Lord, Guard and Guide

Unclear

2009-08-14T13:59:00.003-04:00

Tom says I wasn't clear enough in my last post. I have started over at a new blog. Please visit my new place at Combat Boots and Ballet Shoes. Thanks!

Starting Over

2009-08-08T01:17:00.003-04:00

Things have been feeling a little forced around here, so I've decided to make a new beginning. I'd love for you to join me!

Ruthless is...

2009-07-08T11:18:00.002-04:00

...the 2 year old who takes her 3 month old sister's blanket since she didn't bring her own "blankie."

Thought for Today

2009-07-06T18:23:00.002-04:00

There's nothing like having children to shove the Greatness of God right in your face.

Happy Birthday, USA!

2009-07-04T02:10:00.003-04:00

*These pictures are actually from our Flag Day celebration.

Friday Funny

2009-06-26T10:51:00.003-04:00

June has been busier than I ever expected. Hopefully, I'll get some more posts going soon, but until then, enjoy this picture of sweet Maire that makes me laugh.

Quick Takes - The Photo Edition

2009-06-02T17:16:00.015-04:00

This week's Quick Takes is sort of a catch up on what's been going on that I haven't quite gotten around to blogging about, all in pictures. Enjoy!

~~~1~~~

Alexis turned 2! (I'm really late on posting this.)

~~~2~~~

My little "Cover Girl" found my makeup bag and the mascara in it. At least she knows mascara is for her eye, right?

~~~3~~~

I already posted the video here, but I just love this picture of my ballerina!

~~~4~~~

I have been waiting to do a post on Maire's baptism, but I still don't have the words to do it justice. I'm still so emotional about it.

Maire is Irish for Mary.

~~~5~~~

Maire is 2 months!

~~~6~~~

The girls helping daddy out in the yard.

~~~7~~~

This is my first year to be back in Colorado Springs for graduation day in over 5 years. I was really surprised how many memories and emotions came back to me. I also realized how much the graduation ceremony itself affected the local area. I knew to stay away from the stadium where the ceremony was held, but I didn't realize how things like, oh, the vice president being on the highway, could stop traffic off base. Of course, the most exciting part of graduation day was the Thunderbirds! It turned out to be a perfect day for them to fly. Here are a few of the pictures I took. It's a day like this that makes me hope a better camera is in our future!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen.

Hitting Close to Home

2009-05-26T00:44:00.000-04:00

This commercial cracks Tom up. I think he sees his future in it!

I'll let you know if I see him wearing a tutu.

On this Memorial Day

2009-05-25T00:34:00.001-04:00

Please remember, and say a prayer for, those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom.

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

-John Stuart Mill

7 Quick Takes - The Struggles Edition

2009-05-22T00:05:00.004-04:00

Visit Jen's for more Quick Takes.

~~~1~~~

I don't mean to get too down in the dumps with the title here, but this has been a hard week, unexpectedly. I think, maybe the sleep deprivation has caught up with me plus 2 major events are over with, so I think my body is crashing from the adrenaline rushes.

~~~2~~~

Probably the biggest source of my struggling right now, is potty training. You know how some people don't "do" blood? Well, I don't "do" bodily functions that require a toilet. So, this is an extra difficult "trench of Motherhood" for me to navigate. Isabel has made progress, but I really feel like I'm at the end of my rope and out of ideas on how to get her to be fully successful.

~~~3~~~

My biggest struggle with Alexis right now, besides the fact that she is TWO and acting every part of it, is her sleeping. She gets out of her bed a gazillion times, both at bed time and nap time. It's frustrating because she has always been a good sleeper, we didn't have any issues when we transitioned her to her toddler bed. I also get really upset when the other two girls are down and I could be doing something productive or sleeping myself.

~~~4~~~

After I passed my 6 week check-up, I was so ready to start working out. I got off to a great start with the 3 mile MS Walk, and then a couple of good workouts with my friend, including an amazing stair workout (I'll have to post a picture later). But then events got in the way (Isabel's recital, Maire's baptism) and I dropped the working out off of my to do list. And last week was such a hard one, I turned to food. It didn't help that I had all of the leftovers from the baptism party. Nothing left to do but start over again this week.

~~~5~~~

I've decided to take the girls on a World Tour. I needed some direction to help me with activities for the girls (an area I desperately lack in) and came across this and was very excited. Of course, then I got really serious about getting it perfect and my stress level increased. So I've been struggling with the details and probably been a little too obsessive. I just need to remember that anything the girls take out of it is a plus and there is no formal requirements to be met.

~~~6~~~

If you haven't read this post by Kate yet, go read it! It hits so close to home!

~~~7~~~

Maire has been a wonderful baby. She sleeps well and so far has only really cried if she is hungry or needs to be changed. This is where I make up my own Mommy guilt and feel bad that I may be taking her laid backness for granted and taking advantage to get things done. I'm also reading some books that are making me second guess some of my parenting "techniques" and this isn't a good thing when you are already emotionally drained and having a "bad week."

I started writing this last week, but of course, it was put on hold, like so many other things. I'm glad I decided to finish it, though. It has helped me to wrap up the bad week and start fresh again today.

Singing a New Song

2009-05-21T23:37:00.003-04:00

Alexis: "Yes, Jesus loves me...E-I-E-I-O!"

Small Successes

2009-05-21T22:08:00.003-04:00

1. I ironed.

2. I took all 3 girls to the library.

3. I did not eat all of the brownies. Yet.

Signs I'm losing my mind

2009-05-21T14:22:00.003-04:00

~I almost forgot to put make-up on one of my eyes

~I found the kids' thermometer in the pantry

~Upon arriving at my destination today, I realized I had only half buckled the baby in her car seat (don't worry, she's safe and it was only a 5 minute drive)

I think a little more sleep is in order.

Incredibly Proud Mama

2009-05-17T17:06:00.006-04:00

Friday evening was Isabel's first dance recital.

Isabel is the second one from the left, with her hair in a bun.

Isabel is the furthest left dancer.

Can you feel the pride beaming through the computer?

Gone Again

2009-05-14T01:40:00.004-04:00

Praying for another safe return.

Image source

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-13T12:54:00.002-04:00

A Mother's Day Realization

2009-05-11T08:16:00.002-04:00

Hubby: "I had a realization this morning."

Me: "What?"

Hubby: "I have 3 daughters."

Me: "Um...yes."

Hubby: "So I should have bought 4 cards."

Me: smiling

Hubby: "But Maire is always with you, so technically she couldn't buy a card for you without you seeing it anyways. So she teamed up with Alexis."

"Life: Imagine the Potential"

2009-05-09T08:49:00.002-04:00

H/T Catholic Mom

7 Quick Takes - The Catch Up Edition

2009-05-08T14:22:00.004-04:00

~~~1~~~

Before I put it off any longer, I need to announce the winner to this contest. Congratulations Barbara! She wins the $20 gift card plus an extra $5 for being within half an inch of Maire's birth height.

~~~2~~~

I finally really hit the wall yesterday. I plan on writing more about it in a different post, but let's just say that my children had defeated me before I got out of bed yesterday morning. I'm trying to make today better.

~~~3~~~

We've made some real progress on our yard. I hope to post some pictures later, when things are a little more finalized, but I'm excited about the progress and being able to enjoy it all.

~~~4~~~

I'm trying to make all of the arrangements for Maire's baptism next week. The planning so far has been a bumpy road, so I'm hoping it is a little smoother this week.

~~~5~~~

Speaking of Maire, she is 6 weeks old! Can you believe it? I don't think I can. I'm also planning another post to catch you all up on her first 6 weeks. (I'm planning a lot of posts, huh?) For now, let me just say she is a beautiful blessing!

~~~6~~~

I'm struggling with cleaning out the girls closets. It's just not something I am enjoying. Alexis is between sizes, so I can't just clear all of the old and the weather has been all over the place, so I haven't been able to take all of the winter stuff out yet. (Did I mention we had two major snowstorms in April?) Progress is finally being made, though, and I hope to be done with it tomorrow.

~~~7~~~

And finally, tomorrow the whole family will be participating in the Walk MS fundraiser. This will be our first time and I am excited to get all five of out there to get some fresh air and exercise while supporting a good cause. Please pray for good weather and if you are interested in learning more or donating, you can go to this website.

Happy Mother's Day!

See more Quick Takes posts at Jen's.

You Know You Need a Little More Sleep...

2009-05-06T13:49:00.001-04:00

...when you realize half way through the wash cycle, that you forgot to put the clothes in the washing machine!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T00:05:00.000-04:00

Prayer of St. Gianna

2009-04-28T18:13:00.000-04:00

God our Father we praise You and we bless you because in St. Gianna Beretta Molla you have given us one who witnessed to the Gospel as a young woman, as a wife, as a mother, and as a doctor. We thank you because through the gift of her life we can learn to welcome and honor every human person.

You, Lord Jesus, were for Gianna a splendid example. She learned to recognize you in the beauty of nature. As she was questioning her choice of vocation she went in search of you and the best way to serve you. Through her married love she became a sign of your love for the Church and for humanity. Like you, the Good Samaritan, she cared for everyone who was sick, small or weak. Following your example, out of love she gave herself entirely, generating new life.

Holy Spirit, Source of every perfection, give us wisdom, intelligence, and courage so that, following the example of St. Gianna and through her intercession, we may know how to place ourselves at the service of each person we meet in our personal, family and professional lives, and thus grow in love and holiness. Amen.

For more information on St. Gianna, visit SaintGianna.org.

Well Said

2009-04-21T21:10:00.002-04:00

I really appreciated Kathy Ireland's comments about why she is pro-life.

Safe and Sound...

2009-03-29T16:07:00.004-04:00

...she's here with us now!

Introducing Maire (My-ra) Clare

Born March 26th

Anyone Seen a Stubborn Child?

2009-03-20T22:04:00.003-04:00

No, of course not. Because she's STILL IN MY TUMMY!

Down with G-O-D

2009-03-15T22:42:00.003-04:00

39 Weeks

2009-03-15T20:41:00.003-04:00

Not the greatest picture, but at least one was taken, right?

7 Quick Takes - The Emotional Roller Coaster Edition

2009-03-13T00:05:00.001-04:00

~~~1~~~

Obviously, my week started off with some bad news. I haven't received any further information, so I just keep praying. And while, yes, my fears for my own upcoming delivery have been raised a little, I really just can't stop thinking about what my friend must be going through, not being able to do anything for her newborn baby.

~~~2~~~

Minutes after receiving the details of my friend's baby in the NICU, I received an email from another friend with pictures of the first sonogram of her new baby. This friend miscarried her last baby, so I was so full of joy to see her healthy baby boy. The two vastly different emails made me think about just how much God is in control.

~~~3~~~

My doctor's appt. was a little disappointing this week. After hearing my "status" last week, I had higher hopes for this week's status. There was no change this week :( I know that really means nothing about when the baby is coming, but I was a little discouraged nonetheless.

~~~4~~~

After returning home from my appointment, my husband got the news that he has been selected for promotion! Woohoo! As he says, "I'm guaranteed a job for the next few years." As great as this news was for me, it was a little bittersweet. This will be the first promotion I won't be sharing with my husband, and many of our friends as well. So my pride took a little hit and I had to refocus on why it was I separated from the military in the first place. Luckily, I have 3 very obvious reminders with me at (almost) all times.

~~~5~~~

We finalized most of the baby details, like the room, choosing a name, and godparents. A HUGE weight has been lifted off of my shoulders by doing this. I even had a little Mommy fun and bought matching dresses for all 3 girls.

~~~6~~~

Alexis has an ear infection, again. This stresses me out because 1) I obviously want my children to be healthy 2) Isabel has never had an ear infection, so I have all of these questions about why Alexis would be getting sick and 3) it's not an ideal situation with a newborn on the way.

~~~7~~~

I am soooo ready to have this baby.

Small Successes - Vol 2

2009-03-12T20:59:00.003-04:00

I wasn't going to post about this today, not feeling very successful and all, but then my husband said something that made me rethink it. So my one small success is...

Tonight at dinner, as we sat down and were beginning to say grace, Tom began by saying "Father" and then Alexis continued by saying, "Son, Holy." I was in total shock. She has been attempting to do the sign of the cross with us for a while now, but I had never heard her actually try to pray, except to say Amen. After finishing our praying, seeing the shock on my face, Tom said, "See, you must be doing something right." That's when a light bulb went off in my head. There are more important things in life that we teach our children than potty training, how to make their beds, and cleaning up their toys. If we can teach our children the greatness of God and His infinite love for us, then we can truly call ourselves successful.

Where I'm at Right Now

2009-03-12T16:06:00.002-04:00

**Caution: There are a few choice words in the clip.**

Prayer Request Details

2009-03-09T23:29:00.003-04:00

I received an email from my friend today about the status of her daughter and the news is heartbreaking. Without going into too many details, the baby is in a drug-induced coma so that the doctors can stabilize her. Once she is stable enough to do more testing, they fear they will find severe brain damage. Please, please pray for everyone involved. My friend says it is between baby and God now.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

2009-03-07T00:31:00.002-05:00

I received a text message today from friend of mine. Although it wasn't full of details, what I got from it is that her newborn baby, born 2 days ago, is in the NICU "fighting for her life." Please, if you can, say a prayer for my friend and her new daughter and their family.

Thank you.

Step Right Up and Win!

2009-03-04T19:43:00.004-05:00

So while I'm "patiently" waiting for the arrival of my newest child, I thought I would put a little contest out there into the Blogosphere. All you have to do is write a comment guessing the day I will actually deliver this baby, the time of day, the length and weight. That's it!

The winner will be the person who is the closest on the day, then the time, then the length and then the weight of the baby. The winner will get a $20 gift card to Kohls!

But wait, there's more. I will add an extra $5 for EACH of the following...

- being within an hour of the correct time
- being within a half inch of the correct length
- being within 3 oz of the correct weight

AND if you get all four categories correct, I'll add and extra $5. Did you do the math? That's a total of up to $40!!!

So what are you waiting for? Stop by, say hi, and leave your guess along with a way to contact you if you win. Please leave your guess by midnight on Friday, the 6th. (Remember, I could have this baby at any time!) Obviously we won't know who the winner is until after the baby is born. OH, and if you don't have a Kohls near you, we'll work something out, like maybe a Target substitution.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Oh really...

2009-02-26T23:05:00.002-05:00

While watching The Tigger Movie today...

Tom: "I've decided I'm the Tigger of this family."

Me: "Then who am I?"

Tom: "Rabbit."

7 Quick Takes

2009-02-20T10:19:00.005-05:00

~~~1~~~

Me: "She's naked."

Tom: "Who?"

Me: "Your eldest." (Although, technically, I guess his youngest is naked as well. :)

Tom: "Why are you naked?"

Isabel: "I'm a gorilla. Gorillas don't wear clothes."

Oh.

~~~2~~~

As you can see from Wednesday's post, we have a little construction going on. Tom is finishing the basement. When all is finished, we will have a storage area, guest room, Tom's office, and a play room which will include a spot for me to do scrapbooking and other crafts. I've been amazingly hands off, except for some consulting in the carpet and paint departments, and I'm kind of okay with that. I have missed my hubby though, as he has spent all of his free time down there. It has been a little humorous as well, watching my cool, calm, unstressable husband feel a little bit of urgency to get this all done before the baby comes.

~~~3~~~

Speaking of baby, my appointment went well yesterday. My weight and BP were good which was a relief after a little (self-induced) scare earlier in the week. And this appointment marked the beginning of the end, so to speak, with the signing of some forms, the scheduling of my LAST 3 appointments, and receiving my "Stork Parking" pass. The nurse-midwife even took a little peak with the in-office ultrasound to see if baby's head was down. It was! As I told Kristina last night, I guess that means that things are moving in the right direction. :)

~~~4~~~

I found Michelle's post very funny, considering I have been asking myself all week why Alexis' ever growing vocabulary sounds as if she has a French accent, especially when she says "weasel" (as in Pop Goes The...).

~~~5~~~

We've had some hints of spring here, with some beautiful weather, animal sightings, and a definite increase in chirping birds. I am fighting hard not to get my hopes up though, as I know March is known for lots of snow. I am definitely ready for spring, though!

~~~6~~~

I've been surprised lately, to find that some of my most inspiring moments for what to blog about have been in the shower. I guess, even though it is still noisy with the water running and fan on and everything, you can kind of chalk these up to background noise, which don't require any brain energy, versus the constant use of brain energy involved with the care of small children. I definitely hear what I'm thinking much better in the shower. Why don't I post more then, you ask? Well, I'm still working on that whole from the brain to the computer concept.

~~~7~~~

You know you are near the end of your pregnancy (and look it) when your husband sees you squatting down to speak eye-to-eye with your child and says, "Get up! I don't want you popping anything out yet!"

Check out Jen's blog for more Quick Takes.

Small Successes-Vol 1

2009-02-19T22:28:00.006-05:00

I figured I'd give this a go this week, so you don't think I'm totally negative about everything right now!

1. On Monday I washed every piece of regular laundry in the house (not the special hand wash stuff). This was badly needed after two weeks of illness and being just too tired to get to it.

2. See this picture.

This pile of socks has been sitting on my dresser for months. I kept thinking that I will find the matches to all of them. After #1 above, I realized this was a lost cause and I finally threw them all away! Aaahhh...detachment!

3. I had a good check-up today for the baby. Normally, I wouldn't take credit for that. But my wonderful husband continuously tells me when I'm feeling like I didn't get enough done and too tired to do anything, that of course I am doing something, I'm building a baby!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-18T11:58:00.002-05:00

It is Wednesday, isn't it?

Quick Takes - The "I'm tired" Edition

2009-02-06T17:06:00.004-05:00

I'm tired...

~~~1~~~

...of being sick and not being able to function at full speed.

~~~2~~~

...of forcing myself to eat even when I don't want to, just so I don't throw up.

~~~3~~~

...of unsuccessful potty training efforts.

~~~4~~~

...of being disappointed by people, especially when it's my fault for having unrealistic expectations.

~~~5~~~

...of childrens' irregular sleep habits these days. I will be glad to have my bed back.

~~~6~~~

...of worrying about the arrival of the new baby (when, where, how, names, godparents, announcements, etc...).

~~~7~~~

...of being in such a crummy mood all of the time and feeling like a horrible mother.

Visit Jen for more Quick Takes.

On my Mind

2009-02-01T10:40:00.005-05:00

Exhaustion, nerves, depression, and the sense of disillusionment are not peculiar to the present age. These things are probably more acutely felt at the present time than at other times because everything in our highly developed society conduces toward them. If living in the senses and for the senses has produced the civilization in which we exist, it seems peculiarly futile to turn for relief and escape to those very senses that have been at the bottom of all the trouble.
A more sensible course would be to look in precisely the opposite direction and try to bathe the over-materialized spirit and not in the things of matter. Weary bodies, frayed dispositions, broken hopes, dampened enthusiasms, and so on are not likely to get much good out of excitement. That is what they are suffering from - the hollowness of a departed thrill. They will find their fruition in God, not away from Him; not in distraction, but in closer union.
If we were to realize that God is our true rest, we would waste far less time running around looking for somewhere peaceful or pleasurable here we could throw off all our cares and enjoy ourselves.
"I set the Lord always in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be moved."
-Holiness for Housewives And Other Working Women by Hubert van Zeller
(emphasis mine)

Mother Teresa's Words of Love

2009-01-31T22:36:00.001-05:00

H/T Abigail's Alcove

Quick Takes

2009-01-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

~~~1~~~

I think the girls and I are finally on the road to recovery from our illnesses. They definitely had a resurgence in energy yesterday afternoon. Mommy, not so much.

~~~2~~~

My baby appointment went well yesterday. I'm measuring well and the heartbeat sounded great. We even started talking a little bit about details for the birth. (This will be my first time delivering at this hospital.) The excitement is definitely building.

~~~3~~~

Of course, getting closer to the due date is adding a little stress because we have not settled on a name yet, or godparents. We are definitely praying for the good Lord's guidance in these areas.

~~~4~~~

Another prayer of ours was answered this week, however. We went to two different Catholic pre-school open houses and it was very obvious to both Tom and I which would be better for our family. I wrote a little bit about this here, and am still wondering about what our school choice will be for Kindergarten (Catholic/public/home), but for now, I think we have settled on sending Isabel to a Catholic pre-school next year to see how it goes.

~~~5~~~

Due to Isabel's cold, and a little bit because Alexis and I aren't well either, I kept Isabel home from dance class today. It was surprisingly difficult for me to do this. Isabel LOVES dance class and I love watching her learn. But I had to remind myself of the misery that comes with having a sick child and how I didn't want the other mothers to have to deal with that.

~~~6~~~

I came across the site, String of Pearls, thanks to The Bodman Family blog. This site will truly touch your heart. Please visit it and while you're at it, say a prayer for all of the families who have to deal with this difficulty.

~~~7~~~

I think all of this illness has been a big whack on the head to slow down a little bit. I have SOOO much to do, still, the house isn't completely moved into, the girls' room isn't completely decorated, the baby's room isn't completely finished, tons of things still need to be done before the baby gets here, not to mention projects I want to do that aren't urgent. But I've also realized that there were some hidden blessings. I've seen what a wonderful caretaker my husband is. I actually rocked Alexis to sleep in the glider a couple of times. I haven't done that in over a year. I've been able to just sit and cuddle with BOTH of my children. They usually don't stop long enough to complete a hug before they are off again. Not only have I been able to reminisce a little about their time as babies, but I think it has also prepared me a little bit for the coming of our newest blessing. I'm just grateful that I was able to recognize this as the gift it is, and stop stressing over all of the other things I "should" be doing.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T00:27:00.002-05:00

And The Diagnosis Is...

2009-01-26T17:06:00.002-05:00

...an ear AND sinus infection for my poor, sweet baby girl. Alexis has pretty much been sick since the new year. She and Isabel had colds right away, but Isabel seemed to burn right through it, and Alexis never quite got better. After waking up screaming last night with a fever, and being difficult to console, we said enough is enough and took her to the doctor's. The following things are going through my mind:

~relief that we know why she is sick and that we have some medicine.
~guilt that we may not have taken her in as soon as we should have.
~frustration at the boys next door because they have had multiple ear infections this winter.
~more guilt for taking pride in the fact that "my kids don't get ear infections."
~exhaustion and worry because I, too, am feeling under the weather and hoping it's just a little head cold.
~and a little bit more guilt that I am not keeping my kids healthy enough.

Here's praying for a healthier February!

Not So Much Celebrating...

2009-01-26T11:03:00.003-05:00

...as freaking out. Jane posts today about celebrating Catholic Schools week. Sounds like fun, right? I, on the other hand, will be freaking out instead, as I go to my first pre-school open houses this week. Somehow, my little Isabel is now old enough to go to pre-school. How did this happen? And now Tom and I have to figure out what we are going to do about it. Truth be told, I did most of my freaking out over the weekend. After talking with two wonderful women, however, I'm feeling much better, at least calmer, about the task at hand. Maybe I'll go into further details of all the craziness in my head in another post, but for now I'm going to enjoy the little peace, however temporary it may be.

The Great Destroyer of Peace

2009-01-22T13:58:00.003-05:00

"I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a direct war, a direct killing - direct murder by the mother herself. And we read in the Scripture, for God says very clearly: 'Even if a mother could forget her child - I will not forget you - I have carved you in the palm of my hand.' We are carved in the palm of His hand, so close to Him that unborn child has been carved in the hand of God. And that is what strikes me most, the beginning of that sentence, that even if a mother could forget something impossible - but even if she could forget - I will not forget you. And today the greatest means - the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion. And we who are standing here - our parents wanted us. We would not be here if our parents would do that to."

~Mother Teresa of Calcutta

H/T Praying for Grace

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

30+ Weeks

2009-01-15T22:47:00.003-05:00

Getting Me Through

2009-01-14T11:08:00.003-05:00

Mary, Help Me

Holy Queen, Mother of mothers, consolation and protectress of all Christian motherhood, Mother Mary, help me.

In all the trials and sorrows that come into my day, dear Mary, help me.

When I am tired with my labors and despondency is upon me, dear Mary, help me.

When all looks dark and I find none to speak a consoling or cheering word, dear Mary, help me.

When I am wearied by the weight of countless vexing little things and my patience is sorely tried, dear Mary, help me.

In the impatience and rudeness of others, by the example of your mildness, dear Mary, help me.

When others speak sharply to me and I would speak harshly in return, that I may show the gentleness of your own kindly speech, dear Mary, help me.

When my efforts seem to bear so little fruit and to be so little appreciated and I am discouraged, dear Mary, help me.

When a thousand worrisome distractions and annoyances come into my day and it seems so hard to keep my peace of heart, dear Mary, help me.

When all others seem to fail, then especially with the sweet support of your gentle aid, dear Mary, help me.

In all things, Mother, assist me! That I may, like you, with patience turn all my trials into spiritual treasures; that I may grow ever more like you, the cherished queen of the most holy family, dear Mary, help me!

From the Mothers' Manual by A. Francis coomes, S.J.

7 Quick Takes

2009-01-09T11:43:00.003-05:00

So I'm joining the Quick Takes bandwagon, thinking that if I post a few quick tidbits, it will help me get back into posting. I've been overwhelmed where to start back into it, so here goes...

~~~1~~~

I am very grateful that the Christmas season has passed. This is an unusual feeling for me. I'm usually overly excited for any holiday, especially Christmas. But this year I definitely had a Scrooge streak in me. I was just overwhelmed with a lot of stuff, finishing the house, making everything "special" for the girls, our little bout with the stomach virus, and an overabundance of emotional breakdowns. I am definitely feeling a little more peaceful now that all of the decorations and presents are put away.

~~~2~~~

Speaking of emotional breakdowns, this has definitely been the most emotional pregnancy for me. And it's stressing me out. Basically, I'm stressing out about stressing out, amongst the other things I stress about. It hasn't been pretty. My poor husband. He's been a wonderful supporter though, thank God!

~~~3~~~

I've also entered a stage where I'm very nervous/anxious about things. Two nights ago, for example, I lost a lot of sleep worrying about my doctors appointment yesterday. There was no solid reason for worrying, I just had a major case of the nerves. The appointment went well. I will be 30 weeks tomorrow, am measuring right on, did my glucose test, and got a flu shot. I managed to feel quite accomplished as I left the hospital.

~~~4~~~

Back to Christmas...while it may not have been MY merriest, we did do a lot of fun things to celebrate. I hope to post a recap with pictures soon.

~~~5~~~

Another post I'd like to write soon is about passing a certain age milestone. I did this over Christmas as well, which I fear had something to do with the added emotions, as hard as I tried to be realistic about it.

~~~6~~~

I am currently reading Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood by Sheila Kippley. Even though I have 22 months of nursing under my belt (I know, not a long time to some of you), I am still learning a lot from this book. It really has my brain spinning about a few things. I will definitely be giving it as gifts to friends when they become pregnant.

~~~7~~~

And finally, what is probably the biggest news in our house right now, Isabel has made tremendous progress potty training. I am so excited! We have had some major setbacks and I was starting to become very frustrated (I'm not much of a bodily functions kind of girl to begin with) and feel quite defeated. But now she is basically doing everything by herself, we just have to make sure she goes to the potty. She still doesn't tell us when she has to go and averages about 1 accident a day, but I will take it after this long journey we've been on. The other good news is that Alexis seems to be taking it all in, and my gut, which I don't listen to all that often, tells me that she will be much more agreeable when her time comes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T23:50:00.003-05:00

Please, take a moment...

2008-12-23T22:24:00.002-05:00

...to remember in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas, the brave men and women serving our country. And also remember their families who will be without them. Merry Christmas!

"It's Hard to be God"

2008-12-15T10:18:00.007-05:00

Last night, as my husband was concentrating very hard on the proper placement of trees and snow in our little village, he suddenly says, "I wonder if God had these issues. It's hard to be God. And to think, He did it all in seven days."

The sun...

2008-12-13T14:44:00.001-05:00

...is brighter.

The snow is whiter.

The air is sweeter.

Confession is good.

Spying on my Kids

2008-12-03T23:06:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago, when we were getting ready for Alexis' arrival and transitioning Isabel from the crib to a toddler bed, we started using a video monitor. The house we were living in was old and had some creaky stairs and floors, so we wanted to minimize our trips upstairs to check on where Isabel was in her room with her new ability to leave her bed. Even though it was great, I still felt a little bit guilty, like we had been sucked into the latest gadget trend. (My hubby is a total gadget guy, by the way.) When Alexis was born, we bought a second camera so we could have one on Isabel's bed and one on Alexis' crib. I definitely learned to love the cameras! Not only could we check on the girls, but sometimes I found myself just looking at their angelic faces while they slept. But tonight has topped even that. A couple of weeks ago, we bought a new bed for Alexis and she has actually done pretty well at sleeping through the night in it, with a few exceptions. Tonight, though, despite being tired all day (she took a very short nap) she decided she was not going to go to bed. And for over an hour now, she has joined Isabel in her bed and they are having a little slumber party. Now, there is a part of me that is a little frustrated that they are not asleep in their own beds like they are "supposed" to be. But one of my greatest joys lately, has been watching my daughters play together happily and peacefully. It's as if I can visibly see the love between them. So for now, I will continue to let them have their fun, even if it means I may pay for it tomorrow with tired, cranky kids. And hopefully, I can hold on to this memory years from now, once they become emotional teenagers!

Ummm, not what I was expecting

2008-12-03T22:25:00.003-05:00

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

* Be direct and clear
* Listen to me carefully
* Don't judge me for my anxiety
* Work things through with me
* Reassure me that everything is OK between us
* Laugh and make jokes with me
* Gently push me toward new experiences
* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

* being committed and faithful to family and friends
* being responsible and hardworking
* being compassionate toward others
* having intellect and wit
* being a nonconformist
* confronting danger bravely
* being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
* are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
* worry more than most that their children will get hurt
* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at

From Rosetta Stone

Finally!

2008-11-25T20:50:00.004-05:00

We finally got our scanner working, so here is the update to this announcement.

In other news, we are all getting over a horrible stomach bug. It hit Isabel out of the blue on Wednesday, Tom Friday morning and Alexis Saturday night. Silly Mommy thought it may just pass her by, but mid-morning yesterday Mommy learned better. Without going into the gory details, it was ugly, but we all seem to be on the mend, just in time for a little road trip tomorrow for Thanksgiving.

If your Thanksgiving plans involve travel, here's a prayer for your safety. And may all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Saying Thank You

2008-11-10T23:49:00.002-05:00

Mommy Joy

2008-11-07T11:47:00.002-05:00

How sweet it is to open the door to your daughters' room, a little scared as to what they have been doing so long by themselves, to find your 3 year old teaching your 18 month old the Sign of the Cross. Siblings are truly a blessing to each other.

Thinking pink

2008-11-07T10:04:00.003-05:00

Apparently the Good Lord feels we need some more practice raising daughters! I'm trying to post the ultrasound picture, but we're having a few technical difficulties getting our scanner on-line after unpacking it. Hopefully, we'll have that fixed soon.

Trick or Treat

2008-11-01T23:43:00.002-04:00

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T11:27:00.002-04:00

First Day

2008-10-17T00:16:00.002-04:00

Please excuse the dust...

2008-09-09T12:57:00.001-04:00

...as I make some changes to improve this blog. I hope to be up and blogging again soon!

A Great Big Thank You!

2008-07-03T18:50:00.002-04:00

The girls and I are safely in Colorado and Tom is back in Boston wrapping things up. I'm not sure how much blogging on this site will get done in the near future, but I just wanted to make sure that I thanked Kristina and her family for such a warm welcome last weekend. It was a pleasant break in our trek across country.

I hope you all have a wonderful Independence Day!

.

Blogging Live...

2008-06-27T17:40:00.003-04:00

...from Ohio! (Tom has a wireless card for his laptop so I am actually posting this while we are driving. Crazy!) We drove out of our driveway last night and made it through Connecticut and to the NY/PA state line. Today we have driven across the entire state of Pennsylvania and are almost through Ohio. We are stopping over at our friends' house (Isabel's godparents) for the night and then on the road again tomorrow. I'm very excited about tomorrow's leg, because it promises something very exciting! Are you curious? You'll have to check back to see how it goes!

*We are currently driving past what we can only imagine are windmill blades on huge trucks. Very interesting!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-25T10:57:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-18T00:15:00.000-04:00

Woohoo!

2008-06-18T00:04:00.002-04:00

I tell ya...there's something about my girls and Boston.

The World According to My Husband

2008-06-14T09:53:00.003-04:00

While watching Alexis eat pancakes for the first time, Tom says,

"I love it when they (the kids) eat the same thing we do. It's a miracle!

Like when they take the trash in the morning."

Oh, and Tom wants me to let you know that he was the one that made the pancakes.

.

See Mommy Run

2008-06-12T16:35:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to write about this for a while. Sorry for the delay! A little over two years ago, I was introduced to the website seeMOMMYrun.com through a friend's email. It came at a time that I was desperate for mommy companionship and desperate to get in shape. I think this desperation was key for me, otherwise I may have been too nervous to "put myself out there." Basically, it is a networking tool for mom's who want to run/walk with other moms. When you register (no cost) you select your state and then they show you all of the running/walking groups in that state. I haven't messed around with all of the tools too much, but I think you can look at different groups based on city, pace, distance, etc... The greatest thing though, I think, is that the site is so supportive of running/walking with a stroller. This was key for me! They also send out a newsletter with articles and promotions at some of the sponsors. Again, I have not taken advantage of most of this, although I did use some of the links to research jogging strollers.

The first "group" I found was back in May 2006. I found a nearby town that I knew I could navigate to and signed up. The group only consisted of one other runner, I think. She emailed me back (they don't give out emails or last names, just last initial) and we set up a meeting time at a park. I was very nervous about meeting a "stranger," but the public location and the fact that we both had small children helped me get over it. To make a long story short, I met a great lady with a little boy about 6 months younger than Isabel. She was in much better shape than I was (another obstacle I had to overcome), but she was so supportive and encouraging on our runs. She was interested more in the companionship than a super workout. We met weekly and soon had a third mom and her two kids join us occasionally. We even let our kids play on the nice playground nearby after our runs somedays. We talked about lots of different things that were going on in our lives and shared tips and experiences. It was a great place to vent. I stopped running with her after I found out I was pregnant in August and was so terribly sick. Fortunately, she had found some other women to join her by then. She did end up coming over to my house and walking with me a few times and we had little play-dates with the kids after our walks. She ended up moving that winter because her husband got a new job, but we still keep in touch.

Last summer, after Alexis was born, I looked for a new group to join. I also considered starting my own (an option on the site as well). This time I found a group in my actual town. The funny thing is, the "founder" of the group never got back to me, but I was able to connect with another woman through the group and we just decided to meet on our own. She had twin boys who were in between Isabel and Alexis. We met at the pond I usually walk around near my house which was great for me. Again, it worked out wonderfully. This time though, we walked. I don't think she has an interest in running and Alexis was so small that I knew I wouldn't be running for a few months with her anyway. We kept meeting about once a week, although not a specific day, just whatever we both had open, until the weather turned bad. We started back up again a few months ago, and today we had a great walk with a stop at a playground nearby for the kids to play at. (We hadn't done this before).

The other blessing that came out of this was that both of these women that I randomly met are Catholic. We are all at different "stages" of our faith, but it was great to discuss things and just have that support and understanding that I know I was having a difficult time finding elsewhere. Obviously, it was God providing for me, in a most unexpected place. Needless to say, I have had a great experience with seeMOMMYrun.com. I've already started checking out the groups in Colorado Springs and there are quite a few. We'll see if I have the same good luck!

.

Way Too Cute!

2008-06-12T16:14:00.001-04:00

H/T to Smithflections

And God Laughed...

2008-06-11T10:06:00.003-04:00

I went to the gym yesterday.

Have you stopped laughing yet?

First, you know it's bad if you go to the gym to "cool off." Our downstairs window a/c is not working and it has been wicked hot (had to get "wicked" in before we move). So that finally motivated me to drive to the base because the gym has air conditioning. Of course, now I'm kicking myself for not going sooner. They have a nice room with a handful of cardio machines and dumbells and a place for your kids to play!!!! It was great because I could watch them while I was on the treadmill. Until a couple of months ago, we belonged to a gym that was closer, but I never felt comfortable leaving my kids at their daycare, which is what I'll use as my excuse for not going ;)

Anyways, back to God laughing. You know, the whole thing about making plans...Well, I went with what I thought was a realistic goal of what I could run. Yeah right! Without going into the gory details, I'll just say it was a sad realization of how out of shape I am. Needless to say, I have reevaluated some of my goals. Well, maybe not my goals so much as the timeline in which to achieve them. But, looking at the brightside, I am just happy I got off my rear end and went to the gym and it was a good experience for everyone involved. Now let's just hope I can find something as great when we move.

.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-06-11T09:45:00.003-04:00

Breast Cancer Awareness

2008-06-06T09:48:00.004-04:00

This is an issue close to my heart as my grandmother passed away from it when I was a senior in high school.

I've been tagged for an important meme by Kristina. This meme is to help spread the awareness on the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ month of June. Please help our fellow women in passing on the importance of regular examination and early detection of breast cancer in order to catch this disease when it first erupts, maximizing the chance of survival and recovery.

Here are several facts on breast cancer that everyone should know about.

• The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
• Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol.
• Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
• Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
• Over eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
• You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty. (Ladies, this is important to teach your daughters when they hit puberty. If they get in the habit when they're young, it's much more likely they'll continue as they get older.)

Resources: American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute Komen Foundation. You can help the lives of many women by spreading the word about The Breast Cancer Site pink button as many times as you can. If The Breast Cancer Site receives 8 million clicks on the pink button in June, their premier sponsor -Bare Necessities- will donate $10,000 for more free mammograms. CLICK the pink button today!

I tag Jane, Kate, Kat, Melissa, Barbara, and Margaret Mary. Of course, I would love MANY more to participate. If you do, leave a comment, and THANK YOU in advance.

.

The Eyes Have It

2008-06-05T20:27:00.004-04:00

After asking Isabel to put down the makeup brush so that she could brush her teeth, she informed me that,

"I can't, Mom. I have to do my eyes."

Before Becoming a Mommy...

2008-06-05T08:53:00.001-04:00

...I didn't know that the contents of a diaper could bring joy. (In this case, showing that a little girl's tummy is all better.)

Tips for Moving with Small Children

2008-06-04T10:40:00.005-04:00

For months I've been waiting for June to come. I am very ready for this move to happen. But now that June is here, the stress level is skyrocketing. Tom has an appointment today to set up the movers to get our stuff. We're aiming for 3 weeks from now. Ay! And of course, I've lost a weekend. (We're almost 100% recovered, thankfully.) And a new development (more to come on that later) might have us leaving earlier than planned and may even have me driving by myself with the girls before Tom can leave. Sooooo... I'm asking for any advice you may have on moving across country with 2 small children, especially from those of you who have experience. Last time we moved, we didn't have any children, so we only had to take care of ourselves and had each other to keep us entertained. Do you have tips on how much, or little, we need to take with us in the car? Obviously, I'd like to keep things as simple as possible, but I also like to be prepared. The other thing to note is that we will be able to stay with my parents until we figure out housing, so we are not in a rush. This means we may not have our household goods delivered right away. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! I really am trying to be organized about the whole thing. Thanks in advance!!!

It's June...

2008-06-01T22:26:00.003-04:00

...and I almost missed it. A nasty bug has done its damage here in our house. It really hit Isabel hard, and then last night, Alexis and I became victims. There was a bath at midnight and a shower at 4am involved. Wonderhubby has been taking care of us. He's doing a great job, although he is not a natural-born nurse. I most appreciate his cleaning efforts. I don't do well in this situation. Tomorrow we're headed to the doctor's office.

Congratulations Class of 2008!

2008-05-30T10:13:00.002-04:00

We Remember

2008-05-23T22:03:00.003-04:00

In the rising of the sun, and in its going down,
We remember them.

In the blowing of the wind, and in the chill of winter,
We remember them.

In the opening of buds, and in the rebirth of spring,
We remember them.

In the blueness of the sky, and in the warmth of summer,
We remember them.

In the rustling of leaves, and in the beauty of autumn,
We remember them.

In the beginning of the year, and when it ends,
We remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,
We remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,
We remember them.

When we have joys and we yearn to share,
We remember them.

So long as we live, they too shall live
For they are now a part of us
As we remember them.

~ Book of Jewish Prayers

Soundtrack Saturday

2008-05-17T19:38:00.003-04:00

It's been a while, but here are the next songs.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

"I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. I love this song simply because it's about dancing. I LOVE to dance. But, obviously more important than that, is it's message. It's about always being in awe of God's creation, no matter how "important" you've become, and to LIVE life, despite the risks. Take a chance. I actually have a very literal example from my life. The summer after I graduated from college, my roommate came home to Minnesota with me before we started our trip to Europe. One of our teammates was getting married. I went to the wedding (gasp!) stag. My roommate's fiance was at training and she was in the wedding, so we were both single. No big deal right? We were having a great time with lots of friends. Until, of course, the "slow songs" played. During one such song, I was sitting by myself at my table (everyone else was coupled up and dancing). A guy came over and asked me to dance. I knew who he was, his girlfriend was a classmate. A nice guy as far as I knew, but the whole thing made me uncomfortable. Not in a "I'm a strong woman, I don't need a man" kind of way, but in a shy, embarrassed, "Please don't feel sorry for me and feel obliged to do this" kind of way. I think I actually said no multiple times, but somehow was dragged on the floor. This is exactly what I DON'T want my girls to do. So what if he felt bad for me? He was being a nice guy. But more importantly, why not dance when some one asks? Life is to be lived and enjoyed! And I hope my girls always take the chance and DANCE!

The second song is "Amazing Grace" by LeAnn rimes. I originally had chosen a version by Charlotte Church, but due to technical difficulties, I went with this version. I love that it's a capella and the song itself, of course, is beautiful. But it's also a "family" song. My dad loves it and when we were little, we'd always get excited if they sang it at Mass. So in addition to sharing the wonderful lyrics, we're sharing a little bit of family history by passing this song on.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

Was blind, but now I see.

'twas grace that taught my heart to feel

And grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

When we've been dead ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Then when we first begun.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

Was blind, but now I see.

*Soundtrack Saturday is a (somewhat) recurring series where I share songs that are the soundtrack to my life. Currently, I am sharing songs off a cd I made for my girls.

New Blog

2008-05-13T22:42:00.003-04:00

Please go visit the new blog Consecrated Children and show your support and encouragment for Veronica and the pro-life work she is doing.

Do You Know Where Your Husband Is?

2008-05-11T21:42:00.004-04:00

It's almost 10 and my better half is out laying mulch.

Did I mention how much I love moving?

Touching Them All

2008-05-09T17:08:00.002-04:00

I came across this at Danielle Bean's shared items. Now I need a tissue for a completely different reason.

Tissue Please

2008-05-07T21:02:00.003-04:00

"My nose is run tooing."

If you can decipher that, then you can probably figure out the status of things in our house. Yesterday, Alexis woke up with a runny nose that continued through today. Lucky for us, she had her 1 yr. appointment this afternoon. Then when we got home, WHAM! it hit me. Hard. And now Isabel's eyes and nose are running, hence the above statement. Not great timing, but when is it ever, right?

What Generation Do You Belong In?

2008-05-06T23:46:00.001-04:00

You Belong in the Silent Generation

You fit in best with people born between 1925 and 1942.
You are a person of high values and character.
Family, your country, loyalty, and hard work all important to you.
You are willing to do what's right, even when it's difficult.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatgenerationdoyoubelonginquiz/">What Generation Do You Belong In?

H/T Jane

"Please Don't Stop the Music"

2008-05-05T23:00:00.001-04:00

I know it's not Saturday, but I wanted to talk about music anyways.

I was driving my car a month or so ago, and my passenger saw a cd in the console, I think it was this one about the Mass, and he asked me about it. Then he asked me if I listened to Christian music, too. The discussion went on to cover the "quality" of music. I think he had convinced himself that all Christian music was boring and/or "cheesy." And truth be told, I used to feel the same way sort of. I mean really, there isn't a lot of Christian music on the Top 100 list, now is there? Slowly over time, however, mostly through friends' recommendations, the internet, and every once in a while the mainstream (especially country music), I'm starting to find more songs and artists that I enjoy.

I used to think that it didn't really matter if I listened to specifically Christian music. It didn't mean I was a bad Catholic. I still went to Mass and prayed. But just as I am trying to read more books that strengthen my faith, I've been listening to more music that I hope will do the same. And then the other day, it hit me. I was walking from my car into a store with my daughters and a song started running through my head. "Our God is an awsome God" kept repeating over and over. As I realized this, I smiled. Now my thoughts were on God, even when I hadn't purposely put them there! How AWESOME is that?!?!?!

In case you are wondering, some of my current favorites are...

..."I Saw God Today" by George Strait. How wonderful to be able to look at the little things in life and see God in them.

..."Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. This is probably not a shocker, as it has been pretty popular recently, but it definitely reminds me of Who should be in charge.

..."There's a Life Inside You" by Matthew West. A great pro-life song.

..."Shout to the Lord" from the American Idol Gives Back show. I didn't see the actual show, but I found the song on Itunes. I was excited that this song was given this kind of an outlet and I wanted to show my support. But I also enjoy it and the song reminds me to give it my all when I worship God, to not just whisper (although that's okay too, sometimes) but to SHOUT out my praise.

Of course, if you have any recommendations, I'd love to have them.

.

2008-05-05T09:04:00.002-04:00

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Starting your week off with a smile...

2008-05-05T00:23:00.001-04:00

He's Home!!!

2008-05-04T21:10:00.003-04:00

My brother is home, on U.S. soil, safe and sound. Praise God!

.

Reminder

2008-05-02T21:47:00.005-04:00

One Million Rosaries for Unborn Babies

May 3rd, 9:00 - 10:00 am (eastern time zone)

Mommy Joy

2008-05-01T21:09:00.002-04:00

"Daddy loves me."

"He does?"

"Yeah."

"Does Mommy love you?"

"Yeah."

"Does Alexis love you?"

"Yeah. She gives me lots of kisses."

.

Mass Happenings

2008-05-01T11:45:00.005-04:00

Tom is out of town, so we went to the 9am Mass this morning. I guess I have never done that for a Holy Day during the school year before.

- Young gentleman dressed in business attire holds doors for us as we enter church.

- Entered church, thought it wouldn't be all that full today, so we could sit a little further forward than usual so Isabel could see more. Wondered why so many people were sitting so far back.

- Sat a few pews behind nice young gentleman, hoping he would not be annoyed by small children.

- School children start entering church. Realize why so many people were sitting so far back.

- Wonder if we should move. More school children enter. Nice young gentleman moves.

- Start packing up all of our stuff. More school children enter. Start filling our pew.

- We move. Right behind nice young gentleman.

- During homily, Father asks school children questions about Ascension, Pentecost, etc... Isabel does not understand concept of raising hands to answer questions, thinks children are waving hello to Father. Proceeds to wave hello for duration of homily, waiting for Father to respond.

- Giving up, Isabel begins to practice genuflecting in aisle and entering pew.

- Isabel tells me she has "poot." Realizing this is not a scene I want made with school children nearby to distract, we go change diapers. Am actually relieved because correctly suspected Alexis needed new diaper, too.

- Return to pew. Decide Alexis has had to many Puffs. Take them away and give toy. Good for teething, bad for dropping. Loud. Bounces two pews ahead.

- Accept toy back from pew occupant. Embarrassed.

- Give Alexis Mommy's bracelet. She's more interested in sister's bracelet. Contentedly chews on bracelet. Quietly.

- Isabel understands certain words Father says. Repeats them while imitating arm gestures (he's Italian).

- Smell Isabel. Thankful Mass is over.

.

Irony is

2008-04-30T20:33:00.003-04:00

when the daughter you are spending all day trying to get to tell you when she needs to go potty, yells from her bed (when she is supposed to be sleeping) that "Alexis pooped!"

Create Your Own Holy Water Fonts

2008-04-26T15:49:00.004-04:00

I found this link over at First Heralds. I think it's such a great idea. I've been looking a little bit at fonts, because I think I want to put them in our new house, and this came along at the perfect time. It's wonderful because I can get Isabel involved. She's pretty aware of the fonts at church, even though some days she doesn't seem as interested.

If you haven't visited First Heralds yet, it's a new blog "helping toddlers and preschoolers learn about the Catholic Faith." They have some wonderful ideas for May. I'm so excited about this blog because I need all of the help I can get.

Soundtrack Saturday

2008-04-26T10:59:00.006-04:00

"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts is a great song. I don't know if the song was intended to be used this way, from parents to their children, but I thought the lyrics were so wonderful. Some of my favorites are:

I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you and the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you find God's grace in every mistake

And you always give more then you take.

But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this, is my wish.

And if thinking about my girls when this song comes on wasn't enough to make me smile, my mom and brother danced to this as his wedding. A great memory!

*Soundtrack Saturday is a (somewhat) recurring series where I share songs that are the soundtrack to my life. Currently, I am sharing songs off a cd I made for my girls.

Flashback Friday

2008-04-25T00:05:00.001-04:00

Last week,

my baby

turned ONE!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Things You Should Definitely Do While Trying to Get Your House Ready to Sell

2008-04-24T16:47:00.004-04:00

~Have a birthday party
~Have extra people in your house
~Try to lose weight
~Potty train
~Get your Master's Degree
~Wean a baby

Or not.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-23T07:41:00.003-04:00

The aftermath

Can I Live

2008-04-20T21:55:00.001-04:00

H/T Rosetta Stone