Last leg!

I'm on the first of my last 2 flights home!  Excited to see Jeremey and the kids!!!! Have had the best traveling partner...Beth it's been So So So much fun!!!

Waiting....

Our pilgrimage has come to an end. I have lots of pictures to go through, journaling to do and great memories to file in my head. I met amazing people who are now dear friends and I hated to say goodbye to them but we have plans to see each other again. 

When I get back to the States and get resettled into real life I will take time to update again. 

Here is Beth and myself waiting in our delayed flight trying hard to stay awake. We don't leave for another 2 hours!

This is our entertainment while we wait. I didn't know Roma let pigeons into their airport!

More of Italy

We have been busy little Pilgrims! We have visited The Vatican Gardens, St Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. Through technology pictures of the Chapel curiously shows up on my phone.
I have more pictures of beautiful churches to post. I have met some very wonderful people that I know call friends.
We took an amazing trip to Assisi. God shined upon those who created that small town!

It's Good to Back

Good morning!  I'm back in St. Peter's Square. I haven't been back with so many people since Pope Francis became  Pope in March 2012.  We are attending Sunday Mass for the Beatification of Pope Paul VI. Today there will be 2 Popes on the altar. It is such a blessing to be here this morning!!

Last Leg

Fourteen hours ago we left our humble abodes and headed East. We have boarded our last flight to Rome out of JFK. Looking forward to a long nap and then walking the cobblestones streets of Roma!!

I found Beth!

Safely made it to Minneapolis, found my gate, found Beth and we are now on board waiting to get to NYC!  

She caught me checking in at home. Only 2 small crisises at home before school this morning. That's 1 less than I usually have!

Ah Roma!

I am going back to see My Pope!  This Friday I am heading back to Rome for a reunion trip of previous groups that have traveled with the Catholic Traveler and the  Catholic Guy on Sirius XM.  Sadly Mom isn't accompanying me this time, but fear not my friend Beth from MN is.  I hate to leave Jeremey and the kids for so long but alas, Rome calls my name!!!  I am hoping to do lots of blogging while I'm over there so keep checking back!

The crowd after we saw the black smoke!

Pope Francis....Hello!

St. Peters

Purple Eyed Monster

A girl can never have to many pairs of shoes. Just ask Imelda Marcos. Well I don't think I can have enough PURPLE shoes. My new count is 10. I finally made it to double digits!!! I came across these from Fan Feet in September and patiently awaited there arrival. They are so comfy and adorable!

It's just not Thanksgiving without my pies!

I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite food holiday. And I love making pies! Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner at Wakita starting at 11:30. If you want a yummy lunch and some of my awesome pies come on down!
I am making 8 pies and 2 cranberry salads.
This year I get to use 2 ovens! It's been a year since we started the remodel of the house and kitchen and 5 months since its been totally done. I've been itching for November to roll around so I can put the kitchen to really good use. In record time this year by 1:10, 4 pies were done and the last 4 were in the oven!!!! I'm so excited!!!! I even had great help in the kitchen. There only requirement was that they had to have love in their heart while cooking for others. Next up for baking is the Danville Turkey Dinner and then family Thanksgiving. YUMMMMMMYYYY!!

Update on Kevin

He had a heart cath done and was 90% blockage that doctors fixed with a stint.  He got to go home last Friday.  Jeremey talked to him last night and he is doing pretty good.  Starting to go a bit stir crazy!  He is released to go back to work on Friday with a 10 pound weight restriction.  His entire family is so thankful that he made it!  He gave us all a scare.  It is a good reminder of how great God is!!!  Thank you for your prayers!

Prayers, Prayers, Prayers

Our cousin Kevin had a heart attack this evening. We feel so helpless because of the distance in miles between us. We said some prayers for him during supper as the news unfolded. As the calls continued I decided it was time for our first family rosary. We got the girls' rosaries from their First Communions, Jeremey got one of his from when he joined the church, two plastic ones for the littles and a pink one for me that belonged to my Grandma. As we sat on our floor I had tears of joy for what we were doing as a family, sadness for those who are no longer with us and tears for healing for Kevin. Also of guilt that that we hadn't started it sooner. The first time was in asking for something, not in praise or thanksgiving. So tonight or today when you read this if you would send up your own prayers thanksgiving and praise and add some of healing for Kevin we would appreciate it.

I want to take just a moment to thank my mom and dad for the (eventually) found memories of our family rosaries and the times that we got to pray it at home and at church. Its a bit tough to sit through the rosary if you are a little one and it wasn't till I was older that I appreciated what they did for us. For me there is not a more perfect place to say a rosary than at the Danville church. It's a pretty awesome place to pray it. I thought a lot of that tonight. Jeremey and I decided that the family rosary is something we want to pass onto our children and so it will continue!

We just got word that Kevin made it to the bigger hospital and is seeing doctors now. We will keep you posted. Thank you for your prayers.

What we do on Mommy Days

We added a new family member this weekend. That's right Emalie's La La Loopsie family grew so today we took a quick family picture, "so they can all be happy", according to Em. I get hardly anything done on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays while I'm entering my last school year if having a little one home with me. I'm savoring it but part of me is doing a happy dance as next August draws nearer everyday. Then bills will be on time, laundry caught up, the house will be clean(er), my files will be organized and I won't feel as rushed. Right??

Until then I soak up little fun moments like this and the grilled cheese we are having for lunch because my little birdies will leave the nest WAY before I am ready for the to!

My favorite season is here!

Happy first day of FALL. It's my favorite by far. Coolness, crispness, mums, cuddles, chilli and soup. Great decorations! Love it! So glad it's finally here. On a side note let the hectic holiday season begin!

Flying Family

We got to take a quick trip to Grand Lake this weekend. It was short but sweet. The best part of going for Jeremey is the flight there and back! We would not be able to come near as much of we couldn't fly. It sure beats the 4 hour drive! And the kids are usually so worn out that they fall asleep soon after takeoff on the way home. It gives Jeremey and I about an hour of uninterrupted conversation We are so blessed with a great family and an awesome pilot!!!!!

Wet and Wild

Enjoying some cousin time with the Aldridges in Danville. The kiddos favorite summertime past time is swimming in the horse tank! It's a great way to spend the last official weekend of summer. After swimming it's a wagon full to get back to the house!

It's a.....Trumpet

We took Miss Abbey out to CHS to look at instruments for 6th band. She may not know it yet but it will be with her til she is a senior! Well we brought home a trumpet. She has already stopped blowing like a blowfish and does it with cheeks in and can eve hit a decent note every now and then. I'm impressed. And secretly happy to have an instrument in the house so I can play with it too!

Did you brush your teeth?

This question is asked easily 20 times a day at our house! Morning and night x4 until I get the answer yes from the kiddos. We brushed this morning! Emalie and Mom went to the dentist this morning while the big kids are at school. They come back in September.
I love going to the dentist. I always have and some will say I'm a freak that way. But I love clean teeth! So if you have not brushed your teeth yet... What are you waiting for? And yes you can consider this my PUblic Service Announcement for the day!

50 years and going strong

This weekend our family gathered in Pratt to celebrate this wonderful couple! Uncle Bill and Aunt Jannette celebrated 50 years of marriage. They are a wonderful example of love and commitment! We are so blessed to have them as role models! We love you both and are so happy to celebrate with you!

Hi Katie

These are our cousins Kregg, Katie and Baby Cooper. She blogs too and had the awesome Blogger appbefore me. She is going to come by and visit my blog so I wanted to make sure to say hi. Hi Katie!!!

My new Cub Scout

Z has been waiting for 2 years for this and it finally here! He joined Boy Scouts!