Blessed

As a gift for my husband's mother, I did a photo shoot for her surrounded with some of her favorite things - the beach, white clothing and her granddaughters - and had the pictures nicely framed. So many of the photos came out well. These below were among those she liked most.







Grandma Carol is a very special woman. She is a beautiful life-mentor for me, and I hope she knows it. She prays almost constantly - the daily Divine Office, the Angelus at noon, the divine chaplet of mercy at three, and at least five rosaries a day. It doesn't matter where or when - the girls and I could be swimming at the pool with her and she stops and has us all pray together, aloud, not caring what anyone thinks who hears us. She lives for God, cares what He thinks of her, not others. It is beautiful.

At the same time she lives her life to the fullest. She says over and over again, "Life is too short". When she's not spending her time in the service of others (which is rare) she treats those she loves to weekends at beach cottages, dining out or afternoon tea, or even travel to faraway places. She is not wealthy. She just loves life, sees it as a gift and doesn't let money get in the way of enjoying it, all the while praying and sharing the Gospel with everyone she meets along the way.*

Today is Grandma Carol's birthday, and we're spending it with her, enjoying the day to the fullest as always. We are so grateful for you Grandma. We love you very much.


*(Like on our flight up to Idaho last summer when she struck up a conversation with a teenaged boy travelling alone in the seat next to her. In ten minutes she learned about his interests, family, circumstances which troubled him, and persuaded him to accept a St. Benedict medal. Then she prayed for him silently. I'm quite sure she still does.)

Demolition

We've spent the last few days having restoration specialists, contractors and insurance adjusters come into and on top of the house. It turns out the entire living and dining room floors and significant sections of the walls were damaged by last week's rainstorms, and with the threat of mold, we needed to move fast.

Demolition began late afternoon yesterday. These guys were in and out of here in less than five hours.

old flooring still in place (and my baseboards, oh the hours I spent installing them! Months of work to complete, ripped up in five minutes!)

For the next few days our downstairs will look like this. Those dehumidifiers are much louder than they are unattractive. Needless to say we're doing school (and everything else) upstairs... ...actually in the master bedroom....with the door shut.

I know you'll think I'm crazy, but all this is rather fascinating to me. Inconvenient, yes, but interesting as well. I love learning a little about construction, repair and restoration, and now I'm looking forward to the day we buy a home and I can rip floors up and knock walls out, making it just the way I've always envisioned. (I know I'm dreamy.)

~

Hawaii

Our vacation to Maui with both my mom and Patrick's mother was planned a year in advance. When we were linked with this baby girl, we came very close to cancelling our trip since she was due two days before we were scheduled to depart. I am so grateful we didn't cancel prematurely. The timing turned out to be perfect, as I'd been feeling down after one and then another adoption link fell through. (The second I vaguely referred to here - we got the call while my mom was visiting - it was another girl - this one due...yesterday, actually, and from Kentucky - I'd have been close enough to visit Suzanne! But I digress).

So, my mother flew down here to stay with us in California for a while, and then we joined Patrick's mother and all flew together to Hawaii. The trip was lovely, only in many different ways than I'd expected. I thought the beauty of the island, the sunsets and beaches would have captivated me most - and yes, parts of Maui were beautiful indeed. But more than that I enjoyed seeing all the tropical birds, swimming in the warm water (I never swim in the ocean waters locally. Brrrr!), and eating the deliciously juicy local fruits - pineapple, mangos, papayas, coconut, raw sugar cane juice. We'd consume pineapple and not care that its sticky juice was pouring down our faces and all over our arms. Amazing. But my favorite part of the whole trip, the snorkeling, was the only one I couldn't capture in photos. I don't remember ever having snorkeled before, but wow, is that ocean floor and all it's inhabitants beautiful! So mysteriously fascinating. At long last I understand why someone would want to be a marine biologist.

Of course I have pictures for you - perhaps more than you care to see, but I couldn't decide which to leave out. They each tell a story about a particular moment.

arrival

looking out on kaanapali beach (I'm big into matching dresses these days, but why all of a sudden? I never liked them before. I think I must be dreading the days when my girls won't let me do this anymore.)

a ladies morning out

I love this picture of my mom with Gianna.

And this one of the girls with Grandma Carol.

romance in the jungle - on the road to Hana

My husband on the tarzan swing. Gianna did it too.

This was as far as I got. That water was cold!

gifts from Grandmas

This Polynesian dancer gave enamored Gianna a private hula lesson.

These guys were talkers. Madeleine developed a special relationship with the green one. :)

loved this crowned crane

a roadside fruitstand

hibiscus, the state flower

I took many scenic photos, but this was my favorite, along the road to Hana.

Hot man in snorkeling gear. Snorkeling is so fun to do as a couple. We held hands underwater while capturing glimpses of brilliant sea life together. The huge sea turtles came right up to us, seeming to want to share in the love. :)

Gianna saw tropical fish through a big window in her boogie board.

morning shadows

"Aloha!"

our last day on the island

It was good to be away, but it's good to be back...to cooking and laundry and school and everything else that gives me purpose. It's all a gift.

~

She's posted again.

I wait for Katie's posts to appear in my Reader. It's been a month since her last. The wait was worth it. Go, read about Grace. You can thank me later.

We're back...

....from a long ago planned vacation. It was lovely. We left this...


...and came home to this (taken this morning from my bedroom window).


I love rain storms, so I'm quite delighted by all this inclement weather. I love that it will make our otherwise brown California hillsides a vibrant, glorious green (if only for a few weeks). Were it not for the fact that we came home to a roof leak causing water to seep through our living room walls and under the floor boards which are now buckling, I'd probably be outside with a cup of coffee under an umbrella (have you ever done that?) rather than in here soaking up water with bath towels.

I am so very happy to have it though, this small inconvenience. I've been blessed with a few of them recently. God doesn't often give me these kinds of gifts, and I was feeling a terrible guilt last week - being in a lovely place with those I love most while watching nightly of the suffering in Haiti.

Oooh, the towels are soaked again. I'll be back when I can.

A White Martyrdom Day

A must read for mothers. We all have these days, no matter how rare. Beautiful!

Knitting Therapy

My mom's here. She's knitting up a storm. Every time she comes down for a visit now I want to knit something new. Last time it was this scarf. This time we found this pattern, the Kelmscott sweater. So dreamy. But why do I always try the difficult ones first? Why do I pick impractical items to work on? Why can't I just be normal, and pick a simple project?

I'm crazy, that's why. And I'm a little bit down (long story), and when I'm down, working with my hands is therapeutic. So is having my mom here.

Need to go get some yarn today. Just the thought makes me happy.

The Epiphany of Our Lord

The verse at the Gradual of the Mass continues the story of the Magi: "We have seen His star in the East and are come with gifts to adore Him." They saw the star and immediately set out. They had no doubts: their unbounded faith was strong and sure. They did not hesitate at the prospect of the trials of a long journey: they had generous hearts. They did not postpone the journey: their souls were ready. (Divine Intimacy)

Lord, you know I lack discipline and tend toward laziness. You know I put necessary things off in favor of pleasant things. Help me. Give me grace and promptness. You've revealed your heavenly star in my soul, and I see it. Do not let me postpone my journey toward it's eternal Splendor. Let me not delay.

Happy Feast, Everyone!