SURPRISE!! (ON JANUARY 15, 2006)
Shortly after my 37th birthday, we left family, good friends and all that was familiar to become pilgrims. I had been to a few “big birthday parties” and I always enjoyed them. It had crossed my mind when I was perhaps 35, that I would not object to having one myself come my 40th or 50th. (I have heard that 40 is the new 30 and 50 the new 40. I think that means we are not over the hill till 50. So youthful for another 10 years I will be. Yay!!) Anyway, as some of you may know, my initial birthday celebration was quiet and intimate. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and did not feel deprived in the least.

Little did I know that planning and scheming were happening right under my nose. There indeed was a surprise party in store for me. It hasn’t been quite three years since we started traveling. God has given us friends in Florida who treat us like with are family. (Truth be told we are family in a very real way through our all being children of The Father.) My party was billed as a get together under a few different headings, “A Masters’ send off” “fellowship with the Scofields” “lunch with the Scofields.” The very day of the party we were leaving for Masters and meeting at the Scofields. This meant Grace and I would be leaving, Dan, Katie and Michael for 2 weeks. There was a lot to get done before leaving and in order to leave. I left my packing till Sunday morning (we were leaving in the evening). I threw a few monkey wrenches in the last 24 hours leading up to the party but my family had help in getting rid of them so that the guest of honor would make it to her Surprise 40th Birthday party.

I can’t explain how blessed we have been by the people we have met up and down the east coast of these United States, especially those in Florida. At times, the journey has been a little quieter and a little lonelier but we appreciate each place our travels have taken us. It’s a hoot for this New England girl to celebrate a winter birthday in the Florida sunshine surrounded by fairly new loved ones.
Other random party facts
*Grace even got my mother in on it by having her send a bunch of pictures of me from birth and onward.
*My family went out at midnight to go to Wal-Mart to get last minute party stuff the night before…
*My dear friend Barb Southwick whom I have known since I was 15 was there (she now lives in Naples with her hubbie and kids)
*No one even alluded to a party
*I was surprised!

Back from Louisiana
I wrote the following on January 17th, 2006 in one of my travel journals. The event described happened on the 16th.

Last night we stayed at Ramada Inn in Pensacola – still in Florida after 2 days travel – before checking in we went to the beach and ate at Surfburger. It was a great time of fellowship for all.
After the meal the kids went out to the beach, while Tom, Cory and I sat and talked a good while. The waitress cleared our dishes and left us to enjoy our time together and before we knew it the floor was swept, bar stools were on top of the bar and suddenly the lights came on – “Last call” I said and Cory laughed. The waitress and the cook were cashing out and practically ready to lock up before we headed out. It was time to find those kids.
We walked down the stairs (at least 20 of them since the restaurant was on stilts) directly onto the beach. The three of us were wondering out loud and looking up and down the beach – no sign of our children. As we continued our conversation I thought I heard singing so I interrupted and said, “Listen I think I hear singing.” We happened to be standing directly in front of a pier – I looked and thought I got a glimpse of someone standing near one of the boats docked there. So I walked out onto the pier. I didn’t hear them singing right away but I could tell that it was a group of kids huddled together. The thought went through my mind “I hope those are our kids.”
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty . . .” seven teenage voices singing in harmony ~ it was the song on the wind I had heard just a few minutes before – I waved for Tom & Cory to come on – it was indeed our kids.
We kept our distance & savored the moment letting them finish out their song. At the very end of the pier our children invited the presence of the Lord and He came.
The three of us were humbled by the sight of our children (the Holy Huddle).
Were those tears in Tom’s eyes while he declared to Cory and me “this is what the trip is all about.”?

A Masters Moment
So many doing their share,
so many showing how much they care,
It makes little difference what it will take,
but every bit how they communicate.

Their was one not like all guests,
So worried about possibly getting messed
by the work that was required by the rest.
She did her best to look the part,
Before my eyes I saw her heart.
In a moment, I saw with My Father's eyes,
this sister does not realize,
that the joy is in giving and not in false show.
She is missing out and may never know.

Have compassion on this one,
who is missing out on all the fun.
Look beyond her smug face,
she does not live within my grace.

I have learned to live to Him,
to work with others in a light
that never dims.
Often at times it requiring sweat, dirt and a mustard
stained suit. Pulling together and who gives a hoot?
Sweat will dry, dirt washes off, the new suit will fade.
Hearts are knit together, the work is done,
We've become family except for the one.

The selfish one has missed the joy,
because she despises the tools I use
to make life richer, fuller and true.
Look with compassion, do not resent,
You looked to me and there she went.

Putting on an apron to look the part,
Thinking that she was being smart,
She does not draw close to the Father's heart.
Her actions said look at me, I am helping out here
thinking she had nothing to fear.
There I was behind the scenes,
getting a sense of how at times He feels
with what my own actions reveal.

I walked away smiling feeling sad for the girl,
who cared more for her reputation than the pearl.
The one not found in the oyster shell,
but having such great value only our actions can tell.
by Catherine Mullaney
writing to you from Ponchatoula, LA

"God - let me be aware.
Let me not stumble blindly down the ways,
Just getting somehow safely through the days,
Not even groping for another hand,
Not even wondering why it all was planned,
Eyes to the ground unseeking for the light,
Soul never aching for a wild-winged flight.
Please, keep me eager just to do my share,
God - let me eager just to do my share.
God - let me be aware.

God - let me be aware.
Stabe my soul fiercely with others' pain,
Let me walk seeing horror and stain.
Let me hands, groping, find other hands.
Give me the heart that divines, understands.
Give me the courage, wounded, to fight.
Flood me with knowledge, drench me in light.
Please keep me eager just to do my share.
God - let me be aware."
by Miriam Teichner

This poem was quoted in my E. Stanley Jones in the devotional I just finish today. I thought it was good enough to share on my blog here in cyberspace.
Pax et annum faustum,
CM

We know the way
The packing is nearly complete. Grace will be getting on a plane tomorrow. Our trip won't be quite the same with her going to Florida ahead of us. So yes we know how to get to Florida from New England even without one of my navigators. I have some loose ends to tie up. Today I am in corduroys, longsleeves with an undershirt. By this time next week, I will be in shorts and a golf shirt hopefully.
May each of you find yourself reflecting on the birth of one I call Savior and Lord.
Pax Vobiscum, CM

Thanksgiving Yada yada yada
Ya ' da is a hebrew word that means several things, one being "thanksgiving" It is our desire to be a thankful people. Dan and I sat down with the children quietly before dinner wrote our gratitude lists and then shared them with one another. Most of our life looks anything but traditional, however, our one standing Thanksgiving tradition is writing these gratitude lists and sharing them with one another (our one other tradition we broke by not having turkey - a very nice meal that Grace and I prepared but it did not include a bird).
Today I am grateful that it is a packing day. As we will leave in just 13 days. So, now that the table is cleared and the dishes are washed. It is time to fill some more boxes. Blessings to all who may be reading this post. And if you have a few minutes why not take a few minutes to literally count your blessings. PAX, CM

From the Chimney
Last weekend our friends the Kehoes came to visit. It was brisk out and I thought a fire would be nice. I started to make some newspaper logs when suddenly I heard a very distinct noise coming from the chimney. **Rasberry** (tongue stuck out and r she blows and echos) "Michael," I yelled up the chimney, "are you on the roof?"
"Yes." came his answer without hesitation.
"Get down from there - now."
Boys being boys, thankfully no one fell from the roof. They were simply enjoying the view and wanted to see if I noticed that he was up there with his friends Matt and Pete. I did step outside to see if everyone made it down ok and to let him know that he no longer was needed on the roof. Some time later he came in and asked if I heard the pitterpatter of growing feet. I said, no, just the rasberry.
Risk taking - I wonder where he got that idea from.....ummmmm.

A passage from Liberal Education & the Public Interest

"As students seek appropriate role models, they cannot do better than to emulate men and women who are idealists. Who are idealists? They are people who are inspired by an idea greater than themselves, who are driven by a moral imperative to imagine a world better than the one they found. They are people animated by principle, who dedicate their lives to fortifying the spirit and improving the lot of those on the brink of hopelessness. They are people who sail against the wind and persevere despite setbacks or ambiguous success.

Idealists are informed on political matters and involved in the civic life of their communities. They devote their energies to the debates that make wise and humane public policy, as all Athens did in the age o Pericles. Idealists care about those who need help and commit themselves to national service and to a lifetime of civic engagement. They care about the health and well-being of neighbors and strangers alike. They care about the legal rights of all, especially those without advocates. They care about the working poor who struggle to make their way and to preserve their families in a global economy of bewildering technological change. They care about children, who need the full support of society in order to achieve their potential.

Idealists remind us, by the way in which they advance the lives of others, that, as Matthew Arnold said, “Life is not a having and a getting, but a being and becoming.” And they invite us, through their generosity, to be open to the possibility that what they have been for us, we might be for others. Idealists are not mere dreamers. They are known by their deeds and by the pride and purpose that animate their altruism. They instruct us, by their example, in the best meaning of character. Idealists are not rare. But there are not enough of them, in this society or any other.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I have the feeling that many of us regard life as beginning, in the important sense, only after we pass some future milestone – after we have been graduated from college, or after we have settled into a prestigious job or a comfortable home or a proper marriage, or after we have achieved a measure of professional success or personal security. It is only then – several decades into middle age – that many people finally give themselves permission to live generously.

But life, of course, is not what happens after we pass some future milestone. Life is what we are doing now. And so the necessity of leading a life guided by ideals, a life that each of us is proud to lead, is present from the start and is always there. My message to students is that a life motivated by idealism promises the deepest kind of personal satisfaction. "

This is from the chapter Appraising Significant Lives from James O. Freedman’s Liberal Education & the Public Interest. (currently I am reading this book.)

"Statistical evidence is overwhelming that millions of American children, including those graduating from high school, cannot read. When a disorder affects so many people, one calls it an epidemic. An epidemic is always caused by external forces, not by defects in the individual....When so many children are affected by the same disorder, the explanation cannot possibly be individual psychopathology." Dr. Hilde Mosse

http://heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=486

When you educate on the road
Today Book the 12th of the Series of Unfortunate events came out and my guess is my kids were one of the first to get their hot little hands on their copies here in the northeast. Katie had pre-ordered and Michael said, Mum will you please take us in the morning when the store opens? (this book store opened at 8 am, well we weren't there quite at 8) So...we went.

The three of us were sitting at a table reading and there were these two older gentlemen sitting not to far from us. One said to the other, "my grandchildren never have any time, they're involved in Scouts, debate and whathaveyou, then of course they have school on top of everything else." The other one said, "my grandchildren are the same way," (I listened but didn't look up doing my best to look like I was reading, I was thinking do you see these two across from me, enjoying a book?) the second gentleman continues, "they are so busy that they do not have any free time. No wonder they grow up and don't know how to relax, they are not learning how to play and enjoy free time now." I thought they also don't have time for their grandparents either.
As I was relating this story to Grace this evening, she said that perhaps the one who spoke first said it because he saw Katie and Michael enjoying a book while they were sitting there. That very well could have been. Part of me was thinking, some of my associates in the homeschooling world would think this idea is too fun, you ought to make them do their work first well, I guess that would be true if we did school at home but as most of you know (or perhaps some of you don't) we EDUCATE our children at home and we wouldn't want schooling to get in the way of this more worthy endeavor. Then my true heart rose to the surface, it put a smile on my face as I thought that I could hear Katie and Michael saying 5 or 10 years from now, "remember when we lived in Quechee VT and Mum took us to the Dartmouth bookstore to get The Penultimate Peril." "And she gave us the day off to read the book."
I thank God every day that my children love to read and that I was given the great privilege to teach them how. Along with the continued blessing of cultivating curious minds.

On location in Natick MA
Last night my kids and I arrived at my sweet sister-in-law, Shosh's in Massachusetts. We are here for the weekend. I called Dan at work to let him know we have arrived.
The secretary answered the phone but did not state the floor or the hospital. Here is how the conversation went: (secretary's and nursing supervisor's words in blue)
"Hello"
"Is Dan Mullaney there please?"
"Dan is gone."
"What do you mean, he was working there 7-7 today?"
"Dan is gone and won't be coming back."
"Is there your way of telling me, my husband's dead?"
(at this point I was in a panic)
"No, he's gone, left town."
"May I please talk to the nursing supervisor?"
waiting....really nervous.....maybe he just got out early, to come here to Massachusetts and this secretary is unaware
"Hello, this is Dan Fuller at Parkwest" in an unmistakable East, TN accent.
complete relief, embarrassment and laughter......I had dialed the wrong hospital..."is this Dan's wife?"
laughing....."I am so sorry"
"You scared the life out of our secretary."
"I am so sorry...I dialed the wrong hospital."
"That's alright, it will be our little secret."
"OK....I will now go call Dan in NH."
Now, I get off the phone explain to Shosh and Grace what happened since they had listened to all of this transpire and we continued to have a good laugh on me. Grace asked me if I had forgotten to change Dan's work number in my cell contacts. I don't keep Dan's work number listed like that. I have it by hospital. So, I just went to the P's and went to Parkwest which is actually listed as Parkview - I just wrote it wrong and never corrected it. After hanging up I went to the D's and called Dart & Hitch.

Dan is alive and well on his way to MA to meet up with us.

Katrina - responses and responsibility
My heart goes out to the victims and survivors of this natural disaster.

A friend of mine sent me this report and it just amazes me how much spin we are fed everyday, that being said, it is hard to know what the truth is. Read on....it is a thought provoking article.

This is so typical of the upside down way worldly thinking takes one. jlc
The Way it Really Is:
In case you aren't familiar with how our government is SUPPOSED to work: The chain of responsibility for the protection of the citizens in New Orleans is: 1. The Mayor 2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security (a political appointee of the Governor who reports to the Governor) 3. The Governor 4. The Head of Homeland Security 5. The President What did each do? 1. The mayor, with 5 days advance, waited until 2 days before he announced a mandatory evacuation (at the behest of the President). Then he failed to provide transportation for those without transport even though he had hundreds of buses at his disposal. 2. The New Orleans director of Homeland Security failed to have any plan for a contingency that has been talked about for 50 years. Then he blames the Feds for not doing what he should have done. (So much for political appointees) 3. The Governor, despite a declaration of disaster by the President 2 DAYS BEFORE the storm hit, failed to take advantage of the offer of Federal troops and aid. Until 2 DAYS AFTER the storm hit. 4. The Director of Homeland Security positioned assets in the area to be ready when the Governor called for them 5. The President urged a mandatory evacuation, and even declared a disaster State of Emergency, freeing up millions of dollars of federal assistance, should the Governor decide to use it. Oh and by the way, the levees that broke were the responsibility of the local landowners and the local levee board to maintain, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The disaster in New Orleans is what you get after decades of corrupt government going all the way back to Huey Long. Funds for disaster protection and relief have been flowing into this city for decades, and where has it gone, but into the pockets of the politicos and their friends. Decades of socialist government in New Orleans has sapped all self reliance from the community, and made them dependent upon Political correctness and a lack of will to fight crime have created the single most corrupt police force in the country, and has permitted gang violence to flourish. The sad thing is that there are many poor folks who have suffered and died needlessly because those that they voted into office failed them. For those who missed item 5 (where the President's level of accountability is discussed), it is made more clear in a New Orleans Times-Picayune article dated August 28:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - In the face of a catastrophic Hurricane Katrina, a mandatory evacuation was ordered Sunday for New Orleans by Mayor Ray Nagin. Acknowledging that large numbers of people, many of them stranded tourists, would be unable to leave, the city set up 10 places of last resort for people to go, including the Superdome. The mayor called the order unprecedented and said anyone who could leave the city should. He exempted hotels from the evacuation order because airlines had already cancelled all flights. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, standing beside the mayor at a news conference, said President Bush called and personally appealed for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding. The ball was placed in Mayor Nagin's court to carry out the evacuation order. With a 5-day heads-up, he had the authority to use any and all services to evacuate all residents from the city, as documented in a city emergency preparedness plan. By waiting until the last minute, and failing to make full use of resources available within city limits, Nagin and his administration messed up. Mayor Nagin and his emergency sidekick Terry Ebbert have displayed lethal, mind boggling incompetence before, during and after Katrina. As for Mayor Nagin, he and his profile in leadership police chief should resign as well. That city's government is incompetent from one end to the other. The people of New Orleans deserve better than this crowd is capable of giving them. If you're keeping track, these let 569 buses that could have carried 33,350 people out of New Orleans-in one trip-get ruined in the floods. Whatever plan these guys had, it was a dud. Or probably would have been they'd bothered to follow it.
As for all the race-baiting rhetoric and Bush-bashing coming from prominent blacks on the left, don't expect Ray Nagin to be called out on the carpet for falling short.Here's why: It's more convenient to blame a white president for what went wrong than to hold a black mayor and his administration accountable for gross negligence and failing to fully carry out an established emergency preparedness plan.
www.CoatesintheHouse.com

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**It is a working vacation however......children to education, places to visit, conferences to prepare for and to once again get acclimated. There is something very freeing about becoming so flexible right down to having 3 toilets instead of 2 (we pretty much don't allow ourselves to get to use to it, because we know, that in a very short time it will probably go back to 2) or sleeping in a king size bed instead of queen.

Quechee Gorge (A thought)
Twice in the same weekend we headed down into the Quechee Gorge. It is a beautiful little spot, with a distinct element of danger. Katie helped rescue her brother from the rapids. In nature beauty is often coupled with danger. That I believe is part of its allure.
One of the days my brother was with us. He said there is no one coming down here to pull the weeds from between the rocks. So, I was thinking about that. My bro has an excellent garden, he brought some tomatoes and cukes. Delicious!!! Anyway, I was thinking about the weeds thing. In probably a matter of weeks the cold will come and eventually, the snow will cover all those weeds and the Creator will be the Master Gardener. No one does it because the Master Gardener has it all under control. Then I was thinking about the fruit from Pete's garden and even with all the labor he must put into it including the weeding, it is still The Creator who makes it grow. If our lives are the garden then the Master Gardener will also tend it and only he can pull up the weeds and cause things to grow, it is up to us to give God access to our lives so that He may grow and bear fruit in our lives.

Driving through PA.....my children start singing.....Madison, Wisconsin, Lansing Michigan, Columbus Ohio, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We had this states and capitals song tape when they were little. Well, when you are crossing state lines and seeing signs for "Harrisburg" or "Richmond" these songs just seem to roll off their tongues.
There is so much to that we get to see along the way or not see. In Virginia we wanted to see the Natural Bridge. It is right off of Route 81.....they want to charge you to see something that is a part of nature. If it was a couple of bucks each, not a problem, we would have gladly forked it over, but it was more than what it would cost for all of us to go to the movies.
Route 81 is a beautiful drive along The Blue Ridge Mountains. We couldn't help but sing and praise the Creator of it all.
Shout out's go to Jeff and Doris Reed, Michelle and Glen Bahn, Tom and Elizabeth Kehoe. These are the folks that rolled out the red carpet ande treated us with love and kindness by their gracious hospitality. Blessings!!! Michael put it best by stating that it is better to stay with people then go to a hotel. That way it is like you are just going to visit someone and it really breaks up the ride. On the flip side, when you are doing a lot of driving and visiting, it leaves little time for sleeping. To say the least, I am still a little exhausted and not finished unpacking.
We did spend about 24 hours in Massachusetts which we thoroughly enjoyed with our dear friends the Kehoes and then we celebrated a special time with The Marlborough and Sudbury Grays!!
So, here we are, back in New England!!! In beautiful Quechee, Vermont! Living in the woods in a Northern New England chalet. Fancy camping....it is hard to beat. Looks like I am on vacation again. Pax, CM

All our bags are packed and most of the cleaning is done......I guess we are getting pretty good at this traveling thing....we are headed to VT/NH. We will live in Vt. and Dan will be working in NH. It's funny, this will be our 8th assignment in 29 months, but it is not exactly like moving, since most of our earthly belonging fit into our two vehicles and we set out on yet another leg of our adventure. It is hard to articulate at this time but we all know this journey is challenging and growing each one of us ( Lord willing for His Glory).
We have had some wonderful fellowship along the way so that some dear ones will provide us with refreshment during our drive from the southeast to the northeast (my kids' prayer is God willing NO Hotels, staying with "folks" is so much more fun and warm). There is a strange anticipation for this visit back "home" and I pray that we will be a blessing to any and all that we have the pleasure of getting together with during the short 3 months that we will be there.
Until we meet again, here, there or in the air.
PAX, CM

There are hills you've never seen....
(like the ones in the Smokeys and Shenandoah Valley)
Day before yesterday Grace and I returned to TN from VA Beach.....those who have been following our pilgrim journey from the onset know that we have lived there both in 03 and 04. While we were there Grace celebrated her 16th birthday!! In fact, going to Teenpact Judicial (our reason for being in Va Beach) was our present to her. It was extra special for me since I got to help out and be the staff mom at Teenpact Judicial(TPJ) 2005.
This was the third trip that Grace and I have taken together in the last 6 months. What a blessing to be there, serve and enjoy a wonderful and very intellectually stimulating program. Originally, this was going to be a solo trip for Grace but a couple of circumstances led to me being included in this one. What a gift!!! I had a great time!
Our dear friend and TPJ Director, Emily Smith kept me so busy that I didn't have time to think about the fact that I would be returning to Knoxville 10 days before needing to leave for NH. That fact hit me over the head yesterday - it is not all that bad. The Lord continues to lighten the load as we go along and teaches us how to live with less things and more of His grace.
I wish I had time to tell of all the wonderful things that happened during the week. For now, I will just leave you with 3. First off, our dear friends Gordon and JimmieLou Coons blessed TPJ by letting the staff (5 wonderful young people) and myself stay in their home while they are out west visiting family. Secondly, the Raifords hosted our sweet 16 daughter, Grace, made birthday dinner and invited Emily and myself. Lastly, Grace advanced to out rounds during the Moot Court tournament and was Best Oral Argument Runner up in the finals.
This will be my last blog before hitting the road.
"Don't look back, don't get side track just travel on...."
from The Pilgrim Song by Josh Bales

Today....I can't wait to see Grace!!!
Yesterday, my daughter Grace called me 3 times. What a gift for me that she is looking forward to seeing me just as much as I am her. I really really miss her...and I am glad. Now, that seems like an oxymoron....but not if you know that my relationship with her has grown so much this past year. We are in that mysterious time known as the teen years. It is actually a time of great change and transition.
In a matter of weeks Grace will turn 16 and she will tell you that she still needs her mama but we are starting to become friends. She still wants and needs our guidance but she is a young adult and is growing up (when she is suppose to...I didn't start to grow up til I was 19). This is a time that I am cherishing and keeping in my heart. I am so grateful to be on this journey with our 3 children especially as they are walking out of childhood and into adulthood.
Pax Vobiscum CM

Not the same around here without Grace
Grace has been in Southeast Tennessee for 8 days at Summit (where she will remain til the end of the week). Summit is an educational Christian ministry whose very existence is a response to our current post-Christian culture. Their goal is to not only equip young people to defend their faith but to also influence our society in a positive way.

I do not know how much Grace will post about her experience. This past weekend she went caving and whitewater rafting. Yesterday, I had an actually conversation with her (her phone calls have been very brief but upbeat). It sounds to me like she is having a blast. As many of you know, this is the longest she has ever been away from home and we all seem to be handling it quite well. Of course, we all miss her but we are happy that she is having a great and fulfilling time.
Pilgrim thought
Today, I realized, as I was emptying the dishwasher that we still have too many cups in the cabinet. We have scaled back considerably since we started traveling, but I could still have a house full for coffee. And wouldn't you know, I was at a thrift store not that long ago and replaced some of the glasses that had broken recently and Dan stopped at a yard sale and bought one more glass because he thought I would like it. The problem is I do like it and it will be hard to get rid of....perhaps, I ought to plan on making a donation to Salvation Army and a local yard sale before leaving TN.
As my kids say, "Peace Out"
or
Pax Vobiscum
[might be more in my age bracket]
CM

Children are not children for very long
This afternoon Katie and I dropped Grace off at Bryan College in Dayton, TN for Summit Ministries. She will be there for 2 weeks. I have peace about it and I am surprised. I thought I would get really emotional but I didn't. However, the last mile or so before we got there, I did think about just pulling over to the side of the road and stopping but I didn't. Instead, I prayed and gave my anxiety to the Lord. We got there without a problem, got Grace registered and to her room, met up with friends and then Katie and I headed back to Knoxville. WOW....I am excited for Grace as she branches out, expanding her horizons and growing into a lovely young woman. I am blessed!

"A little rebellion now and then.....is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." Thomas Jefferson
Happy Independence Day!!! Today we celebrated quietly at home with Dan reading the Declaration of Independence
(yesterday I started this post but never made it back to the computer)
"A little rebellion now and then.....is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." Thomas Jefferson
Happy Independence Day!!! Today we celebrated quietly at home with Dan reading the Declaration of Independence. (picking up from here)
We have a fireplace here in our townhouse. I have always wanted a fireplace. So I get to have one for 3 months during the summer *sigh* oh well. Dan and Michael built a fire for us last night. We sat around and read by the hot fire while of course, cranking up the AC. LOL
Plenty of fireworks going off in the neighborhood. It was nice that we had invitations to go places but after Dan working all weekend the kids just wanted to stay home and that really was good for us.
We reflected about going to the Needham Parade when we got Shosh's (Dan's younger sister) pictures from the 4th. The kids and I had gone to this parade for 10 years straight with my sister in law Karen (1990-2000). We would meet at Grandpa's and he would make us breakfast, then we would go to the Parade and then the flea market.
We appreciate and hold our freedoms dear to us. It is our hope to continue to help maintain those freedoms as we feel called to action.
Pax Vobiscum. CM