Staycation - Day 1

I started my day with a dentist appointment -- I just had a crown put on one of my molars.  The dental assistant said, "It's a very beautiful crown."  I responded that it's too bad that no one will see it in the back of my mouth.  It was a pretty easy procedure.  I guess all of the hard work was done at the last appointment when they put on the temporary.

As the dental assistant was finishing up, my cell rang in my purse.  Of course, I could not answer, but I check my message as I was leaving.  It was Stephan telling me about Joseph's birth.  He said they also had a favor to ask, so I called back right away.  Stephen had left his cell phone charger at home and they wanted to know if I could get it and bring it to him at the hospital.  Of course, I had to run home and get my camera first, but taking care of this little errand gave me the privilege of being the first in the family (apart from the proud parents) to get to see little Joseph.  He was under a heat lamp as they were a little concerned about his body temp, so I wasn't able to hold him, but I did get a couple of good pictures. I am very frustrated that, although I was able to post pics on Face Book, I have been unable to post them here or email them.  Grrrr.

I didn't stay at the hospital long as Stephen was sleeping.  I did go immediately and make prints of my pictures so that I would have them to show around. 

After lunch, I went out to Prairie Oaks Metro Park for a nice walk in the beautiful Fall weather.  I had gone to Darby Creek Metro Park yesterday and thought it would be fun to try to visit a different park each day of my Stay-cation. I took several pictures at the park, but I'm not even going to try to upload anything else since my computer is giving me such fits about attaching pics.

This evening we had our annual Quilt Group end of the year dinner.  I know that September does not equal the "end of the year" for most people.  However, our Quilt Group measures time according to the Church Festival, which is the last weekend in August.  After the festival is over, we take a few weeks off to recuperate, have dinner to congratulate ourselves for surviving another festival, then start the whole process again in October.  This year it was really nice because the ladies treated me to dinner (which I did not expect) and gave me a card and a gift for what I do as Quilt Group Chair.  I never really thought that I do that much, but it does feel great to be recognized!

Randomness

• When I went to Uncle Jerry's with Mom and Dad and we stopped at the cemetery, there were some of the grave that we were unable to locate (Elys and Lybargers).  Playing around on the compute today, I remembered a website that Donna had mentioned once -- findagrave.com.  I thought maybe they would be listed there, so I started searching.  I found some Lybargers, but not sure if they are the right ones and I can't see where it says where in the cemetery they are located . . . so no luck there.  However, I also noticed that there was no picture of Emma & Albert Trembly's grave marker (which I had) nor was there any listing at all for Grandma & Grandpa Meyer's grave.  I signed up as a contributor (it's free) and uploaded the pics that I took that day at the cemetery and added G & G Meyer.  I also went to the records for Marysdale cemetery and added Grandma Batt's info (G-pa was already listed).
• Speaking of Cemeteries, I would like to get up to St. Nicholas church in Frenchtown (or what was Frenchtown) and see where the La Fontaine and Warnement ancestors are buried.  I could add pictures of their grave markers to the findagrave.com site, too.
• I am taking PTO time this week.  Nothing specific planned, just needed to take some of my time so that I don't end up losing it at the end of the year.  I may just make it up to St. Nick's one day this week.
• I have decided that I like the show Call the Midwife on PBS.  I had seen snippets of some episodes before, but never really started watching it because I was never sure when it was on and I really didn't want to start somewhere in the middle.  I just happened on the show last Sunday evening and realized that I was coming in at the beginning of the first episode so I watched it and thought that it was quite good.  I now know that it is on at 7 on Sunday evening which is a good time for me to watch.
• When I was out walking today I saw 5 wooly worms.  Four were completely brown from tip to tail and the fifth was completely black (probably an anomaly).  Anyone well versed in wooly worm lore?  What does this tell us about the winter to come?

Things I have discovered (or re-discovered) in the last week . . .

I have been a bit remiss in blogging lately.  Just have not felt like sitting at the computer long enough to do it.  But I have some thoughts to share today -- here are some things I have discovered this week:

• $10 in gas will not get you very far these days.
• 69 miles is not as far as I would think it would be (that is exactly how far the last $10 in my wallet got me since Wednesday evening).
• Four day weeks are just as long (if not longer) than five day weeks.
• Benadryl Allergy medicine, which is made to alleviate runny noses, itchy throat and itchy watery eyes also helps to alleviate itchiness in other areas.  I'm not sure what I got myself into that has given me this rash, but the Benadryl has managed to save me from scratching half my face and neck off.
• Benadryl Allergy medicine still works okay when it is 2 years passed the expiration date.  (oops!  Probably should have thrown that out a while ago.)

The Meyers

I am on vacation this week and Mom had invited me up to can tomatoes.  I thought that visiting Dad's garden, canning and just hanging out was going to be the total agenda for the two days that I was able to spend in B-town.  However, once I got there on Sunday afternoon, I was told that Aunt Irene was coming the next day and they were all headed to Uncle Jerry's for the afternoon.  This was unexpected, but I had a great time.  It was good to be able to see most of the Aunts and Uncles from Dad's side for an afternoon.  There were a few cousins who were there or stopped in as well -- Tom and Karen brought Aunt Irene as she can't see to drive, Amy came with Aunt Mary as she does not like to drive so far by herself, Tim stopped in to spend a little time talking farming with the uncles and then take Aunt Regina home and Susie came by with her kids because they wanted to go swimming in their grandparent's pool. 

 

I love this picture of the Meyer siblings.  Someone said something funny and they all laughed (except Aunt Irene).

Of course, we had to get one with the spouses as well.  I hope the one I took on Aunt Roseanne's camera turned out a little better for her.

Before leaving town, we stopped by the cemetery.  Here is Grandma and Grandpa Trembley's resting place.  How many of my sibs knew that Grandma Trembley joined the Catholic Church on her wedding day?

This is the real reason we stopped at the cemetery.  When this tree blew down, the village council hired a chainsaw artist to carve the remaining stump.  They originally wanted a lighthouse, but the stump leaned too much.  I think an angel may be better for a cemetery anyway.  This is cousin Tom and his wife Karen.

And of course, we had to visit Grandma and Grandpa while we were there also.  We tried to find where the Great Great Grandparents (the Elys and the Lybargers) are buried, but we were unsuccessful.  I will have to go back when I have more time.

Lake Hope Vacation

I had a great time with the family on vacation this weekend.  I just wanted to post a few of my favorite pictures from the trip.  Here are Cecilia and Raiden at the beach:

 And Lucy, Nathan, Nora, Dad, Natasha and Theresa having fun at the Cabin sites:

Uncle Matt taught all the kids to be fire-bugs, but you can't make s'mores without a fire, can you?

The tent was set up for Matt, but the kids like to play in it also:

And the train ride was a hit with almost everyone:

This is my favorite picture:

Nora was fascinated by the Chickens at the historic village:

You can't have camping without cooking out:

or without hiking:

Two priests and a seminarian walk into Bob Evans . . .

Sounds like the start of a good Catholic joke, but these were some of my companions for breakfast this morning.  Today was Mission Sunday at our parish, so we had a visiting Redemptorist Priest who was collecting donations to build a church for his parish in Russia.  90% of all churches in Russia were destroyed by the communists, so they are still in the process of rebuilding - both the buildings and spiritually.

Our own pastor regularly joins us for breakfast on Sunday mornings, but we were not sure that he would be able to this week as he is headed out of town today for a Police Chaplains' conference in Texas.  However, his flight is not until 12:30, so he was at breakfast as was our resident Seminarian-for-the-summer, Thomas.  Our parish has been blessed to host a seminarian most summers, which is really nice because you get to know them a little better.  When I pray for seminarians, I am thinking of certain faces, voices and personalities and not just a lot of faceless men.

Of course, we also had our regular Breakfast ladies - and Stephen & Natasha - at Bob's this morning as well.  I really miss it when I can't have my Sunday breakfast with my breakfast ladies.  But it is really fun to add a couple extra people every now and again.

Luminous Mysteries for America

This took longer than I anticipated, but, just in time for Independence Day, here are some meditations to pray for our country using the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary:

1)  The Baptism of the Lord:   It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.  On coming out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.  Mk 1:9-10

It happened "in those days" that at the baptism of Christ, heaven and earth were joined with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Son. God's presence was felt among His people.  We pray that in our present day, God's presence will be made manifest in our country through the Holy Spirit acting once again through His people.

2)  The Wedding at Cana:  Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water."  So they filed them to the brim.  Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."  So they took it.  Jn 2:7-8

This is the first sign that Jesus performed in His earthly ministry, and He did not do it all on His own, but He worked through the servants, asking them to "fill", "draw" and "take."  We pray that as Americans, when we ask God to bless our country, that we be willing to work with Him to bring about that blessing.  We must fill ourselves with knowledge and love of Christ, draw upon the gifts of the Spirit and take the Good News out to be tasted by all those we meet.

3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom:  "You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."  Mt 5:14-16

We pray that America, in its position as a world power, may not lose its moral authority.  May we be the city set on a hill and a light unto the nations by continuing to protect human rights and dignity, both at home and throughout the world.

4) The Transfiguration:  And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.  Mt 17:2-3

We pray that the light of Christ will shine upon our country and illuminate through the darkness of sin that surrounds us.  May we all recognize Him as the Son of God and listen to Him, finding in Him the fulfillment of all our efforts and desires.

5)  The Institution of the Eucharist:  The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."  1 Cor 11:23b-24

It is no mere coincidence that Jesus, in giving Himself to us, chose to do it in the context of a meal.  Feeding and being fed are some of the most basic ways that we connect with each other as human beings.  we pray for all those who participate in feeding others including farmers, ranchers, fishermen, grocers, cooks and servers; and for all who are still needing to be fed -- emotionally and spiritually as well as physically.