their own in!  They are so sweet.  So {A} placed the basket on the porch, rang the doorbell and ran. We were ‘seen’…..their visiting daughter opened the door as she and I were climbing back into the van up the road some. Last year their visiting son saw us the same way. Now…our hopes are always that our intended receivers would come to open the door, because that would give us more ‘get-away’ time, if you know what I mean. ; )

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Next stop was up the main road a bit……

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{J} was up for his hit and run.  lol. This is the home of Sr. Jeremy—the long time nun resident of our parish.  She has done marvelous and wonderful things within our church family. We love her dearly…..and she loves children, DEARLY!!  She is a HOOT, if you know what I mean, and she has no reservations about speaking her mind. Ever. My kind of Girl!

ring-and-run-may-day-basket-delivering_
I was hiding behind a bush with my camera, and I couldn’t have been more tickled pink with getting this shot!! Look how his feet aren’t even touching the ground!  He was hysterical, trying to run before the door opened. We got away in time, but did spy with our little eyes, Sister open the door, see the May basket, and look everywhere for the sneaky one. lol

Next stop was a little ride, and it was {S’s} turn…..

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This is the home of a lovely older couple from church, who dig us. And we dig them. We always sit all together in 2 pews in front or behind each other. They adore our kids, and are smitten with their church behavior.  They are probably in their late 70’s, and have great senses of humor.

Now, I have to tell you…THIS was a tricky one. And we got TOTALLY BUSTED!  See, here’s the thing. We were pretty sure these Peeps were going to be home. The brick sidewalk leading to this door, is very windy. It actually does a zig, and then a zag. So sidewalk is actually shifted very much to the right side, walking towards the door, and then does a zig to straighten head on to the door. So as we are walking, we are looking RIGHT IN the big window door-right. And we see movement in there. Oh dear!  So {S} puts the basket down, and tries to hurry ringing the door bell, which is of course door right….

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…and as he rings, he finds himself face to face with Mrs. G….coming to the door. DAG NABBIT!! Do you see her?  Need help?

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Do you see her now??  No??  It’s ok…it’s ok…it happens to the best of us. (Well, not really….I just don’t want you to feel bad…)…look again…

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Now?? Because that’s really all I can do to help you. lol

So anyway….she’s coming, {S} sees her, but he starts ringing the doorbell anyway, and again, and again, because really….he was NOT missing the opportunity to ring a doorbell like everyone else! (We don’t have one on our house…lol).

Mrs. G opened the door, and laughing she said “WHAT are you DOING?”…and {S} said “Happy May Day!“, and she replied with a big laugh, “Aren’t you just the sweetest thing!“….and he has been repeating that all day. I think he believes her! lol. No…he is. So anyway…I was laughing so hard, from the nerves and getting caught, I forgot to take photos of her standing there, pleased as punch with their surprise.  Then we ran away, with her yelling after us…‘Thank youuuu!!!”

We had ONE more stop, and it was {O’s} turn……

may-day-basket-deliveries
This is the home of our friend, Dr. Ann. She is a veterinarian, and she has become quite attached to our kids too.  (And us, her.) We also know her from church, and we also sit near her.  (She saved a pew for us on Sunday morning, because we were running late, and it was JAM PACKED because it was a First Communion Mass….bless her soul!! We were so thankful!)   Anyway, she calls the kids ‘The Children‘….and if you heard her voice.  LOVE her voice. She’s a lector too…which is so lovely hearing her read Sunday readings to us…and she is also a singer. (She got us all tickets to her concert this Sunday!) Anyway….she knows all of he kids names, but she always says to the kids “So how are THE CHILDREN today??!!  HmmMM??”….and they all giggle, and say, “Gooood.”  She’s a doll.

We knew she wasn’t home, because her car was not there, and she works long hours at her business in town, her own Veterinary Hospital.   But…the kids enjoyed the fact that her cats were in the window watching us. lol.  So at least SOMEONE saw her in her cool hot pink slicker, even if they did have fur!

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That was the last of our May basket deliveries!  Met with BIG groans and sighs by ‘the children’.

As we all climbed out of the van in our driveway, they were still talking about how they wish we had more homes to go to.  They had SO much fun.  WE ALL did.  We just LOVE doing these kinds of things. Especially for other people. The whole process….planning surprises for others, shopping, making and baking things, and just having fun making someone’s day.

Here they all with mission accomplished:  Basket-less!

finished-delivering-our-may-day-baskets
Later on tonight, we got a call from the old woman at the end of our road. She left the sweetest message on our machine, expressing how wonderful that May Day gift basket made her feel, and the memories it brought back to her of the May Pole at school when she was a little girl. If you heard her sweet, sincere and shaky little voice, well….

That’s what it’s all about.

We can hardly wait until next year.  I’ve heard the kids talking, and I can see this getting WAY out of hand next time.

But who cares??!!

Hope you all had a wonderful May Day!

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Crafts & Creations, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Project, Giveaways, Giveaways, Holiday Crafts, Homemade/Handmade Gift Ideas, The Big Picture, Traditions Tagged With: Catholic, Catholic-family, Catholic-kids, delivering-May-baskets, developing-thoughtfulness-in-your-children, kids-May-activities, May, May-basket-ideas, May-basket-inspiration, May-baskets, May-celebrations

Photos of Our Easter Day Details – 2009 – Simple Easter Ideas

April 17, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Just another short post, with lots of photos, from our blessed Easter Sunday. We hope they are simple Easter ideas, to share with you.

The kids woke up to these surprises on Easter morning.  They were thrilled!

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non-candy-easter-gift-ideas-for-kids

The kids, looking all dapper, just before heading out to a beautiful Easter morning Mass.  {A} altar served, as usual.  The kids were surprised with some gifts from friends at church, too. People can be so kind and thoughtful.

easter-kids-2009

When we got home, we had our simple Easter dinner.

This is my plate, below.  As you can see, I despise carrots, and I love asparagus. : )

I also forgot to put some potato salad on my plate before I took this photo, which  I worked so hard on. lol

simple-easter-dinner

The Easter cookies {A} baked, and us parents helped decorate. It was tooooo FUN!

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Chocolate Coconut Jelly Bean Cake, which was also more fun, to take photos of.

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I took  some individual shots of the kids too.

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Easter is one of my very  favorite holidays to take photos on. The spring-ish atmosphere, all of the colors around, and the sheer joy in the air, as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, after a long and soul-searching Lenten season.  But the truth is, I just always have my camera in hand, taking photos, because I love to, and I can. 🙂  I like to think this is a great place to share them, with you all,  as they all are the details of our days, our life, and our joys.  Just so you know…This blog will always have more photos, than wise words spoken. Because I definitely always have more way photos. lol

colored-easter-eggshells

Our Giveaway winner, Regan, had received her home-made gifts.  So would anyone like to see photos of what she received?  I took lots of those along the way for that, too.  Of course. It’s coming up!

Our family hopes your Easter was all kinds of Blessed and joyful, too!

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Filed Under: Baking, Celebrations, Desserts, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Holidays, Kids, Photography & Lettering, Recipes, The Big Picture, Traditions Tagged With: Catholic, Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, Easter-ideas, jellybean-Easter-cake, non-candy-Easter-gift-ideas-for-kids, simple-Easter-ideas

Our Valentine’s Day – Ideas

February 16, 2009 By Laura 8 Comments

I hope everyone isn’t over the whole Valentine’s thing by now.  You know…sick of photos and Valentine talk.  After all, it was over 2 days ago!!  We’re just trying to catch up here!!  And please forgive me too, but I took a load of photos, and I have a hard time deciding which ones to share. But also, it’s for the sake pf preserving our kids’ childhood memories, here on the blog.

You’ll get a lot of good Valentine’s Day ideas for your kids in this post, for next year and on, though!

As you all know by now, we really TRY to follow the liturgical year.  However, Valentine’s Day has been removed from the Catholic Liturgical calendar I believe.  Still, as homeschoolers, we also try to study the history of every holiday or liturgical celebration. But I have to say………….we find Valentine’s Day, and St. Valentine, complicated, confusing and head-spinning.  Anyone else??  I have read 3 or more differing stories of how (St.) Valentine’s Day came about.  What’s more, there are more than one ‘Valentine’.  Indeed, this day we call Valentine’s  Day is shrouded in mystery and legend. They aren’t even sure who the REAL Valentine is, from what we have found. It seems there are 3 martyrs, all who did indeed die ‘for love’.  But for the LOVE OF CHRIST, not the romantic kind of love we tend to color Valentine’s Day with.

Now, if any of that sounds confusing, it’s because I was just as confused, typing it.  Still….we CELEBRATED LOVE in our own simple way.

valentines dy ideas for kids

The kids always wake up in the morning, to a little-something for them, on the table.

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I couldn’t choose just ONE moment, that put a smile on my face, so I made them into one. : )  It’s just FUN watching them open and look at their stuff.  It takes so little to get them ALL excited.

valentines dy ideas for kids

Like a handful of straws, not for drinking, but building. More on that later.

valentines dy ideas for kids

Animal crackers, and Cherry Chapsticks.

valentines dy ideas for kids

Valentines of course, and Puppet Kits, to do later on today.

But first, we had {A’s} morning basketball game to get to!

Have I mentioned I am not properly equipped to photograph basketball games? I rarely even bother bringing my gear, getting this kind of quality of shots.  But I also have to avoid flash, because I don’t want to disrupt the focus of the girls.  Anyway, here’s the best of what I got Saturday morning.

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She’s always put in for the tip-off, to start the game, because she’s the tallest. (She’s the one with the ridiculously long braid.  #8 : )

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It took her no time to put her team on the scoreboard – it was also the first HOOP of the game!

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She managed to draw a COUPLE of fouls in the game, so this is one of the times she got a couple of free-throws.

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SCORE!

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We just love to watch her play.

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More free-throws. She’s good at drawing the foul.

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There’s only 1 more game before the play-offs. We all cry a little, when another basketball season is over until November.           We’re so sad!

Later after lunch, the kids put together their puppets. I found a kit of 4 animal puppets put out by Martha Stewart at Wal*Mart.  Each animal is so easy to make > No scissors or glue needed! Just follow the directions, peel off the paper tabs, and stick!

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

Yes, even {A} made one.  I know, she’s too old for puppets. But she does love crafting with the kids.

valentines dy ideas for kids

I asked all of the kids to lay down on our kitchen floor, so I could get this ‘puppet portrait’.  I knew it would be cute, and I didn’t even step on them taking the shot!

Later that evening, we had a fancy, soft-music, table-clothed, candle-lit dinner, WITH our little valentines.

valentines dy ideas for kids

Making such a  dinner took longer than we thought. They were knew recipes to us.  So by the time we sat down, we were STARVING, and I never took photos of our entrees.  But, we had:  Lemon Pepper Chicken Sandwiches (with colby-jack cheese and thick-cut bacon) on Kaiser Rolls.

We had fun saying “Pass the Grey Poupon, please!”

We also had French Onion Soup, that was better than any we have ever had in a restaurant. It takes quite awhile to make it, but boy was it good!!  The Gruyere Cheese is key!

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And dessert, of course.  A heart-shaped chocolate cake, with a very light whipped strawberry frosting made from scratch.  Also delicious!

The next day the kids got to being creative with their abundance of straws:

 

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valentines dy ideas for kids

valentines dy ideas for kids

And {A} baked us another treat.

valentines dy ideas for kids

It was really nice to have Valentine’s Day fall on a Saturday.

But we’re just going to carry on, celebrating love for the rest of the year.

Hope yours was wonderful too!!

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Crafts & Creations, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Holiday Crafts, Holidays, Kids Arts and Crafts, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic-families, Catholic-Valentine's-Day, family-Valentine-dinner, history-of-St-Valentine, St. Valentine, Valentine-gift-ideas-for-your-kids, Valentine's-Day-ideas-for-kids, Valentines-Day-Liturgical-year-Catholic

La Salette Shrine – Our First Day of the New Year

January 2, 2009 By Laura Leave a Comment

La-Salette

We finally got to the last activity on our Christmas-to-do list, on New Year’s Day;  Taking another trip to Our Lady of La Salette Shrine.  With everything else we were doing to prepare for Christmas, this trip was one thing that we just couldn’t find a day for.  Because we truly needed a whole day.  The Shrine is over an hour away from us.  Decidedly, New Year’s Day was the perfect day anyway, in some ways.

But let me backtrack first.

On New Year’s Eve, all 6 us of us were going to stay up until midnight.  Do you know HOW exciting that is to 6 year olds??  Ridiculously so.  It was pretty low key–we were still feeling a little partied out from all of the Christmas excitement. But {A} was making treats, and the little ones were enjoying watching her. As the night went on, they talked more and more and more. I truly think they were afraid if they stopped talking, they would fall over in slumber.  Except one of my little boys.  He wasn’t tired, so he said. Surely did not want to go to bed. But….he was really enjoying the snuggle with me for a very-long-time. Perfectly content, still and quiet….watching the lights on the Christmas tree.

Now here comes the most pathetic thing you may ever have heard.  By 11:20, most of us couldn’t take it anymore. I HAD to go to bed, and I wasn’t much sad about it. By the time all the kids were ready, and we were all in bed, it was 11 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!!  And I do believe every one of us were asleep my 10 minutes until.

So the next day, we all REALLY wanted to go to the La Salette Shrine.  Time was running out, and I really need to do something that day.   As Michael got all of the shoveling done, I contemplated and re-contemplated the VERY frigid temperatures of the forecast that day and night.  Once Michael got in, we hemmed and hawed and discussed it until we were blue in the face, while the kids begged and asked repeatedly, to go. So I gathered in my head everything my father had ever told me about dressing warm in cold weather (he likes to talk about that topic), and dressed my whole family accordingly. (Well, not physically. But I’m the planner in the family. By default. lol)  We were going, and the kids were ECSTATIC.

On Our Way

As we drove, we all answered 10 great questions that apply to the our own selves in reflection of the year behind us, as well as the year ahead.  It helped us all better formulate what we have learned, how we can grow from it, and what we want for ourselves in the future.  I was so touched by some of the kids answers.

So, the National La Salette Shrine is quite a place. It’s a Catholic shrine, honoring Our Lady of La Salette, with beautiful grounds, a church, candle sanctuary, gift shop cafeteria and bistro, and even a carousel. We all just love to go there.  We went last Christmas for the first time, and knew we’d be back this year.

So on our agenda once we got there was Penance for 3 of us, Mass, lighting a perpetual candle for my mother in the sanctuary (for her birthday, and the repose of her soul), walking the grounds to enjoy the festival of lights and huge nativity IF we could stand the cold, going to the gift shop so the kids could spend some money burning in their pocket from their uncle, and dinner.

We were devastated to learn that Penance was over being received at 3:00.  But by the grace of God, and a conversation with a deacon who was drawn to talking to us, a priest was beckoned, and we were all able to confess with great relief.  Honestly…..it was a very-big-part of our trip, and our hearts just really wanted it by then, being overdue and the first day of a whole new year.  So we were very, very grateful to the priest.

Mass and the Crucifix

From there we happily went to Mass.  It was a holy day of obligation anyway.  But we would have gone anyway, being my Mother’s (and the kids’ Mémé’s) birthday, and the first day of a new year.  IS there a better way to start a new year, than with Mass? We think not. The church at the La Salette Shrine is just beautiful, too.  Architecturally fascinating. But the kids were absolutely taken with Jesus crucified over the altar. They have seen Jesus crucified in many forms, but this was the most dramatic they have ever seen….and I think it was hitting a little more home with them.

La Salette

I think we (adults) all know, that most images of Christ crucified are very much ‘cleaned up’, as to not be too difficult to see.  I think we also know that what we see is far from the reality of just how horrific, gruesome and brutal His death really was. A death he suffered, for each one of us. This cross of Christ crucified was closer and a bit more realistic though.  (But not even close, really, as in truth, He was brutally beaten and tortured, beyond recognition.) I believe it’s made of carved wood.  I couldn’t stop photographing it after Mass.  Mass was very nice….filled with peace and hope.

La Salette

Lighting a Candle for Mom/Mémé

After Mass we went and lit a perpetual candle for my mother / Mémé’, in the sanctuary, which is a non-heated virtually all-glass building…but so beautiful with the candles that encircle the Blessed Queen Mother and fill the whole building.

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Last year, as I lit that candle, I was a mess as we tried to say a prayer for my Mother. This year, I was stronger, and it made me realize the grace of healing God has brought me. Of course I knew better than to push it, missing her so much this time of year, and being her birthday to boot….so Michael said a beautiful spontaneous prayer, {A} said a Hail Mary with the kids in a huddle, and we were on our way.

The center candle was lit and is burning for her.  It will burn for 6 days.

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Can’t Miss the Gift Shop

From there we went to the gift shop, and spent a good hour there. Helping little ones figure out for themselves what they want to buy can be a time-consuming and exhausting feat.  And it certainly was this night.  In the end, the little ones each chose a necklace, and a holy water bottle which they are chomping at the bit to fill up on Sunday at church.  {A} bought a statue of her favorite saint, St. Michael the Archangel, and a pocket coin of some sort.  All of the kids got in line, and paid for their own purchases by themselves.  Which their Daddy and I loved to witness.  The little ones were so darn proud, taking care of buying their own things, with their own money, and proudly taking their bag as they responded to the cashier, “Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too.”

The Frozen Shutter Hand Incident

We decided we were starving, and wanted to eat somewhere on the way home as the cafeteria options weren’t inspiring us.  Daddy-Boy, {A} and some of the little ones also determined it was way-too-bitter cold to even think about walking around.  (As in, dangerously low and frigid temperatures.) I agreed.  However.  I needed my photos of the festival of lights.  It’s the highlight of the La Salette Shrine!  Now understand….to really experience the festival of lights at this shrine, you just need to see it with your own naked eyes. To really take it all in cannot even begin to be done with a camera.  (It’s not easy to photograph either.).  But, I was taking photos anyway.

Thankfully, my family understands that taking photos sometimes IS a NEED for me, more than a want.  So as starving and tired as they all were, Michael drove the van around the lot, and I hopped out here and there to attempt to photograph this and that. I started with the Bridge of Angels, and caught a couple on the way back to the van. It was BITTER COLD.  Like…hard to breathe, can’t feel your face in 2 seconds, kind of cold.

La Salette Festival of Lights La Salette Festival of Lights La Salette Festival of Lights

Jumped back in the van, and thought I’d just open the door, stand out from where I was, and take a shot of this.  Not sure I like it, as there were 3 kings on camels all lined up but anyway…….

La Salette Festival of Lights

Then we were coming around to the stuff I really wanted to try and capture.  An amazing HUGE nativity scene, lots of stone steps, statues and light set ups everywhere.  I especially love the light snowflakes everywhere. Now all of these were quite a hike for me from the running warm van with my family in it.  Lots of snow, ice, wind, and sub-zero temps.  But I needed my photos…..

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As I came back around to the van, many parts of me were frozen numb.  But before I climbed back in I had to take a shot of this one last statue……

La Salette Festival of Lights-Jesus-anchor

And then I got in the van…..and began to experience THE most excruciatingly painful shutter hand thaw I have ever had to suffer! I am telling you….it was all I could do not to cry out loud.  I tried to suffer quietly and get through it, but my little ones in the back kept asking me what was wrong, as I whimpered.  To which our oldest daughter answered them “Mama is suffering her natural consequences“…with a hint of satisfaction in her voice.  I talk to my kids ALL the time about ‘natural consequences that come with the choices they make.’. And I did HAVE to take photos, despite the sub-zero temps, right? How right she was, my little smarty pants.  I really thought I was going to lose 3 fingers. In fact, if it would stop the pain, I was almost hoping they would just fall off.   Finally, the pain subsided, and I was able to keep them.

We headed to dinner at a really nice pizza place, and then took the long ride home.  It was another night we were happy to get to bed.  But the next morning, (this morning), I had a photography gig very, very north.  My daughter/assistant came with me, and it was a good job we were happy to do…despite how tired we were.

Hope in Faith For the Coming Year

So here we all are on the 2nd day of the year. I feel hope and happiness about the year ahead, in my heart.  Excitement. That’s what the new year brings me every year, with maybe just a tinge of fear that the year may hold something not so good.  But that is what our Catholic faith is for. Our Heavenly Father takes care of us.  He always has, when we give all we can to Him. And doing so brings us greater faith, hope, and inner peace. So let us begin living the year of 2009, and when the year comes to a close, may we feel we have grown closer to Him, to each other, and be closer to the kind of people He created us to be.

Once again, we wish you all a new year filled with your own happiness, health, blessings, peace and every-growing faith.

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic, Catholic faith, Catholic-blogs, Catholic-family, Catholic-family-activity, La-Salette-festival-of-lights, La-Salette-Shrine-Attleboro-MA, New-Year's-Day

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