Deogratias

The House in which I Grew Up

We drove by this house today so that I could show my two middle boys where I grew up. One of my earliest memories occurred on our first night in this house. I was four years old, and we were moving from Maryland to this house in Johnson City, Tennessee. My mom and I slept on the floor I think because we arrived before the moving truck.

You couldn't see the mountains from the house, but it was only a mile or two from the foot of Buffalo Mountain, and you could see it just after pulling out of the driveway.

I have 20 years of memories here - good and bad. We spent Christmases here with my parents and grandparents and later on with a boyfriend. I used to play out back by myself and neighbor kids, and later I would lie out in the sun. We would sled down the hill out front, and I would climb on the trees.

When it was finally sold in the 1980s sometime, I was happy to move on. My mom and aunt bought a condo around the corner, and my dad lived across town with his new wife. I was on my own, working for a local newspaper and soon to be moving to Georgia.

It's funny that I'm feeling nostalgic now, and realizing that our dream home here in Georgia has many similarities.

Happenings this Summer

The Summer has been a hit so far, and we're all enjoying a little rest from school, fun times and such.  I've been re-arranging, organizing and trying to figure out how to keep the books of our new business, and that's been keeping me busy. 

The first two weeks of June kept Jacob busy with Sonfest 2010.  The first week found him getting himself ready and practicing the skit his youth group performed.  The second week was the big event - 5 days in Panama City Beach, Florida.  We all missed him, but he had a fabulous time.  We kept in touch via text messaging, which made me very, very glad that we decided to get him a cell phone.

The third week of June and the first official week of summer was spent at our church's Vacation Bible School. Our two youngest had a blast in their classes, doing crafts, singing songs and just plain hanging out with their friends.  Jacob was a teen volunteer, racking up service hours to prepare for confirmation, and I was extremely proud of him.  More than one adult volunteer praised his hard work and dedication to the job, and on the last day I found him carrying some of his little students around in the social hall.  

While the kids were in class, I took the opportunity to give Alex his end of year assessment and to help him finish up his last religion assignment.  That took two days, and so the last three left me free to do a little hanging out with friends myself.  I met a group of great friends for coffee the next three days, including the Martian Mama,  the Super Hero Dad and some friends who will soon be residents of Abu Dabi. 

Mondays have officially become roller skating day because our local rink has offered 99 cent skating from 4-8.  The boys have all enjoyed learning to skate with their friends, and I have had a great time hanging out with the moms.  We still haven't made it till 8 yet, as the music just gets louder and louder and we all get tireder and tireder.  I haven't joined the brave moms like Shelly on the rink, but maybe one day. 

Of course there's still the garden which I haven't posted about but which has been much more successful this year than last.  I'll try to make that the topic of my next post. Of course I may get distracted by Alex's awesome piano playing, Nicholas' gymnastics or our upcoming trip to the Big Apple.  Stay tuned.

Super Hero Dad

After losing his wife Cyndi to cancer recently, Bob Babecka was nominated and awarded the title  Super Hero Dad by a local radio station.

Below is a photo of the family a couple of years ago on vacation at Catholic Familyland to give you perspective as you hear the kids talk. 

Here's the link to the telephone conversation where all six kids tell the B98.5 radio audience why their daddy is a superhero.  So sweet! 

A Great Fishing Trip

Please forgive me for my infrequent posts, and now for posting about an event that is about a month old.  I've just been meaning to get around to it, but where's the time?

About a month ago, Lee was in the old neighborhood inspecting some roofs when he ran into Eric, our former across the street neighbor.  As luck would have it, Eric and his son Gus would be going on a guided fishing trip early the next morning, and they invited Lee and one of the boys along.

Lee had hoped to take Nicholas because he had been begging to go fishing for months, but it so happened that he had just been grounded.  I offered to let Jacob and Alex to draw straws, but being the stay-at-home kind of guy that he is, Alex said that Jacob could go.

The trip was a success for sure.

 

The catches were Striped Bass and Hybrid Bass, and Jacob caught the largest one.

 

 

Eric seemed like a pro, and all were glad to let him do the cleaning with some help from Gus.

 

We had a fabulous fish dinner the next night, and now we have two packs of fish in the freezer.  And the guys have some memories.

They've also learned that, despite local legend, there are fish in the lake.  And finding them is sure easier when you have an experienced guide.

Ouch, it struck a nerve!

This was passed on to me via Facebook, and I thought I would share.

Mom's on the Computer (to the tune of Cat's in the Cradle.)

My computer arrived just the other day,
It came on the porch in the usual way
So many blogs to read and games to play
My child learned to walk, while I twittered away
And he was talkin’ for I knew it, as my friends list grew
He’d say I’m gonna be like you mom
You know I’m gonna be like you

And mom’s lost on the computer, lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
we're gonna have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said "thanks for the wii, mom, come on let’s play"
"Can you teach me how it works?" I said “Not today”
"I got a blog to write" he said “that’s okay”
And he walked away while the computer never dimmed
He said, “I’m gonna be like them, yeah”
You know I’m gonna be like them

And mom’s lost on the computer lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
We're gonna have a good time then

Well my son came home just the other day
iPod in his ears, while he texted away
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile
"I'd really like to Mom, but talkins' not my thing"
"Check my status, for what's happening"

And mom’s lost on the computer lettin' dinner burn
Little boy wanders, he just wants to learn
When you getting off mom?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then

Well my blog's retired and my Facebook out-of-date
My son texted, “Hey mom, I just can't relate"
I said, "I'd like to see you if you have some time."
He said, "I'd love to mom but skype if you don't mind."
"You see my website's down and my workload just grew."
"but it's nice texting with you, mom"
It's been sure nice texting with you."

And as I typed “c u later” it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

© 2010 SpunkyHomeschool All Rights Reserved

http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/05/moms-on-com

Miraculous Photo

A family in our local Catholic homeschooling group had their daughter baptized last September 8th, Our Blessed Mother's birthday.  Not sure who took the photo, but a miraculous image appeared in the water. Check it out.

 

Amanda, the mom holding her daughter in the photo said the following: 

This picture has not been photo-shopped or edited in any way. It's been really amazing to see the reaction of others to the picture. Some people claim to see any number of things, including the face of Jesus or the Blessed Mother's outline. What is clear to us is the outline of the Rosary with a crucifix at the bottom. 

Amanda is a devout Catholic mother of five young children, and I have known her for many years. She attends daily Mass with her family.  This is for real!!  I showed it to my husband and he got chills!

Nicholas in Pictures

He is the most active of our boys, and lately its been a joy watching him work and play.  Here are some pictures that capture him at his best.

Baseball, of course.

 

Ice skating for the first time.

Serving at the Easter Vigil

  

New matching outfits

Gymnastics class

Playing ball on a rainy day.

 

A hit

  

First place at the Science Fair

 

Having fun with his best friend
 

Trying to do Mr. Stump's eye trick. Not quite, but maybe if he works hard!!

Cyndi's Tragedy

Unfortunately my friend Cyndi passed away last week, and we attended her funeral on Saturday. Here is a video that her good friend made which tells the story about what happened to her.

Please Pray for My Friend Cyndi Babecka

She is nearing the end of her journey here on earth and will likely soon join the Communion of Saints in Heaven in continual adoration of God.  Please pray that Our Heavenly Father will take this cup from her and allow her to stay here and mother her six beautiful children, but if it is not His Will, please allow her to have a happy death.  May she feel peace in the prayers of so many who love and admire her.

Here she is holding her youngest daughter, 3 yrs. old,  and wrapped in a prayer shawl given to her by one of her fellow parishioners.  This photo was taken on a trip to Lourdes in February, 2010. 

Here she is with her 6yo daughter after both bathed in the baths of Lourdes.  It appears that it was not God's will to heal her at that time.  We are still praying for a miracle and have faith in Him.

 

Here is the whole gang, including Cyndi's mother who is a breast cancer survivor, in front of a statue of Our Blessed Mother.  May Our Lady comfort Cyndi and her entire family in their time of need.  May her husband St. Joseph intercede for a happy death if this is God's will.  Amen

A Perfect Mother's Day Weekend

My gift request this Mother's Day was some work in the garden. I have about 20 cups full of plants on my back deck just waiting to be planted in my little square foot garden out front. I wanted the guys to help me get things a couple of steps closer to that goal.

It all started Saturday afternoon with a trip to Wood Tech, a place where money is collected for dumping landscaping debris and for picking up loads of mulch and topsoil. It is a big equipment lover's paradise as well as a really dusty place.

We bought four cubic yards of black mulch for a bargain, and brought it home to cover the garden area.

It all looks so fabulous now and I'm so pleased with the garden. I still need some more soil before planting, but I already have a tomato plant which came back from last year that has some little buds on it, as well as some strawberry plants. If I can figure out how to add a picture to this mobile post, I'll do it.

Sunday we all went to Mass at 8 a.m., and I did double duty as lector 1 and 2. The readings were really fun ones from Acts and Revelation, and I enjoyed it immensely. I worried, however, that the entire congregation could hear my knees popping as I walked up and down the steps. Lee said no, however.

It was my third Mother's Day without my mother in this world, but I was able to recollect some happy thoughts about our time together. I was also able to be grateful to God for allowing me to be a mother to my four wonderful boys.