Sandy's first Christmas

Here's Sandy enjoying her belated Christmas present. Mom makes the best quilts! Thanks Mom!

Sandy Girl

After much deliberation we proudly announce the adoption of our newest family member: Sandy.
Sandy came to us from the St. Helen's Humane Society.
She came home scared, but has warmed up to much schmoozing and treats. She now follows Dad as a faithful shadow (note the super schmoozer is back!) and wags excitedly to see Mom home from work or errands.
We are all grateful to have such a loving pet again and look forward to bringing her camping, the beach and many fun outings.

32 Down on the Robert Mackenzie

Yes, the real song is the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This is the Due South version because they had to make up their own, slightly different story. No infringement intended. Thanks for letting me share it.

Pilgrim's Prayer

Many thanks to our guides and drivers and all who made Spain 2010 possible.

This is our prayer.

A Pilgrim’s Prayer

Response: Lord may I remember that I am a PILGRIM not a tourist.

If some things do not happen as they are scheduled…

If I should get tired and inclined to become short tempered…

If my meal in a foreign country may not be to my particular liking…

If any delays should occur and I should become anxious…

If some other pilgrim is making noise so that I cannot hear the guide…

If someone takes a better seat or a more choice place…

If the person in front of me buys that last item which I really wanted…

If I should get a chance to help another person who always seems to be annoying me…

If someone is always the “last one on the bus” and I am always on time…

If I can’t unlock the door to my hotel room or turn on the lights…

If I arrive at the hotel, but cannot get off the bus because the driver has to spend 20 minutes to get the bus through the main gate (and is applauded for his efforts)…

If I should fall into a sheep pen…

If they give me more food than I asked for or can possibly eat…

If I may not know when, where or what I will eat…

If there are longer lines and more pilgrims than I prefer…

If I have to scour the souvenir shops for postcards of pictures I was not allowed to take…

If the bed I was given was short-sheeted and I thought the housekeeper had put the sheets on wrong…

If my laundry is hanging all over my room and a guest enters…

If I am forced to wear damp clothing because my laundry did not have time to dry properly…

If the sewer backs up and you have to change rooms…

If I am missing home and the routine and security of daily life…

If the hotel room is too hot and I can’t figure out how to turn it down…

If I cannot reach the shower head and the shower curtain will not remain in place…

If I have to learn new yoga moves to keep water in the tub because there is a shower head and no curtain…

If my toothbrush, toothpaste and mirror are accidentally dropped in the toilet at 2:30am by my roommate…

If my suitcase will not close because I have added several bottles of Lourdes water, wine and souvenirs…

If I feel unsettled, disoriented or even lost and not knowing where God is calling me…

If I feel imprisoned by bus, airplane, schedule, time zones, food, language, life circumstances, physical abilities, exhaustion…

If I am suffering and in need of healing may I ask in faith.

If I feel discontent and not know where I am going, help me to seek direction from you.

But Lord, especially let me remember that what I find objectionable in another is really what YOU often find objectionable in me and let me remember this and forgive the other as YOU are constantly forgiving me.

If I feel saddened that our pilgrimage is coming to an end or anxious about returning to daily routine may we remember that heaven is our final destination in the communion of love in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

My Abby Dog

We got Abby from the local shelter just before Christmas 1995. She was a scared pup, having barely gotten to know her previous owners before they moved and were unable to keep her. Mom and Holly put our name on the list for her and called Dad at work. He agreed to meet us after work. While not thrilled with the idea that he'd always be cleaning up after her, Dad quickly became known as the best puppy schmoozer.
Abby always had a smile, thumping tail, listening ear and soft fur for anyone in need. Early this morning she went with St. Francis to be spoiled by the grandparents and Uncle Randy and to play with her dog friends, Bud, Chloe and Sparky (and lots of other people and pets). We miss you Abby! March 9, 1995-March 20, 2010. Adopted December 18, 1995. Abigail "Abby" Rose Murphy Feuerstein McCann

"Fear" by Pauley Perette

Our Favorite NCIS Forensic Scientist is a poet and musician. Enjoy!


No infringement intended. Thanks for letting me share it.

Workbench

My new workbench. Dad and I built it. We added a shelf, discovered that if we'd left the scrap on the end of the shelf supports they would have been long enough. We had to go back for more bolts anyways. Thankfully we still have a plug in drill, I used it to finish up when the battery died on the other one.