Thankfulness while in MI at my parent's home....

Two very special Crosses picked out for my newly adopted niece, R. M.!!! 

The gold one is for her 18th birthday... I have written a letter

to her, for her to open on her 18th birthday to go with this

and my Sister and Brother-in-Law are going to save it

for her for this time.... 

I am so excited for her baptism! The Crosses are both

baptism gifts... 

From one of our walks at my parent's house...

One of the cutest dogs ever, named Dobby!

At Lake Michigan 2 weeks ago...

Some of the books I have gotten recently...

I am saving them for when I am back home in NJ... 

I have been blessed with many treats since St Peter and Paul day on Thursday! 

So nice! This week I hope to make scones for dessert for my niece's baptism this Sunday!

I am excited for that!!! 

One of my Mom's Miss Read books that I read already this trip! 

I am enjoying one right now called Miss Clare Remembers that

has a lot of history and lovely descriptions in it!

 My Mom made delicious GF brownies (my sister is GF) and she

used her super fun vintage scale!

I have had fun eating taco salad and today chicken salad too! 

Lunch at my parents house, with my sister, brother-in-law and Uncle L at the meal!

I went to liturgy at the church I was chrismated in 14 years ago

this August...  It was nice to be back...

there were various familiar faces but tons of people who have come

since I left in 2004... a lot can happen in 14 years... 

***

This song is one they sang, along with another one that 

had verses about praising God... I was very moved...

this (below) is one I listened to years ago... 

it's sung by the mother of one of my godsons

and I listened to it before I knew her, so it's 

doubly special to me. 

It's a beautiful song. 

A verse to hold to

O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”  

2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV 

***

I am in MI for another week, for a very happy reason:

My sister and brother-in-law officially adopted their daughter

and I am staying for the baptism of my new niece (a week off yet)!

My beloved Husband is back home in NJ as of today,

we had a lovely visit in MI together.

The unbloggable is ongoing but I find that God is giving me

some peace (at least today!) in the midst of it, while at home, 

though I have a lot of lessons to learn on patience.... 

It's wonderful to be at my parent's house!

And, as the Feast of St Peter and Paul was this Thursday,

it's so fun to eat ice cream and meat again, 

I must admit! 

I feel like I am going to be well-stocked to return to NJ in a week's time,

I have chosen some new books (all at good / thrift / sale prices),

have meals, dessert and dinners to plan/make

and I hope to get back to sewing my goddaughter's quilt.  

And for all of this, 

I thank God! 

Suspension

Lots of visits with family right now.

Reading some great books.

Reading some for guidance and some for relaxation.

Our unbloggable is dragging on, 

I realized that 'suspension' is the best way I can describe how

I feel... lots of unknowns and no way of knowing when things will change.

But our days are going well and quiet right now,

so that our actual days have much to recommend them to anyone who is looking 

for quiet and family visits, 

both of which we are quite fond of.

500 words

I was reading some things about my former professor 

after seeing an Instagram post of one of his books

and when I read that he tries to write 500 words/day/3x 

I latched on to this idea and am going to try it.

As in just 500 words, not 1500 (500 on 3 projects/day).

Will see if I can maintain this and make something of it.

***

Today we went to vespers and had Confession before hand.

That is a real blessing and I am grateful. 

We had left overs and fresh strawberries and red grapes

that were perfectly tart but sweet and I had an English Muffin

with PB and Jam and am convinced that this is one of my all time

favourite foods.... 

***

It was really hot today and is going to be up to 100F tomorrow.

I ask prayers for everyone in that!

Whew!

I have ordered some new books to read as well

and am really excited about that.

***

I hope you are well and had a few moments of peace today.

God bless each of you! 

Vespers and Liturgy for St Peter and Paul (new style)

It was very good to be in church last night and this morning.

I am feeling pretty tired from such a busy week...

I struggle, as many do I know, to be present to the prayers,

but yet I trust God's mercy and the prayers for Holy Communion

that speak of how unworthy we are to receive

but yet we trust in God's mercy and love, 

are all the more real...

***

I am going to be busy esp the next 2 weeks seeing various 

family members and traveling a lot.

So if I don't blog much, that's why

and not to worry.

I will be with family and well taken care of! 

Blessings and God's mercy to each of you! 

More on the dinner with my goddaughter and her Mother, back in April

As written in April...and that I blogged about earlier...

And I also prepared most of tomorrow's dinner:

1. Chicken dish with cream mushroom gravy with garlic and pearl onions 

2. Not made by me but instead pre-made (fresh direct, they are super) mashed potatoes

3. Crudités (red/orange/yellow pepper + carrots and a broccoli) chopped and in clean cold water in fridge 

4. Need to make: spinach salad which I have small chopped peppers ready for

5. Above mentioned fruit salad

Also for dessert...

1. Pound Cake ice cream from local ice cream shop

2. Blessed Pascha (Easter) cookies, waiting in freezer 

3. Strawberries and cream 

4. Tea, etc!

I had made the chicken in advance, the one thing I would do different

I cannot remember exactly but basically it was in the broth too long on the re-heat 

and it overcooked... it was very good and I would make it again,

would just do more of it at one go and serve, instead of reheating.