music | Revolution of Love

– 1 –

Wow, it’s been nearly two months since I’ve last posted. That’s pretty bad, even for me. All I can say is that daily life has just kept me extra busy lately. However, we are all doing well and the baby is growing, along with my belly. I’m in my third trimester now and so far so good. There are a few times when the Braxton Hicks contractions come too close and I have to stay off my feet but so far it’s been manageable.

– 2 –

Speaking of babies, congrats to my sister EML for giving birth to her third child Greta Anne. (Love the name. 🙂 She had a successful homebirth even with Greta being over 9lbs. Ouch. ( Fun fact: EML was my mom’s first home birth and I witnessed her birth. Pretty cool.)

– 3 –

Brian and I have been trying to have a few outings before the baby comes and we were blessed to spend last weekend at Pebble Beach. It’s certainly not the normal place we could afford but since Brian works there he had the chance to “test the product” for free. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Tap Room and stayed at The Lodge in one of their gorgeous rooms overlooking the ocean. Hey, they can call me anytime to test out the food and accommodations!

– 4 –

This weekend is the Super Bowl and normally I wouldn’t pay much attention to it. However, this year since Brian’s beloved Packers are playing we’ve got to support him and his team. So the Brian and the kids are ready with their hats and shirts and I’ve got the party food ready to go. Hopefully it’ll be fun, whatever the outcome.

– 5 –

The other night I came across the indie band First Class Hope. I really enjoyed their single Tonight so I downloaded their EP Love and Redemption off itunes. They are Christian and in fact, I think they may actually be Catholic. Anyone know if that’s true?

– 6 –

Well, John-Paul just came over and turned off the computer while I was typing this so I guess that means my time is up. (And you wonder why I don’t post more often!) I’ll leave you with our Christmas/New Year photo. Have a great weekend…and Go Pack!

– 7-

*** 1 ***

It seems that I hardly ever post anymore. Family life consumes all my time, which is good I guess. I just don’t know how those super Catholic moms do it all – raise 10 kids, homeschool, write books, run the household…I get stressed just thinking about it! LOL! Right now if I can get through the day and care for the kids and get dinner on the table and maybe even get some laundry done and still keep a relative smile on my face, then I call that a heck of a day!

*** 2 ***

My sister EL (who sometimes contributes to RoL) is expecting Baby #2. She’s in VA and we were worried that the baby would arrive during the blizzard but it’s past her due date and still no bambino. Say a prayer that all goes well!

*** 3 ***

As I type I am listening to the new album from Fair – Disappearing World. Perfect mellow music. Love it. (Now I’m just waiting for the new Lifehouse. Hurry!)

*** 4 ***

Tonight Bella and I will attend her Little Flowers Catholic Girls’ club. We haven’t been in a couple months because there was so much going at home with the new baby and the holidays etc. Things are still busy but JP is much easier to care for and Bella misses her friends. I have to admit I am just as excited to go because I miss talking with the other Catholic moms. It’s easy for a busy mom to fall into a duties-only rut and forget the importance of some female companionship!

*** 5 ***

And for the LF Valentine’s party we needed to make a home-made item to share. I saw these Double Chocolate Cookies on Barefoot Contessa this week so Bella and I tried out the recipe. They are sooo yum! Make a quick batch before lent starts!

*** 6 ***

Okay, what other random thing can I talk about? Oh wait. Big news. We’re adding on! No not to the family (give the body some time to heal!) but to the house. We’re going to convert the garage into another bedroom. (Right now we only have two.) It took months to get through all the red tape and now we were given the go sign. The contractor told me that as soon as we clear out all the STUFF from our garage and the storage cabinets, they can start building. So guess what I’ll be doing this weekend?? I think I better sign up for Danielle’s 40 bags in 40 days for Lent!!

*** 7 ***

Lastly, here’s a recent pic of John-Paul, now 5 ½ months.

*** 1 ***

I love fall! It is my favorite season. Although here on the central coast of Cali, it feels more like summer. We get lots of fog and cool weather in July and August then it warms up in September and October. But now that November is here the chill is slowly moving in and anticipation for the holidays gets stronger. I am especially excited because we always spend a week in So Cal during Thanksgiving and I am sooo ready to see my family again – some of who have yet to meet John-Paul! Only 17 more days! WooHoo!

*** 2 ***

I tried that recipe for minestrone soup that my sis EL recommended. It was so tasty! Lots of veggies and flavor. Here’s the link: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jamies-Minestrone/Detail.aspx

*** 3 ***

Brian and I recently saw two movies with a Catholic theme. The first was Ostrov (Sold at http://www.notofthisworldicons.com). “The story begins in northern Russia during World War II. A Russian coal barge with a two-man crew is captured by a Nazi patrol boat. The Nazis force the young cowardly Russian furnace stoker, Anatolii, to shoot his captain. The Nazis blow up the barge but Anatolii is rescued by monks from a nearby monastery. Anatolii spends the rest of his life repenting in sorrow, and through this repentance becomes a God-bearing Fool-for-Christ who, with his God-inspired insights into human hearts, gives miraculous help to suffering people who come to him for aid. Nearing death Anatolii’s own suffering is resolved through a miraculous manifestation of forgiveness.”
It is a beautiful story and heartbreaking to watch Anatolii’s sorrow over killing his captain, but he never gave up hope on God’s mercy. In his humility and wretchedness, Anatolii became completely dependent on God and grew in holiness. God was then able to do marvelous wonders with the “little fool.” (ie. He could read souls or knew when something bad was going to happen.) The story is in Russian but with subtitles.

*** 4 ***

Speaking of where we bought the movie, if you are looking for icons, check out Not of This World Icons.com. It is our favorite place to shop. So beautiful!

*** 5 ***

The second movie we saw was 2008’s Henry Poole Is Here with Luke Wilson. It is not a religious movie but it had a surprisingly positive portrayal of the Catholic Church. Wilson plays Henry, a stand-offish loner (with a bit of mystery about him) that buys a house in his old neighborhood. His desire to be alone is thwarted by a friendly (and persistent) Catholic Hispanic woman who believes that a water stain on the side of Henry’s house is actually a miraculous imprint of Jesus’ face. During the course of the movie Henry must deal with his neighbors’ faith, his own disbelief and anger, and his growing friendship with a single mom and her mute daughter. The movie is low-key and never preachy but there is a definite underlying message of faith and (physical/spiritual) healing. (Note: The movie is rated PG, mostly for language. Watch it when the kids are asleep.)

*** 6 ***

I also really enjoyed the soundtrack on the Henry Poole movie. There were some cool songs; however, there are two from the movie that are missing from the official soundtrack. If you get it from iTunes you’ll have to download the Bob Dylan song (I didn’t mind skipping that one) and the Blur (Song 2) separately. (I did download the Bur song – I hadn’t heard them in years!)

*** 7 ***

Okay, Andrew is up and ready for breakfast so I need to get off the computer. I’ll end with a pic of the kids from Halloween. Have a blessed weekend!

I’ve been running around all day and now that I am home I have no energy to even get out of my chair. So I thought I’d give the quick take Friday thing a try.

*** 1 ***

I just received my order of Pampered Chef items. I am looking forward to trying them out. I especially want to make the mini-quiches we had at the cooking party. I have to laugh at the recipe since it lists all their products within it, but regardless, they were delicious.

*** 2 ***

My mom is flying up from Southern California on Sunday and she will spend a week with us to help me with some pre-baby things – finishing the nursery (which is a corner of our bedroom), wash the baby clothes, do some bigger chore housework etc. Most of all I just love having her around and hearing her laughter. I can’t wait! (And as I think more about the upcoming labor, it is also comforting to know that if she could handle nine labors, I can surely handle my third.)

*** 3 ***

I was looking at a friend’s photos of their trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and it made me miss not going there more often. So I finally bought an annual pass for the whole family. Bella has been excited to see the new Sea Horse exhibit and I know Andrew will love the hands on kid’s zone. Hopefully I can take my mom while she is here.

*** 4 ***

What I Am Reading: I took a break from my Agatha Christy novels when I borrowed a copy of Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. I had started it but never got to finish. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it!

*** 5 ***

What I Am Watching: I love old B&W movies and am leery to watch remakes of the old classics. Case in point – I rented the new version of The Women and it was so bad I couldn’t finish it. Don’t even bother. Rent the 1939 version with Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. It’s an interesting (and at times heartbreaking and at times humorous) view of female cattiness, marital infidelity, forgiveness and the “bad guy” getting his (hers) in the end.

*** 6 ***

What I Am Listening To: Matt Kearney’s City of Black and White. Loving this disc right now.

*** 7 ***

Brian will be home in a few minute so I have to keep this last one short. He works so hard for us and even when he is tired he’ll help me out with the kids or cleaning the shower or scrubbing toilets because it is hard for me to bend over with my growing belly and he doesn’t want me smelling cleaner fumes. Sometimes I forget that it’s all the little things he does that says he loves me. So tonight I have one of his favorite meals and the kids are going to bed early so we can have a little one-on-one time after a long and busy week.
Have a blessed night and weekend yourself!

When it comes to Christmas tunes, I am a sucker for the classic crooning of Bing Crosby and Nate King Cole. Today, however, I have been in the mood for a change of pace and have been loving Christmas a la Relient K and Sixpense None the Richer. Falalalala!

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Category Archives: music

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