Overheard at the Galuskys

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T18:32:00.001-07:00

New camera and a New Year...

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!

Birthday in Breckenridge

2011-11-05T14:18:00.001-06:00

I am the wife of a very good man.,,,,

Boo!

2011-10-31T18:13:00.000-06:00

Halloween 2011

2011-10-25T20:22:00.003-06:00

Colorado Fall
taken in and around Larkspur CO and Red Rock Golf Community
October 23, 2011

Happy Birthday Rita!

2011-10-19T17:04:00.001-06:00

Our funny sunny Rita turned 10 this week. She was born about a month after 911, proof that life triumphs over death, now and forever.

Friday Night Antics

2011-10-07T19:28:00.001-06:00

Galusky Firsts

2011-09-25T10:17:00.002-06:00

First mountain lion sighting - Sarah, as she made the turn onto our street at about midnight on Saturday. The lion crossed the street in front of her car, disappearing into the neighbor's yard, and was reported to be quite large.

First tarantula sighting - Jon, on a hike near Pikes Peak.

First black bear sighting - Julie, Rita, Anna, Matt, and Joseph, as they were driving to a friend's house near Blodgett Peak.

Lions, tarantulas, and bears - oh my!

Blogger

2011-09-23T10:15:00.001-06:00

We can do this thing. We have the technology. Nothing can stop us now.

Add caption

First snow cover of the season.....

2011-09-21T11:24:00.001-06:00

We had a record rainfall here last week while Pikes Peak got snow. Stay tuned for the Aspens....

Morning Reflection

2011-09-16T09:30:00.000-06:00

Driving home after dropping kids off at school this morning, I was thinking about how incredibly blessed we are to live where we live. The sun is out in a clear Colorado blue sky, setting the red rock outcrops along our little piece of Rampart Range on fire. It is still a summer green here, though fall is definitely in the air. We just had about 25% of our annual rainfall in a 36 hour period, so wildflowers are having a hay day.

I get more time for these reflections now, since all the kids are in school, mostly full time. I am not sure how productive they are, mostly just meandering thoughts and taking in what is around me, with an occasional nod of deep gratitude to God for what I see and realize. Whether it is the advancing years of my life, or just a more relaxed pace of life here in the mountains, I find I am taking things in more and not necessarily doing anything about them.

I am enjoying doing things that have been put off for years, such as organizing family photos for scrap booking, writing real letters (you know, the kind you put in an envelope, stamp, and mail...), and taking showers. It feels good.

Having a rather large family means I will always be occupied with something or someone (thank God!), but now it just seems I will be able to think about it a little more. Was I on auto pilot before, just doing and not thinking? Not really. We are always busy in one way or another, despite our best efforts to occasionally "do nothing". But neither did we mindlessly follow a religious bent or principle. Having a large family is not an ideology or religious mandate. When I think about it now, I see that all the years of childbirth (9 children in 21 years), nursing babies, homeschooling, moving 12 times, traveling, volunteer work, and keeping house and home together have been a continuous stream of consciousness of one unifying reality: Life is a beautiful gift of love from God. Pete and I decided early in our marriage that we would allow that life to flow through us and be expressed in the children that came along as a result of our love. However it works out from year to year, we are returning the gift of our lives as married people to the Giver, in service to each other and our children. No heroic virtue here, just living out one thought, one decision, one love. One day at a time.

Quote of the Month - May 2010

2010-05-10T18:59:00.000-06:00

Put the guns down - it's time for prayer. - Julie at night prayers

I swear this came out of my mouth.

Banner Weekend

2010-04-26T13:57:00.000-06:00

Just back from a weekend with Melissa at the University of Texas in Austin. We had a great time exploring different aspects of the city, from the music scene along 6th Street to Zilker Botanical Gardens, from her place on Avenue H near Hyde Park to the farmer's market downtown, from a musical evening with her peers in the Middle Easetrn Studies Program to leaning over Congress Bridge to see the bats swarm, from a Fiesta stock-up trip to mahi mahi on the front porch with Dan and Lu, from lunch in the SoCo District to mass at Our Lady of Maronite Catholic Church --- all in all a fabulous time!

What surprised me the most was how easily I slip into 21 again, like I never really left, which is quite possible. Perhaps what surprised Melissa the most is learning that her mom is a person who is still learning.

Overheard

2010-04-18T15:41:00.000-06:00

Matthew: (pointing at the stained glass window depicting Sts Peter & Paul at our parish) What's he got in his hands (Peter)?

Mom: Those are keys.

Matt: They're for the car?

Mom: Uhhh...sure.

Matt: God doesn't need a car!

Easter Greetings!

2010-04-11T07:38:00.000-06:00

Singing...

2010-04-01T11:59:00.002-06:00

Added music to the blog (minor miracle) in anticipation of singing hearts at Easter... (You can scroll all the way down to change the songs, adjust volume, etc - crank it up!)

Praying that Our Lord richly blesses your observance of the Paschal Triduum and teaches your heart to sing in season and out. With Christ in our midst, what's not to sing about?

Quote of the Month - March 2010

2010-03-05T22:07:00.001-07:00

This month's quote comes from outside the family...

"Toyota - Moving Forward"
--- Toyota's new motto

This was simply too much for me. I am dying laughing...

Lenten Friday

2010-03-05T08:49:00.003-07:00

God has no "need" of our love, but He does have a DESIRE for it, because as our Creator, He knows what we are made for - Him. This is unconditional love. Friday is a good day to remember this as we reflect on the lengths to which His desire drove Him.

Grandma brag pix - 1st six months

2010-02-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Great Blog

2010-02-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to post this for months, but I want to HIGHLY recommend a good friend's blog:

http://bicarbonateofshearon.blogspot.com/

Excellent reading!

Quote of the Month - January 2010

2010-01-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

It's not just a marriage - it's an adventure.

- Pete Galusky

Buyer's Market

2010-01-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Okay. So the two hall closets and the master bedroom are ready to show.
Think any prospective buyers will be willing to overlook the other 95% of the house??
We're off and running!

Love LIFE!

2010-01-22T12:56:00.002-07:00

It's been quite a year so far in 2010, particularly in the last week or so with the earthquake in Haiti. Witnessing the heroic efforts to rescue people from the collapsed buildings and the miracles of life, surviving over a week of being buried alive, has been astounding.

Can't help but feel the irony of marking 37 years of infanticide via Roe vs Wade today, while at the same time celebrating the rescue of a seven year old Haitian boy and his sister after being trapped under the rubble for over seven days. The only difference between these two children and millions of aborted children is the choice that their mothers (and those around them) made. I have been watching with interest the witness of faith from people working to protect orphans and elderly in the wake of the earthquake, under appalling conditions, singing praises to God as they regroup under makeshift tents in the street and surrounding countryside.

We could use a dose of the appreciation for life that the surviving Haitians must feel now. Once again, a desperately poor third world nation teaches our wealthy world how to live.

See video:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/01/21/moos.mile.wide.smile.cnn?hpt=C2

We'll be celebrating our own anniversary today - the baptism of our oldest daughter Christine. If I had taken the recommendation of the student health doctor who informed me that I was pregnant with Christine 25 years ago, she would not be with us today. Thank you, God, for life and the grace to live it.

Rocky Mountain High

2010-01-22T12:07:00.002-07:00

Well, it's official!

The Galuskys are Colorado-bound. Pete, David, and I are just back from our first trip together to the Colorado Springs area. I have to say I am speechless. The beauty of the mountains rising up out of the plains is breath-taking. It is everything I have been hearing about from Pete and more. We spent four days exploring the area in and around Colorado Springs, visiting resources for David and the other children, going to a Mass for Life at the Catheral, looking at houses, and visiting our good friends, the Shearons, who moved there from Findlay OH in 2007. We ended our visit with an overnight in Breckenridge, a ski resort about two hours from Colorado Springs. I located a stretch of relatively flat road in a broad valley between Hartsel and the road into the mountains at Breckenridge that will afford a bike ride like no other. It was an achingly beautiful ending to a wonderful trip.

Pete has been thinking about this change for a couple of years. He voiced it aloud to me last year, and I was my usual foot-dragging self. But many providential events and circumstances have intervened, and after prayer and reflection, we have decided to relocate. This move will open up many new resources and options for each one of the children, and we are very excited about the possibilities and opportunities. As we talked with the kids about it, they each expressed their support and excitement about the move in their different ways. It was affirmed that this is the right thing to do.

Stay tuned for the adventure!

View NW from Monument CO

Breckenridge

Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak

Breckenridge

Pikes Peak

CO 9 from Hartsel to Fairplay

(awesome bike ride)

South Platte River along CO 9

Overheard

2010-01-14T10:48:00.002-07:00

Anna, upon sighting an Icee truck in the lane next to us in traffic: "Hey, Mom! I spot more sugar!"

Biking: Back to Basics

2010-01-12T17:32:00.002-07:00

Okay, time to get serious. Six months until the Cactus and Crude Bike MS 150. I registered and trained for this two-day 150-mile event last year, but had to bail one week before the event due to a miscarriage. Double bummer. Between the recovery and some summer travel, I fell off the training wagon (or should I say bike) and have not got my wind back since. I have ridden short rides (10 miles or so) since then, but have lost all the benefits of 10 months of conditioning over 2008-09. Easy come, easy go.

So, tonight begins another go at it. I go to the gym to face the weight machines that work the muscle groups specific to riding, and hop on the stationary bike that I will eventually trade for the real thing once the weather warms up a bit. I hate the gym, so I may be out on the road before the weather turns. Stay tuned for updates as I reset the training clock and work toward two very hot days on the back roads of West Texas for multiple schlerosis.

Day 1
Hours of weight training 0.5
Miles ridden 3.0
Days to go 185

Cloudcroft

2010-01-08T08:54:00.001-07:00

My Christmas gift from Pete this year was a New Year's Eve trip to Cloudcroft New Mexico. (yep, he's a keeper!) A six-hour drive northwest of home, Cloudcroft is a tiny mountain resort town in southeastern New Mexico in the Sacramento Mountains, bordering Lincoln National Forest. We spent a very relaxing time in a turn of the (last) century lodge at the top of a mountain overlooking Alamogordo and the White Sands National Monument (airforce base and nuclear testing grounds), which is prettier than it sounds. Really.

The lodge has three floors and a tower with a sitting room in it that I could imagine Rita (8) and Anna (6) setting up quarters for some real girl fun. The view from the tower is spectacular. Of course, we stayed on the top floor and discovered quickly what 9000 feet in elevation does for the respiratory/circulatory system when there are no elevators. Or was it middle age? Hmmmm.... Dinner was fantastic, served in a dining room of glass windows facing west, so we were treated to a beautiful sunset. The house was decorated throughout in Victorian Christmas complete with a 20-foot live tree full of dolls and teddy bears for ornaments. The parlor has a huge coppered-hearth fireplace surrounded by those sofas you can get lost in if you aren't careful. Apparently, a former chamber maid of the lodge, Rebecca Potter, still roams the halls and rooms as a ghost, but I didn't spot her this trip.

The inn bosts a mountain-top golf course that is one of the highest-elevation courses in the world (so they say). It is covered in snow this tme of year, as was everything else. We took a walk in the snow so we could remind ourselves of what it is, and stood around gawking at pine trees stretching up several stories. We also took a drive after mass on New Year's Day that took us to the Sunspot Solar Observatory and south toward Timeron and forest service roads that were impassable in our little Honda. So back the way we came past some awesome sledding slopes that we have vowed to get the kids back to for a winter weekend.

It was a nice getaway at the end of a busy Christmas break that saw all of us under the same roof for a few short days. But most of all, it is a sweet memory of ending the year past and beginning the new year in my favorite place - my husband's arms.

http://www.thelodgeresort.com/

For all the unbelievers

2009-12-20T18:47:00.001-07:00

We went on a 60-mile ride south of Midland today into pump-jack territory strecthing as far as you can see. Sunny and 65 degrees made for a brisk but pleasant ride, along long strectches of open road with no one around. Julie is getting braver all the time, and has been known to push 85 when the road is clear. The same thing that makes West Texas great for road biking makes it superb for motorcycles. We took a video for all who have wanted proof that I am actually riding (and staying upright), but I can't get it to load. Check back later....maybe I'll get lucky.

In the meantime, yeeehaaaa!

Annunciation

2009-12-15T10:20:00.004-07:00

Words mean something. Even in a culture where words fly through cyberspace at warp speed and talk is cheap, the written or spoken word still has the power to make or break a day – or a life. In this season of waiting and expectation, I have been thinking about words and how we use them to communicate with one another, or with God. The correlation between what we say and what we do varies with the intent and strength of our will. Our Christmas celebration is made possible by one word’s correspondence with the Will that sustains Heaven and Earth. Mary’s “Yes” to the angel, spoken nine months before the birth of Christ, carried the weight of the will of God for the long-awaited salvation of every soul in the created world for all time.

On the eve of the Feast of the Annunciation this last March, we received word of our oldest daughter’s impending delivery of our first grandchild. In a word, we were struck dumb for just a second or two. As any parent who loves a child knows, you dream, plan, and work to give them everything you have for the best life possible. When they make choices that contradict what you want for them, it is heartbreaking. Knowing in your head that they will still make their own decisions and choices with regard to what you give them and what you want for them doesn’t stop you from dreaming about the big moments in their lives.

But even as I write this, I realize we were not unprepared for Chris’ news. My first words to her were “Oh Chris, it’ll be okay.” Those same words echo in my memory as I recall another “annunciation” that took place at about the same time 25 years ago. I was telling my new boyfriend, Pete, the news that I was pregnant with my first child – Christine. His first words to me were – “It’ll be okay.” Like St Joseph, Pete had to grapple with the fact that the child was not his in the physical sense of the word. And again, like Joseph, he more than rose to the occasion.

After hearing the news and speaking words of encouragement to me, he left me to my thoughts, only to return two hours later bearing groceries in both arms, saying, “You have to eat better – you are eating for two now.” Thus began a long series of loving, selfless acts on his part that continue to this day, paving the way for every act of selfless love in our married lives of 22 years. As new friends do the math and figure out that our wedding date is later than Christine’s birth, we sometimes do not get the opportunity to explain, so they assume she is his biologically. Although he loved her in the deepest sense of fatherhood from the start, and adopted her legally after we were married, he still carries the weight of my own sins in more ways than one, flying right past St Joseph straight to Christ in my life. And I fall more in love with him with every passing day.

So, we were prepared years ago to accept and love every life that God chooses to bless us with, including grandchildren and any sons or daughters they may bring by association, no matter the circumstances. I have to say that the hardest part for me was the dread of being on the business end of labor and delivery with Chris. All these years, I have never had to actually witness a birth – only do them - something I consider much easier than looking at one. I closed my eyes during childbirth class when they showed a video of a birth. And I passed out cold the day I had to watch our then 3-yar-old daughter, Melissa, get three stitches in her chin after a fall. So you can imagine my fear and trepidation. But when it came down to the actual delivery, I was blanketed with a deep calm that I have learned to recognize as Christ’s peace in situations that I am incapable of handling in my own strength. That peace comes and goes now with the vascilations of my illusions of control. But the one constant has been the JOY. The joy that Mason’s arrival and presence has brought into our lives is surpassed only by that with which we are watching Christine become a beautiful and loving mother right before our eyes.

Would we have rather had a wedding and a son-in-law before all of this? You bet your last Twinkie we would! Do we worry for their future? Yes, but only when we forget that God’s Providence envelopes all things and every moment of each of our lives, no matter how we may stray from what He wants for us. The birth of Christ is God’s provision for a people way the heck on the other side of what He wanted for us. Mary’s word of acceptance of motherhood under less than ideal circumstances paved the way for her Son’s “Yes” to the will of the Father in Gethsemane. The way we figure it, it’s easy to be parents when everything is going as we plan, hope, and provide for. The real test is in how we love when we don’t get our way.

May God's Peace and the JOY of the Birth of Christ be yours now and always,

Pete and Julie

Geology Lesson

2009-12-11T18:38:00.001-07:00

Overheard on the way to Santa Fe:

Chris (looking at a map of New Mexico): "Hey, wow - there's a place called 'Elephant Butt' just west of here."

Mom: "Really?"

Chris: "Yea, but it's spelled funny - b-u-t-t-e"

Mom: "That's butte, not butt...it's a geologic formation - a kind of pointy peak with the point shaved off near the top."

Chris: "Riiiiight. Musta missed that in Geology."

Later, while driving along a scenic route between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, someone spots a real live butte off in the distance: "Hey, Chris, there's a Butt!"

Quote of the Month - November 2009

2009-12-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's December... I'm a bit behind in my posting...

On to the quote, overheard in Santa Fe over the week of Thanksgiving:

There's a fine line between love and hate. It's called family. -Sarah Galusky, after way too many hours in a vehicle with her brothers and sisters

Casting out demons

2009-11-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

On any given Sunday, it is likely that one or the other of us will have to negotiate with a screaming Matt at some point before, during, or after mass. He especially likes to wait for the quietest parts of the liturgy to call for his car or tell a sibling to "Stop it!"

On one such occasion. as I was carrying him screaming out the front door:

Fr Bridges (pastor): Did we baptize him here?

Mom: Yes.

Fr Bridges: Do you think we should do it again? Maybe it didn't take.

Countdown to Santa Fe

2009-11-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just seven more days 'til we're on our way!!!

We are really looking forward to a long week in Santa Fe over Thanksgiving break. I can already feel the sigh escaping from my body as we kick back in front of warm fires and take in the mountains. There is something truly heavenly about the scenery there and further northwest into New Mexico. It soothes the soul.

We have had a very busy fall with school, dance lessons, volleyball, soccer, fundraisers, piano, art class, Boy Scouts, choir, and all the rest that goes with life these days. Not to mention the birth of our sweet grandson, Mason. So this is a well-timed trip. Normally, we try to get to Santa Fe in January, right after the holiday busy-ness is done. We decided to do it in November this year because we have so much to be thankful for and wanted to spend a week together as a family celebrating this fact. Melissa and Jon will join us on Wednesday, as they have classes through Tuesday. I encouraged them to skip them, but they have better heads on their shoulders than I do, and opted to come later. By then, we should be very comfortably settled into a routine of traipsing around downtown, eating good food, taking in the mountains, and soaking in the history and ambience of the place. Fires in the kivas every night will remind us of how thankful we are for the warm weather in Midland!

We haven't set much of an agenda - I guess that is one of the things I like so much about going to Santa Fe - you can wait until you get there, and see what's going on, then pick whatever you want to do and do it. There's something for everyone. I know we will have to spend an afternoon at the Children's Museum, as our younger ones really like it. And I'm sure we'll explore the downtown area around the Cathedral to see what's new and re-visit our favorites. I don't think the skiing will be much good yet, so we'll hike instead. I am hoping to spend a part of one day, taking my time going through the art galleries, as I haven't done this yet, only through windows. I also hope to get up to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert for a quick visit, about 75 minutes away, into some of the most achingly beautiful landscape I have ever seen. They are officially approved for their microbrewery now, so I am curious to see how it's going. They make an ale called Monk's Ale that I am afraid I don't like very much, but it seems to do well in New Mexico.

During one visit, Christine and I went to a bar called Evangelo's to listen to some bands. The music was pretty good for local talent. I taught her how to use the bar stools to fend off unwelcome attention. There is a guy somewhere in New Mexico with bruised ribs. The bar, like everything in Santa Fe, has an interesting history. There is a picture hanging over the bar of a WWII soldier smoking a cigarette that was published in LIFE magazine and another made into a commemorative stamp. It is a well-known picture - you probably would recognize it. The same soldier, Evangelo, opened the bar after he got home from the war and it has been there since. His son Nick runs the place now. If you are interested, there is quite a story behind the pictures of a young Greek man who was not even a US citizen, wanting to serve the America he had come to love.

http://www.helleniccomserve.com/angeloklonis.html

Fun place. We walked back to the condo after 1 a.m. and got to see the Plaza completely empty of people, a rare sight.

I have promised Joey we will go to a toy store that we passed on a walk downtown one time, but were unable to find again later. It had major LEGO sets displayed in the window, so he is all about that. As a matter of fact, almost everyone likes to shop in Santa Fe, so I guess we'll do a bit of that. Better than the mall on Black Friday!

We will make a Thanksgiving dinner there since there are good kitchens in the condos. Sarah has promised pumpkin creme brulee.

I am mostly looking forward to relaxing after our crazy fall, holding my grandson, and thanking God for all of these children.

You know you're too close to California when....

2009-11-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

....your husband brings home sushi and tries to get you to eat it!

David's first job

2009-11-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Daid brought home his first pay check today from his job at the Bynum School Greenhouse, where he is learning how to cultivate and care for the plants that the school sells to the community. When I asked him what he wanted to buy with it, he didn't hesitate - "smoothies!"

Laura Bush and Bynum School

2009-11-04T09:05:00.001-07:00

We were graced last evening to be able to attend a 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser for David's school featuring former first lady Laura Bush. It was truly a beautiful event with some of the best people Midland has to offer. Though we knew the origins of the school, we did not know that the founding family had been such close friends of George and Laura. She is a gracious lady with a regal yet friendly bearing.

Hearing the various speakers share their memories of Bynum's inception and development was an occasion for us to give thanks to God for bringing us to this school where David has thrived for going on five years now. He has "graduated" from the grammar school, where he focused on academics and various therapies designed to help him develop physically, academically, socially, and emotionally, to the vocation program. While he continues to grow academically and participate in his therapy program, he is focusing more now on life skills and vocational development with an eye toward his future as a productive member of his community. We are very pleased with each one of the teachers and staff working with David, and have been very blessed to be a part of this incredible school. Not to take away from the professionalism of everyone there, but I have to say that the thing I am most grateful for is the loving environment in which he spends his day. He knows he is loved and that makes all the difference.

Here is a link to a news article about the evening:

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/11/04/news/top_stories/doc4af1037d11a72733467590.txt

To view a news video of Mrs. Bush's address that evening:

http://www.mywtxchatter.com/video/video/show?id=2353132%3AVideo%3A21647

Though I have grown to love this part of the world called West Texas, and Midland in particular, for many different reasons, I am reminded of the real reason we are here - David and Bynum School.

You know you live in West Texas when...

2009-10-27T17:32:00.000-06:00

.... your daughter is awakened by a strange high-pitched yipping sound in the wee hours of the morning, and goes to the window to see three coyotes scampering down the middle of the street in front of your house.

Thinking maybe this explains the large number of missing cat signs that were posted in our neighborhood over the summer??

Quote of the Month - October 2009

2009-10-27T17:27:00.000-06:00

Sarah to Jon, as he was explaining how people listen to him because he talks too much:

Remember, Jon, you're just one ninth. Just one-ninth.

You know you live in West Texas when...

2009-10-21T08:32:00.000-06:00

...your 3-year-old looks at the rain falling and the following conversation ensues:

Matt: "Is that wet?"
Mom: "Yes."
Matt: "That has to go away."

Blessings

2009-10-14T10:13:00.004-06:00

He's here! Well, actually, he's been here for 3 weeks, but I am only just now figuring out how our new Mac interacts with the blog!

He's a bundle of pure joy. Chris is recovering well. As a grandma, I am loving every minute with him. As a mom, I am deeply grateful to have this experience of watching Christine bond with him. It is beautiful.

In case anyone missed the stats:

Mason Alexander Galusky

September 24, 2009 7:39 pm

6 lbs 7 oz

And here's Uncle Matt!!

Someone asked me what our reaction as parents was when we learned Chris was pregnant, and that the father of the baby would not be involved. Of course, we all would rather have a son-in-law with the package, but we think this picture says it all.

Macintosh

2009-10-02T11:36:00.000-06:00

New cuss word: MacDamn!

This is what you say when you can't get Mac applications to work!!!

Julie

Galusky Firsts

2009-08-31T18:40:00.000-06:00

Here's a list of Galusky firsts to get us started... will try to update as time goes on and more feats are accomplished - ha!

Transfer Scholarship to a Texas public university - two years - $25, 000

-Melissa

$100,000 grant to study Barnette Shale Aquifer -Pete

Grandchild

-via Christine, due October 2009

Speeding Ticket in her life

-Mom, in Dad's pickup on 191; 11 mph over on a 70 mph posted road - hey, it drives fast!

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers

- Dad and Jon Fall 2008 and Winter 2009

Boy Scout

-Joseph -Troup 84 of the Buffalo Council - West Texas

AA Degree

-Melissa, Midland College - Political Science, May 2009

Mother of Divine Grace Graduate (high school)

-Jon, June 2009

Near death experience on an airplane

-Mom - flying home from Albuquerque in a thunderstorm, pilot and crew panicking - July 09

Middle Eastern Studies major

-Melissa - UT Austin (BA degree candidate)

Perfect Attendance Award - Bynum School 08-09 School year

-David

Block Party - July 2009

-Entire Galusky Clan and neighbors along Ridgemont

Art major

-Christine - Midland College (AA degree candidate)

3rd place winner of "criteria" road bike race

-Jonathan - Permian Basin Bicycle Association

Scuba dive - off the coast of Catalina Island - June 2009

-Sarah

Physics major

-Jonathan - Midland College (AA degree candidate)

Soccer players below the age of 18

Joseph, Rita, and Anna (how'd they ever talk Mom into that?!)

Hiphop dance lessons - Fall 09

-Sarah

Close encounter with a sidewinder

-Mom - Chama Canyon Wilderness - July 09

You know you live in West Texas when...

2009-08-31T18:35:00.000-06:00

... a baby rattlesnake crawls under a nearby table at a restaurant during Mom's Night Out.

Quote of the Month - August 2009

2009-08-31T18:15:00.000-06:00

What is that gatorator doing?
-Matt (upon seeing an alligator being hassled by a family group of otters on TV)

Quote of the Month - May 2009

2009-06-09T07:50:00.000-06:00

Every battery needs a toy.
David Galusky

Road Biking Update

2009-05-13T13:47:00.000-06:00

Back at it full tilt boogie this month. Weather very hot - will move to morning rides after Memorial Day. First riding event coming up in mid-July - Cactus and Crude 2009. This is a fundraiser for MS - 150 miles split over 2 days, 75 miles each day. It is a good first event, fully supported and not a race. I am looking forward to it. It begins at the bike shop where Jon works in Midland and goes Northeast to Big Spring the first day, then North to a tiny town called Post the second day. Here's a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Midland+TX&daddr=Big+Spring+TX+to:Post+Texas&hl=en&geocode=&gl=us&mra=pr&sll=32.59139,-101.74422&sspn=1.948318,3.515625&ie=UTF8&ll=32.644,-100.903931&spn=1.947211,3.515625&z=8 Here's a link explainig the MS 150 events and this particular ride: http://biketxq.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_TXQ_homepage And here's the stats..... Longest ride - 42 miles (took 3.5 hours, with several short water breaks, and one nature call) Hottest Ride - 100 degrees Top speed - 28 mph Average speed over 10 mile ride - mph Shortest 10 mile ride - 40 minutes Miles logged on bike to date - over 1000 miles

Human Bowling

2009-04-26T07:36:00.000-06:00

One Saturday in February of this year found us all downtown at the Midland Children's Festival, enjoying Bynum School's biggest annual community relations event and their 3rd largest fundraiser. Face painting, crafts, games, bounce houses, and huge slides are a few of the attractions. But the winner of the Best of Show award, hands down, is the human bowling game. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is a tome:

Galusky Litany

2009-04-23T20:09:00.000-06:00

I was thinking tonight about how easily I forget the incredible array of spiritual giants our family has in our corner. I am referring to our various patron and confirmation saints, saints we are named after, etc. I know one family that prays their family litany of saints after the rosary on a regular basis. This may have to become a new family practice so that we remember to solicit their help and continue to be encouraged by their example. We have doctors of the Church, long suffering moms, priests, founders, beggars, martyrs, Gospel writers, apostles, stigmatists, reformed tax collectors, bishops, teachers, virgins, nuns, carpenters, faithful husbands and fathers, physicians, girl soldiers, and even one who rose from the dead and flew up to the roof of a church! Here's our litany: St Peter, St Luke, St Monica, Christina the Astonishing, St Joan of Arc, St Maria Goretti, St Andrew, St John Bosco, St Elizabeth Ann Seton, St Philomena, St Francis, St Joseph, St Adalbert, St Rita, St Ann, St Therese, St Matthew, St James, PRAY FOR US! Some of the kids have not been confirmed yet, so more will be added as we go. Also, there are stories behind the choosing of all their birth names, even though some early on in our marriage were not formally canonized saints in the Church, or they are Old Testament "saints". For example, Christine is a name I always liked, and I hoped I would have a Chris or Christine when I grew up. Christine means "of or belonging to Christ". Her middle name is Laura, another name I just liked. Melissa means "honey bee". It is derived from the same root as "meliflorous" or "mellifluous", which means having a smooth, rich flow; filled with something sweet, as with honey". We always say Melissa is sweet as honey, but watch out for the sting! ;-) When she was five years old, she asked me which saint she was named after. I told her there were no formal Saint Melissas yet. She replied with no hesitation or doubt, "There will be when I get there." Jonathan is named after the good friend of King David, who helped him escape from his father's (King Saul's) wrath. Sarah is named after Abraham's wife. Sarah means "laughter". Her middle name is Elizabeth, after St Elizabeth Ann Seton. We chose this because at the time of her birth, we had spent a lot of time in her stomping grounds in Emmitsburg, Maryland and were members of her parish there - St Joseph's. Christine was in a first communion class taught by nuns at Mother Seton's school. David is named after King David, and is, like his namesake, a man after God's own heart. Francis is his middle name because I think St Francis was so filled with the joy of God that he was crazy in love with Him. Sometimes the simplicity of insight our David has astounds me, and I am convinced there is some direct connection between him and Heaven. It has something to do with purity of sight. St Francis saw "too many beautiful things" and was struck blind when he received the stigmata. Anyone who has seen David's happy dance knows he is full of God's joy. Joseph got the Carpenter's name, and his insight into scripture and human nature is far beyond his years. Adalbert is his middle name - chosen because we were members of a parish in an old Polish neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio at the time of his birth. Rita is named for St Rita, who was a wife and mother, and then a nun later in life. There is a special connection between West Texas and St Rita. The story is relayed at the beginning of the movie "The Rookie", and can also be found here: http://www.biglaketx.com/Big%20Lake%20Texas%20History.html Our Rita was our first child "made in Texas". Her first word was "hi", pronounced with a long Texas drawl. Anna is named for the Blessed Mother's mother and for St Therese of Lisieux. She loves the prayer: "Little Flower, at this hour, show your power." Matt brings up the rear with Matthew the tax collector and author of the first of the four gospels, and James for the Apostle James. So everybody gets a neat name with cool stories or associations with good people or places. As for me, I chose St Monica when I was confirmed because I was a mother of two at the time, trying to learn how to be a mom. St Monica is the patron saint of mothers, so I figured it could only help. I say her prayer - "Lord, make up for my lack." almost daily. Amen.

Yet another quote of the month - April 09

2009-04-22T12:17:00.000-06:00

At the risk of publishing too much wisdom in one month....

Road biking is just like the spiritual life. You gotta keep pedaling, eyes on the road in front of you, heart set on finishing the race. And if you fall off or haven't been on the bike for awhile, the important thing is to get right back on and ride. --- Julie

Road Biking Update

2009-04-21T13:43:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it was a bad month. I am two days into my "back in the saddle" program, following what was almost a 3 week break from riding. High winds in late March/early April and the Holy Week Flu that hit our house kept me off the bike. I know- excuses excuses! Anyway, I did identify 40, 60, and 100 mile routes that I can shoot for in the coming months, with a little schedule change due to hotter weather (will have to ride in early morning instead of early afternoon). Pete and I rode the 60-mile route on motorcycles Sunday. It is a state highway between Midland and Notrees, and on to Kermit, Texas, through oil fields, sand dunes, and over the Mescalero Ridge, which makes for something of a hill (!). For those so inclined, here is a link to little-known facts about Notrees, with pictures. The one of the highway out of town is what most of our ride looked like. http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/NotreesTexas/NotreesTx.htm I also experienced my first flat, alone on another ride; and of course it was a long ride, so I had to have Pete come pick me up. As I was in denial about needing to learn to change a flat on the side of the road (and carry along the gear to do it), this was a good thing. There are briars, cactus (cacti?), goat heads, "pokies"and "pricklies" to spare out there. I will leave off the stats this month, since it has been scarce riding since the last post. I definitely lost some aerobic capacity and riding in temps in the 90's is a whole 'nother ball game! Here's to riding that century by October '09!! Peace, Julie

Another Quote of the Month - April 2009

2009-04-19T07:49:00.000-06:00

On a map, which looks funnier - the state of Texas without the rest of the U.S., or the U.S. without the state of Texas? ---- Pete Galusky

Don't Mess with Texas

2009-04-19T07:25:00.000-06:00

What Governor Perry really said..... On the 10th Amendment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LHrIxc-QyE On secession: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_i85ft5jP8&feature=player_embedded Let's not let all the flying rhetoric draw our attention away from the real issue of out of control spending and ongoing misinterpretation of the Constitution, especially with regard to loss of individual and state's rights. The governor is simply reminding us all what is really at stake when government gets too big. Peace, Julie

Quote of the Month - April 2009

2009-04-15T05:51:00.000-06:00

"So being a mom is like being a big sister, but with lots of kids you have to babysit every day?"
- Rita Galusky

Growing

2009-04-07T10:46:00.000-06:00

Anna: Mom, Sarah or Joey told me that you and Daddy are done growing. Mom: Yes, we're all done with that. Anna: But you're only 44! Mom just laughed and went to get her a very big cookie.

Homeschool Prom - March 27, 2009

2009-03-31T08:08:00.000-06:00

You know you live in West Texas when...

2009-03-25T11:09:00.000-06:00

...you see a sign that says "Adult Smoothies - Drive Thru"

Top Ten Reasons Why There've Been No Posts for Three Weeks

2009-03-24T09:26:00.000-06:00

1-10. MATT Enough said, Julie

Road Biking Update

2009-03-24T07:04:00.000-06:00

Okay - biking season has arrived in earnest - seeing as many as a dozen others on my regular weekend route, riding everything from recumbents to tandems and everything in between. My usual daily (more or less) ride is a ten mile stretch along a service road to a divided state highway. I use this ride to gauge progress. I recently rode a new route along more scenic roads that is 28 miles long. Higher interest, but a bit dicey with only two lanes - no room for error. Jon has joined the ranks of pedaling addicts with the purchase of a beautiful Cannondale from Peyton's, a bike shop where he works. He has become quite the mechanic and can actually build the things. His most recent addition to the fleet is a "fixie", which is slang for a fixed-gear bicycle with no brakes that is apparently all the rage on college campuses. Go figure. Anyway, it is great fun to fly along on these lightweight bikes under our big blue sunny sky and wide open terrain. You can see everything coming and there's nothing to distract from the view to the horizon. And did I mention there are no hills? The latest: Longest ride - 28 miles Top speed - 28 mph Average speed over 10 mile ride - 18 mph Shortest 10 mile ride - 40 minutes Miles logged on bike to date - 515 miles

Quote of the Month - March 2009

2009-03-24T06:56:00.000-06:00

No regrets means living entirely attentive and available to the present moment, hearts set on Eternity.
- Julie Galusky

Baby it's not cold outside

2009-03-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

87 degrees and clear skies today... It's tough, but someone's gotta do it. Grin, Julie

Magic Erasers

2009-02-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these things? What a revolution in the cleaning product industry! We are never without these, especially since Matt started walking. Part of every Saturday is now spent by someone "erasing" the marks left behind by our little artist. There doesn't appear to be anything that these 3X5 sponges can't clean. So, not satisfied with just enjoying the ease of use, low cost, and benefits of this household wonder, I have to know what's in them and how they work. So I have done what every red-blooded human being does when they want to know something - I googled it. Turns out there's nothing "in" them at all. I was sure they would have to contain some carcinogenic compound that was the payback for something being too good to be true. But no chemicals at all - just melamine foam, a construction material, used for cleaning in Japan, and discovered there by the folks at Mr. Clean. After dampening with a little water, this stuff is extremely good at getting into tiny spaces of surfaces to lift out the dirt and grime, or artistic media, as the case may be. One web site listed about 100 uses and gave a link to about as many more. Being firmly grounded in the material world, I find myself thinking of magic erasers as we are hearing about the season of Lent with its opportunities for renewal, cleansing of our souls, penance and purification. A guest priest gave a homily over the weekend about the beauty of the Sacrament of Penance, encouraging us through stories of the saints to take advantage of the season to confess our sins. He said St Francis of Assisi was often heard to encourage any depressed brothers to go to confession to recover their joy.

There is nothing like confession to erase our impure intentions and lift the dirt of our failures to love God and others. In fact, the raw material of the sacraments, ie, grace, is very good at getting into the crevices of our souls to expose those root causes of our sins to the purifying action of God's mercy. We are restored to brilliance as He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west.

There's nothing "magic" about confession. Here the analogy with the little white sponge breaks down. The thing that makes confession work is God's redeeming power and mercy united with our good will. Christ won our redemption on the Cross, by taking all the ugliness and disfiguration of our sins on Himself, and it wasn't cheap or easy. In fact, it cost Him everything.

Here I think I will simply accept the mystery of how it works and what it is made of, and try to foster a sense of gratitude for this wonder sacrament, enjoying its ease of use, low cost (to self), and benefits.

Peace and Blessed Lent,

Julie

Let your yes be yes and your no be no

2009-02-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Mom, Sarah, and Matt have just dropped Jon off for chemistry class at Midland College, when they come to a red light beside a school playground full of toddlers. Matt catches sight of this and hears the children shouting, and let's out a "Yes!!!" to end all yesses. He sounded like Jon when he sees a pick-up he likes, or David when he hears we are planning to go on a vacation, or Mom when one of the kids finally gets the math problem, or Dad when he....oh never mind. Anyway, the limitations of sharing this with you via blog are keenly felt, as I cannot do it justice. The sheer delight in his voice - or forget voice - his entire being, was priceless. As a result, I have resolved to look around me today, and find just such a source of delight for myself, fall into it, and let it completely take over. Or better yet, maybe even try to provide a source of delight for someone else. This also has me thinking about the saints and how in their writings, they describe their love and longing for God just like what I heard in Matt's cry of delight. Finding your delight in God is a theme all throughout Scripture, especially the Psalms. Find your delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 And we heard from St Paul over the weekend how Christ was not Yes and No, but that the Yes of God's promises are in Him. I think that when Christ's Yes and ours collide, the delight is just like what I heard in Matt's voice. Peace, Julie

You know you live in West Texas when....

2009-02-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

Anna: Mom, do you remember how I almost fell in the ice at Santa Fe? Mom: You did? Where? Anna: On that big thingy outside our house. Mom: What do you mean? What big thing? Anna: You know, that thing that goes (motioning an incline with her hand). Mom: (still not sure): Was there a slippery place on the sidewalk? Anna: (now getting noticeably perturbed) No! That big slidey down thing that's long and hard to climb up. Mom: You mean hill? Anna: YES!

Passin' through

2009-02-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody - just a note to make a standing invitation to all to be sure to stop by if you're passin' through our part of the country. I realize that many of you could be on your way to..... say..... El Paso? or Notrees? or Odessa? Anyway, we'd love to see you! Our good friend Jack Crawford just passed us on I-20 on his way back from a long car haul. So close and yet so far, Jack!! We'll catch you next time for sure.... Peace, Julie

From Goodbye to Welcome Home

2009-02-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the world said good-bye to George W. Bush as our nation's president and inaugurated Barrack Obama. It was quite a party, I am told. But you may be interested in a little gathering that happened later that day down here in Midland, of about 30,000 people, as we welcomed one of ours home. Here is footage of his address: Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2l_HmruSkk Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqsrThGm6tc And here is the view from Sarah's camera:

We love you, W!

Rain!!

2009-02-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Real drops of water falling from the sky to earth were sighted yesterday evening by our Rita! The official measurement was .28 inches. This is our first rain since......I can't remember. Peace, Julie

Mom's Road biking update

2009-02-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

Okay - approximately a month later..... Have gone back to workouts at gym with weight machines and stationary bike (yuk), and started longer rides on weekends. Will be talking to a trainer at the gym about making a serious program to work toward riding a century in summer or fall. Which should I do - the Hotter'n Hell 100 (http://www.hh100.org/) or the Fort Davis Cyclefest (hard climbs at 5000 ft elevation)? Right now it's just a goal to work toward... Updated stats are below. Peace, Julie

Shortest 10-mile ride - 45 minutes

Average Speed over 10-mile ride - 15 mph

Longest ride - 27 miles (done in 2 hours)

Top speed - 27.5 mph Total miles logged on bike - 225 miles Worst wind conditions - 13 mile ride with sustained 15 mph and gusts up to 24 mph; had to out ride a small dust storm - outran it, but last 5 miles was sheer grit, grit in my teeth for 2 days afterward

Quote of the Month - February 2009

2009-02-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Mom can't find the van. - Matt Galusky

Top Ten Reasons Why There've Been No Posts for Two Weeks

2009-02-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

1. Matt 2. Suzuki Piano Method 3. Super Bowl Party 4. Learning who was playing in the Super Bowl 5. Blockage in Grandpa's carotid artery 6. Good biking weather 7. Laundry 8. Volleyball carpool 9. Matt 10. West Texas dust 11. place value, misplaced modifiers, plate tectonics, Calculus limits, and stoichiometry 12. flu 13. cut-backs with major client 14. laying race track on plywood 15. driving lessons 16. lost cord to transfer pics from camera to computer 17. church scandals 18. cooking shows 19. trying out recipes from cooking shows 20. wiggle racing 21. abortion clinic rosaries 22. putting away Christmas decorations 23. saying "thank you" and "welcome home" to President Bush ("W") 24. protecting Michael (beta fish) from Marvin (large curious, hungry cat) 25. moving furniture around 26. refinancing 27. re-budgeting 28. talking with folks who are losing their jobs 29. perfecting pomegranate martinis 30. Heritage Scholarship application, transfer applications, and transcript verifications OH! That's more than 10! Did I mention Matt? Peace, Julie

Santa Fe - Part 3

2009-01-19T14:36:00.001-07:00

Some snow scenes... Matt did not like walking in the snow, but did enjoy snow balls and snow men!

Dad, Melissa, Jon, and Sarah hit the slopes...

... while the rest of us stayed in where it was warmer....

Quote of the Month - January 2009

2009-01-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Motorcycles will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no motorcycles. - Pete Galusky

Mom's road biking stats (low interest post) - Jan '09

2009-01-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Top speed - 22 mph Average speed over 10 mile ride, winds 8-12 mph - 15 mph Average time for 10 mile ride - 47 minutes Longest ride - 13 miles Search posts under label "road biking" to watch progress over time as Mom trains for long distance biking Note from Mom: This is fast becoming a necessary part of life and a great way to keep the blood flowing - thanks Dr Grubb at MCO for pushing it! I have a goal of riding a century (100 miles) by September 2009 - have been riding seriously since Labor Day 2008. I am told it can be done easily in one season- we will see....Not sure if I'll ride in an official riding event, or just on my own. Probably safer to ride with a group. There is a biking club here in Midland that rides regularly after the time change in the Spring. I have a shorter term goal of joining them for their weekly 32 mile ride, then working up to the century. Many of the members have done this, so are a good source of information and encouragement. By the way, anyone out there who exercises with music regularly - I am looking for some fairly fast paced instrumental music that would be good on long rides. No lyrics, please - drives me crazy! Peace, Julie

Santa Fe - January 2009 - Part 2

2009-01-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

Some views through Christine's lens...

Santa Fe - January 2009 - Part 1

2009-01-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

View from our condo --

NW and NE

Takes eight hours to get this crew from Midland to Santa Fe - we arrive very tired, cranky, and hungry, but looking forward to the days ahead. It is in the low 30's and there's about 6-8 inches of hard packed snow and ice on the ground from an earlier snow.

We usually bring along a soup and bread dinner for the first night in since we are so tired from the trip. This time there is tomato and Maryland crab soup, bread, cheese, and grapes. After dinner, Mom and Dad head out into below freezing temperatures to stock the pantry for our stay, while the kids stay behind and get a fire started in the kiva.

Here's a video of David during the drive in. Christine supplied the music, and Sarah shot the footage.

Just in case you're curious about where we stay (we highly recommend it!):

http://www.allseasonsresortlodging.com/santa_fe/fortmarcy/hotel_overview.html

A few shots of kids enjoying the indoors in between activities...

Our first full day is spent exploring downtown, walking in and out of shops, museums, art galleries, and historic sites. We lose the younger ones as the morning wears on, especially Matt, who has to be taken back to the condo by Dad. Mom and the other 8 kids have a nice lunch at an Italian bistro called Torinos' at Home, where they make their own homemade pasta on-site as well as great panini bread sandwiches.

Christine found a good deal at a shop near the restaurant, reaching her personal goal of owning a great pair of cowboy boots.

More in the next post, after I upload pics from my camera.

Peace, Julie

Happy New Year!

2009-01-16T15:34:00.001-07:00

Well, so much for regular updates. It's been busy. Christmas came and went. Our trip to Santa Fe also. This week was our first full week back at school, work etc, and has already been punctuated by the unexpected. David made it to school for two whole days before he was out again with the stomach bug. Looks like Anna is down with it today. I will try to add some pictures from December and January happenings - test my skills with this blogging bit. Keep your fingers crossed... Peace, Julie

First of Many

2008-12-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Advent blessings to all on this 4th Sunday of Advent! We are counting down the days to Christmas here, winding up some of the regular schedule stuff, and relaxing more and more as the day draws near. This is the first entry for our new blog. We are moving into the 21st century in our efforts to stay connected with friends and family by using this method to share pictures, stories, laughs, sorrows, and the whole range of things that go on in our lives. Probably, I will be the most frequent author, though I will attempt to have some of the others contribute their writing talent from time to time, just so you can see things through lenses other than my own. Looking forward to keeping in touch with you all! Peace, Julie