7 Quick Takes. . . Lent check-in

1) We are REALLY liking this book we are using (that I mentioned before) called A Family Journey With Jesus Through Lent.  The stories are all told first-person by a child, who mentions their name and their siblings and such.  They live in a time and place where Jesus was and either go see him, or talk about their parents or other family members seeing him.  And it is all the Gospel stories and parables and such.  And then their are the bible verses to help remember the stories.  It is a little rapid-fire with a verse for every day (Saturdays included, but not Sundays) but the kids are taking it well.  I'm not having them memorize the verses, but I am still putting them on the wall for them to read over and refer back to.

2) Our "Sacrifice Jar" is getting some use.  Rebekah is always asking if she can put in a token for something or other and often comes up with some really awesome stuff!  I have put a few in, too.

Yes, those ARE pom poms we are using as "tokens". . . apparently we do not have any beads in this house.  And I should add that it is a bit fuller now, this picture was from a few weeks ago.

3) One of my sacrifices was going to be to wear a pair of shoes that did not fit quite right.  Well, go-figure, those shoes are actually getting broken-in pretty well now!  They are still not my most comfortable shoes ever and I would not brave them to do "serious exercise" in (as I think they would give me some "serious" blisters) but for everyday-around-the-house-out-and-about stuff, they are no big deal.  Great for me and the shoes, but bummer for my penance, 'eh?  :)

(Don't worry, God gives me plenty of other "physical troubles" to offer up, fairly regularly.)

4) Our church is doing a soup and homemade bread supper (for a free-will-offering, NOT A FUNDRAISER - the money just goes to buy more soup and bread fixings for the next week and any left over at the end will go to the food pantry) every Friday during Lent and although my children are not very fond of soup, I am enjoying taking them.  It is nice to not have to prepare a meal one evening and it is nice to see our friends from church (which we normally just visit with on Sundays).

5) The Stations of the Cross is said at our church (after the above-mentioned soup and bread supper) every Friday and we have taken the kids the past two weeks.  They actually did fairly well.  The second time I took Miriam into the cry room for most of it.  She can be quiet mostly, but then squeaks or jabbers pretty loudly at random and it can be a little disturbing.  I left the "big kids" in the pew alone (as Gordie was the cantor) and they did good.

6) I've done pretty-well getting in my bible and reading the daily readings (part of my Lenten resolutions) but I also have been trying to avoid desserts and have DEFINITELY failed on that one a few times.  (Dessert is my comfort some days. . . I admit it.)

7) I've been really thinking/praying about forming my conscience.  I think I've been "in the world" so much lately that I've been letting it get a bit lax.  If you have tips/ideas/suggestions on how to form my conscience better, I am open to those!  I read up about forming one's conscience in the catechism and it spoke of prayer and scripture so I'm trying to soak that up and see where it leads, but that seemed a little vague.  But God always answers prayer. . . in His time, so perhaps some patience is in order.

Happy Lent everyone!

What My Baby Wore Today. . .

I went through the clothing tubs last night as Miss Miriam's clothing has been getting tight.  Unfortunately the next size up for her is spring/summer clothing, but it has not been too terribly cold so, I guess I should not complain.  In any case, here she is sporting a fun new (to her) outfit that screams spring, but I hope will be warm enough for today.  In any case, it is way cuter than what she has been wearing (as she outgrew her girl clothes (before I went through the tubs), I was throwing her in the Paul's old pants and t-shirts!! - eek!  :).

So, here she is in all her feminine glory.

Shirt: Maybe from JC Penny?
Skirt: Seems like JC Penny also
Tights: Amazon
Shoes: Target

7 Quick Takes. . . beginning of Lent

1) My dryer has officially been broken for over two weeks, but the repair men are here RIGHT NOW working on it (for the second time - with a second part, as apparently the first part was broken, but they did not know this part was ALSO broken until they fixed the first).  So let's all pray this ends well as I really miss this convenience right now!

2) Our "Sacrifice Jar" is getting some use.  This makes me happy and hopeful that we can keep going.
Fun Related Story Tangent:  The other day I told the kids we would have a special snack (left-over goodies from my Catholic Motherhood meeting the night before) once they reached a certain point in their schoolwork.  Well, they were taking FOREVER so I finally gave in and let them have the snack, even though they had not finished their work.  They both enthusiastically proclaimed I should get to put in a sacrifice token for this - haha, oh children! :)

3) Everyone seems to be enjoying A Family Journey with Jesus Though Lent.  The memory bible verses that go with each day are fun, too.  Perhaps next year I will type them up so the kids can cut them out and past them like they do our regular Memory Bible Verses.  As of now I am just writing them on note cards and sticking them on the wall with poster puddy.  (We are real "high class" around here.)

4) I am REALLY starting to feel (and look) pregnant.  No hiding in baggy clothes now :)  I'm nearing the end of the second trimester and trying to stay calm as I know the ride just gets rougher from here.  All in all I am quite happy that I am still able to exercise fairly well - even though it requires a bit of additional "gear" (like support pantyhose and pregnancy belts).  I have still been running some on the weekends and this makes me EXCEEDINGLY happy, but I think I might give it up soon as it also leaves me with some lingering pain afterward.

5) I have recently concluded that Miriam is quite possibly the smartest baby I have ever encountered.  She impresses me almost constantly with what she picks up on and what she wants to do (EVERYTHING everyone else does).  This morning she was grumpy because her chair was too close to the table so she could not get down with her cereal bowl, to go put it in the kitchen.

6) I made fajitas for the first time and my husband liked them a lot. . . and even ate the vegetables!!  Unfortunately I tried a similar dish the next day with green chilies instead of peppers and he was not impressed.  One step forward, two steps back. . . 

7) I REALLY like our new (to us) van.  It just drives like a big pick-up truck.  And there is SO MUCH ROOM!!!  Parking it has been going ok, too, so far (granted I have been quite careful - often parking further away).  Unfortunately, the Hubby now thinks the van CANNOT fit in the garage (apparently the back sits higher than the front - so he has pulled it "mostly" in, but thinks the back will rub).  I think he should take the trim piece off and try again (as it is SO CLOSE - and that half inch could make all the difference!!) but he does not seem eager to try this.

Side Note: I had every intention of "peppering" this post with random pictures (as we all know those make life so much more fun) but now I cannot find my camera cord (sad face) so I stuck in what I could find on the computer (not as fun, but you get what you get some days).

Lent 2014

It is the night before Ash Wednesday and all through the house. . . Mom cannot find the Lenten cross.

I'm admitting defeat of "my plan" to do our traditional Lenten Cross (which we have done for a couple of years, now).  Although it is frustrating to be looking for something and not able to find it (as is the story of much of my life - my mom used to ALWAYS be losing things when I was a kid and I thought it was just because she had Multiple Sclerosis, but. . . now I know better.  It is a genetic trait and I have it, too!!) I am slightly relieved to not be doing this particular Lenten practice this year.  It is just so big and the Scripture verses can be long and difficult to explain to my younger children.  Really I wash each verse and picture had more of a mini-homily to go along with it and maybe a timeline or some way to connect all the parts would be nice.  (Honestly, I like this practice, but if I were to make it "perfect" and all. . .  :) )  Anyhow, since I cannot find my actual cross or the laminated pictures that go on it, I'm planning to use a book I picked up a couple of years ago, but was above my children at the time.  It is called A Family Journey with Jesus through Lent.  It looks pretty neat, now and I think my older kids will really get into it.  I figure we will put our candles (white ones now, to keep things simple) on the table and light them while I read it so the little ones have something to look at.

We are also doing a sacrifice jar for the kids to put a token in for each sacrifice they make.  (That would be the big empty jar in the picture above.)  In the past we have done a paper cross on the wall before and put flowers on it for "good deeds."  I also have made a crown of thorns out of dough, with toothpicks that we removed before, but again, removal was granted through "good deeds,"  and I have since run into trouble defining "good deeds," especially for multiple ages of children.  So this year we are using "sacrifice" as our terminology to help keep them focused in the right direction.  I think they have a general gist of what that word means.  I will leave it up to the kids to define it specifically, but here are some things I have in mind:

1) Giving up a toy for the day
2) Skipping a treat, or snack
3) Giving in to a sibling (letting them have a toy or choose the game, etc)
4) Work sacrifice (doing a non-required chore for no reward)
5) Prayer sacrifice (praying for someone or a special cause)

I plan to join them, in "sacrificing" in this manner. I figure this is kind of like a day by day resolution that is always changing.  I hope it will keep things "fresh."

I have some additional personal resolutions in mind, but I cannot seem to choose one or two or even three, and I'm sure there are too many for me to do them all every day, so I'm thinking I might list them all with numbers and roll dice to pick three or so a day.  (And being a "gamer" I have dice with up to 20 sides, so no worries about there being too many - hehe)  Here are my ideas for personal resolutions:

1) Limit facebook time (using a timer)
(I must add it is simply not feasible for me to cold turkey away from facebook.  Being home all day with the kids, it is my connection to other adults and the outside world.  Likewise, since I do not have a cell phone, it is often a necessary tool to connect with friends - and even my husband on important matters.)
2) Read the daily Mass readings for the day
3) Say the Office or Morning or Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours 
4) Write a letter to a friend or relative
5) Wear a pair of shoes I do not like
6) Say a decade (or all) of the Rosary
7) Pray the Stations of the Cross
8) Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
9) Go to Adoration
10) Sing a Lenten song
11) Spend 15 minutes doing Spiritual reading
12) Spend 15 minutes reading my Catechism
13) Avoid sweets/chocolate/dessert of any kind

We are also doing this Lenten track from Catholic Icing.  We have done it every year.  A couple years ago I gave each child their own to color, but last year we just had Rebekah color one on the wall for everyone to look at.  Assuming their are no objections, we will have Rebekah color this one - or let her alternate with another child if there is any interest.  Having one for each child is simply too tedious to keep track of them all and keep them all "up to date."

Finally, I am looking forward to listening to this Lent at Ephesus cd a friend recommended (and was kind enough to send me, thanks Monica!!).

I will close with a few catchy lines from the "Lent" track of our new FAVORITE cd by the Dogma Dogs. 

It's Lent, Lent, 
time to repent, 
because it's Lent, Lent, 
our wheels they get bent, 
by what we've done or failed to do
but ask for mercy, He'll give it to you. . . 

God is good. . . and now we have a van that we all fit in!!!

I am still in shock.  Seriously. . .   I have been asking everyone to pray for us as we try to find a vehicle for our growing family.  I have been mildly terrified and simultaneously grumpy as we have a nice mini-van that is barely seven years old, which has MANY YEARS left in it.  In any case, God is good and has taken care of us.  The parents of a friend I met in high school (and her sister that Gordie met in college - small world as my high school and his college are two hours apart) happened to have a 12 passenger van they no longer require as their children are grown now.  After some phone calls and meeting today, they are now the proud owners of our Ford Escape and we are the proud owners of a 12 passenger E350 Ford GINORMOUS van.  I was hesitant to even look at the vehicle after they told me over the phone that it had 180 thousand miles.  But I am so glad we did as it is a BEAUTIFUL VAN (and not white!!) and just amazing.  It drives better than the 12 passenger vans I used to drive for my university (when I would pick up new students at the airport).  I am still utterly in awe.  To add to it, after a little testing (and some readjusting of the garage door), we think it MIGHT EVEN fit in the garage!!  (And after many MANY driving lessons, Gordie might even be able to teach ME how to put it there!!  :)

I just keep looking out the window in shock.  We are so blessed.  Thank you, God!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

A birthday evening. . . through pictures. . . 

Birthday Brownies. . . minus the candles because. . . 

Candles put in birthday brownies too soon. . . that melted the bottoms - oops!!

So we improvised with "other" candles and children to bear them.  (3 representing 3 and 3 for 33 :)

Daddy blowing out the candles - and turning off Miriam's candle (it was electric - and was not considered "valid" so it did not throw off the three for thirty-three bit)

Paul loves birthdays!

Group shot, just after the candles were blown out.

Since I am cheap and did not feel like wasting wrapping paper. . . and we did not have a gift bag large enough for our gift, I let Rebekah color on the bag they gave us at the store.  

Back of the bag - yes, we got the gift from JC Penny. . . it was a blanket, in case you were curious. . . and I somehow managed to miss getting a picture of it.

These are all the kids in the family.

And here are "Dad and Mom"

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!  We love you very much!!  And we thank God for the amazing husband and father you are for us.  Love, your wife and children.

7 Quick Takes for a Thursday in February

Yes, "traditionally" 7 Quick Takes is done on Friday, but I feel like posting today and I think I can rock this format in the time I have so, there ya go :)

1) Miriam and Paul have been making my life miserable at daily Mass.  I'm seriously contemplating the cry room next time. . . which is huge for me as I'm really NOT A FAN of cry rooms.  I see their purpose, but I feel so distanced from everything going on and then the older kids have no immediate need to behave either and. . . basically I'm afraid that if I am in the cry room, I will not focus on their behavior as much and then will they ever learn to behave??  (Of course, focusing on Mass more would be nice.  . . )

2) Today, even though the younger kids were not particularly well-behaved (almost the exact opposite, actually) we still ended up making a triple-batch of homemade donuts this morning.  Rebekah and Samuel helped a ton (and I mean REALLY helped - not "helped" like the little kids do).  And now those two are baking the rest (in the donuts as I sit here and type this).  What a moment of bliss. . . 

3) Miriam is getting a lot more words.  (Seems she LOVES to practice them during Mass, too. . . sigh.)  She has the basics: baby, kitty, bye, ball, more, MINE.  I find her trying to say more (as in repeat after me) but often she just says the first letter and considers it good.  I find it entertaining.  I don't think any of the other children did this.

4) We are looking at a possible van this weekend.  It is old, with a lot of miles, and makes me nervous already and I have not even seen it, but it is very affordable. . .  I'm trying to keep an open mind about things, but even though my husband is a pretty-amazing mechanic, he gets busy and things still cost money and all, so I'm frightened to think if it would break down.  I wonder if I would feel comfortable taking an older van on trips and such. . . but then again, who knows the next time we will be taking a trip anywhere.  Although we COULD afford a modest car payment (say to buy our current van again), I also do not like wasting money, either.  It is a tough decision.  Lots of prayer in this for sure.

5) My kids are IN LOVE with this new music CD I found on Amazon.  It is from the "Dogma Dogs."  Seriously, they BEG for it.  It is peppy and fun and in-line with Church teaching.  They sing about Lent, the 10 Commandments, and about anything else you can imagine.  A great purchase and a real hit here!

6) Rebekah wants to learn how to make coffee so she can make coffee for Daddy and I in the morning.  Although I could probably teach her, I have not done so yet.  But it just melts my heart that she has such a desire.  She is such a blessing.  My friends all tell me I must be "raising her well" but I think she is just one of those super-sweet kids that practically raise themselves!!  I definitely am not taking much credit.

7) Samuel has finished THREE of his school textbooks (Math, Geography, and his Reading Textbook, we will still read novels and such, though) for the year and it is only February!  That boy can really "rock things out" when he focuses.  I already purchased our science book for "next year" and both kids are SUPER EXCITED about it (as they will be doing it together - one hardback textbook and they each have an age-appropriate notebook to go with it).  So I told them when they finish "this year's work" we will start in on Science early. (I'm thinking maybe over the summer.)  Who knew more school work could be such a motivator?

And some fun pictures to end with. (my favorite part of the "journal" posting form that I am including here - hey it is my blog, I can break the rules if I want to :) 

 Happy Thursday!!