Category Archives: Uncategorized

It takes a village, even for grown-ups!

It’s been an interesting week and in light of Sede Vacante (no Pope at the moment, in case you missed any/all of the news), it’s a somber time as we wait on the conclave to decide our next Pope. Historical. Fascinating. In light of this transitional time, I thought I’d do my version of 7QTs with Jen and throngs a little differently and offer up some inspiration I’ve come across the blogosphere this week. Be motivated. Be inspired. Enjoy.

1. No one knows what the next minute holds — but you let ourselves be moved into it anyways. Because somewhere inside of you, you know Someone holds it.

Ann Voskamp “When you are tired of worrying”

2. Sometimes you just need a plan….

1) shaken, lea prays. i go to God for help…

2) let God take care of His part. look at Him. not at the enemy.

3) my job is obedience. the battle is the Lord’s.

4) praise and worship Him. walk by faith in His promises not by sight. 

Lea “I didn’t think I needed this book”
3. :: REMEMBER TO LOVE THESE LITTLE SOULS..just LOVE them . I can not fix all of everything about them…I can not be perfect and complete for all of them at all the same time…but I can have LOVE for them and show that in ALL that I do for them and around them…

The Little House that Grew

4. Sometimes we need reminders on making it through the day…during Lent

Fast

Every time a child interrupts you today, stop what you are doing and look into his eyes as he talks.

Pray

“My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

Give

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)

Elizabeth Foss Fast. Pray. Give.

5. There is a fine line between celebrating your gift, using it for the glory of God, and practicing humility.

Katherine “Finding your Gift”

6. And of course, Pinterest/Tumblr..

7. And this one, just warmed my heart, through and through. What an awesome experience, truly awesome! Can you imagine? I don’t know if I could wash my child’s forehead again!!!!

‘When I see you, I see the Church is alive.’
-Pope Benedict XVI

Most blessed baby…EVAH!!!!!!

Mama Needs Coffee (Image cred and you really have to go read her posts on Papa Bene’s Popemobile exit….Really. go. NOW. go. HERE!!!!)

To flu vaccinate or no….

12 Replies

An interesting debate to be sure and I’m curious to see why YOU have to say about this. Of course, this won’t be all serious, I do have some funny-ish stuff to report as well 😉

So, a few months back I heard Mac and Katherine on Catholic in a Small Town podcast discussing Katherine’s preference NOT to get the flu vaccine….#203, you can check it out on iTunes…and it got me thinking about the flu vaccine and WHY do I bother each year? Is it worth it? What am I subjecting myself to? It opened up an internal can o’ worms for certain.

Anyhoooo…I work in the medical field, my employer provides the vaccine to me at no cost each year and so, I get the vaccine. I’ve not had the flu in 10 years and quite frankly, would prefer to not have it again. However….due to the controversial issues on the flu vaccine for our kids…I’ve not had them get a flu shot. Ever. That I remember, anyway. Questionable ingredients, 62%ish effectiveness rate, roll of the dice on which strain we’ll actually come in contact with, ACK…it’s too much, so we’ve opted out. However…..things ’bout to change in these parts!

Our 15 yo son came down with Flu B last weekend. I already blogged on all THAT fun here if you missed it the first time around and the kid ended up missing a WHOLE FLIPPIN’ WEEK OF SCHOOL!!! yes, High School. Good times. The kicker is that I actually started getting sick at the end of the week last week, sucked it up for a couple of days (chalking it up to allergies and pollen), however, by Saturday afternoon–after an ENTIRE day of solo and ensemble stuff with our 13 yo and tag-along 9 yo daughter, I came home and went to bed and got up yesterday. Monday. Ugh. Fever’s gone and I was back to work today, but still…..ain’t. quite. right. And I WAS vaccinated!!! WTH??!?!? So when I brought the 15yo BACK to the doc yesterday for additional antibiotics for “possible” pneumonia still not resolved as a result of his flu….I decided next year EVERYONE gets the vaccine. Mine didn’t last as long as his, certainly wasn’t as brutal and you know “Ain’t NOBODY got time for that” to be staying home with sick kids, for kids to be missing a week of schoolwork (the stuff the teachers didn’t email…) and we ALL know Mama don’t have time to be sick..even though Daddy is a pretty fantastic taker-carer.

So, what’s your take? Flu vaccine or no?

On the upside…..I got a TON of reading in. Finished Screwtape letters, almost finished A year of biblical womanhood, completely caught up on my Daily Catechism readings—(I MAY have been 3 weeks behind). Mailed a long overdue encouragement card and ordered The Power of Positive Thinking to go with said card. Slept so much my back ached. Lost a few pounds. Woke up from a nap to find Hubby and 75% of the kids playing Monopoly….WITHOUT blood shed. True. No joke. Prayed. (It was a good few days to be on my heart…you are so covered it’s ridiculous). Continue to play with PicMonkey and learn a little more.

Phew. It’s been a long couple days.

Just another day…

5 Replies

Valentine’s day, meh. We don’t really do it up here. Usually just a little sweet token for everyone and the classroom valentine swap and that’s about it. As Hubby says, “Everyday is Valentine’s Day around here!”, ummmm ok…….LOL! In my younger years, I was pouty when I didn’t get my trinkets or sufficient sweetness, now it really is just annoying…I far prefer the little things, therefore agreeing with the Hubs (however, I always enjoy a sweet card and token of chocolateness) :

Having the bed made for me every morning
Fish sticks and french fries ready after returning with the 13 yo from his RE class after Mass distribution
Coffee in the morning….in quiet
Prayers at night
Having the laundry done
Having the taxes done
Completing home projects

The list is endless, but my favorite thing is just being together, and that’s enough. However, for good measure I like to throw a little sumthin’ sumthin’ out for the kids (and Hubby) in the morning for fun!! (plus the girls get out of bed REAL quick like when they realize there’s probably a little surprise at the table….)

Of course, then there is the story about the 13 yo who put himself in a conundrum with several girls-who-are-friends: apparently, in past years, the school has sold roses for $1 on Valentine’s Day; he told several friends (who are girls) he would get them one. Sadly, this year, they aren’t selling roses at school. Therefore, last night, after ash distribution and RE class, he and I trekked it on over to Wally-world and purchased 2 dozen roses (his $$)…..yes, that’s right….2 DOZEN….. the kid promised 24 girls!!!!!! he’d have roses for them. Lord, help us. Apparently SOMEONE is going to be the BMOC today…..

Ash Wednesday

A ‘tween is seen!

2 Replies

Our oldest girl is 11 today. Utterly amazed at how the years just fly on by…thankful for video and photos because my grey matter fails to keep up in the memory department and these tools are helpful, to me. Before I pull out the Sudoku and crossword puzzles and purchase the Ginkgo to shore up the old brain, I am thankful that I DO remember our children’s birthDAYS. So far. Which is good.

11 years ago we had 3 & 5-year-old fellas and no idea what the babe in my belly was. I can tell you that I was OVER being pregnant and happily accepted my OB-GYN’s offer of induction. Call me wimpy, I don’t care, I can tell you I did NOT enjoy being pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled about the baby; physically it was a huge cross for me. I envied those “happy” preggers, for me it was all about being a weeble wobble and heartburn. Anyhooo….he said induction, I said yes, please.

Remember these??
Image cred

wobble much…yes, yes I did.

5:00 a.m. and my sister came to be with the boys and we headed to the hospital. I’ll spare you the details (mostly because it was all wait and contract and epidural and wait) but it was definitely my “shortest” labor with the regular contractions coming on about 10 a.m. and by 2 p.m. when the nurse practitioner told me not to not push yet because she wasn’t ready…I told her she better get some gloves on quickly. 2:05 p.m. “It’s a girl!” My response: “A Girl? What do we do with a girl???” It took about 2 milliseconds to figure out.

What a sweetie pie she is. Sensitive. Caring. Helpful. Curious. Loves to snuggle at night. Quality time with mom or dad. Minecraft is her new favorite game. Running is a new little challenge with her goal on her first 5K at the end of the month. Middle school comes next year. Girl school drama has started this year. Tears have been wiped and she holds her ground and stays true to who she is and not what “popular” is. Oh, this girl. She has our heart. Hook, line and sinker!!