Merry Christmas

"God has done everything; he has done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my heart unless I open the door to him."  — Pope Benedict XVI

December happenings

All the kids are home now and taking time to relax during the vacation.  Marian will be working on her Bijou award monologue.  She made it to the finals for the acting, but not the singing this year.  She is still very excited.  She is also in the spring musical, The Music Man, as a featured dancer and musical ensemble.  She will be in many scenes and lots of quick changes!

I am starting sewing today for the musical, with over 40 costumes to get done by February. 

Gabriel may finish his motorcycle project, he hasn't done anything on it yet, he's been catching up on sleep, as far as we can tell.

Make a Joyful Noise

In the midst of our Advent waiting is Guadete Sunday.  Gaudete is Latin for REJOICE.  So, on this day, we ought to rejoice.  Scriptural tradition tells us that this is the day the Wise Men set out to seek the newborn king.  Liturgical tradition suspended all fasting on this day during Advent, so it was one of rejoicing for other reasons too.

O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

Advent--looking for a King

Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope.

— Pope Benedict XVI

Remembering Joey

Our beloved kitten Joey died last night.  He was a furry ball of mischief, and we all loved him. 

What's going on here

Anna is finishing up her last show, where's she's been a PAID backstage hand.  She will likely work on another which opens Thanksgiving week.  She has also been busy with school and some house-sitting.

Gabriel (who we don't here from too much) just had an interview in NYC for a summer internship, which he got.  So, he will be headed to NYC for the summer of 2018 to work for the Two Sigma New York branch.  Hopefully, no mosquito born diseases there...

Marian finished a show (for which she was Assistant Stage Manager) and is now in another non-musical show in which she sings (for comedic effect at that!)  She is also desperately trying to binge watch some shows before they get cut from Netflix.  (Ah the worrisome cares of youth.)

Bogdan is still loving work and also is involved in teaching an after-school club (middle school) about drones.  He will attempt to build a drone with this club over the school year. 

I am busy with costumes for 2 shows right now, then the BIG show (The Music Man) begins in December, with most of the December break dedicated to sewing.  I am also organizing a Diocesan wide Women's Convention for which I've been emailing, meeting, signing contracts, and generally always thinking of one more thing to do.

What happens in Vegas, should not stay in Vegas

This was sent to me by a friend, it was printed in her church bulletin, by the youth director, and worth sharing

 - What happens in Vegas, is men and women who shielded their wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, and strangers from bullets that were raining down.
- What happens in Vegas, is strangers that were pulling others to safety and loading the injured into any cars they could during the attack to help save lives.
- What happens in Vegas, is drivers for Uber and Lyft going in to the chaos to get people out.
- What happens in Vegas, is nurses, doctors, police, all first responders showing up in big ways to prevent any more harm from happening and aiding the wounded the best they could.
- What happens in Vegas, is people lining up at 1:00-2:00 AM at blood banks before they opened to donate blood.
- What happens in Vegas, is blood banks being fully booked for the next two weeks.
- What happens in Vegas, is people buying all sorts of food and drinks to pass out to people donating blood.
- What happens in Vegas, is people buying donuts and coffee for police officers who were up all night serving this city.
- What happens in Vegas, is counseling being offered for free for any persons affected.
- What happens in Vegas, is individuals, businesses and corporations donating millions of dollars to help the families of all those affected.
- What happens in Vegas, is free flights for the families of those killed.
- What happens in Vegas, is hotels offering free rooms to those displaced by this tragedy.
- What happens in Vegas, is countless prayer services already held and more in the days and weeks to come.
- What happens in Vegas, is people are already talking today about what they are going to do to help TOMORROW.
- What happens in Vegas, is showing what a community of BELIEVERS we are!
We are #battleborn and ready for battle - the battles of this world and the spiritual flight.
Never have we been more proud of our big city that is just a small town. We are the city of lights that shines in the darkness. Christ’s grace, love and mercy can reach any person, even the most far gone. God sure hasn’t forgot about Vegas. This “city of sin” is your city. Our wounded are your wounded. This can happen anywhere. Yet, the God’s light in the people in our city has defeated the evil. Good always wins. Good always outshines the dark. Always.

So much going on

September was a blur...

Gabriel was very sick and is much better now.  Most likely he had (or still has?) Dengue fever.  But, he is 100% better now.  Many thanks for all the prayers.

All the kids are in school and in fact Marian is already on her Fall break!  Gabriel has his next week and Anna the week after.

Anna now is the proud owner of her own car (used).  It's not the best car, not winning any land speed awards, but it's hers and she's happy.  She continues to work at a local semi-professional theatre in Knoxville and getting paid for doing backstage work.  It's a good job for her and she is saving money now for a deposit for her own apartment.  She hopes to get that by May of next year.

Marian is busy in 2 productions, she is in Tech week this week for a play she is assistant stage manager for and then in November she is in a play, not a musical, but somehow she has a singing role in it. :)  And she is already working on and preparing for the Bijou awards, she will compete in both acting and singing competitions this year.

Bogdan will head to Nevada (the atomic test site area) for work in October, testing the software and hardware of most recent projects.

Cool nights and hot days around here, with changing fall leaves, beautiful all around.

Stellar Week

This week was like no other and we are all stunned, amazed, and exhausted by its events.  First was the Total Solar Eclipse and next was Hamilton.  You'd have to be living under a rock if you don't know about both of these.

Of course, first was the Total Solar Eclipse, for which we were in the path of totality.  It was a beautiful day, literally not a cloud in the sky.  We were in Harriman at Roane State Community College, and there was plenty of parking, nice grassy areas, eclipse lectures, free viewing glasses, lots of people, and lots of fun.  We all counted down to totality and sat in awe as we saw the eclipse.  Bogdan was conducting radio astronomy experiments during it and we stayed until his equipment was finished.  Not too much traffic going home.  Bogdan already has plans for 2024 when it will cross the US the opposite diagonal, from Texas to Maine.

We had a day of rest before we headed to Chicago to see Hamilton (the musical).  It was amazing.  I loved the music, the acting, the lighting, the costumes, the choreography, the ensemble, the lead actors, just everything.  We were given the tickets by a good friend (thank you Michele) and we so loved it.  Especially stellar performances by the actress who played Angelica and the actor who played King George.  Just amazing, a once in a lifetime experience.

Random photos

 Marian (in Eagle Mascot Costume) and friend Samantha

 Marian going to her formal dance in Spring

Marian and BFF Mily

July was hijacked

July was hijacked by the Ulster Project and Trailer Park.

So, the Ulster Project arrived in late June and we were driving, cooking, shuttling, baking and everything in between for the Northern Irish kids.  We ate at Chick-fil-a more than I can recall in the span of one month!  They loved it :)  Some things that got forgotten were cleaning the house, but eventually it got done.  Some favorite activities were going to Dollywood, white water rafting, visiting different churches, going to the beach, and meeting new friends.  Marian had no break as she started school 2 days after they left.

In between all the Ulster activities, I was designing a show (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), sewing for another show (Mame) and basically very busy.  With school starting, all the normal activities I'm involved in begin as well: high school lunches, bible study, Girl Scouts, women's ministries, etc.  I do not have any hospice patients now, which is fine, as both of my patients died within a week of each other this past year.

Bogdan attended his annual conference for radio astronomy in Green Bank, WV.  There was much talk about the upcoming Eclipse.

Gabriel remained happy and busy at his summer internship at 2-Sigma.  He said the last week they had many receptions and at one they had a cake made with all the pictures of the interns on it.  He is on vacation with his girlfriend now and starts school August 21st.  (Not in the eclipse path, so I don't think they are worried about students ditching school for it.)

Anna has been busy this summer with odd jobs: Logistics Coordinator for the Ulster Project, babysitting for a number of families, teaching some color guard techniques to local high school marching band, and wardrobe assistant for a show (The Great American Trailer Park Musical).  She begins school on August 28th and is hoping to finish her schooling by December, she still needs to meet with her adviser about it.

Marian has begun high school and loves it so far.  She hasn't gotten lost in the big building and looks forward to her opportunities there.  She officially finished her Silver Award Project for Girl Scouts, having created a GS patch for the local children's museum.

Already June!!

June is here and Marian is almost done middle school!  She finishes next week.  She is already in summer mode, and eager to start her Summer Bucket List. She will also do the Ulster Project this summer and host a Northern Irish girl.

Gabriel has begun his internship at 2 Sigma and seems to like it so far.  He is hoping to finish his motorcycle project this summer and also use Bogdan's old 10 speed for transportation to and from work.  He has free housing on campus.

Anna is doing odd jobs.  She leaves in a couple weeks for a service project to FL, to visit Give Kids the World.  It's like a Disney World just for terminally ill children and their families.

Our Girl Scout Trip will be from June 10-17 to DC.  We are having our final planning meeting today and iron out all the details.  It should be fun.

Bogdan successfully sponsored his 4th Annual Memorial Day Party.  Over 60 in attendance and a good time was had by all.

Happy Mother's Day

May Happenings

May is under way, warmer weather, flowers blooming.

Both college kids are home.  Anna is looking for a job and most likely taking a summer course.  She is also evaluating what she'll do in the fall.  She may end up taking classes closer to home, she has some decisions to make.

Gabriel is home for a short time then heading to Houston for his internship.  He's been catching up with old friends and helping his girlfriend move to a new apartment.

Marian has another 3 weeks of school.  She is eager for summer to begin. She has written a new Summer Bucket List and there are both fun and challenging things on there.  She is hosting a Northern Irish teen through Ulster.

As Holy Week comes to a close and the Triduum reaches its pinnacle tonight at the Easter Vigil, we take time to remember all that Jesus went through for us.  As we remember the Last Supper, the Way of the Cross, and his ultimate Death on the Cross; we know this is not the end of the story.  May we all look forward to the glory of Easter morning!

Already April??

Life has been busy, it's already April and I realize I haven't added one posting at all for March!

In no real order, here's what's been happening:

• Marian was Confirmed (see pictures below), her patron saint is St. Genevieve, patron saint of Paris and also of natural disasters.
• The Wizard of Oz production went on with record audiences (near 4,000 which included 1,000 school children at the school show!)  Enjoy the pictures below as well, there were over 150 costumes and it was exhausting, but now it's over.
• Marian and I go to Michigan for spring break to help a friend set up her business.  I will do her medical billing, picking up on something I've had a year hiatus.  
• Marian, Anna, and I see Rent at the TN Theatre, a great production!
• Visits from both Anna and Gabriel for spring break.  
• I am busy with planning a Diocesan-wide women's conference.
• Making meals for a high school girls' retreat, in attendance were 60+ girls!
• Preparing for Holy Week and Easter liturgies!
• Bogdan visits Socorro, NM and the VLA (Very Large Array....see the movie Contact) and has a great time at a Radio Astronomy Conference.
• Enjoying the spring weather and blooming flowers!
• Recently catching up with old friends and learning what's going on in their lives.

A total of 87 kids were confirmed! 

Marian is sealed with sacred oil by Bishop Stika 

Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow 

The Wicked Witch of the West, one of the best villains! 

The Cowardly Lion getting spruced up

Happy Valentine's Day

Kitten pictures

New additions

We've adopted 2 Siberian kittens.  They are supposedly less allergy causing than other breeds and they love their new digs.  They run all over the house, take naps just about anywhere and seem to generally like their new owners.

Pictures to come...

Bogdan got his official offer of the new job and might begin as early as March 1, but it might be pushed to April 1.  Either way, he is looking forward to the new challenges.

Tech week begins soon and with it lots of time at the theatre for me and Marian.

A sweet and beautiful win

Of course, I'm talking about the NE Patriots.  Both Anna and I were texting back and forth and going crazy for 3 quarters of the game.  Then, she was too tired and sick and went to bed, saying to text her what happens.  At that point, I was also very disappointed, where were my Patriots!?  Well, they came back in what people are calling the game of the century.  A miraculous win.  Tom Brady at his very best.  I just kept on saying "WOW" all night afterward.

In other news, Marian has just finished Assistant Stage Managing for a play, she had a lot of fun, but now glad to "have her life back".  We are both busy with costumes for OZ and that is now a month away, hard to believe.

Bogdan got his unofficial offer of a new job at the Lab, the official one should arrive from HR sometime this week.  He is thinking he will start the job in March.  He is eager and excited.

January so far

Random events in January to date:
--Marian turns 14!!  She had friends over, ate her favorite Nutella cake, opened presents, and had fun
--Gabriel and Anna return to college and report that they love their new classes and are also having fun
--I start sewing for The Wizard of Oz and get very busy.  We do the "Tornado Taping" scene, it will be an actual movie we show during the musical, hopefully looking like the movie!
--Bogdan has an interview for a new job at the lab, we'll hear soon about the outcome, but it looks good!
--We endure a LOT of rain during this month with threats of flooding.  It's been very warm and Marian is supposed to do skiing in the Smokey Mountains each week, but last week it was cancelled.
--Marian continues to prepare for Confirmation, which will be in February