No spiritual lesson in this post, folks! Just an outlet so I can show you my latest photos! 😀
It may look like a flawless life from afar, so I borrow these words from Charlotte Siems (revised into my own thoughts):
Lest you think I’ve sailed through life creating an atmosphere of impeccable Catholicism, with perfect kids and an always-loving and warm relationship with my dear hubby, I assure you these lessons are still being learned.
Many times I feel inadequate to the task. It is like trying to pour water from a dry bucket. Giving your family what you they need spiritually, physically and mentally is a monumental task. It cannot be done without grace…..without forgiveness and patience….and mostly for ourselves.
There are many lessons to be learned and much of self to be overcome.
Creating a happy Catholic home life is difficult. It is a life-long journey and the struggle will not end.
If we lean heavily on His grace through His Church, if we put our hand in Our Lady’s hand, They will supply what we don’t have. They know all about love and building beautiful homes.
It is worth the fight.
That being said 🙂 , our spring and beginning of summer has been incredible with family and friends making each season so special!
Click on the first picture to view the gallery.
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- Father VanderPutten was with us just for a short while. He is back in Nigeria now.
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- Brothers…. (Father has a bad case of pink eye.) 😀
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- Father’s “boys”. 🙂
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- The following are pictures of his apostolate in Nigeria….
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- Lovely to behold!
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- Back to Kansas….The filelds are lush and green after much rain…..and many tornado watches and a couple of warnings!
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- Zaelie is 2 months old now. She is Colin (our son) and Z’s little girl.
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- Sweet little hat that Virginia made for her.
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- Mom and New Baby!
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- Colin and Zaelie.
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- Beautiful Zaelie!
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- Colin and Z’s little family. Z’s real name is Elizabeth. Her parents called her Z-beth which got shortened to “Z”….in case you’re wondering. 🙂
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- We had some FSSP seminarians over and had a fun evening of Irish songs!
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- Arms and Legs everywhere!
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- Grandpa relishes in the grandchildren!
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- New Floor for the Kitchen!
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- New grout cannot be stepped on!
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- Very nice floor laid by a master mason….hubby!
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- Tea Time and Get-Together for the Young Ladies!
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- Mari is reading to the girls as they do their crafts or do hair.
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- Rapunzel!
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- Beautiful Girls, Beautiful smiles!
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- Vinnie and his special girl, Emma.
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- Vin and Gin’s brood.
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- Vin and Gin’s Homestead.
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- Cows…
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- Kitties….
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- Kiddies….
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- Monkeys…..
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- Watching Dad.
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- Helping Dad…
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- Theresa…..excited about her healthy energy drink! A peek into her vibrant personality! 😀
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- Rosie and Margy eating berries.
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- Angelo is always up to something.
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- Hannah, with good friend, Ernie.
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- Friends….
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- These little people are waiting at Great-Grandma’s door for their treats. This is the little apartment we built off the back of our house for my Mom and Dad three years ago.
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- Grandchildren everywhere!
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- Picnicing in the front yard.
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- Love Hot Cross Buns! (No, I didn’t eat all those!)
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- Sienna and the Cows.
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- Brendan and Sienna
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- Rosie is our gardener.
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- Margy with some of the littles. She is our chief cook! A very hard job, indeed, and she is very proficient at it!
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- Bouquets from the roses. Always fresh flowers on the table!
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- Pretty (but kinda creepy) clouds.
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- A lot of turbulent weather this spring in Kansas. We had to save the plants so we brough them in!
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- We lost power. It’s an adventure!
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- The rain comes…..a great opportunity to play!
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- Hannah is our Knight in Shining Dress as she kills a very big, poisonous copperhead!
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- Our grandson, Brendan’s First Communion.
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- Both Grandsons, Brendan and Benjamin.
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- Devin, Theresa and Children.
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- Two expecting mamas!
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- We have an abundance of flowers!
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- Second new little granddaughter in the last 2 months! Little Juliette LeAnne!
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- Vin and Gin are so happy to have another girl!
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- Aunty Theresa.
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- Juliette LeAnne.
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- Grandma
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- Virginia’s grotto outside.
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- Mulberries are the rage!
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- Agnes and Angelo picking mulberries for an afternoon snack. Notice the purple stains on Angelo’s feet.
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- Mulberry pie!
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- Mulberry pie is scrumptious!
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- Angelo and Agnes are enjoying the “fruit” of their labors!
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- Homeschool Graduation for Rosie!
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- Mari, Erin, Rosie
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- Baptism of Juliette LeAnne. Colin and Z are Godparents.
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- Blessing after Childbirth.
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- New Mama.
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- The girls left last week for a Leadership Camp in Massachusetts with the Tradtional Nuns there. They will be gone 2 weeks and will be missed!
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- These are some of the lovely nuns who will be presiding over the camp.
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- Cabins at the Camp.
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- Inside the Cabins.
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- We miss Margy, the cook. 🙂
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- Since Rosie, my landscaper is gone, this is the sign we are hanging up! 😀
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- “The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.” -St. Augustine
COngratulations to Gin and Vin on another girl. I was really hoping that Emma would get a sister!!!! (And I really like the name too, Juliette with a slight twist to your own name. 😉 )
Some of the pictures are very very funny!!!! Especially those two towards the end.
And some of those tiny children up on the ladders looks like heart-attack for mommas. But that is like my sweetie, he wants to take a picture first, and then help the little one out of a predicament. ;P
Very beautiful homes, very very sweet pictures. Wasn’t Rosie the one who was so sick last year? She looked so lovely at the graduation!
Congratulations!!!!!! And God bless!
Thank you Mary! Yes, Rosie was the one who was sick. She still has trouble sleeping….which seems to be a leftover from the sickness but all in all she is doing very well! I hope your family is well, also, Mary! <3
Always fun to see these!!! LOVE the new floor in your kitchen!! Hugs!
Thank you Natalie! So nice to hear from you! <3
Awesome post! It’s been a full year so far… so many good times!
You have a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing the pictures
Thank you, Kathleen. 🙂
How beautiful and Blessed.Laus tipi Christe!
I love your picture posts. 🙂 Congratulations on the new babies! They are both so sweet. And congrats to the graduate, and the First Communicant-so much excitement this spring in your family!
Thank you, Emily! I hope your little family is doing well! 😊
We are! We had our oldest’s First Communion this year, too. Makes me feel old. Our youngest, Zita, is one this year, and everyone is healthy and growing. God is good.
I really appreciate your blog. It has helped me a lot in my endeavors to be a better wife and mother. It has also helped me see that some things that I’ve worried are issues particular to us as a couple are just man/woman differences. This place is a light in the darkness of the internet- thank you.