Clementine in Hamilton

I bought my first house in Hamilton (a neighborhood in Baltimore) in 2001. The neighborhood had a lot of charm but definitely was transitional. Myriah threw me a surprise shower at a local Hamilton restaurant just down the road from where I used to live. First of all I was shocked how Myriah pulled off such a wonderful shower in such a short amount of time and ... I was shocked how up and coming the Hamilton downtown area is. I love the place we had the shower - so cool. There is a picture of it above.

Thank you Rye - you are the best!!! Love you tons!!

We're Baaaaaaaaaaaaaack

We're back from our trip to PA/MD. It was very eventful (in a good way) and we had a great time. I think I need to do several posts just to capture all of the details.

Thank you to my cuzzy for our luxurious accommodations and all the wonderful things she did.

Happy Birthday Hana & Sam

My niece Hana's birthday was Sunday and my cousin-nephew (a title his mother created) Sam's birthday is Friday. Happy birthday and love you both!

Sorry - I don't have a picture of you on this computer Sam-you-smell

Thankful

Thanksgiving should be everyday but it's easy to get caught up in our plans and daily routine. I have been inspired by another blogger to thank God for so many things in my life.

Thank you God for (not in any order):

- my salvation
- That it is finished
- for the freedom to worship You in this country
- for my naughty dog that is trying to eat my dinner right now
- my husband who knows You and loves You
- my unborn child
- my mother
- My Aunt Annie - who is a prayer warrior and my faithful blog reader (maybe the only reader :) )
- my brothers Vinny and Zac who have loved me unconditionally and our time together living in Baltimore
- my whole family - siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, step parents, in-laws and all others
- my friends
- "the cousin gang" of which Vinny was the leader
- my cousin Rye who is my best friend
- my cousin Liz who is my stunt double or I am her stunt double
- my church and church family
- MBC&S - one of the best decisions I have ever made
- Greater Grace - Pastor Sheff who introduced me, Pastor Stevens who taught me to love the Word of God and Pastor Schaller who has stood in the gap and been a faithful friend
- Adoptive Parents - love you Sam-you-smell
- That death isn't final
- Heaven is waiting - miss you Vinny
- those who are faithful to the Great Commission and those who put God first in their lives
- Carol who didn't tell anyone I was pregnant when my mother told her and wasn't supposed to
- my life so far - no regrets - I am thankful for my failures because I have learned the mercy and grace of God; people letting me down because it has drawn me closer to God; my worst fear coming upon me - losing one of the closest if not the closest person to me - God has shown me that He can carry me
- Getting to know God and being on an adventure with Him
- Always being reminded that my failures (there are many) are paid for past, present and future - like right now - yelling at my dog for trying to eat my food
- That He is the great Comforter - He comforted me this morning when an old friend sent an instant message asking me how my brother was and how much he missed him. And I had to tell him through streams of tears how much I miss my brother too.

Love You Aunt Annie

Just wanted to let you know, if you're reading - I love you and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Vinnyisms

For all who knew Vinny well, knew he was an incredibly funny person and loved to laugh. He had a way of summing up a situation that was right on target and was so funny. I think it's because he knew people so well.

"Too bad so sad I'm glad you're mad"... Molly tries to copy that one but never gets it right

"Go get me a drink, cold blue steel". He loved commanding people, especially those who loved to be commanded. When he asked some boy to do something for him once, the boy said, "Please say cold blue steel."

My aunt Molly is always saying she is working her a-- off. So Vinny took a picture of Molly bending over her washing machine (total butt picture and not flattering) and sent it to all of us saying, "Here is Molly working her a-- off."

He made up great nick names for people. His roommate at the time and now our friend David is originally from Tennesse but lived in Russia as a missionary kid for many years. You would have to know him to get the full picture, but Vinny pegged him with with nickname Oompah. That was his name as far as our circle of friends was concerned. It was so funny. Vinny always called me Rach- arella after Cinderella (I hated it - he stole it from my aunt) so he called our Hungarian friend Hagi (pronounced Hoggy by many Americans)Hog- a rella. She is a very tall, thin, but big framed woman. Vinny called her this for years. Being from a different country she didn't get that he was combining her name with Cinderalla's. She finally asked him why he was calling her a Hog & Gorilla. We died laughing. He called our friend Tammy who lived with the Awad family Tam-wad. He told Herman the Russian (who he called the Soviet) that he was going to beat him to a bloody pulp which Herman loved and asked him to repeat over and over.

Two More Souls with Jesus

My two phone calls this morning were bittersweet. Two more souls under the age of twenty breathed their last breath and went home to be with Jesus. Two more families are beginning their journey of grief. Thank God that He is the Great Comforter.

My first call was from my aunt Molly. A girl she has transported for years died this morning at 5 am. Randy was severely burned to the pointed of deformity when she was an infant. Molly really believed God put Randy into her life for a reason and really loved Randy with all of her heart. Randy was so deformend she only had one patch of normal skin on her back side, her arms were not complete and she didn't really have any hair. Her beauty ran deep and as well as her brattiness. Dave and I first met her in Baltimore when Molly took her to see D.C. She loved Dave instantly and told me he was HER boyfriend and wouldn't leave his side. Once in a great while I filled in for Molly driving her original crew home (now she has tons of kids). One day Randy said a naughty word and I told her not to say it again. She said, "Say what?" I told her she knew what she said. She kept trying to get me to say the word. When I wouldn't, she said, "Oh, you mean ----." She had such a great personality and great sense of humor. I am so thankful to God that she got to live the life with so much light. She was a bright light to all who knew her. Pray for her little sister and her mom as they have a big void now. I pray they will allow the the love of God to surround them.

My second call was from my friend B.J. who said she guessed I had heard the news from Baltimore. Of course that statement put me on edge. One of my Bible College Teachers who is also a friend and has been a true role model of the faith (he is now the President of MBC&S) lost his amazing, godly daughter to an automobile accident. She is a teenager, the youngest of four children. Cristina has an incredible family, extended family and church family. I am sure her life has touched many and many are mourning her death all over the world. I pray that God would comfort the broken hearts of her parents, siblings, family and friends.