Twas a Grand 4th of July...

The Keller Clan was on a mission...So much so they wouldn't stop to have a picture taken.
We gathered at the Ohio River here in Newburgh.

Marianne and fiancé, Eric.

Kellie...

Laura, Neil and Roy. (Grandpa is in the background) for a magnificent evening of fireworks.
Early in the day we shared a meal in the cool breeze of an Indiana 4th...not always so cool.

I had a difficult time deciding which of the movies I
took that would be the best. It was a GRAND
show. So here is the one I thought you might like
the best.

And so I say, God bless America, the Flag and...
Motherhood!!!

~~~~~~~/*/*/*~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Celebrate!

We have much to celebrate this 4th of July Weekend. Perhaps, taking time out to take stock of our lives is a good start to that celebration. And then thanking the Author of this celebration is essential. After offering words of gratitude, then turn our prayers to others.

This is not a lesson on prayer as, I for one, have difficulty expressing how to pray. But I have found another's lesson I'd like to share with you.

Pray for One Another

We often wonder what we can do for others, especially for those in great need. It is not a sign of powerlessness when we say: "we must pray for one another." To pray for one another is, first of all, to acknowledge, in the presence of God, that we belong to each other as children of the same God. Without this acknowledgment of human solidarity, what we do for one another does ot flow from who we truly are. We are brothers and sisters, not competitors or rivals. We are children of one God, not partisans of different gods.

To pray, that is, to listen to the voice of the One who calls us the "Beloved," is to learn that that voice excludes no one. Where I dwell, God dwells with me and where God dwells with me I find all my sisters and brothers. And so intimacy with God and solidarity with all people are two aspects of swelling in the present moment that can never be separated.

~~Here and Now
The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life
by Henri J. M. Nouwen
compiled and edited by Wendy Wilson Greer

So it is that on this weekend when we Americans have so much for which to be grateful, I encourage you all to stop and pray for each other. Pray for me! I will pray for you. Pray for peace and understanding. When we do this we know we have a captive audience, an attentive ear. Why not take advantage of it?!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

FOUR, FOUR, FOUR, FOUR MeMe

I've been tagged again. This time by Lisa. The daunting FOUR, FOUR, FOUR,FOUR! It was a lot of fun and now you know even more about me...I'm also learning more about me with each new MEME. Please feel free to laugh and make comments!

A. Four places that I go to over and over:

1. Church
2. Work
3. Target/Kohls
4. To the Ackerman House because we are lucky they live so near, otherwise I'd be at all the kids houses all the time.

B. Four people who email me regularly:

1. Kay
2. John (Ron's brother-in-law)
3. Karen
4. Catherine

C. My favorite 4 places to eat:

1. Rafferty's

2. Texas Roadhouse

3. Cracker Barrel
4. Olive Garden

D. Four places I would rather be right now:

1. Visiting all my kids wherever they may be.
2. Visiting Mom in Montana
3. The mountains of Colorado
4. On the road with Ron to wherever the travel takes us.

E. Four people I think will respond:

1. Bia
2. Cy
3. Tracy
4. Linda

F. Four TV shows I watch all the time:

1. Masterpiece (Mystery) Theater
2. NCIS
3. Monk
4. Journey Home (EWTN)

G. Four words that describe you:

1. inquisitive
2. considerate
3. gullible
4. funny (well, I think I am)

H. Four favorite "old school" Hollywood actors/actresses:

1. Jimmy Stewart
2. Paul Newman
3. Katherine Hepburn/Audrey Hepburn
4. William Powell/Myrna Loy

I. Four favorite "old school" television game shows (since I went back to work 22 years ago I not sure if some of these are still on TV:

1. The Price Is Right
2. Concentration
3. Hollywood Squares
4. Password

J. Four favorite "old school" television shows:

1. Perry Mason
2. That Girl
3. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
4. Bonanza

K. List four things you liked best about Christmas when you were a child:

1. The decorations
2. Putting up the Nativity set
3. Christmas music
4. My birthday and dinner out with Pat, my dad's cousin.

L. List four things you liked best about Halloween when you were a child:

1. The school Halloween Party
2. Candy (though it was never very much because we were only allowed to Trick-or-Treat in our neighborhood.)
3. Answering the door to see the "scary costumes" and give the candy
4. Listening to everyone's tales and adventures the next day at school

M. List four things you did not like about growing up:

1. Ironing
2. Tennis lessons (I wasn't very good and I can be too competitive)
3. Practicing the piano when my siblings got to play outside
4. Having to walk to school when friends were driven to school

N. List 4 events that impacted your life:

1. The assassinations of John Kennedy/Martin Luther King/ Bobby Kennedy
2. My marriage
3. Wes' diagnosis of diabetes at age 9

4. The privilege of being the mother of 5 children, who cause me to thank God daily for each and the treasure they are to me.

The Five Little Kellers And How They Grew
(adapted from the book, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew)

I tag those listed in letter E.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Life's Ups and Downs...

Denver - Elitch Gardens
Originally uploaded by thegabester

The last couple of days have been like a roller coaster for me...Marianne called Saturday morning to say she and Eric are officially engaged. Jimmy called later that afternoon to say he missed passing his S66 test by one point. He got a 70%, needed 71%.

Had to keep the engagement secret (NOT my place to tell everyone, Surprise!!! And not an easy task for me!). And try not to be anything but supportive of Jimmy (Yes I did cry! after I hung up the phone.)

Today he called and said he was going to get to take the test again in a month and was still working building his client base. Marianne called tonight to say they had set the wedding date...October 18, 2008.

Emotions like disappointment, excitement, hope, joy, all come to mind. In this collage of color and feelings I truly have seen and felt the hand of God. I have seen Jimmy, though disappointed, positive. Marianne joyful and excited, but just a little anxious. And ME? all the of the above!

OH! Humanity! What a wonderful creation!! Thanks be to God!!!

The Simple Women's Daybook

It's Monday and time to join The Simple Woman. It's time for The Simple Woman's Daybook. It is interesting to read other's thoughts and dreams and so again I offer mine. If any of you are interested in giving it a try visit that address above. For me this seems to be an every other Monday adventure. I enjoy it non-the-less, so join me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~ OUTSIDE MY WINDOW there is a a gentle breeze and just a sliver of the moon.
~*~ I AM THINKING with all its ups and downs, life is really very good..
~*~ I AM THANKFUL Roy and Laura for their help in putting in the railing and for Roy's in helping Ron put the new window motor in his car so his window will work.
~*~ FROM THE KITCHEN I NEED to clean up the clutter!
~*~ I AM WEARING robe and slippers. (I always seem to be doing this very early in the morning!)
~*~ I AM GOING order the prints for a picture I want to share with family.
~*~ I AM READING Job. It has helped me appreciate all GOD has given me!!!
~*~ I AM HOPING the weather for the 4th of July weekend is GRAND so we can share the glory of the outdoors.
~*~ I AM HEARING "The Sound of Silence" ( one of my favorite songs, too...)
~*~ AROUND THE HOUSE all is quiet because I am the only one up, dogs, cat and DAD are still asleep
~*~ ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS is knitting...but I made an error two rows back and now I have to tear it our...will do that today.
~*~ A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK shopping for next weekend's celebration, do the laundry, and make a couple more strawberry pies.
~*~ HERE IS A PICTURE THOUGHT I AM SHARING...

Daisies in the garden. They are especially pretty this year!

~~~

Please be sure and drop by the Simple Women and enjoy the day in the life of other fellow travelers.

~~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!

Aside...I was struck by the quote today and how it was speaking to me...Please reflect on it. It makes a great deal of sense! Again! Thanks be to God!