Happy Birthday
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To the hero my children call "Daddy."
***
And the man I call "Love."
And the man I call "Love."
Thanks and Giving
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This year, we're most thankful for our Baby Blessing. Thanksgiving dinner will be served at Mike's sister's house. A few short weeks ago, that was home base for us while Sarah was in the NICU. We're going to stop at the hospital on our way to our Thanksgiving festivities, so that we can deliver a little Christmas cheer. The 
NICU nurses drape fleece blankets over the incubators because the babies like the dark. Mary Beth made these blankets, following these directions, so that the NICU will be all dressed up for Christmas. I remember one night when the 
a baby had become a bit sicker. He required more equipment than he had when his mother had seen him earlier in the day. I listened as the nurses did their best to make that equipment look less frightening, so that his mother would not be too shocked. The last thing they did was go hunt up the cheeriest blanket they could find for the top of the incubator. We hope these blankets will bring Christmas cheer to a place of tiny people and big miracles.
It's Official
/Rachel has posted on the message board and I wanted to be sure the word was out here as well. She wrote:
It's hard to say, but...
The Real Learning conference has had to give way to Real Life. Each of the 6 committee members has been dealt quite a year right now: high risk pregnancy, newborns, complications related to just having moved or being about to move, traveling and deployed husbands, and of course Mr. Vander Woude's tragic and heroic death.
We all believe that God is telling us "not this year" for ministering to other homeschoolers, and instead "yes this year" to focus on nurturing our families. We hope that you will continue to find the support you need here at the forum and/or at one of the other local conferences.
God Bless!
__________________
So there you have it. Real Life--the good, the sad, and the holy.
There are a few DVDs and CDs left from last year's conference if that's any consolation.
Thanksgiving Daybook
/***
Outside My Window ...
I am grateful to know that next spring, we can Lasagna Garden all over again. The front beds were sorely neglected when the seasons changed. The pansies never got planted. New bulbs never went in. And weeds have staked their claim. But I have plans for some bright annuals in the spring and the roses...the roses still bloom despite the unseasonal cold. In the spring, more compost and many more roses. I'm thankful for gardening catalogs to read in the bathtub during the winter.
I am grateful to know that next spring, we can Lasagna Garden all over again. The front beds were sorely neglected when the seasons changed. The pansies never got planted. New bulbs never went in. And weeds have staked their claim. But I have plans for some bright annuals in the spring and the roses...the roses still bloom despite the unseasonal cold. In the spring, more compost and many more roses. I'm thankful for gardening catalogs to read in the bathtub during the winter.
***
I am listening to...
Sarah's quiet breathing. And I am so grateful to have her here, strapped tightly against my chest, breathing on her own, warm and content to be home .
Sarah's quiet breathing. And I am so grateful to have her here, strapped tightly against my chest, breathing on her own, warm and content to be home .
***
Towards rhythm and beauty ...
I am grateful for the rhythm of the liturgical year, for the new year that begins this weekend. I'm ready for a new beginning, ready to embrace the waiting and watching for the Holy Infant. I'm not so ready for the feasts and the crafts, but I trust that the Blessed Mother knows my heart and she will show me how to keep advent holy in my home this year.
I am grateful for the rhythm of the liturgical year, for the new year that begins this weekend. I'm ready for a new beginning, ready to embrace the waiting and watching for the Holy Infant. I'm not so ready for the feasts and the crafts, but I trust that the Blessed Mother knows my heart and she will show me how to keep advent holy in my home this year.
***
I am thankful for ...
life itself.Really. And I am thankful for the opportunity to look at life through focused lenses and determine anew to live it for Him. The day that Sarah was born, I was asked by several medical people several times exactly what my wishes were should the emergency escalate. And again and again I told them I wanted to be well enough to care for my family. It still amazes me how well I functioned physically in the days Sarah was in the NICU. God heard me every time I reiterated my "wishes" and He knew they were prayers. And I am grateful for the clarity of knowing that this is His will for me, too.
life itself.Really. And I am thankful for the opportunity to look at life through focused lenses and determine anew to live it for Him. The day that Sarah was born, I was asked by several medical people several times exactly what my wishes were should the emergency escalate. And again and again I told them I wanted to be well enough to care for my family. It still amazes me how well I functioned physically in the days Sarah was in the NICU. God heard me every time I reiterated my "wishes" and He knew they were prayers. And I am grateful for the clarity of knowing that this is His will for me, too.
***
From the kitchen ...
I am grateful for a freezer stocked with meat, for a pantry full of staples (and for my friend Barbara who cleaned and organized that pantry after the pantry moths had a party when I was on bedrest). I am grateful for all the people who fed my family when I couldn't. I am grateful for the inspiration of those cookbooks that are calling to me and beckoning now--it's time to be Queen of the Kitchen again. And I'm grateful for Food Network:-).
***
I am grateful for a freezer stocked with meat, for a pantry full of staples (and for my friend Barbara who cleaned and organized that pantry after the pantry moths had a party when I was on bedrest). I am grateful for all the people who fed my family when I couldn't. I am grateful for the inspiration of those cookbooks that are calling to me and beckoning now--it's time to be Queen of the Kitchen again. And I'm grateful for Food Network:-).
***
To live the liturgy...
I had a baby on the vigil of All Saint's Day. Time stood still. And now, Mother Church rouses me and bids me to begin anew. She calls me to look East, to make my house fair. She promises me that Love, the Guest is on His way.
***
I had a baby on the vigil of All Saint's Day. Time stood still. And now, Mother Church rouses me and bids me to begin anew. She calls me to look East, to make my house fair. She promises me that Love, the Guest is on His way.
***
I am wearing ...
my bathrobe. Again. Later, I will change into a black knit skirt and a button down shirt. I am grateful for my post-partum wardrobe. Knit skirt, button down shirt, flat black boots. The thing about a knit skirt is that it doesn't taunt you the way the waistband and zipper of jeans taunt. It just pulls on and promises to look better and better as time goes on. I have four black knit skirts. They are old as the hills. I'm grateful for every one of them.
my bathrobe. Again. Later, I will change into a black knit skirt and a button down shirt. I am grateful for my post-partum wardrobe. Knit skirt, button down shirt, flat black boots. The thing about a knit skirt is that it doesn't taunt you the way the waistband and zipper of jeans taunt. It just pulls on and promises to look better and better as time goes on. I have four black knit skirts. They are old as the hills. I'm grateful for every one of them.
***
I am creating ...
a Christmas letter, to send out early --with my birth announcements which are now late. I'm grateful for the friends far and wide who will share our joy this year and whose cards and letters will cheer us in the coming month.
a Christmas letter, to send out early --with my birth announcements which are now late. I'm grateful for the friends far and wide who will share our joy this year and whose cards and letters will cheer us in the coming month.
***
Towards a real education ...
I am grateful for the women who create lessons and share them on Serendipity. These are sisters of the heart. Truly, I count them among my dearest friends and certainly they are among God's greatest gifts to our family.
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Towards a real education ...
I am grateful for the women who create lessons and share them on Serendipity. These are sisters of the heart. Truly, I count them among my dearest friends and certainly they are among God's greatest gifts to our family.
***
Bringing beauty to my home ...
I am grateful that Michael will be home this weekend and he will answer my every little puttering request as we decorate for Christmas. Three big boys will do my bidding and indulge my every decorating whim. And they will like it.
I am grateful that Michael will be home this weekend and he will answer my every little puttering request as we decorate for Christmas. Three big boys will do my bidding and indulge my every decorating whim. And they will like it.
***
I am reading ...
Simple Gifts.What a treasure! Nissa sent me a copy to read on my babymoon. This is utterly beautiful. I mean that both visually and in terms of content. And I admit to printing the e-version just so I could hold its loveliness. Do indulge yourself. I'm thankful I did.
Simple Gifts.What a treasure! Nissa sent me a copy to read on my babymoon. This is utterly beautiful. I mean that both visually and in terms of content. And I admit to printing the e-version just so I could hold its loveliness. Do indulge yourself. I'm thankful I did.
***
I am hoping ...
that I never forget how grateful I am for the lessons learned this year.
that I never forget how grateful I am for the lessons learned this year.
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Around the house ...
I am grateful for a new sense of appreciation for the process of keeping house. It's amazing how much I am enjoying putting things in order. I vacuumed for the first time since July the other day. How fun to suck up all those little things that make the house untidy. I'm quite sure I was as gleeful as a toddler at discovering this machine. Perhaps the novelty will wear off, but for now it's fun to play house again. And I'm very thankful for the house itself.
I am grateful for a new sense of appreciation for the process of keeping house. It's amazing how much I am enjoying putting things in order. I vacuumed for the first time since July the other day. How fun to suck up all those little things that make the house untidy. I'm quite sure I was as gleeful as a toddler at discovering this machine. Perhaps the novelty will wear off, but for now it's fun to play house again. And I'm very thankful for the house itself.
***
One of my favorite things ...
Marriage. I am so thankful for the man, for the sacrament, for the growth, for the gift.
***
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
I hesitate to put this in writing, lest someone suggest I am insane but...if Michael's team wins tonight and the draw is such that most of those boys can't go home for Thanskgiving, I think we might just have a bunch of boys to eat turkey. We'd have to keep Sarah upstairs because she can't be in a crowd, but that's okay, Christian would be happy to have an excuse to escape the crush;-).
I hesitate to put this in writing, lest someone suggest I am insane but...if Michael's team wins tonight and the draw is such that most of those boys can't go home for Thanskgiving, I think we might just have a bunch of boys to eat turkey. We'd have to keep Sarah upstairs because she can't be in a crowd, but that's okay, Christian would be happy to have an excuse to escape the crush;-).
***
Here is a picture thought I am sharing~
Big boys, little girls. Can't quite get enough of that.
Big boys, little girls. Can't quite get enough of that.
Please Pray
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For Jessica and her family.
Why, my Lord—dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face—it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord?
“Why, My child—do you ask ‘why’? Well, I will tell you why. You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty—he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by ; another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.” I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity. Mother M. Angelica
