"For there is nothing which so welds our life together as the love of man and wife." ~St. John Chrysostom

See this man, I'm nuts about him.

He is one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

Happy Anniversary my love!

(Picture taken by the budding photographer Katherine.)

S Prazdnikom!

A joyous feast of the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to you all!

Just another lovely picnic

We had our annual Memorial Day picnic yesterday here at the church.  The good news is I had a great time.  The bad news is I didn't take very many pictures.  

Anyhow, it was great turn out, around 150 or so people.  There was celtic music, face painting, games, a bounce house, great food and excellent company.  People come from over the metroplex to our picnics, we have three a year, and I always love seeing each and every one of them.  (Which is why I didn't take very many pictures-I was too busy talking.)

The pics are of two of the three priests that came:  Fr. Seraphim, Fr. Justin and Fr. John. 

Zoe and Thea with their face's painted.  Zoe is a snake and Thea is a Princess.  Katya told me that her face painting was 1/2 princess and 1/2 super woman.

Katherine and Thea during the games.  Look at Thea's serious concentration during the egg relay.

At the end of the day we had a great time sitting around with Fr. Seraphim and his wife Matushka Anna and our children for a couple of hours while the kids filled up the remaining water balloons and threw them at each other.  When the kids had spent most of the balloons and getting blasted started to bring forth cries instead of giggles, we knew it was bedtime.

And finally, and most importantly, a profound thank you and prayers for all the soldiers who have served and died for our country so that we might know freedom.  May their memory be eternal!

Thank you

Why is it that a gift from a child is so very precious?  I have received some things that I would have never bought myself, but since they are from my girls they are more precious to me than gold.

This young man  in my church school class, I teach ages 6-9, gave me a loaf of bread yesterday (that he baked!!) and made me a card to say thank you.  Oh boy, did that melt my heart.  

Thank me!  No, thank you little man for the blessing of being able to know you and spend time with you.  It's been a joy.

Prayer please

I ask you all to please pray for a dear friend, Mary.  She is in her final few weeks of pregnancy, and has developed a minor complication which will keep her off her feet until the birth of her baby girl.  

This mama has five other children, which she homeschools, and is now having some anxiety about delivery due to the complications.  

Please pray for her.  Pray that she has peace.  Pray that she stays in bed :).  Pray that she gets the help she needs these last few weeks.  Pray for her health.  And pray for a healthy and safe delivery for she and her little one.

Summertime!

OK, so it's not officially summer yet, but my kids have officially checked out.  We homeschool and so my kids aren't aware of when everyone gets out of regular school, but they are checked out and ready to play nonetheless.  We'll homeschool through the summer after our trip to the NW, but with a much lighter load:  math, reading and religion.

Here in the South, it's warm and beautiful.  This is my favorite time of the year.  The girls have been in their swimming pool for about four hours.  I kid you not.  I've spent the morning going in and out.  I go out and weed for awhile and then I come in and clean for awhile.  The windows are open and it's just lovely.

Fr. Justin is making a trellis and bench for some trumpet vines in the yard.  We've all been bitten by the summer bug.  

I took the girls some lunch outside today.  They were so happy to have a picnic.  Summer foods are my favorite to eat and prepare.  I love winter fare, but salads, fruit, cheese, raw veggies, etc.,  this is how I really love to eat.  The girls eat better in the summer too.  They like raw veggies (as long as they have Fr. Justin's homemade dressing for dipping. It's an oil and vinegar with garlic and spices.)  The girls have no clue what ranch dressing is.  Thank goodness.  No offense, I myself like a good homemade ranch, but I prefer us all to eat O&V.

We had peaches (canned-not my favorite, but they were a gift and I appreciate them very much), salmon and fresh tomatoes for lunch today which the girls like, but they can't wait for me to crack open the watermelon I got this morning. I'm cooling it down a bit.  YUM!

We still have a few more weeks of schooling left.  But I couldn't resist enjoying this glorious day.  After all, this is one of the many reasons I home school.  

Thea

One part lemmon+ nine parts sugar=my Thea