A Photo Journey -- Part One

The empty house ... it was our home for seven wonderful years. But it's time to move on ... Someone else will make this their home and we wish them all the blessings that we've had and more.

The Toyota gets picked up, since we'll all be in the minivan.

My husband, who did the bulk of the driving. Bless his soul.

The kids -- full of excitement and adventure.

This next picture is actually in Yellowstone of the Tower ... that's where we went after the stinky mudpots and geysers ...

On the way to Yellowstone, there was a spectacular thunderstorm.

Finally, we got to Yellowstone. What a gorgeous place, yet it makes me think I'm getting a taste (or stench) of hell. Some of the most fascinating bacteria are found in here -- the Archae. I wrote about these critters in Odyssey and the whole time I was researching them, I wished I were back in the lab, figuring out how their cell membranes withstand such heat, what kinds of pumps they have to live in such inhospitable conditions. Both my son and I felt just a little bit sick after breathing all the sulfurous gases emanating from the earth.

Old Faithful ...

Just one of the many serene valleys in Yellowstone.

After Yellowstone, we crossed two mountain passes. Beautiful and desolate.

We even saw real cowboys in this high desert country in Wyoming.

We saw many bikers on the road ...

Sturgis anyone?

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A Photo Journey -- Part Two

My Internet connection is great today, so I thought I'd post some pictures of our journey. It's already getting too long, so I'll post the pictures from the first part of our journey later.

At Mount Rushmore. The man who took our picture gave his big camera to my son to take their picture. He was so pleased. I know one day he'd love to have a digital SLR. Me, I'm happy with the point and shoot.

Two crosses -- a copper one for my daughter and a Black Hills gold one for me. Years ago, my husband had bought a leaf pendant, but I have since lost it.

I have a thing for bridges and tunnels.

One of my daughter's drawings. Not bad for being in a moving vehicle.

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. This state has so many cool places to explore. Next time, we'll come with a camper.

We didn't take any pictures for almost a thousand miles even though we were visiting family and friends. We'd put in a couple of l-o-n-g driving days and were just grateful to not be in our van. I remember how hard it was trying to find a room because of all the motorcycle riders going upto Sturgis for the weekend. Many hotels do not take pets and we had two. One lady made an exception for us in Sioux Falls, SD, and were we relieved to finally crawl into bed close to midnight. The next morning was Sunday, so we went to early morning Mass at the Cathedral. I wish I'd had my camera. Such a gorgeous Church.

Our first visit to Tennessee. So beautiful in these Smokey mountains. We'll be back!

My tired family. We covered 3,000 miles in eight days. Almost there ...

Getting settled in our apartment. The dog ate all the cat food, so now the cat gets to chow down on the kitchen counter. Some of you know that we had to give away our kittens -- we couldn't find temporary accommodations that would accept four pets. It was heart-breaking, but the kittens have a good home.

What a treat to have an outdoor swimming pool where the water is warm, almost like bathwater.

So nice to stroll here after Mass.

The kids are back in school. Don't they look smart in their brand new uniforms? On Weds. there is Mass so the boys wear a tie. This school reminds me of my old Convent school (minus the nuns) with their greater discipline.

I suppose I should get back to working on my novel now, right? It's been over a month since I touched it, and I've run out of excuses.

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Welcome to SC

Our Internet connection is very slow, hence my relative quietness online. But I am bursting to share so many things. Patience, patience. I'm trying to cultivate it.

Before we left Redmond (WA), I had joked that a hurricane will surely come once we buy a house, and wash it away, just to test our faith. I DID NOT MEAN IT. I couldn't believe the news when I learned that a hurricane the size of Europe was coming our way. I was so grateful that all we got was high wind and rain and some damage in coastal SC. But now I am praying for the people in the North.

The satellite images are so beautiful, with the swirling mass. And I am reminded we are nothing, absolutely nothing, without God. His power are beauty are wondrous. Here are a couple of pictures that my son took while we took a walk near our apartment Friday night. Rainbows are a promise.

Stay safe, all of you in the path of Irene.
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Two Beaches

We celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary yesterday by going to Latin Mass at Stella Maris on Sullivan's Island, SC, taking a walk along the rocks and beaches at Fort Moultrie and then having a fabulous dinner at Station 22. We had our kids with us and my son took this picture, with that amazing suspension bridge in the background (it connects Charleston to Mt. Pleasant).

Coincidentally, the homily was about finding home, how we're all on a journey until we are at eternal rest. But I felt right at home here, esp. at Church. I am so thankful that God opened this door for us, and thankful He gave us the courage to step out in faith and trust as He leads us.

Many of you know that we've been travelling, moving coast to coast. It's been an incredible journey and I hope to post pictures once we are settled. We've been getting the children ready for school and we still need to find long-term housing, so you can imagine the chaos.

Seventeen years ago, we were married on the beach in Oak Harbor, WA. It was a beautiful day, but the water was cold, as it always is on the Pacific NW. We vowed to be together, through thick and thin, and I still marvel that I can love my husband more now than I did 27 years ago. I had no clue back then. God is good.

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Reading

I stay up late reading because I am trying to finish these books before I have to turn them in at the library. I estimate I have a week or so. Two new books arrived but I haven't had a chance to go get them. My son pleaded to go tonight. Tomorrow, I promised him.

But let me share these gems.

The Literary Ladies' Guide to the Writing Life by Nava Atlas. This is not just a pretty book (it has lovely interiors -- go check it out) but I feel as though I have Jane Austen, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Willa Cather and many more writers in my home sharing their dreams, their joys, their frustrations of the writing life. I already have loved many of their works, but this gives an intimate portrayal through diaries and letters. Atlas also shares many quotes from other women writers. Enjoy this gorgeous book. It's one you'll come to often.

I wanted to share just one quote but it's so hard to pick one. There are gems sprinkled throughout. So I'll give you a flavor:

Nava Atals writes: Though it's never easy, it's good to know that women can rock the cradle with one hand and rock the world with the other. She is speaking of Stowe who had a large family (seven children). It was the death of her child that compelled her to write Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe says: I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustices I saw.

In a letter to her husband (1841), Stowe writes: If I am to write, I must have a room to myself, which shall be my room ... Sound familiar? It's before Virginia Woolf said, a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.

In another letter to her sister-in-law (1850) we get a glimpse of her life. She writes: Since I began this note I have been called off at least a dozen times -- once for the fish-man, to buy a codfish -- once to see a man who had brought me some baskets of apples -- once to see a book man ... then to nurse the baby -- then into the kitchen to make a chowder for dinner and now I am at it again for nothing but deadly determination enables me to ever write -- it is rowing against wind and tide.

Are you ready to run and get this book?

I'm just finished a lovely little book by Ruth White: Little Audrey. I was in search of another book by her but found this on the shelf. It's largely autobiographical, told from her oldest sister's viewpoint, of a time of great hardship in her family, with an alcoholic father, a depressed mother, and her sisters whom she refers to as "three little piggies." Despite the poverty and sadness, White shares the joy and happiness as well. I laughed at all of Virgil's monkey jokes. The setting is the coal camp in Jewell Valley, Virginia 1948.

What gems are you reading right now?

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Summer Memories

My children had a lovely week with their grandparents and cousins. They worked hard and played hard. And went on long walks and enjoyed all of God's creation, from the blades of grass, the beetles, to soaring eagles.

We'll miss our family and friends here most of all.

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New Notebooks and Slippers and Hair ...

I adore new notebooks. Isn't this a beauty? My dear friends, Allyson, Jen and Lois, met me Sunday after Church for coffee and I will treasure it always and our time together here. We've grown so much, shared a lot of love and laughter, stories that made us laugh and cry. I've already written a few words in this gorgeous notebook after theirs, but I am saving it for when we hit the road. I'm going to fill it with my observations and thoughts as we travel across the country from the Pacific NW to South Carolina, our new home.

Years ago I would've been intimidated to write in it. In fact, my husband got me a leather covered notebook ten years ago when I said I was a writer, but I was terribly constipated when I put my pen to it. No thoughts were good enough to go in there. I wrote in my old biochemistry notebook and after it was finished, began writing in cheap composition notebooks. Five years later, we were on a camping trip and I filled up the leather-bound notebook with all our summer madness. This weekend I threw out ten years worth of notebooks that I scribbled all sorts of thoughts in. I'd finish one and toss it into my filing cabinet, eager to start a new one.

I'm purging. I have given away over half of our home library, thrown out all the stories and rejections letters. I've only saved a few special rejection letters and stories that need to be sent out. They're good! How could I give up after a single rejection? But new ideas took shape and the old ones were abandoned.


Here I am with a new pair of slippers that my daughter's friend's grandmother knitted. I love them for I have cold feet. I have a new haircut, but you wouldn't know. I lopped off nearly a foot. I have some gray but the hairdresser said they can still use my hair for Locks of Love. My braid was skinny. But the curls upon my head are cute even if they're unruly. Perfect for hot summer days.

I'm diving into Southern fiction. I've already read many classics from Flannery O'Connor, Mark Twain, Carson McCullers, etc. but I'm discovering new voices like Kimberly Willis Holt, Russ Nelson and Han Nolan. Loving it. If you can recommend more children's authors who write contemporary Southern fiction, I'd be much obliged.
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Reading

I've been reading a lot of great books and wanted to share a few:

Sowing Seeds: Writing for the Christian Children's Market by Kathleen M. Muldoon. This is a great gift and must for Christian writers. Kathleen writes as though she's holding your hand throughout, making the challenge less intimidating. She covers the various types of writing in an organized manner. Even if you are a veteran writer, pick up this book if you want to expand into the world of children's Christian writing. Pair it with Sally Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide.

The End of the Line by Angela Cerrito. Although you know what the kid did (murder) from the very beginning, the story of how all this came to be is gripping. Told in alternating present and past chapters, Angela weaves a story of downfall and redemption.

Baseball Crazy: Ten Short Stories That Cover All The Bases edited by Nancy Mercado. I thoroughly enjoyed these stories and they've been a great inspiration as I let my baseball stories percolate.

Cyberia by Chris Lynch. This is a fun middle-grade story set in the future about a boy who has to save the animals. It will make kids think about technology in a whole new way.

The Aquinas Catechism: A Simple Explanation of the Catholic Faith by the Church's Greatest Theologian by Saint Thomas Aquinas. Reading books like these deepens my faith. This is a wonderful book for any Christian trying to understand their beliefs (Creed), how they should pray (Lord's Prayer) and how they should live (Ten Commandments). Wonderful teaching tool as well.

I'd like to end with this incredible video about a priest who brings out Jesus into the public square. He tells how Jesus is in every book of the Bible. Amen!
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A Tag

Amy at the Green Bathtub tagged me:

Are you hot?

My husband says so :)

Upload a picture or wall paper you are using at the moment.

My son took this picture and I love it because it reminds me of the Holy Spirit.

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

This evening after a lovely day at the zoo, I had a chicken sandwich with bacon, lettuce, tomato and guacamole. Yum.

Songs you listened to recently?

Jesus My Lord, My God, My All

Divine Mercy Chaplet

What were you thinking as you were doing this?

How grateful I am that the Lord gave Himself to us in the Eucharist. Tomorrow is the feast of Corpus Christi, where we celebrate the Body of Christ that is consecrated during Mass. I blogged about it here.

Do you have nicknames?

Oh, yes. My brother is responsible for them. In fact, I don't recall knowing my real name until I went to school because I was always called Winkie, Venkat, or Venkatli at home. The only nickname that has survived is Winkie, though when I visit my brother he often refers to me as Venkat.

Tag eight blogger friends.

Boy, this is hard. Most folks have already played. If you haven't and want to play, consider yourself tagged.

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Reading

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Matt. 6:3


My 12-year-old son just finished his first adult novel based on the passage above: Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd C. Douglas. It was the first adult book that I read as well, at age 12, so we had a great long talk about it and I told him he is free to read any of Douglas' books. I have most of them -- some are actually my mother's old and tattered copies. Just fingering them, and seeing how she underlined some of the text brought tears to my eyes.


I wanted to share Adventures in Two Worlds by A. J. Cronin next, since he is another one of my heros. Actually he planted the seed to become a writer since he was a physician-turned-writer. I thought I'd be a grandmother before I'd pen any books, but I'm delighted I didn't wait. But my copy is missing. I don't remember whether someone borrowed it or if it's just misplaced it, even though I have all my fiction in alphabetical order by author.


I thought this book was out of print, but I see that it's been reprinted. I no longer have to fret over my missing copy. Hooray!


I love passing on my mother's legacy. These books changed my life and for the better. Even though I have shared many books from my childhood with my children, I don't know why MO makes me feel like we've reached a milestone. There is no celebration per se, but my heart is full.

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