Winner

Kate was the big winner this year! She won both contests that are part of our Spring traditions. She spotted the first robin and she also found the most eggs in our annual Easter egg hunt. Yay Kate!

Thursday

Right now it is so cold outside, you would not think that it was spring. Brrr! I am wearing my flannel PJ's and I'm still cold. Anyway, it may be cold but the tree that the kids gave to Jim for his 50th birthday is in full beautiful bloom.

So cold and windy outside.

Good Saturday

Kate and I attended a Beth Moore simulcast "So long Insecurity" in Trumbull on Saturday. I was pretty pumped when Kate told me that she wanted to go. Imagine if my daughter were able to shed her insecurities at her age and not hold on to them as long as I have. It would be pretty amazing! Also, any day that Kate and I spend together is pretty great. We laugh alot! I love being with her. She is just the right mix of sweet and spice.
At the close of the program (heard by 300,000. women across North American) the two of us joined hands while we looked into each others eyes. Just holding her hands and looking into her beautiful eyes started my tears. I took a deep breath and we repeated these words to each other. Kate was overwhelmed as well and in the middle of speaking...and well, she could no longer speak. She managed to choke out "I am saying these words to you on the inside". It was the sweetest moment. Here are the words...

My Dear Sister(I said daughter),
If Christ is Your Savior...you are the dwelling place of his own Spirit. You have it IN YOU to be secure. Every day of your life..you have a choice to make.You can live in your old defeat, or you can turn from your unbelief and choose life. Make up your mind to put off the old you and put on the new you. Never, ever, ever forget that the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. He will take care of you to your very last breath. Now, leave this place and go out into the world and act like a person who knows she’s dearly loved. You were born to be exceptional. So, Girlfriend (daughter), go forth and walk worthy of your calling.You are clothed in strength and dignity! Now unto Him who can keep you from falling, be glory and majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever more. Amen. So Long, Insecurity!!

Saturday Party

Our friends Bob and Karen will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary on May 10. Their daughters and son-in laws gave them a lovely surprise party yesterday afternoon. We were all treated to an afternoon at "Hot Tamales" in Seymour. While enjoying the yummy Mexican food we got to stroll down memory lane with the Donovan family. They had miniature replica made of their wedding cake, had them play a "test your knowledge" about each other game, and put together a power point presentation of their years together that started with their dating years and brought us right up to the present. They even danced to the music of their first wedding dance...so sweet. Their kids did a great job pulling it all together and made it possible for all of us to rejoice over this marriage that has lasted and prospered. It was the best kind of day.



Surprise



Kelley

Bekka

and Rachel starting the party off right with a few words and the blessing

The Debeau's even came all the way from North Carolina. Notice anything new about Jim?

Love these folks!

Debeau kids and grandkids

Baby David making Mary Butkus smile

Happy boy

Dancing to their wedding song

The groom feeds the bride...

Mother daughter moment

2 of my very favorite people. Love them! Congratulations on 35 years!

Hurray for Spring!

Spring is really here. The street sweepers were out last week brushing up the sand residue from our snowy winter. Warm days and cool nights...my fav!

This is the second weekend of yard related chores. Last weekend Zachary was here pitching in. He is back at school so that means I need to get out there and do my part. All of the flower beds need to be cleaned out and raked before Jim puts down the fertilizer. He did one last weekend, and I did one yesterday. This is the first year that the deer have not nibbled the daffodils and tulips down to the nubs. The daffodils have been in bloom for about a week and some of the tulips have their buds. It is kind of fun to clear away the dead stems and debree from last years plants and flowers and see what is popping up. Last year Zach dug up a huge non-blooming hydrangea and I transplanted close to one that blooms profusley. I was happy to see new green growth on it yesterday. Also, the cherry tree that the kids gave to Jimmy last year has many delicate pink buds up and down the branches. So happy that it survived it's first winter!

Well, I should wrap this up and get outside. Happy spring cleaning everyone!

Easter Sunday

It is Easter morning. I am sitting in my chair waiting for the kids and Jim to wake up. Gone are the days when the kids would wake me up...eager to find their baskets and hunt for eggs. Now, I wait on them. Time has sure changed things.
The sun is just starting to burn off the foggy haze that I woke up to. After all of the mornings Easter fun we will head off to church. The four of us. I will have a happy heart today for so many reasons...celebrating the risen savior tops the list and coming in at second...2 of my children will be beside me in church.
Happy Easter family and friends. Love you.

Jim and Patti

With Zach at school and Kate working 2 jobs and taking 2 classes, Jim and I are pre-empty nesters. It is really the best of both worlds. We get alot of alone time and both kids still call our house---home. Unlike most, I am not looking forward to the "empty nest". I love having my kids around me and if John and Cassie called tomorrow and asked to move in..I would be delighted. Jim and I didn't know much when we got married, but one thing we did know is that we wanted a big family. Unfortunately, we ran out of time (and money) to add more to our bunch.
Whew. What I am getting around to is Jim and I spent all day together running Easter errands and having some fun in between. And then Kate, Zach, and Tina were around last night for a bit to liven things up.

After picking up the Easter ham we had lunch at the Stratford boat launch. Then we drove down to Lordship and walked along the seawall.

It was such a clear day that you could see all the way to Long island.

I did not know that Stratford had a working lighthouse. Jim drove us down a hidden road so that I could see it.

The cemetery was one of our stops. Kate and Zach had put in some plants and we wanted to see their handiwork. This is Jim's weird sense of humor. I don't think Arlene would have liked it at all.

Tofu felt the same way!

Back home, I quickly boiled up the eggs to be colored. I had a mini Easter miracle. None of the eggs cracked while boiling!

So pretty. After our time in Milford and Stratford....Jim was missing our Mom's. He made eggs for Audrey and Arlene. :)

Random Friday

It is Easter weekend and I am over the moon because I have 3 days off in a row. I have not had Good Friday off in well...ever. Zachy doodle is home and that makes me very happy. He helped Jim out in the yard ALL day yesterday for the big Spring clean up. The sun was shining and the temp was around 70. They both worked very hard, thatching the lawn with the tractor and then raking up all of the dead grass. A few of the flower beds got cleaned out as well. Meanwhile, I cleaned the entire downstairs top to bottom. It felt wonderful to throw open the windows and make everything spic and span! I just don't have the time to keep up with the cleaning like I used to and so I am always happy when I can set aside an entire day to catch up. Kate came homearound 5 and helped out with the last bit of raking. They all came in around 6:30....sore (Jim) sunburned and tired. We showered and jumped in the car and headed to Maggie Mcflys in Southbury for a much deserved dinner out. It was a great day! Taking a break

clean

clean

clean

clean

clean

If the Easter Bunny decides to stop by...he has a clean house to hide the eggs :)

Hope that you are having a great weekend too!