Sunday, January 31, 2010

Stuff

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Here’s my lousy attempt to take a picture of the moon tonight.  I was sitting with Henry in the living room watching the moon move by one of the side windows.  I tried to get Dave to get a shot of it but he’s less trained on my camera than I am. 

We had lots of fun in Maryland and PA this past week.  We stayed with Rye and Tim in their beautiful new home.  We visited with Dave’s mom, sister, father and Linda (father’s wife).  We also got to see lots of friends and my family too.  The fun is always mixed with sorrow because roads, restaurants, and people spark a flow of memories of Vinny.  Last July was a bawlfest from beginning to end.  September and this time were much better.  Stacey, Rye, Dave, Henry and I went to eat at the last place we ate with Vinny a week before his death.  I’ll never forget it.  He was eating shrimp salad sandwiches.  I was eating breakfast because I was pregnant and craving it (no one knew at that point).  Vinny was on a conference call for work.  He kept getting really frustrated and walking in and out of the restaurant. 

Our ride down and back wasn’t bad with Henry.  He doesn’t love the car but he’s getting better.

Henry loved his cousin-aunt Rye’s house.  We got him a tunnel and tent at Ikea while we were down there.  He loves them!

Christopher Vincent is doing well.  I went to see him again this evening.  So precious.  His mother does not act like she just had a baby.  She’s up cleaning the room and running around.  Zac is mister family man if I ever saw one – completely committed.

Dave goes back to work tomorrow.  It’s a little sad, but I’m sort of looking forward to my new role as stay at home mom/ home improvement project manager/ business owner/ house manager and whatever else I feel like doing.  I’ll have several hours to get projects done without anyone to object.  Ha-ha.  We’ll see.  It might be wishful thinking on my part.  I’d like to break my sewing machine out of the attic and maybe paint some furniture or walls.  We’ll see.  Zac is working on the kitchen.  Hopefully I’ll have some after pictures soon.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Newest Member

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C.V.A.

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Zacchary and Stephanie Aiken are the proud parents of Christopher Vincent Aiken

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Big Sis Teagan Marie

Friday, January 29, 2010

Some Photos

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After the snow

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Small view of the bay

 

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Red Sky at night – sailor’s delight

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Watching Uncle Zac work on painting our kitchen

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Just waking up – sometime last week

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Our house on a crystal clear day

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Henry loved playing with all of Ruth’s toys!

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We crashed at Ruth and John’s in MA

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Rye and Tim’s Place in PA

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Rye’s palace

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One of Rye and Tim’s neighbors

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An attempt to snap a photo from the car window of one of the only attractive things about downtown Lancaster.  I find it very depressing but love this mural.

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From the car

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On our way home – Sweet Bologna Sausage near Lancaster – Kaufmann’s (spelling?) Market

Christopher Vincent is Here!

He arrived at 5:47 pm. We are on the road back to Maine but got a call a few hours ago with the good news. Christopher weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces. He is alert and beautiful. We can't wait to meet our little nephew. Congratulations Zac, Stephanie and Teagan!!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Visiting the Fam

We are in PA/MD visiting family.  Having lots of fun.  Henry stood on his own for a little while today at cousin Rye’s house.  He was playing with a bottle and didn’t realize he had let go of the table. 

He had fun playing in Ikea’s toy section yesterday. 

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Catsup – A Cure for the Blues

Who Knew?

My hair has slowly been turning blue from some mineral in our well water.  My hairdresser first noticed it in December.  She said she would try to fix it.  Maybe she did.  I didn’t really pay attention until a couple of weeks ago.  I had told Dave my hair was blue and he didn’t have much to say.  That day a couple of weeks ago, I was walking to the car when Dave said, “Honey, your hair is blue”.  I thought it must really be blue for my husband to take note.  Yup.  My new nickname from Dave is Mrs. Smurf.  It’s become quite the joke around here.  I have been telling people my hair is blue and most don’t seem to notice.  Until I point it out.  Then they’re like, “Wow, it is blue”.  Last week I called around desperately to a couple of salons to see if anyone was open on the holiday.  Nope.  But, my friend Jessica was kind enough to ask her drive through hair dresser (another whole story) about my hair.  Come to find out this hair dresser had the same problem where she used to live.  The solution?  Catsup or ketchup (depending on how you want to spell it).  Jessica called me right away yesterday to tell me.  It took me until this evening to want to sit for 10 minutes with it on my head.  I did it.  It worked.  Well, not completely – I think another dose or serving or whatever you want to call it and my hair will be as good as new instead of blue.  Thanks Jessica.  Thank your hair dresser!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Happy Birthday Kelly!!!

My wonderful sister in-law turns 40 today. 

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To Kelly-

We wish we could be with you to celebrate your big day in some way.  You are a very thoughtful, kind and loving person.  We thank God you are part of our family.  We love you very much.

Your Maine Family

PS – Henry misses his aunt.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A Quote from the book Crazy Love

I just started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan tonight. 

Here’s a quote -

This is why we are called to worship Him.  His art, His handiwork, and His creation all echo the truth that He is Glorious.  There is no other like Him.  He is the King of Kings, the Beginning and the End, the One Who was and is and is to come.  I know you’ve heard this before, but I don’t want you to miss it. 

I sometimes struggle with how to properly respond to God’s magnitude in a world bent on ignoring or merely tolerating Him.  But know this: God will not be tolerated.  He instructs us to worship and fear Him.

Someone I know is turning 40!! Tomorrow

Who could that be?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

What Did My Child(ren) Learn from Me Today?

by Julie Creasy

Did they learn how to stop and take time to pray,
Or to eat on the run and hurry to play?
Did they learn to be patient, understanding and kind,
Or to jump to conclusions, pass judgment so blind.
Did they learn to trust God—their troubles to bear,
Or to needlessly worry and fret without prayer?
Did they learn to be helpful, considerate and content,
Or to constantly complain and waste time spent?
Did they see me open my Bible to read,
Or was the newspaper all that I seemed to need?
Did they learn by my example to live God’s way?
Just what did my children learn from me today?

My Little Man in Portland

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Henry with Jess at a Portland Bakery

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He was getting very, very tired.  Just some more stories to tell him about his mother hauling him all over the state.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

10 Months Old on January 14

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I love this oak tree you can see from the bedroom .  This was at dusk yesterday.

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Getting ready to take a bath

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After his bath last night

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Friday, January 15, 2010

A Must Read

Same kind of different as me

Same Kind of Different as Me.  - This book is excellent.  Unbelievable.  A true story.

 

"The Word says God don't give us credit for lovin the folks we want to love anyway. No, He gives us credit for loving the unlovable."
Denver Moore (Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together)

"Our limitation is God's opportunity. When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain't nothin you can do, that's when God takes over."
Denver Moore (Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together)

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes our version of this verse goes (I heard this last night): 

But those who wait upon the Lord shall wake up to rosy circumstances

What God Says:

But those who wait upon the Lord Shall renew their strength (thank you God)

the rest of the verse -

They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Miracle

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.        Augustine

You are a miracle made by God.  :)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Carrie Aka Myriah

Just want to give a shout out to my cousin Carrie aka Rye.  That’s going to be her new name because I have decided she could be the character Carrie Heffernan on King of Queens.  K everyone?  Call her Carrie. 

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Shower for Christopher Vincent’s Mom

I

I haven’t been able to figure out the sound on my camera.  My mom took this video of me doing a belly cast on Steph’s Christopher Vincent tummy.  We had the shower today.  Steph didn’t give me permission to do this but she is adorable so I’m doing it.  The scarf around my waist is so it wouldn’t dangle into the mess.  Not that anyone else cares how weird it looks but me.

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I stole this idea from Rye. 

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Daddy came – mostly because he couldn’t take watching the Patriots getting killed by the Ravens.  Dave couldn’t have been happier.

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Beauty

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Friends

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Steph’s Mom                        Big Sister

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getting into trouble

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Christopher’s Great-Grandmother giving a devotional