Back from Zimbabwe

We returned late last night from Zimbabwe. Just catching up on a bunch of details and getting ready to teach tomorrow. We left our camera in Florida and it is being returned to us via the US postal system, so we won't have any photos to share until our team mates get home tonight and have a chance to download and share their photos. We have great photos and videos to share... stay tuned!

Weekend Excitement

So I reacted to my new migraine medication and ended up going to emergency. While this was a successful way to get Saturday afternoon off, it was definitely not the preferred method! Kevin came and got me from work and we went straight to emerg. After getting home, I looking at the spec sheet and I was able to check off almost all of the possible side effects listed. Lovely. Having them all happen simultaneously was a bit scary - especially the seizures and difficulty breathing and swallowing. HOWEVER, all is fine, the doctor did some tests and declared that it was neither a stroke nor an allergy, and sent me home since the symptoms were all subsiding. Three hours after taking the pill, I was at home and feeling back to normal - and the migraine was gone too. So, I called my doctor on Monday morning to get a new, new migraine medication since I obviously won't be taking that one again! Whew!

Banana Pi(e)

Kevin's version of Banana Pi...

AmandaEve's version of Banana Pie... very tasty! I was craving banana pastries from Mauritius for a couple weeks and banana pie was an easier method to satisfy the craving! I used a gluten-free mix with goat butter for the crust. So yummy! The house smelled like shortbread while the pie was cooking.

It's done!

This is our new Pascha basket cloth designed by both of us. Mostly AE, but Kevin did the technical work of creating the pattern! There are 12 languages on here that all have the Paschal greeting: "Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!"

Muy Chocolado!

We had our 2nd annual Chocolate Potluck on the 10th day of Christmas...
Much chocolate was had by all.
This year's favourites: fondue; chocolate beef curry; mulled chocolate apple cider; and chocolate covered balls of chocolate chip cookie dough!
Apparently, Kevin was sugared up enough that he set his alarm clock for p.m. and was late for the first day back to work. Woops!

Dad's Funeral Weekend

Kevin's dad and AE's mom eating supper at our apartment.

AE and AE's aunt eating supper at our apartment (can you tell who is who?). Yeah, there's only a slight family resemblance between all us Slattery girls (mom, Eileen, me, and Eileen's daughter...).
Lunch at the Olive Garden after the funeral. Eileen, Ted, Kevin...
Colleen, Mom, Gary...
AE, Colleen, and Mom.

Now in the next two posts are the funeral photos, somewhat out of order, so there are little descriptions.

Ted (Kevin's dad) saying a concluding prayer after the talking.
AE giving a little talk, and K up there to cry with her.
Us after the receiving line of people and on our way upstairs to visit with food!
Marigolds: we bought 50 marigolds and gave them away to people as a memory of Dad.
Friends looking through Dad's life album.

The service: display at the front.
Table at the back when people entered.
The choir and family members seated before the service started.
Fr Bob and Dn Lasha officiating the service.
Fr Bob giving a little sermon.

Newest Quote

I like the way this is phrased. I'm sure the metaphor can be used for other things too.

“Liturgy, Dan Benedict says, carries us into the presence of the holy in the same way that those friends in the Gospel story carried their paralyzed friend into the presence of Christ. When our spiritual life is dry and we have difficulty experiencing that presence, liturgy holds that meaning for us until we are ready to return.”

Patterned by Grace - How Liturgy Shapes Us
by Daniel T. Benedict

3rd time's a charm

So our third offer on a house was just accepted tonight so in a matter of minutes we are the proud and slightly nervous owners of the house in the picture! We got possession on August first and will post more pictures and information as available.

Yeah!