~ Veterans Day ~

O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, look kindly on your departed veterans who gave their lives in the service of their country. Grant that through the passion, death, and resurrection of your Son they may share in the joy of your heavenly kingdom and rejoice in you with your saints forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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May God bless our veterans past and present!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Three Lovely Ladies

~24 weeks!

I consider this post an act of humility. :P

~ Prayers for the Poor Souls ~

Please don't forget to pray for the poor souls!

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Especially from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8th otherwise known as All Souls Week.

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The entire month of November is dedicated to the poor souls in Purgatory.

Small Succeses #17

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1. I have finally completed my small part of the surprise for Jessica's baby shower. I had meant to get it done last weekend. Well, better late than never...I hope.

2. I've started the novena to St. Anne found in the lovely prayer packet (pdf file) that Elizabeth Foss put together during her pregnancy with Sarah. This has been a great comfort to me during my own high risk pregnancy. The past couple of nights I have had a difficult time falling asleep and then staying asleep, not to mention the troubled dreams. I printed out the booklet and now say the novena with my husband right before going to sleep as we lay in bed. It has become my safety blanket.

3. All the Halloween candy in our home is gone! Yea! And I will not be buying any of the candy that is now on sale in every store I step into. I. Will. Not.

Now it's your turn!

Please visit Faith & Family Live to share and celebrate other Small Success.

Thank you for stopping by!

God bless,

My Daybook ~ All Hallows Eve edition

For today...

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Outside my window... a lovely sunny day of 63 degrees. Quite a change from last week.

I am listening to... the children anticipating daddy coming home.

I am thinking... how quickly time seems to be passing. Halloween has come and gone and Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent is almost here.

To be fit and happy... ugh, not doing to well with this. I have started to take more supplements. I've added to my normal prenatal vitamins a "blood builder" herbal whole food pill and alfalfa pill. I've been told that I will probably have to bank my blood for my upcoming csection due to my placenta previa complications. So taking these are a must. Also, I'm uping my fiber intake as well with milled sprouted flaxseed and milled raw psyllium husk.

I'm thankful for... every little kick and nudge my sweet little one gives me. It is a true comfort for me right now.

From the kitchen... more hearty dishes such as stews, slow cooker roast and soups.

I am wearing... maternity blue jeans, red and white striped long sleeved maternity top and my very comfy tennis shoes.

I am creating... a unique child of God. :) Oh, and I'm trying to finish our O Antiphon house before the start of Advent. I started this project after Advent last year after seeing everyones fantastic ideas on other blogs. I put it aside though after getting caught up in other projects. I'm almost done. I only have the blocks to finish with the symbols.

In the learning room...mostly status quo. Which, right now, is alright by me.

Bringing beauty to my home... adding a few more decorations up around the house for Thanksgiving.

I am reading... I just finished Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Weird. Just too weird for me to like really. I'm trying to read The Mysterious Benedict Society with my oldest boy and we are currently making our way through the Spiderwick Chronicles as our family read-aloud. I want to reread New Moon by Stephanie Meyer before the movie comes out at the end of the month.

I am hoping/praying for... a safe and healthy rest of the pregnancy. And good news at my apt. with the high risk OB specialist. I'm scheduled for a consult and another level 2 ultrasound. If they can't get enough from that then they will do a MRI. We will discuss how to proceed based on the findings.

One of my favorite things...crisp, clear autumn mornings.

A few plans for the rest of the week... a visit to the cemetery to pray for the poor souls in Purgatory, women's group at church, boy's club at church, swim lessons and the weekly trip up to the dairy to get our milk.

To live the liturgy... our visit to the cemetery to pray for the poor souls and gain for them a plenary indulgence.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Here is the updated photo I promised in my last Daybook entry.


Please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybooks.

Thank you for stopping by!

God bless,

What to do?

So, what do we do when it's a very chilly 23 degrees out and the world outside your window looks like a snow globe?

Well, first there's the hot chocolate! :)

Next, we sit by the fireside.

And then we pick up a good book and read.

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Ah! Blessed bliss.

Wishing you all the warmth that an early snowfall brings.

God bless,

Wordless Wednesday ~ First Snow of the Season!

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A Baby Shower for Jessica at Shower of Roses! ~

Marci over at 6Hands2Hold blog is hosting a baby shower for our rose of the blogosphere, Jessica at Shower of Roses blog! How fun! Below is her quote from her blog post. She is asking all friends of Jessicas whether real or on the web to stop by her blog and leave a comment. She will then get a hold of you and give you the details of the plan. She would like to get as many people involved as possible and asks that we spread the word ourselves on our own blogs or email. She has limited time to pull this all together in time for the baby shower in November. So, please follow the link over to Marci's blog and help her with the surprise. Jessica inspires so many of us, myself included, and brings joy to many with a visit to her blog. Let us give her a little of that joy back. Let's make this a "Shower of Roses" Jessica will never forget!

~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~

"So, I am hosting a baby shower for Jessica, over at Shower of Roses, in late November and am trying to get all her friends (blogger and otherwise) involved in a NEAT gift I want to present to her at her shower. I cannot give you all the details in my post here because she comes over and reads my blog. (WINK WINK Jessica.) If you wanna join in on the fun, leave me a comment and I will get back to you with all the information. (I will tell you it DOES involve ROSES and you will wanna be a part of this!!!) Also, if you want to post about it on your own blogs to help get the word out, please do. Just DO NOT give out all the little nitty gritty details. Let's surprise her with a lovely gift and SHOWER her with Roses!!!"
~@~~@~~@~~@~~@~

Thank you for stopping by.

May God bless you,

Small Successes #16

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1. We have started up our nightly family read alouds again. It got pushed to the side during the summer months. It was light out in the evening and we as a family naturally spent that time out of doors doing things. But with the longer evenings and the cool fall weather it has come back into our family evening routine. We've started reading and are really enjoying The Spiderwick Chronicles.

2. I have done my best to block out the negative and/or scary birth stories that people love to tell me about. Why is it that when someone sees that you are expecting this is what they are compelled to share? Especially now that I have the placenta previa complications. Ugh. Please, if you don't have anything nice to say...keep it to yourself.

3. I've been better at letting (making) the kids help me more around the house. Even more of a plus, I'm accepting of the fact that it will not be perfect or even done the way that I would do it. This has been a hard one for me, but the doctor has made it clear that I have to rest more. And being put on complete bed rest while homeschooling and running a household of 9 people is an unthinkable alternative.

Please go share and celebrate others small successes over at Faith & Family Live!

Thank you for stopping by.

May God bless you,

Autumnal Fun! ~ Some things we did last week

I was going to do this as a Wordless Wednesday post but quickly realized, a) there were too many pictures to share and, b) I wanted to write little snippets to explain each set of pics :)

So, here are some highlights from last week!

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* Fun Fall Math *

(inspiration from as cozy as spring)

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* A Hearty Meal *

~ Hachis Parmentier~

(my French grandmothers recipe)

• 6 Baked Potatoes

• 1 lb. ground beef

• 12 oz. ground sausage (hot)

• 2 eggs

• Preferred Seasoning to Taste (Pepper, Salt, Italian Seasoning, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder)
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  Boil Potatoes, when cool peel them. Brown sausage then put it aside. Brown beef in same pan then put both meats together and season to your taste. Mash potatoes and add meats and mix well. Then add beaten eggs. Mix till smooth. Place in baking dish in 350 degree oven for about an hour.

Serve with salad and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon :)

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* A trip to the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch *

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* An Apple Pie for "A" week along the Alphabet Path *

Thank you for stopping by!

God bless,

Small Successes #15

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1. I finally made Danielle's delicious fall cookies! Yummy!

Plus, we all had fun making and frosting them.

2. I swapped out the summer clothes for the winter clothes. I'm late with this here. We are averaging a high most days in the mid 60's.

3. I made my French grandmothers recipe of *Hachis Parmentier. I hadn't made it in forever!Probably since last fall/winter. It is a hearty meal of meat and potatoes. Perfect for the wet Autumn weather that has blown in. It's kind of like a French shepherds pie I guess, without the veggies. The veggies come on the side in a nice mixed green salad with my hubby's special oil & vinegar dressing.

*I would link to a recipe online but NONE of them are like my Mémé’s

Now it's your turn.

Go share in other small successes over at Faith & Family Live!

Thank you for stopping by.
God bless,

Wordless Wednesday ~ A Tour of Our School Room

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Thank you for stopping by.

God bless,

Small Successes #14

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1. In an effort to eat more healthy I've added veggies to every meal. Yes, even breakfast. I add some chopped up in my scrambled eggs.

2. I balanced the checkbook with the account online and have all the debit card receipts accounted for. Now I know just how broke we are. ;)

3. We have stuck to our homeschool schedule/rhythm and we are coming along nicely. I've had to make a few tweaks here and there to my lesson plans, but overall I'm very pleased with the beginning to our yearly learning adventure.

For more Small Successes please visit Faith & Family Live!

Thank you for stopping by!

God bless,

~ Celebrating the Feast of the Guardian Angels

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On the agenda today ::

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Prayer ~ St. Michael and the nine choirs of Angels Chaplet

~Guardian Angel prayer (of course)

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Books ~ Saints for Young Readers for Every Day, Vol. 2

~Angel in the Waters by Regina Doman

(I love this book)

~My Guardian Dear, a story of the Angels

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Arts & Crafts ~100% wool Rainbow Angels

~coloring pages from Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda blog

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Food ~ For dinner, Angel Hair pasta with broccoli and shrimp in herbed butter

~ For dessert, Angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries

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Thank you for stopping by.

May God bless you today,

I can relate...

to Cookie Monster, of course. ;)

courtesy of Savage Chickens.com

Small Successes # 13

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1. My biggest success is seeing my healthy, growing baby. We had an ultrasound to take measurements, check growth and possibly find out the sex. The baby looked great and is growing wonderfully well, but we could not get a definite on if the baby is a boy or girl. The cord was right between the legs. One minute the tech thought she saw girl parts and the next minute thought she saw boy parts. Ah, well. I've been reassured that there will be more ultrasounds because of something that was seen for certain.

Placenta Previa.

*Please pray for me.*

2. So far we have had a very successful week in our homeschool. Everyone has had good attitudes (even with math lessons) and work is getting done quickly. There has been plenty of laughs and smiles to spare. At one point in my homeschool a few years ago I wasn't always sure that smiles and enjoyment while homeschooling were possible. I've come along way.

3. For the past two months we have gone to confession as a family every two weeks. I now keep track on the calendar. This helps us be more aware of how much time has passed between trips. Before when I didn't keep track we could go an entire month or two between going. This way we all get in "the box" and out on a regular basis and can keep up with that squeaky clean feeling. As Martha Stewart says,

"it's a good thing."

Now it's your turn! Go celebrate and share your small successes over at Faith & Family Live!

May God bless you in your small successes,

Wordless Wednesday ~ Autumnal Book Display

Click photo to see larger.

Our Family Rosary

....is not perfect. It is real though and it does bear fruit.

~@~

My secret to success....Just. Make. It. Happen. Yes, it just comes down to doing it. "Just Do It" is one of my favorite inspirational quotes, lol. Seriously though, you will never have the perfect setting or atmosphere and your children will never have a perfect disposition and attitude. Set a time each day and follow through. Be consistent and make it part of your daily routine. I suggest attaching it onto something else in your day that you always do. Like part of your night/bed time routine. Or right after/before lunch (this is what we do). Find a time that works for you and your family. We say ours usually after lunch because my husband is with us and the children are more awake then and are typically in a good disposition having just eaten. But this may not work for everyone else. Most people do not have the great blessing of daddy working close enough to come home for lunch. As I said, do what works for your family.

~@~

Most importantly, be patient. With the children and yourself. The Devil thrives on discouragement and hates the rosary so he will throw much at you in order to get you to give up this family devotion. Persevere and do not give up. Even when you think that no one is paying attention or getting it. Even when you have to stop 30 times to correct a child or aid them in the "how to's" of praying with the beads. We have found that it helps to let the children take turns leading a mystery when they are old enough to do so. It keeps their attention focused. Also, you can use pictures as well as "hands-on" materials to keep the little ones interested and focused as well. Here is a very good example of these methods. Kimberly is a true inspiration and her blog is full of ideas of how to involve even the youngest children in the family devotionals. I highly recommend giving her blog Pondered in My Heart a visit. I will add here that it also helps to have a comfortable place to pray. Preferably in front of a family altar with a statue and/or picture of the Blessed Virgin. I will try to post more on our family altar later.

~@~

Afterward, have a little reward. Something to look forward to like tea and a treat. It doesn't have to be elaborate. Just a little something like pumpkin bread or sugar cookies with herbal tea makes the children light up with smiles. You will be refreshed and renewed and ready for whatever comes your way because you will have the support and prayers of the Blessed Mother. And what could be more beneficial than that?

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"There is no surer means of calling down God's blessings upon the family... than the daily recitation of the Rosary."
~Pope Pius XII

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"No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary."
~Bishop Hugh Doyle

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"Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary's which purifies the monotony of your sins!"
~ St. Josemaria Escriva

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"If you say the Rosary faithfully until death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins 'you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.' Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practise black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and will save your soul, if-- and mark well what I say-- if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins."
~St. Louis de Montfort from The Secret of the Rosary

May God bless you in your own family Rosary and devotions,

Small Successes #12

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that"

1. I'm back online!! I took a week off for a little R&R (I was sick with a pretty bad cold and also needed time to focus on our new school schedule) but it turned into two weeks when our modem went out on us. We bought a new one from Best Buy, but it sat there waiting for my hubby to hook it all up and get it running. I finally couldn't take it any longer and hooked it up myself. Wires and cords where everywhere and the modem was hanging a few inches off the ground suspended by the phone cord in one wall and the power cord in another wall across from the phone jack....don't laugh. My husband didn't. But he did fix it all up, nice and proper looking. Well, that's his job after all. He's the Network Engineer. Sheesh!

2. I've felt the baby move a few times now. LOVE IT! This is what I always wait for. I'm 18 weeks along now and I'm scheduled for an ultrasound at my next doctor apt. I can't wait! We are planning on finding out the sex if the baby cooperates. ;)

3. We all survived a 2 1/2 hour drive up to a mountain town (elevation 8,889 ft.) for two of my daughter's soccer games. It was beautiful on the way up but when we came into town the weather turned nasty. As in freezing wind and rain that turned into sleet. I thought I had been prepared well, but this drastic weather change threw me. The kids on the soccer teams were real troopers. I would have said forget this and ran off the field. Anyway, between games I went to find Dancer (my oldest daughter) a hat and gloves. Lucky me, I found both on closeout sales. I spent $15 for items that regularly priced would have been $50. Yippy, I get my smiles where I can folks.

4. I'm going to add in a fourth one here. Goofy, my 8yr old son, has had problems with asthma since he was 4. He has not had a bad attack since he was 6yr old. As I said on #1 I had a bad cold and so did the rest of the family. Well, for Goofy it developed into an asthma attack and all the meds I had were out dated. He had been fine all day and it was at 8:30 that night that his body couldn't handle it anymore. I made the decision to take him into the ER and was very happy I did. His oxygen level was very low and they needed him to have a dose of steroid. He had an IV put in place and started pumping him with antibiotics for the pneumonia they discovered through several Xrays. They needed him to stay over night and set me up on a chair/cot in his room. Needless to say, we both got zero sleep. But I'm so thankful for the doctors, nurses and medicine that made my son well again. Seeing my son well enough to run around playing and laughing and being his goofy self is a HUGE success in my book.

Now it's your turn! Go share your small successes over at Faith and Family Live!

God bless,