Year in Review

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

I'm very sad to say that I did not order enough Christmas cards this year. I am sorry if you did not receive a card. Hoping this post will suffice...

                                ~Our Christmas Tradition at the Boston Pops in December~

           Josh stayed home with Christiana so I could attend as he knows how much I enjoy it!
           

 

~Our Precious Daughter, Christiana Grace, Born In October~

 

Stefanie, Esther, Aleta & Shera
 (Sonja was with us in spirit.)

 

~Beach Front Shower in September~

 

I was blessed with a wonderful baby shower and was given so many beautiful things. My family pitched in together and bought me a Britax B-Agile car seat and stroller set which has already been invaluable. The stroller is compact and light which makes it so easy to pull out of the trunk and use. 

 

Esther flew out for the special occasion and gave the devotional which was excellent!

 

My Aunt Mary Anne was also able to attend making it extra special!

 

 

 

Such a cute cake and theme! 

 

 

~Fall and Fracture in July~

 

Not pictured (Due to unpleasantness) but equally memorable was my fractured wrist in July. I could not drive for two months. Thankful especially for my mom and Josh who drove me around and for the extra rest due to not being able to drive anywhere...like the mall etc. My cast was removed a few days before school started. Timing was Providential.

 

~ Bible Club in July~

 

Also not pictured but vey important were the 100 souls who attended our Bible Club in Somerville  over a 3 day period. Josh was great at running the program with our helpers while I rounded up the kids.



Can you find me? Aka Where's Waldo? :)

 

~New Job in February~

 

I started a new part time job as an administrative assistant/paralegal at law firm in Boston in February. The perks were an awesome view of the harbor and city, a nice boss and coworkers, and free lunch upon occasion. So thankful for the experience!

 

This year has brought many transitions, challenges and blessings. I am thankful for God's help and strength. May 2014 be a blessed year for all! Happy New Year! 

 

THANKFUL

At this time of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that Christiana Grace arrived safely on October 26, 2013, after 25 hours of labor and two days before her due date. What a surprise to go early, but the timing was perfect.

I was able to work up until the night before leaving the law firm in Boston around 9:00 p.m. after experiencing heavy cramping all day. Labor contractions started around 2:00 a.m. Friday morning, but my water did not break until 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning. After pushing for 2 hours Christiana was born at 3:30 a.m. The best and sweetest feeling to be done with the intense pain and to hold the baby. What an emotional time!

Feel free to check out my sister Shera's blog for more pictures.http://camusocapers.wordpress.com Look for her post Labor and Delivery. She was with us at the hospital and was a great support as was Josh.



 Christiana 2 Days Old!

Content in Daddy's Arms

Sound Asleep...

1st Thanksgiving at Auntie Shera's House.

And to All A Good Night!

Marathon Protection

Just a quick note of praise to God for protection.

As many of you know, I love watching the Boston Marathon. I had to work yesterday, but decided to drop by the finish line at the Marathon before I went to work in the afternoon. I arrived in the area around 2:15 p.m.

I was in the same vicinity of the explosion about 20 minutes before it took place.  I remember walking by Marathon Sports on my way down Boylston street and standing across from the Lenox hotel to watch the runners for a few minutes.

I felt a strong sense of urgency to get to work. Whether it be a foreboding about a chilling event about to take place or fear of being too late to work, I do not know. I decided to walk up Boylston to see some of the Marathon on my way back to Beacon Street and was going to stop at Starbucks on Boylston. As I contemplated my choices something told me to get to work and go to the Starbucks on Beacon.

The street crossings were blocked off due to the race so you had to loop around a side street to cross to the next corner of Boylston. Approaching the last few blocks, I decided not to continue on Boylston and switched to Newbury the street parallel to Boylston. I was walking up Newbury when the explosions took place. It sounded like heavy trucks going over an overpass or a bump on the highway. The lady next to me remarked, "I hope that is just a dump truck." I thought about a bomb, but dismissed the thought and kept walking. I heard sirens go off, but there are always sirens in Boston. I went to Starbucks, walked up Beacon and didn't realize anything was wrong until I got to work and Josh was calling me.

Needless to say, I  could not focus for the rest of the afternoon.  Had I not gone to work, I may have very well been standing in that same vicinity of the explosion as it is my favorite spot to watch the Marathon. Praise God for His protection.

Unbeknownst to me, my Dad and a young man from church were passing out tracts on Boylston Street. Earlier in the day, my Dad parked his car in front of one of the historical churches on that street. He spoke to the tour guide and asked the price for the tour. Being as it wasn't free, he didn't take the tour. Ha, ha!  My dad inadvertently dropped his keys and was looking all around for them before leaving the car. The same tour guide noticed this. Later, when someone miraculously turned in the keys that were found on the ground, he remembered seeing my Dad look for them.

Around 2:00 p.m,. my Dad arrived back to the car and was again looking for his keys. He called my mom and asked her to call the company to see if they would make a duplicate. Meanwhile, his plan was to walk back to the lost and found tent for the Marathon to see if his keys had showed up there.The same tour guide noticed that he was again looking for something and asked if the keys belonged to him. This is no small miracle. Had the keys not been turned in to that man, my dad most likely would have been up at the lost and found tent close to the explosion. The fact that the keys were turned in to the tour guide is no small miracle especially on such a crowded street in Boston.

My dad drove off and was out of the area when the explosion took place.

A verse that comes to mind. "The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7

 Thank God for his protection!

Beautiful Music

One of my favorite musical recordings of all time is, "Rhapsody of Love" by Linda McKechnie. She also happens to be my mom's cousin on the Marsh side of the family. :) Linda's brother, Don Marsh, works with her to orchestrate and produce her recordings.

This cd combines classical music with love songs in a quality and non offensive fashion.    
You can listen to samples of this cd and others at the website link below.
http://www.lindamckechnie.com/rhapsodyoflove.html

Linda has released other recordings as well such as "Hymnworks" and "Symphony of Praise." I used a few of her arrangements in my wedding. The mothers were seated to her arrangement of "O Perfect Love with Meditation by Thais" and my bridesmaids and I walked into her arrangement of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Fairest Lord Jesus."

Once in a while when I am having an emotionally "raw" day, I play this cd as my students are doing their "seat work"  It can be a great solace to the soul. I also play classical music on a daily basis in my classroom. It cheers me and is great exposure for my students and calms their spirits. I highly recommend this for anyone who teaches at home or school. It can really be an asset to the atmosphere.

I usually don't listen to music in the classroom that I know the words to as it distracts me mentally, but once in a while I will play a Sunday School song cd if we need the boost at the beginning of the day. We also sing along to a few of the songs at our opening pledges time.

Music has played an important role in my life. I am grateful that my mom taught me to discern and appreciate beautiful music. Sadly much of the music released in our Christian circles is "twangy" and lacking quality. I think it is extremely important to expose our students and families to beautiful and classy music. And if we can cheer ourselves along the way even better!

Happy Listening!