Maria Fiddled

March 2008

This Good Day

So the day finally arrived yesterday when I needed to wear the dress I affectionately referred to as a "hot babe dress." John & I were invited by our amazing friend Cathy to a benefit down at the Amway Grand Plaza featuring my all-time favorite singer, Fernando Ortega. During the day yesterday, I remember exclaiming to my girls between the orthodontist appointments and the haircut appointments, "This day is going so good." This Fernando song was the soundtrack to my day:

If the rain clouds come
Or the cold winds blow,
You're the one who goes before me
And in my heart I know
This good day
It is a gift from You.
The world is turning in its place
because You made it to.
I lift my voice
To sing a song of praise
On this good day.

We met our friends in the Ambassador Ballroom with great anticipation at 7pm. After supper, he sang his music while playing on a grand piano. If you have ever heard him, you know what a humble artist he is. He told us these really sweet and funny stories between songs that make you appreciate how he sees the world. He sang many of my favorite songs - I think I have 11 cd's of his music.

When it was over, Pastor Henry, who was at our table, went up to him and got his autograph for me. You can't miss Henry - he's 6'8". It said - exact words - "Julia, Grace and Peace to you, Fernando Ortega" I was so touched! Henry urged me to go up there, so John & I did and talked to Fernando for about 5 minutes. John took our picture together:



So what do you talk about when you meet your favorite singer? Leave it to me - I'll come up with something! I remember at one point telling him about how John is the Chevy Chase of vacation dads and we went to the Four Corners National monument once...

He closed the night with a favorite:

Netherlands Nuesday 21

Coffee in Groningen

Join the Carnival

A very awesome blogger-friend, Sarah from Virginia, is hosting the first ever Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling on her website. She's looking for entries in the following categories: Art and Craft, Eco-fab, Interior Design, Fashion, Food, Green Living, Organization, and Outdoor Living. Go check it out - you can even win a prize. Go check it out!

New Life

This past Friday afternoon, it started snowing profusely. We headed downtown to our Good Friday service in near whiteout conditions. A friend of mine at church said it reminded her that we have been washed whiter than snow - you gotta love that in a girl! She was trying to make the best of the situation.

Though we are just a month shy of having 3 teenagers in the house, we still had these:

Easter eggs on snow

Last night, I was going to bed just after eleven and John was headed out the door. He said he was going to get some dye so he & Maria could make Easter eggs. And around midnight, when Edward & Bridget came home, they joined in too. The best part is we get to have egg salad for supper.

He Lives

I love how the 93 year old lady in this video talked to her mugger. Thanks to my cousin Jodi in California who sent me the link!

Flash Back Friday 62

Little sister, Big sister......................Big Sister, Little Sister, 1988

This morning when I was looking in the mirror blow drying my hair, I had a brainstorm that I should post the infamous silhouette picture taken of Paula & I on the boat in Lake Erie. We laughed about this one for years.

Happy Spring!

Bridget & friend Jessica eat marshmallow bunnies on the ride home from church last Sunday

Today is the first day of spring and we are having a beautiful day here in GR with the shining sun. I had to work downtown this morning and met a friend to walk down there in the afternoon. What a blessing that was! The weather, work, the new space, the friend, walking, the Ford museum, the new bookstore with the drinking fountain. It's all good.

Monumental Cooking

As much as I wanted to keep the kitchen as a monument unto itself, I decided on Monday already that I needed to make chicken. When my kids were younger, they would all whine together, jokingly, "Why do we always have to have chicken?" I love that this one makes enough for 2 days in a row. When it was over, they all said, "That was good."

Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

2 (14 1/2-ounce) can green beans, rinsed and drained
3 cups diced cooked chicken
1 medium onion diced and sauteed
1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 cup mayonnaise
(6-ounce) box long-grain and wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
Pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Netherlands Nuesday 21

Monastery in Ter Appel, The Netherlands

Such is the Life of the Jewels

John returned home last night from his travels. After jetting around all week with the likes of congressman, multi-millionares, college presidents, professors, and computer geeks, he is happy to be home with that one lady who cleaned the kitchen... :) We are of course thrilled he is home - life can go on now.

Super Hero Photo Challenge

Last Friday on Shutter Sisters, the Super Hero challenge, which takes place every other week, was to share a photo with the subject's eyes closed. Usually when the subject closes his or her eyes, you consider it a throw-away, or delete it, but sometimes, it shows an extra special intimacy between the subjects or trust of the photographer. I love this photo taken of Maria & Bridget in January. I was even going to frame it, but Bridget didn't like that idea. We'll see.

Cleaning and Shopping and Keeping On

John has been out of town this week, first to Washington DC, then to Arizona, so I have been motivated to do some deep cleaning. I spent about 10 hours on the kitchen cupboards and last night, I organized the 2 junk drawers. Doesn't that sound fun? It was!

I did have a couple of birthday lunches with friends which felt like gifts to me as much as to them, you know? Deep in the recesses of my cupboards, I discovered some jam jars of my friend Lori on her birthday. So I took a cleaning break for a birthday lunch!

It turns out, my friend Cathy loves three-cheese Olga's as much as I do and we only ever eat them with our mothers. What's that all about? So we met at Olga's, and ended up shopping for a hot babe dress (for me) and pants and a bathing suit(for her). Those are the completely hardest things to shop for if you ask me, so it was a good feeling to have succeeded, and it was a plus to have had so much fun doing it. Another bonus: when I got home, Bridget approved of the dress! This is huge.

Note: I never knew I could have a hot babe dress, but I have been told since I am a hot babe, all of my dresses are hot babe dresses. Now that makes sense to me. :)

Flash Back Friday 61

John shows Edward how to do it. 1991