Good. News.

Fifteen years of good news to be exact. At the hands of Eric Byrd. Because he knows that God is good. All the time. So, when he took the job at McDaniel College fifteen years ago, and began receiving his $52. bi- monthly check, well, he held onto that God-sized vision. If you haven’t heard the McDaniel College Gospel Choir, you are missing out. For this special performance, they teamed up with the Columbia Orchestra directed by Jason Love and special guest, recording artist, Kevin LeVar. The best part of the evening was seeing a stage full of McDaniel students, faculty and alumni singing praises to God. It was a beauty to behold. Watching the interaction between Eric, his assistant director Carl Taylor, the choir and the musicians from the wings of the stage was a special treat.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read on the back of the program that Eric offers a boot camp from July 20-24, and I, evidently,can learn to play jazz in a week. Hmm. Tempting.

 

Oh, and to view the entire gallery, go to the kathyfreundel.clients link on my website.

Lion. Witch. Wardrobe. Benefit.

 

It’s live theatre for a great cause.  The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and all proceeds go to Carroll County Young Life.

That’s a win-win-win. Your family wins with an evening of entertainment complete with sword battles, indoor guard performance, and dancing to tell a classic tale. The cast and crew of the play win, because they are READY to deliver an evening of (Turkish) delight,  and our community wins because Young Life and Wyldelife are in the business of changing lives of young people in  our community. 

 

So, here’s the 411.

Performances Saturday May 2nd at 2 pm. and 8 pm.

Sunday May 3rd at 7 pm.

Tickets are $10/ adult  $8/ student and  $5/ under age 5

 

Performances at NCF (the former Tractor Supply on route 140 behind Wa-Wa)

 

Directed by Shirley Dooley and her dedicated cadre . . . if you are looking for a place to express YOUR creativity, catch her after the show . . . this is her passion, and she shares it freely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toni. Pomeroy. Bling.

 

 

I always thought that only the super wealthy had “personal jewelers,” but after working with Toni, I’ve joined the  club. Toni and I are both hometown girls, business owners and  wives and mothers of larger families, so we both play that plate spinning game. But when I went to Toni, said, “I need a birthday present for my mom, and this is my budget . . . ” and she knew exactly which bracelet would be the perfect mix of class and bling and made it FIT  my budget . . . I knew I found my girl. Not a pretentious bone in her tiny body.  Toni spends her days at  Pomeroy Jewelers on Main Street in Westminster (right across from the public library) in her elegant boutique. Stop in and meet Toni Pomeroy . . .  she’s a walking , talking party.

As a mother and a business owner, what are the most important things you do as a mom every day? Show and tell my kids that they are always my number 1 priority.  Sometimes we blur the lines a little and we need to remember what is really important in our lives, and that will always be my family.  Everyday is a clean slate that we get to start all over again.  We beat ourselves up about what we didn’t do yesterday, and in doing that, we waste today. 

 

 What are the most important things you do as a business owner every day? Being honest!!!   I can’t believe how many times people think by telling lies they gain respect.  You give what you get in this world.  Also I love people, all walks and types.  They give me the energy and enjoyment everyday.

What is your favorite part of being a jeweler? Least favorite? Guiding people on their journey through our store.  We are not salespeople; we are tour guides.  We have to listen to our clients’ needs and respond accordingly.    Least favorite?  hmmmmm . . . occasionally we do get some sad stories and I just want to take the pain away from people.   I end up crying with them.  And it stays with me.

What does a typical day look like for you? I get up at 6 am and wake up the first two for high school and make breakfast, start a load of laundry and clean up the kitchen.  Then I  see them off at 7 am and get the youngest up and ready for school.  He loves a big breakfast, so I make him eggs and toast or pancakes. Then I get ready around 8:30 and leave them house around 9:20.  Opps, I forgot.  I get the clothes from the washer into the dryer and leave a list and notes for the kids.

How do you keep your priorities in check? My family and coworkers keep me balanced at times.  I make a list sometimes in the morning of priorities for the day and check them off as I go.  I do forget some things at times.  I try not to beat my self up about what I forget and remind myself about what I did!!!

What do you do for fun? Spend time with my family and friends.  I love that I have 4 sisters and friends from high school that just get my quirkiness.  I love being goofy and fun.

How did you land as a jeweler?  I was 17 years old managing Claires Boutique and the Manager of Littman’s.  David offered me a job. Of course I took it and have never looked back.  I love what I do.  I learn more and more each day.

 

What’s on your ipod right now?Odd mix really.  I love James Morrison, Jack Johnson, The Kooks and really every kind of music.  Music can put you a different place.  Kick off your shoes and enjoy the music. 

Three things on your bucket list. . See my kids grow up and become parents . . .  go to England . . . own a house on the beach and fall asleep to the sounds of the crashing waves. 

 

 

I would like to end by saying every day we have is a true gift.  Some days those gifts are not exactly what you were dreaming for, but still a gift.  What we do with those gifts is up to us.  I happened to be truly blessed by a great extended family and friends, who get me, love me and enjoy all of us being together.  Its not what we do its who we do it with.  Enjoy everyday and every moment.  Don’t waste it!

Cousins’. Sleepover. . .

Sixteen cousins. Fifteen years running. Fourteen minutes of sleep.

 

But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This year the kids spoke of it being their last sleepover . . . after all, Katie is shipping off to college next year.

But I’ll hold on to hope . . . hope that they’ve realized the need to invest in relationship with one another . . . hope that the laughter and craziness will bring them back again and again. . . 

hope that the big screen quiz show, karaoke, late night pizza, midnight double feature, funnel cake breakfast, game playing frenzy will serve to remind them . . . 

that fun is something holy.

And that family is something sacred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laughing. Singing. Eating. Playing.

I can live with that. 

 

 

 

HisWay. Take the Stage Drama School. Stone Soup.

Stone Soup. Yup, that classic story that you read as a child, comes to life in the hands of Lora Strosnider, director of Take the Stage Drama School. The kids from HisWay, our wonderful homeschool co-op, have transformed this show into a delightful comedy, complete with cross dressing knights, absurdist nobility, and an all around sense of fun. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watching the actors’ siblings and friends engage with the production was as entertaining as the performance itself. Yeah, there’s nothing like seeing a group of kids come together to serve up a live, temporal piece of art. Interaction between actor and audience. The beauty of theatre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum of American History. Opening.

 

 

 

I love where we live; we’re close enough to DC to be able to go in for an afternoon, yet far enough away to be able to see a bright starry sky at night. Fridays have become our family field trip days, so this week it was the Grand Re-opening of the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Wow.

We didn’t even realize that it was the grand reopening, but when we came upon the museum it was a flurry of activity. Dorothy was strolling the promenade in her ruby slippers singing “Over the Rainbow,” and we were able to converse with both George Washington and Mary Pickersgill. Upon entering the  ”Star Spangled Banner” display there was a hush, and the kids’ favorite part of the museum is the same as mine was as a kid . . . “Thanks for the Memories,” where we saw Kermit, Sienfeld’s ruffled shirt, and the real ruby slippers. My favorite as an adult is the Julia Child exhibit.   DC is such an exciting place to be . . . and the photography opportunities are all over the place. There are times when I make myself put away the camera so I can be a participant, but I did sneak it out occasionally to capture the day. And what a great day it was.

 

 

 

It was cold, cold, cold on the mall!

 

 

Micheal was fascinated by the huge dollhouse. All the kids stood there for about ten minutes choosing out their bedrooms.

 

The kids’ hands on museum is really great. All kids of creative activities in an enclosed space.

 

 

 

And, of course, Sam and Michael LOVED the History of Transportation exhibit, where they could ride a 1950’s bus simulator and view a full sized steam locomotive. 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Will’s mug in the button! HHe was a little wary of the armed guards.

 

 

After 9/11, the security is so tight all over DC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hands on children’s museum is phenomenal. They also have a “Spark Lab,” where the kids get to participate in fascinating experiments. It’s definitely worth a trip.

 

Ocean’s Ten.

 

You know what I’m talking ’bout.

Delicious Danny Ocean. Full of adventure, risk, and charm. 

 

When you’re from Baltimore, Maryland, Danny Ocean demands a paradigm shift. . . 

as in, “guess where we’re going this weekend?”

 

 

 

 

 

Feelin’ sluggish? Need a little boost. Try this gateway drug.

 

After a month of the  back to school grind, we needed a weekend away. No matter that a huge storm was slated to pass through at the same time . . . that just means bigger waves and more treasure to find on the beach, and I’m not talking about those military explosives that washed up on Fenwick Island, either. We didn’t see those, but we sure did find some cool shells.

 

 

 

We also got to go to Trimper’s Amusements (thank you to an awesome client who pulled some strings for us!). Trimper’s has been around forever (over 100 years!) and as the kids rode the carousel, we could tell them that their great grandmother, Gi-Gi could have ridden the same horses as a little girl. Very cool. Carl, of course, was a trooper, getting on rides that make me sick to look at.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fenwick Island, Delaware. Classic family adventure.

 

 

 

Labor Day. Freundel Style.

(side note:  I wanted to capture all the ambient light in the incredible Baltimore skyline, so I set my ISO up to 3200, set the aperture at 3.5 and the shutter at 1/13 sec. Then, I used one of those tourist display signs as an instant tripod, and wallah! . . . beautiful Baltimore on a summer night. All these photos are straight out of camera tonight . . . I’m tired!) 

 

In classic Freundel style, we waited until the very last day to take in Body Worlds at the Maryland Science Center. I am so glad we did! Wow. What an incredible exhibit.  Plastinated human bodies on display in all manner of cool poses . . . it was an incredible anatomical study, and all the kids were enraptured. What a great day to end the summer vacation. 

Driving into the city, Kristiana and Carl were practicing for American Idol.  The Decemberist’s Yankee Bayonette . . .  currently, that’s their favorite duetin’ song. Tim was in the back seat chanting, “Beatles . . . Beatles . . . ” but Kristiana remained firm (this time.)

 

 

Next stop, Checkers. We had to get off at National Pike, but well worth the minor detour.

 

Got there. Parked. But, now would we score tickets to the exhibit on it’s last day. Here comes Carl to give us the verdict . . .  ugh, the tension has us on edge. Look at Lily’s forced smile and Will’s stern mug.

 

 

We’re in!! WooHoo. Now we can sit on the steps overlooking the harbor and enjoy our wonderful Checker’s picnic.

 

 

Oh, and feed the pigeons our french fries. I think that may have been the highlight of the whole day for Lily!

 

 

Contemplative Caroline.

 

 

 Loose cannon, Lily.

 

 

 

When we came out of the exhibit, the harbor was BEAUTIFUL!! What a joy to be on the water on a perfect “end of summer night.” Lots of people, lots of lights, lots of life. I LOVE Baltimore. 

 

 

 

 

Tired, but happy, Carl makes a pit stop on the way back to Westminster and orders us eight cones from Mickey D’s. It was Rita’s Ice at the harbor for $32. or McD’s on the road for $8.72. The manager even came out to see who in the world orders eight cones, and when he saw me standing by his take out window with my camera poised, he looked at me like I had lost a screw. I told him I was documenting our last day of summer. He made us nine cones by accident! So, he got to eat one!

 

If you have a chance to see Body Worlds, go!! It is a fascinating and awe inspiring exhibit. It just makes me wonder why anyone could  believe that the incredible human body was created by random chance or evolution.  This awesome exhibit gives evidence of an awesome Creator. 

 

Tropical. Treat.

End of summer. Boo.

So when my sis, Nancy, called and said, “We haven’t been to the Tropical Treat yet this year . . . let’s go!, ” I was in. We loaded all eleven of us into the burb, and headed up the road to Hanover to eat lunch at a real drive in. 

Nancy pulled out her awesome Fuji F50, and shot some pics. These are all hers! 

 

End of summer. Denial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luau. New Creations Fellowship Style.

I overheard someone say, “This party is SO New Creations.” Yup. I agree. Stan and Kelly Dabkowski put on such a fete . . . Kelly was so crazy busy all day, I couldn’t even catch her in front of the lens!! But you’ll find Stan right behind the pig. The Dabkowskis give, give, give to our church family, and this day was no different. 

 

Rebecca Rhoten does a hula dance like no other!

 

 

 

Carl on the uke!

 

 

 

Stan and Babe. (I mean, the pig . . .)  See Evelyn beside Stan? She is a limbo queen!

 

 

 

 Unbelievable limbo champ, Lindsey Nichols, cheered on by hula champ, Brittany Decker.

 

 

 

 

My Sam goes for the eats . . . oh, and to be held by the pretty girls!

 

 

 

 

Brooke Leppo and Katie Salafia . . . gal pals.

 

 

Hula dance off. Look at Will’s face!! I think he knew he was defeated, but Josh gave him the victory.

 

 

 

Hula master, Wayne Armacost . . . you should have seen him do all these hoops at once!

 

 

 

Women were impressive. Very.

 

 

Men . . . well, I missed the shot because the contest was over before I could get my camera up.

 

 

 

But, the menfolk were impressive at the limbo.

 

 

Harv, the lifeguard.

 

 

 

Caroline knows a beauty when she sees it.

 

I’ve said it here many times before . . . New Creations Fellowship . . . we are real people living out our faith, one day at a time. Come see for yourself.