Grateful Prayer | Thankful Heart

Cousins Camp ~ Part 1

By Lorraine

We had an action packed July with grandkids and I know they are looking forward to seeing photos of our adventures together.  It will probably take me all of August just to recap July!
I guess I will start with this week and work backwards 😉

Cousins Camp

 
~ DAY 1 ~
 
Cousins Camp began by meeting at a halfway point (Clarks Summit, PA) to pick up our New York grandchildren.
We had lunch with their parents then piled the kids and luggage into our car for a week long adventure.
 

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Oh, my Chloe Dear!

By Lorraine

The other night my phone sounded that a message came in.
It was from Chloe
Just as you guessed,  I have watched this sweet 25 second video over and over and over 
As promised, we met up with PopPop for our annual Shamrock Shake lunch
at playland
with Cambrie 
 hello, Chloe!
Aunt Abbey was able to stop in from work as well and give a hug to Jethro
Chloe’s newborn shamrock shake face
and last years sweet little face
This little leapling will be turning 2 in a few days ~ can you believe it?

Jethro’s Turn…

By Lorraine

…to have his photo taken in PopPop’s christening outfit

I have photos of all but two grandchildren in this vintage romper as well as our youngest daughter, Abbey who is now 22 years old.  Somehow, I missed grandchildren, Keri and Noah and never thought of it when our older girls were babies. That makes me a little sad since it has now become a tradition.

 

Cardinal in Winter

By Lorraine

I saw a cardinal on a branch outside our powder room window. I was able to get a few photos. I wanted to add a verse or poem for my Sunday post but couldn’t find something I liked. Our granddaughter, Keri Jill, told me she likes to write poetry and in a few minutes read to me the following short and sweet poem about a cardinal in winter.Continue Reading

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?

Our handsome, Joe married to … 

 our niece, Toni (with her cousin, Jamie’s baby Jethro) (1st cousin once removed?)

my sister, Carol, Toni, totally enjoying baby Jet and my niece, Eva 

 my brother, Frank and our son-in-law, Brad

 my sister-in-law, Arlene and our daughter Jill

 Carol, me, Carol’s daughter Chris and Chris’ daughter Alexis

Sweet Chloe
Abbey with her boyfriend, Ryan, a very nice mutual friend and our grandson, Jared

 Little one enjoying a movie in Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop’s room

Many years ago, our sister-in-law began a tradition of snapping Christmas photos of my brother (her husband) my sister and I.

 They have become cherished memories for each of us.

shivering kiddos giving their good-byes before cousins head home to upstate NY
~ regretfully, I did not get photos with Jamie, Josh, John, or niece Caitee ~

{happy sigh}… next comes January. A welcome time for me after the (enjoyable) hustle and bustle.
I love the newness of January and the whiteness of snow (hopefully) and a time to refresh.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Love each other deeply

By Lorraine

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
Matthew 19:5-6

Our sweet niece, Courtney married her beloved, Steve this weekend
 the ceremony (above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)
(above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)
 dancing with her dad
(Wes is my husband’s brother)
 Courtney and Wes
(Top) three of our four daughters: Jamie, (who is expecting her seventh baby next month), me, our oldest, Erin and our youngest, Abbey.  Jamie’s twin sister, Jill was not able to travel down for the wedding.

Having fun in the photo booth!
Josh and Jamie, Abbey, John and I. Just couldn’t coax Erin and AJ to join us for this silliness!

do you suppose it was John’s glasses and sombrero that scared them away 😉 

when you take a boy fishing…

By Lorraine

he concentrates on everything his PopPop says to catch his first fish
 then littlest sister picks up a pole, casts the line and in an instant, gleefully catches her first fish
 before you know it, another sister takes a turn and catches her first fish
 then somehow, a friendly competition begins as his mom and dad try to out-fish each other
{but mom has the advantage of fishing this same lake a gazillion times when her dad brought her as a kid} 
 someone (Aunt Abbey) determines to get that BIG one everyone sees swimming near the water edge
(but settles for a small sunnie)
there are lots of laughs over yucky worms and  hearing dad moan as he untangles lines
and messy moments pulling the hook out of the fish before tossing him back
(not to mention the expression of someone when a flipping fish splatters, splashes and slaps about their face)
when you take a boy fishing
everyone has a good time

Sharing: Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

together

By Lorraine

 An impromptu overnight visit from Jill and family was super special!
They were returning from a week-long vacation in Myrtle Beach and made the 10-hour drive to our home to rest up before continuing another 5.5 hours to their NY home the next day.
See the center photo above… Ryan happily completed his first 5-mile run with his mom!
 We made the most of their time here by having all of the cousins together on this hot, humid day.
Since it was another stormy day, the boys laughed and played on their various devices.
 And the girls played dress-up and giggled a lot
 Chloe tried to sweet-talk PopPop into giving her the cell phone
Abbey had just a few okay hours after her wisdom teeth extractions before a week long time of great discomfort. Her face is puffy in these photos taken at the Gazebo on Main Street of our town.

they call me mom

By Lorraine

my blessings…
Erin Lee ~ Jill Arlene ~ Jamie Lorraine ~ Abbey Diane
~ ♥ ~ â™¥ ~ â™¥ ~ â™¥ ~ 
The Lord bless you

and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26


If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.
Robert Brault

My New Favorite Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

By Lorraine

Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine's Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal. 
 I recently saw Lidia Bastianich prepare Fettuccine Alfredo using just a few ingredients. Although I already have a favorite recipe, I know it is high in calories. I made this version lighter and love how quickly it comes together as the pasta is cooking.  Don’t be afraid to use the sage ~ it infuses just a hint of flavor.
Sage-infused Fettuccine Alfredo is an easy recipe for a lighter, healthier version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Serve with a crisp salad or topped with grilled chicken for a lovely Easter dinner, romantic Valentine’s Day or whenever you want a special pasta meal.Continue Reading

What’s Been Happening

By Lorraine

 Our baby celebrated her 21st birthday with a little help from some of her nieces and nephews.
Flowers from my garden decorated a yellow cake with her favorite Fluffy Chocolate Frosting

Raider creatively arranged the pillow for his snooze on the sofa.
In the spring we contacted our township about a tree at the curb that was in decline.  They arrived today to remove it.
 The township planted trees in our neighborhood many years ago and sadly some of them are now in need of removal.
 I saw what is probably one of the last hummers of the season at the feeder.
And something that makes me very happy…
I got my new-to-me car in the garage!
The past few weeks I have been working diligently downsizing and disposing of things we don’t need.
I have gone through every closet, nook and cranny.
It feels much better already and reminds me of a song from a while back that I loved by Sara Groves and Joel Hanson called Traveling Light.
Well I was doubling over the load on my shoulders
Was a weight I carried with me everyday
Crossing miles of frustrations and rivers a raging
Picking up stones I found along the way
I staggered and I stumbled down
Pathways of trouble
I was hauling those souvenirs of misery
And with each step taken my back was breaking
‘Til I found the One who took it all from me

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Through the darkest alleys and loneliest valleys
I was dragging those heavy chains of doubt and fear
Then with the one word spoken the locks were broken
Now He’s leading me to places
Where there are no tears

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Down by the riverside
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

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