I {heart} Valentine's Day

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

&

Wise Woman Linkup

{pretty}

Every year we take a moment to celebrate our saints during the month of February...including (but in no way limited to):  St. Blaise, St. Scholastica, and St. Valentine.  St. Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year...four days after Ash Wednesday or after the Lenten season begins.  So I am decorating with Purple Hearts for February and the liturgical season.  I just happened to have these decortions in my decor box.  Simple and perfect.

L.I.F.E.

L is for LIFE

Styling my Autumn Hutch

Displaying my silverware in a flower vase...
easy access, while reminding me to use enjoy the silverware more often.

Decorating for the season can be simple.
I never find decorating to be a hassle or burdensome.  If I did, I simply would not decorate.  Right?

AHG, Life

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some real, happy, funny and real times...

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

I thought the sky above the dorms looked pretty amazing.  Conductor is traveling through New York, D.C. and then onto Virginia to check out colleges.  He will spend the week experiencing the summer program at Christendom College.  The Summer Program allows participants to take classes, meet the faculty and staff and experience a lot of fun activities while meeting new friends.  Pretty good.

A Simple Woman's Daybook: June 2015

~ A Simple Woman's Daybook ~

I am joining Hostess Peggy and friends over at The Simple Woman

For Today... June 3, 2015

______________________________

Outside my window...Beautiful blue skies, with white wispy clouds, and plenty of birds chattering.  Spring is definitely here. 

~ Mystical Rose & Gardens ~

Linking up to Like Mother, Like Daughter to share some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

{pretty}

A wedding cake to celebrate Traditional Marriage in our Archdiocese.
Our Lady, full of grace...keep us in your motherly care.

A few weeks ago I took a small group of teens from our parish Youth Group to a Benefit Dinner in San Francisco.  P.L.M.R or Pro-Life of the Mystical Rose is a Catholic organization led by youth, advocating the pro-life cause.  Their aim is to educate and inspire other youth to make a difference in today's world, in regards to Life & Death issues in our society.  I posted about the 1st Pro-Life Youth Conference NorCal HERE.

{happy}

Foods from around the world were served.  Afghanistan, France, India, Ireland, Marshal Islands, U.S.A., Philippines, Thailand, Mexico...to name a few!  I was in my happy place.

There was also a very nice array of auction items...

Interestingly, I took more pictures of the food rather than the auction items...

{funny}

This was the first go 'round.  (My before Lent-type serving)  Eating like a gluttonous... there was no tomorrow.  The food was delicious!  And colorful...I love a spectacular presentation!  

I have no shame in photographing my plate.
50% of the pictures on my iPhone are of plates of food.  It is a problem.

{real}

Multiple projects, including building of chicken coop for my Little Lamb.
The lumpia are from the PLMR Benefit dinner...just thought I'd throw them in there!

This is my handsome 16 year old son, who I endearingly refer to as CONDUCTOR here on my (mostly private) family journal blog...and, by the way, he likes it that way.  Thank you very much! :D  
Conductor has taken this weed infested piece of land and turned it into an amazing garden with full irrigation and landscape equipped with a fully functioning train and rail road tracks.  G scale 1:20.3 ratio (for those who get it - I don't.  It's like another language).  
Here is another post on the work Conductor has done, because I often forget when I see progress as slow going.

Whatever you decide to do in life, son, may you do it for the Glory of God!
Even using a blowtorch can be reverent!

This is the same young man that loves serving as an Episcopal Server and who thoughtfully brought an entire church all the Liturgical Vestments, Sacred Vessels and other items needed for Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction...to our recent 3 day Youth Retreat.    Which shall have a post of its very own.   
It was a bit rustic, but we certainly made do.
I am so proud of you, son!  Thank you!!!

Little Lamb's Chicken Coop is taking shape...her companions never leaving her side.

Little Lamb, has been insatiably reading books about 'chickens'.  She has figured out how many chicks she will need to feed our family and possibly sell some eggs for profit (or at least to pay for the chicken feed).  I keep telling myself there is a good life's lesson here...

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

~ Life ~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter 

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Catholic Bloggers Network

2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

 

 

{pretty}

 

This crucifix qualifies as {pretty} special.  I hand held this all the way back from Assisi, Italy during our Altar Boy Pilgrimage to Rome.  It was hand-made from olive wood from local artisans. 

 

{happy}

 

{happy} Birthday Dinner & Dessert for my Father-in-law 

 

 

 

{funny}

 

Our friends asked if we would take care of their birds while they were on vacation...sure (I say).  In my mind, I envisioned this cute little bird cage...HA! 

 

Boy was I surprised when they pulled up with this...

 

It took up half my dining room.  :oD 
(just kidding, L ~  Love ya! xo)

 

My girls were ecstatic that they had these sweet birds to care for, and I have to admit...they were really sweet. 

Messy, but sweet.  {funny}, too!

 

 

{real}

In August, I took a group of teens, from our church Youth Group, to the First Ever Pro-Life Youth Conference Nor-Cal 2013...held at the Cathedral in San Francisco.

It was organized by P.L.M.R.  Pro-Lifers of the Mystical Rose which is a Pro-Life Youth-Led Organization.

The two day event was packed full of nine amazing  and compelling speakers, including the wonderful Sisters of Life,

The Sisters of Life is a contemplative / active religious community of women founded in 1991 by John Cardinal O’Connor for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life. Like all religious communities, we take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. We also are consecrated under a special, fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.
~ Sisters of Life

...the event also included live music, as well as an Info-Faire, books & media tables.

We experienced our first "Die-In Rally" and participated in a Peaceful Walk to the Civic Center Plaza led by the loyal and worthy Knights of Columbus.  Surprisingly, we had a great amount of positive reactions & support...and only one (maybe two) jeers. 

Several priests were available throughout the event to offer the sacrament of Confession & Spiritual Direction.

 The event was very well organized and the food (important when you have teens), which was included in the registration package, was superb!

Advocating the Pro-Life Cause and working towards the end of abortion is what the Pro-Life Youth Conference event is hoping to accomplish. 

We are looking forward to the 2nd Annual Pro-Life Youth Conference 2014!

 

 

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment... 

and

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2013 Monthly Link-Up Blitz

~ Catechism, Apologetics and Catholic Product Reviews ~

~ Things I Did Today... ~

Sometimes I feel that I'm just running around in circles...not accomplishing what I NEED to do.  I  tackle things as they come at me...then at the end of the day, I'm exhausted.

When I was working, outside of the house, I used to write out my list of things to do for the day, or month.

Actually, I continued this practice of writing down my 'list' until just about 4 or 5 years ago.  Occasionally, I would would start this practice up again, but it wouldn't be long before it just petered out.

Writing my list kept me, I felt, from wasting time.  I was able to accomplish so much...I could see all my progress as I would check off all the items on my list.  What I didn't finish, I would transfer to the new day.  But it made me feel "in control".  I knew I wasn't missing anything.

Lately, I've been "dropping the ball".  Which is not a good feeling for me. 
Overwhelmed.  That is what I start to feel if things are not getting done...

So I've decided to start a list again, ONLY this time, I'm going to include one for my children...why should I have all the fun!?

One morning, I took out my pad and wrote down all the things I had just accomplished or Things I Did Today!

Morning Prayer
Make my son's lunch
Drop son off at Math tutor
Read a few Blogs & write a few comments
Let dogs out, feed, walk...
Clean up dog area (usually the kids do this job as well as care for all the animals, but I gave them a break)
Sweep up leaves/rose pedals
Pull some weeds
2 loads of laundry
Sweep porch & decks
Water plants
Make oatmeal for girls
Bring in Birthday decorations
Load & start dishwasher
Start school...
ALL BY 8:30AM

For myself, I'd really like to use Marcia's idea to "Jot It Down!"...a practice that will help me when I start to get too busy, pulled in too many directions, or just plain distracted (I do tend to procrastinate).
"This gave me the idea to make a list for my children.  A pre-written check off list of what I want need them to accomplish...EVERY DAY.  Weekend's excluded (or not).

I'm looking at it as a Life Skills lesson.  Something that will help them with organization, and take some of the stress out of my our lives.  I've tried a Chore Board in the past.  Now I'm ready to try something new.  Something that will work for the every changing and growing family...

~ One Step at a Time ~

Walk for Life ~ 2013

Before the Rally and Walk...

50,000 steps...and counting.

Baby steps...

As far as the eye can see...