Have a Striped Fourth of July!

Two prayers

Lest you think it's all smiles and giggles here, I wanted to include two prayers from an Iona prayer book a dear friend in N. Ireland sent me that really encouraged me through the difficult times of low energy and no Aaron these last few months.

Lord Christ,
enable me to place my trust in you,
and so to live each day in the present moment.
So often I forget
that you long for peace
and healing in my mind,(body)
and heart.
Your song pierces
even my darkest days,
and your hands
are always
and everywhere,
the source of
my journey
into wholeness
and that inner springtime
which is your gift alone,
Jesus the Risen One.

Evening Prayer (based on a traditional celtic prayer)
Thanks be to you O Christ our lord,
for the many gifts you have given us:
each day and night, each sea and land
each weather fair, each calm ,each wild.

Tonight may we remember your mercy
given so gently and generously:
each thing we have received, from you it came;
each thing for which we hope, from your love it will come;
each thing we enjoy , it is of your bounty,
each thing we ask, comes of your disposing.

O Lord, from whom each thing that is freely flows,
grant that no tie over-strict, no tie over-dear,
may separate us from your constant love,
or from the needs of our neighbours
in whom your face shines
each day and night.

Freaks!

My mom saw this and said she thought Aaron looked like he had escaped from a mental institution, so I thought I should add it for everyone's enjoyment! This poor kid has no chance of being normal, does he?

Like Father, Like Son

One picture shows Conor's two bottom teeth, one does not. To get him to smile, Aaron was bending the boy's legs up to his head until his toes touched his ears and nose, silly boys!

Just a Swingin'!

Conor got his first taste of the ectasy of swinging at a church picninc today, somehow I have a feeling that this is only going to lead to more daredevil climbing, sliding and all around horseplay way too quickly!

Clogger in training...

The ladies in my clogging group made Conor a sequined vest and shoes with taps to match the rest of the group...we will dearly miss them!

Ribbit!

From Mother's Day to Father's Day...

So here's the basics: Aaron graduated May 23rd and began working in Fairfax June 4th. He comes home on the weekends now and last week and this week is staying with our good friends, Rick and Patti Bright in Manassas, who's house we are going to rent starting July 1, once the movers get all of our stuff up there. Hopefully we will send out an update after the weekend of the 4th with our new address, phones numbers and emails will remain the same. I hadn't planned on a 4th month alone, so I am really ready for when we'll all be together again in July! Hope to reconnect with folks once we get a little more settled!