beautiful day

The weather has been spectacular the past week or so...finally. I guess that's why I haven't blogged. It's too pretty to be inside. No really, I'm just a bad blogger;-)

Last Saturday was the diocesan rally. It was w o n d e r f u l . It was a long, long day (8 am to 10 pm) , but so much fun. Father Tony Ricard was the keynote speaker (www.fathertony.com) This was the 3rd time I have seen him. Last year at L.A congress, this year at congress, then at the diocesan rally. He really is incredible. Kathy and I joked about moving to New Orleans just so he would be our priest. We talked with him a bit, and had our picture taken with him. He came out and talked with Kathy, John, Jo, Alicia and me later on during a break too. The kids absolutely love him.

Joseph, Derek, Patty and Drake performed during the ' band a thon' at the rally too. I got teary eyed. My BABY....performing in front of a few hundred people! There were people dancing even! They had people come up to them afterwards and tell them they were awesome. I was (am) so proud :*)


We got the garden in today! Praise the Lord. Its a couple of weeks late getting planted because the garden was so.freaking.wet. but with the warm weather, we finally got it tilled, composted and planted. We planted tomatoes (Better Boy, Early Girl and romas), zucchini, crookneck squash, eggplant, green and yellow bell peppers, green beans, onions, cucumber and corn. I also got my herbs planted...basil, 2 kinds of oregano, coriander and chives. I have rosemary and sage growing already. I hope we have a good harvest;-)

Tomorrow we're going to Petaluma for the street antiques fair. We're going early so we can be back for youth group...but early is fun. It won't be so hot, and hopefully I will find some treasures:)

koo koo ka choo

I love this! Make sure your speakers are on.


http://decider.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

peace be with you

You Are a Peacemaker Soul

You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can.War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace.You are a good mediator and a true negotiator.Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy. While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental.You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take.On the flip side, you've got a graet sense of humor and wit.You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice. Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul

taxman

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
If you drive a car, I'll tax the street
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet
Taxman
'Cause I'm the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman
Don't ask me what I want it for (ha ha Mr. Wilson)
If you don't want to pay some more (ha ha Mr. Heath)
'cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me

I finally got ours done tonight.
I have been procrastinating. We're getting a nice refund from Uncle Sam but have to pay Arnie& Co. a couple hundred.

I have a headache. I don't like numbers:/

monday monday

It's been a busy few days. Friday night was the last soup & stations at church for the season. It figures, there were only 3 posts of soup this week, and we had a big crowd. I can't remember who sponsored it, but they weren't very organised:/ Fr. Mike showed up too. It's the first time he has graced us with his presence all Lent.

Saturday morning was Confirmation. The youth group had to be there as we had to help with the reception afterwards. I knew we had to set up, but what I didn't know was that every room in the hall was still set up for class, so we had to bust down tables and put away chairs before we could even set up the punch and cookies. Because of that, I didn't get to see any of the Confirmation Mass:(

We went out to dinner Saturday night, to Mary's Pizza Shack.
http://www.maryspizzashack.com They have the best raviolis, and you can get half orders, which is perfect for me.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Chris worked in the yard, and Joseph and I went up to Davis for a little while before he had choir practice. Mass was nice. I always get teary eyed during the reading of the Passion. The church looked beautiful, and the choir sounded great.

Today Joseph spent most of the day over at Derek's, practicing for the band a thon at the diocesan rally on the 22nd. They have picked out some good songs to play. A Place In This World by Michael W Smith, Keep Walking On by Faith Hill, Winners and Losers by Social Distortion, Every Rose Has its Thorn by Poison, Knocking on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan and Live Before You Die, by Social Distortion. One of the songs has to be religious (Michael W Smith) and the others can be secular but have a positive meaning. I hope the kids do well.

Tonight I spent packing, because we leave bright and early tomorrow morning for Disneyland! We'll be back Friday.

I've never done the Thursday Thirteeen yet, so here goes:

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME 1. Shelly is my middle name 2. Shelly, not Shelley 3. My first name is Karen 4. My mother thought I was twins. "We" were going to be Karen Shelly and Shannon Kelly. 5. Shelly is from a surname which was originally derived from a place name meaning "clearing on a bank" in Old English 6. Karen is the Danish form of Katharine, which means pure. 7. I wanted my name to be Michelle, becauseof the beatles song;) I got to choose my granddaughter's middle name. I picked Michelle. 8. I have had lots of nicknames over the years 9. Shellybean 10. Shellbell 11. Sea Shell 12. Shells (in high school mostly) 13. My close friends call me Shell :-) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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bright, bright sunshiny day

The sun is shining! It has rained for almost 2 weeks straight, and this is the first day of sunshine we have had.

I want to go play.

I have a ton of things to do here, and Joseph has school work to do, but I really want to go somewhere.

*whine*

amen and hallelujah

I got back last night from the L.A. Congress. It was so awesome. I am so glad I went for the whole thing this year.

Thursday was Youth Day. The kids had a ball. After the opening ceremonies, Cardinal Mahony said Mass in the morning, then we went to our workshops. We saw "The Bible Geek" Mark Hart. He was powerful. He is from Lifeteen www.lifeteen.com. When Josephine and I went to get his book afterwards, Joseph told me to tell Mark how much HE was touched by listening to him :*)

We also saw Father Tony Ricard from New Orleans. www.fathertony.com. We heard him speak last year too. Thursday night we met with a couple of other parishes for pizza, then a 'social'. Joseph brought his guitar down, so he and Derek played for the other kids. I think they have their first groupies, LOL. After they played, 2 girls came up to them and told them how good they were, and asked if they are going to be playing in the battle of the bands at the Diocesan Rally in a couple of weeks, and that they would cheer them on.

Friday was a free day. We all walked to Downtown Disney and had lunch then went shopping. Father Humberto went along. It was interesting to see him 'off duty'. He is still a kid, and the kids adore him;-) He and Joseph talked music, and when Therese bought a Disney soccer ball, he was kicking it around with them. He hit me in the head, not once but twice. The second time, when I turned around and said, "You again??" he giggled like a 12 year old.

The kids and other chaperones flew back Friday evening, and Josephine and I went out to dinner, then Victor, Andrea and her assistant (can't remember her name) brought some wine to Jo's suite. It was nice to sit, relax and visit. I raised a glass in Denine's honor, since it was her birthday. (See, I remembered)

Saturday morning we got up and went to workshops. Mine was great! I learned so much. I am energized and refreshed, and ready for religious ed. tomorrow. After the workshops, we went shopping in the arena. There were over 700 vendors there. I won't tell you how much I spent....I ended up getting 9 CDs and about 20 books....not to mention a few tee shirts. That doesn't count all the samples I brought home. I am lucky I have an understanding husband, and money to spend;-)

Saturday night was the big concert in the Arena. The band was a w e s o m e. The name of the band is Ceili Rain (of couse it has to have the name RAIN in it, lol) www.ceilirain.com They are incredible. I got a giggle out of watching priests and nuns up and dancing....in a conga line.
After the concert we went over to the Marriott for a late dinner.

Yesterday, Jo and I were both exausted. We slept in then went back over to the arena to pick up a few last minute things. We flew back home about 2:30.

I can't wait for next year.