A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My special friend, Judy, hosts this meme every Wednesday! Her motto is "a thankful heart is a joyful heart"! I completely agree! In this meme, we are to share 5 things that we are thankful for this week. Please join us for an Attitude of Gratitude and visit Judy's blog for the link up! Prepare to be blessed!

1.  Today, I am thankful for my parish family!  I had the opportunity to sit and talk with a friend of mine on Sunday, after the annual "Mother/Daughter Breakfast".  We spent some time sharing about how we have such an active parish and how both of our families have been supported and loved during some very trying times in our lives.  It never ceases to amaze me how an individual, a ministry or a circle group can really step up to assist in meeting the needs of other parishioners.  In this day and age of "me,me,me", it's nice to know that we can put others first by being Jesus to them.

2. If it's possible to be thankful for a television show (do you sense my sarcasm?), then I am extremely thankful for 19 Kids and Counting!  This is probably the most wholesome show I allow my kids to watch outside of EWTN!  The Duggars are a remarkable family and I so appreciate that they allow cameras into their lives so that others can benefit from their experiences.  When I see how Michelle gently guides her children, I feel encouraged that I can set the tone for how our household runs and that it is possible to have peace.  I have no doubt that they are a regular family in the sense that there is lots of noise, chaos and messes...just like in my house.  What makes them remarkable is how they deal with  life.  I pray for the wisdom and ability to have the servants heart that Michelle does.

3.  I am also thankful for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI!  I believe him to be a true man of God.  He reminds me so much of my grandfather that when I see him on television, I feel the urge to just put my arms around him and hug him!  He is a true Shepherd and we as Catholics, are truly blessed to have him.  I need spend more time praying for him.  He needs our prayers of protection especially during this time in history when the persecution of The Church is in high gear!

4.  I'm thanking God for my son's homeroom teacher T.G.!  He has many other wonderful teachers, but T.G. is special.  For one thing, she genuinely loves her students.  Truly!  She clearly feels that their souls are much more important than their grades!  She treats them as though they were her own children.  I never worry about him not getting what he needs spiritually or academically during the day.  She never hesitates to let me know what's going on and she challenges him to do better...to grow to be a better person.  Mostly, she doesn't take any tween crap from him!  I'm so thankful that she is his teacher!  Thank you, T.G. for all that you do!  The Widener's love you!

5.  Lastly, I am thankful that our bird is doing better.  It was touch and go there for awhile.  She has a paralyzed left foot.  We still don't know what's caused it.  It could be arthritis, it could have been a stroke or it could be a tumor.  We may never know.  All I know is that she is eating and drinking again and ripping paper like crazy!  She seems happy and is singing all the time.  I don't know how long she will live, but I'm glad we went ahead and visited the vet.....even if it cost us a fortune!

What are you thankful for this week??

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My special friend, Judy,  hosts this meme every Wednesday!  Her motto is "a thankful heart is a joyful heart"!  I completely agree!  In this meme, we are to share 5 things that we are thankful for this week.  Please join us  for an Attitude of Gratitude and visit Judy's blog for the link up!  Prepare to be blessed!

1.  This week, I'm extremely grateful for the gift of song/music.  I've heard it said that when you sing, you pray twice!  I was blessed to hear some very special Sacred Music by a very special artist.  Once I heard her sing (by "her", I mean Colleen Nixon), I was instantly in the presence of God!  Honestly, it was a gift!

2.  I'm very thankful for friends who you can share daily frustrations and  joys with.  It's so nice to be able to talk to someone and you know that they know how you feel...because they've been there, done that!  It's almost as though words aren't needed....just a look, a glance and the recognition of "I know how you feel." 

3.  I'm thankful that we have a religious articles shop right in the back of our church!  I found Amelia's First Communion veil there just this past weekend!  I have been looking all over town (and on the internet) but not really finding what I was looking for.  After mass on Sunday, I snuck into the shop for a few minutes and found the perfect one!

4.  For family celebrations!  We just celebrated my nephew's Confirmation and my niece will be graduating from college this coming Friday....with honors!  We also have Amelia's First Communion next month, as well as Olivia's graduation from Kindergarten.  I don't see these events as burdens to "get through"....I see them as times of enjoying each other's company, lots of laughter and lots of good food! 

5.  I'm thankful today, for the gift of memories.  I miss my mother and father so much.  My dad has been gone for 30 years (in June)...and yet it seems like yesterday.  Sometimes, when I'm in a crowd of people, I hear someone cough or clear their throat and it sounds just like my dad.  It's almost as if he's right there with me.  Usually, when that happens, I spend the rest of the day reliving memories of the special times with my dad.  My mom has been gone for 6 years and sometimes, I still pick up the phone as if to call her.  If we didn't have memories of our loved ones, a part of our lives would cease to exist.  We are who we are because of them.  Their memories will live on in my heart and mind, forever!  Thank goodness!!

What are you thankful for this week???

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My good friend Judy hosts this meme every Wednesday!  It's all about having an "attitude of gratitude".  Focusing on all the blessings God has bestowed upon me instead of all the bumps in my road of life...is a good thing!  I am to share 5 things that I'm thankful for....

1.  For the mild weather we have been having here in Jacksonville!  It's been perfect for being outside and enjoying nature....not too hot and not too cold!  Perfect for springtime!

2.  For the overnight trip we took as a family last week!  Even though it was only a short jaunt to the beach, we enjoyed ourselves immensely!  We got to play in the ocean, swim in the hotel pool and have a yummy dinner of fresh seafood (crab)!

3.  For a husband who isn't afraid (or reluctant) to do regular household duties to help out his exhausted wife.  Doing the dishes, making the kids lunches and cleaning up after an aging dog who had an accident on the carpet are just some of the sacrifices my husband makes after a hard day of work.

4.  For our seminarians!  Having 3 of them "home" during Holy Week was a true blessing!  Having them assisting on the altar in their vestments (cassock and laced surplice) is just incredible!  What a sight!

5.  For the restored health of my sister-in-law, MJ.  She was ill with an upper respiratory infection and then had a severe allergic reaction to the antibiotics!  This landed her in ICU for a few days but I am happy to report that she has made a full recovery!  Thanks be to God!

This felt good.....to look for God's blessings and share them!  From now on, Wednesdays will be my day of thanks! 

Please join in on this humbling meme!  Take a few minutes to focus on your blessings and then visit Judy so you can take part!

Just for today!

Outside my window...

Still dark but it's a cool 63 degrees (for a brief moment). I've been praying for some fall like weather and God has kindly allowed me just a glimpse. For however long it lasts (the weatherman says about 2 days), I'm going to enjoy EVERY second!

I am thinking...

...about my spiritual life and how I can make it better. I find myself so busy lately that it's hard to find time to just "be" with God. It's easy to just shrug it off saying, "oh well, God knows where I am and that everything I do for my family is a prayer". Yes, that would be the easy thing. However, I need to make an effort to communicate with God....to allow Him to communicate with me. For me, this means being still, being quiet.

I am thankful for...

...my family. It is so easy to take advantage of the gifts that my husband and children are to me. I am ashamed to admit that there are days when I feel like I could turn them all in for new, quiet and more obedient models! They are my life and I love more than I could ever express.

From the learning room...

..we're still working on on the human body! Today, Nathan will continue working on the skeletal and the muscular system. Amelia and Olivia will be learning more about our 5 senses. I have some fun, themed activities planned as well as a trip to the zoo tomorrow! If the weather stays nice as the day progresses, we will do some of our lessons outside! I have not been doing a good job at keeping our book lists updated so I will work on that this week.

From the kitchen...

... I found a recipe for Beef Empanadas that I'm going to try tonight as I have all the ingredients to make them. The rest of the week will be easy and cheap as payday isn't until Friday! I have some fish and a pork loin in the freezer and some potatoes that I need to use up.

I am wearing...

....pink pajamas in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I am creating...

...some fall projects for the kids and I to do...pumpkin decorating (not carving) and a fall leaf activity. Also, we're going to make a pasta skeleton! Pictures to follow!

I am reading...

...With the exception of my Magnificat, I'm not reading anything for myself. However, we are in the middle of a family read aloud called, "Adventures on Amelia Island: A Pirate, A Princess, and a Buried Treasure" by local author Jane R. Wood. I would call it "historical fiction" about a nine year old boy and his adventures into local history. This is the second in a series!

I am hoping...

..for a productive homeschooling week with cooperative students and a non grouchy teacher!

I am hearing...

..the hum of the fan.

Around the house...

...laundry and getting the girls to clean their room.

One of my favorite things...

...that first pumpkin spice latte of the season..it was divine!

A few plans for the rest of the week...

...same ole, same ole, but with a better attitude! The zoo, soccer practice, a soccer game and a book fair. I'm also considering taking our dog to church this afternoon for the Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis.

A thankful woman's book of blessings!

My friend, Judy at Benmakesten, hosts a wonderful meme on Wednesdays called "A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings"! This meme allows a place for us to share all of the wonderful blessings that God bestows on us...everyday! There is no way that I could list them all, but here are just a few:

1. I am thankful for memories of times gone by! I recently received a CD as a gift from a very dear friend. The CD is of his brother's band that used to play in the Bay Area (S.F.) in the early 90's. I had not heard this music in over 15 years! It brought back so many wonderful memories of friendship and good times! It really was a special time in my life. I've listened to the CD while doing dishes and making dinner for the last two nights in a row. The girls and I dance around the kitchen like little kids (hey, the girls are little kids!). Anyway, it's been wonderful remembering and seeing how God was blessing me...even then! Thanks, Paul!

2. I am thankful for my faith! I'm not sure I would be here today if it wasn't for my faith in God and His Church. Seriously. I know that I owe my life to the protection of Our Blessed Mother!

God has given me so much and I realize that it is through the eyes of His Church that I am even able to comprehend what little I do about His love for me. To even fathom that He knew me and loved me for all eternity...leaves me awestruck and very humbled.

3. I am thankful for my blogging friends! I know that it seems strange to call women that you've never physically met "friends", but, it's true! The connection that I feel with these ladies sometimes leaves me scratching my head! These women help me to grow in my faith daily. They inspire me, encourage me, pray for me and share with me...everyday! They mean the world to me!

4. I am thankful for my health! I guess this is one of those things where you don't know what you've got until it's gone! I have learned that taking care of this temple is so very important. I don't do such a great job at this. I need to eat better, exercise more, worry less and laugh a ton!

God has removed the cancer...at least for now! He has given me this time to be with my family and grow in relationship with Him! I pray that I can make good use of this time...whether it lasts for 30 years or 3 years.

5. I am always thankful for my husband and children! They are the reason I get up every morning! They are the reason I have gray hair! They are the reason that I live and breathe!

They are also the reason that I have this strange twitch! They are the reason why I am the happiest that I've ever been in my life! And yet, they are the reason why I need several cups of coffee in the morning and the reason I sometimes contemplate getting in the car and just driving...and driving and driving. They are the reason why I was born...to be a mom and wife! They are the reason I feel so loved! One of them (who shall remain nameless) is the reason I am up right now...posting this at 3:32am! God love em'!

Happy Wednesday, everybody!