12 / year...July

If you want to play along, please do. No quality or quantity limits...no time limits (except it would probably be a good idea to do one a month ...that's kind of the idea). Other than one a month, do whatever you like. I will too. Some months may be busy and fun, some may be boring. You can be artistic or not, just show life, or be symbolic. You choose it all!

You are welcome to snatch my image, if you create your own 12/year post. Just leave a comment here so I can come and see what you did in June.

The month began with clean up from the great home "renocation" (renovation in lieu of vacation) -- we replaced all the floors in the kitchen, hall, dining room, and living room with wood. Everything in the kitchen and dining room hutch, as well as the living room furniture and shelves had to be packed just as if we were moving. The boxes had to be cleared out into the garage and then, of course, afterward unpacked and everything put away. Why is it that the putting away takes so much longer than the packing?

The final product:

The living room is not quite finished -- we are waiting on a new piece of furniture, but for now part of the "new" is in place. I bought a couple of these chairs and a little love seat to match. I love them. All the buttons are a different fabric. I have never before had "whimsical" in my house, but now I do.

Fourth of July

Of course we had to get the house in order right away for out-of-town company on the Fourth.

I didn't take many pictures, but I did get one of this impressive dessert, inspired by Jessica

and these lovely sparklers -- my aunt Annette (she hates when I call her aunt, but she is my uncle's wife), my mom, and Faith.

Our Lady of Grace for my birthday. She looks diminutive here, but that's a really large tree. I think she needs to be surrounded by Forget-me-nots.

The first week of the month was our last few day Enthroning the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our home.

I know I promised a post about the process and I will do that this week. It was a really good thing. Like God-is-good good.

A beautiful crucifix from my dear friend Gina for my birthday. It reminded me so much of the Papal crucifix made popular by our beloved Blessed (to-be saint) Pope John Paul II. This monstrance holds a second class relic of that beloved saint so I thought they belonged together on the living room wall.

a beautiful half moon on a clear night

The stole. I know you've seen images of this stole a hundred times already (slight exaggeration), but, hey, it consumed a lot of the month. And today, on this last day of the month, I spoke on the phone to Fr. Howe, for whom the stole was commissioned. A sweeter young man I have never spoken to. I told my husband that if my son was that sweet and that composed and that, well, holy, I would be like Simeon and say "I could die a happy woman today." Maybe that's a little dramatic but he was absolutely darling.

And since his mom shared this picture with me, on the occasion of his first Mass, I'm going to share it as well, because he is just a beautiful man, and I hope one day that I can kiss his hands. Janette, you can ask me to take this down if you want. I won't be offended. ;-)

I learned through Janette and her son about an order of nuns who have seminars, infrequently, but nevertheless, to teach vestment making. It's on my sooner-than-bucket-list, if you know what I mean.

After a baby shower my mom and sister-in-law and Faith attended for my cousin Amy, I took a picture of this picture from my wedding album to send to Amy's mother-in-law. Amy and Jill were our flower girls (our little ring bearer, Joe, is now married and the father of many -- I feel soooo old). Amy is on the left in the picture and our Jill is on the right. Amy is just so cute there, and 3D pictures of her little girl in utero look just like her!

Just an FYI...Our wedding was held in the Mother of Mercy chapel at St. Charles 

(Doug is an alum as are two of our sons, and the third is there now)

 and Joshua and Taylor plan to be married there as well. Sniff.

I'll see you at the end of August with another edition.