Yard Sailing

We have been keeping our eyes out for cool toys for Isabella as the Summer was and the Fall continues to be great seasons for weekend yard sales. Mommy found some good buys (check out Isabella with her $2 walk along toy). However, Daddy proved to find the "best buy" on his way to work on Saturday morning (check out Isabella's $2 "Country Kitchen"). Our friend Jen found her girls a similar kitchen a few months ago at a rummage sale so she planted the idea in our head and we have been on the lookout ever since. Isabella is in the stage where she loves to open and close cabinets so the kitchen set is perfect. Soon Isabella will be able to stock her own fridge and load her own dishwasher - "just like Mommy"!

Nana

Nana had a terrible fall the day after our Labor Day picnic and is currently in the hospital. Please join us in praying for her health and well-being. We hope that she will be home soon so that Isabella can visit her and chant "na-na-na-na-na" which Nana loves to hear.

Labor Day BBQ

Our good friends, Grace and Fran had their annual Labor Day BBQ which we all enjoyed so much. They always prepare delicious food and the company is always superb! This year was no different. The weather was picture perfect too so we all sat around their deck for the whole afternoon, not wanting the day to end. Labor Day is the last hooray of the summer, especially since Fran and Dave start their school year a few days later. Isabella even got an additional birthday celebration at the BBQ since we were in Medjugorje on her actual birthday. She didn't seem to mind one bit and wasn't shy about eating the strawberried off of everyone's piece of cake! Fran is Isabella's godmother and is always looking out for her.

Bethany Beach, Delaware

We had an amazing week away in Bethany Beach, DE. My family has been going there for the past 15 years and this year was extra-special because of Isabella. All of us soaked up the sun, some of us worked out like crazy (Dad, Dave, and Mom), some of us were preoccupied with Isabella and text messages (Aunt Lindsay) and still others were seen eating ice-cream late into the evening (no names please). By the end of the week, Isabella loved feeling the sand and standing at the shoreline. Grandpa made sure that she got to use her Boogie Board in the pool and he also made sure that she got her first taste of ice-cream on the Bethany Boardwalk. We were also able to meet up with our nieces on Dave's side of the family. Jennifer and Jessica are a ton of fun to hang out with and we wish that we got to see them more often! Pictures to follow.

Adriatic Sea

Upon heading back to the airport in Split, Croatia from Medjugorje, our group stopped to visit the Adriatic Sea. The cold water was a refreshing break from the heat of the sun. We wished that we could go for a swim, but we had a plane to catch! The Adriatic Sea - what a beautiful testament to God's design!

Happy Birthday, Bella!

While we were in Medjugorje, Isabella celebrated her 1st birthday. Our wonderful hosts threw Isabella a very special celebration with lots of love and lots of homemade cake. Delicious! Thank you!

Medjugorje

We recently returned from our pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a small village in Bosnia-Herzogovina, where the Blessed Mother has been appearing since 1981. In her messages to the world, Mary, the Queen of Peace, is asking for the following from all of us:

*monthly confession

*Eucharist

*fasting on Wednesdays and Friday
*daily Rosary
*daily reading of the Bible

Our experience in Medjugorje was one of incredible peace for our family. It is our hope that this sense of peace will stay with us as we return to the routines of our daily life. To find out more about Medjugorje and to read the Blessed Mother's monthly messages, visit the website of Steve and Ana Shawl at http://www.medjugorje.org/