Destruction with a Twist

Our ancient carpet cleaning machine bit the dust recently. 

We have had it repaired several times over the past 11 years, but this time it was deemed beyond repair. 

Problem: How to make it fit into our curbside trash bin.

Solution: Enlist the creative destructive power of Captain Demolition (aka 'Lieutenant' Zac).

I told him about his chore, and simply required that he wear eye protection.

"Yes, you can use dad's crowbar."

He chose to wear his Buy'ce ("helmet" in Mando'a, the language of the Mandalorians in Star Wars).

Like the Star Wars supercommandos, Zachary took to the task with his full force of will.

For Zachary; any ordinary event, task, chore, car ride, conversation or game can be made much more entertaining by adding levels, titles, theories, challenges, and of course, nemesis'.

The chore was completed, and the fragmented machine reposed in the yard in small bits.

The trash deposition and collection is now complete.

Off to Nerf battles and modifications.

Communicator in the Making

 

Joseph is working on a few Eagle required merit badges, incuding Communications.

One of the most challenging requirements involves writing a script for a troop campfire (or court of honor or worship service), having it approved by the boy leaders, and MC-ing the event.  Joseph and his buddy, Collin, worked together to complete this requirement, and took their show on the road to a troop camping and service event on the Olympic Peninsula.

One of the greatest features of their campfire, according to the adult leaders on site, was the fact that the material was fresh & new... rather than the old stand-byes.

Joseph memorized a captivating story about a crazy adventure through the woods encountering

Flesh-eating Rabid Zombie Mutant Squirrels! 

They also retired a worn out US flag, with a fitting, somber ceremony.

The service project involved planting hundreds of trees on the private property, which has been set aside for conservation forestry.

I will leave you with the first verse to a song Joseph and Collin introduced to the troop at their campfire:

Tom the Toad (to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree")

Oh Tom the Toad, Oh Tom the Toad

Why are you lying in the road?

Oh Tom the Toad, Oh Tom the Toad

Why are you lying in the road?

You did not see that car ahead

And you were flattened by the tread.

Oh Tom the Toad, Oh Tom the Toad

Why are you lying in the road?

Gotta love singing with Boy Scouts!

Special Gift

Left on the counter with a Happy Anniversary card, which read:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Happy 19th anniversary and lots more to come.

I hope it is great.

God bless you.

Love, Peter

The flowers are from our yard, and the arrangement is pretty spectacular as far as I'm concerned.

Who would have imagined that our ten year old son would put this together, quite on his own.

What a gift, a treasure!

The fruits of our marriage continue to blossom.  Praise God.

My Helpful Husband

Whom I love... and I will be celebrating 19 years of marriage tomorrow!

Also celebrating tomorrow will be our friends Tom & Cindy, and our friends Kimberly & Michael.

We were all married on the very same day in 1991.

We all homeschool our kids, and we've been active in Scouts together for 9 years.

It's also the 12th anniversary of our family living here in this house. 

We moved in when Joseph was not quite 2 months old. 

Time for a walk down memory lane...

Pigeon Release

Well, sort of released, anyway!

A pair of Peter's pigeons were freed from the isolated cage in the garage into the hen/pigeon coop in the back yard.

One of them didn't want to face the other birds in the coop.

So far, so good.  There have been a few instances of pigeons getting heckled by the chickens, but so far no one's lost any feathers over it.

Heroic Friend

Ane Kirstine, a postulant, with her veil.

(photo from http://www.passionistnuns.org/)

One of our last Saturday morning coffee hours, following Latin Mass, with Ane Kirstine before she entered the cloistered community of Passionist Nuns in Kentucky.

We have had the honor of witnessing our friend, Kirstine's, entrance into the Passionist Nuns of Saint Joseph Monastery in Kentucky.  On one of her final days here before leaving for the cloister, she gave our boys her topical maps detailing the Lord of the Rings geography.  They shared a great love of Tolkien's works.

Recently, an article was published in the Lexington Herald-Leader with a photo slide show!  It's a great article, and a great glimpse into her new life in the cloister.  Read it, you'll be glad you did.   There's also a slide show with great photos from the monastery.  Truly inspiring.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Pauline adoring Christ on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Louis and Peter, friends from the south, worship with us.

Off duty altar servers celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday.

Father holds Samuel, Janell looks on.

"I shall tell you, in your charity, something which has just occurred to me.  I notice that Thomas lost his faith when he was absent, but when he was together with the believers his faith did not in any way fall short.  So I have the idea that if only a sinner will flee the company of immoral men and associate with the just, he will never be found lacking in righteousness or the resultant salvation of his soul." ~ Saint Gregory Palamas

Saint Gregory Palamas (+1359) was a monk and archbishop of Thessalonica