Memories of the Sea

Last Summer, we took a family vacation to Savannah and South Carolina. Here's one of my favorite pictures of Luke in the Atlantic. He's carrying his bird book for the region. He carried that Carolinas bird book everywhere on that trip.

Where we'll be the next few days

We're headed out on a road trip, but I will return with pictures from our adventure to South Dakota!!

Girls Gone Mild

More to come on these books...

Anne, continued

So, Luke and I finished listening to Anne of Avonlea the other day and now, we've started listening to Anne of the Island. Anne has just left for college, Diana has gotten engaged to Fred and well, poor Gilbert. Anne is not even close to admitting that she might return Gilbert's affections. Gilbert will have to wait and so will I.

I'm so enjoying re-visiting these wonderful books. Anne just makes me so happy. I can only hope to have half the outlook on life that Anne has.

So far, Luke wants to keep listening, but I've already warned him that this book will be about Anne's college adventures and there will be much less of Davy. He's one of the twins Marilla adopted in Anne of Avonlea.

I'm hoping to acquire some of L. M. Montgomery's published journals so that I can get an insight into her life as well....Off on another rabbit trail!

11 Years!

So, here I am on my wedding day, July 13, 1996. When these photos were taken, I had no idea of the adventures that lay ahead of me. There would be so much to learn. I had no idea that I would love my husband so much more now than I did then. I had no idea that family life with our two sons would fill me with so much joy. I didn't know that the sacrifices I would make would actually make me happier. I just didn't know that so much treasure awaited me! Paul and I always comment on how noisy life is with our two boys, but it's evidence of more love and more happiness in our lives.
I am content and joyful and thankful everyday. I thank God for sending me such a wonderful husband and for giving me a contented cozy life.

Finally! A movie I actually want to see

Happy Birthday to my oldest friend

Happy birthday to my dear friend Jennifer!! Do you remember when we used to give each other cards with pictures like these? I hope you have a wonderful day.

(We became friends in junior high and were roommates in college. We've had many adventures over our 23 year friendship. Every time I see a Renoir with the two girls, I think of her.)

Anne Shirley, interrupted

A few years ago, while my sister was living in Maine, we drove all the way to Prince Edward Island. I'd always wanted to go there since I'd read L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables in high school. It is a gorgeous island and it's no wonder that Anne found so much "scope for the imagination" there. It's hard not to be inspired there!

I was a sophomore and I was supposed to be writing a term paper for English class, but instead I locked myself up in my room for several weeks reading the Anne series. I was unable to put them down and I read them at an astonishing pace until, that is, I came to Rainbow Valley. At this point, I had grown weary from my marathon of reading and moreover, I was completely disappointed that Anne had become relegated to a background character being upstaged by her children. She was no longer Anne, but instead Mrs Blythe. I mean, of course I was happy that she married Gilbert Blythe, but the whole tone of the book was different. It was hard for me to realize that there would be no more of Anne's story. So, sadly, I never finished Rainbow Valley and that means I never went on to read the final volume, Rilla of Ingleside.

Well, a few weeks ago, Luke and I started listening to Anne of Green Gables on CD. Initially, I had checked the CDs out from the library so that I could listen to them myself. I had no idea Luke would like it so much. We then watched the delightful film featuring Megan Follows. Now, we're in the middle of Anne of Avonlea and Luke is still enjoying it. I had assumed, wrongly, that Luke would not be as interested in the subsequent books since Anne had grown up, but I was wrong. He's enjoying hearing about all the trouble Davy gets into. (Davy is one of the twins that Marilla adopts in the second book.) I had almost forgotten that Marilla had adopted more children. Now, I know that Luke may lose interest as Anne continues to grow and mature, but that's okay with me. As for me I plan to listen to the series again and this time, I will read Rainbow Valley and I will read Rilla of Ingleside.

Even though I'm much older than when I originally read the series, I find that I am still charmed by Anne Shirley. I think it's impossible not to fall under her spell. I believe she may be my favorite childhood heroine. Anne knew how to consider it all joy (despite her red hair)! Now, I just need to get to know her children.

I learned a lot from Anne. She taught me to soak up life and to see every day as a beautiful gift.

By the way, Anne of Green Gables will celebrate its 100th birthday next year!

Because Krissy wants to be on my blog!

Here's Krissy. She's much more stylish than I am!

The Land of Giants

So, Steph and I took the kids to Tiny Town last week. They enjoyed walking among all of the tiny buildings some of which are replicas of actual buildings around town.
I've driven past the sign leading to Tiny Town hundreds of times, but never decided to venture over there until now. What a "tiny" treat!

I've been meaning to write about this for a while

I had a great time at this year's Rocky Mountain Catholic Home Educators Conference and I've been meaning to write about it since. I had the great privilege of meeting Elizabeth Foss. She's truly inspiring and I'm still thinking about one of her talks. It's become a mantra for me to remind myself that "God's business is perfection. Ours is just the trying..." Thanks Elizabeth!! I also got to meet all of the vendors that I had been working with all of the previous months. At this time, I would like to thank Danielle Bean for donating autographed copies of her books for our silent auction! I would also like to thank Idylls Press for also donating autographed books as well. Thank you to my friends at Sanctus.com
for their contributions to making our conference a great success! I'd also like to thank James and Carmen Marcoux at One Way Publishing House for donating copies of their books as well. You all have been so generous! Oh, I don't want to forget Dawn Eden.

I really learned a ton by working on this conference. While it was an immense ammount of work and effort, I found the whole experience quite rewarding. Now, that I know what I'm doing, I am already looking forward to next year's conference, but for now, I am enjoying the much needed break!

I am blessed to have been involved this year. I am also truly inspired.

Because Steph wants to be on my blog

(It's curious that her Meez has the same hair as mine! Well, we do have the same hairdresser!)

Seriously though, I can't believe how much time I spent on my Meez. I stayed up way too late playing around with my Meez.

My Meez

That's me just standing around in a flowing skirt with an epic in my hands! Thanks to Kristen at Small Treasures for this fun little adventure with virtual paper dolls!