Blue Shirt Bookends

L to R: Shall we have a little fun writing captions for their poses?

Paul's Aunt Jane: "Okay, I'll look your camera, Zo. No one else is paying attention."

Paul: "Just get this over with, please."

Gerard: "I'm practicing for the casket."

Tony: "How many fingers am I holding up? I can't tell anymore."

Dave: "They told me and Paul to play the part of the Blue Shirt Bookends. "






See the family resemblance in the cheekbones?
It's uncanny. They all look like their mom who passed away 3 weeks before Paul and I got married. She looked very much like her sister, Jane, pictured above.














Paul with his
younger brother
Dave's grandson, Gareth.
Paul is the only
one of his brothers
who is not yet a
grandpa. But doesn't
he look like he'll be
a good one?










The pictures above were taken at the reception of...

Danny & Lisa's

Wedding

6.26.09

I love their expressions

here. Of course, Danny's

head looks like it's attached

to the preacher's shoulders.

I wish I were gutsier

about taking pictures in
formal settings, especially

the once-in-a-lifetime ones.

But I feel so self-c0nscious.

I can "see" good shots, but

I fear I'm getting on people's

nerves when I move in/ around

to take them.

Anyway, congratulations again

to my nephew and his beautiful

new wife, Lisa. It was a long time

coming, that wedding, but gor-

geous on Rehoboth Beach.

Thanks for inviting us.

I look fat in all the pictures.

Check that. I AM fat in all

the pictures, so none of me

posted here.

I thought this was a really cool photo. I don't remember
which one of us took it. They are Sarah's flip-flops, so maybe
she did?


Myrtle Beach, 2009.

My Finished To-Do List in Verse

Woke up at seven to clear out the van
So my daughter could take it to work
And then to a concert two hours away,
"Put gas in the tank," I warned. "Don't shirk."

Ran to Walgreens for a few personal things
Drove right on by several yard sales.
We don't need more junk, so don't open the trunk
Just go home and polish your nails.

First put on gloves to tend to the gardens
You've neglected the blooms long enough.
So gardens I weeded till my strength was depleted
Then arranged a bouquet of picked stuff.

Took a nap for a smidge, then cleaned out the gross fridge,
Organized the pantry with Joel.
Then watched him bathe "Hermie" (his young hermit crab)
By dipping the chum in a bowl.

Rounded up paper for my hubby to make
Palm branches for his Sunday School lesson.
He's quite talented with a scissors and Elmer's,
His creations don't leave you a-guessin'.

He'll send for a donkey as the children wave
Branches and cry out, "Hosanna!"
He just better not tell them to coax the ass forward
By saying, "Go! Go now, Old Miss Zoanna!"

Mental Meanderings

Nothing cohesive about what's been going on between my ears. Hence the title of this post. But I do enjoy the fact that God made our brains capable of both concentrating and also firing a hundred thoughts a minute in all directions.

Here are some of my mental meanderings just today.

1. I started the day reading I Peter 1: 17-19 (I think it was). I've been trying to journal this chapter in an expository way, meditating on just one or two or three verses at a time. Today I was dwelling on the part that says that for your sakes He was made manifest. To think again that He condescended to become human, and wasn't allowed to die a natural death, but was born to die a brutal death, but most importantly to be raised from the dead so that my faith and hope would be in God. I asked for Him to help me think of His suffering more than I do about my own and to remember his resurrection every time I remember His death. His glory didn't stop at the cross.

2. Figured out a mnemonic device yesterday to help me remember something. UTAP is the order in which 4 countries in the Middle East run north to south: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan. No, it's not eternally significant, but it's helpful in the here in now, in case I ever end up in the Cash Cab or something. I shared this mnemonic device and it helped them nail their tests! I am so proud of how many of them knew the whole map of that area!

3. What cure is there for a bruised kneecap? I think that's what it is. It hurts to bend, but is fine extended. Ice and ibuprofen are my am/pm friends.

4. I am so ready for heaven.