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Take Five…

There’s a cute little linky going on around the blogosphere about some Five things Thing where you tell about 5 things most people don’t know about you. Mary Kate tagged me and since A) I can’t really resist a “challenge” and B) I am currently suffering a bout of insomnia/coughing and am up anyway, I figured alrighty then….let’s do this!!

Of course, this IS a little tricky since I blog/talk about a lot of stuff and I may have already mentioned a thing or two, so you’ll have to pretend you haven’t heard it before if you already have…K? K.

During my bachelorette party (back in the day), my FAVORITE sandals broke mid-shindig. I mean, straight dry-rotted….What’s a girl to do? There was much more dancing to do!!! Somewhere along the way, some nice bouncer had some masking tape and I just taped those puppies up…both shoes and boogied on down the rest of the night. I have pictures somewhere……annnnnd I actually got up to look for it, I can see it in my mind…..and nothin’, I got nothin’, but trust me…it was fUNny!!
When I was in 4th grade I was terrified of Bike Week…an annual event in Daytona Beach…now a BI-annual event, lucky us!! Back to the terror….we heard stories of the Hell’s Angels and how they swoop into town and kids walking home from school were easy pickins…now we had no idea what that meant but I know we made record time coming home from school that week! Fast forward a gazillion years and we have some Outlaws one street over and we just sleep with the windows closed during Bike Week….or try to, I think we are getting used to the noise or losing our hearing, one of the two.
Somewhere around 4 years of age…ish….we had a neighborhood dog that I would bring a biscuit to regularly…one for him….one for me. Come to find out, my kids did the same thing with our dogs when they were little. Hmm. Hereditary inclination toward dog biscuits, interesting.
My first job was at Mr. Donut. I got over my love of donuts REEEEEEAL quick like (although it has returned slightly in the last decade…) You can NOT wash that donut smell out of a uniform, trust me. That’s also the place Hubby picked me up for our first date…..maaaaaaaaany moons ago, like 26 of ’em.
I dont’ really like a lot of noise and mess. God blessed us with 4 kiddos. Talk about your sense of humor. We’ll just say I’m coming to terms (a little bit) with noise and mess.

My turn to tag 5 people and carry on the funnies or the fives…how’s about it Lea, Brite, Pam, ViolinMama, and Lesley? Tag, you’re it! You’ll love the diversity of their blogs, food, travel, inspiration, kids…..you’re welcome!

And now….it’s been 4 hours and I can re-dose the cough syrup….I’m out! Enjoy!!

It takes a village, even for grown-ups!

1 Reply

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….

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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…

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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…..

making the trek

Trekking through life: Faith, family, friends and a whole lot of coffee!