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...