Nancy’s visit

Nancy and daughter and grandkids were visiting Nicole at ND and came up for a quick visit. It was a wonderful time visiting and getting to know better the two little brothers who were very well-behaved! 

 

Weekend with Ruanes

They stopped on their way home from visiting their daughter in Cleveland. How pleasant is their company! 

 

Hand crafting

I made a few "Baby Yoda" crochet hats... Oklahoma nephew got one. And the hand-crafted mittens Rose made for us are still our favorite. I thought of her the other day at church and we exchanged messages. I hope to see her this summer if my plans to visit Brookings do not get sidetracked again.

 

A backyard bouquet

 I picked a backyard bouquet for Sarah as I was leaving to meet her for lunch and conversation on this beautiful day. Sarah and I met shortly after we moved here at a noon weekday mass at the cathedral... a beautiful mama with her eight darling children in tow. We knew immediately we were like-minded, and enjoyed our conversation and time together immensely the past year and half. Her facebook posts are always cute,, life-loving and inspiring. Alas, she is moving away-- ready for new adventures!

Happy news from an old friend

We never know when we will wake up to receive the nicest messages... with happy news, with gratitude and encouragement, and to top it off the link for a fabulous new podcast! Jenny was Number Five's first piano teacher, and as a graduate student she would come over to our house and we hosted some events for her to teach the kids at our house in Lincoln, NE long ago.

I have listened to the one episode of the very professional podcast so far, and it is excellent! She interviews a fellow musician in the Juilliard faculty who talks about the rich Catholic musical heritage, his conversion, teaching the kids Gregorian chant, and much more!

“I’m writing with some happy news! I’m engaged to be married to a lovely chap from P., J.  B. We’ve begun the immigration process, and we’re hoping for a December wedding here in New York. He’s an historian specializing in 17th- and 18th-century Polish and Russian history, and I generally think he’s the best thing since both the invention of sliced bread and bees’ knees. We’ll be settling here in H. , and couldn’t be happier.

Of course I wanted to let you know all this because it is around your dinner table, and that of the Pepinos, that I learned the beauty of Catholic family life. I remember with great clarity so many meals around your table, and enjoying Christian charity, good food, excellent conversation, and the hubbub of children running about. Thank you for your and Susan’s witness to the beauty of marriage!

Of course, we’d be delighted if you could come to the wedding, but understand if it’s not possible. Given our situation, we might not be able to give terribly much notice, but we’ll give word as soon as we possibly can.

On a completely unrelated note, I’ve launched a new podcast that perhaps you’d find interesting: www.sacredmusicpodcast.com. Here’s our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBqEt-rNvL0sKmtidh0qsZQ
All my best to you and the family.
J.”

This may have been the last time I blogged about her:

A Thanksgiving Visitor

 She has celebrated her birthday soon, and though we miss her twin, it is lovely to have her here, at "home", to spend these days of gratitude with us. She and Susannah have been part of our lives since... seven years old!

Friendship...

Friendship!

During the last couple of days, amidst all the prayers, I got a visit from the lovely Jannell and the gift of a little new adorable friend :-)  We had lunch out, and visited antique stores. It was exactly the relaxing break I needed! Thank You dearest friend!

Prayer Service for Erik Nielsen

Today we hosted and led a prayer service for Erik's soul, and also asking for the comfort of so many who mourn him. We did not take videos or photos, but I would like to share our service program. Thank You to old friend Fr. Brian Austin FSSP, who helped me compose it. Number Six did a beautiful job intoning/leading/soloing all of the chant. We had friends come from near and far and we were so thankful for the hope that prayer brings.

Friends

What's life without friendship? These are some of the dear women whom I have been fortunate to call friends since we have lived in South Dakota. It was Caitilin's birthday and we met at the Indian restaurant. We had laughter, gifts, great food, interesting conversation, and friendship abounding!