Spring Break Vacation

We're back from a wonderful spring break vacation.  Our trip was broken up into 3 mini trips.
The first trip was to St. Augustine FL to see our friends the Simonsons.  We met them in 2003 when their son played football with ours.  We moved away to NC and shortly thereafter, they moved to St. Augustine FL.  We've seen them a few times since they moved.  It was fun spending time with them again.

We enjoyed the beach.

We took a train ride and explored the beautiful, historical city of St. Augustine

We pretended we were fountains.

We went out to dinner

We ate super expensive ice cream in a quaint little sweets shop.

Just look at the delectables 

We had fun and really enjoyed this part of our trip.
Thanks Simonson Family!  Maybe we can visit again next spring!

Irish Blessings

Some say they believe in the Luck o' the Irish.  I'm more in line to appreciate an Irish Blessing over luck.
Here are some lovely Irish Blessings I found online today.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Bless This House

Bless this house, o Lord, we pray. Make it safe by night and day. Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out. Bless the roof and chimney tall, Let thy peace lie over all. Bless the doors that they may prove Ever open to joy and love. Bless the windows shining bright, Letting in God's heavenly light. Bless the hearth a-blazing there, With smoke ascending like a prayer. Bless the people here within... Keep them pure and free from sin. Bless us all, that one day, we May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

Thank You for blessing us with a warm, cozy home Lord.

Irish Marriage Blessing

May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

This is the wall in our living room where I have our family photos.  Thank you Lord for such a wonderful husband and children.

From Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be with me Christ before me Christ behind me Christ in me Christ beneath me Christ above me Christ on my right Christ on my left Christ where I lie Christ where I sit Christ where I arise Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me Christ in every eye that sees me Christ in every ear that hears me Salvation is of the Lord.

Thank you Lord for your word that guides me daily and for the freedom to worship how and where I like.

May the blessing of the rain be on you—
the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up,
and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessing of the great rains be on you,
may they beat upon your spirit
and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there many a shining pool
where the blue of heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.




It is beginning to look like spring here in Southern Indiana.  I looked outside and saw the crocus beginning to bloom.  Spring reminds me of new beginnings.  God's mercy (his willingness to forgive us daily for our sins), are new beginnings we can have each and every day.

Today is the first day of the March Joy of Luck photography assignment.

Today's focus is on opportunity/experience/something you have/do EVERYDAY that is an unforeseen blessing in your life. 

And one more, just for fun......


May the frost never afflict your spuds.
May the leaves of your cabbage always be free from worms.
May the crows never pick your haystack.
If you inherit a donkey, may she be in foal.

Not a Good Day

"Not a good day", that's the text message I got with this photo attached.  Last Friday, Dennis was out of town on business.  He was driving through town and a Range Rover merged into his lane.  After a few minutes the Range Rover man slammed on his brakes and nearly missed hitting the car in front of him.  HOWEVER, Dennis wasn't so lucky. If that's not bad enough, there's more.   His truck was towed to a local lot in the town he was working in and is being held there until the adjuster can come access the damage.  While in the lot someone smashed in the passenger window and stole the FACTORY RADIO!  Who wants a Ford factory radio???   Not a good day!