First Holy Communion

2010

I was blessed to be able to serve as the photographer for the First Holy Communion Mass last Saturday.

It's fun looking back over the past 4 or so years that I've photographed this special sacramental moment for our parish families.

I'm happy to report that I've given myself a B+ for this year's work.

With that~ we're off on a field trip to Seattle for religion class...

Just wait 'til your father gets home...

...then you can shoot the rats!

The sign posted on the front door shows dad (and any visitors to our home) the rat count for yesterday.

For the boys had spotted rats stealing chicken feed (and compost) and they were outraged.

Excited.  Agitated.  Animated.  Passionate. Vindictive.  Determined.  Creative.  Hilarious.

Peter started a written tally for their rat count, and claimed over 60 sightings. 

Probably the same one rat, running in & out right?

Not so, not so.  For there was "two potato" (named for his size; as shown by Peter below) and "simon,"

and then there were the smaller females.

Rarely are the boys quite this excited for dad to get home from work.

But the opportunity to hunt rats from the back deck with dad's permission (and supervision), makes waiting for dad to get home almost painful!

Ezra created a rat trap using simple materials from around the house, something he says his friends in Liberia taught him how to do.  By morning, his trap had a captive, for which Peter paid Ezra 50 cents.

Joseph waited eagerly for another rat spotting to begin his hunt.

Tim was able to shoot a rat (with the BB gun above). 

That rat did a spectacular back flip before running away, injured.

This was a highlight of the boys' day, for sure.

Judah readies the bow & arrow for his shot at the vermin.

Unfortunately, the bow lacks the power to do any real damage, but it's fun for target practice.

Grandpa Cliff also played an important role in the rat extermination efforts,

having received an urgent phone call from Peter alerting him to the infestation.

Grandpa came a few hours later, bringing poison, which was placed very carefully to avoid the possibility of dog or chicken poisoning.  I wish I had a photo of the boys flanking him as he strategically placed the toxins in the back yard.

This is my life with boys!

Power of Prayer

Stan's daughter, Sally, collected his groceries on Saturday, and told us that

Stan's doctors were amazed at how well he was recovering.

Yesterday Zachary and I visited Stan and meet his wife and daughters Katie and Jeannie at the ICU.

Stan has made amazing progress over the weekend, and the emergency brain surgery was successful.

I introduced myself and Zachary to him, and he made a gentleman's effort to shake our hands,

though he could just barely lift his arm.

We asked Stan if we could pray with him, and he said yes.

He gave his best effort at making the sign of the cross, and said most of the Lord's Prayer with us.

We gave him a prayer shawl as a gift from our Church. 

He remembered Sacred Heart and said it was one of his favorite places.

His wife, Clare, told me that Stan had a skiing injury about 10 years ago (in his 70's)

and she thinks that's probably why he lost his balance and fell in the parking lot Friday.

Skiing in their 70's (and 80's)...now that's inspiring!

Still praying for Stan and his family...

A Stranger's Groceries...

... are in our refrigerator:

Two cartons of cottage cheese, a salmon fillet, a bunch of potatoes, a grapefruit, a baguette, two bottles of wine; someone's prescription.

The groceries belong to a man I've never met.

His name is Stan.

Stan needs our prayers, he's in a coma.

I saw Stan collapse onto the parking lot cement today as I pulled into a parking stall at Fred's after taking the boys to the pool.

I was one of the first 3-4 people to reach him, and someone had already called 911.  I prayed.

There was alot of blood.

I helped the man who was rearranging Stan to get him out from under the shopping carts (in the cart holding area).  Then a woman who must have been a nurse or a medical professional took Stan into her care while we awaited the aid unit.  We asked Stan if we could call his family and he gave us his wife's name and their phone number.  I called their home and their daughter, Katie, answered.

I told Katie that her dad had fallen and cut his head, that the ambulance was en route.  I told her that he was able to answer questions and that he would probably need to go to the hospital for stitches.

Katie and I agreed that I would take his groceries home and she would call me after they had taken care of the stitches at the hospital.

Katie called me a few hours later and told me that her dad was in a coma, and may be having emergency brain surgery.  I think she told me he's in his late 80's.

She said they wouldn't be coming to get the groceries today and asked if it would be OK to just keep them here a while longer.   Of course.

Katie also told me that when I had called to tell them about Stan's accident, her mom, Clare, thought I was her doctor calling.

Clare needs our prayers, too; she's being scheduled for heart surgery.

Flashback Friday

Zac in the back, Niko in the front, riding one of Grandpa Cliff's special creations;

both at about age 1 in summer '95; @ blue house in Ballard.

Bridget, Zac, and Tim at Jeff & Jeanette's wedding, July '95; Tacoma.

Au revoir,

Marc

Peter, Jonah, Marc below; Aaron above; at the Pinewood Derby 3/10

We bid "Adieu" to our new friend from France, Marc B.

His stay in the US has come to an end, and he's flown back to France to be reunited with his family.

We sure enjoyed the chance to get to know Marc while he was staying with Jonah's family.

We'll miss you, Mark!

Swimmer of the Month

The March Swimmer of the Month

for the Novice group is Joseph!

The boys' swim team coaches award a swimmer of the month, and Joseph it it!  Read what his coach wrote about him below.  The award is posted in a glass display case at the pool, and as it turns out, Joseph might wish he'd taken a slightly more, er, normal pose for the photo.  We're proud of his hard work and of his promotion to the next level on the swim team.

Joseph has been in the Novice group all year long, and has always been a hard worker, but a couple of months back he came to me after practice one day and told me he had aspirations of moving up to the Junior group and wondered how he might go about doing that. We talked about the expectations of the Juniors- how they are a more endurance-focused training group and that good behavior and ability to focus are required to make the transition. Joseph listened very carefully and took my advice seriously. I could tell as he walked away that the wheels were churning in his head and he was thinking about what I had said.

About two months later, I am delighted to say that Joseph is ready to make the move. He has always been a great kid but the transformation I have seen in him within the last couple of months has been remarkable; I have never seen him more focused and goal-driven and he is definitely ready to take the next step in his competitive swimming career. I am sad to see him go, but looking forward to watching as he develops as a swimmer and a fantastic young man. Nice work, Joseph!

                                                    -Coach Chelsea J