Guess Who's 6 Months?!!

Our Day at the Beach

The Gang
Jenny and Nick
Luke keeping cool
When mom and Kate make a sandcastle.....

.... when dad and Kate make a sand "castle"

I'd say that Mark won

A Typical Day at Our House

Art Time

Meltdown Time

Nap Time

Outside Time

Bed Time

A CONSIDERED CHILDHOOD

This is from one of my favorite blogs.  Elizabeth Foss is a writer and a homeschooling mother of 9 (I believe).  She has truly inspired me through her humble writings to better live my vocation as a wife and mother.

As much as I am able, every day, I will ensure that my child will: 

Live the Liturgy 

Experience loveliness 

Breathe deeply: Fresh air and exercise 

Serve others  

Listen to, contemplate, and exchange ideas. 

Develop expressive skills. 

Practice logical reasoning. Math. 

Receive focused attention and affection

-Elizabeth Foss

So now, I'd love to hear if there are any great ideas out there on how to do these things?

Let's go!

Mom:  Kate, we're leaving in 5 minutes, okay?

Kate:  Mmmmm, how about 6?

Mom:  Ok, 6 ;)

Happy Mother's Day

Today is a wonderful day.  Today, I am grateful to God for the gift motherhood.  I am grateful today for my mother.  My mother the nurse, who is sweet and gentle and kind.  She is absolutely beautiful and she is strong.  She has always been there for me to lend a listening ear or offer much needed advice.   She has a gift for helping  and taking care of people.  She has a gift of understanding others.  I am so thankful that she gave me life.  And I am so grateful that she gave me a holy example of motherhood.  I love you mom!

I am thankful to my Nan, who gave her life.  My Nan, who lived her vocation as a mother and mirrored Our Lady in her "yes" to life.  My Nan, who taught her 8 living children The Faith and who also taught me.  Thank you Nana!  I sure do miss our chats.

I am also grateful to God for my mother-in-law.  People talk about their MILs as if it were some kind of nightmare.  Not me.  I'm fairly certain I got the best one out there!  In fact, my girlfriends are jealous. Thanks Deb for all you are and all you do!

Most especially, I am thankful that God has called me to the vocation of motherhood.  I am so blessed to have little Luke and Kate.  They are beautiful gifts from Our Lord and I thank Him everyday for them.  

Our Lady, Mother of us all, Pray for us!

A Word About Mrs. Awesome

Just a quick word about my screen name.  My friend Kelly just emailed me saying that she thought my name is great.  Before I take all the credit myself or run the risk of seeming a bit full of myself, I must admit that it was not me, but my friend Katherine who came up with this one.  You see, Katherine is two and she likes us a lot.  One day out of the blue she called Mark "Mr. Awesome."  I figure, since I'm married to him, I by default am Mrs. Awesome.  So yes friends, I am "awesome" by marriage.  

Thanks Katherine!  We like you a lot too!

Prayer Request

Most of you know that my brother, Nick, recently underwent major surgery to remove his colon.  He's back in the hospital and having a bit of a rough time with it all.  Please pray that he recovers soon and is able to go home.  It's never fun to be stuck in the hospital.

Oh, and that pretty lady next to him is his fiance, Jenny.  Cute, huh?

Only For Today

These are words I am trying to live by:

ONLY FOR TODAY

• Decalogue for Daily Living
  
  
  1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once. 
  
  
  2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
  
  
   3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one. 
  
  
  4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
  
  
   5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
  
  
   6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it. 
  
  
  7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and it my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices. 
  
  
  8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision. 
  
  
  9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world. 
  
  
  10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life. 
  
  
  -Blessed Pope John XXIII