One Rung At A Time

Here is a link to a lovely post on my husband's blog, Loaves and Fishes.

I am so proud of him - I can't say it enough!

Here is a photo of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Anchorage.  

Charles painted the icons for the church.

Look What I Made!

I got this kit for the little fox brooch from Mollie Makes magazine, my newest favorite.

Mollie Makes features several projects in each issue, and includes a kit for one of them!  The magazine is published in Great Britain, so it is full of fun expressions like: "We've always quite fancied..." and words are spelled the British way (of course) - for example: "fibre" and "colour".  But besides the British charm, it is chock full of great ideas.

This is going to be my next project - a pretty felt Dala horse.  They have an article about a woman who collects wooden Dala horses and talks about their history.  So I learned something new!  I love working with felt, and Mollie Makes always has a couple of felt projects to work on.

It is pretty spendy, but I am going to ask Santa for a subscription.  But, in case you are interested, here is the info about how to subscribe.  They carry the magazine at JoAnn Fabric and Crafts as well.

I didn't receive anything from Mollie Makes for this post, but if they want to give me a free subscription for the free publicity, I would accept it (Are you listening, editors?  Hint, hint!)!

Linking up to A Bowl Full of Lemons - One Project At A Time and Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday!

Why I Love My Husband

I love my husband because:

He is sweet and considerate.

He is smart.

He is funny.

He is thoughtful.

He is faithful.

He is loving.

He is good looking.

He is devoutly religious, but not stuffy.

He is talented.

He is humble about that talent.

He is kind.

He is concerned about the needs of the poor and marginalized.

He donates to charity, especially Catholic Relief Services.

He is a loving father.

He is tender.

He loves romantic movies especially the one we saw last night - About Time.

I love my husband because after we had the same fight last night that we have been having for 31 years, he got up this morning and cleaned up the kitchen, and then came over to me sitting on the couch and said he was sorry, even though the fight was (and usually is) all my fault.

I love my husband.  Just because.

We Now Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming.

I can't tell you why I haven't blogged since October 6th.  I have been busy, but not THAT busy.  I guess I lost my blogging mojo for a bit (not that everyone couldn't use a break from the "me me me" that blogging, at least, MY blogging, is).

However, I am back.

Here are some highlights from the past month:

Our parish women's group, the Martha Ministry hosted a tea in honor of the two religious sisters who serve here in Juneau.  Sister Marie serves as the Pastoral Associate at the Cathedral and Sr. Dee works part time at the AWARE Shelter, our local agency for battered women, and also has a private counseling practice.  About 40 people attended the tea, which featured homemade goodies and, of course, tea.

I made a "Works of Mercy" money tree with a branch from a handy tree and attached little clothespins to it so that folks could give a donation for the sisters.  The Marthas also presented gift certificates to the sisters to local restaurants so that they could go out for dinner.  We provided blank note cards so those attending could write notes of thanks and appreciation to Sr. Dee and Sr. Marie.  Janet, the coordinator of the event, brought several hats so that the sisters and the women hosting could each wear one.  Here are some photos:

Janet and the goodies!

The beautiful place settings

Sr. Marie and Sr. Dee

Women Wearing Hats!

The Works of Mercy Tree

It was a great event, such fun and a wonderful opportunity to honor these great women!

In other news, I have been substitute teaching.  I did a whole week at our local neighborhood elementary school, Gastineau Community School.  It was fun, but absolutely exhausting!  I worked in the preschool classroom, and also worked with special needs children and subbed in a kindergarten class.  I was pooped at the end of the week!

Charles went to Baltimore for a week for a Catholic Campaign For Human Development training.  He learned a lot and made some good connections.  He also got to see our friend Rachel, a former schoolmate of Phoebe's and one of our favorite people.  She is going to grad school in Baltimore.

Lastly, please keep my brother in law, Robert ("Kontry" to his friends and family) in your prayers.  He has been in the hospital with a serious illness.  Please pray for healing for him and strength for his family, especially for his wife, Meg, Charles' youngest sister.

That's all for now.  Thanks for sticking with me, loyal readers!