Grandma's 90th Birthday

My Grandma turned 90 right before Thanksgiving. Here is a video of pictures I put together as a tribute--enjoy!

Love,

Steph

Give Thanks!

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving thanks.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Neglecting the Blog

I feel so negligent. It seems like eons ago I last blogged. Since that last blog we brought home a new puppy, Sadie . . . so that has ate up any extra time I have really. She is a cute dog. She is a sheltie like our other dog Lucky. The two dogs won't leave each other alone, it's quite a love fest around here!

Halloween was a disappointment for Alyssa. A half hour before trick-or-treating began she got sick with the stomach bug and had to stay home. It was too bad, we had a whole ensemble of Peter Pan characters too-- Patrick was Peter Pan, Alyssa was supposed to be Wendy, their cousins Matthew and Emily went as Captain Hook and Tinker Bell. My mom even whipped up that Wendy costume with her oh so talented sewing skills!!

Brett and I had a little getaway last weekend. We went to my friend, Lisa's wedding in Mystic, CT. They had a beautiful ceremony with a very nautical theme. She is marine biologist, so it was very fitting. I was impressed at all the details-- tables that were the names of bodies of water they had been to. They even put a picture of themselves at that body of water on the table. They had sea shanty singers and I read from "The Rime of The Ancient Mariner" which I was so honored to do.

Since the wedding was in CT was stayed at my mom's cousin's house which was great to spend time with them, hear about their grandkids and catch up and talk about old times. We also went up to see my dad's family. We visited my Grammy, Pop, aunt, uncle and cousin. I got to wish my Grammy a belated 88th birthday. She is declining more than I expected. She has Alzheimer's so I don't know why I didn't think it would get worse, it certainly won't get better. However, I was a bit surprised as to how much she has declined since summer. As Alyssa told me to do, I gave her hugs and kisses. But boy-- this disease stinks!

We had lunch with my Pop, my family, and his buddies from the home (they also have spouses in with my Gram). It was a good lunch-- Aunt Patty recommended we go to a place that serves pierogi, which in my mind, can never be a bad choice.

As holidays approach things are getting more hectic, but I am desperately trying to remember the true meaning of these holidays this season instead of getting swept up in all the other junk.

I just heard someone get up---and I haven't showered yet so I better run . . .

Gram's 90th birthday

This past Sunday was Brett's Gram's 90th birthday. I put together this video of snapshots of her life. It was very fun to do and I think she and the rest of the family enjoyed looking back over the years. It is amazing to think of the change she has seen these past 90 years. Now, I am on to work on the same sort of thing for my Grandma's 90th in November.

Family Friday-- When the family tree braches get tangled

My Pop (my dad's dad) told me this story that at first you think, yeah, that's right . . . and then you realize it doesn't make sense at all. Here it is-- in his words, "My mother's mother married my father's father." Reread if you need to.

So that's the abridged version. Here is what actually happened. My Pop's Grammy, his mother's mother was Rose Setta. She married Angelo Francioli in Italy, they had a daughter, Giuseppina (Josephine)--that is my Pop's mother. So, Angelo died while still in Italy and Rose moves with her sister Claudina and her little girl "Pina" to the US. While in America she married Narareno Natalini and had a bunch of kids and she also married Louis Martinell. Louis is my Pop's father's father. They had a daughter Elizabeth.

Louis had previously been married to Laura and they had John and possibly a James Martinell. John married Josephine, or affectionately known as "Pina." They had ten children, one being my Pop. So, his parents, while not related at all, ended up being step-siblings to each other as adults.

That is one of my favorites.

Steph

Thankful

Here we are almost seven years after 9/11. As I think back on that day it seems eons ago, and yet it seems like just yesterday. All I can do is give thanks.
I am thankful that Brett was home sick that day and not at work, in the Pentagon. He is rarely sick and rarely does he take off even if sick. I guess I have Jimmy Buffet to thank or those sausages he ate at the Jimmy Buffet concert that we think gave him food poisoning.

I am thankful that I am not a widow being escorted into the memorial tomorrow morning. I am glad for the husband I have and who I have seen him become these last 7 years.

I am thankful for the children he has given me. They have given me so much joy-- not just joy but depth of love. They have revealed things in me I never knew there.

I am thankful that Brett is the kind of man who has worked the majority of his career to pay tribute to the people who lost their lives 7 years ago and makes sure their families are treated with respect.

I am thankful for the miracles the Lord has worked in our midst. In the midst of hardship, loss, and pain.

I look at Lucky, our dog and think-- your name is Lucky because we feel lucky, we felt we dodged a bullet 7 years ago, and we did. But it's more than luck. Who knows what to call it. I know I feel blessed, but that isn't a good name for a dog.

Yellow School Bus Fever Part II

So, yes Alyssa got on that bus on the first day but we are certainly still in a period of adjustment. It is such a long day for her, she comes home very wiped out. This week we had some tough times, apparently she almost missed the bus coming home from school. I am not sure how that happens, since the school promises they get all the Kindergarteners on the bus to go home. Anyhow, I think that scared her. It scared me. The next day she absolutely refused to get on the bus. She was kicking and screaming and crying, clinging to my leg. I literally had to physically put her on the bus and into a seat. That was so so hard. I barely held it together. I don't think there was a dry eye at the bus stop, all the parents were crying, I was crying and poor Patrick kept telling me not to cry. The teacher told me that she made it there fine and was happy. Thank goodness, but all I could replay in my head was that episode. She has done well the rest of the week, so that is progress. I am so glad for the weekend now!

Patrick also started school this week. He had his first day today and loved it. I am so proud of him. Brett went in late so he could help take him in. He was a little bummed that you don't take a bus to preschool.

It's a little weird not to have them both with me most of the day. I am a little sad and empty without them here as much.