Mr. Fantastic

Look at my almost 10 month old....where is the time going?  Love each roll and CHUNK!!

and....look at the back of him....he's getting.....

CURLS!!!!! 

Be still my heart!

Just had to show off my boy!! :)

Small Steps Together - "No complaints"

A while back, Elizabeth posted the above button so people could share their journey of "Small Steps" along with the book Elizabeth co-wrote for moms. I've been meaning to do this. Today seems the perfect day.

Today's fast (not to be confused with their Lenten version of Small Steps fast today) is to "fast from complaining." With everything going on in Japan and the Pacific ring of fire today, I will be doing just that. I will also offer up my trials today for the utter devastation. I can't imagine.

Prayers for Japan and the Pacific. God carry you through this....may the world come together for you as we should do everyday, not just every tragedy.

Small Successes "Start of Lent 2011" Edition

I almost forgot about this today!! Maybe I can make the rounds and read other ones. I could use some uplifting reading as part of my "Small Steps" assignments and the Lenten Meditations.

I'm still sick (doc appt. tomorrow - another sinus infection), so this will be short and sweet!

1. We've managed to homeschool this week despite me being sick. We did take off yesterday - Lovely's 1st official sick day of the school year - because she had a low fever and was super tired.  She slept most of yesterday. Today she is much better and we just finished schooling for the day. I LOVE our schedule!

2. I am aiming to journal more about this here at some point, but I have in the past month and week started to work on my emotional health. Since Gift has been born (and my blues lasted longer after him, but faded) my always present anxiety issues have grown past where I had viewed them as "tolerable." My anxiety simply was growing more and more, and I wanted to do something about it before it got worse. So, I'm working through things outside of my past prayer and meditations. I just got started, so I look forward to the fruit of figuring out my hormones and internal monologue. I hope to touch on this more soon - but already a weight I hadn't noticed was on my shoulders has started lifting.

3. While sick, I've been doing what I can around the house - some folding, some cleaning, and straightening with the kids help  - so I'll take that as a success too lol!!

How has your week been? Blessed Lent to you!

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm thankful for...

1. naps.
2. breath right strips

3. Lent.
4. my husband.
5. my kids.
6. my family.
7. my friends.
8. prayer.

Take care!!!

Prepping for Lent

I've been meaning to post our traditional plans for the last few days but I've been struck down AGAIN with a cold virus, and well, cold viruses always hit me hard. Writing this sentence reminds me I never blogged again about my chronic sinus issues being related to my Cystic Fibrosis CARRIER status (something I only just learned about) last December. I believe when I last blogged, I was going in for an MRI of my sinuses to see if there were any structural abnormalities that CF patients can have that surgery can correct. As much as I didn't want surgery, I was getting so tired of the getting an infection every month or so, I was hoping for a "quick fix". But, alas, I don't have anything bad enough for surgery at this time. My next step is getting tested for special triggers/allergies that are more common to CF. Once my insurance is in order, I'll get that done. I was hoping it would be before now, before spring pollen, etc....and that hasn't happened. So, I find myself sick again, and most likely will have an infection by the weekend LOL! But...what would Lent be without some sacrifice? I just need to gripe less about it. Since baby Gift was born, I've "borne" my sinus issues weakly - I get so down about being sick - and sinus infections are not as bad as say, cancer, or CF, or other things. It seems smaller crosses stress me out more than the larger crosses. Why is that?

Well, since I'm sick, and since it is almost 9pm (I just can't sleep with the pressure), I will make this quick. I'm always so inspired by Lent, and the ideas I glean from the internet and blogs, and those ideas have given my family traditions I never grew up with. I had dreams of this being a crafty Lent, but I don't feel the energy now. So, I'm trying to take the advice I read from many a blogger and go simple this year. Usually we make a Easter Countdown calendar (a sheep that you add cotton balls too) but I didn't have the energy to put that together this year. So, I found this link at CatholicIcing. Karen had a great idea to make solemnity days a great discovery and a special treat day from coloring the days purple - I think Lovely will LOVE that.

The rest I'll list - much stolen from last year's post lol. Too tired! It looks long, but all are just part of our routine. It's funny how much MORE I want to do!

My Goals:

~ 40 Bags in 40 Days - though I'm not sure I can commit to a bag size, I CAN make a goal to a bag a day. It is really hard to do (tried it last year) and after having a new baby and home projects, we need to commit to decluttering our house, spirits, and relationships.
~  I will be doing both my daily Small Steps for Catholic Moms, and also doing the authors' Lenten Meditations and do their daily fasts, alms, and prayers (like they did last year (I linked to some examples I reposted on my blog).  They will be my "giving up" and "adding to" for Lent. Every day is something different from an internet "fast" from e-mail/internet, to simply being more present to my kids or spouse, or no TV for a day, to not cutting corners with my daily work, or giving 5 minutes to God in the morning and evening. They challenge me, which enriches me if I listen to the instructions. I love how varied it is and it makes me give up more than I would make myself do, or DO more than I make myself do.
~ Giving up yelling for Lent. I NEED to do this.

Daddy's Goals:

~ Giving up soda for Lent (this is huge for him) and ONLY drinking water or milk.
~ He wants to do the 40 bags in 40 Days with me, but in his own areas of the house.
~ work more on some KofC duties both at home and church.

Family/Lovely Goals:
~ Ash Wednesday - if I'm healthy enough.
~  Kate give me an idea during her Advent practice to eat simple dinners - soups and salads. My family will be doing that this Lent as a family sacrifice as much as we can.
~ One of the bedtime stories each night will be a New Testament children's story - starting from Jesus' birth to His Resurrection. We did this last year and it was great - we actually used Children's bible stories to cover the whole new testament!
~ Fridays we'll attend our church's Fish Dinner and Stations of the Cross. I'm hoping to host a meatless pot luck at some point with friends as well to share time together.
~ We'll attend the Lenten Penance Service at our church.
~ We'll be doing Lenten Adventure activities - e-mailed to us 3 times a week. We loved this last year.
~ I know thanks to Lenten Adventures, we'll have a sacrifice jar where Lovely can put beans in for each sacrifice she does ("Love is what you do, not what you feel" - meaning sometimes doing things for others out of love isn't what you feel like doing). On Easter Sunday those beans become jelly beans!!! Maybe this year we'll do this beyond Lent. We loved doing it last year. This link from Karen shows this jar along with some other things we may do.
~ Another wonderful Karen makes this great visual sacrifice measure here that I'd love to do. I need to get a flower punch though...or I'll NEVER do this! But it's a great family learning tool for giving! I LOVE the handprints for remembering personal sacrifices!
~ We also will make a crown of thorns from flour, water, and toothpicks, where Lovely can pull the toothpicks out when she does something for others or Jesus. Again, we learned this from Lenten Adventures.
~ I love Erin's idea about "hiding the Alleluia" (Lovely could write out the word and we can hide it till Easter Sunday since during Lent we don't say that word till the big happy Easter day).
~ We'll make Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday and Resurrection Rolls for Easter Sunday and pretzels often (symbol of Lent).
~ I'd like to make a children's Stations of the Cross box as a learning tool that both Kate and Erin (see her pics) mention.
~ Family Adoration

So - These are our Lenten plans and goals. I can't wait to see what graces pour forth from the new focus the next 40 days. I love the traditions we discover, the growth, the journey, the prayers, and the challenge. We'll probably stumble, but the challenge is to try again. Pray for us....we'll be praying for you!!! Happy Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras!!!


What did you do for your Fat/Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras? Hubby made us pancakes, bacon, eggs, and a dessert. He's too good to me and our family!

Blessed Lent!!

I updated!

Just a quick message to say I updated the home school blog. I feel better already!! It's nice to have something to look at when some days are harder than others in the learning room!

Cheers!

Small Successes "I'm trying this Again" Edition

Well, I've been MIA lately. I did some posts about MLK Jr. day, but I keep meaning to do some real posts about our family, thoughts in my brain, my New Year's  goals, etc.  At least I've been busy loving life! I miss blogging though, and with Lent around the corner, I know I'll be back doing some spiritual journaling. How the heck are you, if you are reading this?

Without further adieu (and the fact that Lovely is doing phonics and will need me soon) here are my successes:

1. I did a post yesterday with pics (scroll down below). Success!! I plan on adding some posts to my home educating blog too.

2. I have been making some steps toward my overall health of late. I hope to be able to write about that soon.

3. I have been enjoying this gorgeous weather and stressing less about my house.

How has your week been?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am thankful for...

**My dad being healthy again after a health scare!!!***
1. next door neighbors who are more than neighbors.
2. amazing friends!
3. a patient husband.
4. my community.
5. the power of prayer.
6. the start of LENT!! I need this season.

Much love!!!

I'm here!! I'm here!!!

Hey!!

Man, the last 2 months have been crazy. I'm here, just trying to find time to both read AND blog. I need to post a bunch of home educating stuff on that blog (see link on side) and I have a bunch of posts that I have composed in my head that I can't get around to writing, which shuts me down - does that happen to you? Writers block when you can not just get the one out emotionally you want?

I have a post for our 2011 goals (and my "word" for this year), catch ups on our family, my newly minted 9 month old, fun, trips to the mountains etc. I guess I'm living life rather than blogging about it. I will return. I have lots to share. I know with Lent starting next week my journaling here will pick up. I need this Lent more than ever. SO much. I need a time for growth, and this focused season will give it to me.

So, please bear with me....I'm here. This blog is for myself, but people close to my heart read it, and a supportive community. Thanks for being you. Praying for you!!!

I'll leave you with a few pictures from last week - when my family escaped our town for a cabin in the wooded mountains!!