The very thing I feared would happen has happened. I have nothing to say. I actually enjoy the fact that things are pretty boring/relaxed right now. I see people write that they have nothing to say on their blogs and I always think to myself that it's silly because I like reading about people's lives....especially people I know. There are ladies that I hardly ever see, but now I feel more connected because I read their blog. So...here are some boring snippets of my wonderful but boring summer...
---deep cleaned the school room. Books SOOOO dusty. Would you like to take bets on how long it can stay that way?
---Packed up last year's school books and computer. They're in boxes next to our door, ready to be returned when I get the UPS labels in the mail.
---Rearranged Katie's room. I think I pulled a muscle in my back.
---A lady I know introduced me to her husband as, "This is Trish Youmans. She's a supermom." I don't think it was a compliment. Spent a day obsessing about that. Decided to ignore her.
---Taking Zane to swimming at 7:30 in the morning 3 times a week.
---Got a hook to hold our bird feeders. Roger chopped down a tree right outside our breakfast nook while I was in Italy. Now, my little birdie friends have gone! So, I got a hook and put it next to the new baby tree. I hung the feeders, and even added a little bird bath, and hoped for birdie forgiveness. I got it...and they're back.
---Did a little birthday shopping. My baby turns 6 on Friday.
---Took the kids to hit tennis balls a couple of times in the evening last week. We had a great time! I'm trying to keep us away from the TV.
---Had a followup to a mammogram. Everything is fine. I held it together until the Dr. told me I was fine...then I fell apart.
---Contacted a realtor in Tahlequah to sell our land/cabin. We just never use it.
---Went to the library...again, trying to keep kids away from the TV.
---Started a new book...and actually read past the first chapter!
---So thankful for my summer and the freedom to do nothing...or anything... Still 9 more weeks!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Everyone Home - At Last
Well, my men will be home tomorrow night, and we'll all be together. Roger and the big boys are in Dominican Republic with our youth group building a new church for a group of believers that don't have a place to worship. They left last Wed. So, I took the 3 little ones and we went to Branson on Tuesday. We stayed 5 nights and had a blast. We returned on Sunday and I hit the ground running with my list. I always get so much done when Roger isn't here. I don't have to stop and cook, or clean. We can have cereal for dinner and everyone loves it! With my trip done, and the boys' trip almost done, we're staying put for a while. No other plans but work and trying to stay cool as the temps rise.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
When In Rome...
Well, I have news... the Colosseum is real!! So is the Vatican!! I went. I saw. I was moved...
I will refrain from giving you all the details that are only interesting to me, but it really was a fabulous trip. The only thing that would have been better is if my family had come with me. But, going with a girlfriend comes in a close second!
I won't bore you with all the pictures that you could easily find online or in a book. Plus, they really don't do Rome justice. Do you remember when you visited a historic place in the US? Perhaps you've been to Washington DC, or to Gettysburg, or to Philadelphia. When you visit those places, you often have this feeling...almost a solemness of what occurred on the place you're standing. The idea that you're standing on a piece of history is quite awesome. Well, imagine that history being multiplied by about 20. Where the US is about 200 years old, Rome is about 3000 years old. I stood on the place that the apostle Peter was martyred. The apostle Peter!! He knew Jesus for goodness sake!! I stood in the cathedral where Peter's remains were right under my feet. I saw the place where Julius Caesar was stabbed. I walked the halls of the Colosseum where the gladiators fought. I walked under to ceiling of the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo painted the most important piece of art in history. When I stood in the Sistine Chapel, is was so moved by the gift that God had obviously given this man. We just don't see art like that anymore. I'm not even a real "artsy" person, but I know an incredible gift when I see one.
This picture shows a small portion of The Pieta, a statue which shows Mary holding the crucified body of Jesus. Yes, I know that this didn't really happen, but look at it! Michelangelo did this when he was 24 years old!! Anyway, I was moved.
OK, I lied...just to prove that I was actually there, here are just a couple of pictures :-)
Here's me on the way to the Colosseum.
Here's the inside of the Colosseum. I was right...a picture just can't do it justice... It had a seating capacity of about 50,000. The magnitude of what went on as "entertainment" was very sobering.
Here's me next to a big marble bathtub. A girl could really relax in this. This is in the Vatican Museum, the place that houses the Sistine Chapel. We weren't allowed to take pictures in there, but it was amazing.
Here's the view from my hotel room balcony. That long blue thing you see going across the picture is an awning that covers seating for a parade they were going to have the next day. Just past the awning, you can make out some arches, which are a tine bit of the ruins of The Forum. This is like the "Washington DC" of Rome. It's the center of ancient Rome's government, trade, etc...
Here's a picture of me sitting in front of the famous Trevi Fountain. I believe that is a statue of Triton...he's huge! Tradition says that if you make a wish and then throw 3 coins in the fountain, your wish comes true. The city takes the money in the fountain and gives it to a local orphanage. All the water in all the fountains in Rome is fresh and clean. You can take your water bottles to any fountain and fill up! This is one of the largest and most beautiful fountains. During the time we were at the fountain, we saw 3 wedding parties taking their pictures there.
OK, that's all. I don't want you to fall asleep at your computer!
I will refrain from giving you all the details that are only interesting to me, but it really was a fabulous trip. The only thing that would have been better is if my family had come with me. But, going with a girlfriend comes in a close second!
I won't bore you with all the pictures that you could easily find online or in a book. Plus, they really don't do Rome justice. Do you remember when you visited a historic place in the US? Perhaps you've been to Washington DC, or to Gettysburg, or to Philadelphia. When you visit those places, you often have this feeling...almost a solemness of what occurred on the place you're standing. The idea that you're standing on a piece of history is quite awesome. Well, imagine that history being multiplied by about 20. Where the US is about 200 years old, Rome is about 3000 years old. I stood on the place that the apostle Peter was martyred. The apostle Peter!! He knew Jesus for goodness sake!! I stood in the cathedral where Peter's remains were right under my feet. I saw the place where Julius Caesar was stabbed. I walked the halls of the Colosseum where the gladiators fought. I walked under to ceiling of the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo painted the most important piece of art in history. When I stood in the Sistine Chapel, is was so moved by the gift that God had obviously given this man. We just don't see art like that anymore. I'm not even a real "artsy" person, but I know an incredible gift when I see one.
This picture shows a small portion of The Pieta, a statue which shows Mary holding the crucified body of Jesus. Yes, I know that this didn't really happen, but look at it! Michelangelo did this when he was 24 years old!! Anyway, I was moved.
And...the food was amazing. The driving was frightening. The language is beautiful. Now, I'm going to say something here, but I'm depending on you to not read anything into this...but, I could listen to a man speak in Italian all day! I don't need to know what he is saying...and he doesn't even need to be speaking to me... Actually, watching Italians have a conversation is as entertaining as the language itself.
OK, I lied...just to prove that I was actually there, here are just a couple of pictures :-)
Here's me on the way to the Colosseum.
Here's the inside of the Colosseum. I was right...a picture just can't do it justice... It had a seating capacity of about 50,000. The magnitude of what went on as "entertainment" was very sobering.
Here's me next to a big marble bathtub. A girl could really relax in this. This is in the Vatican Museum, the place that houses the Sistine Chapel. We weren't allowed to take pictures in there, but it was amazing.
Here's the view from my hotel room balcony. That long blue thing you see going across the picture is an awning that covers seating for a parade they were going to have the next day. Just past the awning, you can make out some arches, which are a tine bit of the ruins of The Forum. This is like the "Washington DC" of Rome. It's the center of ancient Rome's government, trade, etc...
Here's a picture of me sitting in front of the famous Trevi Fountain. I believe that is a statue of Triton...he's huge! Tradition says that if you make a wish and then throw 3 coins in the fountain, your wish comes true. The city takes the money in the fountain and gives it to a local orphanage. All the water in all the fountains in Rome is fresh and clean. You can take your water bottles to any fountain and fill up! This is one of the largest and most beautiful fountains. During the time we were at the fountain, we saw 3 wedding parties taking their pictures there.
OK, that's all. I don't want you to fall asleep at your computer!
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