Question About Socks

How do you all deal with socks in your house? I'm not sure why but it has become a monumental problem in my house! It used to be that I would match up socks with each load of laundry. But then, I would find at least a couple of single socks after each load. I'd have to keep them in one place waiting for their matches in subsequent loads. This was very irritating to me.
So, for the last few months, I've had a "sock basket" and after each load, I'd place the clean socks in the basket. I always knew where everybody's socks were. Then, when you needed a clean pair...you just went to the basket and got some. It worked ok for awhile. It has now evolved into this huge issue because the "big" people in my house (who shall remain nameless) can't seem to handle this anymore. The same things happen every day....I hear dresser drawers opening...then I hear..."I don't have any clean socks" yelled across the house. Then I yell back, "check the sock basket!". The reply is always the same, "Oh!". What's weird about this is that I think amnesia has set in because these same two "big people" knew exactly where to go to get their socks only a few short weeks ago! Maybe they are experiencing sympathy chemo brain!

I even caught one un-named person wearing the same pair of socks......3 days in a row because walking to the sock basket was too much work!

Please tell me there is a solution to this dilemma! Please tell me that if you have someone with the Y chromosome living in your house, that you have this problem too! Is it universal? Is it natural? Is it me?

How do you deal with the sock problem in your house? Or, do you even have this issue?

P.S......before finishing this post, I found two different color single socks....at the bottom of an empty toy box in one Y chromosome's room! Said toys are all over the bedroom floor! Sigh.

Friday Favorites and some Random Thoughts....

Today's (actually...tonight's) Friday Favorites are about a couple of magazines that I just love!!


1. Family Fun Magazine: I get a lot of my crafting ideas from this magazine. For two years in a row, I handmade our gifts for the family!

For Christmas 2006, I made these decorative napkins.

And for Christmas 2007, I made these cute Nativity scenes!

Several years ago, I made this chore chart for Nathan. I tweeked it a little to make it work for us...but it was a great idea! It's hanging in our kitchen.

I can't say enough about this magazine. Yes, I know it is a product of Disney, and yes, I know all the hoopla about Disney....but I said my peace about that subject here in this post.


2. Mater et Magistra - Educating the Heart and Mind in the Catholic Home: This is a wonderful magazine for Catholic families. It's perfect for home schoolers. Now, I am not a home schooling mom...at least not yet! However, it doesn't matter. This magazine is just full of spiritual nuggets for educating your children about the faith. After all, parents are the primary teachers of their children and I am so impressed with this little magazine. I got an email recently stating that my next copy is on its way and I am so excited!


3. Cure: Recently, I found a complimentary issue of this magazine in my Oncologist's office. I recommend it for anyone who has faced a cancer diagnosis. It is full of cancer updates on research and treatment as well as education. To me, it has been comforting to know that there are people out there who are tirelessly working to find a cure. We have come so far, but we have lots more to do.



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I thought I would add some "random thoughts" to this post. These are just things I've been thinking about and wanted to share with you.

• Why is it that every time I get into the car with the kids, they ALL try to talk to me at the same time, trying to talk over one another? I don't get this! I think the US Military should use 3 children under the age of 8 in a car...with all of them talking at the same time...as torture! You don't actually need water boarding!


• Olivia informed me this morning that when she grows up...she wants to be a ballerina and a doctor. I told her that I thought that was great and that she could be anything she wanted to be! However, I was curious as to why she didn't want to be a mommy, so I asked her. She replied...."Oh, cause I'm going to be that tomorrow, not when I grow up!" Okie Dokie!


• My hysterectomy has been scheduled for February 17th at 7:30am. It has to be an "open" procedure as a opposed to "laproscopic" because I've had three C-sections. Apparently having my babies this way created a lot of scar tissue which will make it necessary to open me up all the way! Lovely. This means 2 to 3 days in the hospital and a 4-6 week recovery period. Sigh! I hate hospitals!


• Yesterday, I caught Amelia scratching her hiney. Normally, I would overlook this but it appeared to be a true problem for her as she kept doing it for several minutes. I asked her what was wrong....she informed me that her "bottom is trying to eat her panties!" Well now, isn't that special!


• And lastly, I wanted to show you a picture of my very first camellia of the year! Isn't it gorgeous!!!

Interview Meme #2

My friend, Aussie Therese had sent me some interview questions a few days ago that I missed because.....well, just let me put it this way.....Hello, my name is Nancy and I'm addicted to Facebook! Anyway, if you thought you were bored with the first set of answers....sit down, relax and enjoy the second set! Thank you Therese!

1. Who is your favourite saint and why?

If you would have asked me this 20, 15 or even 10 years ago...you would get a different answer than you're going to get now. Over the last few years, I've read about lots of saints and I must say...I'm fascinated by the lives of these great people of God. There are two saints that I particularly identify with...St. Dymphna and St. Agatha. St. Dymphna and I have been acquainted for quite awhile. She is the patron saint of mental illnesses and of happy families. I have suffered for most of my life with an anxiety/panic disorder. It became more pronounced when I gave birth to Nathan. I had a bit of post partum depression with the panic attacks. That was probably the most scary time in my entire life! Anyway, St. Dymphna was a comfort to me. And...St. Agatha...well she is the patron saint of breast cancer patients. She's my new best friend!!

2. What is your favourite food to eat?

I had the best of both worlds as a kid. My dad's parents were immigrants from Italy! To me, there is nothing better than smelling fresh garlic sauteing in olive oil. HMMMMM. On the other hand, my mom was born and raised in Lawrenceville, Georgia! Her nickname was "Georgia Peach". I grew up on collard greens, grits and fried okra! Both of these cultures define who I am. But...guess what??? My absolute favorite food.....Chinese!!!!

3. If you could visit any country in the world (all expenses paid)where would you go and why?

I would go back to Rome. Dan and I spent Thanksgiving, 2007 there for our 10th wedding anniversary! It was the best vacation I have ever had!!! I had a very profound spiritual experience while we were there. It truly was a pilgrimage for me! Rome is incredible! My faith was recharged! If you ever....EVER...get the chance to go.....GO!!!!

4. Would you still attend mass if it was made illegal in the USA?

Wow....this is an interesting question. Honestly, the thought has crossed my mind that at some point in my lifetime...this could quite possibly be an issue. If not in mine, then maybe for my kids. I believe my answer would be "yes". I would hope that it wouldn't ever come to that, but, I don't think I could live without the Eucharist. I think that I would find a way....underground or in a home...somewhere, somehow.

5. If you had over a million dollars to give to any charity who would you give to and why?

Without a doubt, I would give it all to Shaohannah's Hope. This is a foundation created by Christian Music artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth. With 50 million babies murdered here in the US since Roe vs Wade, this foundation is working to help ease the financial burdens of adoption. Adoption costs are very high and there are good people out there who would gladly accept these children into their families...if only they could afford it.

If any of you are interested in participating in this "interview meme"...just email me and I'll send you 5 questions that you can answer on your blog!!

Whatever....

Democrats Launch Petition Against Rush Limbaugh

Geez...doesn't anybody remember "Sticks and stones can break my.........."???? I mean, really!!

Interview Meme...

Thank you Therese at Musings of a Mom for sending me the interview questions for this meme...

If you want to participate, simply leave a comment saying "Interview Me", and I will send you 5 questions, and then you can answer them in your post, and the chain continues...Here we go!

1. When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I think I have a vague memory of wanting to be a nun...and wanting to teach. It seems the nuns that taught me as a kid had a huge influence on me! I remember them like it was yesterday....Sr. Francesca in 3rd grade, Sr. Diana (RIP) in 5th grade and Sr. Madeline (RIP) in 8th grade. These were remarkable women! They each made an impression on me and I wanted to be just like them! I'm so thankful that my kids have sisters from this order at our school (if you've seen HI LUCY on EWTN...you know who these sisters are). Later on as I got older....I knew my vocation in life would be wife and mom. This is where I truly belong. I will say though, if I had not met Dan when I did, I would probably be in religious life right now. I'm glad it worked out the way it did!

2. If you chose to do something different than the answer in #1, what changed your mind?

As I said above, I think God must have placed the vocation for wife/mom in my heart because the desire was very strong for quite some time. This is where I belong. I feel a completeness that I never thought I would have. It's almost as though I knew my children before I had them....before I was even married. I am far from being the kind of wife/mother that I want to be. I mean, I could give you a list of things I don't do very well....as well as a list of things I've totally messed up! I guess that's what sin is.....missing the mark! I do that everyday!

3. Is there a song today that you identify with? Why?

Yes....it's called Breathe. There are many versions out there, but I like the one that Michael W. Smith does from his Worship CD. I identify with this song because it's a prayer...crying out to God. I am desperate for Him and I am most definitely lost without Him.
Then, theirs always "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To"......you know, the cancer thing!

4. Is there a skill or craft that you have always wanted to learn but haven't yet? If so, what has kept you from learning it?

When I was little, my grandfather (dad's side) would always ask me two things whenever I came to visit....Have you learned how to cook and have you learned how to sew. For some reason (probably because of the era he was born in) these two skills were of the utmost importance to him. I always wanted to learn to do both of these things....partly because I wanted to please him. Now, as an adult, I see the value of both skills....especially when you have a family. I think I've done ok with the cooking thing (Grandpa Joe would be proud...especially when I'm cooking Italian) but I never learned to sew. I mean, I can sew on a button and I've learned to hem pants (although with the invention of Stitch Witchery...there really is no need to hem anymore) but, I've never done anything beyond that. I've always wanted to learn to sew. I've wanted to make clothing and I've always wanted to quilt. Whenever I'm in a fabric store, I have a strong urge to buy fabric. The vivid and vibrant colors just draw me to them! I really don't know the reason why I've not pursued sewing. The excuse I've always used is not having a sewing machine. But, I know myself and my propensity to clutter. I think a sewing machine/table would just be another place to accumulate clutter and sewing projects would be just another thing to not finish.
This is very sad when I see it on paper. Hmmmm, and they say love of money is the root of all evil.....I think it's not finishing what you start!!


5. What is one hope that you have for 2009?

My hopes for 2009 are mostly related to health. I hope for a cancer free year (40 years, actually), I hope for health for my family. I also hope to home school this next school year and I hope that our family (both immediate and extended) realize the blessing we have and move closer to each other and to God.

Unbelievable!!!!!

PELOSI SAYS BIRTH CONTROL WILL HELP ECONOMY Sun Jan 25 2009 22:13:43 ET

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi boldly defended a move to add birth control funding to the new economic "stimulus" package, claiming "contraception will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government." Pelosi, the mother of 5 children and 6 grandchildren, who once said, "Nothing in my life will ever, ever compare to being a mom," seemed to imply babies are somehow a burden on the treasury. The revelation came during an exchange Sunday morning on ABC's THIS WEEK.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?

PELOSI: Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children's health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those - one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So no apologies for that?

PELOSI: No apologies. No. we have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy. Developing...

(h/t: The Drudgereport)

Plans for the week

I'm not exactly sure how this post will go. Usually, as long as I keep my "plans" in my head, I tend to follow through with them. However....the minute I put them in writing....I'm doomed! Still, I'm going to give this a go. It's an accountability thing....I think.

So, here goes:

Monday (today): I need to go to my oncologist's office for my next shot of Lupron and to have my portacath flushed. Apparently, I'm supposed to have it flushed every 4 weeks but...no one told me this and it's been almost 8 weeks since it was last used. Clean kitchen. I also have to get two prescriptions filled and get Olivia to and from school. Dinner plans: leftovers (pork roast).

Tuesday: Laundry, however, I don't have much to do thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law!!! Vacuum the house. Change all the bed linens. Grocery shop. Do book report with Amelia. Dinner plans: Tacos.

Wednesday: Go to 8:00am Mass. Check out Used Book Sale at our parish school. Work (walk 1/2 mile at my lunch time). Watch LOST. Dinner plans: Turkey burgers.

Thursday: Go to 8:00am Mass. Work (walk 1/2 mile at my lunch time). Take Nathan to basketball practice at 5:15pm. Do book report with Amelia. Dinner plans: Pancakes and Bacon.

Friday: Go to 8:00am Mass. Work (walk 1/2 mile at my lunch time). Fridays are family night here in our house. We'll pick an "on demand" movie and pop some popcorn. Dinner plans: Pizza.

Saturday: Leisurely morning (that's the plan anyway). Nathan's basketball game at 11:00am.
Library. Clean the bathroom. Confessions sometime between 3 and 4:15. Dinner plans: Pasta Bake with garlic bread and salad.

Sunday: Mass at 10:00am. Family time. Laundry (making sure all school uniforms are washed and ready for tomorrow). Dinner plans: Leftovers or Soup.

It's a pretty light week now that I look at it. The biggest thing for me is the meal planning. If I don't do this and try to make it up as I go along....we usually end up eating a lot less healthy and I'm just irritable and crabby!

There are a few things that I didn't put down...things that for me are part of my normal routine...like helping Nathan with his homework, reading aloud to the kids before bed, cleaning up after meals, baths and wiping hineys.

I'd love it if you all would share some of your plans for the week!!!

Blogging Friendships!

I really love blogging! I love being able to express my thoughts, fears and dreams in a place that's all my own. In some ways, it's therapeutic for me. However, there's another benefit to joining this blogging world! For me, it's meeting other woman around the world who share the same values...who love their families, their God and who try everyday to be the best wife/mother/friend/sister/daughter that they were created to be. These woman often make me laugh and they help me to know that...I'm not alone.

Aussie Therese has sent this Lovely Blog award to me:

“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.”

I'm passing this on to the following:

Nichole at Heaven's Gift

Chris at Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Carrie at Quite the Normal Life

Therese at The Musings of a Mom

Barbara at Praying for Grace

Friday Favorites!

I'm so sorry I forgot to post my "Friday Favorites" last week. I must say that since I've been visiting Facebook recently, it uses up much of my computer time that I allow myself . Anyway, not to worry....it's here this week (albeit a little late)!

Considering the events of this week...my theme for today is LIFE. Here are my most favorite PRO-LIFE places to visit.

***warning: some of these sites display video or photos of abortions and they can be quite disturbing.....not that the general public would ever see them....cause then they'd have to admit that the abortion is REAL and VIOLENT and MURDER....but I digress.

Jill Stanek has a wonderful site. If you read her biography, you will notice that she has personal experience with "infants born alive" and then left to die. You will see all of the latest pro-life news here.

Priests for Life is another "must visit"! Excellent pro-life news source. You can find the conversion story of the "Roe" in Roe v. Wade. Fr. Pavone is very involved in the PRO-LIFE movement and has a connection to Terri Schiavo.

American Life League

Human Life International

The Dawn Patrol

AbortionNO.org ***warning: graphic video****

I wish that somehow, the world knew the truth about what abortion really is. As a society, we have no problem watching sex on tv. We have no problem watching homosexuality on tv....we have no problem watching people get hacked up with a saw or buried alive in some of these horror movies. How come these so called "pro-choice" people won't watch an abortion on tv? Why won't the networks show an actual abortion on one of their "reality" shows? I mean, we've seen surgery of EVERY kind, we've watched addicts detox, we've watched drug and alcohol "interventions". Why no abortions?

Well, I'll tell you why....because then, they'd have to face what they've always denied...the TRUTH! The truth is that it is murder! They would be faced with the fact that abortion is REAL...that these really are BABIES and not a clump of cells. They would be faced with the fact that it is WRONG. They would be horrified! Oh how God must feel every time one of His souls returns to Him this way! Oh how He must grieve! We should all be grieving...every last one of us!

Let us NEVER tire of fighting for these babies....for these beautiful souls that cannot fight for themselves. Let us NEVER stop fighting for hearts and minds to be changed.

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Twins???

I've heard it said that we all have a twin somewhere in the world....someone who looks just like us and could even fool our friends. Well...check out this story! Apparently, Mr. Obama has a twin in Indonesia. I mean really....this guys looks just like him! Frankly, I think it's creepy. Besides, I'm not so sure the world is ready for two Obama's! I'm still trying to get over the sticker shock of the first one!

Health Update!

Just a quick health update. I saw the Oncologist yesterday and everything seems to be ok. My hemoglobin is up to 11 (normal is 12) so I'm almost there. They've asked that I begin to take some vitamin supplements.....1000 IU's of Vitamin D3 and Calcium. They said that the Arimidex can cause Osteoporosis and the vitamins can help with that. I will have another injection of the Lupron on Friday....and will keep having to have one every 4 weeks until they can surgically remove my ovaries. That brings me to today's appointment.....
I saw the GYN today and I'm just waiting for a call with the date for my surgery. I will have a TAH-BSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy). Basically, I'm having everything removed! He said to expect 2 to 3 days in the hospital and 3 to 4 weeks of recovery at home. He said it will be much like my C-Sections as far as recovery goes, although, it is much more involved and more painful. Oh joy!! Remind me later to offer this up!

I'd also like to ask your prayers for two families close to us that have recently lost loved ones....Stan and Diane F. & Frank S. and Lillian L. Stan and Frank have both lost their moms this week.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual
light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Thank you, President Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw this on Marie's blog and just had to ask permission to repost it here.

"As President Bush prepares to leave office many in America & around the world are contemplating his legacy and not all in a spirit of fairness. I hope this piece is written in a fair minded manner.
Under the guidance of President Bush America has faced only one terrorist attack and none of us will forget September 11th 2001. It is the defining moment of recent history and the world will now remain before and after 9/11.
Imagine getting up in the morning and reading reports where this or that terrorist group is planning to strike your country. Can any of us imagine the enmormity and responsibility of protecting millions of their fellow country men from harm? President Bush has faced this task every day for eight years.
There are those who criticize the war in Iraq but this faces us with a conundrum(I face this too). We often hear of atrocities and in hindsight we wonder how did Pol Pot manage to murder millions of his own people? How did the Hutu's in Rwanda slaughter millions of their own country men? How did Idi Amin brutalize his own people? How did Saddam Hussein gas and murder the Kurds even little babies?
Because we chose to look the other way. It wasn't happening to us.
You see we speak about peace in the safe confines of our own living rooms as we see these atrocities take place. We say things like, 'this shouldn't happen,' and those 'poor people. Lord look after them.' And then we turn the TV over to watch American Idol or Greys Anatomy.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
We read the above quote by Edmund Burke and most agree with it but do we understand his meaning? We are the ones doing nothing.
We wept over Cambodia but we did nothing. We prayed for the people in Rwanda while we ran away. We cried as we saw the horror of the Kurdish people and then turned away.
In the end it wasn't happening to us and we didn't care enough to really care about them.
You see, Freedom costs but most of us dont want to know the price.
Every intelligence agency told President Bush that Iraq had weapons of Mass Destruction. What was the President supposed to do, cross his fingers and toes and hope they got it wrong?
Whether you agree with the Presidents decision or not, he acted. He stopped a brutal mass murderer and tyrant and I for one am not going to weep over the loss of Saddam Hussein and his murderous sons.
This time the American President for good or worse did not look the other way. He stopped a mass murderer and he freed a country with the help of his Allies.
Many call the President himself a mass murderer, those who do this then please show us his mass graves? Show the world his hidden rape rooms. Oh that's right, wrong country that was happening in Iraq. President Bush and his Allies helped stop it.
Has President Bush made mistakes ofcourse. The economy for one, he took his eyes off the ball and many Americans and people the world over will be paying a price for his lack of oversight. The buck really does stop at the Presidents desk.
But there are also successes. President Bush banned Post Partial Abortion. Praise God there was a President ready to take on the feminist nazification philosophy of sheer evil, the murder of half born babies.
Who knows how many children that President Bush has saved by banning this evil act, but rest assured God knows.
The President also appointed two Pro-Life Supreme Court Judges once again facing down the Feminazi brigade and those liberal, heretical 'catholic' politicians who don't have the backbone to stand on their beliefs!
As for the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush, he is still alive. Under Saddam Hussein he would now be dead and that is the difference.
Now you may not agree with all of President Bush's policies, but at least give the President some credit where credit is due.
In Africa the President has a popularity level of over 80%. Why? Because once again he is not just standing by. His policies has saved lives, African lives.
In America his popularity is at an all time low at below 30%. Why? Because many 'talk' peace with no teeth. We want to weep for the suffering people without it costing us anything.
So the next time you feel like insulting the President ask yourself this. What have you done today to make the world a safer place and how have you helped the poor?"

Wonderfully said Marie....I thank you for this post!

Deep Thought

A question was asked during the homily today that requires some extra thought and contemplation on my part....

How often in our prayer time to we say...."Listen Lord, your servant is speaking"...instead of "Speak Lord, your servant is listening"?

Let me resolve myself to more silence during prayer...more listening...more resting in the Lord.

Award Time!

I received this lovely award from Jen....all the way from China!!! This is the Superior Scribbler Award. It is passed on to Extremely Deserving Scribblers. It was originally created to "commemorate, celebrate and generally share the bloggy love"! Well...I'm always up for that!

And so, as most blogging awards go...I get to pass this on to others (that's my favorite part).

Here are the rules:

• Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to 5 most deserving Bloggy Friends.


• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received the award.


• Each Superior Scribbler must display on his/her blog and link to this post that explains this award.


• Each blogger who wins this Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List (scroll down). That way, we'll be able to keep up to date who receives this prestigious honor.


• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I'd like very much to send this award to the 5 following blogs: Michele, Barbara, Easter A, Aspiring and Nichole. I've chosen these 5 ladies because they are all an inspiration to me! Their writing is expressive and bright. You feel as though you've had a glimpse into their lives as they share struggles, victories and dreams. Their blogs are awesome!

ALMOST THERE!!!!

We're home!

Well, we made it home! We came home a little early as a steady rain began to fall about 2pm and hadn't let up much at all by the time we left at 4:30pm. It was warm and muggy when we got there this morning, but by the time it started raining....it got very cold.

I waited to tell him where we were going until we were well on our way! He was shocked and I don't think he believed me at first. He's never stayed in a hotel before (well...when he was 8 months old) and I think he was almost more excited to explore our room!

I let him decide everything.....what we would do, which ride we would go to next, where we would eat. We both had a grand time....in spite of the weather. Disney is much like I remember it...only smaller. I guess as a kid, it is all so overwhelming. I don't think he will soon forget it. I know I won't!

I'm exhausted and my "dogs are barking"....so, I will close this post with some pictures!!! They aren't that great because it was raining and there was no sun....(of course it had nothing to do with the photographer!!).

Mother/Son special time!

Nathan and I are going on an adventure! It's a surprise for him! He won't know anything about it until we're on the road! You see, tomorrow is my birthday (44) and Disney World has a deal going on where you get in free on your birthday! Dan set this all up as a gift to me! With the other discounts that you get for being a Florida resident, and for ordering on line....Nathan's ticket is only $60......I know, still way too much but I think it's reasonable for the two of us. He and I will drive down after Dan gets home from work. I haven't been down there in awhile, but I think it takes just under 3 hours. We'll stay the night in a hotel and then spend all day tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom.

At first I was hesitant. For one thing, I'm not thrilled about driving down there at night without Dan. Secondly, I feel a little strange about Nathan getting to experience this for the first time without his sisters. And thirdly...I'm not exactly thrilled with the decisions Disney has made over the years and as a Catholic, I probably should not be giving them any attention or money. But, to tell you the truth, this is just one area where I am not that convicted. I mean, we don't watch the anti-Catholic movies and we would NEVER visit Disney during their "alternative lifestyle" pride parades. For me, you have to pick and choose your battles....I just don't feel like fighting this one.

I'm looking forward to spending this time with Nathan....my first born. He is growing so fast and I pray this is a special time for us. I would have never thought to do this....but I'm glad Dan did.

In a way, I think Dan is afraid that I'm not going to live long enough for all of us to be able to go on a Disney vacation together...and for whatever reason, he thinks this is some kind of milestone that you're supposed to reach before death. I'm not planning on dying anytime soon mind you, but, I don't think that possibility escapes Dan. Believe me...it doesn't escape me either.

So, I ask for your prayers for safe travel and for a special, meaningful time for Nathan and I.

I'll be back Thursday with pictures!

Saintly Stalling

Sunday night is the hardest one of the week for our family. It takes a lot of patience and fortitude to get through it. This was a particularly busy weekend for us and I think everyone was exhausted. We barely made it through dinner, baths and story time. For quite a few years now, story time has been Dan's thing. It usually gives me a chance to finish up the dishes and get ready for bed myself. He turns off all the lights and reads them a story with the flashlight. Both of the girls are usually asleep before he finishes. Apparently...not tonight.

One by one, each of them tiptoed out of bed to ask for various things....water...potty and both girls needed yet another hug from mom. I know this is all done because they know that if they stop moving even for one minute...they'll fall asleep and this is (of course) what they are trying to avoid. Finally, I was done. I warned all three of them that if they got out of their beds again, they would have NO T.V. for a week! I meant it!

Apparently, Nathan has moved stalling from going to bed to the next level! About 10 minutes later....here he comes again...only this time, armed with a rosary.

"Mom, can you please say a decade of the rosary with me....I think I want to pray". Now, how can I possibly scold him for wanting to pray...especially the rosary? Smart isn't he?


**Incidentally, I gave in and said a decade with him! I don't want to spend any more time in purgatory than I actually have to***

So which is it???

Some time back, Al Gore (the inventor of the Internet and former V.P) said we don't have long as a society because Global Warming is going to cause us to burn up.......Now we read that we are headed for an Ice Age....so which is it? Are we going to burn or freeze? Scientists (and I use that term loosely) need to make up their minds.

My guess is that the real answer is neither, or rather, somewhere in the middle. But, I suppose whatever happens...average Americans are going to continue to be duped by politicians who have an agenda and have an "investment" in lots of studies and research!

Guess What???

I've finished this..........

and I've just started this........

Unfortunately, I'm hooked.....but in a good way!

Friday Favorites!

TGIF!! It's time for another installment of my "Friday Favorites". This is the time of the week when I get to share with you some of my favorite things. Today....it's all about food (my favorite subject)!


1. This is one of the best websites I've come across lately! It's called Foodgawker!! It's incredible! First of all, every recipe has a photo....or, rather in this case, every photo has a recipe. I love how you can feast your eyes on salad, dessert or something savory all at the same time. You could spend hours clicking on these picture. I'll bet you can't spend very much time here without having your mouth water! Enjoy!

2. This one is cheating....a little! This site has been on my side bar for quite awhile now and so perhaps some of you have already visited their gem of a blog. Mennonite girls can cook is a group of about a dozen ladies who contribute some fantastic recipes for all of our enjoyment. Let me just say that their casseroles are out of this world.

3. I received several of these really neat treats as Christmas gifts. This company is called Tastefully Simple. Apparently, there is a "consultant" that lives near me and that's how I was able to try these wonderful products. The first one was the Almond Pound cake. Let me just say that this was, without a doubt, the best pound cake I have ever had in my entire life!!! Please, if you try nothing else....please try this. I also have the Beer Bread and the Potato Soup but have not tried them. It seems a little pricey to me......but sometimes you don't mind paying a little more for something that is such high quality.

4. And finally, I want to introduce you to Bethany. She is a pro life, christian wife and mother who loves to cook! I was first introduced to her through the pro-life work of Jill Stanek. However, Bethany took on a project that I have been mulling over in my mind for some time....it's called Once A Month Cooking (or OAMC). Bethany has done this a couple of times and it's only because of her influence that I've made any attempt at all. I've done it on a much smaller scale....like once a week...or once a couple of days has been the only thing that I've tackled so far! She is also a terrific artist! Peruse through her blog and enjoy her drawings...you will be amazed at the quality of her work.

Well....I guess that will be it for this week. I want to add a disclaimer though....just because I only list 3 or 4 things per post does NOT mean that the things I've chosen to blog about are all inclusive......they aren't! The internet for me has just opened up an entire new world where anything is possible. It's also a place where others can share their talents, their dreams and their passions with us and our lives are all the richer for it.


I hope some of these things, places and people become some of your favorites too!

My Middle Name

I hate clutter....but you would never know it by the way my house looks. I think "clutter" should be my middle name! When I set my mind to it, I do really well at getting rid of clutter. The problem is keeping it in check. It seems that I no sooner get something cleaned up when...in no time at all, it looks like it did before I decluttered. It reminds me of how all the pennies end up at the bottom of my purse. It's like they have babies in there! Truth be told, there are 4 other bodies in this house that contribute to this...um....issue and apparently we were all born with this same "gene".

Tonight, while I was waiting for dinner to cook, I decided to try decluttering a particularly bad area of my house! Does anyone else have an area like this....

It seems that my microwave is a magnet for junk! If something ends up on the kitchen counter and it needs to be moved....it all ends up on top of the microwave. I'm not even sure how the darn thing still works with all that stuff on top of it. I'm sure there is some fire code that is being broken here! Here's a closer look.

There are pens and pencils, a wedding invitation, EOB's from my health insurance company, GO FISH game, old issue of Magnifikid, alphabet flash cards, chore chart stickers, batteries, St. Nicholas prayer cards and cookie cutter, garlic roaster and a 2lb box of Sees Candy that my friend Cindy sent me for Christmas.....among other things. Sigh. And here's what's on top....

When I took a look up there, I was amazed! Along with the inch of dust...there is...glue, an old candle, fish food, fish tank filters and scooper, flashlights, pencil sharpener, more dust, bud vase, several plastic cups, flea medicine for the animals and two pretty ugly baskets....oh, and more dust. Frankly, this is in the kitchen and it's disgusting! I mean, I cook food in here! It's no wonder we don't all have lung disease.

Anyway...I worked hard and here is the results....

Good job wouldn't you say??? Ah, but...where did all the junk go you ask? Good question! A lot of it went into the trash...if it was old, didn't work or had expired...it got chucked. Some things got put where they were supposed to be all along....like photo albums, file folders and toy boxes. Here's the clincher....I cannot tell a lie....some clutter.....just got put into a different clutter pile. How does this happen? It's weird, my intentions were good and pure, but....I'm just not able to take it to the next level, as they say.

Before Christmas, I was reading a decluttering book (see this post) and I'm almost finished with it. I quit reading it because as I moved along in my chemo treatments, decluttering was just not on my radar as much. Obviously, I need to pick it up again. Sometimes I feel as though the walls are closing in on me...and I know part of it is because there is just so much junk laying around that I'm starting to feel claustrophobic. Since I'm beginning to get back on my feet physically, I'm feeling pretty positive about making the effort to pare down...to begin to examine our lives and live as simply as we can. This is going to entail many things...some will be easy and some will be really difficult...but this is something that am COMMITTED to doing! At least once a month, I will show you, my blogging friends, another area of my home that I'm going to get in line. It might be a drawer, it might be a cupboard or it might be a whole room! The way I figure it, if I do this every month...by January of 2010....I should have 12 areas decluttered! This will be a good thing (so long as I'm not adding clutter to other places!).

My goal in life is to be the best mother and wife that I can be....to provide for my family the way the Blessed Mother did. I'll never be able to meet that goal totally...because there is sin in my life....but I truly want our lives to be modeled after the Holy Family.

Pray for me in these goals...and I will pray for you in yours!

Wordless Wednesday (sort of)

This is as close to "snow" as we can get here in Florida! My poor children have to resort to picking apart (piece by piece, mind you) some styrafoam that came with a package we received.

I guess this would be a good time for a science lesson on static electricity!

Clearly...

....there is a virus living in this house somewhere and we need to have an exorcism! Amelia has been throwing up all day and writhing in pain with stomach cramps. I've been dealing with those same stomach cramps. I felt so bad earlier that I had to ask Dan not to go to work. Thank God he stayed home, because about 5:00pm or so, Nathan decided he was sick and began throwing up too. There is no way I could have been holding two buckets at the same time.

Olivia is pretty much over it...although she still has some diarrhea. Amelia finally fell asleep about midnight and she's sleeping pretty good. Nathan and I are still up.....very miserable and just trying to distract ourselves.
Even before this latest outbreak, I had hired a team from the Maid Brigade to come next Tuesday the 13th to do what they call a "Seasonal Deep Cleaning". I have added several duties to this list. Apparently they work in pairs of two or three and after answering several questions about square footage, pets and stuff like that....she came up with a very reasonable price. So the germ exorcism will begin next Tuesday!!!


I did manage to take a picture of my two sickies.....against their will...but isn't that what moms do?

If this isn't one pitiful little girl!!

This is my brave 8 year old....even in illness he is somewhat shy! How about a collective "ahhhhhhhhhh"!

We're dropping....

.....like flies around here!! While Olivia is feeling better, Amelia has been acting very strange for the past two days. Very cranky and overly emotional. Today, she hasn't eaten anything and finally began complaining about her stomach about an hour ago. I tucked her into her bed (with the bucket very near) and walked out of the room. Exactly two minutes later...she is out cold! For her to be sleeping in the middle of the day....she's clearly sick. I'm not feeling so hot myself in the stomach department (so what else is new??).

I had only a few things on my list today...and I'm pretty sure not many of them are going to get done today. But, just in case you were interested...here's the list:

1. Put away laundered and folded clothes that my mother-in-law washed and brought back to us LAST WEEK!!!!! They are still in the baskets in our living room.

2. Change all the beds

3. Start laundry

4. Clean kitchen

5. Vacuum living room

Now, that's not really a huge list. I've decided that from now on, I'm going to make my expectations of myself more reasonable....doable. I'm tired of making lists a mile long knowing all along that I'll never get to everything. I just feel defeated that way.

The kids go back to school tomorrow. At least that is the plan. I will give myself tomorrow to also work on this list. It's easier now that all of the Christmas ornaments are packed away for next year.

While sitting on my rump this weekend, I started reading the book "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. I was mostly interested in seeing what all the fuss was about. I'm within a few pages of finishing it (I will finish it today) and I'm not all that impressed. I think I heard that this book was written for teenagers. I will agree that there is no bad language, no murder, no sex.....it is still very suggestive, sensual and pretty "adult" in subject matter. It's about a 17 year old girl.....and that is about the age I think it's appropriate for. I wouldn't let my children (if they were younger than 17) read it. I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. I will more than likely continue on with the next book in the series, "New Moon".

If any of you have read the books or seen the movie, I'd love to know what you think.

Deja Vu???

Well, here I am, it's 1:36am and Olivia is sick. She's thrown up twice now. I have the couch covered in blankets and she has two buckets next to her. I asked Daniel to help me this time....I'm having a hard time sleeping and I'm just exhausted! My oncologist gave me something to help me sleep, but, I've only taken it once. Dan just told me to take one and go to bed as he will stay up with Olivia tonight.

I looked it up...there is a patron saint of stomach problems...get this....it's St. Elmo! This must be where St. Elmo's "fire" comes from.

Ooops...that makes three times!

St. Elmo...pray for us!!!

Dieting willpower anyone??? Check yours!!

You Have a Fairly Strong Willpower

Temptation doesn't get the better of you all that often. If you set your mind on a goal, you'll do your best to achieve it. And while you don't have a perfect record with willpower, you do okay. If you fall off the wagon with something, you're usually not off the wagon for long.

Is Your Willpower Strong?

Here we go!

I started my Arimidex today. This is yet another part of my cancer treatment...hopefully, the last part. If all goes well, I will be on this medication for the next five years. The list of side effects for this drug goes on and on and on......but, so far I'm not experiencing anything that I can't handle. One of the big ones is hot flashes! I've been having those anyway as a result of the chemotherapy and the shot of Lupron I got last week. One of the other possible side effects is "irritability". Hmmm, really.....well now, let's not go into detail about that one!! Frankly, I'm not sure I can get more irritable than I have been these days. Sometimes, I feel like I'm mad at the world....only it's my family that gets the brunt of it...not the world. I think part of it is that everything is such an effort for me these days. My energy level is nowhere near where it was before all this started. Every part of my body hurts...especially my joints. I have put on several pounds and I've yet to be able to shed them....although honestly, with the holidays and all....I'm not really trying. I feel uncomfortable because of the extra weight.
The swelling is a day to day thing....I'm still experiencing some pitting edema and my left arm is in the beginning stages of lymphedema so it is swollen most of the time. Some days I just feel like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!
My hair is beginning to grow...ever so slowly! I would call it...fuzzy. I lost most of my eyebrows and eyelashes although some of them held on. Right now, I basically look like.........a cancer patient! Imagine that!
I don't know why I'm whining so much! I really have no right to. We have been so blessed with the help of wonderful friends and family (especially this Thanksgiving/Christmas season) that it seems wrong to be bummed about anything at all! It's just that, well, at the end of the day.....I still have cancer and that really sucks! I wonder if there is a patron saint of whiners?

Well, I had no intention of making this a pity party....but I'm glad you came anyway! There's certainly no fun in having a party all by yourself!

Friday Favorites

Since this is a new year, I wanted to start something new for my blog. I'm going to call it "Friday Favorites"! I'm really excited about this! Many times I come across things that I've wanted to share with others but I didn't know exactly how to go about it. Blogging is the perfect forum for this! So, every Friday, you will be treated to a few of my favorite things. Maybe they will become some of your favorite things too.

So...without further adieu.....here is my first batch of Friday Favorites!!!

• One of the reasons I can hardly wait for the Thanksgiving/Christmas season is my coffee flavorings! I love going to Starbucks right before Thanksgiving when they begin their seasonal specialty coffee drinks. My favorite is the Eggnog Lattes. But, at almost $4 every visit....I had to find an alternative. Sooooo, Coffee-Mate has begun making these great liquid flavorings. My two favorites are Pumpkin Spice and Eggnog. The best part about these products is that you can freeze them. During the holidays, I buy a couple of each of them and then I can have my favorite holiday flavors all through the year!


• Now, since we are only 20 days away from my next favorite thing....I thought I would share this with you in case you want to get caught up before January 21, 2009!!! My absolute favorite t.v. show is LOST!! If you have never watched an episode....you are really missing something. In 20 days, LOST begins Season 5 of 7 total (I think). Anyway, there are several good websites with great LOST information (including spoilers). If you visit my sidebar, you will find some of the best ones. Anyway, in case you were wondering what I will be doing on Wednesday nights at 9pm....wonder no more! Oh...and don't call me during that time either....I WON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!!!!


• I was recently introduced to the Catholic version of Netflix...called Pius Media. I must say, I'm very impressed with this operation and the service that we've received since we've joined. I encourage you to visit this site and consider making a change to a more wholesome and moral company than Netflix or Blockbuster. At first, their selections were rather limited, but, each month they are adding more and more movies and we have been very happy. There are several different membership levels which I think is great since not everyone has the same moving watching habits. Anyway...give them a try if you can.

This concludes the first episode of Friday Favorites. Come back next Friday for another visit...here's a teaser....if you like food.....you'll love next week!!

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

There are actually 3 Feast Days celebrated today.... The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, The circumcision of Our Lord and The New Year Celebration. Here is a great site with lots of information on the history of this Feast Day. And here you will find a list of feasts, prayers, activities as well as resources honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a very special day and I can't think of a better way to start this year.

I think that we can all agree that there are many challenges waiting for us in 2009. Some things we will have control over...and others...we won't. I guess I'm just grateful for another clean slate...another whole 12 months with nothing set in stone and nothing written on the calendar (which, by the way, I don't have yet)!

We have 19 days until the new president takes office. We should be able to get at least one novena completed before then! We will need it....he will need it!! The economic situation looks bleak...at least for those who have placed all of their eggs in one basket. Now, for those of us who have few eggs....or no basket....we will continue to live pretty much by faith...which is how I believe God wants us to live anyway. If we do that, then any success we may have will be because of the grace and mercy of God. I tend to forget that when things are going well.

For me, I want to really and truly sit down and take a look at my life and decide what is really important. I want to try to see and know the difference between "wants" and "needs" and not have that line so cloudy. What can I do without? What do those around me need? How am I showing the love of God on a daily basis?

These are the things that I'm reflecting on as 2009 begins. How about you? What goals to you have?

One of my most favorite Scriptures is John 3:30..."He must increase and I must decrease". Isn't that so true? I'm thinking of a song that we sing in church sometimes....I can't remember the title but the line I love is...."O Lord you are the center of my life..." Oh, to be able to live more like the song talks about! I will work towards that this year.

This is my prayer for you this year....that you (we) may move closer to Our Lord and His Mother!

Have a wonderful New Year!!!