I Tied One On

An apron that is. Check out the goods here. I used a remnant of lightweight denim. I really like the doily on the pocket. My sweet hubby drew a picture of the "home on the range" and I transfered it and did some simple embroidery. It doesn't show but I used an entire fat quarter to make the tie. It turned out rather nicely and the kids got a kick out of it too. Wonder what will be the theme for next month. Yikes! That's tomorrow!

Today #1 son had a concert to celebrate all he and his class had learned these past three weeks. They did an excellent job too! He still has his math class to complete through July. Daniel did well to sit fairly still while the orchestra, traveling strings and band played their songs. Michael was heard to "sing" with them sometimes.

I have so much to be grateful for too. I asked my husband the other day if he was ever sorry he married me even with all our troubles and he said that he never for a moment regretted it. How can I ever thank God in His mercy for sending me a man like that to go through this life with?! We may not have much in earthly riches and in the eyes of the world we are nothing special, but God has blessed us in ways that the world cannot see or understand. What if we all focused on seeing blessings instead of bemoaning the things we don't have? I wonder what we would find? A treasure of things that don't rust, cannot be stolen or ruined. Thank you Father for all the MANY blessings you give us each and every day! AMEN!!

Home On The Range Apron For June "Tie One On"

INDEPENDENCE 2005

As you will see in the posted pics that my family and I went to the Firefall 2005 celebration near the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport this past Saturday. It was a lovely evening for it. We got a Papa Murphy's cheese pizza and baked it to take with us and the ice chest full of drinks. The funnel cake we shared was soooo good! The $5 it cost was not great, but we have them so seldom. Michael was not afraid of the fireworks, thankfully, as some of the sonic booms caused some car alarms to go off! The traffic as usual was horrible, but hey, that's part of the experience, no?! It was such a lovely experience and the boys so enjoyed themselves. We could hear the Springfield Symphony play and that is such a plus.

I finished "The Shop On Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber in two days. This is the first book I've ever read by her and it was very nice summer reading. I've got a very simple shawl on some needles to take with me when going to pic up #1 at school and have begun on my first clapotis. I'm using Reynold's Mandalay 100% silk yarn in a blue-green color that I just love. This is the first time I've knitted with silk and it isn't too bad. It is stiffer than what I'm used to but after all it's the process and the experience of using different mediums the way I see it. I got a bunch of Cascade 220 on Saturday with #1 and can hardly wait to make another buttonhole bag. I just love my first one!

Got an e-mail from a friend from high school who mentioned that she was coming in from Florida to be at her younger sister's "wedding to her girlfriend". Last I heard she had been married to a man and had four kids with him. I didn't know that their mother "threw her out like a piece of trash". I really didn't believe I was "bashing" her by saying that I was sorry I couldn't be happy about the uh, nuptuals, as I beleive the Bible was very plain about that sort of thing; and that I thought her children must be very confused about the turn of events. My husband thought I shouldn't have written anything about that, but my goodness, how was I to know how strongly she would respond to my little remarks. After all, I am a Catholic and proud of it. I'm not sure that we will remain friends, but how many people see eye to eye on anything and still can be civil. I simply disagree with her sisters choice to involve herself in a homosexual relationship. I would feel the same was if it was an adulterous thing with a man. If that sounds like bashing or pushing my religion on her, then so be it, but I am a Catholic and I do believe it is wrong and very hurtful to society as well as to the individuals involved.

The Catechism says, "2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centeries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Pray for these people please! Pray for people who try to make God into their own image that they may see the error of their ways. Let's pray for PEACE in this time of war!

Jesus! Mary! I love you! Save souls!

Saturday In The Park, I Think It Was The Fourth Of July...

Up, Up, And Away In A Beautiful Balloon

Firefall 2005 Crowd

My Man and Boys...I Love 'Em

The Bombs Bursting In Air....

Happy Independence day!

Cozies make things special...

Celebrating RED, White and Blue

FIRST FELTING

Hi! I'm so excited about my first felting project a Buttonhole Bag from Mason Dixon Knitting blog. It was FUN to do. I have also been knitting more tissue box cozies to sell in the fall. They knit up pretty quick and are unusual gifts. A cute way to show off fashion pins. A man Norm met at work, who has dealings with alpacas (see here) said he thought they were a good idea and I should probably ask about $4o for them. What do ya'll think? I'll be knitting a RED ONE and will post shortly. I've also knitted red scarves for RED SCARF PROJECT and sent 17 little red sweaters here. So I've seen some red this year.

Also I just have to praise God for the miracle of Brennan Hawkins safe return to his parents. In this valley of tears we can be sure that through it all we have a loving Father who helps guide us through our wildernesses. My heart is just full of thankfulness for this mercy!

FIREWORKS! We had to get some today or the big kids would surely explode! HA! I remember when getting to shoot off fireworks was so exciting and it's funny to see them so excited. Eric is having a pretty good time at summer school taking orchestra and math. Daniel is wanting to go see Grandma and Aunt Mary and Uncle Steve and shoot off fireworks there. We'll see how that turns out. Aunt Mary is busy planning a September wedding for first daughter Angie. I hope all Norm's siblings can make it especially since it's a joyous event. Blogging about joy, notice the joyous expression on Michael's face. Thank you God for such a happy and healthy baby! He makes my heart sing!

Hi Everyone! I'm Getting Bigger Every Day!

A Pretty Cozy and A Button Hole Purse

Blue to Lavender...

I Love My Hydrangeas

Me and My Boys Feeding the Ducks

A Happy Father's Day

HAPPY HAPPY

Happy Flag Day! & Happy Birthday Daniel!

May we live in PEACE!

SAINT ANTHONY PRAY FOR US

Today is the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. Let us all be inspired to be like him.

In honor of my son's birthday, I tied one on...a quilt that is.

Happy Birthday Dear Daniel...

Big Bubba is so funny.

It's fun turning 6.

This sugar rush is GREAT!

I think I can have cake all week long.

It's great having a birthday week.

Hi, we made it!

Johnson's campsite.

Our three blessings at Crater of Diamonds State Park playground.

Daniel calling in his order for diamonds (ha!).

Up ahead, major diggin'.

To your right, fellow diggers.

And to your left, the crater where the biggest and most perfect diamond was found.

Daniel racing cars.

The BIGGEST moth I have EVER seen!

Such pretty flowers.

DIGGING FOR DIAMONDS

Yes, that's right we went digging for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. This is the first camping trip for our family and it was a wonderful and fun trip. We are excited and thankful that we finally made it. No one found any diamonds this time. Norm talked with one of the workers there and said the odds of finding a diamond were about 1/100. Better odds than the lottery. I'm hopeful that we will be able to do more camping this summer.

Will publish pics a bit later. We are going to the park and do a bit of walking. We watched the film "Super Size Me" and it is appauling how much fast food and processed food is bad for you! We are making a concerted effort to get into better shape. It was slow going for me after being so out of shape and sedentary this year and a half in particular, but it was such a blessing to be able to dig in the dirt with my first two boys and my dear hubby! We found some pretty rocks but it is back breaking work! No knitting news but I did arrive home with a package from Webs that had some pretty yarn in it. There is no place like home!