Wordless Wednesday: Time Traveller Edition

Friday Fill Ins

1. It's always nice when the kids get to spend time with the grandparents!
2. I like to hear my kids giggling together.
3. Positive thoughts uplift you; negative thoughts bring you down.
4. This is finally the last day of this strange week.
5. What I heard from my doctor's nurse is bunk!
6. Often, I search out drama online.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the Second Home Board Meeting, tomorrow my plans include taking pictures for Father's Day and Sunday, I want to have some family time!

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Throwback Thursday: Bed Jumping Monkeys edition

My monkeys have had matching monkey pajamas for some time now.  This was one point when they were wrestling and giggling on my bed. If I remember correctly, these are actually stills from a video I took of the event, which may explain why they are a bit blurry.  Now I have three monkeys with monkeys pajamas. Life is good.

Wordless Wednesday: Gum ChewingThumb Sucking Edition

Strep Sucks!

Friday is was so tired I chugged a Cherry Pepsi to try and stay awake at work. It didn't really work; it made me stop yawning but it gave me a killer stomachache because I don't usually drink sugary stuff or caffeine. Saturday morning I didn't feel any better, but I walked up the street to the playground with Ken and the boys. We played until lunchtime and came home. After lunch Ken went to work and the boys took a nap. I had a million things to do to get ready for Henry's birthday party, but all I wanted to do was lay down! I had a funeral to attend that afternoon, so after naps I took the boys over to a friend's house for a playdate. I felt fine at the funeral just a little emotional and still kinda tired. When I picked up the boys I visited for a bit, but really wanted to get home. On the way home I was struggling to stay awake and my throat was getting scratchy. We got home at seven. I told Henry to get his pajamas on and he could watch tv. I laid down on the couch under a blanket and just started shaking. I took my temperature and it was 102. I slept on the couch off and on until Ken got home at 10:30 and he put the boys to bed. I went through cycles of hot and cold all night: cold-put on blanket, get sweaty-take of blanket, cold because of sweat-blanket on with feet sticking out, lather, rinse, repeat. Sunday morning I knew I was really sick and I was pretty sure it was strep. I checked with my doctor's office (not open at all) and I checked with urgent care (not open til 1) before calling the doctor on call for my doctor's office. He informed me that strep was not technically an emergency, but if my throat was really halfway shut and I was in that much pain I could go to the ER. So I did. They didn't even swab my throat! I guess the visual exam was enough! I cried the whole time I was there-partly because I was sick and in pain, but also because I was tired and emotional from being sick and because I was going to miss Henry's birthday party. They gave me a combo of meds I've never had before-an antibiotic, a medicine to reduce swelling, and "pink magic"-liquid Lidocaine to numb my tonsils. The Lidocaine worked, but not for long. My mom says I should have taken it after the other meds, but I took it first so I could get the horse pills antibiotics down. I slept most of Sunday and cried when I missed Henry's party. Thank goodness it was at a park and not at our house! I feel a bit better now. I think I still have a slight fever, and my throat is back to scratchy. I am starving because all I've eaten in the past 36 hours is half a yogurt and half a can of tomato soup. It's still hard to swallow and food seems to taste gross. I'm staying home from work today and my mom has the boys this week, so I hope to get some good rest.

Henry, age 5

1. What is your favorite color? orange and green
2. What is your favorite toy? Winnie the Pooh
3. What is your favorite fruit? apples and oranges
4. What is your favorite tv show? " Max & Ruby" and "Batman"
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? rice and chicken
6. What is your favorite outfit? glow in the dark alien shirt from "Toy Story" or a Batman shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Angry Birds
8. What is your favorite snack? snack mix
9. What is your favorite animal? dogs and turtles
10. What is your favorite song? ABC song and a song about dinosaurs
11. What is your favorite book? "Mickey Mouse" and "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs"
12. Who is your best friend? Kaleem and Jack
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios and Froot Loops
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? play kickety-kick ball ("That's soccer") and football
15. What is your favorite drink? orange juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween and "iPad day" ("it's a day where you can have iPads")
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? teddy bear and penguins [ed. note: and ALL the stuffed animals in the house!!]
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? yogurt
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? chicken nuggets, yogurt, apple slices and cucumbers
 20. What do you want to be when you grow up? magician

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I knew it was love when...my friends told me. I seriously thought we were just really good friends!! Duh!!
2. My heart can be broken but you always take good care of it, Ken.
3. A dog is not something I look forward to owning someday.
4. My how you have grown, Henry.
5. Can you see all the wonderful things around you?
6. And the wonderful things within you as well?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Henry's birthday dinner, tomorrow my plans include supporting an old friend and Sunday, I want to celebrate Henry's birthday with family and friends!

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Throwback Thursday

Tomorrow is a special day in our house, so this Throwback Thursday is dedicated to my 4-year-old-for-one-more-day, Henry.

Ken meeting Henry

Henry meeting Frances

Henry meeting Uncle John (while being supervised by Frances)

Grandma meeting Henry (while being supervised by Frances)

Grandpa meeting Henry (while being supervised by Frances)

Mommy, Frances, and Henry

Papa meeting Henry (while being supervised by Frances)

Grams meeting Henry (no supervision needed, apparently)

Grandma and Henry

Wordless Wednesday: Swinging

Fr. Joe's Ordination

The last year I worked as the Youth Minister at my church we had a seminarian named Joe. Joe was in seminary and served at our church for about a year and a half as part of his studies.  While he was there I was officially not the youngest person on staff! (He is five months younger than me!)  Joe has a great voice and sings in a couple of vocal groups.  He loves kids and youth of all ages, and most of the kids at my church remember him as "Pirate Joe" from the Johnny Depp looking character he played at Vacation Bible School one summer!

On Saturday Frances and I were honored to have the opportunity to attend his ordination to the Priesthood.  We left early Saturday morning for the trip to Richmond. We stopped in Charlottesville to pick up Louisa and arrived at the Cathedral with plenty of time to look around and admire the view. 

The Mass took about two hours, but there was so much ceremony to it that I didn't really notice.  There were four men being ordained and there was one section of seats dedicated to each one. We sat in Joe's section behind the seats reserved for family.  We had a pretty good view of everything that went on.  Frances enjoyed it all as well. She stood on her pew for a better view for some of the parts.

I had two favorite parts that I want to be sure to remember:

One part of the Mass had the four priest-candidates kneeling in front of the altar. The Bishop came by each one to lay hands on them.  Behind the Bishop came all the priests in attendance.  Louisa leaned over to Frances and we had this conversation:

Louisa: The Bishop is laying his hands on Joe just the same as someone laid hands on the Bishop when he was ordained as a priest.  

Me: After Jesus was resurrected, he laid his hands on the disciples and commissioned them as His priests. After that, those men laid their hands on other men and so on and so on all the way until now.

Frances: oh

Me: It's like a great big game of telephone all the way from Jesus!

Frances: OH! {and her eyes got all big as she took in the meaning}

After Joe received his new vestments, he turned to face the congregation.  The joy on his face was indescribable! The congregation was clapping and cheering.  His parents were in the front row ahead of him. I was far enough back, that I couldn't hear the words; but I had a very clear view of him say, "I'm a priest!" with a huge ear-to-ear grin on his face. I mentioned to Frances that it was little bit like a wedding-that Joe had committed his life to God and was promising to serve Him all his life. It was very beautiful.  And the best part about this whole story is that Joe's first priestly assignment is at our church. I am excited to have him back and I am excited for the witness that he will bear (especially to the youth of our parish who knew him "before.")

The men were proclaimed to be "worthy of the priesthood" by the Bishop.

There were several points where the Bishop said different prayers over each man.

Joe receiving his new vestments.

Being welcomed and congratulated by the Bishop.

Me, Frances, Fr. Joe, and Louisa after Mass!

CONGRATULATIONS FR. JOE!!!

Henry's Preschool Graduation

Henry had his preschool graduation last night. His class only has three kids going to Kindergarten, so it was a small get together, but I'm glad he had the chance to feel special and play at the park with some friends.  He got to wear a cute hat and we got this picture frame too!

 

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Hallelujah! The school year is over!
2. Right here is where I wanna be!
3. When I was walking the dog this morning, I saw a handful of goose feathers in the road and I thought "Why the heck am I walking a dog?!?!".
4. Benjamin called my name and that's how I knew it was time to get out of bed and start my day.
5. What were once vices are still vices.
6. Scrambled eggs and sausage is what I've been having for breakfast lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to helping Julie surprise Chris, tomorrow my plans include going Chris and Joe's ordination and Sunday, I want to kick back and enjoy my boys!

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