Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Easter Season

In our church we celebrate Easter for 50 days. This year, Easter began April 12, 2009 and will end on May 31, 2009, which ends on Pentecost. I like extending the season. Growing up, I always thought Easter did not last long enough. After all, without Easter would be have our religion? I don't think so. Easter and Christmas are equally important to me since both work together to form the basis of my faith. It's like the 2 sides of a coin.

Our boys will have First Communion this coming Sunday. We are so excited. Deniska will be carrying the Bible in the procession and Nikolai will be bringing the basket with the offering during that time in the service. They have new pants, shoes, socks, and shirts to wear. It's a BIG day in our home as they get ready to take this step in their faith journey. First Communion is a very important and holy day for Catholic children because they are receiving, for the first time, the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It's a good time in their little lives.

Yesterday, I decoupaged some Easter eggs since I did not have time before Eater day. They are lovely, at least I think so. I will have to post a picture when I have time. These are some that my friend, Rhonda, did and posted on her website, A Home With a Smile. Aren't they pretty?

Monday, April 27, 2009

Another hour

Another hour until I can go home! I am working late tonight keeping Attendance School. This is make-up time for students who have missed too many days from school to receive credit. This group has been a really quiet group. They will be here until 6:20 PM. Then, I can clean up and go home too!




I am really tired today. This season I have been watching Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. I will also tell you that with the exception of Joan and Melissa River, Clint Black, Hershel Walker, and Dennis Rodman, I had no idea who any of the others were (still don't)! This is also the first time that I had ever watched anything involving Donald Trump. I don't particularly care for the man. Anyway, several weeks ago he said it would be hard for the celebrities to work together for they all were spoiled and used to calling the shots. He certainly got that one right. Last night was a shining example of how our society has gone down the tubes.



This is Annie and Brande. Annie is a poker player and Brande is a former Playboy Bunny.

In the boardroom Brande opted not to take out Annie but Melissa. Melissa got sent home. She didn’t actually do anything wrong this week, but that’s neither here nor there. Mr. Trump wrote something on a note and Melissa was history. I believe it was because she interrupted him. I don't think he is used to anyone interrupting him!

Then, Joan left too, and neither went quietly. There was screaming and yelling and cursing and Melissa refused to do a post-firing interview. Joan claimed that she wouldn’t be in the next day. Both Joan and Melissa acted poorly. Grace under pressure is not their strength. I suspect Joan will be back due to the contract she signed.

The add campaign was for Right Guard. Mr. Trump asked Jesse if he wore deodorant at all. And, apparently he doesn't. Can you image the hot lights and the smell he must produce?! Glad TV doesn't come with smells. Blows my mind that he is married to Sandra Bullock. He doesn't have much of a personality, except to tell everyone how good he is.
Brande honestly believed tonight that she didn’t “forgoo” the opportunity to be in charge of the important things in the task. Even Trump grimaced with that butchering of the English language. I am not sure that she is as smart as she thinks she is. However, she's on TV and I'm not so what do I know??

Friday, April 24, 2009

Tornadoes and lakes

Last Sunday night, we had severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. I received this picture today from a friend who lives less than 3 miles from me. This is, or was, their boat and dock. Notice the pine tree blown down on the bank. Click on the picture to see it larger.

This made me really thankful that we were fortunate to escape the tornado. I slept through the whole thing. I did notice lots of limbs in the yard and trees down. I don't think anyone was hurt and that's the main thing.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

Genesis 1, 1-31 (The Original Earth Day!)
1 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,
2 the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
4 God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness.
5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came, and morning followed--the first day.
6 Then God said, "Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other." And so it happened:
7 God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it.
8 God called the dome "the sky." Evening came, and morning followed--the second day.
9 Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear." And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared.
10 God called the dry land "the earth," and the basin of the water he called "the sea." God saw how good it was.
11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it." And so it happened:
12 the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was.
13 Evening came, and morning followed--the third day.
14 Then God said: "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years,
15 and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth." And so it happened:
16 God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars.
17 God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth,
18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was.
19 Evening came, and morning followed--the fourth day.
20 Then God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened:
21 God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was,
22 and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth."
23 Evening came, and morning followed--the fifth day.
24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened:
25 God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was.
26 Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."
27 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth."
29 God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;
30 and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened.
31 God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed--the sixth day.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Dusting and cleaning

I wish I had a pair of these Slipper Genies so I could clean the floor as I make endless trips around the house without getting much accomplished. The guys moved all the furniture today back to where it belongs (although some things are not exactly where it belongs!) The movers scratched the floor in the small bedroom and the floor man sanded and finished it again. He told us to call him in a few years and he would rebuff the floors. The floors are beautiful but my goodness, you should see the dust!! I think I could dust from now to Christmas and still not get it all. I have worked all afternoon just in the master bedroom and it's still not finished. I could use another week or so off!

It's a beautiful day outside and the boys are riding their four-wheelers. I see by my watch that it's 6 PM. I guess I should feed these boys around here - they get snarly when they are not fed! Talk to you all later. Have a wonderful afternoon!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Hello from Myrtle Beach


I thought I would update you all on our house progress. The floors in the living room and boys' bedroom are finished. They are beautiful! Now, they are working on the master bedroom and kitchen. We should be able to walk on them by this coming weekend. When the new floors went down we noticed how badly our walls need painting. I had already decided to paint the master bath so I guess we will just add a few more rooms to the list. The worst room in the house is the boys' bedroom and it was painted last - about 4 years ago. The shutters go on the windows next Monday. I am excited about that too. I can't wait to get everything done and share pictures with you.
Right now, we are in Myrtle Beach for a few days. We are having Spring Break from school and we wanted a change of scenery. Our original plans were to go to St. Augustine, Fl. I've always wanted to visit there. But, we decided to keep our money (what little there is) in state. So, here we are. We are staying at the Camelot by the Sea and this is our view out the balcony door. Isn't it beautiful? The boys have been banished from the balcony unless we are with them. I don't even like to think of balconies and little boys, especially 10 floors up!
Dennis has the boys at the pool right now while I get dressed. Of course, I am on the computer instead of taking a bath and getting dressed. After lunch, we are going to go to Tanger Outlet to see if I can find white shirts for the boys' First Communion. And, they need dress shoes for church, and new sandals, and the list goes on and on.
Now I really have to get off the laptop, take my shower, and get dressed. Have a good day everyone!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

I'll be back ...

Today we will be unplugging the computers for our move. Since we will not have computer access at home for the next few weeks, I am not sure if I will be able to blog or not. When I return, I will have lots of before and after pictures. So keep checking back in for updates if possible.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Moving Day is almost here!

We have 2 more days before we have to be out of the house for the workers to start on the floors. I am so not ready for this. I still have the curio cabinet to pack, the bookcases to pack, our clothes to pack (for the week and vacation), and the groceries to pack for the coming week. I don't think I will get everything done that needs to be done. Thank goodness I have some help at home. I sure hope all of this is worth those new floors! If not, I am really going to be mad!!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April prayers

Each month, Pope Benedict XVI announces his special prayer intentions--particular things that he wishes all Catholics to pray for that month. (When, for instance, we pray the rosary and say the prayers at the end for the intentions of the Holy Father, these are the intentions for which we're praying.)
April 2009
General: That the Lord may bless the farmers with an abundant harvest and sensitise the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world.

Mission: That the Christians who work in areas where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love.

Please pray for Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Each year, families and individuals come to Jamaica to help Father Ho Lung and his brothers with their mission. The Missionaries of the Poor were not to be totally localised; responding to the needs of the suffering in other poor countries, and in fidelity to their missionary character, MOP has reached out to all corners of the world: India, Haiti, The Philippines, Uganda & Kenya.

Warm Sweater Wednesday


Temperature right now outside - 68.9 F. No sweater necessary today, but an umbrella is! Rain, rain, rain!!! The past few days have been cloudy and dreary. It rained for most of the day today and cleared off just in time for school to be out. When we got home, I sent the boys out to play instead of doing their homework. I felt that they needed the exercise since they had been cooped up all day in a class room. Right now, they are doing their silent reading for 15 minutes. It's a good thing!