World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis, Philadelphia and Mashed Potatoes (Pre-trip and Day 1)

     2 weeks ago I received the invitation of a lifetime...I was invited to join the St Peter group traveling to Philadelphia to be a part of the World Meeting of Families and hopefully see Pope Francis!
     I want to thank the Rinehart family for extending the invitation and thank my husband for his encouraging me to go.
                                                 
                                                 
     I remember when I first heard the Pope was coming to the U.S. I was determined to go and be a part of this historic event with my family. Then reality set in...the cost and the time away from jobs, school, and other commitments such as band. It did appear that it was meant to be and I accepted that. I really did not know until a couple days before the trip that it was a definite go. About Wednesday of last week I was asked to fill out the paperwork neccesary to go and I started a packing list keeping in mind the lengthy list of prohibited items.
     At 8:20 on Friday morning John and I left for me to meet the bus at St Peter's. When we were about 1 block away I got a call saying the bus was delayed and we wouldn't be leaving till noon. We turned around and headed back home. I remember wondering as I was getting ready earlier that morning what it would feel like to actually be ready for an event and be able to sit around and relax before I had to leave instead of always rushing around at the last minute. So I came home and did just that. In fact I came home and watched the end of the movie Babette's Feast that I had borrowed from the library and hadn't had a chance to finish. Hopefully at some point I can do a post on that movie. At 11:15 John took me to the Rineharts and we loaded up my stuff and after a quick hug good bye from John we were off and headed for St Peter's to wait for the bus.

 Right about noon the bus pulled in the lot, we loaded up the 39 of us including a few families and we were off. I didn't realize the Pope would be traveling with us : )

We started off with the movie  Frozen being shown and then a vote was taken and Lion King was the winner for the next movie.

 We made one 30 minute stop in Somerset PA where I treated myself to a Caramel Apple Spice.

We arrived at the Glen Mills Pennsylvania  Hampton at about 8 pm unloaded and gathered in the lobby of the hotel to sort out the room situation. There was some confusion and they tried to put the 5 Rineharts and I in a rather small room with 2 double beds. They were able to provide us with an additional suite which the gentlemen stayed in and the three of us girls stayed in the first room. Little D wanted to swim...she had her heart set on swimming when we got to the hotel. I suggested I could go get us Chick-fil-A which was right next store so the kids could swim. Alisa decided to come with me and it was a good thing as I'm not sure how I would have carried all the food and drinks. We ate dinner poolside while the kids swam and enjoyed the hot tub. Needless to say at that point we were all ready for bed.  Alisa, Little D and I settled in and were fast asleep in no time.

{pretty, happy, funny real} From Summer to School

This was a big week.

John started at North Central College on Monday.

He is working towards his Associate's Degree in Software Development.

He seems to be off to a good start. He likes his professors, 

he knows a few students in class, and he's discovered there is a 

Wendy's and Taco Bell right by the Kehoe Center where all his classes are. 

I pray that he has a wonderful year of learning and finding the path God has laid out for him.

Tuesday Thomas started his sophomore at Lexington 

and he is also happy with all his teachers

 and classes though disappointed that most of his friends 

are in a different lunch period : ( 

I like that he wore his new t-shirt from the Chicago Art Institute on the first day.

May God bless him in his second year at Lex and his first year in the band

This week's "pretty" find!

One of the things I enjoy most about shopping at Wayne's Country Market is I never know what bargain I might find when I stop in. This week it was $2.99 roses.

 I thought this color was absolutely beautiful.

1st Friday night performance of the Band of Gold!

Gary and I volunteered to be "pit pushers". 

Our job is to help the pit section move their instruments, 

down to the stadium, on and off the field at half time and 

then back up to the school at the end of the game.. 

It was fun though not a great vantage point to watch the band. 

We sat right on the sidelines and we could see Thomas.

The football team won their season opener which ended an 

18 game losing streak...it was quite exciting!

(The pit section warming up on the sidelines!)

My little Oratory shelf!

This verse has been a good one for me to think about and

 so it has stayed up for a couple of weeks, but alas it is time for a change.

 Notice my Mary, Untier of Knots, statue, that

 I won at the Emmaus Days catechist training I went to a couple of weeks ago.

7 Hours In Chicago

We were blessed to be able to get away to Chicago on the last week-end

 before schools starts for the boys.

Hampton Mount Prospect Illinois...our home base.

Friday evening we took a walk around the area and enjoyed Menchies Frozen Yogurt. 

It was a beautiful evening with a cool breeze and half a moon lighting up the sky.

Mount Prospect Metra Station

Riding on the deck of the Big Bus.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day and we enjoyed this amazing view of the shoreline from the bus.

First stop...Shedd's Aquarium

John watching the Beluga Whales (my favorite)

The boys love me taking their picture!

                      After we left the museum we walked along the shoreline to our next stop.
 I think I enjoyed this as much as anything. Walking along the water, sun shining, lovely breeze off                            the water, enjoying the company of 3 of my favorite people in the world.

                        Along the way we stopped at this gorgeous fountain...time for a couple shot!

Next stop...Chicago Art Institute...but first a quick lunch at the Corner Bakery across the street.

So many beautiful things...but this captured my attention 

and I just wanted to meditate on this carving.

                                         Another favorite...the Miniature Rooms...amazing!

                                          I love the sights of the city
                                                                                 especially looking up!

The Metra heading back.

Thomas and John wanted to be upstairs.

John spent the rest of the day visiting with his friend Cole. Gary, Thomas and I spent a couple of hours having dinner at Chik-fil-A and sitting on their deck, eating, chatting, and watching cars and discussing the attributes of the different models and choosing our dream cars.

We talked about going to a movie but I think we finally decided it wasn't a good fit for this week-end. We did a little shopping and found Thomas some new shoes for school. Here he is trying them on in the lobby of the hotel on their cool furniture.

We started our Sunday with 7:30 Mass at St Emily's Parish in Mount Prospect. a Beautiful Mass with a wonderful priest. Thank you God for this beautiful week-end and all the wonderful memories made. I will treasure them in my heart!

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Blue Skies, Band of Gold and Blueberry Festival Fun!

Gary and I have been taking evening walks and there have been some extraordinary cloud formations. I love walking in the evening with my husband!

At church today I was thinking of the beauty of the church. There is the body of Christ...the beauty of all of us together and then there is the beauty of each of us as individuals. I don't know why but as I was thinking about this I thought of these pictures I had taken. The beauty of all the Queen Anne's lace lining the roadside and then the beauty of a lone Queen Anne's lace.

The last two weeks have been filled with band camp and activities for Thomas and all the Band of Gold members. It has been challenging for Thomas. He is learning a lot and pushing himself out of his comfort zone. Good but not always easy. Friday night was the Band of Gold preview. 

What a treat! 

This weekend was the Blueberry Festival. I love being able to sit in the back yard and watch the fireworks on Saturday night. This year Gary and I went down on Friday night and caught the tail end of the car show, walked around enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the fair. The highlight of the evening for us was the pig races. There was a small petting area and they had these piglets race around the  little arena. It was quite funny to watch. The announcer had names for all the little piglets...I wish I could remember them...the only one I can remember is Lindsey Lo-ham...the winner. We had to send the girls a little video to share in the fun!

Today the Band of Gold marched in the Blueberry Parade! 

They went by so quick I didn't get a picture of Thomas.  

Gary and I had fun talking to the people around us and

 retrieving the candy thrown by those in the parade!

I love living in Lexington!

Treasured Memories...from my phone camera!

{pretty, happy, funny, real } in July

I do believe we had the rainiest June on record. 

The first couple of days of July were the same.

The fourth of July week-end was absolutely beautiful. 

We spent the week-end at home unwinding.

It was just what we needed!

This year's trip to Michigan happened spur of the moment. We knew it would be good to get up there before band (for Thomas) started but we weren't sure how we were going to swing it. Neither of the girls or Lily were going to be able to make it this year. Everything fell into place so Gary and the boys and I could go up for four days in July. We did have some rain but we still managed to get some fishing in. Gary and Grandpa caught 3 nice walleye and it cleared up so Grandpa treated us to our traditional fish fry!

                                                          The annual group photo!

Poor Blazer had to be in the kennel as we packed up to leave. apparently last year he took off and tried to follow our car down the road.

I am not sure if I have ever taken a picture as we travel down the Michigan roads. 

It really is pretty country.

The week-end we came back from Michigan Colleen and Kelsey moved into their new apartment. It is lovely. They chose a one bedroom to save some money. The living-room is long so they converted one end into a bedroom nook for Colleen.

                                                         My favorite part is the deck.
                                It overlooks a strip of woods and a meadow like area behind it.

Thomas asked to go to the Toledo Art Museum this summer so we decided to take the Friday before band started to spend the day there. It really is a treasure! Here is Thomas sketching a sculpture.

 It was a beautiful July day for a car show. Cars lined the main street in downtown Delaware.
Besides appreciating the workmanship of the vintage cars I had the opportunity to stop and browse in a few little shops. Thomas and I treated ourselves to some Whit's Frozen Custard.

Colleen came home for an evening and morning. She and Gary and I decided to take a walk up the road and as we were getting ready to leave we were treated to this aerial show.

Saturday morning I took some time to visit the Bellville Farmer's Market. I bought some zucchini, beets, and sunflowers for a total cost of $3. On the way home I stopped at 2 garage sales. I found some little treasures for 25 cents each. My treasures: a pretty letter opener with elephants decorating it, some wooden spools, a needlework card for a mother and an old set of sewing needles in a pretty package.

I stopped to try some cheese. I got to talking to the woman selling it and she shared that she and her husband started doing this when her husband had to retire for health reasons and he needed something to do. We chatted for a while and she told me that friends of theirs make the cheese and have it packaged and sell it at Farmer's Markets. She also shared her husband has been ill and she is hoping he can come home this week. I told her I would pray for Jim for healing and to be able to come home. If you read this please say a prayer too!

I try to pray the Rosary daily for my family and dear friends. Last night I sat out and prayed in the light of  the moon. Since it was a blue moon I guess you can say I prayed the rosary once in a blue moon!

                                                                   Good night moon!