Category Archives: Family

Lent, life, loss, hope

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Once upon a time, there was a couple who had been married a long time.  Blessed with 4 children who were happy, healthy and going through the usual ups and downs of childhood.  No complaints, just normal life.  This couple was open to life.  Even though they are both approaching mid 40s, they were healthy and open to God’s plan in regards to their family.  Lo, and behold one day it happened.  The woman suddenly and without warning re-gained her sense of smell during Mass whilst seated next to a woman who clearly hit the garlic rolls the night before,(heavy emphasis on garlic).  Confused with this return of olfactory sensation and accompanying nausea, a quick count on the PeriodTrackerApp prompted a visit to the local CVS.

Confirmation post peeing on a stick.  Twice.  And the world began to spin.

Fast forward through the week of sudden shock and awe at this life turn of events as the couple quietly processes the news with prayers, trepidation, joy, laughter, wonder and trust.  Clearly God has a plan here; who were they to question.

Then.

Just as the reality settled itself and planning stages were to begin:  when to tell the kids, the family, friend, etc., doctor’s appointment, bedroom rearranging, financial rearrangement, etc, etc, etc..  The woman began to bleed.

And cramp.

And reality readjusted.  And plans were undone.  Tears were cried.  A mental day was taken.  And with Lent upon them, they clung to the promise that God’s plan is infinitely better than their own.  Despite the temporary confusion and fog, He has great things in store.  In addition to His promise of hope and plans and future, He has given this family, this couple a special soul to intercede on their behalf.

Thanks be to God.

imgres Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Spring fever Saturday

Day 6 of the blog-o-thon and SATURDAY.  Not to make anyone feel bad, but oh MY word!!!!!  The weather is stunning already and it’s only 7:20 a.m.

The life of a parent:  so funny…we had all 4 kids OUT of the house last night at once, which is unheard of. However…….as life would have it…..the times overlapped a bit and by the time we had the youngest dropped off at the skate rink, the tax guy showed up an hour earlier than anticipated, as he was finishing up our youngest son made it home.  The great news is that we were still able to sit and enjoy the 2nd to last episode of Downton in peace!!  And the taxes are done.  Not to mention we had leftovers, so I didn’t have to cook.  Overall:  GREAT night and no complaints!

Alleged to creep to almost 80 degrees today and we have a bike ride on the beach planned for the afternoon!!

Stole this from a friend who was at the beach the other day!!

Stole this from a friend who was at the beach the other day!!

Until then, though…..I must pay the bills and get the grocery list ready to tackle the “must-dos” before the “fun-dos”.

Happy Saturday!!!

Finally Friday

Home stretch!  Friday is my FAVORITE day of the week.  Yes, I do have to work, but the light…the LIGHT is so very, very BRIGHT at the end of the tunnel!

Still blogging for the 7 days with the Conversion Diary and friends!!  Woot, woot!  In honor of blogging 7 days, here’s 7 Quick Takes from the week!

1.  Blogging every day is HARD!!!!  Even Jen had a fail day.  Perhaps a fail at ONE missed blog day, but reading her post on her “Day in the Life” made me remember just how hard those years are with littles and I honestly don’t know how you young Mamas blog at all!!

2.  Blogging every day is QUICK!  If I want to do it, I have to sit down and get to it or it’s not going to happen.  Good thing?  Bad thing?  Either way, it’s a blog post.

3.  Blogging every day is helping me to re-prioritize my daily activities and prepping for Lent.  Truly.  I am seeing where and WHEN I can be more productive in certain areas and that is oh-so-helpful in making me a wee bit more organized!  Which I love.

4.  On to other topics…because I need to be quick here!

5.  Last week I shopped CASH ONLY.  Saved about $50.  I’m doing it again.  It’s a little scary, but truly empowering!

6.  Lent is coming and I scheduled my annual physical right in the middle of it.  Perfect time to add eating simply to my goal of keeping Lent simple, eh?  Because who doesn’t get a little motivation from the thought of stepping on the scale for an annual review?  Who?

7.  It’s Friday.  EVERY.  ONE.  OF.  THE.  KIDS.  WILL.  BE.  OUT.  OF.  THE.  HOUSE. TONIGHT.  ALLATONCE!!  You know what that means, right?????  Yesssss, we are catching up on the last two Downton Abbeys!!!  Although we may save the finale and savor it.  Gotta say, I still love Downton, but truly not the most exciting season….nonetheless, I will be having withdrawals and ready for next season!!

Happy Friday, y’all and make it on over to Conversion Diary for other better blogging spectaculars!

Blessings!!

 

Wacky Wednesday

Back for more, I am a glutton for punishment for blogging 7 days in a row with the crew over HERE.

The day started out pretty well with full cooperation from the kiddos resulting in everyone INCLUDING me getting to our respective places on time.  Always a bonus!!  The work schedule was light in comparison to the last week or two.  I even made it to the gym at lunch time for a very good workout.  Then, the rain started.  We had an impromptu (and much-needed training session) at work.  Due to my training, my co-worker busted the patients in and out and stayed a half hour late.  Then I stayed a half hour late to put all the studies together and finish up the post processing on some of the exams.  I was so COMPLETELY engrossed in finishing and getting out that I totally FORGOT our son had a make up music lesson and I was on pick up duty.  A half an hour ago.  Rain.  Traffic.  Later than late.  Someone send me the Mother of the Year Crown, STAT!!!

The best part is that after I picked up our boy and we got gas (fumes will only get you so far), we had to stop and get bananas (we live in a house of monkeys and bananas are a staple we simply can not keep) but on arriving home……

DINNER WAS READY.  TABLE WAS SET.  And we ate as a family.   A little late.  It was hot.  It was good.  We were together.  It was still raining.  It didn’t matter.

Onward Thursday!!

 

Monday minutiae and a shrunken head

Day 2 of the 7 day stretch with the Conversion Diary peeps!

Mondays are crazy here;  are they that way for you, also?  Coming off the weekend high of relaxed (hopefully) schedules and then BAM!  back into the grind.  The a.m. moves a little slower and grumpier around here on Mondays, but somehow we make it through.  The Monday Miracle, I say.

Our Monday brought Eeyore kind of weather:

“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily.”So it is.””And freezing.””Is it?””Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately.”

Ok, kidding.  No snow or freezing, but totally gloomy.  Whatevs.  Spring will come and summer, too and before long, we’ll be crying the blue about the heat, so I’m zipping it.

Work has been crazy busy and steady and today after work I took our oldest daughter to the Walk-in clinic for a sinus infection (just call me doctor, I diagnose for fun), anyhoooooooo, huge mistake.  In the end, we spent almost 2 hours between the wait (one person in front of us at the clinic) and the pharmacy for a:  sinus infection.  Just give me my own Rx pad and DEA# already.  Moral of the story:  sticking to the kids Pediatric clinic; worth the 20 minute drive…everytime.  Silver lining:  road to recovery coming soon!

Today will bring a lunch time workout because our clinic visit pushed us so far backward last night I was too tired this a.m. for spin…boo hoo.

Here’s hoping we don’t see this dude again, today!

The crazy things our patients use as walking sticks!

The crazy things our patients use as walking sticks!

All I could think of was the Brady Bunch episode:  Hawaii bound.  Or Scooby Doo.