Summer 2008

Hi! I'm Karen DeAngelo, Owner of Glory Ridge Shih-Tzu.
This is a home based endeavor I started on a larger scale in 1991.
I have been breeding since 1986.
I love my dogs, but MY LIFE is God and the Family he has blessed us with!

Mother's Day 2008

This is my first Mother’s Day that the days approaching aren’t filled with the sounds of children‘s laughter and squabbles among themselves.  There is no one here in the wee hours of the morning to crawl into bed and snuggle Joe and I.  Suddenly, I realize that time in my life is over. Where did it go?  How did I miss this coming so fast?

   I always wondered what it would be like to be a grandmother and here it is.  I never had grandparents alive and hoped I knew how to be one when it came.  Well, here it is.  I have learned to be a “Nana” through the births and deaths of many grandchildren now. I learned the love that is as deep as motherhood prevails through to the second generation.  I love the sound of grandchildren voices and the special love and respect given to me as I travel quickly down the path of life.  I especially get deep satisfaction in praying for those children and the ones to come from my seed in future generations.  I want to be special in their eyes, not known for fame, fortune or beauty, but a kind and gentle spirit who loves the Lord.   Now in the quiet of the morning hours, I can pray and not be rushed.  I suddenly realize God slows us down to pray more, as that is the only thing some old bodies can do.  Yes, there is a Mother’s job to do until the Lord takes us home. And for that, I am blessed.  I thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to be the mother of 6.  We made it.  Karen

2007
I became the wife of Joe DeAngelo in 1975
March 1976 I was told I could never have children.
I sobbed the day they told me.
A Catholic Nun, who was my hospital roommate at the time I was told this  (and cloistered, no less), as she threw back the curtain that separated our space ...
"Karen, you listen to me and you listen GOOD! These doctors are ONLY MEN and you pray to the heavenly Father to have children and YOU WILL!"
She closed the curtain as fast as she opened it, as she just broke her vow of silence to tell me that!  I was IN SHOCK.  
I was pregnant by Mother's Day.
Dianna was born Jan 26th, 1977.
I went to the convent where the Nun lived and rang the bell, baby in arms.
She was summonsed to the parlor where I await for her.
I could hear Nuns singing glorious songs, like the angels of Heaven.
She came and I handed her the baby. She smiled. Said nothing. Held the baby
awhile and handed her back to me, and departed the room in silence.


July, 1977 Joe and I decided we wanted out of the hussle-bussle
of our New York life.
We camped across country until we found a place to live on a farm.
It wasn't easy for 2 Yankees out WEST with a 6 month old baby.
Now, don't think we were Hippies, or anything like that..
Joe owned a Auto Electric Factory on Long Island and I am a Nurse.
We just decided to take Greely's advice and "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!".
Well, come Sept. I find out I am pregnant again!
Christina was born Jan 29th, 1978.
We moved to our 10 Acre Hoemstead April 1978.
Low and behold...
Joanna was born Dec. 14th, 1979
The little 1100 sq ft. house was bursting at the seams and along came
Joseph III, born Sept. 7, 1982 (on Joe's 29th Birthday).

We decided me needed MORE SPACE and bought a 40 Acre farm
outside of Richmond and built a large house.
My neightbor saw it and remarked that
"All you need now, Joe, is a set of TWINS to FILL the place up!"
And alas...
the TWINS were born on CHRISTMAS EVE, 1989.

The joke in the family is...
"THE NUN NEVER KNEW WHEN TO STOP PRAYING!"

I probably had babies until the NUN stopped praying because she died!
See our beloved family below...
 6 children of all the same genetic factors.:);



Joseph (#4), Joe,
Dianna (#1) Me, Joanna (#3), 
 Christina (#2, has cerebral palsy)
Maria (#6 twin) ,Michael (#5 twin)

Here is the extended family Aug. 2005
3 in-law children and 5 grandchildren, my Dad and Joe's parents
at Phil's coming home party from a 2 year deployment

Left to Right back row:
George Miller (my Dad), Joe DeAngelo III (my son), Jeff Clevenger (s-i-l), husband Joe DeAngelo Jr holding
Ivy DeAngelo, Phil Anders (s-i-l), Joe DeAngelo Sr. (f-i-l), Michael DeAngelo (son).
Next row:
Lindsey DeAngelo (married to son Joe), Maria DeAngelo (daughter), daughter  Dianna Clevenger holding Georga Clevenger, Josephine DeAngelo (m-i-l), Joanna Anders (daughter), me, behind grandkids ; Joseph DeAngelo IV (son of Joe and Lindsey) and Glorianna Clevenger.
Front, granddaughter, Grace Clevenger and Christina DeAngelo in wheelchair.

September 2007... Grandkids...

 Here is Grace Holding Josie, Joseph, Glori, Ivy, Georgia
  Smiling down from Heaven is Philip and Luke.

 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!!
The DeAngelo's will be adding 2 new  MALE additions to the clan in 2008!
A new grandson, named Ray, is expected from our son Joseph and Lindsey in Aug.!

Maria is engaged to Dr. David Grewar of South Africa!

 My daughter, Maria and David left for South Africa Jan 12th.

SEE his marriage proposal in photos :
www.gloryridge.com/proposal.htm

Maria is a missionary in Graff Rienet  and David is a practicing Dentist
 in  Port Elizabeth,SA.

Maria's Missionary Letters:
www.gloryridge.com/sa.htm

 They will be married in the USA in October 2008.
 

We are thrilled to have David become part of the DeAngelo tribe!

I believe children are a gift from God.
I believe mothers should raise their own children and be homemakers,
whenever possible. My children learned young to pray and seek God's help in life.
They were taught to work hard and be dependable and no matter what their talents, and they would always
find a way to support themselves.  
We have been home schoolers since 1993-2007. 
We believe in raising our children based on the Word of God.
They learn to be creative and work young to benefit the entire family
as a productive citizen. Video games are a treat, not a way of life around here.
When they were little, we watched "Little House On the Prairie" reruns,
nightly, as a family and then discussed the moral issues and solutions based on the Bible and
what lessons could be learned. I suggest you try it, as I see know the series an be bought
 by the entire year on DVD. Little House ran 10 years!
Joe is a father who is VERY actively involved with his children and grandchildren.
The boys worked by his side at his business learning all they could.

Every opportunity to learn from others were also grasped.
I tell you this because I grieve what I see in America today.
Latch key children raised in a world with working parents who think giving them every material
thing the world has to offer is right.
I see 12th graders who graduate, not have a clue about work ethics.
I see Seniors in college, graduating without knowing what they want to do with a
very expensive degree!
So my philosophies are raising children are "odd" today.
But they worked....

From  our Home on a wooded ridge in Missouri there is a breathe taking view
Hence the name:
"GLORY RIDGE"


"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
Joshua 24:15

My family is the most important thing to me in the world next to 
my walk with Christ.
They are my walk with Christ. 
They are my #1 Mission.
To raise Godly children who will rise up one day and call me "blessed", is my dream.
Everyone was born with a purpose.
Our family is our God-given purpose.
Some mothers think it's their career that is their purpose.
But they are sadly mistaken.

Children are a gift from God.

This is our oldest daughter, Dianna, and her husband, Jeff.
They  have 4  little girls... 


Grace, 9  Glorianna, age 7 .
Dianna is full time homemaker and
Jeff works for the Hwy Dept.
They also have little Georga born in July 2005 :

 

 Georga

Announcing Joe and Karen DeAngelo's 8th Grandchild born to 
daughter  Dianna and husband, Jeff Clevenger.

Spring 2008
Georga, Glori and Josey

Glori has been promoted to Chief Puppy Socializer:

This is the child that will probably carry on Glory Ridge one day.

2007 

This is our 2nd daughter, Christina, who was brain injured in a car accident in 1978 at age 8 months,
6 months after we moved to Missouri. The out pouring of neighborly love to 2 Yankee Wanna-Be Farmers,
was overwhelming!  ALL towns should be like THIS town. I guess that is why we stayed here all these years.
Christina has severe spastic cerebral palsy as a result, can't speak, or walk.
 She is 29 now.

Christina taught our family unconditional love.
She brought Joe and I to Christ.
You can read my testimony, if you'd like to find out
what happened in my life that changed it forever.

Did I hear someone say Christ can't use them? 

This is my daughter Joanna and her husband Phil, a former Captain in the US Army.
Phil  finished a TWO YEAR deployment to Korea and Iraq.
We thank God he is home. and out of the Army now.
He is studying to be a pilot and works for the FAMOUS, SHIP IT AOG LLC.
At least my brother wishes it were famous, as he owns it.
They reside in the Dallas Area. 

  

Jojo and Phil had a little boy, Philip, on November4, 2001  who was born way too early, at 20 weeks.
 Little Philip is in Heaven, along with his little  brother, Luke who was born Oct. 25th, 2006, 22 weeks.
Please pray for Joanna and Phil to have a healthy full term baby one day.
 

My Little ""Jojo, AKA "Critter" has grown up to be a Neonatal Intensive Care Transport Nurse.
So that means I have one kid ABOVE the World (in helicopters)
and another kid on the OTHER SIDE of the World (in South Africa as a missionary).
I'm glad I have a LOT of FAITH! LOL!



I always knew Joanna would be a nurse.
When she was old enough to read, her first book was
"How Your Body Works".
She was observant to the tiniest bird in the tree, as we drove
down the rural roads, as a small child.
Her love and ministry is to the tiniest of children, even before she had 2 premies, herself.
Some of her babies are tinier than ones aborted in this country today.
THINK ABOUT IT!

Note from Joanna:

After 3 girls, you can imagine the delight when Joe and I  had
Joseph A. DeAngelo III
on my husbands 29th Birthday!
"Little Joe" is married now to Lindsey...

they have 2 children and are expecting #3 in Aug 2008!
Joey (6)  and Ivy (2 ).
Joe is a heavy duty equipment operator and
Lindsey, a home-maker.

They raise AKC Boxers.

Joseph A. DeAngelo IV!!!
Puppy Socializer to the bigger pups.
He's a rougher than Glori, AKA "Globug".

"Joey" and cousin "Glorianna are only 6 weeks apart!
Little Joe says he is a "Cool Dude".
Nana AGREES!
Here is Joe, Little Joe and the "Hunt", along
with Joe's new bloodhound puppy.



"Ivy"
21 months old
Ivy is not only as cute and can be, but VERY SMART! We passed a semi-truck in my car the other day
 and
she said to me "HUGE TRUCK!"  from her car seat!

She definitely knows how to get what she wants out of Joe and
her Aunt Maria!

 Christmas Eve Presents;

Mike and Maria on their  Birthday.
These are our 'surprise' twins born 8 years after Little Joe.
The arrived 5 weeks early on a very cold Christmas Eve night.
Everyone was delighted...who wanted a girl, who wanted a boy and Mom who just wanted them OUT!
    
Michael is 1 minute older that Maria.
Michael is a skilled hunter (gun and bow) and fisherman. Here he is on his 17th birthday
shooting off our front porch, practicing.
He is a heavy equipment mechanic and operator. Mike is a skilled carpenter 
and
has co-built 2 houses with his Dad. And I don't mean EASY houses...
  
To see MORE of there latest project Look HERE.
Mike  loves to water-ski, snow ski and hunt our 40 Acres at 
Glory Ridge. 
Here he is with his PRIZE 18 POINT BUCK He shot at age 15 with a BOW.


Mike now works full time for a large farm operation, farming @7000 Acres.
Here is his new BIG toy to haul his little toy...



  Mikes twin sisiter, Maria is a talented actress, singer, pianist and artist. 
But most of ALL she loves doing Mission work in South Africa.
 


She has performed in over 30 live productions at the historical Farris Theater in Richmond, Missouri;


Maria went to South Africa  summer  '06 with a Mission team to teach character to school children.
 
She loved it went back in March of 2007 for 6 weeks.
Perhaps there is more than ONE reason she loves it there...

A NEW friend, Dr. David  who shares her dreams.
A cyber -romance courting arrangement half way around the world!
My husband thinks it's GREAT! LOL!

Here they are against a South African Sky in 2007
Maria has lived in  South Africa, as a Missionary, since Jan 2008.
Her and David will be married Oct. 2008 in the USA and return to SA to live.

I want to tell you when I found out I was expecting the twins at age 33 and had
Christina in a wheelchair with 3 other children, I thought God had lost "it"!
I had to stay in bed 4 months to carry them (I had 3 premies before them)
and Joe carried the load of housework. It was really rough when they arrived
but I wouldn't trade it for the world! As our older children left home, they
have provided Joe and I with wonderful company.
They are adults now and Maria will probably live in South Africa one day.
But even though I will miss her terribly, I cherish the knowledge that I  have given up
my fellowship with her to do the Lord's work.  

As for me, my ''mission" is YOU... 
To provide quality companions and the "blog" to encourage you!

I know you can't see the caption on Joe's tee shirt,
but it says...
"Grandpa Rocks".
How true, how true!
With our twins he wore out a LANE rocker in a year!
Glad it had a lifetime guarantee on the rockers!
Joe is an auto electric mechanic and 
an Ordained Minister for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He loves his grandbabies and THEY LOVE HIM!

Joe and My son Mike build a beautiful lodge-like retreat in 2006-07
 that you can view 
HERE

Hope you enjoyed meeting our family!

Karen DeAngelo can be contacted at
 gloryridge@myturbonet.com