Hey Mom, Dad, Robert, Elise, Clare, Brian, Sarah, Cyril, Joseph, Fran, Patrick, Stephen, Thomas, Edward, Kevin, and all my beautiful neices and nephews.

I am now back in our house in Zurita. The entrance to the novitiate was beautiful. In the end, 6 candidates entered. I forgot my camera, so I won't be able to put any photos on now, but later I can get them from the sisters and put them on here.

One of the days that I was in Valencia, where the profession of vows and where the entrance was, the sisters took all the candidates to the Cathedral. It was beautiful. We got to go in and see all the special things they have there for free because we are religious, oh the advantage of living in poverty, haha. And in the "special section" we saw what everyone and the historians say is the Holy Grail. So if it really is the Holy Grail, we saw it and a lot of other famous art of the Spanish Catholics. I took pictures, I will post them another time.

The camp also went very well. I will have to write more about it later and post some photos. Right now the sisters are doing a lot of things to prepare for World Youth Day. Some of the sisters are on the official committee in Madrid, planning and organizing all the events, creating and updating the website and I don't really know what else. But the Home of the Mother will have a site in Madrid where the youth will be able to go and attend different events. We must pray for the youth that they go with open hearts to receive whatever the Lord is ready to give them and then do whatever the Lord asks of them. And that the Pope has good health and really touches the hearts of all the young people.

Did you get my letter Mom? Happy Birthday again! I hope you had a wonderful day, I offered up my Mass and prayer for you.

I will be home soon, I love you all!

Summer Fun

Looking for bugs in the yard.
Joyce gardening with her head.
camping in the back yard.
Robert taking Joyce for a bike ride on Memorial weekend at the ranch
Bobby loading and shooting a bolt action .22.
Watering the tomatoes at Sarah's
Robert Mowing Sarah's lawn
Bobby taking care of Joyce





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Hello Family!
We have been having lots of fun this summer Our visits with the Doll family was awesome and getting to meet precious little Peter.
We have a large garden this summer with cucumbers, corn, sunflowers, melons, peas, carrots, chives, strawberries, lettuce, beans, onions and an array of spices. Gardening and playing in the yard his how we pass the afternoons. I left a blank spot in the yard just so they can dig and find bugs.
Joyce just started walking and likes to test things with her head. She often has mud or lunch or something gooey on her head from bonking it. She also says 3 words. Mama , Dada and Kittie. It is fun gardening with them. It teaches a parent to let go. I know they have been big helpers when there is corn sprouting in the cilantro and birdfeed patches sprouting up in the lawn.
Bobby started preschool in June that lasts a full year. He is really starting to like it. He is picking up a lot and is starting to recognize his colors. Though, he specializes in play yard golf!
This blue tub accompanied by a slew of measuring cups and tupperware are the water entertainment over here. They take turns one with the hose the other in the tub, pretending leaves are soap. Joyce likes to fill up one bucket with toys and take it somewhere and make a pile. She will spend all afternoon moving stuff from one pile to the next in a bucket.
The weekend after mom left the ladies went down to the ranch and while we were there we killed a snake. Take a peak at Auntie Teresa, the pistol packing Mama and if you want to laugh like crazy check out the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKDQtB80m5U.
That is all for now. I will keep you posted with all the new pictures. ~ Elise
Little giggles ;)Joyce in an outfit Mom made for her playing with her favorite thing the Hope the kittie!