When we're helping were happy.....

According to the book The Five Love Languages (which I have always taken with a grain of salt) my love language is "acts of service" and nothing says, " I love you Mom" more than having a tool in your hand. My kids must really love me this year! And we love Heather, too! We had a great time helping her get ready for little Charlotte and also spending the day together as a family--although Jessica and Zac were sorely missed, but there in spirit!

Love you Mom!

Love you Mom!

Love you Sweetheart!

 Love you Mom!

 I don't need a Mom, but I will still vacuum and help Heather!

 The "Spirit" was present all day! (And so was Karsten--love you Mom!)

 A BooBoo story after Eli fell and had a booboo!

 I got to do the fun stuff!

 Heather and Charlotte looking so chic!

And the rest of the pictures are for Jessica so she can see how darling everything is--we are ALL so ready!

Only a Nana knows how this guy warms my heart and puts a smile on my face--my first grandson and boy does he know how to work!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Pink!!

There is something about the color pink that causes women to open their wallets--and in this case Baby Charlotte was our "Project Runway!"

She wasn't the only beneficiary, as a shower is an occasion for the aunts and cousins to catch up and of course eat--tonite it was Cafe Rio!

Does anyone need to "pin" this on pinterest?

Lots of talk about upcoming weddings, finals and who is dating who (or not dating who).

We dusted off the quilting frames--literally, but we still have it in us and even finished it in one sitting!

Heather and her favorite aunt! (so they each said)

Aaaaaah--so cute!

It's a pink party dress!

Cousins first, Friends forever!

Cheryl got to break out the pink food coloring--for one night only now it is back to wedding cakes and white!

She's the Yellow Rose of Texas--

So I waited until a cold, rainy day in Utah to post my pictures of warm and sunny Texas, with its lush green lawns and balmy parks. Perhaps, it is not this way year around but I know for a week in April the weather is absolutely gorgeous and the flowers are Garden of Eden like!!

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the goldfish!

John, Jessica and James--all is well with the Gregory Family--and hip, hip hooray, they are remaining stateside for the time being!

Oh, how we ate and the surroundings were four-star with squirrels and bluejays in the background and John's new found bar-be-que talents keeping us fed nightly.

Even breakfast was gourmet!

On the night of the Big Rain (the biggest I have ever seen) we braved the elements for the CrawDad Festival--a blast back to my Cajun Roots!

Beach Day--the water was warmer than the air, but I did manage a good sunburn to bring home as a souvenir!

(Not James though, as Jessica was ever vigilant with the sunscreen)

 I love this picture because it captures Jessica-she says blogging makes her look at the world more optimistically--she has taught me to do the same and for this I will ever be grateful.

Jessica taught me that even a trip to WalMart can be a photo-op (and I taught her that buying flowers can be a zen experience-even at WalMart!)

But, the real "zen" is Jessica's backyard--what a little respite from the world!

This was our walking tour of Galveston--besides Cajun Blood-my Ussery line takes me back to my Texas roots and something in my genes says I could be very happy living as a Southern Belle!

Butterfly Gardens--I want one!

And finally, since James was born, Burley the bike trailer has been a part of his life, so imagine my amusement to watch Jessica pulling him and at least forty people, stopping, pointing, laughing, and commenting--moms don't pull babies in bike trailers in Texas and she made quite the impression out there...wait until she is pulling two--they would have really laughed to see her pulling him in one of these on the ski slopes!!

More pictures of my fun week can be seen at jessicaandjohn.blogspot.com/. Thanks for a much needed break from the cold and my regular routine!

Hippity, Hoppity

Easter was warm and sunny, church was beautiful and dinner was delicious--if I do say so myself!

Let the hunting begin--you will notice that Dave is not in the picture-and I don't think he has forgiven us, even though Steve explained that this year's hunt was taking place under the Obama administration and there had to be cutbacks!

 Nevertheless, everyone  found enough for 

at least a gallon of gas

 And, maybe Isaac will share!

Are you ready for some baseball?

Or not!

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail!

The centerpiece actually made it through the Easter season--now it is fair game if you want a rock hard Peep!

 Eli is Four and Isaac is Seven--when did that happen!

New Hope....

 Everywhere I look, up and down the street is a reminder of the "New Hope" of Spring and the promise of rebirth. In our darkest hours, Steve has constantly reminded our family--we live on New Hope not No Hope....I love our street, but I especially love it in the spring!

This was posted on my FaceBook page today. It is a quote from one of my favorite writers and teachers, Joseph Campbell. He said,

 "‎"If we think of the Crucifixion only in historical terms we lose the reference of the symbol immediately to ourselves. Jesus left his mortal body on the cross, the sign of the earth, to go to the Father with whom he was one. We, similarly, are to identify with the eternal life that is within us. The symbol at the same time tells us of God's willing acceptance of the cross - that is to say, of participation in the trials and sorrows of human life in the world. So that He is here within us - not by way of a fall or a mistake, but with rapture and joy. Thus the cross has a dual sense - one, our going to the divine, and the other, of the divine coming to us. It is a true cross-ing.

"What has always been basic to resurrection, or Easter, is crucifixion. If you want to resurrect, you must have crucifixion. Too many interpretations of the Crucifixion have failed to emphasize that. They emphasize the calamity of the event. And if you emphasize calamity, then you look for someone to blame. That is why people have blamed the Jews for it. But it is not a calamity if it leads to new life. Through the Crucifixion we are unshelled, we are able to be born to resurrection. That is not a calamity. We must look freshly at this so that its symbolism can be sensed.

"St. Augustine speaks of going to the Cross as a bridegroom to his bride. There is an affirmation here. In the Prado is a great painting by Titian of Simon of Cyrene as he willingly helps jesus with the cross. The picture captures the human participation, the free, voluntary participation we all must have in the Easter-Passover mystery."