San Diego Monday July 28

I took mom to see her foot doctor in El Cajon. The good news was that she doesn't need new shoes or new inserts. She has another appointment in two months but may be able to cancel it if her feet seem OK.

Spent the rest of the day with mom. We had a nice steak dinner. Mom began reading a new book that we picked up at the library and I continued to work on her latch hook rug. I did go swimming in the late afternoon. Returned home to cook dinner for Vince and then went to bed early!!

San Diego Sunday July 27

Today my wonderful husband Dick left at 8:30am to go back east. I miss his presence, but know that he had to return to work. I'll be returning on Friday August 1.

Mom and I took a ride over to see Marion and I found a very bad bruise on her forehead. Grace said that no one seemed to know how it happened. I came home and immediately wrote a letter to the administrator and will file a formal complaint if I hear nothing back. My visits with Marion should not include fighting for information. Incident reports should be completed and readily available. We'll see how this week goes as I'll visit her again on Tuesday and Thursday.

Mom and I then went to a few stores before going home and having dinner. I then spent the rest of the afternoon working on mom's latch hook rug which I know I won't finish before I leave, but will surely try. I then went home to make dinner for Vince and I. And then he and I watched the third Karate Kid movie.

San Diego Saturday July 26

Happy Birthday, Anh!

We had a very different experience on Saturday morning. We had Dim Sun for brunch at Jasmine's restaurant in San Diego. I understand it's a very popular Chinese brunch place. It was very strange to be eating Chinese food at 11am in the morning but it was all very good. We went with Nick and his friend Anh. Anh helped me to choose what I would eat and I must say that it was all very good though a bit too heavy for me for that time of day.

We spent the rest of the day with mom. I did laundry and baked cookies. We then went to 4:30pm Mass at Sacred Heart in Ocean Beach. A good day!!

San Diego Friday July 25

Went to see Marion again with Dick. Bertha was there and had Marion dressed nicely. We went outside and said the rosary. Came home to mom. Didn't swim today but worked on mom's rug. Then mom, Dick and I went to the early dinner at the Fiddler. Vince and I watched Karate Kid that night.

Feast of St. James, the Apostle

Happy Feast Day to my son James!

St. James, the Apostle
JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE (which means James son of Zebedee)
APOSTLE (25 JULY 41)
James the son of Zebedee and his brother John were among the twelve disciples of Our Lord. They, together with Peter, were privileged to behold the Transfiguration (M 17:1 = P 9:2 = L 9:28), to witness the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (P 1:29) and the raising of the daughter of Jairus (P 5:37 = L 8:51), and to be called aside to watch and pray with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before His death (M 26:37 = P 14:33).
James and John were apparently from a higher social level than the average fisherman. Their father could afford hired servants (P 1:20), and John (assuming him to be identical with the "beloved disciple") had connections with the high priest (J 18:15). Jesus nicknamed the two brothers "sons of thunder" (P 3:17), perhaps meaning that they were headstrong, hot-tempered, and impulsive; and so they seem to be in two incidents reported in the Gospels. On one occasion (L 9:54ff), Jesus and the disciples were refused the hospitality of a Samaritan village, and James and John proposed to call down fire from heaven on the offenders. On another occasion (M 20:20-23 = P 10:35-41), they asked Jesus for a special place of honor in the Kingdom, and were told that the place of honor is the place of suffering.

San Diego Thursday July 24

Spent most of the day with mom and part of the day with Aunt Marion. It was good to see Aunt Marion but keep her in prayer. The quality of her life has deteriorated. She does have great help in the presence of Bertha and Grace.

San Diego Wednesday July 23

Spent the entire day with my mom. Nick came over quite a bit to visit with us. It was a beautiful sunny day; a good day for a swim in the pool!

San Diego Tuesday July 22

Dick and I arrived in San Diego at 8:30pm Tuesday evening. Didn't get to bed till after midnight west coast time so it was a very long day! We'll spend the rest of Wednesday with mom after I drop my sister Karen and her friend Ellen off at the airport on their way to Italy!

A Saturday evening with Calvin & Zachary

First we went to the movies and saw "Wall-E" which was so so!! Then we came home and had pizza and watched "Ativar" the movie which was great so C & Z say!! It didn't get over till 10pm but Mimi stayed up. Then we went to bed, said prayers and everyone had a turn reading a story. It was a great night with my grandsons!

A Friday evening with Miss Maisie

Friday evening July 18

Maisie Michaela Bruce

Mimi enjoyed some quality time with Maisie while her mommy caught up with laundry and housework!! How blessed Mimi is!!

Sunday evening with Evan & Sophie

Sunday morning with Maisie

A day with Keegan, Liam and Zachary

I remembered to take pictures this time!! 

On Saturday I spent the day with Keegan, Liam, and Zachary. Keegan and Liam wanted to play baseball while Zachary wanted to play on the computer. So Keegan and Liam and Mimi played baseball until it was time to come in for lunch. We also blew bubbles and played with next door neighbor Shelby and her cousin Michael. Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches. We also had some chocolate chip cookies and then Bumpy came home and brought M&M's. Nobody took a nap though we did rest for a little bit.

Sleep Over with Ethan & Owen

This is Owen and Ethan in the rain! It's a picture from their mom Leah. 

Mimi forgot to take pictures of our sleep over which was on Friday night!! First we played baseball outside and then we made chocolate chip cookies, smoothie popsicles, and watched Dinosaur. When we went to bed we brushed our teeth and said our prayers and then read a book. All was quiet until about 7am in the morning and then we had pancakes for breakfast and some little people wanted to go right outside to play baseball again. Mimi didn't think that our condo neighbors would like that so we waited until 9am.

Happy Birthday, Renee!!

 Happy Birthday, Renee - July 8, 2008!! What a cute baby who became a beautiful woman!

Renee with her new niece Maisie

Renee!!

Thank you for being a part of our family. We are truly blessed!! You bring friendship, joy and goodness into all of our lives! Thank you!

Breakfast with the Dohertys

Dick & Bonnie

Barbara

Tom & Marlene

Ken & Paula

A night with Miss Maisie

Dan & Maggie with Miss Maisie

Miss Maisie wide awake

Mimi with sleeping Maisie at Mimi's house earlier in the day

Mohawks!!

Liam, three years old, with his summer haircut!

Calvin, 9 years old, with his summer haircut!

St. Elizabeth of Portugal July 4

Happy Feast Day, Elizabeth! I actually named you after Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist but there is no feast day for her in our calendar. So I celebrate all the other Elizabeths.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

Queen (sometimes known as the PEACEMAKER); born in 1271; died in 1336. She was named after her great-aunt, the great Elizabeth of Hungary, but is known in Portuguese history by the Spanish form of that name, Isabel. The daughter of Pedro III, King of Aragon, and Constantia, grandchild of Emperor Frederick II, she was educated very piously, and led a life of strict regularity and self-denial from her childhood: she said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and did other penances, and gave up amusement. Elizabeth was married very early to Diniz (Denis), King of Portugal, a poet, and known as Rei Lavrador, or the working king, from his hard work in is country's service. His morals, however, were extremely bad, and the court to which his young wife was brought consequently most corrupt. Nevertheless, Elizabeth quietly pursued the regular religious practices of her maidenhood, whilst doing her best to win her husband's affections by gentleness and extraordinary forbearance. She was devoted to the poor and sick, and gave every moment she could spare to helping them, even pressing her court ladies into their service. Naturally, such a life was a reproach to many around her, and caused ill will in some quarters. A popular story is told of how her husband's jealousy was roused by an evil-speaking page; of how he condemned the queen's supposed guilty accomplice to a cruel death; and was finally convinced of her innocence by the strange accidental substitution of her accuser for the intended victim.

Diniz does not appear to have reformed in morals till late in life, when we are told that the saint won him to repentance by her prayers and unfailing sweetness. They had two children, a daughter Constantia and a son Affonso. The latter so greatly resented the favours shown to the king's illegitimate sons that he rebelled, and in 1323 war was declared between him and his father. St. Elizabeth, however, rode in person between the opposing armies, and so reconciled her husband and son. Diniz died in 1325, his son succeeding him as Affonso IV. St. Elizabeth then retired to a convent of Poor Clares which she had founded at Coimbra, where she took the Franciscan Tertiary habit, wishing to devote the rest of her life to the poor and sick in obscurity. But she was called forth to act once more as peacemaker. In 1336 Affonso IV marched his troops against the King of Castile, to whom he had married his daughter Maria, and who had neglected and ill-treated her. In spite of age and weakness, the holy queen dowager insisted on hurrying to Estremoz, where the two king's armies were drawn up. She again stopped the fighting and caused terms of peace to be arranged. But the exertion brought on her final illness; and as soon as her mission was fulfilled she died of a fever, full of heavenly joy, and exhorting her son to the love of holiness and peace. St. Elizabeth was buried at Coimbra, and miracles followed her death. She was canonized by Urban VIII in 1625, and her feast is kept on 4 July.

This was taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia. I changed the date from July 8 to July 4 - an error. You can get more Catholic information by going to this site at: www.newadvent.org. 

Happy Birthday, Adam!!

We are truly blessed to have you as a son-in-law!! Thank you for all you do!

This is probably what Adam would have looked like as baby - just like his daughter Maisie