Celebrating 70 Years!

Pat's parents have been married 70 years. Yes, 70!

Last evening we celebrated at Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Kevin, our friend from Cathedral days, was gracious and kind. It was a beautiful liturgy. The worship space was elegant and simple. We belonged to Blessed Sacrament and Caroline and Joanna attended school there when we lived in Midland. It was like coming home.

We went to Shurlene's for dinner after Mass. It was a nice evening.

Swimming Done

We have been taking Javier and Ayva to swimming lessons since January. Javier had his last lesson Monday and Ayva yesterday.

They are both so comfortable with the water. Sam and Gwen are great swim instructors. Ayva really lucked out. No one else was in this last set of classes so she had private lessons.

I promised the kids new swimsuits after all there classes were finished - we will be going shopping.

Lunch on the Au Sable

We went up north because the day was so beautiful. We bought subs and ate them on the Au Sable River.

We went to Lumberman's, but there were lots of workers getting the grounds ready for visitors. So we went to the canoe memorial and ate our apples.

We tried to stop to see one of our friends but she wasn't home.

Then on our way home to take the Martinez family to the Castle Museum Jesse called to say an electrical line was down in their driveway and they had no power.

I noticed the brick display we want to see at the museum doesn't open until next Wednesday so we decided to get pizza and take it over with our generator. Just as we got there the power came back on.

Romeo has really started having fun. Valentino sat in the jumpy chair for the first time. Ayva read her books to Papa. Javier was a human trampoline for Romeo.

Saginaw Children's Zoo

Our first trip to the zoo this season.

We had so much fun.

We can't wait for the new playground to open.

This is what Easter is at our house. Just finished dinner.
Ham, macaroni and cheese, cubed salad, potatoes and
Pumpkin dump cake.

Happy Easter

If you look closely at the tubes by the cross you will see bands of texture.  Chloe, granddaughter to one of our team of decorators came up with the idea.  Loom bracelets are the big thing right now with kids.  She thought they would look great on the tubes.  So Chloe and her sister Lillie made them for the tubes.  We put a few on a tube - stepped back and looked at the placement.  We did that for every tube.  Chloe and Lillie - thank you so much for sharing your talent and inspiration to our worship area.

Kim Hinz Makes Easter Pie

Our family Cauzone never looked so good to me. Maybe because I didn't bake it!

I sure wish I could eat it though.

Kim you are a Sweetie Pie.

Holy Thursday

I know

Just because we had two days over 55 

I thought we could put out the swing - NOT!

Palm Sunday

Ayva Time

Oh yes we did! Chuck E. Cheese!

Grandma Caroline isn't feeling well - so we get Ayva fun!

Because

Happy Birthday Clarence

We went to Fandangles' to celebrate Clarence's birthday.  Tom joined us too.  What a nice day.  Our favorite waitress, Kelli, talked me into the salmon burger - oh yum! Then Pat and I shared a piece of lemon cake. Double yum!

But most of all - the friendship and good conversation was the beat part of the day!

Sibling Day!

I love my brothers and sisters! 

Nice Night Out

We had such a nice time celebrating Kay's birthday!  

Thank you Julie for treating us to dinner at Kathleen's.  

Good friends makes life so wonderful!

SMC All Class Reunion

You should have received your invitation to the St. Mary Cathedral all class reunion.  If you have not - please contact me at mesclifford@charter.net and I will send one to you.

Click here to to the St. Mary Cathedral All Class Reunion Blog.

Can't wait until August 9th to see you!  Get your reservations in NOW!

Plant Markers

Olympia called to say the Cathedral is putting together a garden basket to be auctioned off at the Bishop's Ball.  She asked for some help with the wrapping of the basket.  I told her I have been seeing beautiful plant markers made with spoons so I would bring some with me.

I had fun following these directions from the Pinterest pin.

I called Betty to find out what kind of seeds she purchased.  Then found pictures on the Internet of seed packets of those seeds.

Dwarf Sunflowers
Dill
Kale
Radishes
Lettuce
Cosmos

I printed them out very small then ripped around the edges making them rough.

With some brown paint I aged the little picture.  Then glued them to the spoons.

I sprayed three layers of acrylic spray, waiting for each layer to dry before repeating.

Then went one step more than the pin - I added beads to glisten in the sun!

Bishop Ken

On the 10th anniversary of Bishop Ken Untener's death - a prayer he wrote, but usually not attributed to him.  I still miss him.
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent
enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of
saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an
opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master
builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw

This prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw, drafted for a homily by Card. John Dearden in Nov. 1979 for a celebration of departed priests. As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero, Bishop Untener included in a reflection book a passage titled "The mystery of the Romero Prayer." The mystery is that the words of the prayer are attributed to Oscar Romero, but they were never spoken by him.

Yum!

White Chocolate Carrot Cake M&M's - oh my - these are so delicious!  But - they are a Walmart exclusive!  That is why we had them - Joanna brought them to the Pampered Chef party.

Celebrating

We celebrated Sheala' birthday last night. I can't believe she will be 20! I spent Friday night and most of Saturday with her. What a nice weekend!

We also found out that Robbie will be an air cargo handler. One of the jobs he was hoping to get.  He will be traveling all over the world. He leaves for basic training just a few days after graduation.

Life goes on and grandkids grow up!

Saturday Morning

What a nice morning. Pat and I went to the Y. I lifted 22,598 pounds in an hour. Pretty good considering I started out with 6,000 in December!

Joanna and Sheala spent the night last night.

When I got back home I made breakfast. Then we vegged on the couch together.

Shattered Glass Chicken!

Not happy! After church yesterday, we had Jesse, Caroline, Javier, Ayva and Romeo over for dinner.

I had two large packages of chicken breasts in the slow cooker. I took out 8 pieces to coat with flour and brown in butter. I put the cover back on until I could store the extra chicken after dinner.

As I was pan frying our dinner chicken I heard a loud pop. The lid to the slow cooker shattered over the remaining pieces of chicken.

What a waste.

DST

Oh heavens! Finally! This is my time - Daylight savings time - I thrive on this time.

Every year I am so happy to have the immediate universe be on my schedule!

This is one thankful person today!

32 degrees and what that means

A very cold winter puts life into perspective!  Remember when 32 degrees was cold?  Now when we get over 30 we feel like it is a warm spell.  I don't even button my coat!  

I am beginning to understand the flannel shirts in Hawaii and the fur coat in Florida, LOL!

When the weather people say that it is going to be a cold spring, I don't even flinch.  Come on 40's - I'll be wearing shorts!

Bad Dreams

I had such bad dreams last night my mind shut them out this morning!  I awakened about 12:30 am shaking with fear.  The dream was so real that I decided I couldn't chance going back to sleep and dreaming the same dream again.  That has happened many times before!

So I went downstairs and watched a bit of television and played a few games.  I eventually fell asleep on the couch. When I awakened this morning - I can't recall the dream at all!  Thank Goodness - don't want bad vibes in my head all day!

Preparing for Lent

I think this is so simple and prayerful. I will always remember walking down the hall and seeing the purple Chihuly exhibit at the Rhode Island School of Art (picture below). It was as if I was drawn to that room. I immediately thought of Lent as it brought me to tears.
I always wanted to use that inspiration.  Nancy filled Mason jars with sand and weeds. I love this art.

Robbie and Papa

The new Equinox has a home! Robbie and Papa cleaned out a spot big enough in the garage. Thank you Robbie!

We love our new SUV - it handles well in the snow and ice (according to the only driver so far). The ride is smooth and it is roomy inside (according to the permanent passenger.

We all went out for perch at the Junction after. Yum! Certainly not a Lenten dinner though, so we were happy when the perch special started early.