I like to share my galleries with you.
I think it may help to inspire those who are struggling to live a life of wholesomeness and faith in a world that tends to pull us down. I know I would have liked it as a young, struggling mom.
My husband and I always told ourselves that we wanted to work toward a home that the children loved to be a part of….A home that emanates joy, camaraderie, fun and, well, yes, hard work!
Beneath all of that is the foundation….daily Mass, if possible, and family prayer…the daily Rosary, especially. If you haven’t got the Faith, what do you have?
It’s never perfect. God understands our humanness.
But we continue to try to instill Catholic culture in our homes so our legacy will be just that…a steady, strong structure of Catholic Culture pulsing through the veins of our children and grandchildren.
A few quotes…
Never weary in cheering your family with your smile. It is not enough to avoid depressing them; you must brighten them up and let their spirits expand. Be especially vigilant when the little ones are around. Give them the alms of a smile, hard though it be at times. What a pity when children have to say, “I don’t like it at home.” – Christ in the Home, Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J.
“Welcome home! That’s what I want my life to say to everyone whose path crosses mine. I want to create an atmosphere of serenity and joy, of blessing and belonging, that embraces people (myself included) and draws them in – an atmosphere that makes them feel loved and special and cared for.” – Emilie Barnes, The Spirit of Loveliness
Even so, O Woman, within that world which is your home and kingdom, your face is to light up and brighten and beautify all things, and your heart is to be the source of that vital fire and strength without which the father can be no true father, the brother no true brother, the sister no true sister, since all have to learn from you how to love, how to labor lovingly, how to be forgetful of self, and mindful only of the welfare of others. -Fr. Bernard O’Reilly, 1894
And now….Gallery, Spring 2023.
Captions are below the pictures. Click on the first picture to begin the gallery….
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- Gin loves her succulents.
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- Many green things abound at her home right now.
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- She will plant after the last freeze.
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- She’s got a lot of work to do!
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- Her boys are working on their sunroom.
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- It’s lovely!
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- Annie and David try their hand at Tony’s wheelchair he bought and then motorized it…for fun!
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- Games at Gin’s. Vin and Gin often have the potlucks at their home.
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- Tony is working on making rosaries for Legion of Mary.
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- Esther’s first birthday. Ang is her Godfather and made her the wooden bunny.
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- Sean and the goat.
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- Rose has the biggest and brightest smile!
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- Mike and Nettie’s beautiful family.
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- Gemma and Esther.
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- Gin’s David.
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- Kansas snowman…haha
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- Another KS snowman.
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- Jeanette’s beautiful sourdough bread.
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- Gin and David…
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- Magadalene has officially graduated to Grade 2!
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- Sean loves his books!
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- Toby “camps out” in the driveway with his “tent”!
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- Theresa and Sophia.
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- Gin deorated some of my nooks. Here’s above the coffee nook.
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- Infant of Prague
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- Piano decorations. Waiting for Easter.
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- Agnes’ 9th birthday
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- Esther and her big brothers.
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- Big brothers are soo tired.
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- Do you ever find that the rosary makes you sleepy? Ethan does!
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- Cousins shopping!
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- Laundry time at Theresa’s.
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- Brendan and Sophia
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- Our good friend (and artist) Stephanie is teaching art lessons.
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- Grandpa and his chestnut mushrooms.
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- Grandpa gives Ben instructions on how to make mushroom tincture.
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- Sean is making sure his mom and dad are doing it right!
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- St. Anne gracing my table.
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- Gin’s sewing spot.
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- Brendan is having his treat for passing his Confirmation test!
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- Reality Check…Laundry at Jeanette’s
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- Reality Check #2 – Silliness at Jeanette’s…haha
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- Butterflies made by Nanny Rosie and Kids…
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- Hannah has been into crocheting hats lately.
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- Esther and Rose get to know one another!
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- Chatting
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- David reads to Sean and Gimpy the Giraffe.
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- Oregon Trail
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- Sean and Gimpy
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- Young Adult Group….don’t ask. I’m not going to…Haha
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- Birthday party for Mom/Grandma
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- Lots of lovely gifts!
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- Hubby’s gift to me…
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- Sweet daughter-in-law, Z!
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- Margy and Zaelie
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- Jeanette and Zaelie
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- Devin, Theresa and Sophia
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- Sweet daughter-in-law, Sarah.
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- We are problably discussing herbs or something like that…
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- My table centerpiece during Lent
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- Huckleberry is not impressed.
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- THIS is true love.
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- And this may be another form of true love! haha
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- Father captivates his audience.
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- A sweet red-headed package!
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- Edward is ready for the Quiz Bowl. He bleongs to the team “The Band of the Bonny Prince”.
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- Vin and Gin are taking a trip to the Quiz Bowl at the seminary
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- David 🙂
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- Quiz Bowl ~ Catholic Trivia Contest
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- Beautiful Church Vin & Gin stopped at.
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- Colin makes breakfast for us.
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- Sean has his morning routine, which includes two eggies!
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- David and Margy bought a fixer-upper.
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- They have been working hard to get it insulated before the hot and cold weather again.
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- Messes abound!
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- Sean helps….
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- And keeps helping…
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- St. Patrrick’s Day ’tis a hit at Theresa’s home.
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- Methinks there is something special under those hats!
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- St. Patrick’s Day!
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- Angelo is the President of the Junior Legion of Mary.
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- He is prepping all of the rosaries the kids will make for the missions.
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- Rosie and Gemma follow a strict food plan right now. May I eat that way, too??
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- Juliette
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- Esther can be rather rough on the sleep factor.
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- Z with her mom and kids.
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- Colin is busy getting things prepped for his mother-in-law to move close to them.
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- He is building an apartment on the front of their shop for her.
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- Building in process.
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- His workers need a break….
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- Esther in the hospital.
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- Esther received Confirmation at the hospital.
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- Very blessed, indeed!
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- It’s a new experience wearing oxygen while playing in the dirt.
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- Z’s home during Passion Week.
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- My 3 guys on their way to work at 6:30a.m.
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- Shopping with Mom (Theresa)
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- Got a couple of lovely spring dresses!
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- Resurrection Garden at Gin’s
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- Hubby’s Mushroom Grow Bags!
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- Kids help with the rosary kits for Legion of Mary.
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- Gemma and Esther
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- Grandma and Esther
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- Grandma Rosalie and Hannah
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- Angelo and Esther
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- haha
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- haha
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- Jeanette’s Resurrection Garden
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- Jeanette’s Way of the Cross (with a little help from artist friend, Stephanie)
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- Going fishing!
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- Esther and Mom, Jeanette.
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- Ely
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- Fishing with the family is too fun!
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- Uncle Ang does school while the kids eat lunch.
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- Priests and seminarian visiting…
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- Gin came over with this basket of goodies to help decorate for Easter
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- Easter Centerpiece
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- Infant of Prague in his beautiful Spring Cloak
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- Gin made this cape for Our Lady. I made the little flower crown.
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- Birdhouses!
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- These Easter bunnies surprised Grandma and Grandpa with some Easter eggs!
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- Theresa’s Flat bread for Holy Thursday.
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- Jeanette’s flatbread
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- Soup and Flatbread has become a tradition. Ely has sunburn and airing it out! 🙂
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- Holy Thursday repast at Vin and Gin’s
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- The Easter Bunnies are working hard getting eggs ready for the hunt!
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- Gin’s table with some lovely lattes the kids make.
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- Emma’s Good Friday Latte for her Mom, Gin.
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- Sienna and Sophia show off their homemade bunnies from a dear lady friend.
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- Avila’s bunny…aren’t they cute?
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- Gin’s “Cabbage” floral centerpiece! Be still, my heart!
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- Hot Cross Buns! Be still my taste buds! haha
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- Shrink wrap Easter eggs always make a lovely splash of color!
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- Statues received!
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- Jeanette’s Resurrection Garden
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- Easter baskets ready!
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- More hot cross buns!
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- Painting egss with Dad, Devin
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- Theresa’s Way of the Cross
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- A hairdo for Easter!
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- More Easter baskets!
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- Juliette is ready for the Easter Vigil.
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- Gin and girls
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- David’s not sure he’s ready for the Easter Vigil.
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- Goodies at 3 in the morning after the Vigil.
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- Looking for baskets. I get up early and hide them.
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- A little rough hiding them and finding them.
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- Found them.
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- Dad has to get everyone to look at mushrooms while hunting for their baskets!
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- Yum!
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- Dev and Theresa stopped after Mass for a photo shoot!
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- Painting eggs at Gin’s
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- Jeanette’s Resurrection Scene.
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- Mike’s happy with his basket. He deserves it…it’s been a rough Lent!
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- Zeleie found her basket!
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- Ethan
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- Charlotte…whoa! That’s one big basket!
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- Colin and Z’s girls…Grace, Zaelie and Charlotte.
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- Colin and Z
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- Colin and Z’s boys….Jacob, Isaac, Ethan.
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- Sean is greatly impressed with his Easter goodies!
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- Playing Epic duels with son, Sep’s, kids.
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- Sean and Lillian help Rosie.
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- Yum! Lillian and Sean, cousins.
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- Gin and Vin
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- Dear, comb your hair!
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- Theresa, the Easter Bunny, is ready for the Hunt!
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- And away they go!
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- Juliette is trying to get it!
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- Tony flies his drone just to annoy people…haha
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- Sophia
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- Adam
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- Men watch and gab
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- Z and Zaelie
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- Avila, Rita and Lucy
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- Ely and Magdalene
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- Nettie and Mike’s family.
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- Awww
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- Peek a boo!
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- James reads to the kids.
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- Esther likes to touch the buttons of her oxygen machine!
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- David reading to his little ones.
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- Burning the fields. Always very pretty, sometimes stressful.
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- Way to go Brendan! It will make for a great supper!
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- Double rainbow after a stormy night!
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- Stormy beautiful sky.
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- Turkey Tail Mushroom found!
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- A great harvest!
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- Ready for a “Black Tie” wedding.
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- Angelo has to get his reading in before he can go!
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- Margy with Rose and friend’s baby.
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- Nothing like dancing with your son…
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- Friends from Minnesota…the Sirbas!
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- Having breakfast with the Sirbas.
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- Grandsons’ birthdays.
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- Father reads to Sean on his favorite subject…chickens!
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- We had a last-minute order for Holy Face Chaplets.
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- Margy and I worked for hours on them!
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- Ready to be overnight shipped!
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- Margy and Sean… 🙂
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- Replacing windows at Dave and Margy’s
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- Please say a prayer for Fr. Terrence Gordon, FSSP, who died of a heart attack on Friday.
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- He was a good and holy priest.
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- His brother, Fr. James Gordon, gave him the Last Rites.
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- Fr. Dennis Gordon, Fr. James Gordon, Fr. Terrence Gordon
What happened to Tony? Will he need the chair for long?
Nice to see Esther out of the hospital. 💕
Many things happening in the pics, hope you have a blest day.
May he rest in peace, amen!
I guess I should clarify. Tony bought an old wheelchair and put a motor on it. So he could drive it around! It makes for a grand toy!
Such a wonderful pictures 🙂 It inspires purity, joy and Gods beauty, also creativity and smiling in work 🙂 It is nice to see how working together everything seems easier and better… Also, I wonder did your daughters finished some classes online, I mean for creativity or other types of lessons, or they learn in home from each other?
Thank you!
God bless and a hug from Europe 🙂 +
Hello Marija! No lessons really. Gin and I did take a flower arranging class many years ago. For the most part, they learn by trial and error, YouTubes, etc.
I spent a delightful period of time this evening enjoying all of the pictures in your gallery. You each have so many talents to share with one another and sharing one another’s families is the cherry on the sundae. The love for one another and the love for God just pop off the page and makes me want to give every one of you a big hug. God bless your wonderful family and thank you for sharing your lives with all of us.
So did we. So nice to see all the happenings In pictures. Always an inspiration 🥰
A lovely and inspiring gallery! Happy Easter season!