Jack Turns Five!

Today Katie's cousin Jack is celebrating his 5th birthday.

Jack is a guy who is the life of the party and who knows how to "ham" it up, Jack always keeps us smiling. Jack, you are so very sweet and kind, someone who always thinks of others. We all wish we could be there to give you a huge birthday hug. I hope your day is a fun one. Here, Jack, his sister Kaelyn, and his parent's prepare to board a pirate ship for an adventure cruise. Forget about Jack Sparrow; our Jack is a force to be reckoned with. Arrrr!

Octogenarian Birthday

Today is the 80th birthday of my Uncle Francis P. (center). Eighty years - how amazing!

Most of my childhood memories involve Uncle Frank and his family in some form or another; in fact, I may be hard pressed to come up with any important event in my life which was not attended by my Uncle, his lovely bride Dottie, and their six kids.

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Uncle Frank has been recognized as an important leader in his community of Milton, Massachusetts, where he practiced law for many years. He has volunteered of his time, his intellect, and his heart in so many places that just about everybody in town knows and respects him.

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All of us should be so lucky to leave such a legacy!

Happy birthday, Uncle Frank!

Back to School ~ Yippee!!!

In all seriousness, we've been pretty busy over the past week getting all our ducks in a row for the first day of classes. Steve started back with students on Monday, today is my first day of classes, and Katie begins classes next Tuesday.

From a personal perspective, I love the first day of school. Of course that may be why I became a teacher. I really think I may have the greatest job in the world: I get to work with students who are looking to improve their lives, every semester I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of anywhere from 100 to 120 students, I am in a position to help students see their potential and realize that they can do great things, I can help them to realize that they can have an impact in the world, I work with (for the most part) charismatic and enthusiastic people, and if for some reason I hate my schedule I get to start over every five months. What's not to love?

There is always so much promise on the first day of classes. Students are wide-eyed and enthused, they want to succeed and do well. I call the first couple of weeks "the honeymoon period" and always hope that I can make it last until December.

If you are going to dream, you've got to dream big!

You Say Tomato, I Say........Tired

This week I had the opportunity to help one of our local farmers process an over-abundance of tomatos. He offered to pay me; I'm no fool, I asked to be paid in tomatos. Golly gee, at this time of year, having tons of organicaly grown, heirloom tomatos is abolutely priceless. Well needless to say, I spent a few days this week canning these delicious fruits.

We should be all set with tomato sauce this year!

Check out the new blog!

The Allard Family Blog is designed to connect with friends and family across the country - it really isn't a place to discuss my second passion: quilting. Because I wanted to document my quilting fun and frustration, I decided to set up a blog for that purpose. It will most likely have less frequent posts, but if you are interested, check it out: http://threadbaremusings.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday, John Patrick

Five years ago a very special young man was born to my sister Mary Kate and her husband Bob. John Patrick is a sweet, vivacious, intelligent boy and we want to wish him a very special birthday. May your cake be sweet, your candles blow out on the first try, and all your wishes come true.

We love you, John!

Shout out for the Survivors

August 2nd and 3rd marked an annual LaCrosse, WI Relay for Life event. The national website site defines relay for life this way: "One day. One night. One community: By participating in an American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event near you, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight it – all right in your community.

Much more than a walk around a track, Relay is a time to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember those lost and get inspired to fight back. Those who have shared the same experience find common ground, hope and healing at Relay. By participating, you have the power to continue the American Cancer Society's progress toward a future where cancer doesn't take the lives of our friends and family." (http://www.relayforlife.org/)
For the last several years, our friends, Carla and Rod, have helped with the organization of this event. They have also helped to raise money for The American Cancer Society by selling the luminaries that line the track.

This year we have purchased luminaries in honor of family members who have beaten cancer.

We would also like to honor friends who have beaten cancer: Melody, Carol, Carla, Rod, Char, and anyone else who I have failed to mention. We are awed by your strength and grateful for your presence in our lives.

24

Today is the last day of my summer session. I have one more exam to administer and grade and then I will have a 24 day respite until the Fall Semester begins.

We have some fun, family-centered activites planned - including a cruise on a Mississippi Riverboat, a visit to a water park, and touring a "Mystery Cave." Don't worry, we will "take you along" via the blog.

I will be sure to keep you updated as I relax and enjoy the summer breezes, perhaps I can help Steve post the photos of the Kitchen remodel and the addition of the screened in porch.

Today our thoughts and prayers have been with dear Robin Chalifour and her family.

“Dum spiro, spero” (Latin), "While I breathe, I hope” Latin Proverb

"Look upon each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage. The pain will come in waves, some days worse than others, for no apparent reason. Accept the pain. Do not suppress it. Never attempt to hide grief from yourself. Little by little, just as the deaf, the blind, the handicapped develop with time an extra sense to balance disability, so the bereaved, the widowed, will find new strength, new vision, born of the very pain and loneliness which seem, at first, impossible to master." ~Daphne Du Maurier

"He did not say: You will not be troubled, you will not be belabored, you will not be disquieted; but he said: You will not be overcome." ~Julian of Norwich

We are here for you.

Wedding bells and more Birthdays!

Today, my nephew Ryan and his fiance Sara are being wed on Long Island, New York. Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be the shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling, to enter into the days of your life together, and may your days be good and long upon the earth.

Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty and fear assail your relationship--as they threaten all relationships at one time or another--remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives--remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

~Apache Wedding Blessing

Ryan and Sara, we so wish we could be there to celebrate with you. I'm sure that the day will be beautiful and that you will be blessed with a lifetime of happiness.


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Today is also the 6th birthday of Carter Audet Marrero, son of Greg Audet and Lisa Morrero, and the first grandchild of my stepdad Reggie. Carter is named after James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. The 39th President of the United States and one of the most ethical men to serve in that role. I wish I had a photo of my "nephew" Carter to add to the blog, but in lieu of a photo of Carter, I will add a photo of Jimmy Carter.

Carter Audet Merrero is quite the brilliant young man. At the age of six, Carter already shows an aptitude for engineering. While most six year old boys are obsessed with sports and race cars, Carter likes to examine and explore the workings of HVAC units. More than likely, Carter will one day devise some form of alternative energy for the U.S. and free us from our terrible additiction to oil. For now, I will place these photos of AC units here for his birthday viewing pleasure:

Happy birthday, Carter!