On this last day of 2009!

Outside my window…Overcast, gray and rainy...I like it. Makes you want to hunker down and snuggle in your jammies.

I am thinking. . . that 2009 wasn't such a bad year! It actually went rather quickly! There are things that I wish I could have accomplished, but, being alive, healthy and with my family means more than anything!

I am thankful for. . . this life that God has given me, my children, my husband, my home, my job, family and friends.

From the kitchen. . .I think I'm going to make potato soup with the leftover ham from Christmas. It's definitely a good day for soup and homemade biscuits.

I am wearing. . . pajamas bottoms and a gray t-shirt.

I am going. . . to let the kids play GameCube this morning. They've been begging me all week. It annoys me terribly, so I usually say NO. But, I'll allow it today.

On the nightstand. . . MAJOR dust. Oh, and Going Rogue (Sarah Palin).

On the lookout for... space saving home organizers. I will be conducting a major purge this year and I'm looking for ways to save space.

I am hoping. . . That 2010 will be filled with opportunities for spiritual growth and for spending lots of time with family and friends.

I am hearing. . . Dan preparing to go to work and Nathan getting the GameCube ready.

Praying for... the Talley Family and for all those who have asked me to pray for them.

Around the house. . . lots of Christmas decorations to begin to put away and a bath tub that is in desperate need of cleaning!

One of my favorite things. . . sitting in my favorite chair, curled up with my laptop or a good book, listening to the laughter of my children.

A few plans for the rest of the week. . . a special meal with extended family on New Years Day, putting up new calendars and getting the kids ready for school.

Here is picture thought I am sharing. .


borrowed from Bonny Blue Days

House of Germs!

We can't seen to get rid of the crud! For almost 5 months now, we've been passing this little sucker back and forth amongst ourselves. Some of us have ended up with the flu, some with an ear infection and some of us with strep. Amelia started getting sick on Christmas Eve. As a matter of fact, we didn't go to mass as a family on Christmas. Dan stayed home with Amelia and I took the other kids. By Christmas Day, she was feeling better.....but the cough started. While Olivia is still dealing with a lingering ear infection, Amelia now has bronchitis. To top it all off, I have a cold! You know the kind....you can't breathe, you can't taste or smell....the kind that makes you use several boxes of Kleenex in one day....and the kind that sends your husband back to the drugstore for more cough drops because you've gone through a whole bag in 3 days!

I've read where Saint Cornelius and Saint Polycarp are good for earaches. Does anyone know of a Patron Saint for clogged sinuses?

Christmas Hit!

I had no idea that this little book would be the hit that it has become in this house! You can read about the series here and here! Nathan has already finished Book One! We will be making a special trip to the bookstore tomorrow to purchase Book Two! The good news for me.....this book has no teeny-weeny parts that I step on in the middle of the night....there is no adding water....and you need no tools to put it together!

General Questions....

I'm just curious about a couple of things....

1. How much PEZ candy do you let your children consume at one time?

2. Is it wrong to let them eat it for breakfast on the day after Christmas?

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Joseph

I've been thinking a lot about Joseph lately. As we draw nearer to the day of Christ's birth, our focus is naturally on Jesus. We also talk and sing much about Mary and her very special role as a human creation.....and as the Mother of God. But, Joseph is sometimes put to the side during these most holy days. We talk about him only in terms of his "assistance" to Mary during her pregnancy and during the Birth. Sometimes I forget that the Angel of the Lord also appeared to him. God chose Joseph for the task of being the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph was CHOSEN!
This request by God probably dumfounded him just as much as it would any of us. Yet, he knew what he had to do. Even when something doesn't seem likely, God will still see it through to its completion.

Anyway, I was remembering a Christmas song that I had heard many years ago that told the story from Joseph's point of view. I thought it would be appropriate to post the words to that song here, for you to enjoy and ponder. There is a video of the song at the bottom of the post.....visually...it's not that great, but the lyrics are very special! Press play, and then read along. Enjoy!

"Strange Way To Save The World"

**

I'm sure he must have been surprised

at where this road had taken him

'Cause never in a million lives

Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem

And standing at the manger

He saw with his own eyes

The message from the angel come alive

And Joseph said....

**

[chorus]

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade

Why Him, with all the rulers in the world

Why here, inside this stable filled with hay

Why her, she's just an ordinary girl

Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say

But this is such a strange way to save the world.

**

To think of how it could have been

If Jesus had come as He deserved

There would have been no Bethlehem

No lowly shepherds at His birth

But Joseph knew the reason

Love had to reach so far

And as he held the Savior in his arms

He must have thought....

[chorus]

Written by Mark Harris, performed and record by 4HIM

Update!!

Thank you all for your prayers. Ethan is doing somewhat better! On Friday, they did a scope (both ends) and they think they found Ulcerative Colitis. They did a biopsy on one of the ulcers but we won't have those results until sometime tomorrow. The doctor thought that there is still a chance that it's Crohn's Disease. He has been receiving IV fluids and has perked up considerably since then!

Extra laundry and prayer request!

Last night, Dan took the kids out to see some Christmas lights. There is one house that has done such a huge display that they have it synchronized to music! According to Nathan, it was "incredible"! However, Amelia must have a problem with riding in a car and looking outside at the Christmas lights...because she decided to throw up all over herself and her car seat! Nathan was totally freaked out! So...today I'm doing laundry.....and airing out the car!

On a more positive note....I finished the Christmas cards!!! I apologize to those of you who won't get theirs until after Christmas because they aren't getting in the mail until later today!

I also have a prayer request. My nephew (who is 17) is in the hospital. He has been sick since sometime before Thanksgiving. He's can't keep any food down. He's lost close to 21 pounds! They have done several tests and can't seem to figure out what's going on. He saw a GI doctor on Monday and they put him on another anti biotic. He seemed better for about a day..and then he began vomiting again. They admitted him last night. Please pray for Ethan, and for the physicians that are treating him. We need to get to the bottom of this! Thank you!

Busy Week!

I love the last week of school before Christmas vacation starts!! Don't you?? There is always a ton of activity. This Friday, all three of the kids have class parties. Usually, I do a small gift for each child in their classes...almost always home made. Last year, I bought a couple of ornament making kits thinking that this could be something I could accomplish while recovering from chemo and resting! WRONG!! Once I took them out of the package, I realized that I had bitten off more than I could chew! Thankfully, my wonderful friend Kathy (who does marvelous bead work) came for a visit earlier this year! She agreed to take the kits back home with her (California) and put them together in her spare time! I received a package in the mail a few weeks later with all of the ornaments beautifully put together! I can never thank you enough, Kathy! There are three designs here.....snowflakes, crosses and "joy" hangers!

As I was getting ready to wrap them....I decided I should count them...just to make sure we had enough! Good thing I did....we were short by 4! I needed 48 and only had 44. So I we took a side trip down to Hobby Lobby after school today. It was "slim pickins" as far as Christmas crafts go. I was able to find these cute candy canes that you can make out of buttons! Since I only needed 4, I figured I could handle this. I should have taken a picture of them before I wrapped them...but here is what the package looked like! To top it all off...all of the Christmas crafts were 50% off! I only paid $4 for this kit (and it makes 12)!

I'm still in the process of getting these done! I've taken care of Nathan and Amelia's classes. I'll finish off Olivia's tomorrow. I added a Christmas pencil and put them in decorative bags (very cheap at Walmart)! Now I just have to figure out how to get 48 of these bags in my car and to each of their classes on Friday! This should be interesting.

At the beginning of the year, Amelia's kindergarten teacher asks the parents to sign up to read to her class in the mornings. I've read to her class the last two Wednesdays and I read again tomorrow! The first week, I read this book....last week, I read this book and brought in some candy canes for the class! Tomorrow, we will read this book....

This is a great book! For a treat, I wanted to make Christmas Tree cookies....but, baking sugar cookies and using the cookie cutters...well it's just not my thing! Besides....these days, I want all my cookies to look like Amanda's! In light of my inadequacies.....I decided to buy the cookies (thank you Publix)! They had some "ok" looking tree cookies. I wrapped them each individually in a cellophane wrapper and used a Christmas sticker to fasten it.

I put them in another bag for safety reasons (I don't want them turning to crumbs) and tied it with ribbon.

Tomorrow night I will get busy trying to bake some of the REALLY EASY Cranberry Tarts for all of my co workers.....and do my best to get the Christmas cards out!!

Advent is moving along at a pretty good clip! How are you celebrating?

Cancer Update

I had my 3 month follow up with the oncologist today! I can't believe it's been that long already. He didn't really have much to say except for throwing some statistics out there. Suffice it to say, my goal right now is to get to 5 years without a recurrence. If I can do that, then I believe the numbers are something like 10-15% of it ever coming back....over a LIFETIME! I can most certainly live with that (the operative word being live!).

They were not able to get a blood return from my portacath. This is a bummer. He'd like for me to keep the port until we're at least 2 years out from the end of chemo. However, sometimes your body can decide that it no longer wants this foreign object anymore and can begin to attack it. This wouldn't be good. I have another appointment in 3 months...if they still can't draw blood....he'll schedule me to have it removed. *****sigh*****

Some of you may remember the....um......drama that surrounded the portacath's insertion! I do not want (nor need) any more drama...thank you very much! I would rather just keep the portacath until they absolutely must remove it!

It's always strange going back to the cancer center. Seeing those nurses, smelling the smells has a way of bringing back memories of my time there. The memories aren't bad, exactly, they are just...unpleasant. It's bearable, but I long for the day when I won't ever have to go back there again. Still, I owe all of those people, and all of those poisons, my life!

I won't have to have another PET Scan until 2011 (that's a relief!). However, he wants me to have a Bone Density study soon. Apparently this measures bone thinning and the medication I'm on (Arimidex), can cause that in some people. He also informed me that there isn't much he can do with the arthritic pain I'm having. It's just a side effect of the medication. He said he'd be happy to give me something for the pain...but....I played the martyr and told him no!

All in all, it was good visit. Thank you all for your concern and prayers. I truly appreciate them!

"I will strengthen you, and help you". (Is 41:10b)

On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Is 29: 18-19)

I've been reflecting on these words since Saturday evening when I read them in my Magnificat. My heart is heavy right now for two families. Please take a few moments to offer up a prayer for

this family.......and this family.

Thank you.

Gaudete Sunday

Would you like to see....

.....some of the most wonderful Christmas cookies I have ever laid eyes on??? You do?? Well, you've come to the right place! Her name is Amanda and she blogs at i am baker!

Let me just give you a "sneak peak" at some of her talent!

I am so impressed with her creativity and her detail! Take a few minutes to peruse her blog. You will find some of the straightest and thinnest lines you have every seen! Her attention to detail is not easily matched! I visit her blog everyday....waiting oh so patiently for a new post with new pictures (I am a sucker for pictures)! You will find a link to her blog on my sidebar!

Thank you, Amanda, for being willing to share your talent with the world!

This is what we're watching!

We brought this home from the library today! Do you remember these????

Guess What????

My husband cleaned the bathroom today! I'll repeat that for those who weren't paying attention...."MY HUSBAND CLEANED THE BATHROOM TODAY"!!
Truthfully, it was on my list of things to do this past weekend, but time got away from me. Then, when Olivia's left eardrum decided to rupture, cleaning the bathroom was not even on my radar. I stressed about it all day at work, knowing that we had some friends coming for dinner tonight and I would have to move with lightening speed when I got home. However, when I got home...the bathroom had already been cleaned! This is Awesome!

I'm sure he has absolutely NO IDEA how much this helped me today! He has no idea how much lighter I feel...how much I needed that extra help! Although, he's always been willing to help out with housework and such, today...he SAW what I was thinking and just did it...just for the sake of wanting to help me!

I have an awesome husband. Thanks honey! I love you!

2nd Week of Advent

We have been moving very slowly at our house lately (Thank you, Barbara & Judy!). Although we've had a lot to do, we've tried not to tire ourselves out by doing it all at once! For instance, we bought our tree the day after Thanksgiving. It lived in our backyard for two days, until we had time to bring it inside. Then, to slow things down even further, we didn't decorate it at all for over a week! We just let it deliver that glorious smell that I love so much! We finally got around to putting the lights and decorations on it this past Sunday.

St. Nicholas visited our house on Saturday night! He always brings new Christmas pajamas and some chocolate gold coins! Here is a photo of the kids in there new pj's....

We had our annual St. Nicholas/gingerbread decorating party over the weekend! It is always a real hit with the kids! We start off by praying the Rosary, which moves right into the potluck and then the decorating. This year, my kids barely had the gingerbread house decorated when they began eating it! The good news....I don't have that sugar-filled, gloppy, messy, sticky thing hanging around until I have to throw it away!

Sunday night, we were treated to a call from the North Pole! Santa called to talk with each of the kids. I think Nathan was the most excited of all of them! If you're interested in having Santa call your children, you can make those arrangements at http://www.santaspeaks.com/!

We don't have a lot going on this week....except Olivia is home from school today (and I'm home from work) with an earache. I can't call the doctor until 8:30am. We just can't seem to get well around here. I'm starting to tire of the constant co-pays, the antibiotics, the making up homework issue...and.....I guess knowing there are little germs living in this house that I can't seem to get rid of! Waaa, waaaa, waaaa....whine, whine, whine!

As I look back over the last year...I'm amazed that it's gone by so quickly! At this time last year, I had just finished my last chemo and was walking around....bald! I have much to be thankful for this year...and although it might not seem like it, I am extremely thankful to God for my health, for my husband and children, for my job and health care! We have a roof over our heads and food in the pantry. I am also thankful that we can afford medicine when we are sick!

So, as we celebrate this beautiful Feast of the Immaculate Conception, let us be ever more thankful to God and to our Blessed Mother for all that we have.

Winter has come....temporarily!

I'm so happy it's cold this morning! It won't last long though....supposed to be 80 degrees on Wednesday! ****sigh**** Such is winter in Jacksonville.

God's Chisel

Please take the time to watch this video....it's sooo worth it!

Recipe Swap Thursday!

Here is my Christmas cookie recipe for today's swap:

Speculaas Koekjes (Dutch Spice Cookies)

2 cups brown sugar
1 ½ cups butter or hard margarine
3 ½–4+ cups flour
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp salt, scant
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon ginger

Cream butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix, adding enough flour to form a very stiff dough. Press well-chilled dough into cookie boards (flour mold well, press dough in with fingers, level it off, then turn the board over and bang one on the counter so the cookie drops out).* Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350º F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in sealed container to retain crispness.

*To use with Rycraft Cookie Stamp: wipe stamp lightly with oil to help prevent sticking. Form dough into 1-inch balls, (roll in granulated sugar), place on ungreased cookie sheet, and stamp immediately. If design disappears, add more flour to dough. If dough begins to stick, brush particles from stamp and treat again with oil.

*Or shape into cylinder of desired size and chill thoroughly in covered container. Slice and bake as above. Makes six dozen this way.

*******I just made 6 dozen of these last night*****

Visit Therese at The Musings of a Mom for more recipes!!

Advent: Week One

Why do I always pack away my Advent Wreath with all of the Christmas decorations? I usually need it sooner than I need the decorations! Naturally, it was in the last box I pulled down from the shelf! This may be our last year with the fabric wreath...but I'm not sure. I still don't completely trust them around a lit candle. Anyway, we are looking forward to our St. Nicholas celebrations. Nathan and Amelia both have parties at school this Friday! Each class will make a St. Nicholas ornament and I'll be baking special Dutch Spice cookies (in the shape of St. Nick's miter) for the treats! Oh, and yes, I realize that the Christ candle goes in the middle of the wreath....I just don't have one at the moment.

Nathan's class made Advent Wreaths of their own! I thought this was a great idea for kids! Just pop up a candle each week! This is an excellent craft for the younger ones!

For their class projects on Friday, they're going to make St. Nicholas ornaments. Rather than have the students trace the patterns and then cut them out....I did all of that for them to save time. All they will have to do is glue it all together. It will start out looking like this.....

And end up looking like this! You can find this pattern as well as lots of other St. Nicholas information at the St. Nicholas Center! Enjoy!

The start of the new liturgical year is always exciting. And, since Nathan will begin training for altar serving in the next few months, I purchased this Liturgical Wheel from Aquinas & More! He's very interested in why Father's vestments change colors and I thought this might help him with understanding the changes.

And lastly...I didn't feel like doing a monthly calendar for December....just too tired and too much other stuff to do. I think the liturgical wheel will suffice for helping us with saint feast days and holy days as well as the Advent Calendar that Grandma brings us. They take turns opening the little doors. Amelia did bring home this calendar from school. I went ahead and put it up so that they have a visual.

What have you guys been up to? I'd love to see pictures of your activities! Thanks for allowing me to share our family with you!