Angels All Around

Worry looks around,

Sorry looks back,

Faith looks up.

Look up and have faith!

Photographed in the Vatican and unretouched

Mother Teresa

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation

in this world than for bread."

Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1910~1997

A tiny woman with a huge heart for God...

Top photo from the iGoogle gadget, Contemporary Quotes of the Day

Bottom photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Happy 30th, Grady Bruce

This past year our family has celebrated some milestone birthdays and today is one of them! Our son, Grady Bruce, named after both of his grandfathers, is turning 30 today.

He and his girlfriend, Marianne, are on a wilderness hiking/camping trip in the Olympic National Forest in Washington for a few days, but I was able to wish him a happy birthday on Sunday before they left. So he couldn't completely escape the "Oh, I can't believe that 30 years have gone by already!" sentiments over the phone from his mom. :D

The family in Walnut Creek for Mothers' Day

Grady is a really fun and amusing guy with lots of interests. In school his favorite subject was science. He played sports all through school beginning with soccer and baseball in kindergarten, and eventually concentrating on basketball through junior high and high school. At 6'7" he was the "big man" on the team so he always played center.

He and his best friend, Grant, grew up playing outdoors, and especially enjoyed our family farm where they built tree houses and went fishing in the river. How they actually survived each others' exploits, I don't know!!

In college at St. Mary's he majored in biology and psychology, graduating in 2002. He moved to Portland with a company and has remained there since, loving the outdoor opportunities which abound in the area: snowboarding and snow camping, climbing mountains, fishing and camping in the summers, hiking and mountain biking.

Grady testing his new hammock for a Belize trip

Grady works in computer business sales and marketing. He is very good on the Mac and the PC, and helps me a lot. For my birthday he gave me The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Web Page & Blog. He sure got that right! :D

Grady's hobbies include cooking and photography. He has evolved into a great cook in some areas, especially BBQ. I think he makes some of the best ribs we've ever eaten!

His photos while hiking and climbing around Oregon are fantastic. So far he and his friends have climbed Mt. St. Helens, he and Marianne climbed Mt. Adams, and he and the friends recently climbed Mt. Hood this summer. We have a deal: he doesn't tell me before they go so I don't have to worry!! Then I can enjoy the story when they get home safely. :D

Marianne on their camping trip, Mt. Hood view
Last summer Grady met Marianne who had recently moved out from the Chicago area. They share a love of outdoor activities and have had lots of fun trips together. She is a writer for PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Portland.

Marianne is currently training for the Pacific Grove Triathlon in California. Grady has been training with her: running, swimming and biking around the Portland area.

Our family is going down to the event to offer support and encouragement any way we can. We are very proud of her efforts for Team in Training to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Both Olivia and Grady have run marathons for them, and Olivia is training for the Chicago Marathon this fall. I am SO impressed with these young athletes!

Happy birthday, Bud. We are so proud of you...

Note: I sent this photo into Batter Blaster. I thought they could use it for an ad, but I guess they didn't go for it!!