Falling into Fall

This kid can really do a face-plant! I love how little JP is just sitting back there watching and stroking Scooby the whole time. These two are really two darn amazing boys! (So is Drew!!)

Buckley Team Retreat Mountain Home

Buckley Youth Outreach Team- Retreat #1!!

We held our first retreat for the 08-09 Team in Mountain Home, Arkansas. It was a long 6 hour drive up (and back too!) but truly the ride is half the fun. The retreat had 60 kids all preparing for Confirmation, and it was a really good experience. We did funny skits, gave talks, had small groups, team building, and Mass. Basically our job is to get the kids more enthused for Christ, and hopefully make at least a small impact on each of their lives. God, Help us! Karina - a second year Buckley member

This is Joshua Dutchover (Dutch) and Karen, who are always, always cracking each other up! Literally. Here they took the Cheez-it Challenge, where they tried to discuss a Cheez-it, which is one of Dutch's favorite snacks, without cracking up.

As you can see, it didn't go so well.




Everybody acting out during a funky group activity.

These are part of the notes my small group members left me at the end of the day - they made me very happy!
Farckling and Evolution through rock-paper-scissors.

Left to right - J, Karina, Karen, Megan, and Dutch in back. Two of our other permanent team members are not there.

Last weekend, the 11th, we had a retreat in Springdale, Arkansas, which is only 4 hours away. But this time we had 175 kids! Those pics will come later!

Mary Beth

Here is a distant photo of our Mary. You should be able to click and make it bigger. I believe that she is recieving an award for her amazing job at Showmanship at the County Fair. This girl was up against some kids with 2 or 3 years more experience in showing.. and she got the gold! First place. She got a darn awesome horse belt buckle.. something that all of us girls aspired to get (in our different project areas) when we where in 4-H! Way to go Mary!

Art Museum Fieldtrip

My art class took a visit to the OKC Art Museum this last weekend. It was pretty cool! They had a Roman Sculpture Gallery from the Louvre (sp?) visiting, so I have a few shots of those. There were also some life size statues that I didn't get photos of but that were incredible! We're talking Julius Caesar, Augustus, mosaic of the Last Supper, and Fabian's head on some one else's body! Pretty cool stuff, and most of it 19-2200 years old! You have to check out the pyx - it is really my favorite - it is so amazing!

I really had more fun in the blown glass gallery though, as I think the majority of us did. There is some snazzy pics here. Don't you all think that the boats are pretty awesome?

Stift Melk and Midterms

Whoa! Look - I was in Austria! Jk! :)

-Sam

OOoopps. I just posted this on the wrong blog. Should be located at Jamie's blog, www.ontheartofeatingpopovers.blogspot.com

I took way too many shots of the monastery from this little cemetery where I spent the better part of an afternoon in solitude enjoying the view and October weather while cramming for mid-terms. I needed to get away, I needed to be alone, and I needed to study. This was perfect! It was a great day!





The triumph of St. Benedict
A really cool old globe in a really cool old library.
The town of Melk. I got there at 10:30, and Mass was half-over. They were celebrating the Austrian tradition of the Harvest Thanksgiving. The whole church was filled with baskets of vegetables and bread, and they had made a giant tiara wreath that they processed through the town.
Spires of Melk that I had seen so often from afar and now finally up close
A miniature of the entire abbey
A very Austrian depiction of God's blessings on Stift melk: Sts. Peter, Paul, Leopold, Benedict and Colombo - patrons of the abbey - interceding for blessings on the abbey through a sunflower, marked with an A for the new Abbot Adrian. I thought it was cool.
While waiting for the train at Kienberg-Gaming, I took a picture of the little mountain I climbed on thursday with Jon. It was the best of the immediate area i have seen yet....but i havent climbed all of them yet!
This is from last monday. John Paul, (officially now a wine conesuier, after spending a weekend making wine in Spitz) presenting the Reisling to the birthday girl, Caitlin.
We made a TON of food. We should have birthdays more often. Liz and Caitlin, then Rob, Phil, Jon, and Brendan all in a row.

Jacob's New Move

Jacob decided to show off his new moves for all of you girls that are away from home. He is pretty cool! I think that if this guy would do really good if he ever wanted to take up break dancing. He is constantly coming up with new "flips and cool moves".

Amy and Stefan's Wedding!

Here Stefan is nervously awaiting the bride.

They somehow got this darn cool old car to carry the wedding party in - it pulled up to the walkway that led to the gazebo, and from it alighted first the flower girl, Gabby, then the maid of honor, Carmen, and finally the Amy. It was really neat, like a fairy tale Cinderella.
Here is Gabby, looking so pretty and grown up!

Here comes the Bride - she looks so happy!

After the wedding vows, the pastor called all of the kids up and they had a moment of prayer and embracing as a new family . I thought that was really special.
They are now Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Pischedda!

The maid-of-honor after the wedding - she is very pretty!

Hi Carmen!

Attention all: we can finally afford a house servant! This servant is pictured here in his native Awaji tribal dress.