A New Look!!

Yes, it's true!!! After 18 months (18 months tomorrow, to be exact) of white-on-black, I'm going to have mercy on the eyes of my faithful readers! :) As I reach the bench-mark of 4600 hits (at least, 4600 since I got the counter ;)), I've decided to change my template!










Goodbye to the old:







And hello to the new:















Whaddya think?? :D

Happy Birthday, Linds!!

Twenty-two years ago today my older sister was born... of course, I wasn't around to know this fact, but it is a fact just the same. :D Today, on her twenty-second birthday, I am in Paris, our other sister is in Normandy, half the family is at home in St. Mary's and the birthday-girl herself is on retreat in Phoenix!! (What a good way to spend a birthday, eh? Sounds good to me!)

So, I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday!! Her last birthday as a "single girl." :O

I hope this is a good day for you, Linds!! Best wishes for the next 22 years!!!!! :D I love you. God bless you always.

This Time Two Years Ago

September 9, 2004... ...Rose was starting 11th grade.

September 12, 2004... ...we were celebrating Lindsey's 20th birthday.

This Time Last Year

Wow!! Was this really only a year ago?!?! It seems soooo long ago and almost as far away. (A bit of history for the photo: I was just having fun doing a "photo shoot" - something I love doing :) - with my bro and sis... I think Joey was falling asleep on me! :))

(Picture taken September 14, 2005.)

Hello from France!!

Hello, everyone!!

I left the States two weeks ago yesterday and arrived in France two weeks ago today! It's been a good two weeks so far, for the most part. Rose left home yesterday and has probably been in France for an hour or so as I write... that is, if she didn't miss two flights like I inadvertently did!! ;) Welcome to France, Rosie!!!

I've just updated my year-in-France blog, so if you'd like to see pictures of Cluny and an old chateau in the south of France and stuff like that, head on over to An American in Paris! :D See you there! :)

Au 'voir!
Monique :P

Five, four, three, two, one... blast-off!!

Five days until I leave for France. FIVE DAYS!!! Wow. It doesn't really seem like it. (Except for the fact that I'm already packed - lol! :D) When I think, "this time next week, I'll know what my room there looks like," it kind of hits me. Wish me luck!! I think I'm gonna need it - and all the prayers I can get too. After all, it's FRANCE I'm going to. ;) (I'm just joking for those of you who happen to be French. :))

Anyway, I just thought I'd let y'all know that I've started yet another blog... this time to chart various adventures I have in Europe, especially in Paris. :) Click on over to An American in Paris. :)

August 24, here we come! :) TTFN!!
~Monnie

Joey's Golden Birthday

It's my baby brother's 17th birthday today!!! Wow! He's taller than me, stronger than me (duh) and the best bubba anybody could ask for... right now, though, he's in Wyoming. So I just wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday here! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOEY!!! I love you!! (Hope you're not embarrassed by me putting it here for everyone to see. ;)) God bless you on your birthday, in your coming year, and always.

My Days are Numbered!

Well, all, it's been two weeks since I posted last. I'm now 20 years old... and have 9 days before I leave for France!! Sounds ominous, doesn't it? ;) It's actually pretty exciting. And scary. The past fortnight has been spent getting ready both for the year in France and for Lindsey's wedding. I'm happy to report that we're making progress on both counts.
Adam and Christa got married on August 5. It was soooooo hot!! But I think it was a very pretty wedding nonetheless. They're on their honeymoon this week. Best wishes to the newlyweds!
Mom, Rose and I went to Chicago from August 7 to August 10 and came away with our visas for France. We really enjoyed our two day stay in Chicago and hope to visit again someday.
Linds came in from KC this past weekend. Rose and I hosted a bridal shower for her on the 12th. It turned out nicely, if you ask me. :) (Of course, there's always the chance that I'd be prejudiced. ;)) I hadn't seen Linds since before we went to Canada in June, so it was very good to see her again! She came in again for the feast of the Assumption and to look at the reception hall for the wedding. Dad and Joey are in Wyoming currently, so it was the girls at home this weekend. :)

...9 days and counting. I'll definitely keep y'all updated as to my adventures abroad! :D Wish me luck!!

Happy Feast Day to everyone!! I leave you with a few recent pictures...

Adam and Christa...

Rosie, right on the bay of Lake Michigan in Chicago

And a picture from the bridal shower

HOT

We've been in an oven lately. Just baking. And we're cooked. The past four days have all exceeded 100F, averaging about 102 degrees. That's strictly the temperature. Take into consideration the humidity and the heat index (i.e. what the body feels) is closer to 115. *wilts*

Our poor yard is all dried out. The grass is brown and dead. As I write, there is a heat advisory in effect.

The heat wave seems to be affecting nearly all the states, though. One source says that there have been 18 heat-related deaths in seven states because of the heat.

BUT relief is on the horizon! The high tomorrow is "only" supposed to be 92!! And the day after that, we'll be all the way down to 88. (We won't mention the fact that after that the temperatures are forecast to go back up... *sigh*)

Summertime continues in the Midwest.

Home Again, Part III

More photos from our Canadian vacation! :)

On July 7, we took a day-trip to Montréal (many thanks to Bill for making that possible!). Our first stop was at St. Joseph's Shrine, where Brother André lived and worked.
This is Mom, Rose and I looking tiny in front of the church of St. Joseph.
The view from where we were standing in the above picture...
We visited the church of Notre Dame de Bon Secours...
...which houses the tomb of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys...
Then, it was on to Notre Dame (of Montréal)...
...which was GORGEOUS!!!!
Afterwards, we went up to a lookout over the city...

On the 8th, we went sailing again...
...and watched Evening Primroses open. They open in about 30 seconds shortly after the sun goes down. It's incredible to watch them bloom!

On the 10th, we set out for a little sight-seeing around Canada's capital.
This is a look down the locks of the canal.
Parliament...
Rose, standing in the middle of a lock
We even took a touristy boat tour on the canal. :P

On the 11th, we went to Champlain's Lookout in Gatineau National Park (I think that's the name of it)... although the sunset wasn't splendid, the view was very nice.

On the 12th, we saw a production of Shakespeare in the Park - All's Well that Ends Well. It was QUITE well done!!

On the 13th, Rose and I took a bike ride (made possible by our tour guide Gregory :)) to see Joe and Marcel's work site. Here we stopped on Bate Island, on our way across the Ottawa River...
One of their current projects...

On the 16th, our last full day in Canada, Margaret made her first Holy Communion and was enrolled in the brown scapular.
In the afternoon, we went sailing one last time.

And on July 17, we flew home! The Kansas heat hit us full in the face... it was 102F when we left the airport and headed for home. We were a little reluctant to return home after such a good trip, but it had to be done. :)

I've now been back 2 weeks and have a little over 3 weeks before I leave for France. Life is pretty crazy around here, as I juggle preparations for two weddings, try to complete projects I agreed to weeks and weeks ago, and attempt to prepare my life for the European experience! ;) This is it for now.... thank you for visiting my blog! :)