THE OPEN HOUSE!!!

On January 3, 2009 we held an Open House at the Coleman/O'Donnell home. We invited many friends and relatives. All in all we think about 45 people took part.

The day before the event, James and I went to do the grocery shopping. Huge lines and crowds of people were everywhere we went. It was quite a challenge, with lots of calls to Jules, at home with Seamus to check and make sure we were purchasing the right items, as she had requested.

Finally we both came dragging our bodies into the house, and after several trips to the van and back, we opened all of the bags and while they put the groceries away, I started to cook. Soon Jules was cooking too, and then James. James' brother Rick arrived from Pennsylvania. He was very helpful in entertaining Shamey while we cooked. We had a good time making the preparations. Everything had to be just right. Finally we were almost done, and we decided to call it a night. We all dragged ourselves to bed and said "good night everybody!"

On Saturday morning we had MORE food to cook, and we were busy, busy, busy... clean the house, clean off the porch, make the horsdouvers, make the desserts, make the dips, set up chairs, make the punch...pick up the toys... Just before the first guests arrived, we all got dressed in acceptable attire. The first guests at 4:00 p.m. were Pastor Lawson and his family. Shamey was so happy to have Zoe for a playmate.

Soon more and more guests arrived. Most of them were bearing either gifts for us, or some kind of food. Thank goodness we had put all of the leaves in the dining room table, because it was pretty loaded before they even started arriving.

Jules and I would take turns giving tours of our new home, even including our new laundrey room, which we all love to use. (We used to have to take the laundry to the basement...now it is wonderful to have it on the first floor.)

Many people kept showing up, even our architect Marc, and our builder, "Frankie"! (Shamey named him that. His real name is Fran.) We hoped that once people saw how beautiful and unique it was with the skylights and the moving walls, etc. that they would get some ideas of hiring them to do some work for them. Frankie gave out a few of his flyers, explaining his business, and I saw Marc give out a few business cards too.

All in all, it turned out to be a very nice evening, and I think everyone had a good time. At church people are still talking about it, and Jules and James have workmates who just loved it.

We are pretty happy with our new space too.

I wish Ter could have seen it. He would have loved it. After all, there are many "handicap accessible" features specifically built in just for him. He is probably looking down on us right now saying, "way to go!"

[Wish you were here, Honey. We all miss you and love you very much. It would be so much better with you here....]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I can't believe that I have celebrated (2) New Year's Eves in Maryland already!!

Time just seems to go by so fast. That is what they say is a sign of aging...WHO,ME???

NAH!!! NOT ME!!

I guess it really creeps up on you..... I can't believe I will be turning 67 in 2 more months! I don't know where the years have gone....My baby boy was just born a short while ago, BUT he just turned 43! My baby girl just turned 40! I guess it must be true, but you can't prove it by me.

New Year's Eve I spent the most interesting and gracefilled time I have ever experienced. I went to church...(something new for me at this Holiday...) The service was so sweet, filled with praise and worship, and prayer for the new year.

Towards the end of the evening..(way past midnight) the doors of the church opened and we could hear a group of people come in. Pastor Ben eventually called them forward. It was a whole family. (A mother and 4 teenagers..) Apparently the family was in some sort of distress. It became evident that they were all angry at each other for some reason. Pastor Ben prayed over each one, and asked them to forgive each other. Apparently the Lord poured out a blessing on each one of them, as they all began to cry and hug each other. I have never experienced anything like this in my life! It was evident that the Holy Spirit was there with them the whole time.

I did not get home until 1:45 a.m. Those of you who know me, know I am not a night owl! I wasn't even tired as I drove home and parked my van. I was met by Jules and James waiting up for me. They are always looking out for my best interests.

They are a blessing to me EVERY DAY!!
Thank You, Jesus!!

CHRISTMAS, 2008 (OUR FIRST ONE IN THE NEW ADDITION!)

Here it is, January 17, 2009, and I am just getting some time to bring you up to date on the Holiday season, and other events in my life. I have no excuse other than that I have to prioritize my life right now, and now I have the time to catch up.

I made my usual homemade soups and distributed them, along with my pumpkin breads to several friends. Pastor Lawson and family came the day before Christmas and had a nice lunch with me. I gave them a gift of a very special painting that my friend Dorothy McGee had done for me and, a beautiful frame I had found. I did not have any place to put it in my new apartment, so I gave it to my "son" and his family. They were blessed to receive it, and I was blessed to give it to them.

Christmas was a very nice layed back day for all of us. We opened up gifts and had a nice dinner together in our new dining room. James surprised us and bought some huge scallops, which are a favorite of mine and Jules. James broiled their's and I cooked my own with a recipe I got many many years ago from the chef at a well known restaurant in Auburn, N.Y., where Ter grew up.

We had all day to eat and enjoy each other's company. Seamus was the most excited of all! He received many great gifts from "Santa", and we just relaxed and played with him most of the day. Shamey's friend Stephanie came over and played with him that day, and he was thrilled.

I really missed Ter on that day, as I do every day, but for some reason, Christmas day is the worst time for me to be away from my loved ones.

All in all, I was glad when the day came to a close.

Pictures from 2008

my grandbabies in our aparment in Greenbelt... me getting ready to move into my new kitchen...
Some of the last pix of the two of us...


Terry's last resting place at Fort Lincoln Cemetery Alex, Cassidy & Grandma...
Me with Denise (Ter's home health aide...)

Jules, James & Seamus outside our apartment.....
almost ready to move into new kitchen...... Zoe, Seamus & Christmas tree in family room...
Terry's tombstone at Fort Lincoln...
"my son" with me at my new home...

Seamus the pilgrim, Thanksgiving day... Shamey and "GA" as pilgrims...
Shamey on a bug ride on one of his "adventures!...

Mommy & Shamey riding his new bike in front of our house... Katrina with Lawson & Zoe...
shamey in Holloween costume,(a puppy dog..)

Shamey with Santa at the farmer's market.... the 3 tootses, and new toots (Marty..)

Happy New Year hats, waiting for Ga to come home again the 4 tootses in Rochester....
Ter with Denise..final farewell...

Seamus in his new "BIG BOY" bed Daddy with Spider Man...

"WONDER GA" & "Super Seamus"!!
Aren't they sweet?(Zoe & Shamey)
Shamey in his BIG hat!
all of us at the Washington Zoo
Shamey says....BOO!!! Our Christmas tree and Shamey looking at deck...

Farewell, Sweet hubby, with Denise at apartment: Aug., '08
Shamey says goodbye to "Pa"
Mommy & Shamey with Thanksgiving hats in kitchen...
JOE COOL......!

Pictures of my new home

At last ...

THANKSGIVING, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was different than I have ever experienced. Our church feeds dinner to 1,000 people each year. It takes place at a Mexican Restaurant, owened by a Korean family, here in Riverdale, Maryland.

I arrived early, and was given the task of working with the kitchen staff. My job was to make all of the iced tea and coffee for the guests, and to serve the guests at the tables their beverage of choice.

The day went by very quickly, and I enjoyed meeting so many of these wonderful people. I took one lady's name and phone number and we plan to get together soon.

The whole town board gets involved too, and it was nice to finally be able to put a face with a name, as I have heard nice things about most of them many times.

Besides giving the guests a wonderful meal prepared by the staff, the people have the option of going outside and picking out any warm clothing they choose. Hundreds of warm coats, hats, gloves, and scarves were donated by our church as well as townspeople. The food was donated by several large corporations. We have a man who donates hundreds of loaves of bread, muffins, and bagels to our church every two weeks, and it gets distributed to the needy by our church groups. On Thanksgiving Day, the man appeared and brought with him enough bread for 2,000 people!

Inside the restaurant, live Christian music was being offered by musicians and singers. It was so interesting to see the Hispanic and English speaking people singing together for the glory of Jesus Christ!! Praise the Lord in all things!!

At the end, after all had been cleaned up, I wandered in to my new home, and got served a delicious dinner by my sweet daughter, son in law, and baby grandson. We even had pilgrim hats to wear for the occasion.

We all have so much to be thankful for, and we prayed with thanks as a family for the first time. We were missing Terry that day, but we know he was watchng from above.
A good time was had by all. Thank you, Jesus!

PARKER'S PLACE!!

The Lord has blessed me with a new job in the food industry!

I always knew that if anything happened to Ter before me, I would want to go back to work. I am not the type to sit home and feel sorry for myself. I asked the Lord to show me what He would have me do with my life, and to bless me in it. I asked Jules to help me to update my resume, and so I started my quest to find the perfect job for myself, (if there is such a thing!) I sent out several resumes, and got "semi interviewed" at a very well known catering service here in Riverdale. I did find out later that the caterer wanted to wait to see how the economy was going to affect his business, before he went and hired more people for the holidays.

I know someone who is a consultant for the town, and he knew of a family who wants to open a cafe that will serve "light fare", such as homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. This just happens to be what I have always specialized in...

I googled the couple and found out their background, and I called them to introduce myself. (you all know how bashful I am....).

I made a coffee date with the wife and we hit it off right away. She is very sweet, and very intelligent. Her family comes first of course, and that impressed me more than the fact that I could become a potential employee.

The same day we met, she took me to the location where her cafe would be built. Right now it is a shell of a building, but she knows alot about building and decorating.
This building is only about 8 blocks from where I live!

I was invited over to her home, which is also close to where I live..) to meet the family. I was very impressed about how much family means to both her and her husband. The fact that they are all Born Again Christians helped to make me feel more comfortable with them.

Right now I am just praising the Lord for bringing me into their path, and looking forward to the day when they break ground, and we will all become one step closer to working and serving at "PARKER'S PLACE". It should happen sometime in January, 2009. Please pray for them (and the staff that she will be hiring.)

Hope to see you there! I promise you won't be disappointed!