While We’re Waiting…
1 comment | June 29th, 2009
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So, you want the real story… (Pt. 1)
It was a dark and stormy night…..
Whoops. Rewind a few days. *zzzzzzzzzzhhhhhhhhhip*
Okay. The day is Monday, June 8th, 2009. Up at Hall’s Hall the ladies of the house are running about, packing for a week long excursion. Where might they be headed for 7 blessed days? None other than their parish elder’s vacation cabin in the middle of a beautiful meadow where all is peace and quiet and… *yawn*
Once all was prepared Mom, the 3 youngers and Le Pooch piled into our motorized vehicle and *blinkblink* we were there. What joy! What bliss! I personally spent half of my afternoon taking a luxurious (and much needed) nap.
Next day was a fairly typical Tuesday. Not much to say ’bout that.
Wednesday. Ah! Wednesday. I, after much persuasion by our Lost-Hiking-Friend, had decided to attend a celebratory gathering that evening. This meant I had to come into town and stay at home by my lonesome self while Dad and Josie were at work. Thus my day consisted of much household cleanup and piano practice. *happyme*
Now, I have to explain about this dinner party. It was carried out in stages. The first course was served at So-and-so’s home, the main course was served at Such-and-such’s place and desert at the church of LHF.
Josie and I, young and innoccent as we are, set off ready for a grand time. You can imagine our consternation when, lo and behold, the first house on the menu was quite obviously deserted! After attempting to call several people, driving around to a couple possible places and getting ahold of no one we decided it might be wise to head home and see if we had missed any important cyber-mail.
Though it has really nothing to do with this story, it might be interesting to note that a queen size mattress came flying off the truck just in front of the frightened people in front of us! ‘Twas interesting.
At home again, Josie flew upstairs to confirm locations and times while I flew to the back of our mode-of-transportation. The large pitcher of iced tea that we were to contribute had unashamedly spilt a third of it’s contents all over that back of the car. Just as I was going into the house I ran back to the car to fetch Josie’s cell phone. As I picked it up, who should call but our LHF!!! He laughed at our plight but assured us that the next stop had the food to die for. I assured him we would as soon as we got there. He laughed again.
From thence the evening went quite smoothly. The “food to die for” was this LHF’s very own lasagna. It was to die for. After taking care of a couple things we finally enjoyed desert at the final stop, at least, everyone else did. All the excitement (and lasagna) took my sugar cravings and threw them out the car window as we were driving!
We’d promised to be at the cabin by 10 p.m. We arrived promptly 5 minutes aft. I don’t know how we almost always end up being the last (or nearly the last) to leave a party.
To be continued…
7 comments | June 25th, 2009
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*cue ‘Jaws’ theme*
It was a dark and stormy night. Four girls and their parents were hiking with some friends up to Tip Top mountain when suddenly, an army of Orcs surrounded them and drew their bows, ready to mercilessly slay them all!!!!!
The frightened hikers would have been completely lost had not Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, invisibly come and placed a spell on them, causing them to fall into a hundred years sleep.
The Orcs were confused by the hikers’ strange collapse and debated for three days what to do with their captives. They finally decided to throw them off the face of the earth by flinging them into space one by one with their giant catapault.
Their plan went off without a hitch, the catapault flinging each hiker so high as to kill any normal creature by way of suffocation in the stratosphere or by impact upon decent back to earth. When they got to the last hiker their catapault, strained from so much flinging, fell to pieces at their feet. They debated for three days what to do with the last hiker and while they debated two lost hikers found the sleeping hiker and quickly made off with her, thereby rescuing her from the stupid Orcs.
At this point, Glinda returned and removed the spell from the sleeping hiker and told her that her family and companions were safe at home now, but that she must find her own way home. Glinda dissappeared.
The two lost hikers happend to be friends of the dissenchanted hiker and they were happy to help take her home. One of the lost hikers used his cell phone to call for help and four and a half hours later the police came and took them back to town where they thanked eachother and parted ways.
Of course, the dissenchanted hiker was me and I’m okay now. So are all my family and friends.
Now, if you want the real story you’ll have to ask my sisters. 
~Josie
10 comments | June 9th, 2009
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Springy Photos!
With the combination of new Spring/Summer clothes and a gorgeous day I couldn’t resist dragging my younger (no longer “little”) sisters outside with Le Pooch for a photoshoot several weeks ago. What do y’all think? 
Posted by: Melanie
7 comments | May 4th, 2009
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Ratatouille
My younger sister and I just finished watching “Ratatouille”! It is a family favorite. Since none of us have written a review I thought to myself, ”Well, I have the movie fresh in my head, why not!” So here goes my review on “Ratatouille”.
Title: Ratatouille
Rating: G
Positive Elements: There are many good lessons to be learned from this movie I will mention the most prominent ones.
1. At the beginning of the movie Gusteau says, “If you focus on what you left behind. You will never be able to see what lies ahead.” That is so true.
2. Gusteau’s famous saying is “Anyone can cook” Remy shows how this is true as Gusteau puts it. “Anyone can cook but only the fearless can be great”
3. A strong friendship is made between Remy and Linguini. There are a couple parts where their friendship is falling apart but they stay friends to the end.
4. At the beginning it’s obvious that Remy doesn’t think very highly of his family but when they get separated he realizes how important family is. His father and older brother look out for him and help him when he needs help.
5. This is just a side note really but the music is wonderful!
Negative Elements: Yes there are negative parts in the movie I will just put down the stuff that pops out at me
1. Chef Skinner welcomes Linguini to H***.
2. There is kissing but of course it is animated so it’s not that bad.
3. Anton Ego is kind of disturbing at first, he’s very tall and skinny with bony fingers, and his office is shaped like a coffin, but he ends up seeming like a very nice person.
In the end everyone is living happily, Remy is head chef of a restaurant that Ego is the main contributor to. And all the rats get good food all the time! So now I suggest that you go watch the movie (if you haven’t already) and tell me what you think!
~Sarah
6 comments | April 15th, 2009
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And all the bells in heaven shall ring…
… on Easter Day, on Easter day!
A slight rendition of a traditional Christmas carol (okay, total makeover). But seriously, why shouldn’t the bells ring on Resurrection Day? Is it not the highest point of the Christian year? Our Savior is bodily raised from the dead, completely defeating death, and giving us the promise of a full and complete bodily resurrection! Is that not ’cause to ring out the bells and celebrate as on no other day? Obviously I cannot do justice to the celebration we had yesterday morning but I would like to give you just a (very) small taste. [All images are clickable.]
Choir robes pressed and ready for wear.
Easter dresses pressed and being worn.
Sukey and Sarah.
Good friends.
Girlfriends.
Dudes.
The J's and friend.
Setting up for the service.
Candles.
Setting up communion.
The Pascal Candle.
Ready and waiting.
"The light of Christ." "Thanks be to God!"
Enter choristers.
Sadly, we didn’t get any pictures of the children ringing bells during the ‘Gloria’. Maybe, if you’ve a good imagination, you can picture a dozen kiddos walking down the center aisle and then all around the room and hear the ringing of beautiful bells while the congregation is singing, “Glory be to God on high!” It was positively wonderful!
Next year y’all should join us!
Posted by: Melanie H.
5 comments | April 13th, 2009
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Good Friday
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est.
[trans: for our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried.]
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.
My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.
The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.
My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!
Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.
Words: Bernard of Clairvaux
Music: Hans L. Hassler
Posted by: Melanie
3 comments | April 10th, 2009
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Not All Rigor Is Mortis
Click the picture to find out where I’ll be in August 2009.
~Josie
5 comments | April 8th, 2009
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Pianissimo!
Hi! The piano is a wonderful thing. I know you are wondering why I am posting this. Well, I want to tell about our piano. Our piano is about 100 years old. It is a baby grand and I love it. It first belonged to my great great grandma Burkhart. We moved our piano from Texas to the Northwest and it didn’t get hurt. That is the history that I know about our piano! Bye now! ~Felicity~
4 comments | March 31st, 2009
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