9-1-1

We just received a notice from the kid's school today confirming what the tuition payment will be each month for the 2009-2010 school year......I'm having a pain in my chest and I think I need oxygen or CPR...maybe both!!!

A typical Monday...

A while back, I wrote a couple of posts (here and here)about decluttering and organizing. I am sooo not good at either! I have this wonderful book that I peruse a couple of times a week. I have implemented some new things in my home that have helped. For one thing, through much effort (and prayer), I am beginning to develop a better sense of "detachment" from material things. In essence, I just don't have a hard time throwing things away anymore. I used to agonize over it....but not anymore! I don't know what happened...but whatever it was...it happened over night!!

Anyway, this post isn't going to be about my organizing. I want to share with you some organizing that I've found around the blogosphere! I love color and I love to see colorful things sorted and organized....well....let's just say it "floats my boat"! These photos are very visually pleasing to me....maybe they will help to inspire you on this wonderful Monday! Enjoy!

(photo from Caftapalooza)

(photo from Allsorts)

(photo from Emma's Paperie)

(photo by Lisa Call)

(photo from the Domestic Diva)

(photo from Thrifty-fun)

I sure wish my pantry looked like this (sorry Mimi...it's all messed up again).

(photo from Tupperware)

(photo from Tupperware)

Isn't some of this stuff just delicious???? It's strange how visually, I love to see things neat and tidy....but when it comes to my own stuff....I can't seem to get a grip! I'm sure I need psychotherapy or something! But anyway...beware because I'm on the decluttering and organizing rampage again!!

Totus Tuus!

Yesterday, we began the 40 days of preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary for families...All done in union with St. Joseph. This is the fruit of our Lenten Mission this year given by Fr. Kevin Barrett from the Apostolate for Family Consecration. The 40 day preparation is according to St. Louis de Montfort's formula and is done with daily meditations by Pope John Paul II.

"Consecration is a way of life that will protect you and your family in these perilous times. It will help you become totally docile to Mary, who is one spirit with her Son, becoming her "consecrated slave", or as we say in the Apostolate for Family Consecration, her "consecrated spiritual child", whom she molds into the image and likeness of her Son."(from: Family Consecration Prayer and Meditation Book Series)

The Apostolate for Family Consecration was founded to help individuals, families, parishes and members of various Church movements to make this consecration and to assist them in faithfully living it. This is done through continuous formation in the truth, using all the resources available through the Apostolate....like Familyland Television Network, podcast's, and the website http://www.familyland.org/.

This is how the Apostolate suggests that you consecrate your entire family:

"It is recommended that you block out a period of time each day to read and prayerfully reflect on the meditations selected for the particular day of the preparation period. Pray and talk to God, His Mother and St. Joseph about what you are reading. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, so that you don't rush through the readings and prayers. The objective is not necessarily to completely read all the meditations for each day, but to set aside some time every day for reflective reading of the daily meditations. You can always go back to them later after you have completed your consecration. In fact, you are encouraged to regularly reflect on these readings even after you have made your consecration. Try not to become scrupulous; if you aren't able to finish the daily readings on some of the days, it doesn't mean that you cannot make the consecration or that you need to start over again. Just keep proceeding and do your best; Our Lady understands."

I love how they remind me that we are not perfect...that I might have 7 million things going on around me on any given day....but I'm not to stress out about it. I just need to try to set aside some time for prayer and meditation. I must say also, the readings so far are very good. Sometimes, reading some of JPII's writings can be so intense that I miss the message. Not so this time. The meditations are a brief 2-3 pages....definitely doable!!

Anyway...we started yesterday (March 26) which means that our consecration day will be April 28th which is St. Louis de Montfort's Feast Day!! We simply began with one decade of the Rosary and then read the meditations. Usually, when we do our family Rosary, the kids are hanging from the ceiling fans by the time we're done! I think it was a good move to begin with just one decade. Perhaps as we move along in our preparations....we can do two decades.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this post to be so long...I just was excited to share with you about this new devotion that our family is embarking on. I am sure that I will be sharing more with you as we move along.

If any of you have done this consecration with your family...I'd love to hear your experience of how it has brought you closer to Our Lord.

Guess!

(photo courtesy of AmP)

What's wrong with this picture?????

Our trip to the Diamond D Ranch.

These were wild Florida piglets...we weren't allowed to get near them because....they bite! But they were so cute. This picture doesn't do them justice...they were teeny, tiny!

We were allowed to feed the cows on our hay ride. Have I mentioned how smelly cows are?


This is Nathan standing next to Larry the Llama! This picture was taken especially for Aunt Cindy!!



Dan and his mom....the best mother in law in the world.!

Nathan on the hay ride.

My beautiful little Olivia.

At one point, we were surrounded by cows.

Pinata time!

Olivia in the Jumpy House!

The pony's name was "Miracle"

This was "Brutus" and "Miracle"

This was Nathan's favorite part of the day...riding "Chocolate". Actually, Chocolate was "for sale". He begged and he begged for us to buy Chocolate! We, of course, did not give in!

Amelia is riding "Ducky"

After a couple of times around....she was done and wanted off!

Yes...his new special friend.

This is Maddie...the birthday girl!!

Terrible picture of Amelia!

I kid you not, this place was incredible. There was just acres and acres of land! The kids loved playing in this little forest of pine trees. They played hide and go seek! My only prayer was that no one ended up smacking right into a tree while running! We had no first aid issues this day! However, there were two pediatricians at the party.

Olivia was really good at horseshoes....especially standing this close!

We had a wonderful day! We will visit here again. There is just so much for the kids to do and see! The staff was incredibly kind and helpful. They looked and sounded like "real" cowboys and cowgirls. Apparently, this is very impressive to 3, 5 and 8 year olds!

Feast of the Annunciation!

I need to ask again!

I need to ask again for your prayers! I have never been so touched in my entire life with all of you in this blogging community that have offered prayer and sacrifices for me (and my family)! However, we need prayer again as there are some employment issues for Dan and I that I am trying to place at the feet of our Lord with total confidence that all will work out according to His plan. We have been so blessed with our current employers as they also have been supportive and helpful during our times of need, however, things have begun to get a little sticky.

It all boils down to a couple of things:

1. Continue with our parish school vs. home school
2. I'm the one who carries the insurance....I basically work for the benefits
3. I need to keep continuous coverage in order to be insurable because of the cancer
4. Dan is working and going to school and he is so very stressed
5. My job has become a source of severe stress for me and I'm not sure I can go back there (this is a long story that I won't go into).

I know all of these issues might seem trivial to some. Trust me...I am thankful that we have jobs that can pay our bills (not including school), but, I'm going to be honest here....this is how I'm praying, but I know that ultimately...God knows best.

That God would aid us in either Dan locating a job that has somewhat normal hours (9-6, M- F) with benefits and better pay so that we can home school......or, that perhaps I can find something that I can do from home.

Either way, we need a solution and I know that God is interested in the details.

Thank you for your prayers. I think I'm going to get St. Joseph on the job!!

Have you ever.....

....felt the PRIDE of getting up early, broiling the country pork ribs to brown them, getting them and the specially made BBQ sauce into the crock pot so that they will be ready by 4:30pm (because you need to feed and bathe the kids in order to get to your Circle meeting at 6:30pm)....only to realize that you forgot to plug the darn crock pot in and now dinner won't be ready until around 6:00pm???? Sigh.......

Two "real life" scenarios today.

These were real conversations/situations at my house today:

Scenario #1: Dan had given the kids an old cell phone to play with. This morning, I overheard the girls (ages 5 & 3) having this conversation....

Amelia: Aniken Skywalker...come in. Aniken Skywalker...come in...over.
Olivia: Aniken Skywalker here, what'd ya need Obi-Wan, over.

Keep in mind....these are little girls! Too much Clone Wars in this household!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scenario #2: As I'm folding clothes this afternoon....Nathan is chasing the girls. They are screaming and climbing behind the couch...which turned over a very tall pile of folded clothes I had ever so neatly placed on the arm of the couch. I asked them (very nicely I might add) to stop climbing behind the couch!!!

Olivia climbs out and says, "But mom, Nathan is pretending to be a real pickle and he's scaring us vewy, vewy bad"!

Please tell me...how is it that you decide to pretend to be a pickle to scare the girls???

***Just so ya know....it's raining here in Jacksonville today!***

You've Got to Read......

this most excellent column from Danielle Bean! My morning offering had a new meaning today! Thank you Danielle for this....thank you Blessed Mother for being the most perfect example of motherhood.....thank you God for letting me borrow these three beautiful souls!

What a week!

Last week was one of those weeks! You know the kind...where so much is going on that you aren't really sure what day it is. Here is the shake down:

1. First of all, about 10 days ago, I finally took the girls to the pediatrician. They both had fevers at one time or another that week and they both had developed a yukky cough. This cough seemed different to me and so, I wanted to have it checked out. Well, sure enough, it was bronchitis. Amelia had it worse than Olivia...but they were both prescribed antibiotics. When Amelia was 7 weeks old, she had a case of RSV and so whenever her chest becomes congested, I feel a lot better having it checked out. In this case, my "mama's intuition" was correct. They are both on the mend.

2. Last Sunday, Nathan woke up about 4am throwing up. Lovely!! I had really hoped we would finally be over these winter sicknesses! He threw up a couple of times but by noon, he was asking for food! At first, I only gave him toast to see how he kept it down...but by dinner time, he was HUNGRY! So, I made pancakes for dinner. He ate well and was feeling fine. I sent him to school on Monday.

3. Monday and Tuesday everybody was doing great. I had an appointment with the oncologist. I don't have to see him for 3 months! I will see him every three months for two years. Then I will graduate to every 4 months for 2 years....then every 6 months for two years...and then finally... once per year! For now, I don't see him until June so I've got three whole months where I don't need to think about cancer at all! It almost seems like a vacation! I'm so happy! Wednesday morning, Nathan woke up feeling sick again and threw up! Sigh....I kept him home from school. Again, he only threw up once and was asking for food by noon. This time...he got crackers and toast ONLY. He was fine by Thursday so he went to school.

4. Friday was the follow up appointment for the girls. They had completed their course of antibiotics and so the doctor wanted to listen to their lungs again. Amelia was totally fine, however, she said that Olivia had fluid in her ears and her chest was still rattling. She also had tons of gunk in her nose. The doctor said it was all part of the same infection (fluid in the lungs, nose and ears) so she prescribed a antihistamine to help with the extra mucous. Everybody was FINE!! Dan and I took the kids to the Knights of Columbus Friday Fish Fry for dinner. The kids are not big on the fried fish but they love the mac & cheese, cheese grits and hush puppies!! Their were other kids from church/school there, so they were more interested in playing than eating. Amelia complained of an ear ache though! I thought this was strange because the MD said that Olivia was the one with the fluid! Hmmm...interesting. Anyway...to make a long story short....Amelia came home complaining of her stomach....and then, of course, threw up! Sigh....
She only threw up the one time and tossed and turned most of the night. Dan had vomit duty as I had done it with Nathan...it was his turn.

5. This morning, we had a special birthday party to go to. It was held for the daughter of some very good friends. They had it at a place called Diamond D. Ranch. They had horseback riding, a petting zoo, and a great hay ride! I though that maybe I should stay home with Amelia. After all, I really didn't want her throwing up at the birthday party! But, she pitched a total FIT about the idea of her not going. You know, as a mom...you have to pick your battles! I chose not to fight this one. I packed a change of clothes for she and Olivia (I'm sure Olivia will be next with the vomiting), a bucket, paper towels and wipes. I figured I was covered if anybody decide to do the technicolor yawn in the car!

6. Everything went great! The party was so much fun! What a wonderful place for a party!! I will post some pictures some time this next week of our adventure today. The kids loved the horses and loved our hay ride and the petting zoo! Dan's mom went with us and I have to say it was one of the nicest days I've had in the last 9 months! I felt good and it was so great to be outside in the sun and the fresh air! The kids laughed and played (they didn't fight!!) and Dan & I were very laid back and just let them play without knit-picking every aspect of their behavior.

7. Tonight when we got home...they played outside some more, came in for a soup dinner, got into their jammies (sorry, I didn't feel like doing the bath thing tonight) and were in bed by 8:30pm. Dan and I watched Twilight tonight on Comcast On Demand and it was such a peaceful day. I was also able to watch some of the Pope's visit to Angola on EWTN while the soup was heating up. This was just one of those perfect days where you really couldn't have had it any better.

One of the other bad things that happened this week was that I forgot one of my best friend's birthday! **Cindy....I am so sorry! It isn't that I totally forgot...I new it was this week....I just got confused and thought the 19th was on Friday! I know it sounds like an excuse...but that's the truth, just ask Dan****

I also spent some time out on the 40 Days for Life site in front of the Planned Parenthood. What an experience. I didn't realize that at this particular PPH, they do abortions on Friday mornings. My time is Friday's from 7-8am. They have escorts out there for these women. It's a hard thing to do....watch these women getting ready to have an abortion. They ALL walk in with their heads down. Some don't look like they really want to be there. I wish I could personally talk to all of them....to offer them other real choices.


Posts for this next week will include pictures from our Diamond D Ranch birthday party and the Stations of the Cross that we did at our Altar Rosary Society meeting, as well as a visit we have planned for tomorrow from some great friends from Minnesota!!

Tragic. Just Tragic.

Natasha Richardson

May 11, 1963 - March 18, 2009

Ron Silver

July 2, 1946 - March 15, 2009

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

Thanks ladies!

Just wanted to thank all the ladies who commented on my "Swing of Things" post below! As I read it over today, I realize that my mind was much more ambitious than my body! As of today (March 18th, 2009 at 5:55pm), I have done exactly ZERO of the things on the list!

I have basically been sitting around the house (more or less) since August of last year recuperating from either chemotherapy or surgery. Apparently, one of the things that goes down along with my hemoglobin level is my motivation....and physical ability. It has been hard to take it easy and allow myself to heal. I guess a part of me wants to pretend none of this has happened and just go on with life as it was on July 6, 2008. However, the world did not end on that day and July 7th and 8th did happen!

Since my diagnosis, it truly has been a roller coaster ride of emotions and feelings that has thrown me completely off balance several times. All I can do at this point is say "uncle".

Thankfully, God's grace has been evident in everything! It's all around me! Lent is a very appropriate time to contemplate the "desert" experiences that I've had over the last several months. There have been times when I just couldn't pray. God has poured out His grace on me even then...in my desert.

Can I just be honest with you right now??? Cancer S.U.C.K.S.!!! It tears your body apart and forces you to do things to yourself that sound like a science fiction movie plot. I want this to be behind me. I want to be about the tedious and mundane things of life that make sense to me....laundry, dishes, checking homework, grocery shopping, complaining about crappy drivers and just living life without constantly wondering if "the cancer is back" whenever I feel the slightest ache or pain. I want to wake up and have it all be a terrible nightmare. I want to wake up and say, "phew...I'm glad that was just a dream"! I want to look into a mirror and see my body whole again....staring back at me with all the parts I was born with. It's not fair that I have to live my life from PET scan to PET scan! This whole thing reminds me of Pigpen from Peanuts....that darn cloud of dust just follows him everywhere!

Well, anyway...I am thankful for those ladies that commented! If I'm ever going to get beyond this point...I'm going to have to rearrange my priorities. If God allows me to still be on this earth 20 years from now or 20 months from now.....it's going to be way more important to have spent time with my husband and children than mopping the dining room floor! I've always known this...but this week it took some very special and loving ladies to remind me!

Thanks again ladies!

Has anybody ever found......

....these in the tub when you go to take a shower after the kids have had baths????? Just wondering!

Swing of things...

I have got to get back in the swing of things! I have been so discombobulated since my surgery (4 weeks ago tomorrow!). The house is a mess! There is so much to do that I don't even know where to start! I have 2 weeks left of medical leave so I don't have much time to get some stuff done. Here's a partial list:

• Clean off top of entertainment center
• Sweep and mop the kitchen and dining room floor
• Scour the bathroom (including tub)
• Clean ALL glass surfaces
• Change kids sheets
• Go through the kid's drawers and get rid of stuff that doesn't fit anymore
• Weed through my magazines and other material by my chair
• Think about joining Weight Watchers On-line
• Laundry, laundry, laundry and some more laundry
• Get back to meal planning/shopping
• Prepare for Kathy's visit from California

......just to name a few!

It's funny to me how fast things can get out of control when you don't say on top of it! The girls have had bronchitis for the last week or so...they are on the mend but sick kids can sure make a mess! Nathan woke up yesterday morning throwing up...but he was fine by last night. I guess it was one of those 12 hour things. Anyway....it was one of those "lay around" weekends and so there are blankets, buckets, books, various toys and coloring books laying all around the living room. Sigh....well, I better get started instead of writing about it!

A little piece of advice.....

If you are a mother of small children and have cancer......do not...I repeat....DO NOT watch the movie Stepmom! I'm just sayin.

The Blessed Mother and....weeds!

The weather here in Jacksonville has been truly lovely! I know some of my very dear friends are still dealing with the muck and slush of winter and I really am sorry about that! Keep in mind though that you have some natural air conditioning when fall comes along. Here in Jax, we are still knee deep in haze, hot, humid, sweat and mosquitoes well into December! These spring days have been incredible....breezy, cool in the morning and very warm in the afternoon...and NO HUMIDITY!
Today, the kids played outside almost all day! Nathan came in with a handful of the most beautiful weeds I've ever seen! Since they were the color of Lent, I thought I would put them in water and use them for decoration. I don't think you can tell they're weeds unless you look hard. What do you think?

**Don't stare at the picture too closely or you might notice that Mary has no thumbs....don't ask!!!**

Family Movie Night

We try to have a family movie night on Fridays. It doesn't always work out that way though. Either Dan is working or there is some family/church function that we need to attend. However, today the girls behaved really well at the pediatrician's office (they both have bronchitis!!) and so, we wanted to reward them for a really good day!!

Since we hadn't been to the video store, I scoped out what was "On Demand".....and we ended up watching Horton Hears a Who! I have to say, this was a really good movie! I know that we're a little late in watching it as it came out sometime last year, but, it was great!

I'm sure that all of the political "talking heads" and "pundits", pro-lifer's and pro-choicer's have all had a great time picking it apart....but I must say that it had a GREAT message:

"A person is a person, no matter how small"

Hmmm....even Dr. Seuss got it! When will the rest of the knuckleheads?

If you have not had the chance to see this movie....please rent it! You will not be disappointed! Dan and I were in hysterics several times....I mean really belly-laughing! This was just what I needed to shake me out of my funk!

Update

Update on the alphabetizing my favorites in Internet Explorer below!

Thank you, Esther!

There is no other way to say this....I am in a funk! This has probably been the worst two days I've had in a long time. I'm not sure what the problem is. Mostly, I just feel...well, blah. It's like a cross between being depressed and anxious. I've been really irritable and the kids have gotten the brunt of it (as usual). Amelia has been home sick the last two days with a fever and I haven't slept much.

I don't feel like going anywhere or doing anything. Right now it just seems like nothing brings me any joy. I just want to be left alone. However, that's not really conducive to being a good mommy! It would be nice if 5 whole minutes could go by without somebody needing something from me! I'm not sure I have anything left in me to give right now. I'm empty.

Just now, I went to Esther's blog (where I go often to be spiritually uplifted) and guess what was there???? This precious, precious prayer:

Heavenly Father,I awoke this morning in a bad mood

and I have been unable to shake it so far.

Everything bothers me

and everyone rubs me the wrong way.

I just cannot seem to get my true bearings.

Help me to think of your salvation-your countless gifts and overwhelming love for me.

Let me relax and forget life's cares by placing myself wholly in your hands.

Grant that this mood will soon pass and I will be able to bask in your love

and communicate it to others.

Amen.

- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing Company

Thank you, Esther!!!!!!

Small Miracles

****UPDATE****
Just go to your favorites....right click on one of them....then select "sort by name" in the drop down menu......Voila!!!



Believe it or not....I just figured out how to alphabetize my favorites in Internet Explorer! This has been bugging me for the longet time! I'm too embarrassed to tell you how I figured it out.
Just wanted you to join in my joy!!

Wordless Wednesday - Olivia!!

The Woman Who Changed the Face of a Hemisphere!

Tonight, I was blessed to be able to attend a lecture on Our Lady of Guadalupe given by Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, Ph.D. This picture is of a copy of the image that Fr. Chavez brought with him!

I have very limited knowledge of this particular apparition and so I was looking forward to hearing what Msgr. had to say. I am told that he is one of the "leading authorities" on Our Lady of Guadalupe. Well, I was not disappointed!! Msgr. talked of the history of the area in the 1500's as well as the cultures of the Indians and the Spaniards. This is very important in understanding the images on the tilma.

"The image on the tilma shows the Virgin Mother as a mestiza (a woman of mixed race), wrapped in the sun with the moon at her feet, her robe studded with stars. Her message and will is the spreading of the love of God and that is why she asked for a temple, to offer His love to persons of every lineage who trust in Her."

"When the Virgin of Guadalupe printed her image on the humble tilma, she herself, with her own image, decorated and dignified the human being. It is she who goes through a spiritual wedding with the people. It is she who is our protection. Let us remember what she tells Juan Diego, and through him all of us: "Don't be afraid. Am I not here, I who am your mother?" And, it is she who will give us sustenance, her own Son Jesus Christ, who delivers himself in a very special way during the Eucharist. Jesus Christ, our Lord, is the center of the Guadalupan event. He is the one who gives us sustenance with his body and his blood and for this reason the Immaculate Virgin of Guadalupe wants a temple to offer all her love, which is her own Son, Jesus Christ. Thus, the center of her message and her image is not her; it is all about her Son. She shows herself as the immaculate tabernacle of God."
--Father Eduardo Chavez

It is reported that after the apparition, conversions began happening at an astounding rate! In 1539, 8 years after the apparition, almost 9 million Indians had converted!!! Wowzer!!

Prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe

Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the true God for whom we live, bearer

of Jesus Christ who gives us His Spirit and gives life to the Church.

We thank you because you are our loving and compassionate Mother; because you

hear our weeping, our sorrow, because you are the remedy and the cure for our

grief, our misery and our pain.

Thank you, Mother, for placing us in your heart, for allowing us to be under your

shadow and your protection, for being the source of our joy and for keeping us in

the hollow of your robe and the crossing of your arms.

Thank you, Our Mother, because we have learned this message through your

humble son St. Juan Diego and through his intercession we ask that you fortify us

in Peace, in Unity and in Love.

Amen.

***The 1st International Marian Congress called the Guadalupe Festival will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona! Msgr. Eduardo Chavez will be the Keynote Speaker! If you would like more information....go to http://www.guadalupefestival.org/.

What Nathan and Amelia say about me.....

I was taking a few minutes to read through some of my favorite blogs when I found this meme over at Tracy's Organic Learning! I thought I would give it a try...although I am taking a HUGE risk asking my kids these questions! But here goes!



Kids are honest. What do your kids have to say about you? Ask your child(ren) the following questions, and post their answers. (Nathan's answers are in Bold Black and Amelia's are in Bold Red)



1. What is something your mom always says to you? NO! NO!
(well, at least they're consistent)


2. What makes your mom happy? When I do good things. Do good things.
(I wonder why keeping their room clean never came up!)


3. What makes your mom sad? When I'm not being good. When I do bad things.
(I wonder why NOT keeping their room clean never came up!)


4. How does your mom make you laugh? When she tickles me. Tickle me.
(It's strange, I'm really not that aware of all the tickling going on in this house!)


5. What was your mom like as a child? Uhhhh, I don't know. Ride her bike.
(Nathan usually asks me things like.."Did they have TV way back then when you were a kid")


6. How old is your mom? 44 44
(....and this is what they remember!! Geez)


7. How tall is your mom? Oh my gosh, you are.....66 feet long??? Big.
(No Amelia...the questions wasn't "How WIDE is your mom!)



8. What is her favorite thing to do? To read and to go out to the 40 Days for Life site. Go outside and read....and you like to tickle me.
(How come I don't remember all this time to read?)


9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Sleep. You snuggle Olivia.
(I am rarely without one of them....so "no" to the sleep answer and yes to the snuggling!)


10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? It will be for working on computers.
When you married daddy.
(???????)


11. What is your mom really good at? Reading, cause you're always finishing books in like 2 days! You're really good at games.
(What...no mention of my cooking....sigh)


12. What is your mom not very good at? Fixing computers. You're not very good at painting our faces.
(Apparently, that face painting course I took didn't take!)


13. What does your mom do for a job? Works at Baptist Hospital. You work.
(blah, blah, blah)


14. What is your mom's favorite food? Green Beans. Broccoli.
(this is wrong on so many levels!)


15. What makes you proud of your mom? Working for money for a house to live in. You sometimes pick me up from school.
(no sainthood material here!)


16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Minnie Mouse. Caillou.
(I guess this could be worse....like George of the Jungle...or Spongebob.)


17. What do you and your mom do together? We write in journals together. We try to make projects together.
(Try is the operative word here.)


18. How are you and your mom the same? We aren't the same. We look like each other.
(Really?)


19. How are you and your mom different? You go to work and I don't. God made us different.
(True enough!)


20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because when you get mad at me, you say it's because you love me. You help me.
(Yup!)


21. What does your mom like most about your dad? I don't know. You kiss him.
(There are so many reasons!!)


22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? To church. Disney with Nathan.
(Both are correct....as are a million other places!)


Well, I'm quite sure I won't win any "Mother of the Year" awards with these answers.
I must tell you...I wasn't very impressed with Nathan's answers! Although, in his defense, he was trying to watch a Harry Potter movie on the Family Channel over my shoulder. He was NOT interested in answering these questions. I think I'm afraid to ask Olivia...

If you're reading this...consider yourself tagged!

This and That

• Last night was the final night of our Lenten Parish Mission. This was probably one of the very best Mission's that I've been able to attend. Fr. Kevin from the Apostolate for Family Consecration was an excellent speaker and I truly believe that the Holy Spirit was in cahoots with Fr. Kevin to make sure I was there every night!
• A funny thing happened during the closing mass last night.....there was a family with two small boys sitting behind us. The boys behaved VERY WELL all through mass. At the end, right before the final blessing....when the church is at it's quietest...the youngest boy sneezed...after which he stated loudly..."Look, no boogies mom"! Well, it was very hard to contain myself! I started laughing (quietly, of course), but, I couldn't stop! It was not a very prayerful ending to a very spiritually uplifting mass! The kid in me still lives!
• I saw my OB/GYN yesterday morning for my two week surgical follow up! He says I'm healing well! My hemoglobin is still at the level I was two weeks ago...but...he said he will check it again in another 3 weeks. He doesn't want me to go back to work before my 6 weeks is up. I'm still not to lift more than 10 lbs. I only have pain when I've been standing too long. It also seems to really be painful when I'm kneeling at church. Whatever muscles you use to kneel are apparently connected in some way to my lower abdominal muscles. Does this count as a legitimate reason to sit instead of kneel?
• This morning, while doing my hour for the 40 Days for Life vigil in front of the Planned Parenthood....I was struck by the two women that PPH were using as escorts. These women actually think they are HELPING those that come for abortions! How is it that they can't see that what they are doing is actually harmful to the Body of Christ as a whole, as well as to that individual soul inside the womb of these mothers? How can they believe that murder for convenience is helping? These unborn babies are human beings...they are souls created by God. This is why God does not want sex outside of the marriage covenant. This is why in our marriage vows we promise to "accept children lovingly from God". Did you know that there are approximately 8,000 abortions performed in Jacksonville EVERY year! You can not tell me that 8,000 murders every year are due to rape, incest, or the health of the mother. Women are using abortion as a form of birth control! Does Planned Parenthood explain to these women that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer? Do these women understand that their fertility is a gift....that not everyone is even able to conceive? Do people realize that in those 8,000 murders...how many potential doctors, nurses, priests, humanitarians, lawyers, social workers, teachers, mothers, fathers, policemen/women that have been denied the right to life? It could be that we've just murdered a future president, pope, ambassador, or the person who would find the cure for cancer? Interestingly, here in Florida...I could go to jail for disturbing a turtle nest/eggs that I might come across on the beach.....however, I could kill as many babies as I want....and NEVER face a court of law. As a matter of fact, if I went to Planned Parenthood to do it...I would have an escort to help me get there! Do you see how backwards our society is? We value animals and birds more than we value human life. How this must just devastate Our Lord and Our Lady! May God have mercy on us all!

My Glittery Life

Not long ago, Amelia brought home this lovely dragonfly that she had made at school! Isn't it cute??? Problem is.....it's made with glitter! I have been finding this glitter in the darnedest places! Tonight, while preparing dinner, guess where I found some glitter??? In the BUTTER....that's kept IN THE REFRIGERATOR! How in the name of all that is Holy did glitter get into the butter?

On second thought....don't answer that!

Quick Question...

Yes, I realize I have not kept to the "wordless Wednesday" thing I started this morning.....but I have a question:

Is there a record for how many times a dining room floor has been swept while your children are playing with PlayDoh? I have done it 4 times in the last hour, and, I now have little specks of purple and yellow stuck in the broom. I guess it's easier to sweep up after it's dried! Sigh....

Wordless Wednesday

Vatican 2007

A Spiritual Bouquet

I just wanted to share with you the wonderful spiritual bouquet I received a few days ago from Dan's brother and his family! This was so thoughtful and appreciated! What a wonderful gift to offer for someone that you've been praying for! God is so very good!

A Name Meme

I was tagged by Therese at Musings of a Mom!! Thanks Therese!



Copy the questions from my post and paste them in a new post on your blog. Erase my answers and put yours in. Use the first letter of your name to answer ALL of the following questions. If the person before you has the same 1st letter pick a new one. You CAN NOT use anything twice, and you CAN NOT use your own name for the boy/girl question. After you are done, tag 5 people.......



1. What is your name?: Nancy

2. A 4 letter word: Nice

3. A boy's name: Nathan

4. A girl's name: Nina

5. An occupation: Nurse

6. A color: Nude

7. Something you wear: Necklace

8. A Food: Noodles

9. Something found in the bathroom: Nail Polish

10. A place: Naples

11. A reason for being late: Nausea

12. Something you shout: NO!

13. A movie title: Nim's Island (we just watched this...good movie)

14. Something you drink: Nyquil

15. An animal: Nightingale

16. A song title: National Anthem

17. A verb: Nudge



Here are my five tags:



Barbara at Praying for Grace

Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop

Barb at SFO Mom

Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Michele at Mama in High Heels