Category Archives: Life

EASTER…taking it outside to celebrate!

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The whole-ish outfit. My missed the shot. Apparently. the skirt is swingy and goes just below/to the knee.

The whole-ish outfit. My legs missed the shot. Apparently. The skirt is swingy and goes just below/to the knee.

Camp Patton

Joining in with Camp Patton,  Freckles in April, and North Meets South, in a nod to Fine Linen and Purple‘s wildly fun WIWS….EASTER STYLE!!  I’ve been COMPLETELY MIA for the last few months on the WIWS circuit, mostly because I was in repeat mode. buuuuuuut, now I have the spring clothes out so you might see me more frequently the next couple of weeks.

Hoping you all had a blessed Lent and a are enjoying a fabulous Easter celebration today.  I have a whopping T-20 minutes, so let’s see what I can throw together here what with cropping and editing and such with the photos!

Mass outside. Breezy 69 degrees, sunny, cloudy, sunny. Awesomeness.

Mass outside. Breezy 69 degrees, sunny, cloudy, sunny. Awesomeness.

neck

ear

bracelet

Disregard the scraped knuckle courtesy of porch project yesterday...post to come later...

Disregard the scraped knuckle courtesy of porch project yesterday…post to come later…

Love these sandals. Disregard the sad state of the pedicure...just ran out of hours this weekend!

Love these sandals. Disregard the sad state of the pedicure…just ran out of hours this weekend!

danceDancers, pre-Mass practicing their carousel.  They were a little nervous with the wind, but did great!!

Pre-Mass warm up by the lake.

Pre-Mass warm up by the lake.

Strike a pose!

Strike a pose!

Papa and his girls!

Papa and his girls!

Even snagged the big boy for a quick shot!

Even snagged the big boy for a quick shot!

Deets:  Moi, Kohl’s for the outfit and shoes and Lia Sophia for the blingz.

Big girl:  Kohl’s except for the inherited shrug

Dancer girl:  Church for the dance uniform

French horn boy:  Church for the tux jacket/tie, thrifty for the pants and inherited shirt.

Big boy:  Thrift Volcom shirt, Old Navy khaki shorts

Dad:  Thrifted and inherited and  a total keeper!

Bloglovin’….I’m lovin’…

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In joining in with Jen et al. this week for the 7QTs, I found in my reading the highly recommended Bloglovin’ reader.  Apparently, the Google reader just croaked or got axed or something and this was a good great substitute.  MY reader consisted of my bookmark manager (HIGHLY inefficient) and my WordPress reader (sufficient for WP blogs).  So on a fabulously breezy Sunday evening while at the park with the girls I managed to move my fave blogs to Bloglovin’; I also managed to finish a directed reading on Fungus for my CEUs at the same time (super thrilled, right?).  Gotta love the free WiFi at the park.

Bloglovin

Love the name or hate it, it’s pretty useful.  MOST of the blogs I follow are found on the reader (even mine…) making it super-dee-duperty convenient AND there’s an App for the ole smarty pants phone, too.

It is Spring Break here, I have no children to shake out of bed this morning (they can sleep in all week-long…) and I am up early, so I shall go read some blogs.  or work on my CEUs.  or get some exercise.  I’ve got 2 hours to kill before I have to be at work.  I love Spring Break.  The BEST thing though?  I’m OFF Thursday and Friday.  How about that?  It’s looking like we may actually be able to participate in Triduum services without the constraints of work/school/bedtimes getting in the way!!

Friday. Parenting. Blogging. Procrastination.

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My morning prayer with the kids on Fridays as we drive to school ALWAYS includes a prayer of thanksgiving for “Friday, mama’s favorite day of the week“.  True story.

Today I’m joining in with Jen and friends with 7 Quick Takes….today, mine are super quick, because a) I have to wake up kiddos and b) I’m trying a timed experiment on myself…let’s see how it goes, K?  K.

  1. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about parenting this week….and blogging…..and continuing Ed points (or my procrastination in obtaining them EVERY year and I thought I’d share a few points with you.
  2. Blogging.  I’ve been feeling my blog is about to go in a different direction.  I also feel I might have to take some time off to figure out WHAT direction that is.  So….just get ready.  It’s coming.
  3. My state license is up for renewal at the end of April.  I have ZERO CEUs.  ZERO.    I have all my periodicals out and have been reading and taking tests.  Why do I have to perform so well under pressure?  It’s a curse I tell you.
  4. Parenting advice I’ve received and taken to heart over the years.  (This might not work for YOUR family, but these are things that have worked for OURS).  On the birth of our first child….oldest son….still in shock from labor, resting in the hospital a friend said, “Quickly, hurry up and have 3 more.”  I told her she was crazy.  And then I did.  Best.  Advice.  Ever.  Big families are crazy and loud and so very worth it.
  5. One of my dearest friends always sends her children away with “Angels watch over you”….I loved the blessing, but didn’t want to copy  her COMPLETELY, so I incorporated a “Sign of the cross” on their foreheads.  If we are in a hurry, often the kids will say, “Moooooom, my blessing???”  Send your kids out with a blessing.
  6. One year we had a project due and I needed a poster board STAT, my girlfriend said, “Oh, come out to my car, I have some in my trunk.”  From that day forward, we have had a STOCKED school supply area.  Be prepared.  You never know when you’ll need that poster board—for us it’s usually Sunday night.
  7. Put your marriage first.  It takes constant effort, tweaking and pruning.  The fruit of your efforts is a strong, communicative, partnership, friendship and example for your children.  Children that will pick your nursing home one day.
  8. Lastly, and having FAILED at my time experiment and counting as this is now 8 Quick Takes…….PRAY, PRAY, PRAY always over and for your children and take EVERY bit of parenting advice with a grain of salt.  Some things you can use.  Some you won’t.

Blessings and enjoy the weekend and my favorite day of the week!!!

 

Parents, keep fighting the fight!

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I have several friends with teenagers who are struggling, and struggling mightily with a wide variety of teen angst and issues and I’ve been praying for and with them pretty regularly now.  It’s heart wrenching.  It’s terrifying.  It’s real.  It’s life.  It’s a time of exercising Trust and Faith in the One who these children ultimately belong to.  Hoping and praying we’ve built that solid foundation.  Praying we’ve planted that mustard seed on fertile soil.  With 4 kiddos of our own and two who are currently teens, I have full expectations that we too, will face our own struggles in these hormone-laden years.  We watch and we wait and we live each day in trial and error, learning as we go and gleaning wisdom and example from those around us.

Teenagers.  Hormones.  Frontal lobe nerve myelination.    These are the days where we must. pray. without. ceasing. (really, every day is)   I came across this quote during my readings this morning:

The faults of children are not always imputed to the parents, especially when they have instructed them and given good example. Our Lord, in His wonderous Providence, allows children to break the hearts of devout fathers and mothers. Thus the decisions your children have made don’t make you a failure as a parent in God’s eyes. You are entitled to feel sorrow, but not necessarily guilt. Do not cease praying for your children; God’s grace can touch a hardened heart. Commend your children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When parents pray the Rosary,at the end of each decade they should hold the Rosary aloft and say to her,”With these beads bind my children to your Immaculate Heart”, she will attend to their souls.

— St. Louise de Marillac

There is hope, parents.  There is grace abundant.  Keep fighting the fight.

Happy Papal Inauguration Day!

Habemus Papam!

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History in the making.  What a joyful day yesterday!!  I am happy to report my PopeAlarm.com worked fabulously and I received a text @ lunch in Target….white smoke!!!

I’m hungry for information on our new Pope, this man who bowed to the people, this man who asked for prayers prior to his first blessing.  The first Jesuit.  The first Latin American.  The first non-European.  The first Francis.

And the silence.  To hear, feel, see the silence as the world stopped to pray for Pope Francis I.  The reverence.  The love.  My heart could burst with this joy.  Oh, happy day.

Habemus Papam!!