Our Family

Nice Weekend...

My dad came to visit this weekend. Bill took Friday and Monday off from work,so he could be with us. It's always good to spend time with Dad. We enjoyed eating out at some favorite restaurants, and I also made some of Dad's favorite meals. Beth and Miley were with us this weekend because Luke was working in Vermont with his dad and brother. All in all, the weekend was great!

Blessed...

Have you ever thought about the people who truly make a difference in your life...the people who make you a better person just by you being with them? Today I want to reflect on a visit from two of the most influential people in our family's lives. Last week Tom and Wanda came for a visit, and because of their visit our family was blessed beyond measure. Throughout the week, we laughed...we cried...we were on the go...we relaxed...we talked...we listened...we were loud...we were silent...we were at home...we were away. All in all, our lives and home will never be the same because of their presence. I am forever reminded that God knows just who we need in our lives and when we need them. These two people are some of the most Godly people I know...two people who are slow to judge and quick to make you feel loved and important...Hmmm...I know someone else who has these characteristics...Jesus Christ. We are so fortunate to have Tom and Wanda in our lives, and God has two wonderful servants. Look below at some of the highlights while they were here.

They arrived on Friday, and off we went Saturday morning to New York City via the Metro North Train from Waterbury. We checked in at the Marriott Marquis at Times Square.

We saw the New York Yankees win against the Tortonto Bluejays. Our seats were only 6 rows from the field!


We ate dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner where they had singing waitstaff. Our waiter sang to Wanda.




Our July 4th visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was quite moving.


After returning to Battery Park from Ellis Island, we were entertained by a local contortionist. I hurt just watching him.



Dinner at Bubba Gumps was delicious, and we had seats overlooking Times Square. We enjoyed answering trivia questions our server asked about the movie. By the way...we knew all the correct answers!

We visited several other places, but I can't seem to find the pictures...Trinity Church, St. Paul Chapel, Ground Zero, Fireworks on the 4th, Rockefeller Center & Radio City Music Hall.


We had breakfast at Junior's Monday morning. It was a cute restaurant that specialized in huge portions. Bill, Tom and I ordered 4-egg omelets.





Our last day in New York we enjoyed "hanging out" with some of our favorite famous people at Madame Tussaud's.


Tom wanted to have a hotdog on the streets of New York City before we left, so he did!

After three full days in New York, we returned to Grand Central Station (Terminal) and enjoyed having dinner on the lower level. Wanda was shocked at seeing 4 different people digging in the trash cans for food.



On the train...ready to return to our house.

We spent two nights at our house before heading to Boston...


As soon as we arrived in Boston, we went on a Duck Tour. We traveled on land and sea (Charles River) to see all the sights of Boston. This tour was both informative and fun.

Then we checked in at the Hyatt Regency where Kylie (Taylor's girlfriend) joined us. Kylie is living in Boston this summer while doing an internship at John Hancock. We were most appreciative that she came to the rescue and served as our guide.




Kylie led us on a short walk to Quincy Market where we were entertained by gymnasts, singers/musicians. Then we had dinner at Cheers..."Where everybody knows your name".


After shopping, we visited more, rested some and enjoyed the entertainment.


Before Kylie caught the "T" and we returned to our hotel, we walked over to the pier.

After a night and a couple days in Boston, we headed to Springfield to the Basketball Hall of Fame where we saw important basketball memorbilia and inductee information. Wanda and I even participated in some interactive fun...we were sports announcers...Imagine that!



We left the Basketball Hall of Fame and stopped by Cracker Barrel in Enfield, Connecticut, so Bill and I could get our fill of southern cooking. Then we returned to our home. The next day Beth, Luke, Kyle, Rachel, Brennan and Taylor (Oh...and Miley too) joined us for a cookout. Here are some pictures from the cookout...












This was an AWESOME vacation with some AWESOME people!!!

What a Week!

This has been a great week for the most part. Bill's sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Tom, came up for a visit...that was the great part. I plan to post some pictures from their visit very soon. For the least part of the week, Bill's car broke down on the interstate (after we had just spent thousands of dollars on repairs just a few weeks ago). A thousand dollars later, and we are hopefully going to get it repaired for good. Also, we had a family cookout yesterday, but Friday evening we went to bed without the air conditioning...Yes, it was hot, but we survived. Now our air conditioner is in need of repair. One thing I am reminded of during this difficult process is Phillipians 4:6-7 ~ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Stay tuned for the great part of the week...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd35-M-xLX4

Quote for today...

Be more concerned about your character than your reputation because your character is who you are and your reputation is just what others THINK of you.

A Good Friend

Sheila, a dear friend, is such an inspiration to me. She shared this awesome prayer with me that encourages me to live a Godly life. I hope this prayer encourages you too.

Holy Spirit inspire in me...
What I should think
What I should say
What I should leave unsaid
What I should write
What I should do
and how I should act,
So I may achieve the good of all my brothers and sisters
Fulfill my mission
and make Christ's Kingdom triumph.

Thanks, Sheila. I am so fortunate to have you in my life.

Bill's Birthday Treat

For Bill's birthday in February, I bought two tickets for a trip to Boston with http://www.postroadstages.com/. The trip was yesterday, and it was awesome!

First stop...Tour of Fenway Park...

We sat in the grand stand seats.

We watched a little of the Pre-draft tryouts.

We sat in the Press Box seats. What a view!!!

We sat in the Green Monster seats. We hope to get Green Monster seats for a game next season.

Second stop...No Name Restaurant...http://www.nonamerestaurant.com/

Third stop...U.S.S. Constitution...

USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America's growing maritime interests. The ship's greatest glory came during the war of 1812 when she defeated four British frigates which earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides," because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull. The ship was restored in 1927 with contributions from the nation's school children.

Last stop...Quincy Market (Faneuil Hall)...

Aaron and his friend Andy joined us at Quincy Market for a quick visit. It was good to see him! We were entertained by singers and...

...talented street gymnasts/dancers.

We had a great day!

A Nice Surprise

Finally, Mother's Day was complete! I thoroughly enjoyed Mother's Day with Beth, Luke and Taylor, but it just was missing something...and that something was Aaron. I understood he couldn't be with us because he had to work, but I still missed seeing him on Mother's Day.

Well, a week ago today I was sitting at my computer at school when who should appear at my door but Beth.

"Mom, I thought I would bring you home today, so you wouldn't have to wait until Dad got off work to bring you home." (Bill had my car because his car was in the shop.)

I insisted that I stay at school because I had plenty of work to do in my classroom. I tried to assure Beth that I would be fine staying at school until Bill came home.

She refused to let me stay.

"Mom, you've been putting in too many hours. Just let me bring you home."

After a lot of persuasion (Beth even got my friend Chris in on the action), I finally gave in, thinking, "But I have so much work to do!"

Wow!!! Am I ever so glad I went home.................

We arrived at our house to find Aaron's car in the driveway!!! My heart jumped for joy!!! I couldn't wait to get in the house to hug my Aaron!!!

Aaron told me that he wanted to come visit because he wasn't able to be with me on Mother's Day. He treated me to dinner and spent a couple nights with us. We also enjoyed watching Aaron play his guitar and sing.

Just having him home was the best!

A fun visit at the restaurant!

Music to my ears!

Weekly Wisdom

Just a Thought...

" Wealth is not measured by possessions or money... but by the relationships you build, the bonds you strengthen, the people you bring together and by the legacy you leave behind... that... is TRUE wealth."

A Life Lesson...

One thing I have learned in my 50 years of life is that NOTHING is more important than the relationships I have with others.

Scripture to Ponder...

Building Godly Relationships

A person who is a loner is not wise:

Proverbs 18:1 “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” Good relationships are a major part of happiness, sometimes they are difficult to achieve. Godly relationships can be a good source of strength. We are constantly relating to people everywhere we go. So it’s important to know how to cultivate these relationships.
It is important to believe in God and each other.

Some Skills to Building Godly Relationships:

1. Be an assertive person, so you can be fair to yourself and others. In other words, love others like you love yourself. Do to others, as you will have them do to you.
2. Real friends love the other person when they are not very lovable.
Prov. 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity."That means that we must sometimes love the unlovely.
3. Be flexible, so you can negotiate and come to a compromise, it’s about being open to someone else’s idea. Not always having things your own way all the time.
4. Taking an earnest look at your past relationships, and seeing what you did right that worked, and most especially what did not work. What do most people close to you, complain about you the most. Could some of them be right? Listen to Godly counsel.
5. Look for people that are going where you want to go, in your walk with God. Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
6. Look for the good in the relationship, not always what is wrong. Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.”
7. Know who to put your confidence in: Proverbs 25:19 “ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.” Only God is completely dependable, no man is created to carry all your emotional weight.
8. Stop making a big deal out of things that really weren’t a big deal at all. Don’t blow out a candle with a fire truck.
9. Look for the good in people Philippians 4:8 “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things.”
10. Be a good listener to know the heart of other people. James said, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20)

An Amazing Mother's Day

Mother's Day was great! Beth and Luke invited everyone over to their place. We enjoyed the nicest brunch. We ordered omelets the way we like them. Hats off to Chef Beth! We also enjoyed hashbrown casserole, sausage gravy, Luke's homemade biscuits, the best fruit salad ever and a delicious pastry casserole. Everything was absolutely delicious! Beth & Luke are quite the cooks (& host/hostess)!

I count my blessings for my wonderful children. Although we enjoyed visiting with Beth, Luke and Taylor, we sure missed Aaron. It's hard when we don't all live close to each other. Hopefully we will get to visit with Aaron soon!


Luke's Homemade Biscuits

Sausage Gravy


Hashbrown Casserole


Fruit Salad

And now........the guests, host & hostess...