Currently Reading The Historian By Elizabeth Kostova see related

Here we are in April (April Fools Day, in fact).  I realize that I am a little behind (especially as I see my last post was looking forward to Thanksgiving) - oops.

I write today because I have just completed a project that caused me great stress - yet, I feel little relief.  So, I am going to focus on the wonderful part(s) of my OH SO BUSY weekend.  Namely, my visiting Saint Paul to greet Cat on her layover from Lviv to Bismark.

I will sum up this entire entry with pictures and captions - 'kay.

Photo# 1:  Aparently, Maria crosses herself like she is swatting flies.  Ah well, it makes me feel better that she has some imperfections.

Photo #2:  Paul was supposed to be fasting on this Friday of Lent... don't feel too bad, Paul; I was supposed to be also, but decided God would forgive this exception.

Photo #3 & #4:  Cathryn - our guest of honor, looking marvelous despite her stressful departure from Ukraine.  And, Noah - so excited to see Cat that his face froze like that, or something like that.

Photo #5:  Cat telling her travel story - it was sad and tragic, but inspiring and heartwarming... really, for a travel story, it was.

Photos #6, #7, #8:  If you have not yet eaten at Buca di Beppo, I highly recommend it (although, I am sad that we didn't have the Pope table).  The food was so fantastic that people actually stopped visiting for streches of time to consume as much food in as little time as possible - if you know my group of friends, food and fellowship are usually a neck and neck match - sometimes food pulls ahead.

Photo #9:  The lovely and beautiful Caley agreed to help me with some shopping (who better than Caley?).  Unfortunately, shopping was a bust, but I always love spending time with Caley.

So, there you have it - have fun checking out the pictures. Perhaps I will have a new update within a week or two, but don't hold your breath.

Currently Reading On a Pale Horse (Incarnations of Immortality, Bk. 1) By Piers Anthony see related

It is almost Thanksgiving.  I know, newsflash, right.  Yes, well... I don't know how that happened.  November is almost over.  Where did it go?  The only answer that I can come up with is that Fair Oaks Lodge stole it from me.  Yes, Fair Oaks is the nursing home where I work.  I am not going to complain about my job.  I am glad to have a job.  I like most of the people I work with.  I like most of the residents living in the wing I work.  Please understand that I am using willpower to accomplish this mammoth task.

In the meantime... what did I do in October and November?  I was lucky enough to have Mr. Matthew Incorvia and Mr. Jonas Williamson visit me over Fall break (the weekend before Halloween).  They were able to experience Demin and Diamonds - the small town-hick bar (although, Jonas has been lucky enough to visit D&D twice now).  Yep, I dressed up like a fairy - and acted like a witch - or a psychopath - I'll let you try to guess which.  I wish that I had pictures of this event, but sadly I do not.  Jonas took a couple (perhaps even one of me flipping him off for not coming out to dance with Matthew and I), but I doubt that they turned out very well.  If they did, he has yet to show me.  Mr. Incorvia and Mr. Williamson also joined me for a brief shopping experience before touring Carlos Creek Winery.  Although they were sadly out of Reisling, I think that we all enjoyed our time at the winery.

I also helped my cousin (and high-school classmate) Tracy celebrate her wedding to John Smith.  Yep, John Thomas Smith.  It was a lovely day and a very busy weekend.  Friday night: bonfire/party/dinner with the whole family (plus a couple of random guests).  Saturday/Saturday night: Tracy and J.T.'s wedding and associated festivities.  Sunday:  William John Brandsma's Baptism followed by big lunch celebration with Father Walz and the family.  Monday: Cleaning up after weekend, babysitting five nephews and one neice.  Yep - I was EXHAUSTED.

November seems like it has been filled with deer hunting (although the open week between the weekends did not affect our hunters much because they all work).  We had hunters both weekends (and one or two during the week), and so our house has been full every weekend.  I think that this was the first weekend in two and a half months that we have not had overnight guests... and of course, I had to work, so I could not fully enjoy this.  That is okay.  I would have either spent the time cleaning or catching up on sleep, and neither seem to be quite worthy right now.

Now, we are getting ready for the exciting season of Advent at St. Joseph's in Bertha.  After a somewhat frustrating and stressful Liturgy meeting in late October, I am arranging for the Sunday school classes to be involved in Mass through Advent (reading petitions, being gift bearers, etc), as well as finding some poor sap who is willing to be Saint Nicholas, and coming up with a new and fresh Nativity/Epiphany program.  Should be great, right?  And, close on the heals of the Christmas season (mid-late January) we will have the 2nd Graders making their first Confession.  I only have three students this year (half as many as last year), and only two of them come regularly, but I am becoming very pleased with their progress.  These past two weeks, we have been doing mini-quizzing.  I am happy to report that Dani and Tayler have memorized the Seven Sacraments (maybe a little nudge or clue with Confirmation, and I accept "Monk/Priest" instead of Holy Orders), and eight of the Ten Commandments.  Okay, there again, they do not say the commandments word for word, but they get the important part.  Ex. Honor thy father and thy mother - becomes - Listen to your mom and dad and do what they say.  OR I Am the Lord your God, you shall not have false gods before Me - becomes - God is most important (Thank you Matthew ).

Okay - now you have an update.  Ask me if you have any questions.  Forgive spelling/grammer mistakes because I don't have the energy to do it right the first time - or to use the spell-check because it takes so long with our computer.

So long.  Farwell.  etc. etc.

Currently Watching Crash (Widescreen Edition) By Karina Arroyave, Dato Bakhtadze, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Art Chudabala, Sean Cory, Tony Danza, Keith David, Loretta Devine, Michael Pena, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Ime Etuk, Eddie J. Fernandez, William Fichtner, Howard Fong, Nona Gaye, Brendan Fraser, Billy Gallo, Ken Garito see related

I am a terrible person.  I realize that I ended the last entry just a couple of days ago by saying that "I do evil things" but let me give you two examples of how/why I am so horrid:

1.)  I had been planning a trip to the Twin Citites Area for a surprize birthday party for JOSH!  I knew almost a week before hand that I wasn't going to be able to make it because of work.  When did I choose to tell Tina that my plans had changed?  Umm, when she called from Axel's to get the cell number so she could see how much longer I would be.  Yep - I felt like a huge jerk.  SORRY!

2.)  I wrote an entire entry about random crap without giving you all details on two VERY exciting bits of information.  Heidi had her baby on September 14 (Matthew and Carla's anniversary, by the way).  My fifth nephew was born just after noon and is known to the world as William John Brandsma (William, Will, Willy - NO Bill's or Billy's).  Along those same lines, Christopher and Isaac came over a few weeks ago to tell us that they were going to make a baby.  We were very confused (Matthew and Carla just sat back laughing at our confusion) until I read Isaac's T-shirt:  "I'm going to the a Big Brother" 

Yep - our family is still and always expanding.  Matthew and Carla's baby should arrive in the early spring/late winter (March, I think it is).  So, I am sorry for these terrible oversights and I hope that ya'll can find it in your hearts to forgive me.

Currently Listening Irish Drinking Songs By Various Artists see related

Oh, my word.  So much to say - and yet, once again, I have very little time.

I enjoyed the Grape Stomp and Wine Festival... In fact, I enjoyed it so much that Lindsay and I entered the stomp competition twice (so we each got the chance to stomp) and we won our heat the second time around!  We got freen Carlos Creek Winery mugs and t-shirts.  I know - I too realized some disappointment when I found out that they didn't give wine to the winners, but what can you do?  It was really great to see Lindsay again - and just before Lindsay, I was blessed to have Cat come and visit before she left for the Ukraine.  Missing all my lovely people who are gone away - Cat, Danielle, DeAnna, Nick... the list goes on and on, so don't feel bad if I didn't name you specifically.  You know that I am socially exiled out here and I miss everyone.

I have started a new job and the nursing home in Wadena.  They don't like to be called a nursing home anymore.  Did you know that.  I hadn't.  It is called Fair Oaks Lodge and Apartments: Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Residence.  Yep - a nursing home (with an assisted living apartment building connected by a tunnel).  I guess that there are worse jobs than being a CNA - it's tough though, especially when your co-workers don't show up for a shift.  AND, I really feel ridiculous having studied History and Theology for so long to be working such a... well, lets just say that it isn't the most stimulating work.

My Religious Ed. year has officially started as of last Sunday.  I will have four First Communion students this year (although, only three were in class on the first day).  I think that this group will be more challenging than last year (even though the five boys and one girl were a bit animated).  I'm up for it, I guess.  There is also a possibility that I will be teaching (or team teaching with Father Daniel Walz) the Confirmaion class.  I am heartily disappointed with the congregation regarding the Confirmation class this year, but I'm not getting into it here.  If you really want to know, ask me about it some time, and I am sure you won't be able to get me to shut up.

So, I am also working on the Fall Dinner committee at church.  I am donating a quilt to the raffle - about half done right now - and I am in charge of the youth games.  This is a little funny, because last year, Amelie (Amelia, Amie, Ames, etc.), my sister, suggested having a few games to entertain the kids (we always used to have a full festival with games, but that changed).  So, we asked Father if we could just bring in a few (a Duck Pond, Bean-Bag Toss, etc).  We donated all the supplies, and 95% of the prizes and found people to help run the games.  We didn't really tell anyone else that we were doing it and just showed up that morning and set up and away we went.  It was such a wonderful success (and Father Walz happens to be putting quite and emphasis on the youth and children) that Father asked us to do it again this year.  Well, we have tripled the number of games we are bringing in, gotten donations for prizes, recruited many more people to help... in short, it is no longer a small matter to be set up that morning.  So, anyway, I am staying very busy with that, but I am sure it will be wonderful!

One last thought before I go to bed.  A couple of weeks ago, my brother-in-law, Joe, gave me a t-shirt for helping him with his paintball field this summer.  I don't know if you are familiar with paintball quipment, etc. but there happens to be a line of paintball supplies called evil paintball.  The t-shirt that he game me simply states "i do evil things"  Isn't that the most fantastic thing you have ever heard!  I will take a picture of it and post it asap.  It is just so great!

Lots of lovin' from me to you!  I miss everyone, so I hope that you are reading this and missing me too!

Currently Reading Sophia House (Children of the Last Days S.) By Michael D. O'Brien see related

Really Quick Update

So - umm - I have SOOO much to say about the past... well, three and a half months!  Let's sum up by saying:

Laura's wedding went well - a little different from what I expected, but it went well.  I don't have any pictures of anything right now because my brother-in-law, Joe, has taken our computer (for various reasons) and I can't access my stuff - BUT when I get it all back, I PROMISE that I will post photos of all the exciting things that I have done - including Laura's (and Tina and Josh's) wedding.

Tina and Josh Teeter also successfully made it down the isle - why do I blog about either of these weddings - well, of course because I was in them both (Maid-of-Honor x2).  Josh and Tina's wedding went well - much drama which I will not dredge up (I have been so blessed to avoid the inevitable drama and every wedding I've been in up until now).  I did have a great time up on the North Shore and I already miss seeing everyone since it has been a month since Josh and Tina got married.

EOT County Fair was this past weekend.  I spent the entire weekend there (Thur - Sun) as Edward's chaperone.  Wow, that was fun!  No, really - I did see a lot of the "old gang" and realized that they are all married and having babies - so what's new?

I am super excited that my dear Lindsay (and Mark) should both be back in MN now (or VERY SOON).  Anxiously awaiting my opportunity to visit them.  And, while they are returning, others are moving far away.  For example:  Cathryn (a truly kindred spirit) will be moving to the Ukraine to teach English Lit. for a year (or at least I hope it's only a year because maybe when she gets back we can get a place and be spinstresses together?).  Danielle (dear, strong, independent and always worth praise) is in the South doing humanitarian work for AmeriCorps - brave lady that she is!

Otherwise - I await word about a couple of 'real' jobs that I have applied for - I won't jinx myself by telling ya'll what they are.  I have been trying to put together a trip to Nashville for Sister Elizabeth Marie's First Profession of Vows at the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia.  I don't know if I will be able to do that (about two weeks from now), but I am REALLY trying to make it work.

I'll try to be better about updating - it's hard at home (in Bertha) because there is always work to be done somewhere.

Oh yeah - in September I am going to the the Grape Stomp at the Carlos Creek Winery Fall Harvest Festival - still looking for a partner!!  If you want to come up to visit for a couple of days in Bertha and would be willing to do a Grape Stomp competition with me, let me know asap!