Monday, April 25

NURTURING THE PRECIOUS SOULS OF MY CHILDREN FOR THE GLORY OF GOD


I love the consolations that our Lord sends my way, right when I need them.  It had been a tough Holy Week for me....actually for the last 2 weeks.  I was being tested, and needed to trust.  Thank You Jesus, that my soul was so focused on You, during this time of  Lent and I was able to recognize this trial for what it was.  I had faith that if I just kept persevering, our Lord would keep strengthening me for this battle of self doubt.
Easter Sunday brought many blessings of a lifted weight from my soul.  I knew that my days in the desert were over and that the angels had come to aide me.  What a joyous Easter day!  Today, I read these beautiful thoughts of a Catholic mother (written below in quotes), and have chosen to adopt them for my own.  These words give me great peace.
"All I have to do is to remember that whatever I need to carry out this mission (as a mother) will depend so much on the graces that He will bestow on me. For I am nothing without Him. Their souls are more important to Him than finding solutions to their temporal needs. God will provide for us. He will take care of their shortcomings. All He wants me to do is to nurture these children so their souls will be led to Him. For He said, 'They are precious souls.'"

PRECIOUS LIFE

We found one of God's precious creatures, a little bird, on our back patio today.  He was injured and could not fly.  The children just adored this little one.
 They were just so concerned with that fragile little creature!  He could see the pitter patter of his little heart under his soft feathers
So caring and gentle so as not to harm him
My little caretakers were very sad when they realized that they could not help him and had to let him go. We trusted that our Lord would take care of him and make him better
Sweet Little Chic-a-dee

Sunday, April 24

EASTER SUNDAY "JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY"

We spent our Holy Saturday evening with some great friends, and then it was off to Easter Vigil Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton!  What a beautiful Mass full of joyful Baptisms, confirmations and sacred scripture!  It started off with only the light of candles (the kids love to hold them) The kids brought bells to ring during the Gloria to celebrate the end of Lent and the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!!

EASTER MORNING
The clever Easter Bunny always hides the baskets from the kids!  We finally found them!!
 My little Nicholas Bunny!
 My sweet Madison Bunny!
 Savannah Bunny got Jammies from the Easter Bunny that look JUST like our neighbor's dog, Gabby!
 Out for an Easter Egg hunt!!
 That Bunny is REALLY good at hiding all of the eggs
 My little sweet bunnies were helping each other find eggs
 They all had such fun!
NOW...OFF TO GRANDMA AND GRANDPA'S HOUSE FOR THE DAY!
 Coloring cookies with Grandma and our cousins
 Each cookie was a masterpiece!
 Daddy's happy Easter!! It was late night with the Easter Vigil and an early morning with the egg hunt!
 My cute nieces, Courtney and Kerry (named after me!!)
 Pretty cookies out for display
 Playing outside on our "rip sticks" they only have 2 wheels!!  They worked so hard to learn to ride on them.  Their big sis, Madison taught them how!
 My little Nick on his "rip stick"....He is so brave!
 There is my little pro, Madison "rip sticking" around!!!
 Here are my parents with my beautiful twin nieces
 Here are Grandma and Grandpa with my Madi-Cakes on the big swing!

PREPARING FOR THE EASTER BUNNY!!

Savannah and Nicholas decided that they wanted to see the Easter Bunny this year when he came to visit.  So they left him notes on their baskets
 Savannah's note to the Bunny....spelled phonetically, of course
Nicholas' letter to the Easter Bunny.  He got some spelling aide help from Mommy
The rest of Nicholas' special note
 Then they made a trail of arrows to help the bunny find their rooms so that he could wake them up and introduce himself to them when he visited.
It went around the furniture.....one every couple of inches so that there would be no excuse for him not to find his way.
 Through the hall
 Up to the stairs
All of the way up the stairs
Ending in a split in the trail....one line of sticky notes to each of their bedrooms
The bunny ended up leaving a special treat on each of their beds....did he wake them and they just don't remember????  OR  Did he just hop in and quietly hop of without a sound???
I guess he only knows!

Monday, April 18

NO GREATER LOVE (thinking about GOOD FRIDAY and what it means)

No greater love, than this
That You should lay down Your life,
For someone such as me,
I'll spend my life time wondering why.
The beauty of heaven is here in my heart,
And I know there can be
No greater love

TWO MORE BITES!

You know how when you little and wanted to finish dinner and go out to play, and your mom would stop you and say.."two more bites", so you would stuff the bites in your mouth without even chewing in order to get outside quicker???
 Well, kids still do that!!!
"Now can I go out to play?!?!  I took my two bites!!"

Sunday, April 17

OUR PRIDE AND JOY!!

All of the neighbors were cheering when Jeremy drove into the neighborhood towing our 1969 Holiday Rambler Trailer!
 Isn't it classy?!?!  Jeremy keeps it at his hunting lease, but he brought it home to get it ready to move to his new lease just mid-way between Dallas and Houston in a town called, Centerville TX (I am sad to think that we cannot keep it here at the house)
 My sister said that the realtor putting on the open house up the street was especially happy to see it parked in front of our home
 Here is the beautiful front entrance with poka-dot curtains
Is that a gourmet kitchen I see?!?!!  It reminds one of bountiful holiday meals with family!! It is actually the trailer that Jeremy and his family used to travel in when he was little.

SPRING CLEANING (GARAGE DAY)

Beautiful weather made our garage clean out day enjoyable for all!
 They wanted to clean ALL of the balls by hand!  Such care and service from my little ones!  No job too small!
 Each scooter was carefully cleaned, and then they decided to have a cleaning service for people riding their bikes passed the house....didn't go too well, but I love their enthusiasm!!
 Every towel was soaking wet!
 Everything was shiny clean!
 My little man cleaning his bicycle.  I love to see them take such good care of their blessings!
 Savannah in her favorite visor! Thanks to the Mira's for such a great birthday present!
My Madison-Bear

Saturday, April 16

DATE NIGHT

 We went out for a date night with our friends great Tim and Michele last weekend.  We had so much fun and the boys just had to take a picture of the drinks that were delivered to our table!  This is a pretty serious spread for 2 girls who do not drink at all!  Such a fun evening!
 Me and Michele!  We need more date nights!!  So fun!

Tuesday, April 12

MOM'S HOLY NIGHT IN

Angela and I hosted a Challenge Catholic Mom's night at my house.  Look at the pretty cupcakes that Angela adorned with her famous Strawberry fans!  Yummy!
 We wanted to take this picture in case food network wanted to use it!!
 We had fine cheeses, fruits, and meats!  My favorite kinds of snacks....we also had 2 1/2 gallons of homemade Sangria!! Now that's a Mom's night!!
Here is Florencia.  She attended with Tiffany and Charlene.  They are 3 of our lovely Consecrated ladies who blessed  us with a beautiful reflection on Lent and our Lord's beautiful gift of His Holy life for us....yes that is right...you and me!!  He loves us THAT much!!

Sunday, April 10

MY FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH

I love my children so much...with all of my heart, mind, and soul!  I want to do what is best for them and I worry about being able to provide what our Lord has asked me to!  

I was inspired by something I heard at Mass.  Our Lord never expects more than we can give.  In thinking about my Homeschooling journey and my fear of not being able to make our Lord proud of me, this was comforting.  I have heard those words studying the scriptures before, but the holy priest went on to say that, just as in the miracle that fed the 5,000, the deciples only had 5 loaves and 2 fish.  Jesus without a flinch turned that little amount into a massive, overflowing feast (more than the crowd could ever need)!  Okay, Dear Father, here are my 5 loaves and 2 fish that I am offering up for you to multiply!  It is not my strength but Yours!  I love you! 

Matthew 6:26-34
"Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.  But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,  and all these things will be given you besides.  Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."