Cooking at the Murphy's

Wow, Kate made cupcakes yesterday. I wish I had taken a picture because they are all gone now. So here are some of the culinary delights we are making here.

Refrigerator Pickles, Kate's summer specialty.

Zucchini Bake, from a recipe my mom makes with Bisquick.

Pound Cake

with Strawberries

Don't forget the Nathan's Hot Dogs. Jack is a master at grilling.

Yeah, fun times at the Murphy's

I am really going to miss them.

God, Give Me Grace

Camp Cadet is ....tomorrow...'Oh dear God, Give me Grace.' Give THEM Grace and strength, physical and emotional to get through this week. I am going to miss them, it is beyond words what I am feeling. What was I thinking when I encouraged them to sign up?????? What was I thinking?!?!??

7 pairs of black shorts

7 plain white crew neck t shirts

7 pairs of underwear

7 pairs of socks

2 pairs of running shoes

2 towels/wash clothes

Shower shoes

soap shampoo toothbrush/paste

laundry bag

That's it. No books, no money for a whole week. I know they can go without cell phone or video games, but NO BOOKS???? It keeps your mind off...reality. NO BOOKS?

I have been sick to my stomach for a week and it gets worse every day.

God, Give Me Grace.

I did all I could to get them ready. They ran A LOT since May. We missed 2 weeks when we were in NY but otherwise, they ran. I really am proud of them. I can see them getting stronger each time we get out on the track. Jack hates it but he is doing it. Kate has now listed running as one of her favorite activities.....


God, Give Them Grace. Protect them and keep them safe and make this coming week go really fast.

Running, running, running

It seems like my whole life is running. Running to work, running to practice, games, food shopping. Running to get dinner made, eat together at the table! homework done. Running out of time. Running to get to bed on time, so you can get up to do it all over again.


Who has time to clean, when you are running, running, running. The weekend comes, you take a breath only to run again to get to a tournament, game, rent a movie, 'mom can I have ______ ' (friend over, see movie, go to mall, new shoes, try to cook) and then run to church on Sunday after you run to get your lesson plan done.

Even over holidays I run. Run to LI for precious moments with my family. Run to get to our favorite store, restaurant, church, beach. Hopefully try something new, whether its sightseeing, reading a book, getting to a historical sight.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE all these things but today was a day for no running. We gradually straightened the house while watching Top Chef, Kate made some cupcakes, Jack cleaned his room and invited some friends over. Later Kate is going to volleyball and I have some shopping to do but I AM NOT RUNNING. Today, we are just being, being a family that loves and cares for each other, respects each other and enjoys each other.

Can I capture today and get another one soon?

Flower Gardens

My mom has taken up gardening the last few years. With her children out of the house, she now has time for it. She cracks me up and inspires me with her planting, transplanting, weeding and mulching. I love that she does this and gets such joy out of it. Here are some pictures I took of her different plants and flowers.

 Day Lilies

Several Hydrangea Bushes

This one is a really dark blue, beautiful.

 There are also Daisies and Lavendar

 

 

 

Iris

 

 

So very pretty and beautifully arranged. My mom is going to really enjoy her well-deserved retirement.

Family Time

This last 4th of July weekend was crazy, fun but crazy. My whole family was together to celebrate by sister's marriage to a wonderful man. And it was great to be all together.

 Some of the best times were in my parent's backyard, watching all the cousins play

Picnicing

Kickball

Enjoying the shade

catching fire flies

Making Smores Around the Campfire

dancing (Practice for the wedding)

First Corn on the Cob after getting braces off

Talking and Laughing

 Then there was
Food Tasting in Montauk

Kate on the boat ride back

Oh...and there was a wedding

More pictures to follow from the church and reception

Just had a wonderfully crazy week with my family.
Highlights:
food testing in Montauk
getting a Manicure & pedicure with my daughter and sisters
watching kickball in the back yard with all the cousins
picking up food and decorating for the rehearsal with Krissy and Jill
watching Kate get her hair updo
crashing with Veronica and Chelsea
watching the girl cousins get ready
picking up "the cake" with John and Steven
music at the ceremony
dancing at the wedding
talking with Jeannie at the wedding
sackville baggins
talking with Jack in the ER


Feel free to add your own moments in comments

Sweet Memories

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in
truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight"~Kahlil Gibran

 

It is always hard to lose someone. The grief and pain seem unbearable and the worst part is, when you experience that loss, it reminds me of how much you miss the people who have gone before.

 My mother's cousin, Veronica( though everyone called her Ronnie) passed away this week after a very long battle with cancer. This is how I remember her.

As an adult whenever we came to town for visits, my dad and I, sometimes just me, would take my kids to Sunday evening mass at St. Peter and Pauls. I love this mass because you are ALWAYS gaurenteed an excellent homily. My kids and my brother Matt refer to Fr. Frank Pizzarelli as Fr. Jesus. He has longer hair and wears sandles. His homilies are typically about disadvantaged youth, as that is where he works during the week and he delivers a great message.

Anyway, we would sit in the same spot when we would go, which would happen to be behind cousin Ronnie. Afterwards we would talk with her about her kids, her work with children with autism, her siblings. "How is your mom?" "Wow, your kids are getting big"  that kind of thing and she was always smiling. There were a few visits when we didn't see her and my Mom said she had gotten cancer. But then months later she was back! Still smiling and joyful, even when she wore her cap when she lost her hair after chemo, when she got better and she laughed about her curly baby hair that grew back. It seemed like she had it beat! My kids would return to my mom and dad's house after church ready for the drill, "Who did you see?" "Did you know anyone at church?" (Sometime I wonder if she is curious or checking to see if we really went! but that is another story) "We saw your cousin Ronnie!" was the response!

This past year (through Facebook), I was able to have my life enriched by Ronnie's little sister, Jeannie AKA 'Cousin Jeannie', who is actually my age. You know how these big Italian families are. She is the youngest daughter of the youngest daughter on my Mom's Dad's side. Like Ronnie, a pure delight, so real so easy to talk to and our daughters clicked. Jeannie posted pictures this Fall, "My sister danced at her daughter's wedding!" Such joy! So many happy, bright faces!

I grieve for Jeannie, as I know how traumtic it is to lose a sibling, for her children and husband and friends, as a bright, happy person who added pure joy and realness to this world is gone. Gibran is right: she was our delight.

I also grieve for my friend Mike, who lost his brother-in-law and my dear friend Kathy, who lost her husband this year. Such beauty and delight that is gone from our lives.

I try to remember this statement, particularly when experiencing something like this. At a funeral I went to over 20 years ago, the Dad got up afterward and said,

"My son Matt was a Life boy, he loved life. So don't be sad for him, be happy. Because he has what we all want, eternal life."