Who is watching?

As I was driving back from Noodles & Company restaurant on a cold and rainy night, Manny suggested renting "Heaven is for Real".  What an amazing movie.  A young boy visited Heaven.  He experienced the ultimate joy and peace.  The little boy stated he was floating and saw the surgeon, his Dad and Mom.   I went back to the day of "the accident".  The morning of March 21, 2001 I promised Erika and Max breakfast at McDonald's.  It was the first day of Spring, but it had snowed lightly overnight.

As I was driving I had a vision of someone in a head on collision.  I did not know who it was.  I remember Enya CD was playing in the minivan.  As I was driving down the road I had a feeling to take a different route to get to McDonald's.  I did not listen and kept driving forward. My Guardian Angel was trying to warn me.  As I rounded the bend in the road, I saw a Jeep coming in the opposite direction losing control on the road. I slowed down to a complete stop.  Max and Erika were in the back of the minivan and I was looking around to see how I can keep them safe.   The right side of the road there was a embankment and no where to get out of the way.  Max used to hang his legs on the side by the door so I could not turn right.  To the left side there was an empty parking lot.  I would have had to cross the other lane which would Erika in harms way.  It felt like 10 minutes passed but it was seconds.

I saw the Jeep speed up and begin driving.  The Jeep started to cross the road and head towards us. The Jeep was around 11 car lengths away (I believe).  The Jeep was speeding across the lane straight towards my minivan. The Jeep could have gone into the empty parking lot.  I had my right foot on the brake and both hands on the steering wheel.  I prayed to God.  "Dear God - Take Me!"  Everything went black.  I began floating above me.  I did not feel any pain.  All I felt was peace.  I heard Erika and Max screaming and crying.  I woke up.  Reality hit hard.  We all recovered this accident mentally and physically.

When Max was young Manny and I would watch him smiling and babbling when he would look around his hospital room.  He had many surgeries in his young life.  Manny and I believe Max was talking to his Guardian Angels.  I believe Max had many Guardian Angels to protect him.  He would have conversations while he was recovering from his surgeries.  He was too young to ask him who he was talking to.

I believe we should take the time to find a quiet place and clear our minds of all thoughts.We may find the peace the little boy in the movie found.  The peace I found for the few seconds before my children's cries brought me back to reality.  Before I fall asleep nightly I attempt to clear my mind of my day.  I hope to experience the peace I felt for the few seconds that day.

Attempting to complete the presentation...Really I am! FOCUS!!

How many ways can one person avoid creating a presentation for the User Conference?  The first way is to write this blog instead of finishing the presentation.  I know I have to finish the presentation for Sonam and I but there are so many distractions.  I have until Tuesday evening.  Sonam and I will meet on Wednesday evening and Thursday to finish the presentation.

I am watching "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers".  A great musical from the 1950s.  This movie is a wonderful story of "love".  The dancing is amazing.  The music is great to listen to.  Howard Keel and Jane Powell were great together.  What happens when 7 brothers want to marry and they live in the backwoods in the 1800 West?  I can watch this over and over again.  It makes me smile.  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Earlier today Manny and I dropped off his aunt who came in from the Philippines last night.  Tia Ligaya will be visiting for the next 6 months. She is staying is Leominster with the family.  Ligaya means "Happy" in Talagalog (Filipino).  She is always smiling.  She is a strong woman.  She flew from Manila, Philippines to Boston, Massachusetts by herself.  It took 23 hours.  She stopped in Hong Kong and Chicago.  She spent the night with us.  Tia Ligaya is always smiling.  When I visited Obando, Philippines in 1989, I remember her happiness.  She is laughing and smiling.  Her positive attitude is contagious.  We have her here for the next 6 months.

You realize there are many more ways of procrastinating.  I am thinking of cooking something.  I must be desparate.  Cooking is not my favorite thing.  I have to figure out what I would like for dinner tonight.  Manny and I were supposed to go out with friends to Chuan Shabu Restaurant tonight.  It was canceled.  This was supposed to be a delicious distraction, but no!  I was anticipating Chinese Food.  Another day...Chuan Shabu Restaurant

I have to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer.  Distaction number 4.
Laundry needs to be completed soon.  I have another load of dirty laundry to go into the washer.  I have begin pulling clothes to bring to the Florida.  I have to be ready for a 5am ET pick up.  I have to wake up at 4am!!!!!  4am!  There are 40 of us on the Jet Blue flight at 8am on Wednesday morning.  I like waking up early, but this is a little ridiculus!  Focus Cindy!  Back to the laundry.  I will return in a few minutes.  My blog and presentation will have to wait.  It will have to wait until the end of the movie.  What am I going to do?

My laundry is not done and Manny is home.  He is mocking the movie.  It became very noisy.  The movie is almost done.  I have to finish watching the movie, then I will move the laundry, then I will get back to the presentation.  I have to eat dinner as well.  I will get back to the presentation after I do the other things.

The movie has ended.  It is always a happy ending!  It is so wonderful.  I have moved the clean laundry to the dryer and the last load of dirty clothes went into the washer.

I am cold.  The heat is not turned on in out home until it is freezing.  The cost of heating oil is so high that I believe layer to keep warm.  The heat was on last night for Tia Ligaya.  I could not expect to have her stay in our home without the house being warm.The heat is off and I have a blanket wrapped around me.  Yes!  I am cheap when it comes to paying for oil.  Manny started the first fire in the fireplace.  He won't get a blanket to cover up. He is in shorts and T-shirt. Of course he will be cold.

Back to getting something prepared for dinner.  Manny is eating leftovers.  I can only eat leftovers once.  I have found some chicken. It is heating in the toaster oven.

My parents have surfaced.  They had been travelling for the past 2 weeks.  They went to my brother's home in Arlington, TX.  Tim and Angie brought my parents to the Texas State Fair and October Fest. My parents stopped at my Grandma's home in Columbus, NE.  The Swerczek Family reunion was yesterday.  This is my father's mother's family.  My Grandma, Frances, is the second oldest of 12 children.  She lived through The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930's.

Alois and Frances Tworek's wedding - May 10, 1938 (my grandparents)

My Grandma is the one in the last row on the right.  You will count 11 children.  Raymond passed away at an young age.

My Great Grandparent's (John and Anna) wedding picture. This was early 1910s.

I would have loved to have been there, but it was not possible.  We were in Nebraska for my Grandma's 96th birthday in August.  My Grandma is the eldest sibling living.  There are 4 younger sister still living.  Every family was represented.  My parent's had a great time.  I have talked to my Dad for 1 hour and the call just dropped.  

Now the laundry needs to be moved again.  Some many distractions.  

My presentation is still waiting.  It is time to finish it.  Sonam is waiting for me.  I will get it done.  I have eat as well.  If I spent as much time on my presentation as I have done creating ways not completing it, it would be finished.

It will be done tonight before I go to bed.  More to come from Florida.  This is my first time in Florida.  Another state off the list.  I have 5 more states to visit.  Yea!

Time is changing...

The house is very quiet.  We moved into our home 19 years old with a 2 year old little girl and one on the way.  On the way meant within 30 days.  Our home was never completely quiet.  Having a 2 year old running around our new home which had more room than the townhouse we moved from allow Erika great places to play.  It was only 12 days after moving to our home when our son, Max, made his entrance into the world.  Our family is complete.  Our home is filled with the most wonderful sound.  The sound of children.  The crying, laughing, fighting and silence fills every part of our home.

Listening to the laughter of children is one of the most joyous sounds.  They laugh because they believe it is funny.  As we get older, we learn to laugh or not based on the people and circumstances.  The innocence of a child's laughter is so wonderful.  I wanted to have my children fairly close in age.  The laughter and giggling throughout the house always rang out with love. Remember When by Alan Jackson

The sound of my son in his bedroom with the "gaming" buddies rang throughout the home.  I do not want to complain because after next week the house will be silent of all children.  He will be off to Iowa State University for his freshmen year.  All of the little and big things that bothered me in the past seemed to not be so bad.  Knowing that he will be gone and coming home only a few times a year has changed my views on so many things.

Now it is time to redecorate his room.  It will become the guest room.  More to come on this...

Very few LASTS and many more FIRSTS!

Tomorrow night is Marian High School Junior/Senior Prom.  This is the last pre-prom picture taking.  The excitement of meeting all the young men and women to take pictures.  The girls have their hair done up so beautifully.  The dresses are amazing.  You can tell their personalities from the dresses they have chosen.  The young men wearing their tuxedos with the matching vest and bow tie.  What are they matching?  The vest and bow tie match the young woman's dress.  Max wore pink last year.  This year Max told his date he will not wear pink.

What is Prom?  This is usually the last big dance for the high school seniors.  Marian High School is small so Juniors and Seniors attend this dance.  The only way for Freshmen and Sophomore to attend is to be asked by an upper class man.  Prom comes from Promenade.  The couples parading in their outfits.  It starts off with pictures with the group of friends.  Max and his friends have rented a limousine to drive the group to the Prom and back to the designated home.  When they get to the facility where Prom is held, there will be dinner.  The dance is after the dinner.  There will the crowning of the Prom King and Queen and the court.  Max was chosen as one of the court princes last year.  At Marian it is the faculty choosing the Prom Royalty.  This alleviates popularity contests.

The only Prom I attend was 1980.  I was a Junior and went with a Senior.  He was my brother's (who was a Senior) friend.  My brother went with my friend (who was a Sophomore).  I had a long white dress with baby blue roses.  My date rented a baby blue tuxedo, baby blue bow tie and vest.  The shirt had ruffles.  My date went to a different school then my brother, so we started off with dinner at his school.  In Racine, Wisconsin the city had all schools meet the Memorial Hall on Lake Michigan.  All the students would have the greatest time.  The parents would line the streets in front of Memorial Hall and watch all of the prom dates parade into the hall.  No one was allowed to leave the hall without signing out and a call to the parents.  There was dancing and food.  There was a balcony with chairs.  I remember watching the sunrise over Lake Michigan.  I had a wonderful time.  Everyone was dressed in the best clothes.

I know tomorrow I will have some tears.  This is the LAST prom as a parent.  The last time I will rush from work to go to the designate place to take pictures.  I cannot believe that my baby is heading to Iowa State University in August.  Watching Max in his first on stage appearance in the play was the LAST play I will see with him being a part of it.  This coming Monday is the Marian Senior Mother's Tea.  All of the Senior Moms come together.  There is food and drink and a lot of talking.  Sister Cathy read a beautiful poem when I attend Erika's Senior Mothers Tea.  Most of the Mom's had tears in their eyes.  I will bring Kleenex this time.

I have to stop looking at everything with my children as LAST.  I need to begin seeing their FIRSTS has adults.  As a parent it is hard to realize your children no longer need me as a young child needs his/her mom. I understand how my parents felt as I pulled away from them when they wanted to know everything when I was my children's age.  Parents want to continue protecting the adult children as if they were still small children.  Letting go is hard to do.

I just finished watching the movie "Son-in-Law" with the Pauley Shore.  This movie is so funny.  What if my daughter brought home a young man like Crawl?  What would I do?  My goodness this movie makes me laugh so hard.  It is a very funny movie.

I will have more LASTS and many more FIRSTS with my children and husband.  

A day to celebrate!

Today is the day of my birth 51 years ago.  I was born on my Grandparent's 25 wedding anniversary.  I am a Friday's child.  I am the second child of four in my family.  I am the second grandchild and first granddaughter on my father's side.  I am the 22nd grandchild on my mother's side (if I counted correctly).  I was born in Omaha, Nebraska after the 10pm News.  It was Mother's Day weekend.

I was 6 months old

My day began with a wonderful massage.  Being able to relax and allow the world to stop for 1 hour is a great way to begin a day.  It was peaceful and quiet.  Manny and I went to Rocco's Clothing and to the Mall to buy my shoes at The Walking Company.  I am getting ready for our trip to Switzerland on a river cruise in July.  Back to my day...It was perfect.

I was able to relax for a couple of hours before Manny Max and I drove into Boston for a wonderful dinner at Smith and Wollensky's Steak Restaurant.  It was amazing food.  I had a glass of Riesling wine.  I ordered a 22oz rib eye bone-in.  We had sides of onion rings, mashed potatoes and cream corn with Manchego cheese.  The steak was perfectly grilled and the taste was amazing.

Ribeye steak

2 pound piece of chocolate cake

3 side dishes

Since my birthday lands near or on Mother's Day as a child my family would be at my Grandparent's farm.  It was a great time.  All my cousins would be at the farm.  We would have the best time playing.  The days were warm since it was spring in Columbus, Nebraska.  My cousin, Debbie, and I would be together all the time.  I am one month older than her.  We would lay on the living room floor at our grandparent's home and share a coloring book.  I remember we would always autograph and date the pages we colored.  Our Grandma had a box of buttons.  There were 100s of buttons in the box.  The older cousins would sort and play games with the buttons.  It was a simpler life. 

Before supper it was time to help with the farm chores.  We were city children, so we watched most of the time.  We would go with our grandparents or aunts to guide the cows into the barn for milking.  While my grandparents and aunts would be milking the cows, we would be playing in the hay loft.  There were times we would find chicken eggs and kittens in the hay loft.  We would watch the cows being milked from above. It was so much fun.  We would be jumping from one bail of hay to another.  It was great.

 

The one chore I loved was gathering chicken eggs.  My Grandma would tell us to wear a hat in the chicken coop.  We would always bring a stick with us.  The roosters were mean.  They would try to attack at times.  My Grandma or aunts would let me reach into the nests to gather the eggs.  The eggs had to be gently placed into the pail.  There was straw at the bottom of the pail.  If I was not careful, the eggs would break.  There are different types of chickens with specific jobs.  The laying hens of course laid the eggs.  There were clucks which sat on the eggs to hatch them.  The clucks had to be removed from the nest before reaching into the nest.  I loved gathering the eggs.

After supper I would help my Grandpa wipe each egg.  They had to be placed in the egg cartons with the points down.  The eggs were sold to an egg dealer.  It drives me crazy today when I buy a carton of eggs when the eggs are not placed in the carton properly.  

There were times my parents, brothers and sister would go to the drive-in to watch a Disney movie.  This was so exciting.  My mom would make popcorn and buy potato chips to eat while watching the movie in the back of the station wagon.  The 4 of us would be in our pajamas.  The drive-in theater was so much fun.  Before the movie began my Dad would take us to the playground near the screen and let us play until became dark.  Between the 2 movies as Tim (my older brother) and I were allowed to go to the Snack stand as we got older.  I rarely stayed up for both movies.  There were at least 2 movies if not 3.

Manny and Erika went to their first drive-in movie with me.  It was a Disney movie.  I believe it was Hercules.  Once Max came, we went to a few other drive-in theaters.  There are so few drive-ins left now.  It was a great way to watch 2 movies

Everyone should take a moment and realize the day you entered into this world was the most important day.  You are special.  God has given you a purpose on this Earth.  

Celebrate your day!

Crickets and purple bushes

I am sitting at my kitchen table watching and listening to Jeopardy on TV.  I am staring out the kitchen window watching the sky turn from beautiful blue with puffy white clouds to light gray soon to be black.  This is the time of dusk.  The birds are singing their last songs before nightfall comes.  The flowers are closing for the night.  They are ready to open tomorrow morning - rain or shine.  The night is coming closer and less birds are singing, but they are singing.

The crickets are out now chirping loudly.  Did you know you can determine the temperature based on the number of cricket chirps.  I learned this when I was teaching.  Now when you are lying quietly with your window open you can calculate the temperature outside.  Amazing!

Did you know that you can tell the temperature by counting the chirps of a cricket? It's true! Here's the formula:

To convert cricket chirps to degrees Fahrenheit, count number of chirps in 14 seconds then add 40 to get temperature.

Example: 30 chirps + 40 = 70° F

To convert cricket chirps to degrees Celsius, count number of chirps in 25 seconds, divide by 3, then add 4 to get temperature.

Example: 48 chirps /(divided by) 3 + 4 = 20° C

I know it is colder in my home than it is outside.

I love Spring.  There is a beautiful purple flowering bush in my front yard.  It will bloom for up to 7 days.  Then the purple petals fall to the ground and it stays green throughout the Summer.  The anticipation of this flowering bush reminds me that Spring is an amazing season.  All of the bushes and trees sleeping throughout the Winter months begin to awaken.  The beauty of the bush last no more than 7 days.  The brilliant color of purple and green brings a smile to me.  We have live in this house for 19 years.  I never noticed the bush for the first 3 years living here.  The year Max was 3 years old and in the hospital for 27 days (mostly in ICU).  We were so happy we were coming home from the hospital.  The car turned the corner and the purple bush was stunning.  It stood out among all the other bushes and trees.  It was a sign of new beginnings.  

This bush will always be special.  Each year I wait for this bush to bloom.

How much can one person procrastinate?

I am supposed to be preparing my 2 presentations for the eCW Expo.  Instead I have gone on Facebook for a while.  I have watched the Boston Red Sox baseball team lose to Toronto Bluejays.  Now I have decided to write a post for my blog.  Why not?  I know what I am going to do for the Expo.

It is another rainy and cold day in Massachusetts.  I am watching from inside my home the raindrops falling outside the front bay window.  The overcast skies are begin to lighten.  The weather should be nicer as the work week starts.  

Well it is nightfall and I have watched the movie "Grudge Match" with Sylvester Stallone.  I am not a fan of Sylvester Stallone.  I have NEVER seen any of the "Rocky" movies.  You can say this is not on my "Bucket List".  I did not asleep for the first few minutes of the movie, but it got better.  It had a good morale in the movie.  

Now I am watching the end of the "The Deathly Hollows: Part 2".  The end battle of Good vs Evil.  We all know Good wins.  I only started to read the Harry Potter series because my daughter at the age of 6 was reading book 1.  Yes - 6 years old.  A very thick book for a little person.  I needed to know what the series was all about.  I would not have read the series if it was not for Erika.  As the new books were released we (Manny, Erika, Max and I) would be at the midnight release at a book store.  We were at the 12 midnight showing of the last 3 movies.   At this end of this movie makes me sad because the story has ended.  All is well, but memories Manny made with Erika and Max by going to the midnight releases and movies will always be with all of us.

Tomorrow for only the second time in 23 years of marriage, Manny is traveling on business.  I have traveled for business many times throughout our marriage.  I tried to limit the times when Erika and Max were smaller. I hated mot being with them when they were younger.  I don't like not having them around me now they are adults.  As a parent I know Manny and I instilled our morals and beliefs.  We can only prayer they will continue on the path of set for them.  The decision they make will be good.  Like my parents are still in my head when I have to make decisions I hope Manny and I will be in their heads all the time.  

Back to Manny traveling this week.   He is going to Dallas, Texas on business.  He will be a resort north of Dallas.  He does not have to share a room.  I will be home.  Max will be here as well.  The last time Manny spent a night away from home Max was 5 years old.  He slept with his shoes on just in case.  You just don't realize what make a child safe.  Sleeping with shoes on is not a big deal.  He used to set noisy toys on the floor of his bedroom just in case.  It is funny now.  

When I was traveling to Mumbai, India, I had 2 large suitcase at 100 lbs/46 kg total and a smaller carry on that weighed at least 30 lbs.  He is traveling for 1 week with a small suitcase.  How can a man travel with so little?  He can buy anything is did not bring with him once he gets to his final destination.

The other side has his pants/jeans and a few shirts.  This is it!  

I still have not started my 2 presentations.  I will have to begin now.  Take Care!!!!!

Let there be Peaceful thoughts

I woke up this rainy and cool Saturday morning.  It was very quiet in the house.  Manny went to Zumba and Max was still sleeping.  This is the first day I woke up peacefully. I have allowed the stress around me infuse me.  This is not good.  Stress stops me from performing at my peak.  I need to stop and breath.  I want to thank one person who made me stop and think.  Noor is an amazing young man. He works in Mumbai and has a peaceful aura.

Noor is a young man who has great love of his family especially his Grandmother.  For the month I was in Mumbai I never saw Noor stressed.  He is so confident.  He sits back and works.  There are many demands on him in his position at work.  He loves movies.  He knows movies and Oscars.  He has introduced me to so many movies I would not have watched without his recommendations.  The latest movie he wants me to watch is "Ride Along".
It is not out on DVD yet, so it will have to wait.

Back to Saturday and peace.

I started by driving to a second-hand or consignment shop.  I love going to this shop in North Grafton.  I have found some great items.  Today I found books for Jackson and Jada.  I also found notebook and sticky notes. I love the sticky notes.  I have them all over my desk at work.  I found "Life is Good" sticky note pads.  I had to get this and daisy sticky notes.  I have tried to stop buying them, but when I found unique sticky notes I have to get them.

The next place was Starbuck's for my Venti Iced Coffee black.  I needed my delicious iced coffee.  It is so refreshing.  Between April 1st and September 30th I get iced coffee.  The remaining times it is hot coffee. This is a rule in my life to keep order.  I appreciate the iced coffee more when the 1st of April comes.  The coolness of the bitter taste of coffee is so amazing.  I take my time drinking the coffee.  Also, I need the caffeine. It is sad to know I am addicted to caffeine.  Next Lent I may have to abstain from coffee.  I worry about the people around me for the first three days.  It will be tough, but it will be rewarding.

I mailed a box for my friends in Mumbai.  It has gone to Ashish.  I hope it makes it through customs quickly. There are no really addresses in India.  In the address it word "Near" is in it.  The postcards I have sent have always made it to his home.  It is interesting how the mail gets to a place with no specific home address.  I hope it will be there in 10 to 14 days.  I will check with Ashish in a week.

All of this was so peaceful.  I was doing what I wanted to do with no worries.

I had scheduled a massage with hot stones this afternoon.  I was so relaxed after the hour of massage.  The calming music and trickling water from the fish tank was great.  Patricia was amazing.  She made me feel so calm.  The peacefulness of the room and person was exactly what I needed.  My muscles were so tense, then pure relaxation.  I came home and started a fire in the fireplace.  It was so cozy.  It was so warm. The fire dancing across the logs.  The heat from fire added to be relaxation.  It was still raining outside with the coolness.

Now it is time to sleep to be awake for Mass tomorrow morning.

Let there be peaceful thoughts in my dreams.  I will prayer for this while sleeping.

Easter time is here

Tonight as I was sitting at St. Luke's Catholic Church waiting for Holy Saturday Mass I closed my eyes and just sat in the silence.  I had the time to listen to the silence of the church before the crowds came.

I became aware of the beauty with my eyes closed.  The fragrance of fresh flowers around the altar.  There were hydrangeas were so beautiful.  The lilies and pansies were placed around the altar.  There were forsythia branches around the tabernacle.  There was a deep purple clothes wrapped around the flowers in front of the altar.  The simple beautiful was amazing.

The lights in the church were low with only one light over the ambo (where the Readings are read) was lit.  The priests, altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers and the 3 candidates who decided to join the Catholic Church.  The new Easter candle was lit and carried into the Church.  All of the congregation had candles and the entire church as aglow with the light of the new Easter candle.  The church was dark and in came the light of Easter.  I love this part of Mass.  The readings are from the Old Testament.  The music brings you to the time before Jesus.  The candles are the symbol of the light to come.  The Church is waiting for the light to come into the world.

The readings were finished and as we began to sing the Gloria the lights of the Church were turned on. This is so beautiful.  The hidden jewel of the Church and congregation had the light shining on them.  The Gloria is being sung by all.  The Mass was wonderful.

A young woman decided to come fully into the Catholic Church.  She was baptized with the Holy Water in the Baptismal Font.  This young woman is a person with special needs.  Watching her making this choice and her Godmother and parents stood with her.  She was making the choice.

I was brought into the Catholic Faith at birth.  I had to go to CCD (Sunday school - on Wednesday nights) because my parents made me.  I was baptized as an infant, my 1st confession and 1st Communion were completed in my 2nd grade.  I made my Confirmation in 7th grade.  I went through the motions for the Sacraments of the Catholic Church without realizing the importance of them.  I have always gone to Church, but I was going through the motions.  My children have been brought up in the faith.
It took until 4 years ago to finally realize the importance of my faith.  The beauty of the faith.

Back to the young woman choosing to come into the Catholic Church on her own. There were 2 other people making their 1st Communion with the young woman.  All of them made their Confirmation.  The joy in all of their faces.  They made the choice as adults to come and join the Catholic Church.

This was the last Holy Saturday Mass our children were part of.  Since Erika was in 3rd grade she was an altar server for the Holy Saturday Masses.  Max came to be an altar server at Holy Week services in 4th grade.  Manny and I had a child part of the Holy Weeks Masses and Good Friday services for 13 years.  Max is a Senior and will be heading to Iowa State University in the Fall.  With both of our children Manny and I were complimented.  The pride and joy I feel with these compliments.  Max is wonderful with the younger altar servers.  He looks so reverent at the Altar.  I have great joy for all the years my children have volunteered at St. Luke's as altar servers and extraordinary ministers.  I have great sadness because this is the last time he will be volunteering at St. Luke's for a while.

The pride and joy of a parent.  I feel only deep love for my children.

Easter comes in the Spring because it is a new beginning.  Easter is a time to bringing in the Light of Christ. Spring is the time of rebirth.  The two are linked together.

Happy Easter everyone!

Eggs to color to make Easter Eggs

It is Holy Thursday.  In 3 days Easter Sunday will be here.  I love Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday Masses at St. Luke's Catholic Church.  Good Friday service is very powerful.  It brings me to tears thinking about the Virgin Mary watching her son, Jesus, being beaten and killed.  How would a mother feel watching her child being hurt?  I am so protective of my children even though they are 21 and 18.  A parent never wants to see their child hurt at any time.  Going through the Stations of the Cross and feeling the pain Mary felt brings tears to my eyes.  I will be going to Stations of the Cross tomorrow on Good Friday.  Walking the steps Jesus took.

Easter is a time to color Easter eggs.  This is so exciting.  When I was a little girl my mom would hard boil eggs and my brothers and sister would have to wait to have the eggs cool down.  When you are a child this took hours and hours.  In reality it took a few minutes.  My mom did not want us to get hurt.  There would be newspaper all over the kitchen table to protect it from the mess the 4 of us were about to make.

My Mom had the Paas Coloring Dye kit with the wax crayon and the color disks.  All we needed were cups/mugs, white vinegar and water.  The liquid was measured and the color disks were added to the individual cups.  Now we had to wait again.  Why wait does it take so long?  All we wanted to do is color the eggs.

Are we ready to color the eggs to make them Easter eggs?  My Mom would give us eggs to be placed in the dye.  Tim and I would keep the egg in the liquid to have the color go through the shell.  It was so cool.  My little sister, Patty, and little brother, Mike, Tim and I would draw on the eggs before placing them in the liquid.  We could not see what we were drawing or writing.  Once the egg came out of the dye, the part that had the wax crayon on it was be clear.  It was AMAZING!  Remember we were under 10 years old, so it was AMAZING.

My Mom had a wire rack and the back of the Paas box there were perforated holes to pop up and it became a egg drying rack.  Once the eggs were dried, they were placed in the Easter basket for breakfast on Easter morning.  They went into the refrigerator.

Patty and I always had a new Easter dress.  When we were young my Mom and Dad would be matching dresses.  I am 3 years older than her.  My Mom would make us sleep with curlers in our hair.  She wanted us to have curly and bouncy hair.  I remember the pain of sleeping with curler. They were spongy but the plastic clasp was painful.  Tim and Mike had suits with a tie.  We look GOOD!  When we lived in Omaha, Nebraska we would be at my grandparent's farm for Easter.  We would go to St. Isadore's Catholic Church in Columbus, Nebraska for Mass.  When we moved to Overland Park, Kansas, Easter was spent at home.

The Easter bunny would hide a basket full of candy and goodies for each of us around the house.  It was so exciting to go on the hunt.  If we found another's basket, we would leave it there.  We were allowed to eat candy after Mass.  

As a child Easter was so much fun.  The Easter bunny was wonderful.  We had so much fun.

As an adult, I realize the beauty of the next 3 days.  The sacrifice that Jesus gave to send us the LIGHT.  

Happy Easter to all.

23 years later

Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary.  I cannot believe 23 years ago today I married Manny.  I fall in love with him before I met him.  It was my first morning on the US Army base at Natick Labs.  I saw him in Class A uniform and at that point I knew he was my true love.

The next weekend the 2 of us went into Boston to spend the day.  He gave me the grand tour and bought me a bouquet of flowers from a vendor in front of the Old North Church.  I was so happy.  He was a wonderful person.  He was so carefree and loved adventure.  I was more cautious and apprehensive.  I did not want to get involved in a relationship in the military.  What if either of us were transferred to another base?  What if it did not work out?  So many "What ifs".  Well after that day in Boston we were always together.

I had told me sister, Patty, when I finished Basic Training I was not going to get involved with anyone while I was in the US Army.  Of course that went out the window the second day at Natick Labs.  I was shocked.  I was introduced to Manny by others as "Oreo".  For 1 week I did not know his first name.  I knew his last name and nickname.  I never thought to ask his first name.  Remember I was not going to get involved with anyone.  Even though I knew he was the person for me, I WAS NOT GOING TO GET INTO A RELATIONSHIP.  Thank goodness I did not follow my thoughts.  I followed my heart.  Now 23 years later 2 wonderful children I love him even more.

After 3 years of dating, we finally decided on a wedding date.  I wanted to be married in April.  This was a good month.  I love Spring.  Manny's parent lived in the Philippines at the time, so it was easier to get a military "hop".  Manny's father is retired US Navy serviceman, so he can fly for free if there is room on military planes.  In 1989, Manny, his sister, Genez, and I flew to US Clark Air Force base in Philippines using military hops from Washington, DC to Travis Air Force Base in Northern California.  We were there for 2 days and flew from Oakland, CA to Juneau, Alaska to Okinawa, Japan to Clark Air Force Base.  We rented a car and drove to Obando, Philippines, to surprise their family.

Back to the wedding...

My wedding dress was $99.  It was the dress I wanted.  It was perfect for me.  I made my veil with a lot of help from Lola Franchitto.  Mike and Lola Franchitto were amazing friends.  We became friends when we went through square dance lessons at the Square Riggers Square Dance club in 1987.  We became friends.  We were always dancing - every weekend.  They flew to Columbus, Nebraska for our wedding.  Lola and I made my wedding bouquets, the bridesmaids bouquets and all the other flowers.  She helped me with my veil as well.  I did not want to spend a lot of money on the wedding.  We had to fly to Columbus, Nebraska for the wedding.  There was no honeymoon planned.  We spent a week in Hawaii flying back from the Philippines in 1989.  The men in the wedding worn Barongs.  These are shirts worn by the men for special occasions in the Philippines.

After 16 months of preparation, Manny and I were in Columbus, Nebraska, waiting for the day to finally come.  To get the marriage license we had to go to the Platte County Clerk's office.  Manny was born in Agana, Guam.  It took 3 tries for the Clerk's office to get the paperwork correct.  This was a time with typewriters not computers.  His name was spelled wrong. His place of birth was spelled wrong.  It took more than 30 minutes for the paperwork to be correct.  My information was easy.  My family is lives in Platte County.  Polish names are nothing new.  Our wedding announcement appeared in the Columbus Telegram the next day.

On Friday afternoon, family and friends met the St. Anthony's Church Hall to decorate.  Everyone kept asking us what we wanted.  We kept telling them do what they felt.  We wanted to have everyone involved to have a say in the decorations.  The colors were peach and mauve (dark pink).  The tables were set up and the decorations were ready.  Manny and I had to leave during the time to meet with the photographer for final preparations.  He was in Monroe, Nebraska.  This was the next town west of Columbus.  That went well.  We returned to the hall and it was beautiful!  Everyone did a great job.  We saw all hard work.  The personalities of each person were intertwined into the hall.

We were going to have the bridal party and families meet at my Grandma's home for the rehearsal dinner.  The rehearsal was first.  My friend, Fr. Joe Pijanowski, was flying in from Massachusetts to marry us.  His plane was delayed because of thunderstorms in route.  So, the pastor of St. Anthony's Church ran through the rehearsal.  I was so nervous.  I felt nothing was right.  We went through it twice with the maid of honor, my sister - Patty, the best man - Lee (Manny's best fried from the Army), my cousins Debbie Scarborough, Kathy DiStefano, my little brother, Mike and my cousin, Chuck Petrmichl.  My parents were there as well.  It was so hectic.  I did not feel comfortable. The priest said we will do well and do not worry.

As we worked out of the church the skies were GREEN.  Yes - Green!!!!  There was a tornado warning.  Manny's father, Manny, Lee and I went to KFC to pick up the food for the rehearsal dinner.  The winds were picking up.  The rain was coming and the skies were turning green and orange.  I know what this means.  There is a tornado forming nearby.  We got back to my Grandma's house and all of went downstairs with the food.  We had a great time.  Everyone was relaxed eating, talking and laughing.  After the food my Dad taught Manny and others how to Polka Dance since there was a Polka Band for the reception.  We had a great time. Manny picked it up immediately.

The tornado came about a block or 2 away from the house.  The hail was large.  The rain  and the thunderstorm was at its peak. We had a great time in the basement with all our family and friends.

The next morning I had my hair appointment.  The rain was still coming down and there was fog.  What could I do?  Nothing!!  My Grandma told me that rain in the morning means that money will be tight at the beginning of the marriage and if the sun came out later on the wedding day - the money situation will change for the positive later on in the marriage.  That is what exactly happened.  Grandma's know everything.

The wedding went off without a hitch.  My priest, Fr. Pijanowski's, plane did not landed until 1am in Saturday.  My Aunt Kathy went to Omaha to pick him up and drive him to St. Anthony's.  We met for a few minutes before the wedding to discuss the itinerary.  We wrote down what was going to happen, but did not write down "The Kiss".  So, Patty and Lee went and lit the 2 candles on either side of the altar.  Debbie and Mike pinned the lace veil on Manny and I and Kathy and Chuck wrapped the gold coin chain made by Manny's Uncle Ope (in the Philippines) to unite us as 1.  Once this was done, Manny handed my a basket made of gold with gold coins.  This is all Filipino traditional wedding.  It was wonderful.  When the veil and chain were removed, Manny and I took the flames from the 2 candles and lit the single candle on the altar.  My Mom and I bought the candle and did not realize it was Pina Colada scented candle.  We were laughing about this as we were kneeling.  The wedding was finished the paperwork was signed by my Grandma and Manny's Godfather, Leander, and Lee and Patty.  The kiss was not done and we walked up the aisle.

The wedding was finished.  We were finally married after 4 years.  It was the greatest feeling.  Our lives were no longer 2 separate souls.  We were united.  For better or worse.  For richer or poorer.  For happy and sad.  We have had challenges during our 23 years together, but our love always saw us through!  We know we are not perfect.  Our marriage is not perfect.  Our love continues to grow.  We were blessed with 2 beautiful children - Erika and Max!

Love and patients are the staples.  We knew we are not perfect. We stand by each other.  We support we other.  We love each other.

Today as we drove to Mass it was raining.  By the time we were heading to Framingham to watch Captain American movie the rain stopped.  Once the movie ended, the sun was out and the day ended just like it did 23 years ago.

I love my husband more today!  

Krupa Family Gatherings and roller coasters

  It was a nice Spring day in Westborough, Massachusetts.  Tonight there is rain coming into the area.  This is fine as long as it stops.

I have been thinking about my very first roller coaster ride.  The Krupa Family Picnic at Peony Park in Omaha, Nebraska was an annual picnic.  My mom is the youngest of 9 children.  All of the sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children would come together for the day.  Coming together to be spend a day with all my mom's relatives always brings a smile.

There was an amusement park at the picnic grounds.  My brother, Tim, and cousins - Kathy Krupa, Cheryl and Lynn Barber and Lori Mitera and others would get money from our parents and favorite aunts and uncles and buy tickets for the rides.  I remember the tickets cost twenty-five cents for each one.  The rides were so many tickets.  We would run around to search for tickets all over the grounds.  We had so much fun.  We would go back to our families to get food or money for more tickets. Tim and I would have a great time with Kathy.  We would run all over the place.  In the 1970s parents did not worry about their children being kidnapped.  We had great adventures together.

One of the picnics, my Uncle Ray Krupa, Kathy Krupa (his daughter), my brother, Tim, and I had the most exciting adventure.  Tim and I had not been on a roller coaster.  My parents would not even think about going on one.  Tim, Kathy and I were walking around looking for tickets.  We wanted to go on the new roller coaster but each rider needed 4 tickets.  One dollar was a lot of money.  We saved our allowances to buy extra tickets.  My Uncle Ray was in the amusement park and asked if we wanted to go on the roller coaster.  I remember the excitement of an adult ride and being 8 years old.    I still remember the thrill of the clinking of the chains pulling our cart up the steep hill to propel our cart down the first hill at a high rate of speed.  The clink clink clink...The heart pounding wondering what will happen at the top.  Looking out to see Omaha from a different view.  Then ... swoosh!  Down we go at a high rate of speed for the times.  The cart clanking and we began going up the next hill and making the turns of the roller coaster.  There were no seat belts but there was a bar to hold us in.  We kept moving.  Before we knew it the ride was done!  Oh my goodness.  What a wonderful time.  The minute or 2 it took was the best.  My first roller coaster ride.



Peony Park does exist any longer.  The memories of the Krupa Family gatherings will always be with me.  The great times I had with my cousins.  The freedom children had at that time.  Today this would not be allowed to have 7, 8, and 9 year old children running around with no supervision.

Happy!

This weekend started with me sleeping from 12 midnight until 12 noon on Saturday.  I was shocked!  I never sleep best 9am on the weekends.  I needed that sleep since I had very little for the past 2 weeks.  It has been rough at work, but like all things everything comes in cycles.  Life is a cycle.  There are good and bad, exciting and boring, happy and sad and times you feel completely alone and times when you feel the support of others.

Last night Manny and I went to the Marian High School Gala Casino Night!  We had a great time.  I won $7000 "fake" playing Craps.  It was so much fun.  There was a silent auction and active auction. All the money went to the school.  Erika and Max have benefited from this great school.  I would not change the high school they attended.  We have watched them grow from teenagers to young adults to mature adults.  Choices we made were right on point.

My outlook on life changed the on year I was attend Bishop Miege Catholic High School in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.  The prior year in 9th grade at Hillcrest Junior High School in Overland Park, Kansas.  I had done poorly in all my classes but Science and Math.  I did not care about much and my view of the world was not positive.  My parents were watching this and I feel horrible I put them through this.  My grades were horrible.
My brother, Tim, attended Bishop Miege's in his 9th grade year, but I did not want to go there.  I stayed at Hillcrest for that year.  I final broke down at went to Bishop Miege High School in my 10th grade.

My life changed for the positive.  I had new environment and new friends.  My grades went from extremely poor to As and Bs.  I found Math and Science very easy, but these were always be easiest classes.  My degree is Biology/Chemistry.  Mr. Closkey was my Geometry teacher.  I hated Geometry, but I will never forget what ASSUMEs mean.  I felt part of a family at this school.  It was the exact change I needed.  My life was going nowhere.  I was so happy.  Another teacher was Mrs. Gray.  She taught English.  It was my easy A.

The change in schools had attributed to a change in my life.  I started to view the world with a positive view.  I had wasted so many years always finding the negative in my world.  I did not want to be happy.  Just one small change and caring people all around me waiting for me.  My Aunt Carolyn came up to me one day when I was missing my Grandparents and said "Why are you always looking at the negative?"  This statement shook me.

I have told Erika and Max this when they were starting to not see the positives around them.  I told them that I spent too many years not seeing the beauty around me.  Also, look for the good in your surroundings.  I feel my children are happy.  I am happy.

There are times is start falling into the same trap of my youth, but I have great people around me.

I am happy.  I hope my positive attitudes helps others be happy.

Started with the farm and stumbled into Aunt Rita

My parents are at my Grandma's home in Columbus, Nebraska.  My Grandma's health has been failing since she was diagnosed with Shingles in February.  My Grandma is 95 years old.  She is a very strong woman.  She is a daughter of a farmer and wife of a farmer.  She has lived in town (Columbus, Nebraska) since 1981 (I believe).  Prior to the move to town, my grandparents had a farm.  It was the most amazing farm.  The childhood memories swim in my head.  There are so many wonderful times.  I was fortunate to be the 2nd grandchild and the eldest granddaughter.  My younger cousins did not get experience farm life and our grandparents at a younger age.

Every summer my sister and I would spend 2 weeks on the farm with my grandparents and my aunts (Kathy and Rita).  My Dad has 4 younger sisters.  Edna, Carolyn, Kathy and Rita.  Kathy and Rita are 7 and 8 years older than me.  I had many wonderful times with Rita especially.  We would share a bed when I slept over.  I never played with dolls unless it was with my Aunt Rita.  We would wake up early and my Aunt Rita had a box of dolls under the bed upstairs.  We would take them out and play dolls.  She had paper dolls as well.  It was so much fun.

What are paper dolls?  The dolls were not as thick as cardboard but not as thin as regular paper.  You would cut out the paper doll.  The clothes would be cut out with the tabs to fold over the paper doll.  This is how the paper doll was dressed.  It was a 2D world.  We had to use our imagination.  It was so much fun.  I bought Erika (my daughter) paper dolls when she was young.




I remember the original "Pick Up Sticks" game.  In a cardboard tube with a metal lid there were thin wooden sticks with sharp points on either ends.  The purpose of the game was to pick up more sticks without moving the other sticks then your opponent.  Today this would be considered a dangerous toy, but in the 1960s and 1970s it was fun.

The pile below was the game.  You had to pick up the sticks without moving any other sticks.  It was a simple game.


Aunt Rita and I would play cards and laugh all the time.  I have the best memories.

Aunt Kathy and Aunt Rita would bring me fishing at the pond in the pasture on the farm.  I remember trying to catch a shark in a fresh water pond in the middle of Nebraska.  There were catfish in the pond.  The cattle would drink from the pond.  We would sit by the pond and fish.  I had so much fun.

Thank you for wonderful memories Aunt Rita!

My Uncle Ed and Aunt Doris

As I was leaving Adoration and Benediction at St. Luke's Church yesterday, I began thinking about my Uncle Ed and Aunt Doris.  My Uncle Ed passed in 1994, but my Aunt Doris (his wife) is living in Omaha, Nebraska.  I have wonderful memories of them.

My mom is the youngest of 9 children.  Uncle Ed was the eldest son.  He gave my mother away at her wedding since her father was deceased.  My Uncle Ed was the Godfather to my older brother, Tim.

Uncle Ed was a wonderful man.  He always had a smile on his face.  Really - his face was always smiling.  It is the Polish blood.  He was a veteran of World War II stationed in Italy.  I began thinking about my Uncle Ed because on March 26, 2013 we had to put our dog, Dolly, down after 16 wonderful years with us.  My Uncle Ed was a man who took all stray animals into his home.  He loved all animals.

My Uncle Ed and Aunt Doris lived in an old house built in the early 1900's in South Omaha, Nebraska.  Interstate 480 became their view, but before the interstate there were houses and store fronts.  The house was a long (very long) white house.  We parked on the street and climbed the 10 to 20 steps up to the front porch. It was so much fun for all the nieces and nephews (my cousins), because there was a metal bar to grasp walking up and down the steps.  We (the cousins) would start at the top and grab on the metal bar and slide down to the bottom and hit the sidewalk.  It was so much fun.

Once we walked into My Uncle Ed's home we were met by at least one dog if not more.  My Uncle Ed loved all animals and would rescue animals from homeowners and shelters.  There were 2 black Labradors (Lulu and I can't remember the other one).  They were terrified of everyone.  They would run to the back bedroom closet and hide.  Arnold was a St. Bernard.  He was skin and bones when Uncle Ed rescued him from the neighbors. Arnold was an amazing large dog.  The fur was everywhere.  He loved everyone.  I would sit on the couch and Arnold would lay down on my feet.  I could not move.  He would come up and lick me.  I remember getting a glass for water and Arnold's fur was in it.  Ugh!  But I loved him.  There was 2 more dogs.  Yes a total of 4 to 5 dogs and at least 2 to 3 cats.  This was normal.  New dogs and cats would come and go from the house.  Arnold was given to a family who had a lot of land for him.  It was not fair to him to be so confined.

Uncle Ed was a veteran of World War II in Italy.  He told me stories about the stray dogs.  Every night the soldiers were instructed to shot and kill the dogs.  The reason was the enemy would know where the US soldiers were if not done.  My Uncle Ed could not kill the dogs.  He would pay other soldiers with cigarettes and Hershey chocolate bars.  He told me he would have tears in his eyes when he heard the shots.

My Uncle Ed was a wonderful man.  I died in 1994 of leukemia.  Erika met him before he passed away.

My Aunt Doris is a wonderful woman.  She was always laughing and loud.  I take after the loud part.  She was always giving anything in their home.  I remember I found an elephant plant stand.  I told her that it was beautiful.  She told me to take it home.  I was reluctant, but I did.  My brothers and sister would comment on something in their home and she would give it to them.  She knew we would take care of the items.

I have taken this to heart.  My coworkers will come to my desk and comment on items on my desk.  There are very few items I would not give away.  (A few elephants which have great meaning.)  If the item would give someone else pleasure, I want to give it to the person.

My Uncle Ed and Aunt Doris will always have a wonderful place in my heart.

What happens 9 months later?

Today is March 25th.  What happens 9 month later?  You have to think about this.  3 + 9 = 12.
Yes - Christmas is 9 months from today!
It is the Annunciation of the Lord.  St. Gabriel came to Mary and asked her if she would carried the Son of God.  A woman no older than 13 or 14 years old was asked to be the Mother of God.  What would you say if asked the same question?
Have you started to shop for Christmas?

Cape Cod is waiting for a Blizzard.  It is Spring, but a blizzard will hit the Cape.  My region of Massachusetts will not get much snow. This is typical for New England.  It is sunny and warm one day, then snowing the next day.  I need my Grandma's feather blanket for my previous post.  It is very cold.

An update on the remodeling of the Kitchen and Living Room.  There is a functioning TV in the living room now.  It is wonderful to sit on the couch and watch TV.  Some of the under cabinet lighting has been completed in the kitchen.  It is not completely done.  The electrician will be gone until next week, so no more electrical stuff will be done.  When will the entire thing be done?
Max had connected all of the components to the TV.  It worked so well.  I am enjoying my time sitting here.  The TV does cover the bay window which I don't like.  I will have to adjust.


There is not much else tonight.  Time for bed!

Grandma's canned peaches and chocolate chip cookies

It is Sunday, 23 March.  The temperature outside dropped 20 degrees from yesterday.  There was sunshine and blue skies yesterday.  Now the skies are grayish white and it is 30F/0C.   There is a chance of snow by Wednesday.  We are waiting to see if the weather pattern changes.  With all the technology the weather people cannot predict the weather most of the time. 

I have been told that my grandmother has had Shingles for the past month.  I was not aware since I was in Mumbai, India.  She is 95 years old.  Shingles is hard enough for a younger person, but the elderly it is worse.  I am praying for a speedy recovery.  

My childhood was spending weekends and summers on my grandparent's farm outside of Columbus, Nebraska.  The farmhouse was very old.  There was no air conditioning in the summer and the only rooms with heat in the winter was the kitchen and living room.  The upstairs had no heat.  It was the best.  My grandma made feather blankets from the geese.  It was the warmest blankets anyone could sleep under.  The air was so cold because there was very insulation and the windows let the cold air into the room.  It did not matter.  My grandma's thick feather blankets were so warm.  I still remember the flannel sheets on the bed were cold when we would crawl underneath the feather blanket.  We would move are feet and legs to create heat and warm the cold flannel sheets.  The thickest of the feather blanket was perfect.  It would sink around you and cradle you.  It was amazing.  There has been no other feather blankets like my grandma's.

In the mornings we would keep our clothes under the blanket to keep them warm.  We would dress under the feather blanket and run downstairs to the heat of the kitchen.

The crazy things is the grandchildren would play upstairs during the winter months.  We never noticed the cold.  

In the heat of the summer, we would be canning all different types of vegetables and fruits with the temperature outside would be over 100F/38C.  Inside the kitchen the temperature would be even hotter.  I remember peeling dozens of apples to make applesauce. We would have contests who can have the longest continuous apple peel.  There was no pressure cookers at the farmhouse.  It had to boil for hours to seal the jar.  It was worth the heat, sweat and hard work in the autumn and winter with fresh canned fruits and vegetables.  My favorite morning snack at Grandma's was fresh canned peaches and homemade chocolate chip cookies.  The cookies were so crispy and buttery.  The canned peaches tasting like eating a fresh peach picked from the peach tree.  It was so juicy and sweet.  No one argued with Grandma about cookies and peaches in the morning.  Whatever Grandma says goes.

My mom does the same thing with her 4 grandchildren.  She spoils them.  This is the right of Grandparents.  They could not spoil their children, but grandchildren are fair game.  Children need to be spoiled by others.  More to come about Grandparents.

Please keep my Grandma in your prayers.

ISU and another child going

Today is my little sister's (Patty) birthday.  Her gift was mailed today.  She will get it by Tuesday.  I am not best about getting gifts out on time.  I will have Amanda's birthday and Confirmation gifts out on Tuesday.  Erika is Amanda's Sponsor for Confirmation.  Erika is very excited.  She will be flying to Milwaukee, Wisconsin from Des Moines, Iowa early Saturday morning.

More good news...

Max has been accepted into Iowa State University Agromony Department.  It is renewable resources.  We are so happy.  It would be convenient for Manny and I since Erika will be a Senior this coming September.  He is waiting for word from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA and Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.  A decision will have to be made soon.  At Adoration last week I prayed for guidance with Max.  I felt a sense of peace.  I knew everything was going to come together for him.

Manny and I went to "Man of God" today.  It was a movie everyone knows the ending.  I was a little disappointed because many of the scenes were taken from the mini-series last year called the "Bible".  It was very inspiring.  When Mary was crying seeing her son being beaten and eventually killed always causes me to cry.  A mother wants to protect her children.  I want to see the movie "Noah" next.

Tomorrow Manny and I are going to visit Radhika.  I am very happy about this.

Bluejays attacking in Overland Park, KS

My allergies are still bothering me, but not as bad as the past 2 days.  I love Spring, but my allergies flare at the beginning when everything starts blooming.  It is worth the little inconvenience for flowers and leaves on the trees.

Well. I am sitting my living room.  Not much has changed.  There is a couch and chair, 2 ottomans, speakers and TV stand, but no TV.  Manny is at Zumba class and Max is working at Panera's.  I started a fire in the fireplace (of course) with 1 match.  It was a great feeling.  I was a Boy Scout leader for 10 years.  I should know how to do it.  The Scouts have to start a fire with only 1 match as one of the tasks to earn their rank.  Well I did it. It is going strong.  I am nice a toasty.  The silence of my home is nice.  Only the radio on my laptop keeping me company.  I am able to reflect.

I have noticed I am attempting to cook more since the new kitchen.  It is a challenge to learn all the new appliances.  It scary when the appliances are smarter than me.  The stove can detect the pot or pan because of the magnets to heat the burners. If the pot or pan is not iron or other metal which attracts magnets the stove tells you it cannot detect a pot.  I removed the pan I was heating pasta and sauce this evening while the burner was still on the stove started peeping at me.  It wanted to know where the pan was. Amazing.  The oven has a built in cookbook.  For meat all you have to do is tell the oven the doneness of the meat plug it into the oven and meat, press start and wait.  The oven knows when it is done.  I do not have to set temperature or timer.  The refrigerator has a water dispenser.  It has been set when filling a cup/glass with water to fill it 8 ounces and stop.  It is great.

It is exciting to learn new things.  For better or worse.  You do not want to look foolish, so it can be tough.  It will get easier though.  I have been doing Zumba Chair for 3 weeks and it is getting easier.  I feel the burn in my leg muscles. I enjoy it.  There are 3 weeks left.  I will sign up again if it is offered.  I am no worse than most of the people in the class.  It tough to do the exercise and move the arms and legs and listen to the music.

Erika is on a bus trip with the Iowa State University Food Science group.  She was in Arkansas touring a Tyson chicken plant.  She wrote that she will not eat chicken for a while.  The smell of the place was really bad.  It is good to go and new places.  She will be back at school on Sunday.  This past week was her Spring Break.  She did not come home because the price of plane tickets were more expensive than my roundtrip tickets to Mumbai.  Isn't that sad!  To fly from Des Moines, IA to Boston, MA was over $1200 for a roundtrip ticket.

Today is Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday.  Bach music

Tomorrow is my little sister's birthday.  I will be calling her to tell her I mailed the gift I bought today (meaning Saturday).  I know she will understand.  My life is still disorganized.  The house is not completely done.  There is a few more things in the kitchen to be done.
I hope the outfit I bought her in India fits her.  I thought it would be perfect for her.  My little sister and I shared a bedroom for many years.  I remember telling her stories.  I remember fun we had. The simpler days of childhood.  Your only worry was playing and eating.  What a great time.  We would ride our bicycles all of the neighbors for hours.  It did not matter the temperature during the summer.  It was fun.  I remember living in Overland Park, Kansas, and taking our bicycles out.  We would be gone for hours.  Parents did not have to worry about their children being taken.  We had so much fun exploring.  I miss the days.  Now I worry about everything.  I am trying to relax more.

The house in Overland Park, Kansas, had a great backyard.  There was an old tree with a wood platform added in the branches.  I would climb the tree (yes - I used to climb trees!) and sit there. It was a peaceful place to sit and hide.  I would bring a book up there and read.  The bluejays were not fun.  They would attack you when the baby bluejays were born.  Bluejays are very protective of their young.  They would attack our dog, Judy.  She would run to the backdoor yelping.  The birds would dive bomb you and peck your head with their beaks.  I miss the yard.  It was wonderful.  All the neighborhood children would walk the 3 blocks to Pawnee Elementary School.  There were no school buses.  Everyone walked to school  When we moved to Hillcrest Junior High School there was a school bus, but my Mom would drive us to school.  It was on her way to work.  She was a cafeteria lady at a school in the next city.

For years I hated Overland Park because it took me away from Omaha, Nebraska, and Westgate Elementary School.  I loved the neighborhood we lived in.  We lived on Ontario Street.  It was the best place.  All of the kids in the neighborhood were so much fun.  My cousins - Debbie, Donnie, David, Dale - live 4 blocks from us.  We had family within a 2 hour driving radius.  We would go to my grandparents in Columbus, Nebraska at least once a month.  They live on a farm.  It was the best place to have a childhood. Once we moved to Kansas the drive one way to my grandparents' farm was 6 hours.  We did not go as often as we did.

Like everything...You always find the good in a new situation.  I have great memories of Overland Park, KS.

Raw eggs and Spring

Today is St. Joseph's day.  It is 19 March.  Joseph was the step father of Jesus.  This day is considered Father's Day in many countries.

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring.  The flowers will be starting to pop out of the ground soon.  The pollen levels are going to be going crazy.  My allergies are already acting up.  I feel like I am floating.  My head is very heavy.  I will be going to Zumba Chair tonight.  I hope I can make it for the hour.  I will need to have hot tea before I go.  I enjoy going to this class.  It is something different than Planet Fitness.

Back to Spring.  Equinox means the day has equal number of hours of day and night.  Spring comes in the Northern Hemisphere while the Southern Hemisphere goes into Winter.  There will be more sunlight for the Northern Hemisphere.  This is wonderful until the heat and humidity



For the 24 to 48 hours you can balance a RAW egg on its tip.  The sun is on the equator so there is equal pull of gravity.  This is always a great experiment with kids.

The winter coat is being removed, while the light spring jacket is coming on.  The Earth is starting to wake up.  The plants are getting signals from the longer sunlight that it is time to start coming out.  I can't wake for the daffodils and tulips.  The season is short but the beauty is worth it.  The peonies are starting to sprout.  I have seen robins (birds).  This is a sure sign that warmer weather is coming.  The robin does not eat from a bird feeder.  There is still a nest in the bush next to my bedroom window.  I am waiting to see if any bird moves into it.  I love watching the baby birds.

There is less snow.  The weather is warming enough to melt the snow.  The large piles will take so time to melt.  I hope the dirty snow continues to melt.  I have so flowers under the blanket of snow.

Manny has moved in the speakers and the table long table into the living room.  It is slowly being pieced together.  Maybe the TV will come in soon.  He will need to have Max help.  The pictures needs to be hung again.  My elephants were stored in the attic.  They will brought down this weekend to set up.

Happy Spring!

My wonderful couch

I am sitting here thinking how cold I am right now.  The cold is making me hungry.  I want to eat anything. Why is this?  Why when I am cold and tired (I forgot about being sleepy) I want to eat?  I used to eat when I was upset or nervous.  I have been able to control the urge by cleaning.  Manny knows when rooms in the house are cleaner than normal I am upset about something.  Maybe not always upset there is the "worry" factor.  There is a lot of worrying.  Money, children, husband, weight!  Always about weight.  I go to Planet Fitness to alleviate the weight worry.

Tonight is Adoration and Benediction.  I love spending a few minutes in church.  I sit and clear my mind of the outside world.  It allows me pray with an open heart and mind.   It is not always quiet because people are coming and going during this time.  The world stops for a few minutes while I am sitting and praying.  Everyone needs a few minutes of "me" time.  This should be a goal.

I have returned from the gym.  I am sitting on my couch in front of the fireplace in my living room.  Yes!  The couch is back in the living room.  This is the first time I sat on it since 29 Jan.  I left for Mumbai, India on 30 Jan and the couch was moved out onto the porch while the destruction of the living room and kitchen were being done.  The renovations are almost finished.  There are small things that need to be done.

Back to my wonderful leather couch.  It was a nice tan leather that is firm to sit on watching TV or reading, but perfect to take a nap.  This is the perfect couch.  It is facing the bay window with the back to the kitchen.  The fireplace is to the left.  There is a nice fire roaring.  It is heating up the house instead of using the oil heat. The couch is so comfortable.  I missed sitting and relaxing on it.  I need to get the throw pillows and the throw blanket to finish it.  I love stacking the pillows on one end and reclining on them.  I love my couch.  Some people may call it a sofa, but I know it is a couch.

The matching chair will be returning soon.  It is oversized slightly.  It is made of soft leather as well.  I do not know where Manny wants to put it.  The long black table the was against the wall will go behind the couch.  I will have my elephants on display.  Max is not happy about this, but I don't care.  I want my collection to be on display.  The table has cubby holes for the extra blankets/throws and pillows.  The TV has not returned to the living room yet.  I hope by the weekend it will make its appearance.  I hate watching TV in the bedroom..

You do not know how much a simple couch means until it is gone.  I am so happy for this one piece of furniture back in the living room.

Today there are a few singers birthdays... 18 March

Wilson Pickett was a singer from 1960s and 1970s.
Wait until the Midnight Hour
Get Back Engine number 9

It is Adam Levine's birthday.  All songs are Maroon 5.
Lucky Strike
Payphone
Sunday Morning - This is my favorite

I see the time is slipping away from me.  I wanted to get to bed early, but I did not accomplish this goal.  It is almost Spring.  Get the raw egg ready for 20 March.

Kitchen Table

As I was leaving Planet Fitness I realized there was still sunlight.  The temperature was not as frigid as it was this morning.  Spring is in 2 days.  It is nice to leave the gym without darkness.

Today is St.Patrick saint day.  Boston was the first city to celebrate this day.  In Ireland this is not drinking holiday.  For Americans it is a day of green beer and corned beef and cabbage.  What is "corned" beef?  I do not see corn.  People love eating boiled corned beef.  I just cannot see it.  It is a beef brisket cured with salt and other stuff to brine the meat.  I had an Indian chicken dish Manny made for me, but it needed more heat.  It was very good.

Out kitchen has been remodeled.  The entire kitchen was gutted and rebuilt.  The wall between the kitchen and living room has been removed.  It is an opened area.  The "Last Supper" and the original wall clock has been hang on the wall.  The kitchen table is set up.  It looks so small now.  There is not a lot room for it.  We will make due.  I cannot get rid of the family table.  There are too many memories.  Max will tell you each mark, gash and scrape on the table.  The chairs were chewed by Dolly (our dog).  I need curtains on the window.  I need to have something on the window.  Next is to have the couch and 2 chairs back in the living room.  The TV will be after the furniture.

The kitchen table is an amazing place.  It is not only used for eating.  The amount of times the table was used to play games and cards.  It was a homework table.  A place to have great discussions.  This table was used preparing food for family gatherings.  It has so many memories.  This table was purchased when we moved into our home.  It is 19 years old.  It will be continued to gain more memories.  A simple kitchen table is filled with wonderful times.

March 17 is John Sebastian's birthday.  Who is this man?  He sang at Woodstock.  He also sang the "Welcome Kotter" song.  Welcome Back
He was the founder of the Lovin Spoonfuls in the 1960s. He is in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.  This was a big hit Day Dream Believer

Looking at myself

Today was Sunday.  We begin by going to Mass.  This is the 2nd Sunday in Lent.  There are 4 more Lenten Sundays before Easter.  The readings were done by young people today.  They were wonderful.  It takes a lot of courage.  Msgr. Mike homily discussed Pope Francis' New Year Resolutions.  The most best resolutions was "To Be Happy".  In our busy lives we sometimes forget to take time to be happy.  

When our children were young we were so focused trying to survive each day.  Both of us were working full time.  The children needed to brought to preschool and other activities.  Then school began and homework every night. There were times I realized at the end of the day I did not take the time to enjoy the time with my children and husband.  I lost the moment to enjoy my time with my family.  Remember to take a step back and be happy.  It may not be the best moment but being happy will make it better.  I have many happy memories.  I have asked my children who are 21 and 18 if they had a good childhood.  It worries me if not all parents if their children were happy.  

Another resolution was "Don't Gossip".  We are all guilty of this. This is very hard to stop.  I have to make a very conscience effort to stop the gossip.  There have been times I do not realize I am gossiping.  I need to stop and think before I speak.  Would I say it to the person I am talking about?  Would this hurt the person?

Americans are the most wasteful of all nations.  We throw away so much food away.  I need to learn to take only what I can eat.  I try to leave something on the plate.  I need to stop and think before I take food.  When I am grocery shopping I need to buy only what can be used.  There are some many things I buy and it is thrown away.  There are so many people wanting to eat anything.  I have to take a step back and create list to shop with only.  Msgr. Mike suggested to always buy at least 1 item for the food banks or less fortunate.

Just like trying to remember to be happy we need to make time for others.  With the hectic schedules of today do we make time for others.  I am very guilty of this.  While I was in Mumbai, India, everyone was making time for me.  I realized the people were giving their precious time to spend with me.  I realized that need to spend time with others outside of my family.  Today Darshana invited Manny and I to her home.  We had a wonderful time with her husband, Sameer, and her little girls Sia and Samira.  She cooked great India food.  It was a nice time to relax and be with friends.  I will be doing more of this with my coworkers and friends.

In today's world many choose the best even though it is not needed.  Why does a small child need to wear UGGs?  They will not be worn after the 1 season since children grow so quickly.  I am guilty of materialism.  I have tried to not over purchase.  I will ask "Do I need this?".  There are times when materialism wins over what is really needed.  I will be purchasing a vehicle I need to keep this in mind.  Do I want a higher car payment for the extras or keep it simple?  This will have to be in the forethought.  Brand names does not mean you are better than others.  Our children attended Catholic schools.  They had uniforms for the entire time.  This was great.  There was no comparing.  There has been studies concerning schools with uniforms and other school with none.  The schools with uniforms have better school attendance, grades and retention of students.  

There are items I will discuss at a later date.  There is a lot to think of now.  My biggest goal to to spend time with others and be happy.  I am only human.  I will try to keep all of these things in my heart.