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Anything for a Friend

by Filed Under: Uncategorized

Melody has generously given me a blog award.  I must say, I share her sentiment…

I must confess that I am a terribly ungracious blog award-receiver in general. They often come with requirements and I usually procrastinate and then don’t end up acknowledging the kindness.

I’ve failed to follow the guidelines for blog awards for far too long.  I apologize to all those who have graciously acknowledged my blog with an award in the past – trust that your intentions were added to my prayers.

~~~

This one is for you Melody!  The good Lord has blessed me through your blog and even more so through your friendship.  I will forever hold a place in my heart for you and your dear family.  You have and continue to play an important role in my journey.  You amaze me with your talents especially your way with words.  You put a voice to my heart’s promptings and provide me solace, knowing that I am not alone.  More impressive than your talents are your desire and willingness to lay everything aside for Him. 

I will continue to hold you near in prayer.  May the Good Lord give you the grace to live the radical life, inspire and lead many souls home.

I too, pray that we meet one day if it be His holy will.  Until then, you know my number.  Smile

7 Things about Myself

  1. I’m not a procrastinator, I just work best under pressure. Which is what I’m doing now.  I should be working on final details for a bake sale that is scheduled for this Sunday but instead I’m here, blogging away.
  2. I’m currently fighting the temptation to become overwhelmed with having another boy on the way.  The moments when I witness one little man jumping off the table with scissors in hand towards another little man do not help the temptation.
  3. I can easily see myself living as a hermit or perhaps in the cloistered life especially when I’m post rage from the example given in #2.
  4. My heart was melted several weeks ago.  Dad went to help his mom clean out  her attic.  He came home with a few boxes full of treasures.  One of which contained a large ziploc bag full of letters.  Turns out that Dad saved every letter I ever wrote him while in high school. Sweetness!  I’ve shared more sweetness about my beloved here.
  5. I’m a wannabe crunchy, homestead loving, minimalist….. You saw the “wannabe,” right?  I desire to go al’ natural in almost all areas of my life but fear that my laziness lack of know how will lead me to failure.  I even dream about living off the grid.  Dad humors supports me for the time being.  We pray to joyfully go where the good Lord leads us!
  6. I’m not very good at majority of things but I’m often told how gifted, confident, blessed with time, talented…I am.  The truth is, His grace allows me to fake it until I make it.  Showing up is the real challenge.  I’ve learned if I just show up He can do the work.  He is my everything!!!
  7. On a more serious note, I have a cross, a secret of sorts.  I have sought direction and received absolution.  I have peace but consequences remain.  Dad and I have committed to carry this cross on our own and not burden others with it at this time in our lives.  I share this for three reasons.  One, too often we look at our neighbor and think that they have it all together and they don’t struggle like we do.  The reality is, as children of God, we all have a cross to bear.  Let’s keep our eyes on Him!!  The second reason I share this news is because I sense that many believe there is time to ask for forgiveness. To those that fall into this category, I urge you, DO NOT BE PERSUMPTIOUS for you know neither the day or the hour – seek forgiveness today!  Lastly, your sins of today will forever leave a mark on you while on earth – consequences.  Yes, the Good Lord forgives all that come before Him with true repentance but we are human and live in an imperfect world.  Do not tread the waters lightly.  Avoid unnecessary occasions of sin, pray for spiritual protection always, and visit the sacraments often.  Make frequent acts of reparation! 

7 Other Bloggers

This is a tough one for me since I have many blogs that I follow and Melody and Tiffany have already been included with this award. I hope to be back soon with my 7 nominations.

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The rules:

  • Recipients need to thank the giver Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog (yup.)
  • Post 7 things about yourself
  • Pass the award onto 7 other bloggers of your choice and let them know they’ve been nominated 

    • Day 9: Pregnancy Loss ~ 31Days of reflections from a pregnant mama

    by Filed Under: 31 Days, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, pro, Pro-Life Leave a Comment

    Wave of Light

    There is plenty that I could write on this topic but nothing more powerful than the healing received through prayer. 

    My soul is deprived of peace,
    I have forgotten what happiness is;
    I tell myself my future is lost,
    all that I hoped for from the Lord.

    But I will call this to mind,
    as my reason to have hope:
    The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
    his mercies are not spent;
    They are renewed each morning,
    so great is his faithfulness.
    My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
    therefore I will hope in him. 
    ~ Lamentations 3:17-18, 21-24

    I’m passing along a tradition that I just became aware of, Wave of Light: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. 

    A tradition on this day is that at 7:00 pm in each time  zone a Wave of Light will move across the country, and the world. All families who have lost a baby either by pregnancy or infant death should light a candle and leave it burning for at least one hour. The wave of light will serve as a reminder that there are those of us who still remember – and those who have not suffered a loss pause to surround us in love.

    My family will be lighting five candles this evening in honor of our blessings in heaven. 

    May my beloved children and saints; Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Teresa Agnes, and Maria Luisa ~ pray for us!

    I was directed to this tradition via FB friends and Catholic Sistas.

    ~~~

    This is day 9 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind.  I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation. 

    You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

    Simple Costumes

    by Filed Under: All Saints Day, Costumes 3 Comments

    tunic cut

    Sparkles and Sweetie finished up the base of their costumes two weeks ago.  Sparkles couldn’t wait to sew something after her first sewing project.  Sweetie jumped on board.

    I followed a simple tutorial for a tunic (Bible time costume) that I found on YouTube.  My fabric is sheets from the thrift store. 

    The girls sewed their tunics and are gathering accessories.  We hope to have every thing completed by the end of this week.

    We opted to purchase the boy’s costumes this year.  Originally, Papi wanted to be St. George and make Dragonfly the dragon.  I almost went for it since Nana bought Dragonfly a darling dragon sweat suit like costume.  Needless to say, I backed out of that idea – it just didn’t feel right having my lil’ guy representing the Devil.  Good call, I know.  Smile

    Dad spotted the perfect costumes at Costco.  We couldn’t pass them up at $24 a piece!  It’s all about simplicity in our house these days!

    warriors for Christ

    The boys have been wearing their costumes daily since September. 

    Day 8: Date Night ~ 31 Days of reflections from a pregnant mama

    by Filed Under: 31 Days, Marriage, Pregnancy 2 Comments

    Store up your love bank – take as many date nights as possible while you’re waiting for your new bundle of joy.  Date nights will be few and far between for the first few months once the baby arrives.

    ~~~

    I needed this reminder today.  Dad came home and sDate Night 10.12.12aid, “Let’s go out tonight.”  I was still in my workout clothes from my 6am walk.  My eyes were bloodshot and I politely declined his invitation so I could plop myself in bed.  It took all about ten minutes for me to realize what I had just done – dissed my husband for no good reason.  I give thanks for His grace to help me see things clearly – I have a husband who wants to be with me!

    Deo gratias!!!

    We had a short and sweet date night to the movies.  We had plenty of conversation.  Nonetheless, we’ll be certain to take our Date Night Questions the next time we go out.

    Gift cards are one of the best gifts to give a couple with a handful of children.  They make date nights an easy option without the guilt of spending money.  Dad and I love gift cards!!!

    ~~~

    This is day 8 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind, four days to be exact.  I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation. 

    You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

    Day 7: Simplicity ~ 31 Days of reflections for a pregnant mama

    by Filed Under: 31 Days, Pregnancy, Simplicity 1 Comment

    The call to simplify has intensified with each pregnancy and birth.  Perhaps it’s because, with each pregnancy I gain a better understanding of how inapt I am – I can do nothing without Him.  He calls me to a simplicity that helps me to embrace my weakness and depend on His strength.  It’s a spiritual and physical simplicity.

    My prayer life is far from glamorous or saint worthy.  It’s merely what I can do, when I an do it, with enough sacrifice that causes discomfort but does not have me stray from my vocation – a wife and pregnant mama homeschooling and nurturing five blessings.  I give thanks to God for leading me here since this hasn’t always been the case.  I trust that a new season will come my way soon enough, His grace will lead me through anything that is asked of me.  I seek to find peace and joy in the moment before me, the present. 

    We call races and generations Houses; and the Hebrews were wont to speak of the birth of children as “the building up of the house;” as it is written of the Jewish midwives in Egypt, that the Lord “made them houses;”  Exod. i. 21. whereby we learn that a good house is not reared so much by the accumulation of worldly goods, as by the bringing up of children in the ways of holiness and of God; and to this end no labour or trouble must be spared, for children are the crown of their parents.

    ~ St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (3.38)

    My material life is less clear for me.  I have a prompting and charism that I am drawn to but I am always in need of direction from my husband and spiritual director since I have the tendency to be too austere for family life with little ones.  Below are some of the areas that I am currently working on.

    • Frugal Living
      • no superfluous spending – always discerning a purchase from a need or want
      • up-cycle household items or free items
      • thrift store shopping & craigslist bargains
        • ie; dressed the whole family at Easter for $38!!
      • never buy anything full price if a new item is, in fact, needed
      • homemade goods
    • Clean Eating
      • no processed foods
      • no gluten
    • Schedule
      • daily schedule that revolves around prayer and the liturgical calendar – not academics and social calendar
        • Mass, parish functions, take precedence
      • extracurriculars are extremely limitedbusy
        • dinner most be together as a family (perfereably at home)
        • NO SUNDAY activities
        • all liturgical celebrations take precedent over any worldly activity, “PERIOD”
        • No money, no activity.  We don’t break our budget or call on mammon to provide for our wants.  We trust that God will provide for what He wills for us.
      • most extracurriculars have been replaced with an activity that can be done as a family
      • Dad’s work is flexible
        • allowing Him to be head of the household in a physical and spiritual sense.
      • always set time to serve the Church through our parish as well as  time to help a sister or brother in Christ
    • Minimalist living
      • less stuff for me, means more room for Him and those that He has put before me
      • major purge is always taking place in my home
        • so much so that I have caught my two year old playing “…like mama” with a black garbage bag and all his toys. 
      • the house is fully furnished but I remember the time when we moved into a new home with only one sofa and a dining set with four chairs.  we often sat on the floor and had more room to roam in 1600sf than we ever had in 3200sf. 
      • we’ve gradually downsized our living out of necessity and desire.  we continue to downsize.
      • we’re scaling down our wardrobes and not storing quit as much for the different season.

    I am far from my goal but I remain steadfast in my journey, praying that it lead my family home and be done all for His glory.

    ~~~

    We all are inadequate to live the heroism of life in Christ, but God’s grace is sufficient to make His power perfect in us in our weakness ~2 Cor 12:9

    ~~~

    This is day 7 of my pregnancy reflections. I realize that I am a few days behind, four days to be exact.  I’m trying to own it and fight the urge to account my absence to placenta brain our sleep deprivation. 

    You can find the other posts of my 31 Days here.

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