In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,  and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.  ~Isaiah 22:20-22

The future starts today, not tomorrow.  ~Pope John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during a Vespers Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, 11/28/09

Something that was not suppose to happen and hasn’t since 1415, was announced a couple of weeks ago.  Today, on February 28, 2013 at 5:00 pm Rome time, will conclude Pope Benedict XVI’s position as our beloved holy leader.  Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th Pope, announced his resignation from the papacy.  Was it a shock?  Heck yes!  Not just for me and the 1.18 billion Catholics around the world, but for most of the global population.  Besides being our spiritual leader, he is also a direct link to Saint Peter and the position that was appointed to him by Jesus.

Just to get the record straight, the Pope is an 85-years-old man, he is not God and he is not regarded as such.  He is not prayed to, but prayed for, to ensure he makes the right decisions and leads us in the Lord’s spiritual light.  Our apostolic successor should be respected and elevated for his accomplishments, especially as the chosen spiritual mediator and leader from our Divine.  Pope Benedict and all chosen for that position obtain a great deal of responsibility being the Pope and leader of the Catholic church, not the mention the Sovereign of the Vatican City State.

Naturally, there are many rumors flying around as to the reason for the Pope’s step down in office as well as many opinions as to what he should be doing or is suppose to do.  What everyone needs to keep in mind, is that God himself placed the Pope for that position and the ultimate decision is between him and God alone.  God works in mysterious ways and He always knows what’s best for us, so I trust him wholeheartedly and I have faith in those candidates He gave to fulfill this position.

In my lifetime, thus far I have experience the former Pope John Paul I, who tragically ruled for only 33 days in 1978.  Being a very little tyke at the time, I have no recollection of that time.  Then, to replace him with the truly spiritual and good Pope John Paul II, who is in the process of being canonized.  Sometimes I believe that God blesses some with a second helping of grace and knowledge and goodness, just like he did Eliseus.  Now to the present Pope Benedict XVI who was elected in April 19, 2005.

Whatever Pope Benedicts XVI’s reasons for retiring and stepping down are truly between him and our Father.  May God bless him and our new Pope!

Music is a moral law.  It gives soul t the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.  ~Plato

Kyle hanging out on the Big Piano FAO Schwarz. ‘Aunt Nikki & Kyle’s week of Fun’ in New York City, NY 2011

Yesterday was Kyle’s sixth grade music recital.  Yes, it was his last music assembly of elementary school.  He sang and played the trumpet along with the rest of the sixth grade class.  He’s grown up so much in many ways, and yet he is still truly just a kid.

Mom and I were in the second row enjoying the musical theme, From the Inside Out.  Dad and Nicole were both working, so I did my best to video tape some of the assembly, giving them a glimpse of what was presented.

As Kyle mounted the stage, I caught his eye.  He gave me one of his trying-not-to-smile smiles.  Naturally, I had to give him a wave to confirm my presence, and to instigate a bit.  I was sincerely excited to see him sing and play!

Kyle with his friends at his 6th Grade Music Recital 2/21/13

As he was clapping and singing and stomping and playing his trumpet, all the memories of Kyle’s love of music floated in my head like a painting.  Kandinsky’s theory came to mind.  Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) said he could see sound as color and visa verse.  The music I heard came across my mind as images of Kyle over the years, like I was seeing a symphony of pictures tied to their memories.

Always having an adoration for music, even as a tiny five month old baby that could barely hold himself up, Kyle would keep the beat and sway to music, or at least try.  Either for Kyle’s first or second Christmas, my grandma got him this stuffed musical penguin that played Jingle Bells.  On a side note, maybe that’s why Kyle has such a bond with that song.  When we played the penguin, Kyle’s eyes would light up, he would smile and his body would go into motion.  The best part, the penguin moved from side-to-side and Kyle would try and mimic the motion.  It was too funny!  I have no idea what ever happened to that beloved piece of entertainment, but Kyle’s love of music prevails.  I’m not talking about just music on the radio or pumping from my iTunes.  Any music or rhythms coming from anywhere and everywhere picked up by his ears.

Kyle’s 6th Grade Class. “From the Inside Out” 2/21/13

Watching Kyle view a movie is hilarious.  The best part is usually the end while the credits are rolling and the theme song is playing.  Without knowing he’s being watched or without a care, Kyle inadvertently busts a move to the tunes.  Actually, that goes for any show or commercial.  While sitting on the living-room floor either assembling or playing with his Legos, sometimes certain tunes will project from the TV.  Kyle’s body is automatically swaying to the music as if he’s a puppet on strings.  He loves music!

At the very beginning of last semester’s piano lessons, the instructor asked Kyle to bring in his old practice books so he could review and brush up on the basics.  During the lull in time while Kyle didn’t have piano lessons he got rusty, like anyone would.  So to ensure Kyle was learning properly and advancing, David his piano instructor, reinforced his foundation.  Great idea!

Kyle bust’n a move on the dance floor 2003.  Proof I did get him in a shirt & tie!

I remember that first lesson so well.  As we sat in the Seton Hill common room waiting for Kyle’s turn, he started to read through the piano book, a piece he hasn’t looked at for literally years.  Of course what’s old is new again, and Kyle being such an astute student, started looking thr0ugh his music books recapturing knowledge from the first songs that started out his piano training.  Always coming prepared with a book to read, I couldn’t focus on the words on the page for the distraction in front of me.  Kyle was flipping through the pages and humming the songs to reacquired himself with his old friends, the music.  Yes, he was actually humming to himself turning the pages rapidly as if cramming for a test.  His actions were not intended to bring attention to himself, but to prepare for his piano lesson.  He was so engrossed in his own thoughts, he really didn’t notice everyone in the room smiling in his direction.  As I sat there and stared at him, thinking he would notice me, he continued with his train of thought and didn’t break concentration.  I was ready to bust a gut and laugh out loud, that is until he was saved by his piano teacher.  David’s appearance interrupted Kyle’s focus and brought him back to reality.

We used to laugh and say music would sooth the savage beast, referring to Kyle.  It did!

I love seeing the joy and inspiration that music brings to Kyle.  For the sixth grade field trip this year, the students went to Heinz Hall and listened to the symphony.  He came home and told us all about it with sheer excitement.  In fact, while we were driving, Kyle remembered his trip to Pittsburgh because he started searching the radio for a specific channel.  He was trying to find the classical music station on the radio.  He said, “Aunt Heather, they told us we could listen to the music on the radio.”  Once he found it, he beamed with delight!  Since then, Kyle has been listening to the classical music station when we are on the move.  Nice change of pace!  Good thinking Kyle!

There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.  ~Aldous Huxley

Kyle with his Aunt Nikki at the Air & Space Museum, Washington D.C.  6/27/09

Over Christmas, Nicole wanted to help Kyle get his bedroom organized and ready for his new Legos, New Year cleaning!  Sounds like an easy task, but it turned out to consume a couple of days of packing up old toys and trying to create some sort of organization with his beloved stuff.  While I was rubbernecking the progress, I noticed some of Kyle’s puzzles packed away.  He not only had the typical picture printed on cut cardboard type of puzzles, but he also had these nice wooden puzzles of the United States and ones with different shapes, allowing a child to remove them from their spot on the board and add back.  The kind that teaches kids about hand eye coordination, shapes, colors and naming objects.

Among the puzzles and child games was a board of transportation with wooden pieces that outlined a bus, train, plane and a car.  Wow did memories come rushing back to me!  Kyle and I spent hours naming those pieces and taking them out of their rightful home, to just add them back and repeat.  Kyle was anywhere from a year old to three or four.  Such a bright kid!

On one such occasion, I distinctly remember Kyle saying to no one in particular, “Aunt Nitti takes a plane to work.”  What?  He couldn’t have been older than two or so.  Out of sheer curiosity, knowing better, I asked, “Well buddy, what do I take to work?”  Waiting for the response of ‘car’ or ‘race car’ since that’s what he would tell everyone that’s how I drove, ‘like it was a race car’.  Nope!  With complete seriousness he turned to me and said, “Aiya, you take a bus.”  What?  Are you kidding me?  Nicole gets to take a plane to work in his mind, but I take a bus?

When Kyle was born, my sister was working in Tucson, Arizona.  While she lived there, she would fly back home quite often, to visit with our little man and to see the family.  This was right after we lost Kyle’s dad, Ryan.  So for the first few years of Kyle’s existence, all he associated his ‘Aunt Nitti’s’ arrival home and departure was with the phrases,  ‘she on her plane’ or ‘her flight landed’ and such.  Apparently, he perception of Nicole traveling anywhere was by plane.  Naturally, I guess that included work.  Wow, lucky her.

Me on the other hand, I’ve always worked and lived locally, so no plane involvement unless I was traveling for entertainment, I guess that didn’t count.  I know Kyle never remembered me traveling to South Korea, he just turned a year old when I arrived back in the states after a two week hiatus.  But I did travel throughout northern Europe for a month in 2005, when he was four.  I was gone an entire month and I talked to him when I could throughout my travels.  So do I get to take a plane to work?  Nope.  Kyle’s normal activity for a few years, usually involved me picking him up at daycare and driving him to and fro.  Really, a ‘car’ didn’t enter his mind, but a ‘bus’ did?

Maybe in Kyle’s mind buses are part of a daily routine, especially when I pick him up and drop him off.  That’s what he associated me with, or maybe not.  I must admit taking a plane to work seems pretty extravagant and adventurous, is that how he saw my sister?  I guess we’ll never know.  I’m just happy I’ve always been an integral part of Kyle’s life and continue to do so.

Needless to say, Aunt Nikki taking a plane to work, became a big joke in the household, “Aunt Nikki takes a plane to work” and “Aunt Heather takes a bus”.  Kyle is in on the joke, since he started it, but I he doesn’t remember when it originated.   Although during that time, he certainly knew it was a thorn in my side and he would instigate me about it.  I guess he really is related to me!

Honestly, I love hearing kids perception on the simplest things, such as the transportation used.  Quite entertaining!  Our little man, has always has been too cool.  He has always amazed me with this perception and thought process and continues to do so.

You can’t be friends with a squirrel!  A squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit.  ~Sarah Jessica Parker

Kyle tripped over an animal carcass while walking to our next location to squirrel hunt with dad. He splattered in the snow. 2/16/13

This past Saturday, me, dad and Kyle participated in a squirrel hunt contest, hosted by Gutchess Hardwoods, mom’s work.  Everyone had two or three people to a team.  It started at daybreak and ended at 3:00 pm.  Since it’s small game season, they assigned points for the legal animals in addition to squirrel, after all it was a squirrel hunt.  We received a list of our legal targets such as coyote, crow, pheasant, rabbit and naturally squirrel, along with a point system for each.  You were docked if you shot a red squirrel.  Raccoon and fox were also on the list but I refuse to shoot either.  I don’t know who came up with the list or the point system, but both needed to be reevaluated.

I’ve only ever seen a fox once in my life, and believe it or not, it ran across the road in front of me a few months ago near my parents house.  So cool!  I felt blessed and privileged to see this miniature dog-like beast scurry past me.  Since I haven’t seen many foxes, actually only that one, and let’s face it my love for raccoons Raccoon or Cat? is an instant protector of the fury nocturnal bandits, both critters didn’t make my list of small game to shoot.  On a side note, I do want to state a fact.  If a sick animal, of any kind approaches me or my family, even a raccoon, I wouldn’t think twice about putting it down.  I told Kyle about my adjusted list and he gave me the orneriest look and said, “I’m shooting them Aunt Heather!  They are worth more points.”  I told him I’m doing it on principle.  One, “I like those animals and I don’t want to shoot them”; two “We weren’t planning on eating them, unlike the squirrels so I see no point in killing them”; and three “I’m your Aunt and you have to live with me if you do shoot them.”  With that I gave him a very unsure smile, half serious and half joking.  Turning the conversation quickly to his side, Kyle said, “Pap pap is planning on shooting them.”  I smiled and confirmed his thoughts by saying, “Yes, pappy does what he wants.”  And with that the discussion was over.

The night before we gathered up our cloths, rifles and .22 bullets, so the morning would run smoothly.  Dad let me use Ryan’s .22, while Kyle picked his semiautomatic, with what seemed like an endless clip.  I asked him, “Are you planning on turning our small game into Swiss cheese?”  He just laughed.  It’s always exciting getting ready for a day of hunting, it really is!  Even when I was younger, before I could hunt, watching mom gather dad’s stuff in preparation for the following day was exhilarating.  Maybe it’s the anticipation of what might happen and what creatures will make themselves known.

Throughout the evening Kyle kept saying, “Squirrel”.  He was cracking me up!  That was taken from the Disney movie Up.  We would be packing my trusty backpack with provisions like a Thermos of water, crackers, apples and such and Kyle would just throw out there, squirrel!  We became Thing 1 and Thing 2 echoing the word, squirrel every-now-and-again.  I don’t think anybody else got our humor.

Kyle enjoying a fall day with his pap on the quad. 11/18/03

The next morning didn’t move as swiftly as I’d like.  Dad is slowing up in his old age.  He used to be dressed, fed, at his location,  and ready and waiting for the action, even before sunrise.  Not so much now-a-days, but he’s still faster than Kyle, just not what he used to be.  Right before we headed out I let the boys run around in the snow.  I swear they saw the guns and saw us getting layered up for the cold, and knew they weren’t invited.  So Scooby and Seven took it upon themselves to go for their own walk.  I’m guessing they were mad at me for not taking them on their hike the week prior.  So this little hiccup delayed us because dad had to leave on the quad and go and track down the bad dogs.

As dad was playing bounty hunter, Kyle and I headed up the woods in dad’s direction.  Would you believe Kyle complained the entire way up the hill?  Yep!  He didn’t want to wear his bibs, or his hat, or a T-shirt under his bibs (he wanted to go bare chested), or warm socks, or gloves and he certainly didn’t want to walk with all the clothing on while holding his own .22.  That’s our Kyle, it wouldn’t be a day without some sort of complaining about clothing or walking.  I will admit, he was sweating under his gear, which is not good when it’s cold out, but he needs to learn to layer when needed and strip down when he’s hot, preferably without whining.  If it was up to him, he would have left in the snow with a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops.  Not on my watch, when it was clearly freezing outside.

We reached the top of the hill and made ourselves a spot on a rock.  It was such a pretty day!  The snow fell all night long and covered everything with fresh fluffy snow, like the ground and trees were covered in cotton balls.  Since the weather moved in, all the animals hunkered down in the morning and weren’t moving around, not good for hunting, but very peaceful.  Dad said he saw coyote tracks and deer tracks, but no squirrel.  In addition to the woodpecker we heard, Kyle and I heard a crow in the distance but nothing within visibility.

Eventually we walked down the road near the cabin.  To create a little adventure and to follow the dogs tracks, Kyle and I followed the power line right away down to our location.  Along the way, Kyle tripped and splattered down the hill in the powder.  I turned around and saw him flattened on the ground, partially covered in snow.  His rifle flew out of his hand and landed a foot away from him.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  At first, I started laughing, especially when Kyle lifted his snow covered, bright red faced, black dog hat wearing head up at me.  After I helped him out of the snow and shook most of the cold fluff from his limbs, I noticed an object surfaced from the ground.  Kyle tripped over a carcass of some small animal.  Really?  I just walked through there and managed to make it without raising the dead.  Not Kyle.  Once I pointed out the ribcage, Kyle joined in on my laughter.

Kyle after he pulled himself out of the snow. He loves that .22. 2/16/13

Then, you think Kyle got it out of his system, but nope.  After the three of us sat in the woods near a tree holding squirrels nests and saw nothing, we decided to head back home.  Dad was on the quad and Kyle and I were on foot, well at least for a little while.  In middle of the path there was a huge branch off to the side.  I get it when the objects are camouflaged by the snow, but when they are clearly visible there is no reason to trip over them.  Apparently, Kyle didn’t get the memo because the next thing I knew, he splattered all over the ground again.  Really?  Yep!  At this time, I lost it.  I was between seriously expressing my amusement and my amazement.  Walking right beside Kyle, I was laughing all the way down the hill, that is until Kyle realized he lost his small clip.  Yes the child has a small clip that same with the gun and a larger one courtesy of his pappy. Kyle, clearly upset over this discovery stated, with absolute certainty that the clip used to be tucked away in his pocket.

After we backtracked, and by the grace of God found the clip, we headed back to the house again.  This time we decided to cut down through the woods to pop out onto our neighbors driveway.  Would you believe just as we approached the clearing, Kyle did it again?  Yes!  He fell again!  To be honest, at this point I’m glad we had a few inches of fresh power to break his falls.  If not, that kid would have been pretty bruised and possibly bloody.  I turned to Kyle and said, “Buddy, what is wrong with you?  First day with the new feet?  I have never seen someone fall as many times as you have in one day, let along one morning!”  Kyle seemed to be accustomed to his consistency of gravity taking hold of him because he just started laughing and laughing.  At least he was amusing himself!  To really make light of the situation I said, “What are you trying to wrestle the squirrels?”

We giggled over Kyle’s actions all the way to the paved road.  Then it dawned on me that this is a recipe for disaster.  Trying to give fair warning, I commented “Kyle you better be careful on the road, if you fall again, it’s really going to hurt.”  Kyle considered this and said nothing.

We made it back to the house and enjoyed the rest of the day inside.  I really had a lot of fun, even though there wasn’t any movement.  It’s nice sometimes to just get out in the fresh, crisp air and enjoy the silence and beauty God gave us.

Eventually around 1:00 pm, our neighbor called and said Seven and Scooby was hanging around his house.  Yep those dogs were running from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm.  I took the quad up the road and had them follow me back, into the punishment of mom.  Needless to day, they spent most of the day under the kitchen table being punished for their rebellion.  Maybe if they could say ‘squirrel’ there scolding wouldn’t have been so harsh.  Perhaps next time I’ll prep them a little better.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  ~Philippians 2:4

Mom, Kyle & me at the St. Valentine’s Day Pancake Breakfast. We took a few minutes to visit with mom & dad. 2/10/13

Two Sundays ago, was February tenth.  In addition to being the fifth Sunday in ordinary time, it was also the Valentine’s Day Pancake Breakfast for the Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group, held at the Sacred Heart cafeteria.  Yes my old Alma Mater!

What a great fundraiser!  The tickets were only six bucks and  you received three large pancakes, three sausage links, fruit cup, coffee and orange juice.  The youth group students, along with their fearless leaders, decorated the cafeteria in a fun Valentine’s Day motif, set up the seating areas and prepped the kitchen prior to the event.  This ambitious group worked the Saturday morning prior and started the Pancake Breakfast off at 7:30 am.  The fundraiser was open to serve the hungry community at 9:00 am and wrapped up around 12:00 pm.  Kyle served mass Saturday night, allowing us to contribute our Sunday toward the event.

Everyone who assisted with the Pancake Breakfast was needed and truly made a difference.  Everyone, all the youth group students, parents and friends alike, but let me explain how valuable one leader is with an event like this one.  A special kudos goes out to our event organizer, Marty Singer.  Marty really rocked the house!  His experience and general know how with running a kitchen made the Pancake Breakfast run smoothly and seamlessly.  Seriously!  Marty certainly has been blessed with very important attributes, and his strongest ones were exhibited throughout the day and prior to the fundraiser.  God has blessed him with leadership, organization, common sense, patience, and authority, just to name a few.  He had everyone aligned and delegated appropriately, including selling the tickets, setting up and tearing down the kitchen and cafeteria, plus administering and directing the volunteers during the breakfast itself, real-time while the pancakes were being flipped.  The logistics to getting an event like this one organized can be overwhelming, let alone have it go off without a hitch.

Tina, Mom, Kyle, Me, Dad & Andy at Pancake Breakfast for the Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group Pancake Breakfast. 2/10/13

Marty ordered the food and supplies, not just for the dinner but for all aspects of the event including the chef’s hats, a nice touch!  On a side note, that made working in the kitchen more fun and we appeared totally official!  Marty calculated the cost of everything and manged the entire process to stay within budget, concluding the fundraiser a success.  As he was running around keeping everyone on their toes and moving things along, I heard him continue down his checklist residing in his mind, really only speaking to himself but clearly having our lot under control.   He had a specific number of pancake dinners to serve, and you know what?  He reached and exceeded his goal, all within the same budget and without a shortage of food.  Actually, he was pretty spot on!

Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group members.  Christie, Megan, Marty, Rachel & Jeremy 2/10/13

Marty was clearly recognized at the go-to-person.  Every time guidance was sought out or questions needed answered, they went straight to the Big Kahuna himself.  Sometimes under pressure people tend to show it or the stress is felt.  Nope, not with our master commander, and I am confidently saying this from personal experience.  I waited on tables in high school and I eventually put myself through college by continuing this skill and expanded it to bartending.  Knowing first hand how hectic and maddening a kitchen can become with the pressures of serving food, running the front of the house as well as the back of the house, it very real.  Our captain ran a ship like it should have been, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves and be rewarded with the sense of community and good service.   Nicely done Marty!

Kyle showing his dish washing abilities… Pancake Breakfast cleanup 2/10/13

Stepping away from the Marty fan club for a moment, I would like to say all the students and parents alike kept in step with the Pancake Breakfast too.  I always said, in order to be a good leader, you need to be a great follower.  This crew was that, what a bunch of hard working individuals!  Functioning as part of the kitchen crew, I wasn’t really among our guests except to sneak out and visit every now-and-again, but I can tell you what I saw was very inspirational.  Those working the front of the house was running their buns off, servicing our guests and really tending to them.  The back of the house kept up with the flow of Pancake enthusiasts, maintained the mess and did what was needed.   Again, what a great bunch we are blessed to have apart of our church!

Me cleaning up the pancake batter. The Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Pancake Breakfast was a hit! 2/10/13

Mom and dad were among the breakfast patrons.  Kyle did take a break to stop and chit chat with the grandparents, as did I, however he still didn’t neglect his duties.  During the little visit, he left our side to address new church goers waiting to fill their tummy’s with pancakes.  While running around, I did keep my eye on him, making sure he wasn’t slacking or calling mutiny by assuming the lead.  He did neither, in fact I saw him on occasion, teaming up with others to reset seats for the next pancake muncher.  Kyle, like everyone else was on the move the entire time!  I must say I was sincerely impressed by Kyle’s work ethic.  When I saw that, my thoughts were, ‘He is a hard working Piper’ and ‘His dad would be proud.’

Not only did the youth group raise m0ney and they served the community, but they also had a great time doing it.  I will admit, I did as well!  Besides scooping fruit and assisting when needed, I cleaned, washed dishes and entertained.  Who would have thought washing pots and pans could be enjoyable?  I guess that’s the grace of giving back.  It’s totally worth it!

Don’t compromise yourself.  You are all you’ve got.  ~Janis Joplin

Being astounded by Fun Facts, I decided to share my findings with everyone.  Sometimes I come across this information online, via television, books, word-of-mouth, etc.  You get the point.  This material is basically what I find interesting and it’s caught my attention for one reason or another, usually at random.  Enjoy!

Random Fun Fact!

Since today is indeed St. Valentine’s Day, this isn’t really random but still fun nevertheless.

• Historian’s link today with a celebration occurring ever February 15th.  What was this you may ask?  Basically the men stripped down to reveal the full moon and more.  While going commando, they would spank young maidens with animal-skin whips to promote fertility.

Maybe this was the inspiration for the 50 Shades trilogy.

• Present day, St. Valentine’s Day is not only observed in the United States but also in Mexico, Canada, France, Australia and the U.K.

That’s a lot of love!

• St. Valentine was noted for a clergyman in ancient Rome.  At the time marriage was outlawed because of a belief of the emperor.  He felt the union of man and wife during wartime made for a less effective soldier.  Bishop Valentine performed the covert missions of marring couples.
• 200 years after the death of Bishop Valentine in 496 A.D., then Pope Gelasius I, officially declared Saint Valentine’s Day on February 14th.
• Handmade Valentine’s Day cards were said to be exchanged, not mailed by the US Postal Service or emailed or Facebooked, they were handed to one another around the 17th century.
• In the 1840’s, the first mass-produced cards began.

Hence the decline of homemade cards, until scraping booking came to mainstream.

• There are 1 billion cards sent each year worldwide, according to the Greeting Card Association.  Ya, that’s what I thought, ‘We have a Greeting Card Association?’.  Is it censorship for cards?  Anyway, they also state that more than half Americans purchase at least one card.

 I mailed a Valentine’s Day card to Kyle.  It included a kitty that looked like Storm, flying through the air.  The inside said something about a hug.  Inside the card I send four multicolored Lego erasers.  I thought he’d get a kick out of that and the card would make him smile.

• Still yet, the Greeting Card Association assures us that Valentine’s Day cards are the biggest greeting card holiday in the United States, after Christmas naturally.
• As per a survey conducted by American Express, 56% of Americans plan on using digital to get their Valentine’s message across.  Of the group 29% will text love messages, 29% will post to Facebook, 23% will send email, 20% will send an e-card.

Priceless…for everything else there’s American Express (had to say it!  Great commercials!)

• As per the National Confectioners Association, now that’s one I would like to join, reports Valentine’s Day is spoken in 1 billion dollars of sales each year.
• Of the 1 billion spend on sweets on Valentine’s Day, 75% are chocolate, which since the 15th century has been considered an aphrodisiac
• In 2009, 8 billion candy hearts were made.  If they were lined up, they would reach from Italy to Arizona 20 times.

That’s a sweet trip!

• Valentine’s Day gifts, meals and entertainment costs the average consumer about $130.  Men usually pay about $287 compared to women $164.

Why are women paying for anything?

• As of 2013, 51% (5 in 10) of women are likely to gift a meal or tickets and 41$ (4 in 10) will give jewelry and flowers.

Where’s the chocolate?

•  The National Restaurant Association guesses 25% of American adults will eat out on Valentine’s Day.  This is the second busiest dine out day next to Mother’s Day.
• These diners are estimated to dish out #3.9 billion on grub, with an average $142.11, plus gifts.

 I guess it’s no longer the thought that count.

•  World Record: On 2/14/11, 14 couples competed for the longest kiss, which was previously set at 32 hours.  This took place in Thailand.  The rules for the event included:  contestants couldn’t sit, sleep or separate.  One person fainted within a half-hour into the challenge.  The winning couple lasted 46 hours, 24 minutes and 9 seconds.  They were awarded $3,200 and a diamond ring.

The frolic architecture of the snow.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Me & Kyle taking a break of snow tubing at Hidden Valley 1/27/13

Two Saturday’s ago, Kyle went snow tubing with his youth group.   Not being able to resist in playing in the snow, I too went.  Did I mention Kyle really wanted me to?  Yep!  And that alone made my day.  Not to mention God gave us the most beautiful day!  It was sunny, not too cold, almost no wind and the slopes were fast.

At Hidden Valley, their snow tubing area is off the beaten path, isolated from the rest of the  lodging and skiing area.   It was actually kind of nice, we didn’t have to fight traffic and the congestion with the rest of the ski resort.

It’s been years since I was snow tubing, let alone at Hidden Valley.  Mom’s work, Gutchess Hardwood’s used to go every year with their employees and their families.  In fact, if my memory is not misleading me, the one year we went, dad participated in the snow tubing excitement, right beside me and Kyle, while mom sat inside and watched us.  Kyle asked dad to go this year, but all dad said was, “What? You want me to break a leg?  I can’t do that anymore.”   I beg to differ.  If dad would get his body back into a little bit of a better shape, I think he could have gone.  It doesn’t matter he’s sixty-two, he’s actually pretty healthy, considering.  I truly hope, when I hit my sixties, I am still able to snowboard, snow tube, snow shoe, run, walk, roller skate, ice skate, hike, and the list goes on and on.  At least that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it!

Anyway, we had a great time!  Kyle was able to bond with some of the  kids, who all knew each other from going to Latrobe school.  Kyle only gets to hang with his fellow youth group members when he’s at CCD class, during his monthly youth group meetings and sometimes when he serves mass.  For all of these, it is a limited amount of time and he is there to serve a specific purpose and not to just hang out and socialize, especially in church.  So the snow tubing activity was a fun way to get the kids together to just hang out, which they did!

On a side note, everyone involved from the parents to the members including Mrs. Milko, the fearless leader of the Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group, are really good people.  I mean down to earth sincere individuals, who want to help the community through serving others, spreading the word of God, setting an example, all while strengthening their faith.  Pretty impressive!

The Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group snow tubers. Hidden Valley 1/27/13

At first Kyle was glued to my side, not really socializing with the others.  He seemed a little reserved, very unlike Kyle, but I was there to give support and help him have a nice time.  Actually, spending an afternoon with Kyle and playing in the snow was like heaven to me.  I couldn’t have been happier!  I’ll say it again, it was a great day!

Sometimes we went down the slopes together, holding onto the opposing tube; sometimes we pulled a Superman and went down head first with our arms stretched out; sometimes we raced each other; and sometimes we did a combination of two.  Personally, I will admit, some of the fun involved tormenting Kyle.  Yes, I can’t deny it, I was instigating my fellow rider a bit and it was amusing!  He always gets so bossy and sometimes he is too structured.  Did I mention we were there to have a good time and not work the coal mines?  So to throw a monkey wrench in his plans, I would change them up a bit and do what I wanted.  Example.  Kyle would say, “Ok Aunt Heather, I’ll sit in my tube and you run and jump on yours to push me.  I’ll hang on to your tube and then I’ll let go when I want to.”  Ya, his plan worked for about five seconds until he realized I got a hold of his rope attached to his tube and I wouldn’t let go.  To really be silly and let’s face it, to push his buttons further, I would yell out, “I won’t let go Jack, I won’t let go!”  I swear, even through the snow flying in my face I could see Kyle rolling his eyes at me.   The best was when gravity took hold of us racing toward the bottom of the hill and Kyle was gloating like he was ahead of me.  Then, in the middle of the run, I would spin our tubes around so I was in the lead and I would yell out, “Eat my dust!” Kyle would grit his teeth and grunt at me saying, “No fair Aunt Heather!  You are suppose to be behind me!”  Then to show me up, he would race me, but wait till I was ready.  All I heard from the tube with the slight lead, “Hey Aunt Heather, eat my dust!”  Too much!  It was all in good fun.

Snow Tubing Conga Line. Hidden Valley 1/27/13

Eventually, the kids spread out and started teaming up to race each other and combining tubes to go down in groups.  Kyle and I joined in, which really was a blast!  At first we had about twenty some bodies, each in a tube connected for a roller coaster ride.  It was the perfect amount of people.  We really did picked up speed and road the hill till the very end, which is usually the safe overrun no one ever reaches.  We did!  From that point on, Kyle wanted to keep joining the group.  Wherever Kyle went, I followed, that is until they tried to break the world record.

It seemed like everyone who came with the youth group decided to join together to make one massive tubing conga line.  It was unbelievable.  At that moment, I decided to hang on the side lines and take pictures of this never ending line of excited riders.  At the top of the run, there wasn’t enough room to line the participants up, so the passengers had to climb the hill behind them to form a long line of bulging tubes.  Originally, they tried to organize the tube train along the top flat part, but that created a bend in their tubing creation, which broke off when they attempted to straighten out to race down the hill.  Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was going to participate in the over sized serpentine line of tubes of people whether I wanted to or not.  As the riders started out, they immediately lost control and jumped the line.  I was trying to shoot a video of this event and was suddenly taken down by the line that went a rye. (see the video below)  Luckily, I still have some spring to my step and I bounced back pretty quickly!

Never-the-less, snow tubing was a success!  Thank you so much for the Sacred Heart / Saint Cecilia Youth Group for choosing this event and to Mrs. Milko and the other parents for setting it up!  It was a great time for the kids and adults alike!