In Memoriam

Teresa

Did you ever have a friend who was so much more than a friend? A friend who had a profound influence on your worldview and way of life? Teresa was such a friend. Although she and her family moved to a different state a couple of years ago, and we didn't keep in close contact, I prayed for her every day. Because Teresa battled breast cancer for the last five years. On Monday,  she lost the battle. I continue to pray, but mostly for her husband and four young children. 

Teresa changed our way of life; we never would have considered homeschooling until I met her, and my Catholic faith has grown much deeper through her example. Never one to hang back from reaching out to people,  Teresa called me several years ago, asking if I'd like to join a prayer group she was starting at our parish. We didn't know each other, but she had seen me at Mass, and wanted to invite me. I often looked to her for spiritual guidance, and just to have fun. She had

an amazing sense of humor and fun-loving spirit, even while living with cancer. May God grant her eternal rest, and I know she will be interceding for me and for many others.

Apple Picking Time

Yesterday we joined our friends, the Wyss family, at a local orchard for some apple fun. At first, the littler ones had trouble finding any apples low enough to pick, but then enjoyed using the long apple pickers. We had a little trouble identifying some
of the varieties we ended up with, but think we came away with Empire (the kids said they taste like bananas), Golden Delicious (that one we're sure of, at least), Northern Spy (possibly), and Granny Smith (pretty sure about that one, too).



Half the fun was sampling the different varieties, as Sam is doing here.







Patrick peruses the shelves of honey while he holds his chosen Indian corn. The little store at the orchard also sold cider, honey, pumpkins, etc. We bought some of the local honey with the comb. The boys were fascinated that the honeycomb was edible.


Sam was eager to use some of our apple as table decoration. They do look pretty in a wooden bowl.