Sacred Saturday

We had our children's confirmation retreat at Catholic Charities in Tulsa, OK yesterday.  It was a beautiful, grace filled day.  I tool my camera with every intentions of documenting everything.  It just didn't seem like the timing was right.  I was afraid of being a distraction.  I waited until we were done with Mass and the incense cleared and took these photos;)
 

I have a devotion to the Sacred Heart.

My favorite.  The Infant of Prague.

 

 

The Fourteen Stations of the Cross are beautiful!  We are making our own:)

This was how thick the incense was AFTER mass. 

 

Family Friday

Someday I'm going to miss this. For now, it's annoying;). The middle pictures where he is in the green shirt...then it was obviously removed...was a 10 minute reign of terror. We affectionately call him "Mister Twister".

Thankful Thursday

I took Landon to soccer today (you know this if you read my blog;). I sat in the car with the baby while he practiced. Hunter park was CRAZY busy. One of the many, many activities happening was a frisbee golf tournament. I know this because I was parked in front of their sign up table:(. On Landon's way back to the car he dropped his ball. There was a woman reading her Bible by the sign up table and she immediately jumped up and grabbed it for him. I don't even remember how the conversation started but all I know is today I heard the most powerful Christian witness story. It was unbelievable. The woman was battling cancer. She told me about the disease and how the cancer was : "allowed by God for her to grow in faith and trust in Him." She told me this week she had a meeting with all of her Doctors. She told them, "I want you to know two things about me. One...don't underestimate my will to live. Two...don't underestimate the power of my God!" They had just told her it was terminal. I held it together until I called Chris. Wow. So today, Thankful Thursday is dedicated to her and all women battling Cancer. Who teach us how to handle life "with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child."

Wordless Wednesday...almost;)

Thank you, Mom. For everything.

Wordless Wednesday...on Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...
11. Therapists that are passionate about their job and love my daughter.
12. For my daughter Krystiana. It's an honor to raise her.
13. For Landon. From his very conception was a healing force in our family and humbled my fertility doctor.
14. For August. My miracle baby. You proved my fertility Doctor was wrong about me not being able to have any more children...again. We switched doctors.
15. For Dr.'s Jay Williamson and Arthur Nilson for supporting my decision to VBAC (not their first choice). They will never have any idea the depth of gratitude I have. Also, for the staff. Who bore the brunt of my anxious phone calls. Almost dying during childbirth makes you a little jumpy. Sorry:(
16. For my son Alex, who I wrote about last Saturday. You deserve a post all your own:).
17. For days like today. I have been busy shuffling kids around. School, therapy, homeschool, soccer, etc., Which makes a woman who thought she couldn't have children very, very happy.
18. For my sister and brother. Because you understand. I love you.
19. For Katie and Cody. I love you like you were my own.
20. For my Mom and Dad. You instilled a love of learning, DIY, and gave me siblings. See above.
21. For my Stepmom Nita who drug me to auctions, flea markets, and introduced to Junkin.
22. Junk Gypsies

Monday. Enough Said.

Like most Moms {Had to scratch that. Nothing about my life is typical.} I have been extremely busy.  We are"refocusing" on home management and maintenance.  I know the word "refocusing" implies that I had "focused" on this aspect of my life previously but I can't remember.  I have ADD.  Don't Judge.  Remember this list?  We are on a purging and organization binge.  So I am putting a few new links on the side to help (me;).  Apparently, this has been an issue of mine for awhile?  I was looking through the archives and found these pictures of our old house:(    Just so you know...the rest of the house was spotless.  No, I am not in denial.  At all.  Ever.  I need to go now.  I want to avoid what happened in the pictures below from ever happening again and I need to call my Mom.  She still thinks I'm perfect.  She doesn't read my blog...

Sacred Saturday

Happy Birthday, Alex. You and I are tied together by a special bond. You were a miracle from birth.  I started hemorrhaging and lost 60% of my blood in 13 minutes. God spared our lives that night, Alex says, "as a blessing". I do not take my life for granted at all. Every year we celebrate your birthday on the anniversary of that "blessing" and our life together as a family.  Alex and I picked this quote tonight to share:

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved".  Helen Keller

Family Friday

Jeremiah 29:11


Feeling very, very blessed today.  I love my life...
 

Thankful Thursday

I have been hauling my camera everywhere trying to capture every single moment in our life.  Thursdays are so busy with school, therapy, and soccer.  I am so blessed to have moments like these...




Wishful Wednesday

My wish for you:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Teaching Tuesday--Shelf Help

  Recently, we had a young man come over from the Knights of Columbus to take care of our insurance. With seven people in our family to do paperwork on, he was there for awhile;) The conversation turned to family.  He and his wife were expecting their first child.  He looked around our house and saw the piles of books (also 5 kids) and asked: "What parenting books do you recommend?" I had to stop and think a minute but I narrowed it down to a few. I figured "Teaching Tuesday" would be the perfect time to share my top 10. I wish every parent would read these.

Shelf Help for Parents:

1. The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.

2. Scream Free Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel

3. Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline

4. Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Lisa M. Ross, Kim John Payne

5. The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman

6. Woman First, Family Always by Kathryn Sansone

7. Good Families Don't Just Happen: What We Learned from Raising Our 10 Sons and How It Can Work for You by Cathy Garcia-Prats

8. Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson.

9.  Parenting With Grace by Gregory K. Popkak
10.  How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen and Listen So Your Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber

Mamarazzi Monday--Milestones!

We missed all of you that weren't able to be there:)  Hope you enjoy this...

Divine Mercy Sunday

  My Sister and Mom watched the kids for me while Tiana and I went to church tonight.  It's Divine Mercy Sunday.  I really feel a connection to this feast day.  Sister Faustina actually passed away on my birthday (I know that's morbid but go with me here;).  I took my camera because our church has the most beautiful chapel devoted to the Divine Mercy.  The photos don't even do it justice.  Along the way, I ran into friends of ours who happened to be at Mass with their family.  I snapped a few pictures.  They are incredible.  They both were discerning religious vocations when they met.  Not unlike this family.  So glad they decided their vocation was marriage.  We left our friends and went to the Good Shepard Chapel at Saint Bernards.    We had a great evening.  Hope you can join us for this Novena...

Sacred Saturday

I read an article one time by Clay Clarkson. He and his wife Sally are Homeschooling pioneers. In the article Clay said that most people are either time oriented or relationship oriented. That when your children are little you should make an effort to figure that out. It makes a huge difference in how you approach parenting and educating them. I am relationship oriented. Period. My life revolves around my family and friends. Despite my best efforts I can't stick to a schedule to save my life and I am hopelessly disorganized:( I spent Saturday with an amazing English couple (who cooked for me!) and their two wonderful children.  It ended with a sleepover.  Its "Sacred Saturday". It absolutely was...






He asked to sleep with me but his baby brother was trying to tell him he was in his spot.




He told me it was "Karate chop night".  I'm scared.





Tiana had a sleepover...

American Girls.  Actually an American and English girl;)



Um...where is my spot?



They always look so sweet when they are sleeping.  You can't tell but the baby was turned sideways:( 
My back will eventually recover...

 



Look...he's awake!



And ready to play!