remembering
Easter.
Polish style.

a new outfit.......hat.......gloves.......purse.......shoes
going to Mass, feeling pretty cool.
and returning home for breakfast of blessed food, in the Polish Tradition.
fabulous smells of kielbasas, veal, ham.......and pretty-colored Easter eggs
lamb butter
and, of course, Easter bread.
all prepared by my Mom
Easter baskets.....loaded with yummy candy from Sanders or Alinosis.
we each had our own basket, brought out each year and packed with favorites
.......a medium-sized chocolate egg in the middle, bunnies and chicks strategically placed with chocolate eggs in foil
and   j e l l y    b e a n s
Wally liked the black jelly beans
I liked it all

and then we would go to Busia and Dziadus's house
and the day was spent with aunts and uncles..........and cousins.....lots of cousins

time seemed to go slow back then, it was like being a kid lasted forever
but now, looking back, it was that 'blinking moment in time'
I didn't realize how special those days were, but I do now
and remembering them now makes me realize the importance of traditions
because celebrating traditions keeps us connected to family, to who we were, and who we are now

my parents have been gone a long time, but our traditions continue
they are different now, of course, but they are special to my girls and me
we prepare Easter food and it gets blessed on Holy Saturday, like it use to
and we join around the dining room table on Easter Sunday
and enjoy the feast and being together
my parents tradition continues
Allelulia*

yesterday was ................ spending time with my grandson while his Mommy and Daddy celebrated their anniversary 
moments with Keegan are simply joyous
when he leans over to give me a kiss, it just melts me
God blesses us with these wonderful little people
this is a 'happy'

♥

Keeley Shay......two years old

it's interesting how one thing leads to another
when I started my blog two years ago I didn't know what was ahead of me
I basically knew nothing about blogs
I fumbled learning how to do things on my blog, and I still fumble at times now
because I always want to learn more, and try to make it a little bit better
my blog has taken me all over the place
to quilt blogs, home blogs, family blogs, garden blogs, food blogs, and so many more
just recently I found a Catholic Mother's site
and I am thrilled
now I made a connection that I really needed
you see, I am tired of the way much of the world is today
and I needed to be connected with people that understand my views
to be in touch with other Catholics.....or anyone who truly believes in God
I need to be inspired, and given reminders when reminders are needed most
so thankful I am to have found this new place
to meet new people
and continue to learn more about myself
♥

thought for the day:

women are angels.
and when someone breaks our wings,
we simply continue to fly….........…..on a broomstick.
we're flexible like that.

♥

Carolyn's place

Carolyn lives in the old mansion district in Chicago on N. Dearborn St.  It is a few blocks from the Cardinal's place and many other historical sites.  The area is full of charm, as is her apartment.  She has graciously decorated it with many fine pieces she has collected from all over.  She has a genuine knack for finding interesting pieces, especially a lovely lamp collection.  Great job, Carolyn ♥

Sunday....morning

pics from my Chicago trip

Saturday

 

We spent the day hanging out inside, mostly in the family room.  It was the coziest of days.  When evening came, we sat wtih the fire blazing, the room lit in candles, and we had some cocktails, played Scrabble, and watched the hockey game.

pssssst..........over here

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,

but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have

to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.

and you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand

when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words

you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will

teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach

you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach

you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth

could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave

now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, " Mom ."   ♥

home from Chicago

it's always sad for me to leave my family - and that is where I was when I was getting ready to come home yesterday    
it was such a fun weekend
and so I headed towards Oakbrooke where I met up with Lindy and we headed home (missing a third toll on this trip that I have to take care of this week)
the missed toll today was especially not my fault - I can thank the truckers that blocked me in, thus missing the toll we were ready to pay - with $ in hand!
I just get so confused on the Illinois toll roads - and hate being a toll-road (unintentional) villain
but the drive was nice - Lindy and I chatted and recapped our (separate) weekends
we stopped at Cracker Barrel in Benton Harbor and had a nice lunch
just east of Battle Creek - I witnessed a westbound semi truck jack-knife and hit the ground on the driver's side
it was so scarey to see that and could not get it out of my mind
(today I called the State Police and found out he was not hurt.    Praise God)
so we trekked towards home, having rain pretty much the rest of the way
we picked up Sophie in Wyandotte, headed to Troy to drop Lindy and Bessie off
and then we were home
it's always good to come (safely) home --- but I left something behind
my digital camera!!  that was a bummer and I couldn't help but be crabby
I can't wait for the FedEx truck to drop a little package on my porch

the weekend went fast, but it was so great being away - and making memories
I look forward to going back soon

♥

friday to monday

in Chicago (to be exact - Lake Barrington)
visiting my sister and her family
the ride here on friday was warm - today not so much
and to top it off, we woke up to snow
not a dusting as was indicated, but maybe about two inches, and still coming down
I came down the stairs this morning in a nightshirt - with snow pictures on it
so, of course, I am the culprit for the snow
but that is ok, because we have been spending a nice day so far in the family room

with a wonderful fire blazing....talking and laughing, and enjoying being together
the snow simply adds atmosphere
and because it is mid-March, the snow will be gone soon
the weather forecast even shows 46 on monday

when I get back home I will post pictures of this weekend
but for now, it is time to get back to the gang

hope everyone is having a fun day - in your little part of heaven


♥

This one makes you wonder who are the smart ones.

How we treat the weakest among us, is how we will be judged. ~ Mehmet Oz, M..D.

Noah the Dove

Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage.

Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage.  But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise.. .there was the tiny bunny....under Noah's wing...sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed, no doubt to snuggling up with its littermates!

Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT.

When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see...

This is what God does with us when we need the warmth and love He offers.
He gathers us under His loving wings to a warm cradle of protection.
All we need do in return is give Him the thanks and praise for being with us.

Update on Noah the pigeon:

We are Bob and Georganne Lenham of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas, home of Noah the Pigeon.

After finding many posts online featuring Noah and the bunnies and reading about the many lives he has touched (his story has been forwarded around the world) we thought we'd post a follow-up and a few new photos.We knew there was something special about Noah the moment we saw him.  Although the bunnies seem to be his favorite, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch...
Noah's first litter of bunnies, almost raised and ready for release.

♥

For those of you old enough to remember Red Skelton, I think you will enjoy this e-mail. For those of you not old enough you will see what you missed. Either way, his humor was always clean and he was a great entertainer. A rerun of great one liner's from the man who was known for his clean humor. I hope you get a chuckle or two reading them once more

RED SKELTON'S RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE

1. Two times a week we go to a nice restaurant, have a Little beverage, good food and companionship
She goes on Tuesdays; I go on Fridays.

2. We also sleep in separate beds.
Hers is in California , and mine is in Texas .

3. I take my wife everywhere....but she keeps finding her way back.

4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary.  "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.
So I suggested the kitchen.

5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.

6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets, and no place to sit down!"
So I bought her an electric chair.

7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was. She told me, "In the lake."

8.. She got a mud pack, and looked great for two days.
Then the mud fell off.

9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, "Am I too late for the garbage?"
The driver said, "No, jump in!"

10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.

11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.

13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" and I said, "Dust!"

Can't you just hear him say all of these? I love it. Those were the good old days when humor didn't have to start with a four letter word. It was just clean and simple fun.

And he always ended his programs with the words, "God Bless."

I received this in an email, one of those to 'forward'
and in wondering where this stuff comes from, whether it is legitimate or not - how could I not post it here when it has such a touching message?
this one is awesome and in reading it, a sense of happiness came over me
speaking for me, I have mostly good thoughts but sometimes unbelieving feelings about what is around me
at my ripe old age, I am happy to say that I continue to 'learn' about life......but mostly about God
my mssion is to get cloer to Him, to grow in the knowledge that He is a forgiving God
reading this 'letter' touched me and makes me wish that I could 'think' and 'do' more like this young man
and so here it is
I hope it touches you like it does me

God Lives Under The Bed
I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least
that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed....' I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!

friendship

recent beautiful days
last weekend was so sunny, and warm
and since then, more sun, days getting warmer, even the nights are warmer - like around 40 degrees!
and as we wind down with winter, I think back to this winter and have to admit that it was a very mild one in my part of Michigan
there was cold, there was snow, but nothing like other parts of the country - especially the east coast and while I do love winter, I am excited about the coming of spring
the rain that will wash off the dirty aftermath of winter - when the piles of snow sit there - black (my most unfavorite thing of winter), not the pretty white as it freshly covered the ground, the houses, the trees
and taking inventory of my garden areas, noticing the little green-ness pushing through the hard earth - getting ready to bloom - to smile up to God

and I am looking forward to going to Chicago that first weekend of spring to spend a long weekend with my sister, brother-in-law and niece
to be accompanied by my dear friend, Lindy (and her dog Bessie) as we drive together
chattiing the whole way, I am sure
and once we hit Chicago, we will split, Lindy spending the weekend with her cousin, and I will continue my way to Barrington
I am so looking forward to feeling my sister's presence close to me - because we are overdo seeing each other and because I truly love my sister and have missed her so much
I can't begin to thank her for being the best sister in the world

hope everyone is enjoying these last days of winter 2009-2010
I am   ♥

Daddy, me, cousin Robert