Tag Archives: life

Beautiful Mass. Beautiful Church.

With my extra time home this week, I was able to attend Daily Mass one day, a rare to never treat for me on a WEEKDAY!  I was running a little late to make our regular church Mass so I opted for the 30 minute later Mass at the church we attended when we first moved here.  It’s now a Basilica and is a lovely, old church with high ceilings, lovely stained glass, statues of various Saints, Blesseds, Christ, Mary and more.  The church commands reverence when you enter and the acoustics lend to a deep resounding message.  It was a blessing to start my day there the other day; I hope you enjoy the pictures and my effort to fluff up my iPhone camera with some editing.

IMG_4698

From the side street view. The upper cupola was destroyed during the 2004 hurricanes and replaced a few years and dollars later.

IMG_4696

Baptismal font. Not built into the floor like the one in N. Florida that my friend’s sweet son fell in after Mass one beach vacation. True story.

IMG_4697

Pews from the back, but LOOK at those columns and archways. Be still my heart, I could spend HOURS in here!!!

IMG_4694

The main aisle to the altar.

IMG_4690

One of the side alcoves and scenes: The Dream, The Exodus.

IMG_4691

The Holy Family statue and prayer candles, flanked by stunning stained glass.

IMG_4689

Jesus statue, prayer candles and more amazing stained glass.

IMG_4692

Another side alcove with the Ascension of Mary

IMG_4693

The Altar.

Friday Quickie x 7

Get your mind out of the gutter would you?  I’m just linking up to Jennifer Fulwiler and her amazing round-up of people sharing their top 7 thoughts/ideas/highlights of the week and since I’ve got time this week, I’ll share again.

  1. Home for the 4th day in a row status post tonsillectomy.  Oh, but it’s summer.  And there are children home.  All.  Day.  Long.  Not really, but sort of.  Enough that I wouldn’t call it a week of “quiet time”.  Not so much time to really get a lot “done”.  And yet…..it’s better than being at work!  So I’ll zip it.

    Sometimes you fall asleep with popsicle in hand after surgery

    Sometimes you fall asleep with popsicle in hand after surgery

  2. I did get a few things done this week.  My desk area is cleared off, bills are paid, laundry is done, sheets are changed and dinners have been cooked AND eaten prior to 7 p.m. more than a few times this week.
  3. The girls and I took my new-to-me sewing machine to my grandmother’s for a refresher lesson (it’s been at least 12 years since I last set that bobbin and thread and needle).  The girls enjoyed a ride in the neighbor’s golf car/cart thing and my grandmother and I figured that baby out.  It is now getting a good maintenance and I am armed, ARMED, I tell you with knowledge.  Pillows and curtains certain to be forthcoming….

    My grandmother is the BEST!  A true blessing in our family.

    My grandmother is the BEST! A true blessing in our family.

  4. My camera is back.  I haven’t used it yet.  I HAVE found some useful websites to explore and experiment with.  And I still have 2 days left of this medi-cation….(haha, I crack myself up!)grid
  5. Paid Sonic a visit.  Milkshakes and a sore tonsil area?  Yes, please.  ‘Twas a hot one and tasty they were.  On a sad note, I now have confirmation that milk is no longer my friend.  <sigh> at least  my hips will be thankful.IMG_4711
  6. Finished Hubby’s Father’s Day project, cards bought AND mailed and plans to visit with my step-dad and siblings on Sunday are cemented.  Days ahead of time.  Do you SEE how much my job gets in my way of getting stuff done????
  7. Made it to Daily Mass on Thursday at the church we first attended when we moved here.  It’s a Basilica now and it is just a stunning church.  My crappy iPhone pics do not do it justice, but I will try to doctor them up and present them in a separate post….it’s worthy.  Here’s a little sneaky peak ‘tho.

**as a bonus, I’ve talked to my BFF every day this week, had a text fest daily with several people without the threat of being fired and I’ve caught up with a few other friends by PHONE this week.  It’s a big week to connect, folks!  Big week!

While I choose my next book, y’all go visit Jen et al!

Blessings!

 

Theme Thursday: Dad

What is the meaning of this, Tracy?  Two posts in one day?  What in the sam heck is going on with you?!??!  Clearly this time off with a rehabbing child who is limited in energy and prohibited from sun has us INDOORS and running short and brief errands which in turn leaves me plenty of “bon-bon time” as my Hubby calls it.  Shoot, I’ve got blogs in stand-by, you’ll be sick of me by next week.  Or hooked.  Either way.  When I actually blog, my stats go UP.  Who knew??

So today…..I join in with Cari and fellow Themers at:

Father’s day is coming.  I’ve got a super cutie thingamajig planned for the Hubs by the kids (totally His love language, but I can’t tell you about it b/c he actually reads my blog from time to time…so tell you later!).  And so perfect timing on the Father Theme.

Dads are crucial.  Period.  End.

Case in point:  When my Hubs was “away” I knew, KNEW, KNEW….his relationship with our kids and vice versa was the key to our future as a family.  We did everything we could to cultivate those relationships during this time apart, from frequent visits, phone calls, letters, date-visits, photos, etc, etc.  There came a time close to him coming home during a heated exchange with our oldest at his tweeniest that he said to me “You wait until I tell Dad about this”.  It was at that point, I knew all of our joint effort as husband and wife, mother and father that it was ALL.  WORTH.  IT.   Further affirmation came when Hubs was finally home with our dark chapter behind us and re-entry into our FULL family life was essentially smooth as buttah.  Life wasn’t and ISN’T perfect, however, our struggles are pretty much in line with any other family life with mucho kiddos.  We are imperfect people.  What can I say?  We acknowledge it and move on.

The fact that Abba, Father has been the cornerstone of our family life may have had a little somethin’ somethin’ to do with it also.  Just an observation.

Happy Father’s Day, Hubby!  And to all those dads out there….keep workin’ it….it’s worth every second!!!

IMG_1535

Birthday. Poor guy never gets a straight shot at the candles!

IMG_1634

Father’s Day ’11

IMG_1631

Father’s Day with Popop, MY step-dad who is the BOMB-Diggety. This is 2 years old and he is now dwarfed by the boys…

IMG_1595

The boys off to mow lawns, a job obtained due to Dad’s teaching, patience and diligence. My wallet is forever grateful!

Triathlon: An insane “fun”

Sunday was Hubby’s birthday.  44.  He’s about to switch age brackets….next year!!!  So he decided to celebrate his awesomeness and begin his Triathlon season on his birthday.  All those hours of training….paid off.  Here’s some deets:

1/4 mile swim

10 mile bike

3 mile run

He was 4th in his age group, 22nd overall and finished in an hour!!!  My hottie rocked it.  So proud of him.  He has a couple more planned for this summer and some ideas of how to speed up his transitions, but mainly, for him he just enjoys the competition. (I enjoy the sunrise and the coffee!!!)

Here’s some photos from the morning off my iPhone…but look out people, my REAL camera is fixed and will be fully functional and in action for the next one!  Boo Ya!!!

IMG_4605

Bike holding area prior to the race.

IMG_4607

Hello Mr. Sun!!! You are looking FABULOUS dahling!!

IMG_4608

Competitors gathering near the start

IMG_4610

First wave of swimmers (men) head out

IMG_4612

This is my favorite part of the race. Never gets old!!!

IMG_4613

Mr. 1st out of the water for his age group…..

IMG_4616

Coming in on the bike

IMG_4617

Transition from bike to run

IMG_4619

and he’s off on the last leg of the race! He never saw me, heard me,nothing….I am RARELY that focused. EVER!!!

IMG_4620

coming across the finish!

5 Favorites because it’s WEDNESDAY!

Yesterday our youngest had her tonsils and adenoids removed.  This sweet little, strong-willed girl has had strep so frequently over the last few years she could diagnose it before they swabbed her and so, it finally came to getting those no-longer-doing-their-job suckers OUT.  This also resulted in Mama taking off work to be with our little patient for week 1 of recovery (with Papa taking week 2 shift).  With some extra “time” on my hands I’m joining in with Hallie and the “girl posse” (coined by Cari) and this week’s

five-favorites

 

  1. Since it’s been quite some time since I’ve been home during the week, yesterday I enjoyed my most favorite of favorites:  The Nap.  Yes.  On the couch.  In the middle of the day.  Apparently snoring.  Whatever.  Getting up at 5, waking the girl up so we could leave at 6, to be at the hospital at 6:30 for her 8:30 surgery, waiting on the doctor, boohooing on Hubby, being with her in PACU, bringing her home….Emotionally and physically done.  Mama.  Needed.  A.  Nap.
  2. My iPhone.  Seriously kept me busy all morning during surgery.  When I couldn’t focus on Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious by Pat Gohn any longer…..I checked Facebook, Twitter, Insta.  Quick little taps.  Brief little interludes.  Then tears when I clicked on Ann Voskamp’s post yesterday.  **note to self, don’t read Ann’s heart benders when I am already raw.  Once again, I could totally and utterly relate.  Parenting=Tough heart work.
  3. Next up.  I’m a freak, I know it.  Getting chores done mid-week.  Laundry is done.  Sheets are changed.  Floors vacuumed.  Eggs boiled.  Chicken soup going on soon.  Accomplishments without the stress of doing it all after working all day!!  #winning
  4. Reading.  Which I’ve already mentioned a bit.  I am finishing Pat’s book and gathering my thoughts to share with her for her podcast.  If you’ve read her book, join in HERE.  Also catching up on my Joy Dare notebook, the Catechism and starting a new book since Anne put out her summer reading list!!
  5. Photos.  I received my camera back from the shop and the baby is ready to go!  I’m brushing up on how to use different settings and get out of the Automatic mode and truly get my photos rockin’ and rollin’.  Of course, it’s only Wednesday…and tomorrow I am heading over to my grandmother’s to get a refresher on my new sewing machine.

grid

 

Go visit the posse and see what other favorites are favorite this week, from Pringles to Play lists…it’s covered!!

Blessings!!