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Moments of Gratitude…

Today I am especially thankful for

• The extra long holiday weekend that doesn’t seem to be going too fast (like it usually does.)
• At home date nights.
• A pen pal letter in the mailbox. (Remember those??)
• A cool breeze to counteract the humidity.
• When a certain tween comes up and hugs me for no particular reason.

Beauty in the Ordinary…

A smile to a stranger that is reciprocated.

In the Kitchen…

M – Italian turkey patty, broccoli and homemade Mac and cheese (made with low fat smoked Dutch cheese. Yum)

T – Slow cooker BBQ chicken, baked potato, veggies & salad. (I use my high tech recipe – Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour your fave BBQ sauce over it. Cook until done. Viola. ;-))

W – Grilled ham & cheese and homemade minestrone soup.

Th – Chef salad topped left leftover BBQ chicken.

F – Leftovers

S – Pizza night with Greek salad. (Note to self – post the recipe to fave Greek dressing next week.)

S – (My mother-in-law’s birthday dinner) Enchilada Lasagna, homemade refried beans, green beans and salad.

Praying…

• That my stuffy head clears up and that I’m not getting sick.
• For our new pastor and our previous pastor that they are both blessed in their new parishes.
• For my kids and their new teachers and all their classmates.
• For those suffering from heart ache, depression or addiction.
• For some special intentions.

Pondering…

For me, January 1st has never been my New Year’s resolution day. It’s September 1st. After three months of summer play and lax schedules it’s nice to get back into a regular routine. After the kids go back to school I always go into “nesting” mode and want to clean up the clutter and get back on track with organizing and cleaning. I have a renewed fervor in the kitchen, trying different recipes and working hard to balance the budget. I have to seize those feelings and make the most of them while they are still strong!

Around the house…

This weekend I tackled my desk. This is a never ending chore because it collects clutter like crazy. Plus it also serves as my work space for small crafts so I had to get a handle on all the pens, craft scissors, washi tape etc. I rearranged and used a different organizing bin and things are so much nicer. Funny how a little order can bring inner peace. (Physically and spiritually!) I’ll blog about the updated desk soon. 🙂

Reading…

Past Suspicion by Therese Heckenkamp

Living Life Abundantly: Stories of People Who Encountered God by Johnnette Benkovic

Listening to…

Sweet quiet, except for few twittering birds. (I’m alone at the moment.)

On my DVR…

The Great Food Truck Race, Masterpiece’s Silk, Duck Dynasty, Season 3 of Big Bang Theory, 1950’s Father of the Bride with Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy and 1943’s Shadow of A Doubt with Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright. (One of my top 5 Hitchcock movies.)

On the blog…

I’m just trying to finish this post before I worry about beyond today. 😉

Posts I’ve Liked on my Bloglovin

I’m behind on my blog reading but I had to fave Jen’s post –

• The meal planning system that saved my sanity

• I also loved the article on Catholic Mom.com called The Duty of the Moment. I loved the opening quote: “Doing the duty of the moment means focusing our whole person – heart, soul, body, emotions, intellect, memory, imagination – on the job at hand!  The duty of the moment done for God is glamorous, exciting, wondrous…..” Catherine Doherty, Grace In Every Season.

Changing stinky diapers and washing loads of laundry it anything but glamorous but it is beautiful that each of us – whether we are single, have a house full of little ones or are sending our kids to college – are all called to perform our duties of the moment for love of God and love of those we are serving.

Pinned…

As you can see, I was on Pinterest this afternoon. Lots of pins today. The first three pins were taken directly from A Bowl Full of Lemon’s Meal Plan. They all looked delicious.

• No Boil Crock-Pot Lasagna

• Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches on Garlic Bread

• Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes – 15 Minute Meal – Eat at Home

• Cilantro-Lime Chicken, this chicken marinade recipe is so fast and easy.

• No flour/ Gluten free Strawberry Shortcake Muffins (WW points =2)

• The Big White Farmhouse: {house to home} William Morris Project (Vol.2): Children’s Artwork Wall (I love this! And actually I have the artwork and the frames; I just need to get my butt in gear and do the same!)

• Free Kids Routine Checklists – via ABFOL (I printed this off for Bella’s before and after school check list. I just need one with pictures for the boys that can’t read yet.)

Plans for the Week…

A few school meetings, appointments, a birthday dinner for my mother-in-law, possible Catholic moms’ meeting and maybe a real date out with Brian if our sitter is available. 🙂

Captured…

I’m linking this photo with Ute at Flowers Round the Cross. Once a month she posts a scripture verse then asks bloggers to post a photo that captured that Scripture. Here is this month’s verse.

For thus the LORD said to me: “I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” Isiah 18:4

We’ve been having really weird weather. It will be warm and humid one day then grey and foggy the next. Last week after an unusual hot spell, a day finally came when the fog was so thick it was drizzling and covered everything in a blanket of water. The first thing I sought out were the cobwebs in the front yard because the water droplets look amazing on them. So although I already posted a photo similar to this one some time ago, I couldn’t help taking another.

Click on over to suscipio4women.com to read more almanacs/journals.

Click over to flowersroundthecross.blogspot.com for the Bible Verse Photography Challenge.

Have a blessed week!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. 😉

Hosted by Suscipio

Moments of Gratitude…

Today I am especially thankful for

• The blue sky after so many days of gray.
• A roof over our heads.
• Food in the cupboard.
• Loved ones.
• Stolen kisses.
• Family fun days.

Beauty in the Ordinary…

I love when we plan a last minute trip with the kids to just get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and each others company. Somehow the regular kid craziness gets a little tamed in the big outdoors.

In the Kitchen…

• M – Tri-tip sandwiches and salad
• T – Breakfast Dinner
• W – BBQ chicken, baked potato & broccoli
• TH – Spaghetti & Salad
• F – Chicken quesadillas with fresh salsa & guac
• S – Leftovers
• S – Dinner at in-laws

Praying…

• For engaged couples, especially my sis
• For those praying to find their spouse, especially those having a difficult time waiting
• For those in abusive relationships
• For those suffering from addiction
• For the souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten
• And for a number of special intentions

Pondering…

I’m thinking about a special Mass our Bishop is holding on Wednesday morning at the Mission. It is a Mass of Consecration praying for an end to the attacks on life, marriage, and family, as well as an end to the crime in our area. We will also pray for police, firefighters, civil servants and the military for the help and protection they need. I was going to skip it because we have swimming lessons followed by speech therapy that morning but I feel strongly that God wants me to be there so I canceled our lessons and rearranged our schedule. I hardly ever go to Mass alone with the kids but I think this will be an exception. Please join your prayers with ours on Wednesday morning (7/31) at 9:30 AM (PT).

Around the house…

Laundry, laundry and more laundry. (I couldn’t start this post until I folded and put away all the clean laundry waiting in 2 baskets. Now I’m waiting for the next load. I also have countless bags of clothes and toys etc to give to charity. (Note to self: Call St. Vincent de Paul about a pick up.)

Reading…

Mysterious Albion (Vatican Vampire Hunters) (Volume 1) by Paul Leone

Ginny’s Gems: Home Management Essentials e-book by Ginny Seuffert

Listening to…

The wind rustling through the trees. (One of my favorite sounds after ocean waves crashing and falling rain. :-))

On my DVR…

The Next Food Network Star, Wuthering Heights (1939 version with  Merle Oberon and  Laurence Olivier), Masterpiece Mystery and The Killing.

On the blog…

I already had our How We Met Story posted on the blog but I finally posted the first two parts of that story.

• My Journey to God (Part I) – From Darkness to Light

• My Journey to God (Part 2): Me? A Nun?!

Posts I’ve Liked on my Bloglovin

• When You’re Not Married to A Saint by Anabelle (Although sometimes my hubs is saintly, especially when putting up with me. ;-))

• Devout Catholics Have Better Sex   by Creative Minority Report (Ooo la la ;-))

• Friday Five: Kale, Kale, Kale… by Slender Kitchen (I want to try a few of these.)

Pinned…

• Saint Medal Necklace Craft {Catholic Teen Girl Fun!!!}

• Crockpot Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin

• Homemade natural Febreeze

Plans for the Week…

Enjoying our last month of summer vacation!

Captured…

I’m linking this photo with Ute at Flowers Round the Cross. Once a month she posts a scripture verse then asks bloggers to post a photo that captured that Scripture. Here is this month’s verse.

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. Psalm 36:5-6

And my photo, taken at Point Lobos, CA.

Click on over to suscipio4women.com to read more almanacs/journals.

Click over to flowersroundthecross.blogspot.com for the Bible Verse Photography Challenge.

Have a blessed week!

PS – You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram (bobbi_rol). 😉