Monday, April 30, 2012

Abigayle's First Holy Communion




 My granddaughter Abigayle's First Holy Communion. Abigayle usually says Grace at our family gatherings. She always reminds me to say my prayers when she sleeps over. She is loving and helpful. I am so proud of her.


After the Mass we all gathered at a local restaurant to celebrate with Abigayle.  There was a luncheon buffet of Sirloin Steak, Marinated Boneless Chicken Breast, Baked Potato, String Beans, Corn, and Rolls.  For dessert there was a scrumptious red velvet cake with cannoli filling and cream cheese icing from a local bakery The Cake Pros.
http://www.thecakepros.com/


The Holy Father Pope John Paul II (My daughter's favorite Pope) speaks to Children:
Your First Holy Communion

Pope John Paul II speaks directly to children about the solemn importance of First Holy Communion in this excerpt from his "Letter to Children" written in 1994 during the "Year of the Family". 
Dear friends, There is no doubt that an unforgettable meeting with Jesus is First Holy Communion, a day to be remembered as one of life's most beautiful.
The Eucharist, instituted by Christ at the Last Supper on the night before His passion, is a sacrament of the New Covenant -- the greatest of the sacraments. In this sacrament, the Lord becomes food for the soul under the appearances of bread and wine.
Children receive this sacrament solemnly a first time -- in First Holy Communion -- and are encouraged to receive it afterward as often as possible in order to remain in close friendship with Jesus.
To be able to receive Holy Communion, as you know, it is necessary to have received baptism: this is the first of the sacraments and the one most necessary for salvation. Baptism is a great event! In the Church's first centuries, when baptism was received mostly by grownups, the ceremony ended with receiving the Eucharist, and was as solemn as first Holy Communion is today. Later on, when baptism began to be given mainly to newborn babies -- and this is the case of many of you, dear children, so that in fact you do not remember the day of your baptism -- the more solemn celebration was transferred to the moment of First Holy Communion.
Every boy and every girl belonging to a Catholic family knows all about this custom: First Holy Communion is a great family celebration. On that day, together with the one who is making his or her First Holy Communion, the parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, godparents, and sometimes also the instructors and teachers, generally receive the Eucharist.
The day of First Holy Communion is also a great day of celebration in the parish. I remember as though it were yesterday when, together with the other boys and girls of my own age, I received the Eucharist for the first time in the parish church of my town. This event is usually commemorated in a family photo, so that it will not be forgotten. Photos like these generally remain with a person all through his or her life. As time goes by, people take out these pictures and experience once more the emotions of those moments; they return to the purity and joy experienced in that meeting with Jesus, the one who out of love became the Redeemer of Man.
For how many children in the history of the Church has the Eucharist been a source of spiritual strength, sometimes even heroic strength! How can we fail to be reminded, for example, of holy boys and girls who lived in the first centuries and are still known and venerated throughout the Church? Saint Agnes, who lived in Rome; Saint Agatha, who was martyred in Sicily; Saint Tarcisius, a boy who is rightly called the "martyr of the Eucharist" because he preferred to die rather than give up Jesus, whom he was carrying under the appearance of bread.

John Paul II



Abigayle Singing "Oh Come Little Children" Christmas 2008








Sunday, April 29, 2012

Happy Birthday Rod McKuen

My sister Ruth Ann, Rod, and Me


Happy Birthday Rod!

Lyrics to 
People On Their Birthday
by Rod Mckuen

People on their birthdays will take a drink or two
and tell you how they won the prize in Nineteen Forty-Two,
some other summer before the swing came down
papa smashed the car up on his way in from the town.

People on their birthdays are fond of looking back
to half remembered yesterdays when things were not so black
wasn’t it something that long-ago July
that’s about the time birthday people start to cry.

Happy Birthday, drink a toast to me
I’m all of ten and goin’ on a hundred twenty-three.

People on their birthdays all live in yesterday
before the kids grew up and went their own ambitious way
wasn’t it something that long-ago July
now birthdays come so often I’ve forgotten how to cry.

Happy Birthday, one more toast to me.
I’m all of ten and goin’ on a hundred twenty-three.

People on their birthdays should have a chocolate cake
and be prepared tomorrow for a memory bellyache
looks like a rainstorm beyond the cloudy sky
say hello this birthday, please don’t say goodbye.
- from the album "Sold Out - Rod McKuen Live at Carnegie Hall", 1969

 Thank you for 59 years of wonderful words and music!

Love, The Shameless Beggar/Jardinami; Iris in your garden
Diane Hoffman

How about a Carnegie Concert next year,
The 10th Anniversary of the 30th Anniversary of the 40th Birthday Concert?

Sunday, April 22, 2012

An Earth Day Prayer


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Our Favorite Campground: Baker's Acres Parkertown, NJ



I first camped at Baker's Acres when my brother Buddy had his camper there back in the early 1980s.  The next time we camped in a tent in 1985, and then several other times throughout the nineties in our camper and in a tent. We were there during the Baker's Acres yearly Pig Roast and Craft Fair.  That was fun and the food was delicious!  

Once when camping in our tent in 2001 end of summer we were wakened in the middle of the night by a thunder and lightening storm.  We quickly got ourselves into the car and headed up Rt. 1 to a Dunkin Donuts and waited out the storm there.  When we returned to our tent there was a mote around our mattress.  Needless to say we got rid of that tent.   

The following are photos from our last visit in the summer of 2010 when we rented a cottage there.  We are hoping to visit again this summer, and going for a tent adventure.  I am checking out a new tent at Cabelas.  This time we will be prepared with a good tent, and all the trimmings.  I hope to take some grandkids along. 
Baker's Acres Campground












 Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen's Museum

 To see more pictures of Tuckertown Seaport Museum






Nearby Attractions









LINKS: 

Baker's Acres Campground Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/BakersAcresNJ


Barnegat Lighthouse: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/barnlig.html


Historic Smithville and Village Greene: http://www.smithvillenj.com/

Long Beach Island and beaches: Brant Beach: http://lbi.net/communities/brant_beach/

Facebook Page of Tuckertown Stewart's Root Beer Stand: 
"We love it!"  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stewarts-Root-Beer/60269308100




Seaside Heights: http://www.seasideheights.net/










Thursday, April 12, 2012

Caine's Arcade, An Inspirational Story Of A Little Boy's Imagination and Ingenuity...


What an inspirational video about the imagination and ingenuity of one little boy in a junk yard in East LA!


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

A Family Easter Celebration

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life! " ~Albert Einstein

On Easter Sunday our family had a warm and loving celebration honoring this very special day when our savior Jesus Christ overcame death to spread his message of Grace to the world.

Both my daughters and their husbands and children, my cousin Kathy and her pregnant daughter Rachaelyn with husband Garrett, and son Matthew, and my husband and I had a truly wonderful time.  The kids had an egg hunt, everyone got prizes and cash. My granddaughter Abigayle said grace at dinner.  Abby and Lilyana helped me bake, both daughters and their husbands helped with so much to make this day so special.  Even little Maggie and Jacob helped in getting the house in tip top shape.  Because I have spinal column injuries I was having a very painful week, and they all pitched in to help me with everything. I am so blessed and grateful for my family!

We had Hawaiian Ham, Stuffed Cabbage, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Asparagus, Carrots, Green Bean Medley, Cole Slaw, Deviled Eggs, Pickled Eggs, Home Baked Bread, Pistachio Pineapple Pudding, Sugar Cookies, Linzer Tarts,  Lemon Meringue Cake, Toasted Coconut Chocolate Birds-nest Cupcakes, Homemade Peanut Butter, and Coconut Cream Eggs.



Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy 13th Birthday To My Granddaughter Emily


Emily 
 Michael W. Smith

 Caught, in an endless time
Waiting for a sign
To show you where to go
Lost, in a silent stare
Looking anywhere
For answers you don't know
Chorus:
On the wire
Balancing your dreams
Hoping ends will meet their means
You feel alone
Uninspired
Well does it help you to
Know that I believe in you
You're an angel waiting for wings...Emily

You, going through this stage

It's a restless age
Young and insecure
Sill, there are doubts to fade
Moments to be made
And one of them is yours

Chorus


On the wire

Balancing your dreams
Hoping ends will meet their means
But you feel alone
Uninspired
Oh does it help you to
Know that I believe in you
You're an angel waiting for wings
Oh, you're an angel waiting for wings...Emily




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Happy Birthday to my daughter Jamiann~ April 4th

We had dinner at On The Border in Lehigh Valley, PA and they sang to Jamiann.
 My youngest daughter Jamiann was born on a Good Friday, April 4, 1980.  She has been such a blessing to my life. I am so grateful to God for sending  this very special soul to my life!  She is a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend. 


Jamiann Easter 1982






APRIL PEOPLE
by Rod McKuen

April, April laugh your happy laughter
But a moment after cry your gentle tears

April people, try to smile
even when they're sad
'cause they know
behind the rainbow
things can't be that bad.

April people, all are lonely
that's a general rule
more than once
a lonely heart
has made an April fool.

Born in April, sad of heart
you're a lonesome child
you could make the sun shine
with even half a smile.

April people, live for love
nothing else will do
so come along
and take my hand
I was born in April too.

April people, live for love
nothing else will do
so come along
and take my hand
I was born in April too.


Happy Birthday Baby Mine, Happy Birthday Jamiann!
Mike and Jamiann


To read about one of my many adventures with Jamiann click here!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Palm Sunday

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Nazareth, PA-formerly attended there before I moved.

 

Today is Palm Sunday for me and what is estimated 2.1 Billion Christians in the world.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on this day the beginning of the Jewish Passover when they celebrate their salvation from slavery.  He rode in on a lowly donkey, not a magnificent steed, and yet the people gave him the red carpet treatment of laying palms in his path. 

HE was given adulation; " Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!"

 Can you imagine his thoughts knowing the fate that awaited him just five days later?  HE however knew why this would happen, and that he was the new passover from the slavery of sin to salvation.  HE knew that through him all are given the chance to rise to everlasting life.   John 14: 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 


Matthew 21: 1-11 King James Version

 1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
 2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
 3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
 4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
 5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
 6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
 7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
 8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
 9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
 10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
 11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Wishing a Blessed Palm Sunday to all who love HIM and are grateful and humbled by HIS sacrifice.  

Click here to read an excellent sermon on Palm Sunday. 

To learn how to make a Palm Cross click here.