Wordless Wednesday - cute chubby baby

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2013/2014 school pictures

Here are pictures of each kiddo and our family that we had taken at the end of last year.  I think out of all the pictures we've ever had taken, these are my most absolute favorite!!  I'm sure many of you will notice what the background is of the kids' picture and the background of the family picture - both very meaningful parts of our life!!  Who will be the first to guess right??  

  

Rose ~ 1 year old ~ pre-pre-school

 

Pookey ~ 4 years old ~ pre-school

Max ~ 5 years old ~ Kindergarten

Ariel ~ 7 years old ~ 2nd grade

Melody ~ 9 years old ~ 4th grade

Mario ~ 10 years old ~ 5th grade

Fone ~ 12 years old ~ 7th grade

My Dad found these real arrows, made in the 60's, at an auction for our big boys.  When thinking about poses and ideas for pictures, I knew we had to get those arrows out for this picture....

++Thank you, God, for my goofey, beautiful, sweet arrows!!++

"Mean Mom" quote

Kids:  "Mom, can I play Kindle?", or- "Mom, can I play a game on the computer?", or- "Mom, can I play on the iPad?"

Mom:  "No, you can play with people."

Followed by jaw-dropping, broken hearted children forced to play with other "people" and toys.  Sad, sad day!  And, what a mean ole mom, eh?  

New Years goals for 2014

This time of year is such a blessing!  We always need fresh starts and new beginnings, don't we?  It's been so encouraging reading and seeing others' New Year's Resolutions, and our kids wrote up their goals, and all the while, I have been pondering things in my own heart.  I know how important accountability is when it comes to follow-through, so I thought I'd just put it all out there, for all of you to read, pray with me, and encourage me.  Please let me do the same for you - please share your goals and let me encourage and pray for you!!

My goals for 2014 are...

"One word" tradition

Have you ever heard how some people pick one word that they focus on, reflect upon and try to grow in throughout that year.  I've always wanted a "word", but never put the time and effort and prayer into selecting one.  This year, I did.  And, <bam!> it just hit me LOUD and CLEAR!  My one word for 2014 is order.  Some of you who know me quite well, are probably laughing right now - "she already is Miss Orderly" or "she's one of the most organized people I know".  I guess I got ya fooled.  I am a (mostly) last-minute type of gal, who often gets by with the minimum.  I do "get by" though because I'm not a quitter, and maybe that's why I've came across as someone who already has "order" in my life.  But, goodness, do I need improvement - A LOT of it.  First and foremost, I have created an orderly schedule for our school days.  In the last week, I've created and re-created and re-created and it is still a work in progress.  Even with a schedule in place, I am constantly reminded who is the Master Scheduler and the need to be flexible.  And I LOVE when He completely takes over, flips our schedule upside-down, and takes the wheel!  The kids and myself included are already seeing benefits in our schedule, and I know that as we get more practice with it, it will be even more of a blessing!!

"All things should be done decently and in order."

~1 Corinthians 14:40 

 

GET UP!!!!! 

Having the blessing of staying home and schooling our children also comes with its downsides.... and one of those is that I would lay in bed til the very last minute possible.  Kids crawling into bed with me falling asleep becomes too tempting to want to stay there and snuggle.  Or, I would have kids yelling and jumping on the bed, "Mom, we are hungry!!"  Or, after a really rough night with a nursing baby or coughing toddler or staying up too late (which never happens with me - lol!), it's way too tempting to just let the kids watch a couple cartoons in the morning - doh!  So...  I have actually set an alarm and am getting myself up, showered and ready BEFORE the crew wakes up.  I think this will be the hardest one for me, truly....  Please pray for me to get myself out of bed.  I'll take wake-up calls!!  ;)

"She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household."

~Proverbs 31:15

Read aloud to the kids - every day

I have always loved to read aloud, but never truly understood how much I do until I read a post from this sweet momma.  I was never a reader growing up, but there is something about reading out loud to all the kids that brings  so much JOY to me and them!  The kids just hang on to every word, and beg for me to read more.  I actually love (and giggle to myself) how they all sigh when I tell that "that's all for now".  It's such a special time together and I will do this every day with them in many different ways - both educational and fun reading. 

our newest read-aloud

Adding to my spiritual life

Following, loving and serving Our Lord is the heartbeat that keeps me going.  He guides me, strengthens me, corrects me, loves me, teaches me, and gave His all for me.  I can add to and give a little more of myself every year to draw closer to Him.  Here is my plan for this year....

1)  morning offering:  the kids and I pray the Morning Offering prayer before breakfast and have done this for years.  In helping the follow through of my "own word" of ORDER, and being reliant upon God's grace, I am adding a morning offering as my alarm is ringing and I am hopping out of bed.  I will start my day with a "serviam" (I will serve you, Lord!).  Then, I will add the devotion of praying "3 Hail Mary's" for holy purity.
2)  daily examination of conscience
3)  33 Day Consecration (I am doing a weekly study for this at a local church)
4)  Full Rosary at least once a week:  we already pray a decade of the Rosary for our evening family prayers, but would love to work our way up to a full rosary.  Again, I know attempting to do this every night may be too much.  So, we'll take steps and aim for one full Rosary a week.   
5) Behold conference  
6)  monthly confession as a family:  one of those "game changers" that Matthew Kelly suggests
7)  blessing after meals prayer

"My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience." 

~St Therese

Get moving!!!!

What New Year's resolution post would be complete without a goal related to exercise?  Well, I've never been good at follow through when it comes to this one, nor do I have a concrete plan on how to do this and be successful still.  I have never forgot (and kinda use this as an excuse) to not be consistent, how a dear priest friend of ours "okay-ed" and released the guilt I have from this.  He said, "There are seasons in life when this is easier and better, but right now I need to focus on my family!"  I still agree and feel very strongly with what he said, but think I am be able to work something in, even if it is once a week.  I NEED prayers for this part and am open to any suggestions!!  Thanks bunches!! 

Some other ideas:

***Related to the "one word" tradition, I wanted to share something a close friend of mine does...  She not only pics a word for herself, but also a word for her husband and three sons.  She is in my weekly prayer group and as she has done this tradition for years, it is AMAZING to hear about and see where God leads each of them throughout the year and how that "one word" has true meaning behind their major happenings.  Total GRACE!  For now, I will pick the one overall word for myself, and after I can stick with that, then I'm hoping to take on this tradition in future years.  Don't want to overwhelm myself too fast!

***Scripture memorization - again, another year for us!  

May God bless you all abundantly this year!!!  

An Epiphany play....

 "Beloved

Most Beauteous

and Exalted King of All

should be his name."

Instead, they call him...

Jesus."

(last two pages in our favorite Epiphany book, Humprey's First Christmas)

The kids have put on an Epiphany play for many years now, and last year was absolutely precious with our new baby "Jesus" (aka:  Rose).  Well, now that our little baby "Jesus" is older now, he (she!) got to enjoy the 3 gifts a little more this year.  The kids normally just sing "We Three Kings" and one of them narrates.  This year, I gave them a little help and googled "Three Kings play script".  I found this script online from a website we use quite often - and I never even knew they had cool scripts like this.  We left out a couple scenes, for sake of time and planning and actors, but it turned out adorable as always.  Enjoy!!!!

More pictures of our young actors/actresses...

Happy Epiphany to all of you!!!

Happy birthday, Jesus!!!

 We began our Christmas celebrations by going to Mass on Christmas Eve - our big boys were altar servers and our girls sang in the children's choir.  Then we headed out to my parents for all the fun and festivities there.

We took our jolly ole time Christmas morning waking up and had heart-shaped biscuits and gravy and smoothies for breakfast.  It's so nice that St. Nicholas comes early to our place every year.  It not only helps us focus on Jesus more during Advent and on his birthday, but it makes for a very peaceful Christmas morning and the celebrations surrounding Christmas day!  Of course, there were a few presents to open in the morning - the only presents our kids opened then and the MOST important gift of all - Jesus!!

And, then after our relaxing morning as family, we left for and celebrated with Neil's family in the early afternoon and almost til midnight!  How blessed we are to have such wonderful family on both sides whom we love SO much!!  

Happy birthday, Jesus!  

We love you!!!

(picture credit from "Catholic Memes")

Christkindl exchange

This is the second year that we drew names for "Christkindl".  It's kind of like a "secret Santa", where you draw names at the beginning of Advent and all throughout Advent, you are to perform secret, loving deeds for the person whose name you drew.  We not only do loving acts throughout Advent, but buy an ornament for our person and exchange them on Christmas Eve - and that's when the great reveal is!  (Jessica is the one whom we stole this wonderful idea from - thanks, dear!!)

Here are pictures from our exchange and who had who.....

We had only planned on having the kids draw names and share their love throughout Advent and exchange ornaments.  But a certain, sneaky, someone decided to get an ornament for me this year!!!  I was SO surprised - it brought tears to my eyes!  Love you, babe!!!

This moment of "reveal" and the acts of virtue throughout Advent is definitely one of my favorite parts!!!

++Thank you, God, for the acts of love all throughout Advent and the surprises of joy during the reveal of our Christkindl exchange!++