~ Back-Blogged: February ~

Once again, a lot of noteworthy events taking place...but not a lot of time to cyber-journal. 

 

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

 

{pretty}

 

or soon to be...pretty.  Science can be {pretty} fun!

 

{happy}

Little Lamb's AHG group put on a 50's Swing Dance for the Families.

Dance instruction preceded the evening...which was, of course, spent dancing the night away! 

Everyone was {happy}

 

{funny}

Conductor dancing with his little sis.  Sweet.

The older girls ~Pioneers & Patriots~ worked on achieving their 'cake badges' with this amazing 4-tier cake creation.  Creative.

It was a {fun} evening that turned {funny} as the Hand-Maid Household won 'Best Dressed Family'

This is the look we were going for (?) sort of...

but this is was the final product...

Let's swing!

Black & White with Pink accents

I was able to find black skirts & faux leather jackets (on clearance for $11)

and pink tennis shoes, too!  Using white felt to create a quick and easy poodle skirt.

Tying all our ensembles together with some black & white polka dot ribbon.  Easy.

 

{real}

 

Little Lamb has been enjoying the AHG meetings and events.

We are a very patriotic family...

...so this was a very proud moment for Little Lamb.

She has been working on achieving the 'Our Flag' badge.

The Explorers did such a fantastic job leading us all in song;

while the flag was displayed in front of such a dramatic backdrop.

 

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

~ Back Blogged: January ~

A lot of noteworthy events taking place...not a lot of time to cyber-journal.  Here are a few.

 

Linking up to Like Mother, Like Daughter to show some pretty, funny, happy, & real times...

 

{pretty}

 

First Teen Dance.

 

 

{happy}

We took our church Youth Group to the Walk for Life, West Coast.  We were the {happy} group!  The few anti-life counter-protesters are never happy.  :o(  We are praying for them.

More happy young people...

 

{funny}

They try and ignore us.  They try to quiet us.

 

"You can avoid the truth, but you can't avoid the traffic"  I love this quote from co-chair Dolores Meehan.

 

 

You can't avoid the neatly stacked garbage either.  With an estimated crowd of 50,000 to 60,000 people, the city was amazingly clean!  You don't see that garbage either, right?!?  We were not here.  Right.

 

 

{real}

 

 

We have had several heart-breaking losses.  Even though we suffer the pain of loved ones entering into eternal life, our Faith teaches us that death is not the end.  All our life is a preparation for the moment our soul leave our mortal body...but it is hard, nonetheless, when that life is cut short.

Even though the body dies, the soul lives on.

 

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis. Requiéscant in pace. Amen.

 

~ Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.  ~

 

 

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

~ Twelve Days, One New Year ~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

{pretty}

A group of friends got together and we threw an

OLD FASHIONED NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION!

So much fun!!! 

Conductor counting down and orchestrating the balloons drop

We began the evening with Holy Mass and thanksgiving devotions.

Everyone dressed up, and brought their favorite hors d'oeuvres.

We feasted on a roasted pig; toasted in the New Year with sparkles & bubbles; learned to swing dance; and ate the most elegant and delicious cake.

We basically had a REALLY GREAT (FRIENDS & FAMILY) TIME!

 

 

 

{happy}

 

Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas:

the feasts between Christmas Day and the Epiphany...

Because Christmas is just too important to be confined to only one day.

 

 

{funny}

maraschino eyes...

 

{real}

 

It is time to stop indulging in all the celebratory practices and get on with my resolutions.

 

 

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

and linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network

2014 Monthly Link-Up Blitz - January

{Family Journal}

~ Moments of Grace ~ * ~ Daybook 2014 No. One ~

I am thankful for…
+  My walking path
+  Comfy shoes
+  Another day...

I am praying for…

+  Rain
+ Peace in my heart
+ Patience to tackle the clutter...oh!  the clutter!
 
I am listening to…
(because I have visited this post multiple times, in order to finish. I am working in stations)

+  It's a Beautiful Day - (Jamie Grace)
+  Amazing Grace - (Celtic Woman)
+  You Raise Me Up - (Celtic Woman)

I am reading…

+  I will be attending a doctrine class, starting next week...so out comes the CCC! 

A favorite quote right now…

+  “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.” (St. Anthony of the Desert, Abbot)

I am pondering…

+ My Resolutions

I am learning…

+  I need to go back to prioritizing
+ 'Unplug' during the day

The daily grace…

+ I am looking for that daily grace in the ordinary daily things...

In my domestic church…

+ Need to grocery shop!
+ Procrastinating Thinking about beginning my great effort to Meal Plan...

Captured…

Every time I walk past this, I smile.  :o)  Doesn't his smile, make you smile?  It's contagious.

~ Most Post of 2014 ~ Link-UP

After hesitating to join any of the wonderful year end Link-Ups (because, truly, I have no "best" or "most" because at BEST, it is MOSTLY really, really quiet here...), and I've been enjoying reading the Most Post of 2014 over at Amongst Lovely Things (I just love the blog's name)...

OK.  What the heck...I'm throwing this together...here goes...

Post with the most clicks

coming in at 628 views and 35 comments (I think half are my own responses)

LIVING LENT, LOVING LENT

&

CHURCH BULLETIN (lots of views, but only 2 comments...?)

Post with the most comments

tying with 'most clicks' Living Lent, Loving Lent's comments at 35

CHRISTmas PRESENCE

Post with the best picture

anything with pictures of my garden or 'my' altar boys

BACK-BLOGGED:  A THANKFUL FOR...EDITION

 and Rome Sweet Home (again with 'my' altar boys)

Post that was hardest to write

Hmmm.  I think those have all been deleted or are sitting in the draft pile.  But here is the closest thing to my hardest: RESOLUTIONS

Post that was my personal favorite

Just the everyday conversations that take place here in my simple life...

X-RAY VISION

Linking up to Sarah's

~ That Same Star ~

~ EPIPHANY OF THE LORD ~

And by the light of that same star,

Three wise men came from country far;

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the north-west,

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,

And there it did both stop and stay,

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three,

Full reverently upon the knee,

And offered there, in his presence,

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord,

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;

Who with the Father we adore

And Spirit blest for evermore.

Merry Christmas & Blessed Epiphany of the Lord

Wise Men Journey Initial Days - Guide Us to Thy Perfect Light

Wise Men Journey Days Three - Six:  Westward Leading, Still Proceeding

Wise Men Journey Days Seven - Fourteen:  Bearing Gifts

Final Wise Men Adventure link-up at Catholic Inspired

~ Resolutions for 2014 ~

~ HAPPY NEW YEAR ~

 

God's grace & love be to all...

 

~~+~~+~~+~~

 

So, I revisited last years resolutions and found that, somewhere along the line, I deviated from my original goal,  "Peace".  Ha-ha.  But, I vow to get back on track and make my home a peaceful sanctuary for my husband and children. 

Resolutions are supposed to help lead us to sanctity and holiness of life.

I love St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's resolutions, and often revisit hers to help direct my own.  Especially the first two:

+ to remember my infirmity and my sin

+ to keep the door of my lips

 

Finding a balance in life (because of ever-changing circumstances, etc.) can be challenging, exhausting and even disheartening.  Keeping resolutions takes a real conscious effort, discipline and unceasing prayer.

Looking back, it was helpful to keep my past resolutions.  Integrating previous years with the present year helps to form virtues in myself; virtues that can help me to become the person Our Lord has intended me to be.  I have a loooong way to go.  Each year, no, each day that I am given, can be a day that I strive to know, love and serve Him...how I accomplish this is what I resolve to do this new year!

 

Resolutions may be challenging, but I know I can rely on His grace to make it possible.  Remember:  "All things are possible with God."   ~ Matt 19:26

Speaking of grace...Jenny over at Plain Grace has a "Naming the New Year" link-up.  My "word" came to me almost immediately.  This Advent has helped me begin to peel away the layers of infirmity that I have placed on myself.  I know I need to increase my spiritual reading.  I know I need to devote more attention to my children (and less attention to outside charitable works - as wonderful as they are, they can be a distraction for what God has intended for me).  I know that I need to commit myself to the task at hand.  Meaning, when I am working, work.  When I am reading, read.  And when I am relaxing, relax (guilt-free!).

Below, I mention four categories that are important to me.  Several I have yet to detail out...but for now, this is what I have:

ORGANIZATION & PLANNING

After much thought, I decided to go with the 'simplified planner' from Emily Ley.
I am SO excited to start transferring all my thoughts & plans into this planner!
I will miss the feast day dates that come with my previous Catholic planner, but the format (and space) will help me stay focused on my daily & monthly tasks.  And, I can use my calendar & yearly file system to help plan for the feast days in advance. 
This past academic year I found a planner that I have been really pleased with...but I would have liked some changes (sturdier tabs, larger/organized to-do area).  I found my current one by chance on clearance...it is a lot like the 'simplified planner', minus the sturdy tabs, organized to-do, and a few other features.

What sold me?

• brass wire-o spiral binding
• simplicity
• daily view with 'to-dos' and meal planning
• full month view (a must have for my brain)
• weekly preparation list (Sundays, helping me get ready for the week)
• durable cover
• color coded tabs
• protective corners (I haul my planner with me...it needs to be protected!)
• elastic band holder (small feature, big help)
• pocket inside (I always have receipts, papers, etc that I need...this is perfect)
• go-to dinner ideas (making this an all in one

Daily Planner
Meal Planning


HEALTHY HABITS

Water

• increase my water intake.  Fill my water container for the day so that I know I am drinking enough. 

Exercise

• 20 minutes a day?  at least!

Sleep

• sleep is essential; a minimum of 7 hours (this may be a challenge for me, but I know this will give me much more energy and I'll accomplish more each day).  Early to bed, early to rise!

Food

• eat real food, serve my family real food; hopefully my meal planning will keep me on track

Beauty

• properly cleaning and moisturizing (sounds obvious, but I have been know to skip when too tired at night) my face, twice, daily; manicure more often (I nearly always neglect my poor, overworked fingers & hands).

SPRITUALITY & SIMPLICITY

Reading:  Spiritual & Leisure
Doctrine Class:  1x/week

FAMILY & FUN

(work in progress)

Oh yes, my "word" for 2014 year is....(drum roll)....

I will SURRENDER all to God,
putting all my trust in Him.
He has a purpose for my life;
I will follow His path,
with His grace.

Surrender:
to yield (something) to the possession or power of another.
to give (oneself) up.
to give up, abandon, or relinquish.
to yield or resign. 

I speak an human thing, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity, unto iniquity: so now yield your members to serve justice, unto sanctification.  ~ Romans 6:19.