Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sorta Schoolin' in the Summer

Since we have been done with school, we have...

I am beginning to think...isn't this what school should be about?  Reading, learning, having a true desire to WANT to read, WANT to learn.  I am so thankful to have been blessed by knowing other home schooled Moms in our home school group who are so willing to share their ways of schooling. 

For sure, I know that next year will be different.  In what ways?  I am not exactly sure...yet.  A whole new world of learning and schooling is opening up to me and to our family.  I am so excited!  I am going to use this summer to truly focus on helping to create this love of learning that we think is so important.  It will not be school, per se.  B/c we do need a break!  It is so fun to sit back and see them play school (and learn!) and teach each other math (and learn!) and read to each other (and learn!).  Life is a school!!!  This summer will be fun and a more relaxed way of learning for us all to experience.  Thank you God for this blessing, may I be your servant to help your little ones discover the beauty of Your world, Your creation, Your blessings. 

"When you did it to them, you did it to me."

God bless,
M

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It's summer break for us!




We are officially done with school for the year!
Wooohooo! 
Can you feel our excitement??!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!!!?!?!?!?!!?!?!???!!??

We finished our standardized testing that is required for the state that we live in.

We finished even before we go on a few travels in the next few weeks! Can you believe that?  It was my dream to be able to finish up and we actually did it!  I am so proud of my students-yay!!! :)  They did awesome!  We had some rough days, good days, great days...but we finished

My goals are already being formulated in my head and some on paper of what I want out of this summer for us... and it is going to be super duper fun and learning without them even knowing they are learning while playing! :)  I will post on that later in the week.

Field trips, parks, picnics, pool, pool, pool, pool...

Yesterday...
We celebrated with a homemade cake that Kid #5 and I made together yesterday...
the kids had a cool water gun fight before lunch...
and we had our last PE (gym) class for the year ;(

More later,
God bless,
M

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Blah blah blah

Sometimes, I think, the next worst thing about being in a bad mood is meeting another person in a bad mood too.  That is what happened this morning.

I went to Mass by myself (thank you God) and it was truly lovely.  A bit of Heaven.  Literally. 

Then I went to finish my food shopping that began yesterday but not completed.

What is it with food shopping that makes it a bitter/sweet relationship for me?  I guess it could be all those foods that I really want to eat right then and there :) and then the reality of how bad they are for me and that, really, our $ needs to be on the food that is good for us and we actually need.  I opted out of my usual weekly ice cream pick up.  And it was on sale too.  Boo-hoo.  I am beginning to watch my food intake and that is hard since I am around food... all...the...time!  :)  AND somehow the food has become a bit of an issue to help me get through stressful points in my day,  if you get my drift.  Nothing that I am proud of. 

All this being said...I sort of got in a little selfish mood. 

The last item to pick up was the oven roasted turkey cold cuts that my husband insisted I pick up for lunch today. 

Easy to please, I thought.  I could do that.

I stood and waited.   I stood there some more.  This other woman and I.  10 minutes now.  Waiting.  The only man working behind the very long counter was with someone else.   I was patient and I stood there some more.  The other customer left but not me!  I needed that turkey!!!  Growing a bit impatient as the time increased.  I browsed the cheeses and some feta cheese made it into my cart (tasted so yummy on our salad today :) Anyway, back to what I was saying....

Time continued to grow.  He saw me and our eyes met.  He did assure me with a wink that he'd be over "ASAP".  OK, I can do this.

Time was now 20 minutes.

Am I nuts or what?

Wait, don't answer that.

You see, my hubby wants this for lunch.  He requested and insisted on this for lunch.  And by golly, I was going to come home with it in my bags no matter what.

Time was 23 minutes.

At that moment, I thanked God.  For what?  I am not sure but it sure helped me to not flip out.

Finally he came over.  Thanks for the fortitude, God :)  Then he started.  Started on a rampage of his horrible job and how much he could not wait to be retired.  He had a friend who worked with him but he died a little while ago.  Poor fellow, I thought.  Guilt was setting in.  But this guy behind the counter was really in pain.  I could see it.  Hear it.  I had no idea what to say to him.  I wanted to say something but could not wrap my mind around the right words.  He needed hope in his dreary part of his world. 

Why was God letting this man rant to me?

Who was I to be told this to?

I did not let on that I was a Momma with 7 little ducklings.  If I did, the conversation surely would have changed its focus.  Humility...  I could have easily mentioned my kids and I would feel comfortable, I would feel somewhat proud.

But God calls us to not be so comfortable all the time.  To humble ourselves and put others first.  This man was in need of someone to listen.

Yet it was just me who wishes ice cream was in her cart.  And there I was upset about that and this man had bigger worries, bigger problems than me.  Yet, I had no words for him.

This moment this morning was a reminder that God gave us ONE mouth but TWO ears so that we can do twice as much listening than talking.

Maybe that's why I thought to myself..."Thank you, God."

God bless,
M

Monday, May 16, 2011

Photo credit by Kid #1, age 10


I LOVE this picture, don't you?

It spells SPRING !

He is a natural, after my own heart....as we both love taking pics...
God bless,
M

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Wednesday's Why

(+1 day)

It is just wrong.

There are 6 pancakes on my table with big holes in them.

Holes where the chocolate chips USED to be.

This is just plain wrong.

Right? :)

God bless,
M

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Seeing is believing

My kid #3, boy, age 7, says to me yesterday:

"Mom!  I just looked at myself!"

"Oh Yeah?"  I mustered, a bit confused.

"I mean,"  he goes on to say, "it's been a really long time since I looked in the mirror.  And I did, and wow do I look goooooooood!"
HAAA HAAA

Laughter is such good medicine!!!!!!

God bless,
M

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Chasing a 2 yr old

I haven't posted lately...sorry about that!

I have been busy running after a certain little 2 year old that is super cute *(Thank God!!!!)
but ....
OH MY GOODNESS!!!

He still has not taken a liking to his baby sister and likes to clobber her as well as pull each joint and squish her face.   There is a house rule that we cannot put Little Lady down unless he is not around or if Momma is right there.  If holding her, then get ready to be a body guard.  My big kids are getting pretty good at this.  Not that I am proud of the fact that they are good body guards! haaaa

Little Lady is 3 1/2 months now and I thought by now that things would have changed and actually realizes that she really is staying.  Nope, not yet!  Errrrr...  A priest I know says that he is the one that will probably be a priest!!!  If this is what I have to endure for his vocation, so be it, I suppose....but I am not having fun.

I mean, what is the point of a fenced in yard when he climbs over the fence???  I have it locked up w/a key but it does not matter. 

He is an early riser--unlike myself.  He even enjoys singing at this early time but his singing is more like screaming.  Ay ay ay.....He asks and then tells me very loudly that he wants oatmeal or cheerios or whatever.  He is ready to go go go very early around here.  Let me get my coffee first, lil buddy...I have resorted to him watching a little show in these hours, super idea ...or so I thought.  He is not old enough to really get the idea of sitting still and quiet.  haa haaa!!!

I swear I need a babysitter JUST FOR HIM ALONE.  No joke, it is sooooo true.  One eye off of him for just 5 seconds can bring surprises you'd never dream of!!!   He is something else, this 2 yr old...

On a positive note, did I mention he is really really REALLY cute?  Yes, I know a mothers love goes beyond boundaries and she sees her children as the cutest, but seriously, this little guy is a head turner!  :) 

Did I also mention that he loves loves loves books?  I am so glad he actually knows how to stay put for a minimal amount of time!  He loves when I bring a huge bag full of library books home.  At that point, at least I know I have a few minutes that I know exactly where he is :)

He is also good with his words and is easy to have a conversation with.  It is worth the time to spend talking with someone when they are 2 years old!!!  Oh, the stories he has and the words he uses and the faces he makes while he is trying to think of a word-so unbelievably cute!!! :) 

One last thing to make sure you know how cute this stinker is...not that he is an all out crazy 2 yr old.  (then again, maybe this list is more for me! haa haa LOL!!!)

He loves his biggest brother!  He loves to ride on his shoulders.  He loves it when big brother reads to him and plays trucks and blocks with him.  I am so glad b/c that big brother sure is someone to be following-he is awesome too!

Anyway, I have not forgotten about my blog...it's just that I have running ragged around here chasing after my little priest.

Please say a prayer for me, if you will.  A Prayer for greater sacrificial love for this child in particular, and for new ways of how to meet his needs.  Thank you kindly!!!
God bless,
M

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

10 yr old boy and his bag

'Cause this is what every 10 yr old boy has in his bag, right?

  • Holy Bible
  • Preface to Religion by Fulton Sheen
  • Lives of the Saints
  • US Presidents flash cards
  • Index cards
  • Transformation in Christ by Dietrich Von Hildebrand
  • Websters Dictionary

HA~!  :)  :)   :)

I SOOOOOO love this boy!!!  Who wouldn't??!?!?!!

God bless,
Mary

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Moments are Gifts

Moments are fleeting...these I don't want to forget...

  • 4 yr old son to me "Momma!  My foot just lives in here!"  (referring to how snug his foot is in his sandal!-haaa haaa)

  • 7 yr old son to me "Little Lady just spit up all over me! (giggle giggle)  I was burping her and whoa~she spit up ALL OVER me....so I changed my pants."  That sure is true hard-core love, huh?  Spit up, smile and giggle and go back to holding her.  Man, my kids just love our Little Lady!!!

Now, not to give the impression that my day and my life is all peachy, here is a little secret~ my 2 boys-double trouble boys~ were sent to nap time without lunch.  Yes, you heard me right.  Yes, I am a mean momma.

God bless,
M

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Divine Mercy Sunday



The CHAPLET isanother one of my favorite prayers.   Learn about it HERE.

Listen and pray it HERE.


Just so happens today is also the day that our beloved past pope, Pope John Paul II will be BEATIFIED!:) woohoo!

WATCH IT LIVE HERE
I have a great love & a deep respect and admiration for this very holy man.

John Paul the Great, pray for us!!!

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

God bless,
M