<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875</id><updated>2011-12-31T16:45:42.621-05:00</updated><category term='weather'/><category term='moving'/><category term='reading'/><category term='child'/><category term='friendship'/><category term='irony'/><category term='church'/><category term='multicultural'/><category term='priests'/><category term='family time'/><category term='etiquette'/><category term='personal touch'/><category term='parenting'/><category term='Jackie Evancho'/><category term='career'/><category term='music'/><category term='life&apos;s lessons'/><category term='gratitude'/><category term='imagination'/><category term='teaching'/><title type='text'>Kathy's Porch</title><subtitle type='html'>Memories, Music &amp;amp; Miscellany</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>8</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-3099723969029652405</id><published>2011-05-03T00:39:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-03T00:39:49.427-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gratitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='friendship'/><title type='text'>Friendly Thanks</title><summary type='text'>Friends
So Much has been penned about friends
To the point where we don’t even hear
All those cliche words that fly at a closed ear…
Until the day we think our world will end
And we’re saved in the nick of time by a friend!
 
Today, I am thankful for my  real, honest-to-goodness true friends — no long post — no gushing – no  cliches – no long dissertation.  Just simply, “thank you.”  May you be  </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/3099723969029652405/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/friendly-thanks.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/3099723969029652405'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/3099723969029652405'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/friendly-thanks.html' title='Friendly Thanks'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-7302465514000676154</id><published>2011-05-03T00:30:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-03T00:30:50.175-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='irony'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Jackie Evancho'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='music'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life&apos;s lessons'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='child'/><title type='text'>Angel Songs -- Good Things Come In Simple, Small Packages</title><summary type='text'>Hollywood glitz … at first  overshadowed by taller people, more mature acts and elaborate stage  settings … lost in the overpowering bright lights … a tiny, ten year old  emerges from the shadows into the bright lights.  Adorable, with  dancing eyes and a naturally engaging warm little girl smile, she opened  her mouth and began to sing.  Suddenly, this tiny figure’s voice  overshadowed and </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/7302465514000676154/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/angel-songs-good-things-come-in-simple.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/7302465514000676154'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/7302465514000676154'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/angel-songs-good-things-come-in-simple.html' title='Angel Songs -- Good Things Come In Simple, Small Packages'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-7063540833517656597</id><published>2011-05-03T00:09:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-03T00:09:38.474-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='moving'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='multicultural'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life&apos;s lessons'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='child'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='career'/><title type='text'>Better Than A Textbook</title><summary type='text'>They’re great neighbors whom  everyone loves.  Their two delightful primary and elementary age  daughters are textbook examples of courtesy and a conversation with them  reveals intelligent minds filled with knowledge and curiosity beyond  their years, while still retaining the innocence of childhood.  They’ve  graced the neighborhood with their presence since before the youngest  was born so </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/7063540833517656597/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/better-than-textbook.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/7063540833517656597'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/7063540833517656597'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/better-than-textbook.html' title='Better Than A Textbook'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-1095595701430383837</id><published>2011-05-03T00:03:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-03T00:03:49.612-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='teaching'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='life&apos;s lessons'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='career'/><title type='text'>If I Were A Teacher...</title><summary type='text'>“What do you want to be when  you grow up?”  From as early as I can remember and without hesitation, I  always answered, “I want to be a teacher.”  I suspect that unequivocal  decision resulted from a combination of factors.  I loved books,  learning and school.  A few family friends whom I looked up to were  teachers.  I loved children and planned on getting married and having  kids, so a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/1095595701430383837/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/if-i-were-teacher.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/1095595701430383837'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/1095595701430383837'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/if-i-were-teacher.html' title='If I Were A Teacher...'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-6630938760320131554</id><published>2011-05-02T19:56:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-02T19:56:36.676-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='etiquette'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='gratitude'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='personal touch'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='child'/><title type='text'>Thank You Notes?  "What Are They?"</title><summary type='text'>Childhood birthday parties were  a lot of fun shared with family and school friends while playing games,  singing, dancing, eating and opening presents.  The end of the party  might have been the end of the celebration but for one important task  that had to be done as soon as possible, preferably within a few days —  writing thank you notes to all who came.  You thanked them as you opened  their</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/6630938760320131554/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/thank-you-notes-what-are-they.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/6630938760320131554'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/6630938760320131554'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/thank-you-notes-what-are-they.html' title='Thank You Notes?  &quot;What Are They?&quot;'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-9199519478565323739</id><published>2011-05-02T19:38:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-02T19:43:37.661-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='church'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='child'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='priests'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='family time'/><title type='text'>Fr. Becker's House Calls</title><summary type='text'>My Roman Catholic early  childhood, deep in the days of Vatican I, positioned me in the center of  a vast, almost-cathedral like church where the priest turned his back  on the people or towered over them from his preaching perch known as the  pulpit.  Mass was said in a language called Latin that most of us did  not understand, but the beautiful echoing sounds of the Gregorian masses  we both </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/9199519478565323739/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/fr-beckers-house-calls.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/9199519478565323739'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/9199519478565323739'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/fr-beckers-house-calls.html' title='Fr. Becker&apos;s House Calls'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-5144129132046998119</id><published>2011-05-02T19:32:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-02T19:32:00.044-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='music'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='weather'/><title type='text'>Erratic Symphony</title><summary type='text'>Song is not necessarily music produced by  instruments or words sung by human voices.  This Saturday, I was  awakened to a semi-chaotic melody produced by nature — otherwise known  as a thunderstorm.  As a very young child, I used to sit on the porch  during a storm, watching the wind blow sheets of rain in many directions  while thunder echoed in both my ears and my heart, much like the boom  </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/5144129132046998119/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/erratic-symphony.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/5144129132046998119'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/5144129132046998119'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/erratic-symphony.html' title='Erratic Symphony'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111041691633143875.post-2987967580181863127</id><published>2011-05-02T15:37:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2011-05-02T15:38:36.587-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='imagination'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='parenting'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='reading'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='family time'/><title type='text'>Will Your Kid Write About You When She's 60?</title><summary type='text'>There are no empty spaces on my  bookshelves. My bookcases are not the neat ones you see in furniture  showrooms – a perfectly coordinated blend of designer sculpture pieces,  flowers in vases, photo frames and just a few books precisely placed and  coordinated with empty space to show off each individual component of  the picture. Piled, stacked, bunched, overloaded and topsy-turvy would  more </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/feeds/2987967580181863127/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/will-your-kid-write-about-you-when.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/2987967580181863127'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/1111041691633143875/posts/default/2987967580181863127'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://kathysporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/will-your-kid-write-about-you-when.html' title='Will Your Kid Write About You When She&apos;s 60?'/><author><name>Kathy Marie</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276462938113788129</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6dQlpq3kAA/SpXi76T62fI/AAAAAAAAAB4/yVeMMQUjFuA/S220/fb+et+al+profile.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
