Mardi Gras and Lent

Okay, the new year continues into an early Mardi Gras and Letnen season. Which is fine by me. Mardi Gras was great. Here are a few pictures:

Superman Stephen snacking while waiting for the Rex parade. Joanna and baby Anna, Mehan Mehaffey and Eileen Timler.

Granddad Phil and Zachary.

Now on to Lent. I am giving myself a weight loss challenge. A dozen for a dozen. Exchange (or lose) a dozen pounds for a dozen Easter eggs. Time to take back control! This is a good time of year for me to make this a spiritual battle of the will.

Dieting isn't always a spiritual thing, but there's something about fasting that brings food consumption into the forefront as a real player in prayer. I want to incorporate that aspect of prayer into my life. I know I will reap prayer benifits from it. I also plan to reap weight loss benifits from it.

So if you have a prayer request I will be happy to pray for you as I fast. God's power is alive and strong and He is still working miracles.

Beginnings

I love beginning a new year. It is refreshing. I buy new calendars and notebooks and attempt to reorganize my life. I get a handle on things. It feels good. Don't know how long it Will last, but for a while I at least feel like I have it all together!

I rang in the New Year with an awful stomach virus from which I have recovered. John and Kristen and the Martins were in for the New Year weekend as well. Here are some pictures.

Christmas was also great fun! Patrick was in, the Roys came over, the Martins were here. Santa was successful once again.

Merry Christmas!

For those who wonder what we're up to, life is blessed and busy. I've been helping conduct the choir at St. Michael's Special School where Stephen goes. The performance was on Dec.8th and was very successful. I think it brought joy to the full house who came. Of course I am always blessed many times over by the beautiful spirits of these students.







So to catch up, Joanna had her baby on Nov.7th. Baby Anna Gloria Roy. Daniel and Zachary were happy to have a sister. Mother and Daughter are doing just great! Daddy Joe is keeping everyone happy working hard, cooking, and all around caring for his family.





We had a marvelous Thanksgiving. John and his fiance Kristen came to visit. . John and Kristen got to meet our family and friends in the short three days they were here. They will return again for New Year's.















Patrick also came and brought his dog Riley to visit Bambi. They had a great time


















Fall is here now. I've posted some video of Stephen and Phil and the leaf jumping Olympics. Unfortunately my camera doesn't add sound, but leaf jumping does not rely on sound anyway.





So, I should be writing Christmas cards right now, but decided to post this first. My shopping is almost complete. The best part about playing Santa is that you get such joy out of surprising others with gifts. Theresa, Pete, Gregory and Louis will be here for the holidays. That will add lots of baby fun and excitement to the household. Patrick and Riley will come in also. Bambi can't wait. Of course, Michael and Stephen will be here. Michael just finished another semester at UNO. Grandma Alice is here too. Her shopping is done already, just waiting on the UPS to deliver all the orders!


Had to mail gifts to Grace, Paul and Cy, Kerri and Zelie as they will not be here for Christmas. We had a wonderful visit with them here in October. And I'm sure we will see them again soon. Maybe for Mardi Gras.


Well, a blessed Christmas to all who read this and a happy and Christ-filled New Year for you all.

Time Flies

Okay, so it's been awhile since I posted. Summertime gets a bit hectic. But now that school is back in session, and life is more into a routine, I'll get back to this.



We had a great family vacation on the Guadeloupe River in Texas. Here is a family shot.









Then we had Joe Timler (brother of our friend John) from South Bend stay with us for a few weeks in July. Stephen shared his room. It was lots of fun. (Finally someone to play pirates with!)



During the summer Stephen played baseball, had a week of horseback riding camp and was on the Green Acres swim team.










In August, we were deeply grieved by Grace & Paul's miscarriage. I was able to visit them over Labor Day. They have had one tough summer, but the Lord is their strength and life continues. The three kids, Cy, Kerri and Zelie are wonderful.

Here they are showing off their tiger painted faces from our trip to the zoo.

















Also, a few weeks ago we finally agreed to get a puppy for Stephen. We decided on a "goldendoodle" which is a mix of golden retriever and poodle. Kind of like a small polar bear!


Even though I was sure I was ready for, as someone put it, "one more special needs individual to care for" I began feeling a bit panicked. However, with prayer and perserverance, these feelings have calmed down.


I actually am enjoying Bambi now. And Stephen is really bonding with her which is what we wanted. He lets her out of her kennel in the morning and takes her outside. He feeds her and loves her. The playful puppy part is tricky, all those sharp baby teeth can get annoying! But she'll grow out of that right?

Also this summer John got engaged! We met Kristen briefly at our summer vacation and really enjoyed her. So, wedding plans will be part of our life for the next year. Parents of the groom this time around - what fun!

Finally, I got a new computer, so I am on a learning curve with that. I decided to get another Dell, the XPS 210 . It's very nice and fast. My old one was slow, probably because of all I had on it. Michael has been able, with John's help, to set it up to use in the "East Wing" - even got the remote internet working. So I'm glad that is accomplished.


I guess that brings us up to date. I'm probably forgetting something. But for now, for whoever cares, this is our life. It is good. God is merciful.

A Fine Farewell

Ken, Phyliss, Liz, Marsha, Mom

Mom and I took an unexpected trip to Long Island last weekend. Her remaining brother and my godfather Uncle Jimmy Powers had passed away. He and wife Phyllis have lived in Florida for over 16 years, but at his death, Jim wanted to rest in peace on Long Island, where they all grew up.

Since he was a retired policeman, the men in blue stood as honor guard while he lay in state and escorted us to the cemetery. Since he was a former Marine, the men in uniform retired and presented the flag. It was very respectful and solemn. My cousin, Marsha and husband Ken Raynor and three great kids (Jimmie, Katie and Christie) were there adding the warmth of memories and admiration.

Jim had survived eight years after a bout with esophageal cancer. He had not chewed swallowed any food in all that time. My Aunt Phyllis has assisted him with his tube feedings and whatnot to help him live a relatively normal life. Once a man of Archie Bunker opinions and accent, he was forcibly humbled by cancer to a wispy voice and a much quieter demeanor.

However, he still had his amazing stories that thrilled the grandkids all the more. And he had that borrowed time we all hope to experience in order to show his love to those he was closest to.

As taps flowed out of the bugle and mingled with the trees at Calverton National Cemetery, hearts were moved. Many who came from far away were united for a time to honor and bid farewell to this good man. We slowly departed and went to have a common meal.

Farewell Uncle Jimmy, you will be missed.

Dance to the Music

Here are some cute pictures of Stephen dancing at the wedding of Theresa and Jack Lynch in Shreveport on April 15th. His partner is the youngest Burgess girl from Mobile. The gathering was especially fun as it included people from several People of Praise branches. Weddings are wonderful times to celebrate and reconnect. And we always appreciate the music!

Waiting

Well I did promise to post once a week. That's hard when it's been a busy week. I had a great retreat at Rosaryville. What a beautiful and peaceful place. Can I bottle the spring air with its fragrance and colors? What should I call it: Heaven? Peace on Earth? Azalea Explosion Amidst the Shady Spring Breezes?

Anyway, just being there was tranquil. The talks and prayer time were of course powerful. So nice to know that the Lord loves us so much as to indulge our senses on cue. Yes I know he is with me always (we chat frequently) but going away especially to meet with him and waiting to hear his word, makes that encounter so much more meaningful to me. Thank you Lord for being there when I waited for you. I know you always wait for me.

Speaking of waiting. I can confirm one report we hear about post-Katrina New Orleans. There is now nothing emergent about emergency rooms. I had to take Mom there on Thursday as she was having several faint feelings. After doing a quick EKG they determined it was not a heart attack, so we waited. We arrived at 5:30 PM. We left at 1:30 AM. After all that time and a half bag of IV she was feeling much better. They never could find a problem. We both were longing for our comfy beds and soft pillows. It was a looooong evening. I am going to try very hard from now on to have all emergencies during doctor's business hours. Waiting on the Lord is one thing. Waiting on a doctor in the emergency room in New Orleans is something else altogether.