"Do not pray for rain if you are going to complain about the mud." Proverbs

“Mud-pies gratify one of our first and best instincts. So long as we are dirty, we are pure.” -Charles Dudley Warner

Before I was humiliated I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall. -Saint Patrick

Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.   -John 10:10

I want to live on the edge! I want to leave a legacy for my child. Not an empty "human" legacy. But a legacy of living daily in God's Presence and of bringing His very Life to people in this world. For my daughter to know and truly say, “Hey, my mom—she stood for something; she gave back to this world. She showed me how to live life to the fullest. She taught me how to be a part of the solution rather than the problem.” This is how I want to live today! I'm up to the challenge and living life on the edge".

What can I say....I guess I am a stage mom! Few people know that I was once a "theatre major" in college. I actually had a choice between a full sports scholarship or a drama scholarship. I chose drama! So it is definitely in my blood.
 I started Abbagael at a Dance Academy this past January. She is a natural and she loves to dance. I will never "drive" her into anything. But I also, as her mom, have a sense as to her inborn talents. And dance and drama are definitely right up her alley. Anyway, this Academy is also a Christian Dance Troupe and Drama Group based out of a local church. They put on several shows a year. And this past spring they put on "GODSPELL". With real rehearsals and 3 shows, it was quite an event. Abbagael and the girls in her dance class were a part of several scenes. And in the "creation scene" with adult ballet dancers, Abbagael was the Moon. Interesting fact is: she has always particularly loved the moon (i guess she is a "light" that shines in the darkness). It was amazing! I am glad that she shares her mommy's love and passion for the arts....

"If a child is to keep alive her inborn sense of wonder, she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." -Rachel Carlson

"yes, my parents went to the concert and all i got was the t-shirt!"

It is hard to believe that 20 years ago on VALENTINE’S DAY Jim proposed to me! It doesn’t seem that long ago. And it will be 20 years in August that we were married! We have always enjoyed not just the “holiday” but we celebrate an anniversary on the day.
I remember it distinctly. We were both going to school full time. We had plans to go out to dinner on a Sunday evening. He came to my dorm in his nice white Pontiac grand prix. When I came out, he opened up his trunk and pulled out a dozen red roses, and gave them to me. Then he opened the car door for me (something he still tries to do). We went to a nice Italian restaurant called Angelos in Smithtown, LI. And there in the middle of dinner, he looked at me across the table with tears in his eyes and asked, “will you marry me Patti?” I dropped my fork in my linguini with clam sauce (no joke)! Tears welled up in my eyes and we cried together (happy tears people) as I said, “YES”!

Lots of living life and 20 years later we are still celebrating this special day! We are at the end of the night now (tonight) and we just agreed that this is the best one yet!!!



This past Monday, I asked Jim if we could get the kitchen painted for my Valentine’s present.
And he jumped on it. In marriage (over time) one of the cool things that can happen (if you let it) is that you learn to “truly listen” to those little nuances within each other. But that’s another blog. Anyway, by Tuesday, he had gotten an estimate. And on Wednesday, my kitchen was painted, the downstairs bathroom was painted, and in my bedroom, well, my “beautiful new king size canopy bed” has a “new painted wall” to bank up against. I love my bedroom. Almost sounds like “the price is right”. Let’s just say, I got way more than I asked for! Here is Jim with our good friend (who also happens to be our painter).


It was a simple day today. This morning we gave each other simple cards and simple gifts – the three of us. Jim went to work.
It is a long commute for him. He gets his cup of coffee and heads up the stairs to his office. WE LOVE IT!!!! It’s rough but somebody’s got to do it!
Abbagael and I traversed through our day. We played with her new toy (a collectible red volkswagon beetle) car. We built a fort in the living room. We cooked in her play kitchen and had many of her stuffed animals, her baby, and Dora, over for play dinner. We laughed, cuddled, chased, read books and tickled our way throughout the day. Tonight, we ordered out. Jim brought home 2 orders of “linguini with clam sauce” for he and I and pasta with sauce for Abbagael.

After we put Abbagael to bed, Jim treated me to a foot spa. He took great care in the process. A nice relaxing end to a simple yet profoundly enjoyable day. 20 years have come and I am grateful for the life that God has blessed me with. One thing I know. We have truly lived our lives fully over these last twenty years. Not perfectly. But we love each other and know one another fully. And it has been good. We believe in each other and we love to believe in and encourage others in life.

Right now, as I look ahead into the next 20 plus years, I am solidly convinced in God’s persevering love toward me. His love has melted my heart and worked deeply in my soul over these years. I have a hope and and a future. Much of this understanding has come through experiencing the unconditional love that Jim has shown me and others through all of these years. And we both know that life is to be lived.....one day at a time…..and though it has been 20 years....the best days (and years) are yet to come...

Here we are with a few of our "kids". Been close with them since they were in grade school. They are in their mid-twenties now!!

Of course, we've trained them well, and they are all incredibly brilliant, bright and uh, well......we all be crazy too!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Abbagael


The greatest birthday present is the GIFT of GOD'S PRESENCE

From the time of before she was born, God made it clear to me that He had given me the profound privilege of allowing His Presence to come into the realm of "time" and "space" and touch her on a very real and regular basis. It has been His mandate to Jim and myself. And we have so much fun when we worship God, pray, and linger in His Presence in our home with her. This has also been a 'place' of creative release for us and her, as well. My prayer is that His Presence would become as natural to her as breathing in air. She's only three! Boy, I would have loved that as a kid. Home is the place for this! Other environments are only meant to supplement. Jim and I are so glad to facilitate this for her. Of course, we clearly don't neglect the many other aspects of allowing her to just be a kid. And I am surely not expecting her to be an adult in her spirituality either. It just seems like God's affinity and Presence with children is so real and we have the joy of making space for His heart to touch them. And His word is full of experiences of children running to Him, sitting on His lap, listening to Him......It feels so RIGHT and so sacred to make this a real part of her life. So along with lot's of daily adventure, fun, play, and just plain living a kids life, it will never be enough to just ask God's blessing on what "we are doing" with her daily, although that is a part of it. It is in heart to heart communication we can say, "let us be a part of what You are doing Lord!" She gets the wonderful safe environment (with her imperfect parents) to connect with God, grow in her knowledge and understanding of Him and His ways. And all the while, it is safe and easy and light- not religious, rigid or uptight. But that she was created to "experience God's Presence" on an deeper heart level regularly. And in that place we know He helps her emotionally, intellectually, physically, and in every way. He has no limits in our lives. And it is He Who knows her best. And the awesome added benefit is, that, we get to be in it with her.......life is good!