Deogratias

Watch This

 

H/T Auntie Joanna

Thanksgiving Weekend

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope all you Americans will be spending the holiday among friends and family enjoying a hearty feast. 

Our plans fo the next few days are many, so I'm going to try not to post again for a few days so I can get some things done.  Here are some of the things in the works.

Today:  Cooking in preparation for tomorrow.  Do some school work and housework. We're also going to read some Thanksgiving books.

Tomorrow:   Cook and watch parades in the morning and then attend Thanksgiving dinner with Celia, Kenny and the gang.  This has been our ritual for years and it's been great fun.  After the meal there is usually a little sleep, football watching and just lounging around.  I usually like to go for a little walk too.

Friday:  We were planning on going to Tennessee to see my dad, but decided to cancel because one of the boys has a cold.  My dad is recovering from a heart attack and has lung disease.  The last thing he needs is a cold turning into pneumonia. 

So instead we will stay home and prepare for Advent.  I have materials for making our Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree and I'm so excited about it.  I'll be sure to post details and photos after they're done.

Saturday: More work around the house.  Lee and the boys are preparing a chicken house and a utility shed. 

Sunday:  Mass and hanging around.  Maybe read a good book.  Oh, and begin our Advent celebration.  This year we'll be reading Tabitha's Travels as well as doing a Jesse Tree. 

More Shadow

 

Shadow and friends.

  

Shadow at home.

 

Shadow with friends and enemies.

 

One of Shadow's enemies.

Meet Shadow

 

Fall Piano Recital

Alex finally got revenge for having to spend his 11th birthday watching his brothers' baseball games.  He had a piano recital on Nicholas' 9th birthday. 

Alex played Minuet 2 by Bach and did a superb job, as did all of the students (18 in all)!  After 3 years of attending these recitals I must admit that this was the very best one so far. 

Highlights included two little girls doing their first bow holding hands.  It was sooo cute.  Also, one of the teenagers performed Polonaise in Ab, op 53 by Chopin and it kept me completely captivated.  The final piece was the upcoming Level 10 graduation piece for piano and orchestra, with one of the kids accompanying with the orchestra reduction for piano.  Absolutely incredible!

I've also figured out that a piano concert is much more enjoyable if you can actually watch the hands.  I will always do my best to ensure that we all can do this next time.

Here's Alex doing his song.  Nicholas, who wore his brand new watch to the recital, informed us that Alex played for 2 minutes, 9 seconds and  11 miliseconds.

Cinderella

A mother of four boys might  think twice about taking a field trip to see Cinderella, but if it is this show she wouldn't have to worry.  Rossini's Cinderella performed by the Atlanta Opera was funny and fabulous!  For the most part it kept us all captivated. 

I received only one complaint about the show, and that was only because Andrew couldn't read the "supertitles" above the stage to keep up with the plot.  About 45 minutes into hourlong he lamented that "lasting for hours and hours!"

Thanks to Celia for once again providing me with some photos.  For some reason I can't seem to remember my camera lately.

Here we are out front waiting for the show.

 

And here are some shots from inside. 

     

How cultured I feel when I say that the next event is the ballet! 

OK, I don't mean to brag, but...

 

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art

 

Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

H/T:  Esther

What Color Are You?

 Believe it or not, I would say this one is pretty accurate.  I accidentally pasted Therese's in first and knew right away that it was not me.   

This is me:

you are aquamarine #7FFFD4

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days. Your saturation level is medium - You're not the most decisive go-getter, but you can get a job done when it's required of you. You probably don't think the world can change for you and don't want to spend too much effort trying to force it. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

 

And this is the man that I married.  Pretty accurate as well.

you are orange #FFA500

Your dominant hues are red and yellow... most of what you do is motivated by your need to change things and have a good time, but you've been known to settle down and think out a situation, too. You tend to surprise people just when they're starting to feel like they've got you down. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

H/T: Therese (Lavender)

Here's a fun meme I picked up from Bonita at Streams of Living Water.  Despite the fact that I absolutely DO NOT have time to do this, I decided it would be fun. Before you read it, just go ahead and do it yourself.  Just bold the things you have done.  1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland/world 8. Climbed a mountain (hiking) 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach) 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (OK - maybe not, it was closed when I went there) 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee If you do this on your blog be sure to let me know in the comments so I can visit. Have fun!

 

Here's a fun meme I picked up from Bonita at Streams of Living Water.  Despite the fact that I absolutely DO NOT have time to do this, I decided it would be fun. Before you read it, just go ahead and do it yourself.  Just bold the things you have done. 

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (hiking)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (OK - maybe not, it was closed when I went there)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

If you do this on your blog be sure to let me know in the comments so I can visit. Have fun!

While We Were Out

Here are some of the goings-on at our house while Lee and I were in Pennsylvania/Tennessee.  Thanks be to God that the kids have lots of family members around, especially their Grandma.

 

Grandma and her 6 grandchildren.

 

Playing cards

 

Dinner with Uncle Dean

 

Comparing bats

 

Hitting

 

Pitching

 

Relaxing

 

Getting along ... for a minute anyway.