Great Read

I have to thank Zac (who reads more than any human I know) for checking this book out from the library and offering me a chance to read it after he finished it.
I read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis in about a day, which for me is amazing!  (Truth be told, it's only 146 pages.)

I had a tough time figuring it out at the start, and mentioned to Zac that it was hard-going.
He immediately asked, "Did you read the back cover?"  (Duh!)
So I did:

The timeless novel about a bus ride from hell to heaven...

Suddenly the book wasn't so hard after all.  Oh the many ways my children teach me daily...

One of my favorite quotes:

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done."  All that are in Hell, choose it.  Without that self choice there could be no Hell.  No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.  Those who seek find.  To those who knock it is opened."

What a great reminder to desire joy through God, to seek Him always and everywhere.

10 & Counting...
Peter's 10th birthday was a great cause for celebration.
At his request we began the day by attending daily Mass at which he received a special blessing and prayers... not to mention many well wishes.
Afterward we held a day-long feed & play at our house for a super group of boys.  On the menu: chili, rice, muffins & ice cream pie (lunch); ribs, more rice, broccoli and Caesar salad (dinner) ... followed by more ice cream pie.
He's already making plans for his "golden birthday" (when you turn the age of the day of your birth... who makes this stuff up?).  Next year he will turn 11 on the 11th, so apparently that's a reason for an even bigger celebration.  

Guess Who's Almost 10?

PETER!

We always celebrate Peter's birthday with my dad (also known as Grandpa Pete) on whose birthday Peter was born.  This year's co-celebration will include Mass, a family lunch and a trip to the movies... 

We will also visit Grandma and stay with a dear friend...  What a great adventure!  Don't you LOVE birthdays??  We do!

First Time Hunter

Recently, Tim took Joseph along on a 2-day hunting trip on the Olympic Peninsula with Uncle Craig.

They were hunting deer, but the deer won this round.

They used muzzle loaders, and did get a shot or 2 off.

I recently received this photo from Uncle Craig & Aunt Bethany (thanks!) and wanted to share it.

Today Peter was ready to hunt on of his chickens in the coop out back.

I found him getting his BB gun ready... and reminded him about our rules with using the gun (adult permission, supervision, etc.)

He has a problem chicken who keeps making chaos (cannibalism) in the coop.

AND she's not laying any eggs... so perhaps she's about to become a fine dinner??

More soon.

Go Zac!
A quick report about yesterday's swim meet... Zac got 2 new district qualifying times and had a chance to swim for one of the A relay teams (which won). 

Our friend, Ezra, earned "swimmer/diver of the meet."  This is awarded in the post-competition meeting in the hot tub by Coach Don after each meet.  Ezra improved so dramatically in his diving routine.  Way to go, Ezra!

I enjoyed shooting with my new zoom lens, and need some practice... lucky for me there's another swim meet today!

42 Today!

Yes, today is my 42nd birthday, and it's off to a great start!

We had a low-key family celebration at breakfast this morning, and after I had opened Zac's gift, a wonderful book entitled Praying With Saint Paul, Tim sent Peter to go get my camera to take a picture.

Boy was I surprised when Peter came out and took my picture (this one) with a new 300mm lens mounted on my Nikon!

Yeah! 

Back in Zoom... one of my favorite toys (tools) EVER. 

I had a 200mm zoom lens with my trusty old film camera.  But since switching to digital, I haven't had the luxury of zoom... until now!

And as an added bonus, Zachary has a swim meet today, and a zoom lens will help bring in the action shots.

Can't wait to see the shots!  And I'm excited to see Zac swim, too.   He has 3 meets this week, so I'll be zooming away!

Another birthday blessing was the art (a crucifix) on the front of the card Joseph made for me.

And the loving energy and enthusiasm of Peter who decorated the house with Happy Birthday streamers...

I am so blessed!

Epiphany blessings

Today we celebrate Epiphany, and our Gospel (Mt 2: 1-12) recounts the visit of the magi to the infant Jesus.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.  They prostrated themselves and did him homage.  Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Father asked us, "What sort of gifts do we give Christ at Christmas?"  The magi gave the best of best, and fell face down on the ground in homage to the newborn Christ.  How do we give homage?
Great questions to ponder in this final week of the Christmas season.

Today we celebrate a special blessing (photo).  This is a traditional blessing of the home on Epiphany.
The inscription is made with blessed chalk over the doorway, reading: 20+C+M+B+10.
The numbers show the year, and the letters have two meanings:  They are the traditional names of the three magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar).  They also abbreviate the Latin words "Christus mansionem benedicat" which mean "May Christ bless this house." 
As such, the letters recall the day on which the inscription is made (visit by the magi), as well as the purpose for the blessing.