The Lovey Award

My new friend Lana, at Knit and Pray has given me the Lovey Award : ) thank you so much! And now that I have received this wonderful gift, it is my job to pass it on... So here's the rules:

The Lovey Award:
“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find
and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that
when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.
Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight
bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into
the body of their award.”

So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite blog friends:

WICatholic Musings
Sarah's Journal
The Exspresso Catholic Mom
Linda at Don't Poke the Baby
Suzi the Catholic Yankee in Texas
Rebecca the Catholic in Film School
JP the Catholic Canuk and
Melissa the Almost Catholic Momma

BIG Surprise Here...

I had caught a blurb at Fr. Z's yesterday that some were trying to get the recent pro-life commercial from CatholicVote.com aired during the Superbowl. How COOL THAT would be, huh?... anyway, apparently they DID try and, well, as we might have guessed....

It's Not About Me Anymore...

Something that I have been told, thought about, and have heard time and again and even repeated... When you have children, it's not about YOU anymore. Many anti-lifers will refer to those who have children as being selfish by putting so much strain on the environment etc... whatever... The truth is, when you have children it is hard to remain selfish. Children require that you give them pretty much every part of your time, attention and being in order to remain happy, healthy and alive...


Sometimes I find myself in a fog, or a funk... wondering where am I?... WHO am I?... I have been lost in the sea of "wife and mother"... But Jesus gave/gives me EVERYTHING in order to be reconciled with His Father and have salvation. In like fashion, Mary, His mother, OUR mother did for him and then GAVE Him (EVERYTHING she had) BACK to God her Father, in order for her spiritual children (that's us!) to be reconciled and have Salvation... It's not about me, anymore...

Such a contrast to societies thinking of today... I ran in to an old acquaintance at the grocery store a couple of nights ago... I say acquaintance... He is actually someone that I had butted heads with on more than one occasion... But, I hadn't seen or spoken with him in probably 6 years or more and simply smiled, and said "hi! how are you?" He, apparently wasn't as happy to see me, from the startled look on his face : ) Anyway! He managed a smile and shook my hand with a forced something about "letting bygones be bygones" and "time heals all wounds" before he asked if I was working, to which I said that I stay at home with our now 5 kids..." It was kind of funny how his face fell... then he stumbled out, "oh....... good?..." to which I laughed and said, "yes. It's good!" He said, "Well, then, good for you... if you say so... better you than me...." : ) But his reaction is SOCIETY'S typical reaction!!

By society's standards, our family of 5 plus two parents is a BIG family, even though there are some that have more, including the Duggers, they are far and few between... Just last night in my daughters First Communion CCD class I was speaking with another mom who has two boys telling another gal that she is past 30 and doesn't want any more children. I laughed when I said I was 43 and just had #5. She shook her head and said, "nope. no more for me... two's enough..." I tried to explain that two WAS hard, but three and four were no big deal... you have your mothering routine down pretty good by then... : )

How corrupt society has become when children are no longer seen as a blessing but a burden... and it's not this particular gal's fault, really... not completely... she is only repeating what she's heard, even, sadly, from a lot of Catholics... "2's enough, 3 is pushing it... global warming, hug a tree, kiss your dog but those kids... those kids you need to keep under control and if that means controlling how many, well... we have a WHOLE PLETHORA of solutions for you!! We got your pills, we got your devices of various sorts, we got your creams and concoctions, we got your abortion on demand, we got your tubal ligation's and vasectomies! What's your pleasure ?..." are you KIDDING me?! What's pleasurable about trying to fix something that ain't broke?! Fertility is NOT bad in any other sense... What would a tree-hugger do with in-fertile ground? or the animal lovers do with in-fertile animals?... What would we eat? or wear? or sleep on?... Yet if we continue to wipe out our own kind, our own species, be it through abortion or pills or contraceptives a-plenty, what or who are we saving the planet for?...

THIS is the backward thinking of our world today... A world where environment is placed at a higher place of importance than a person.... Where we are asked to "change the world" and "make it a better place" by exterminating ourselves.... Think it won't happen?... In the first few days of our New Presidency our Commander in Chief, under the cover of darkness has already rescinded the Mexico City Policy, forcing taxpayers to pay for that which many find morally abhorrent. Our country's House Speaker is saying that contraception is the answer to our current economy crisis... and NOW President Obama is looking forward to restoring financial support to the UN Population Fund. The latest is the scariest so far, when you consider that there are actually countries that exist in this world where women are FORCED to not only abort but to have contraceptive devices inserted against their will in order to control population growth... all funded through the "UN Population Fund".... again, our tax dollars at work...

God help us... I'm 43 years old and my child bearing years are coming to a close... but what about my daughters? What about YOUR daughters?... What is the future of their families?... What happens when they are not only told that they can have no more than one or two children but when they can have them? what happens when contraception gets SO out of hand (I know... like it hasn't already...) that infertility is the norm?... The inventor of The Pill is regretful now, when will the rest of the world wake up? We have to be willing to do what we can NOW giving EVERYTHING we can in order to make a safer world for their future.... It's just not about us anymore...

Who'da Thunk?...

It was a year ago, January 25, that I, encouraged by friends, decided to start my own blog... gosh it's been fun! : ) Not to mention therapeutic, in many ways... And I see that today I passed the 4000 mark on my blog counter! Who'da thunk? That this 43 year old stay-at-home-homeschooling mommy of 5 would ever have her life be of interest to others around the globe, that many times??.. From Sri Lanka, to Japan, the Philippines, Germany, India, Ireland, England, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and across this nation from coast to coast... It's been a great ride! Thanks for joining me! Please come, again! : )

Fireproof is out Today!

If you're like me and getting out to the movies is a rare event... Fireproof is one movie I have been anxiously awaiting release on DVD. Hubby pre-purchased it at our local Christian bookstore before Christmas and will go pick it up on his way home from work! I'm so excited! It's been so cold out today, it will be a good evening to just curl up and watch a good movie together : )

That Anaheim "Religious Education" Congress, again...

It's THAT time of year again! Begining February 26, to be exact.... Now if there is anything that I am "thankful" for, as far as this conference is concerned, I'm thankful that it is no longer called the Catholic Religious Education Conference... They have long since dropped the "Catholic", thank you, Jesus, for small favors...

And returning again for this years line up is Richard Rohr... yippee... Apparently he still considers himself a Catholic priest, though I don't see why ...? I suppose even after Roger Cardinal Mahoney is no longer around, the conference will continue... it seems to have gathered a life of it's own... like a festering wound... The descriptions in the article are nothing short of spot on and have been this way for years.... I haven't personally attended a conference myself in 13 years and the leotard wearing, gyrating dancers were there, then. Not to mention the talks by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, discussing everything from A to Zen... The last year that my husband and I went, I remember struggling through the conference handbook trying to decipher some actual "Catholic" speakers that wouldn't be completely heretical...

The really frustrating part for me is HOW MUCH this conference is STILL encouraged by our own local clergy, as three of the larger parishes in town still send their catechists to Anaheim in droves to "refuel" with "spirituality".... It's kind of funny, really, when one will come up to me literally "gushing" about their "wonderful" experiences at the weekend and my husband and kids run and duck for cover! lol!! They KNOW what's comin'! : )

Jack-Catholic, Case In Point...

Pelosi: Birth control will boost economy Argues fewer people stimulates economy by cutting cost to state, federal government

When are some of these politicians going to be willing to take a cut in their own pay to help the economy?... No, I suppose that's up to the mid and lower class people to stop having so many children!

Nancy could only HELP herself by taking some time to learn and know her own Catholic faith... Too many children aren't the problem... God really did have the perfect plan in mind when He told Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply".... Who is going to be around to support future aging generations? But, then, I guess that's where euthanasia comes in... giving "peaceful death" to those who are no longer "productive"... such a slippery slope....

Will These People EVER Get It?..

Have the Catholics in America reached a NEW low?... That they are actually giving STANDING OVATIONS for the then soon-to-be Vice President after receiving HOLY Communion??!! When a parish becomes more focused on who is receiving communion rather that WHO they are RECEIVING, me thinks that some MAJOR catechising needs to be going on... It's so very sad... It's no wonder that jack-Catholics in politics are so confused, and continue to spread their confusion at epidemic proportions... God help us...

Washington D.C. March for Life 2009

Here are some pictures that I borrowed from my friend and editor, Sarah, who made it to the March for Life this last Thursday. Feeling disappointed in the SEVERE LACK of media coverage AGAIN this year, she was more than happy to allow me to share these here. Her comments from the event were on the tens of thousands of people, including Italy, France and Germany making their presence known.... Lastly, she was able to catch a glimpse and a picture of our mutual friend and author Jane Brennan, part of the Silent No More group, as she spoke in front of the Supreme Courthouse after her first attendance to the March of Life in Washington D.C.

I think most of the pictures speak for themselves, so I'll leave it at that. Enjoy!

A Giant of a Man - Nick Vujicic

People such as this are wonderful reminders that we should NEVER give up or lose hope! God is good, and it is our job to find Him wherever we are in life and introduce Him to others so that they too can be inspired and have hope...

Reason Number 4,984,974 Why I Homeschool...

And if you DON'T homeschool, be sure to check your child's homework BEFORE they turn it in! : )

(Here's the reply the teacher received the following day)

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever
been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how
hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out
every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that
several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture
doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling
the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check
her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in. Sincerely,Mrs. Smith

In The Cover of Darkness...

WHY do you suppose that the man that has been BASKING in the media spot light... and the media predictably pursuing his every move from sun up to sun down... WHY do you suppose that he signed The Mexico City Policy "quietly and without coverage by the media"...? Did he think we wouldn't find out?... Or do you think he's just trying to block out that small spark of a conscience that he may still have....?

While 100's of Thousands March for Life....

Obama "Celebrates" death.... Oh, he doesn't word it that way, but in his statement he reaffirms his "commitment" to "protecting a woman's right to choose...." death of their pre-born baby... to quote a statement that I heard over the airwaves from the crowd more than once yesterday during the ProLife March aired on EWTN, "President Obama, you can thank your mother that SHE was pro-life...."

He sounds no different than the abortion rhetoric that comes from the mouths of the usual suspects... Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Diane Feinstien, Barbara Boxer, etc... all in the name of "health" and "freedom".... They believe that it's a woman's "right" that she should have the "freedom" to terminate the life and "health" of her unborn baby....

How many KNOW that Norma McCorvey, better known as "Jane Roe" of Roe -v- Wade, NEVER had an abortion?... and how many know that NOW she works tirelessly on the side of Life? Now, how many actually know a woman/victim of abortion, still working in that industry, that is HAPPY with her life now and encouraging others to do the same?... My point is, is that woman who actually have had abortions are either "A" coming out in droves speaking the TRUTH to what happens, and how they FEEL after an abortion encouraging others to choose life and consider other alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, or support to those who would rather keep their baby, or "B" dying little by little on the inside with the realization of what has been done... acting out in anger, violence, drug and alcohol use, depression, etc...

I think our Nation is in for a wild ride... The ban on stem cell research has now been lifted... is this supposed to justify the "need" for abortions?... There will continue to be millions of silent screams increasing in number with a swipe of his pen... President Obama, will you or any of your cabinet hear them?... I'm not too hopeful... The media will continue to ignore the numbers and turning their backs on the HUGE 'pink elephant" in the room, insisting instead to continue to report on that which is more important (to them), like how many times President Obama used the bathroom today... *sigh*

As a Christian I know I must certainly pray, AND hope... it will be a L O N G four years...

How God Brings Good from Bad...

I have been watching/listening to the March for Life in our Nations Capital all morning on EWTN. The actual March started over an hour ago and there seems to be no end to the sea of people that have gathered to show solidarity for the Culture of Life... What a site! I have to admit that I was watching initially to see if I could catch a glimpse of my friend and author of Motherhood Interrupted Janie Brennan with the Silent No More group... No such luck, but gosh, I am just OVERWHELMED with the numbers of people marching! HOW CAN THE SECULAR MEDIA NOT COVER THIS?? They just don't want to hear/see... How BLIND they are... I believe that the election of Barak Obama and knowing his stance on abortion, has only bolstered the confidence of the pro-life movement to work all the harder to make their voices heard. Rumor has it that this is the largest turn out ever, for the annual D.C event. President Obama, are you listening?... The people that you promised to serve and protect are crying out from their mothers wombs...

Eternal Father, for the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us and on the WHOLE world... Amen...

Followers of Christ and F.O.C.A.

A podcast by Fr. James Searby that should not be missed! This is his homily from this last Sunday's Mass. God Bless Fr. Searby and may his efforts prove fruitful! We live in scary times... and if you're not really sure HOW scary or WHAT exactly F.O.C.A. is all about, have a listen... it is SO worth the 10 or so minutes of your time... Our world could use MORE priests such as this...

Followers of Christ and F.O.C.A.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Today is my Mom's 84th Birthday.... My sister, my husband and I and all the kids took her to ice cream at a local family ice cream shop to celebrate, and I gave her a copy of The Priests CD. She was surprised and happy. I remember going to daily Mass when it was Mom's 75th birthday, and when it was time for the prayer intentions, I asked for prayers for my mom on her 75th birthday... The lady sitting behind me was the mom of an old school time friend of mine and she tapped my shoulder and whispered that I shouldn't have "announced" my mother's age... but mom was sitting just a couple of rows ahead of me and she didn't seem to mind... After all, no one ever believes her age... In fact, in my humble opinion, if you looked up "Aging Gracefully" in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of Mom.... So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!! You look mauhvalous! : ) I hope your day is happy and grace filled! You deserve it! I love you MUCH!

CatholicVote.com's New Commercial

I got this from Fr. Z at WDTPRS, and I think it's pretty thought provoking... especially for those who still believe in the right to kill the unborn....

Update: Prayers for Jarrett...

This is the latest from my friend...

My brother (Ron R) said it was "Allevar Rhabdomyosarcoma" Soft Tissue
Cancer. Jarrett is 25 years old. He is wheelchair bound. They
radiated his Right forearm now it is "Jelly" and very painful. The doctors
wanted to remove the arm, but found out the tumors are all over. Including
his spine. I do not know how long he has been given. He is home with
hospice. The family is praying for a miracle. Jarrett's Mom (Carol
R) is having a very hard time dealing with this. She asks "Why
Lord?" I understand Carol says the Rosary constantly. This is very
hard to understand. I cry tears for the family. Ron and Carol have 2
other children. The youngest, Jenna, is a new mother. A 3 month old
Girl, I do not know her name, Ron's phone was paging him so we had to cut it
short. God Bless everyone that is praying for Jarrett and the family!Thank
you! God Bless you all!

Walk for Life, West Coast

And, for those of us here on the West Coast we have this. I would love to attend, but am just not able to at this time... : ( Be assured of prayers for all those that do attend!

The Annual March for Life, Washington D.C.

This is from the Bascilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception email notices that I recieve, for those that are able to attend...

Thousands to Unite in Prayer for the Sanctity of Life ...

On January 21 & 22, 2009, the Basilica will host liturgies, prayer services, rosaries, Holy Hours, and confessions for the faithful who come to the March for Life. As in years past, well over 10,000 people from all over our Nation have participated in these Prayer Vigil for Life events at the Shrine. Wednesday evening, January 21, 2009, at 7:00 pm, His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, will be the principal celebrant and homilist for the Vigil Mass for Life. Confessions, the National Rosary for Life, and Night Prayer will follow from 10pm to Midnight. The National Prayer Vigil continues overnight with Holy Hours for Life from 12am to 6am. At 7:30am,
Thursday, January 22 the Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington, will be the principal celebrant and homilist for the Closing Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life. Both Masses will be broadcast live on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

Krispy Kreme's Freedom of Choice Ad

Pro-lifers by the thousands are well aware by now of President Elect Obama's promise to sign FOCA first thing when he steps in to office next Tuesday, giving women the "right" to kill their unborn child in the womb anytime during pregnancy... So was it just ignorance that Krispy Kreme doughnuts decided to use this same terminology as an ad campaign??....

"Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring
American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering
a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By
doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to
tasty goodies--just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet 'free' can
be."

Not only did they USE the terminology to coincide with Inauguration Day but also only two days before the anniversary date of Roe -v- Wade... The whole thing just kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

You can contact Krispy Kreme and let them know what you think here. And if you haven't already, please join or continue to pray that President Obama will have a change of heart....

My 6 Year Old Makes Me Laugh... : )

She comes in looking at a Star Wars book with pictures that her brother got at the library the other day. She says, "Daddy! Guess what? This Star Wars book has a song in it! You know that, dad? It's got a song and it starts with a 'D'! Do you know what song it is, Dad? Can you guess?... " With a HUGE smile on her face like she is keeping the BIGGEST secret EVER and it's about to BURST out of her mouth any second.... "Can you guess Daddy? It starts with a 'D'!"

A few seconds later she starts, "dum dum dum dum dee dum, dum dee dum...." to the tune of the Darth Vadar theme. lol!!

Goofy Kid...

#2 has always been a busy guy... I call him my "stealth" kid... if it's quiet, too quiet, you better go see what he was up to... More than once I took him to the doctor to have them help me get something out of his ears... he had a thing about putting chips (as in potato or corn), tiny pieces of balled up paper, or sometimes foil, or pretty much anything small in his ears and then when he tried to pick them out he shoved them down even further. Once he wedged a popcorn seed/kernel, pointy end in down in his ear canal that required a trip to the eyes, ears and nose specialist. After that, i kept my booger-sucker bulb handy to flush his ears with warm water when the need arose.... Anyway, all that happened when he was 2, 3 and 4 years old.... He's 9, almost 10 now...

So, today, we are sitting at the table/desk and I see him poking his ear with his pencil, so I tell him, "quit that! you're going to damage your ear..." he says, "well, the tip of this pencil fell off in my ear..." sheesh! So, I go and dig out my gear to flush his ear. After a couple of squirts, sure enough, out comes a small piece of pencil led out of his ear in to the bowl... I said, "There. Is that better, now? Can you hear?"... "yes," he responds, "Now, can you get the one out of my other ear?..." I kid you not... One of those moments when you aren't sure whether to laugh or scold.... Given the hard time that his older brother gave him I think maybe he'll think twice before doing it again... but then again, maybe not.... with this one, you just never know... lol...

Prayers for Jarrett

I have a long-time friend who has just informed me of her nephew, in his early 20's, now in the late stages of a rare cancer that he has been fighting for several months now. The Doctors have informed the family that the cancer is now in Jarrett's spine... Despite the family's desire to keep fighting as much as Jarrett possibly can, he has been sent home with hospice care. Please keep Jarrett and his family in your prayers.

They're Ba - ack..... : )

It's THAT time of year, again! The time of year when we get to watch people from all parts of the nation get THEIR shot at fame and fortune in the world of music! As I shared with you all last season, I am an American Idol addict... : ) I will be watching tonight and the next couple of weeks to see all the auditions, the serious and the not so serious and cheer on my favorites and perhaps switch channels on the few that may be too hard to watch... sometimes it CAN be painful to watch... It amazes me how many *think* that they really can sing, but can't carry a tune in a bucket... and sometimes it's just a matter of nerves and they can't belt it out...

AND there is the addition of a 4th judge, another woman... I admit I haven't read or heard too much about her, no time, but it will be interesting to see the dynamics that that will bring to the show.

Too Fat to be a Parent...

This was brought to my attention earlier today. It seems tragic, really, that an otherwise loving and capable couple are turned away based SOLELY on this man's weight... for the love of pete! A skinny guy could fall over from a heart attack or even die in a car wreck! So, in THEIR minds it is "better" for a child to STAY in a group home, unstable, unsure and UNABLE to put down ANY emotional roots, than to "risk" the POSSIBLE demise of a fat guy?... hhmm... How long will it be before parents that ARE able to conceive their own children or told they can't until they "meet the criteria"...? Sometimes I feel that we are like frogs in a pot of water, that is slowly being heated up.... Wanting people to be healthy is one thing, but "healthy" does not a good parent make... and I don't think that a person should be dismissed from becoming a parent just because they are overweight. Do you think if this same man dressed up as a a woman in a dress and make up, then re-applied they would over look his weight in the name of "political correctness"? ~sigh

Mary Had a Little Lamb....

My sister sent these this morning and I just had to share! Isn't she the cutest little lamb?... This is my great-niece, "Lamby-ella" : ) sporting the latest in "adorable winter time baby apparel"...

I added a picture of her with her Momma, so you can see the whole ensemble, including the little lamby-mittens. Can I hear a collective "Aaaaawwwww"...?

My Veggie Tales

There was a time when I still had my sewing machine out and could actually sew the kids costumes for Halloween... I remember I had so much fun with these... Veggie Tales weren't as well known as they are now... this was October of 1999. I remember when I took them out trick or treating there were some that thought "Larry the Cucumber" was "Gumby"! lol... There were a few that did recognize them from such classics as "Dave and the Giant Pickle".... But, by the time #3 was born and #2 was in FULL MOBILE (crawling, walking, climbing...) mode, the sewing machine had to be put up, along with all the pins, needles and scissors... The last costumes I made were Sponge Bob and Patrick and #3 was a jellyfish, fashioned much like the tomato costume but in pink, with long pink chiffon ribbons hanging down from underneath.... All the costumes now reside in the "costume bucket" where they are all taken out from time to time to play with.

Is THAT How it Looks?...

You gotta love the mind of a two year old : ) You just never know what is going on in that head of hers! lol... She loves to say prayers before bed at night, but doesn't want any of her siblings saying it with us. JUST her... but the cute part is watching her make the Sign of the Cross. First she holds her fingers tightly together and taps her forehead 3, 4 or 5 times, then she touches her tummy before she swiftly tucks her fingers under her armpit then slides them out like shes wiping them off ! lolol... I'm thinkin' "Is THAT what it looks like we are doing, to her?!... lol...

Pro-Abort Stupidity 2008

ProLife Blogs posted the Top 10 Pro Abortion Moments of 2008. I had heard most of the stupidity over the course of the year, but had not heard of the particular quote from "comedien" (and I use the term loosely) Doug Stanhope...

"Rather than sit back and impotently bemoan Bristol's tragic, lonely
circumstance, it is time for us — the silent majority — to unite behind this
poor, imprisoned woman and save her from both a tyrannical household as well as
the horrible nightmare of a forced childbirth.
These are not empty words. I,
Doug Stanhope, am offering you, Bristol Palin, the sum of 25,000 dollars so that
you can abort your child and move out of that draconian home."

It really goes to show to what extent pro-aborts will go to in order to kill innocent life... and you can't convince me, with as far as modern technology has come, that these people don't know that they ARE KILLING human life! And this guy uses this material as part of his stand up routine??... some real "shtick" there, Doug... Now I know why I had never heard of the guy...

Is Anyone Else Wondering??..

What might happen in Washington DC in the next couple of weeks with the inauguration of President-Elect Obama, and the Walk for Life within a couple of days of one another?... With all the hoopla being made with the first elected black president, no doubt that the Walk for Life will fall to the back pages of the media per usual... But wouldn't it be something if MORE pro-life people than ever before were to show up, making it near IMPOSSIBLE to ignore?... In the past it has been noted that over 100,000 people have attended the March. But this year, with the new pro-death administration taking office, I think it's even more important to be the "squeaky wheel" so to speak, and be the voice that can't be silenced. Living on the "left" coast, it doesn't look like I'll make it. But I'll surely be praying for those that can and will make the trip...

It's So Nice When They Get Along...

For the two week winter break we listened to the cries of "We're bored!" and "There's NOTHING to do!!", "Can we play on the computer?... there's NOTHING else to do!..."

"Well, honey" was the response, "How 'bout you read a book? play a game? Draw a picture?... How 'bout clean your room?"

"THAT'S B O R I N G!!! What can we doooooooo???"

When they weren't whining about nothing to do, they kept busy teasing and fighting one another...

So it went, save for the few outings and activities we did during our break that gave us the opportunity to actually enjoy one another's company.

Now yesterday morning was the first day back to school and I woke to the sounds of sweet SILENCE... not a peep, since all the little angles were still fast asleep in their beds... : ) During the break not one of them slept past 7:30am regardless of what time they went to bed, early or late... here it was close to 9:00! Despite our late start we did manage to get through our school day. This morning's scenario was similar, though they woke up a little earlier, around 8:15 or so, they all were quietly and cooperatively playing a game that the boys had made the previous night with some paper and markers. Imagine that! They CAN be quite ingenious and clever when it comes to such things... The ringer, though was when #1 came in to my room where I was nursing the baby and asked very considerately, "Mom? do you feel okay?..." I responded that as cold as it was I wish I could just curl back up under the covers and go back to sleep. " Oh, well, you can mom, if you don't feel good... I got everything under control... I can feed the kids and take care of them..." lol... ain't he sweet?... : )

suddenly they had all sorts of things to keep them busy... as long as they didn't have to do school... lol... no such luck... "That's okay, son... thank you, but I feel fine..." lol... we managed to get through our second day back to school...

Have You Ever Had One of Those 'Wound Tight' Days?...

Deliver us Lord, from EVERY evil, and grant us PEACE in our days. In Your MERCY keep us FREE from sin and protect us from EVERY anxiety as we wait in JOYFUL HOPE for the coming of our SAVIOR Jesus Christ...

For the Kingdom, the Power and the GLORY are YOURS! Now and forever! Amen!

... there... I feel much better now... : )

Is Church Almost Over?...

My own little "Chatty-Cathy", #3... I told her AGAIN this morning as we were getting ready to leave for Mass that she needs to be quiet in Church and try not to talk so much. She's six, so I tried to explain, "when we go to Church, that is time we give to Jesus, so, if you want to talk, talk - quietly - to Jesus... tell him thank you for all the blessings you received this week, or anything that is bothering you, or ask Him to help you get along better with your brothers and sister! But mostly, TRY to be a good example to your baby sister and PLEASE don't ask me during the consecration if Church is almost over!... we go to Mass every week, sometimes during the week, you know when Church will be over..." she nodded her head and went on her merry little way...

Now, we are constantly told by other parishioners how well behaved our kids are in Church. I realize that our own kids probably bother us WAY MORE than they bother anyone else... we also belong to an older parish, where you are almost always surrounded by surrogate grandma's and grandpas that love to smile and coo and tease with them, though we try to keep the kids focused forward, and try to sit close to the front to minimize the distractions... When we get to Mass #3 spots her Auntie/Godmother and asks to sit with her and Grandma and I reminded her that she should not talk during Mass and then we sat at the other end of the pew with the little ones while the boys went to serve at the altar... Everything went fine and then as we get up to go to communion from behind me I CLEARLY hear "Oh, yea! Church is almost over!" lol... Well, she didn't ask... lol... Such is the mind of a six year old, anxious to get out of church and see her cousin that has been gone on vacation the previous six weeks... : )

Vacation's Over...

At the end of summer, when I was still pregnant, I put together all my lesson plans all the way through to Christmas break... At the begining of Christmas break I kept telling myself "I have 2 weeks, I have 2 weeks..." And, well, that first week I was busy, since I hadn't done any Christmas shopping, we had a priest friend coming to visit plus I was preparing Christmas Eve dinner for family, so, I figured I would get to them the next week...

The second week we were busy with "house stuff" and then New Years, and my birthday... and what do you know?, here we are! Back to school tomorrow and NO lesson plans!! The children are naturally unphased... "That's okay, mom...." Yeah, they'd be real broken up if I didn't have anything planned for them to do tomorrow... : ]

Anyway, I figure that I can probably crank out at least THIS weeks plans for the three of them today... Lucky kids... : )But I think I need to rest up, have a nap, or something, first... ; )

My Birthday...

Today is my birthday... the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus! I had a pretty nice day too... Greeted this morning with laughs, and kisses from my husband and kids after the baby and I got to sleep in for a little bit (8:30) then a late breakfast before hubby took the kids with him in shifts to get the gifts... he took the boys with him to get my new rooster... lolol... I know... call me crazy! We just got rid of a BUNCH of roosters! lolol... But this one is a little banty rooster... a "silky"... the kind with the "furry" feet... and he's SO adorable! he only makes a little crow : ) My little banty hen "Dominique" likes him! Can't say the same for the bigger hens, who were more than a little annoyed with his presence... I'm hoping that they'll learn to take him in and not hurt him... we've kept a close eye on them all day...

Gift number two was a beautiful necklace with a medal of St. Ann, patron of mothers and home makers... and then hubby took the girls to get the birthday cake... carrot, my favorite! : ) all in all in was a good day... We are going to breakfast in the morning with my mom and sister and nephew. God is good. I am SO blessed... I think 43 is going to be a good year.... : )