On the Homefront

The beautiful- and happy!- couple

We witnessed Tim’s brother, Pat, marry Erin Snyder last week on the shores of the Dominican Republic.  It is wonderful to see Pat so happy and we are blessed to have a new sister-in-law and lovely aunt.  Congratulations!  We are looking forward to sharing many more happy memories with you as you embark on this incredible journey.

The wedding party strolls the beach

Nan with her son and new daughter-in-law

McGovern ladies- Nan and all three daughters-in-law

The cake

Pat and Tim prepare for the ceremony

Who is that handsome guy?

Waiting for the bride

Exchanging vows

Spending time with St. Francis

Standing with Our Lady

Therese and Mommy (taken by Myriam)

I took the kids to the Basilica of the National Shrine on Holy Thursday morning for a pilgrimage with our friends, the Hebert’s.  It was gorgeous weather and after visiting the Blessed Sacrament and going through several of our favorite chapels, we strolled out to the Mary garden to start on our second set of Mysteries to the Rosary (we do one set each way in the car and one while we are there… I did the fourth by myself later in the day to complete the entire Rosary).  I only took a few pictures and then Therese and Myriam went to work photographing the beauty of the day.  Most of the “artistic shots” were taken by Therese.  She filled the camera!  These are only a few of her captured moments.  Thank you to the Hebert’s for a wonderful morning and joining us for a beautiful pilgrimage.

Stopping to smell the daffodils

Mommy and Myriam (taken by Therese)

Josh and Therese pray a decade of the Rosary on their own

Therese positions the roses and Rosary for perfect shot

A view of the Basilica

Trees in bloom

A wide view of the garden

Two pregnant mommies

Therese and Josh

Brendan

He has poured blood, sweat and tears into this project at work and the final product can be found here.

He will be mortified when he sees I am bragging here but I have to shout the good news from the rooftops (or at least our blog, which is read by very few, but still…). The Bivings Report recently listed the top five think tank websites and guess who made the list? You have to scroll down because they are in alphabetical order, but it says that “The Heritage Foundation launched a new version from the site in the last few days. The new site is terrific, and in my opinion the best of the sites listed here.” Great, great news for my main man.

Oh, by the way, it was his blood and sweat and mostly my tears that went into it. He is amazing though, isn’t he? We are going to celebrate in a myriad of ways in the Dominican Republic next week.

The elder takes care of the younger

And so were my eyes…  I would blame the tears on the pregnancy, but I think these moments bring more joy than words can express and I cry whether I am pregnant or not.  My heart has a way of spilling over through my eyes.

Don't let go of my hand, Therese, even when I pull you from the path!

Three little ducks, all in a row

And this is how we spent a lovely day.  We were outside for 5 glorious hours after Atrium this morning.  I couldn’t bear to go home and face laundry and cleaning and packing for our trip when the sun was shining so brightly.  I figured I could tackle those chores after the sun went down.

(Title credit: a phrase from a book my girls love and we highly recommend:  All of A Kind Family by Sydney Taylor.  It is a lovely tale about a Jewish family with five young girls.  We first listened to it on CD and then loved it so much I read it aloud when studying Jerusalem and Jewish customs this winter).

Up close and personal with the goose

The gander ignores us and continues with his dinner

The mallards swiming towards us

Therese diligently works through the labrynth

Myriam follows the stones

Brendan takes to the maze