~ 1 ~

Grateful for…

• A new day, a new week and a new month – it feels like a fresh start.
• Gorgeous spring weather.
• Precious time spent with the ones I love the most.
• Road trips.
• A loving hubby that will take care of our boys so Bella and I can have a mother-daughter weekend away.

Praying for..

• Many special intentions from family and friends.
• Those fighting addiction, depression and mental illness.
• Those suffering from from violence, whether within their home or their world surroundings.
• For peace in the heart of all men/women.
• All pregnant moms (especially family members), those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
• The souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

Mother and daughter time. This afternoon I leave for a weekend road trip with Bella. Last year in spring we attended my sister’s baby shower in SoCal and we had so much fun we decided to make a mother-daughter weekend an annual thing. So we’ll take off after school tomorrow and head to Disneyland for a day before heading to see my family. (You can follow along on instagram.)

I am blessed that Bella still wants to spend time with me (you know how dicey the teen years can be 😉 ) and I’m looking forward to some familia time as well. Please say a prayer that we have a safe trip and for Brian and the boys while they enjoy a boys weekend together at home. 🙂

~ 2 ~

Around the House…

The decluttering and spring cleaning I wanted to get done has been going sooo slow. It seems like every time I had a moment to work on it I had to set it aside for a family issue or work thing that came up. I have been weeding through closets and have a lot of bags of things to donate but it is slow going. Sigh. However, I suppose a little bit at a time is better than nothing!

Family Chit Chat…

Here are some of the things we did this month…we remembered my FIL/ Opa on the 1 year anniversary of his death, we put together our deck garden, Matthew celebrated his 6th birthday, we made the most of Holy Week, we celebrated a lovely Easter, I went on a much needed date with Brian, we played baseball in the driveway and I baked with my aspiring pint-sized chef. 🙂

~ 3 ~

In the Kitchen…

Photo credit: 100 Days of Real Food

Now that the weather is warmer and we spend more time outdoors, I am craving summer time meals. For a side dish, I have never made homemade baked beans so I want to try these Slow Cooker Baked Beans from 100 Days of Real Food. Yum!

~ 4 ~

Reading…

I finally posted about the nine books I read from January to March. You can read about them here.

Now sitting on my night stand are these…

In Farleigh Field: A Novel of World War II by Rhys Bowen (Read it for free if you have Kindle Unlimited)

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Edith Stein: The Untold Story of the Philosopher and Mystic Who Lost Her Life in the Death Camps of Auschwitz by Waltraud Herbstrith

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The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay

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Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Watching…

(MOVIES)

The Zookeeper’s Wife – This book has been on my reading list for awhile but I broke my rule and watched the movie first. I love books and movies that take place in WWII, especially ones that portray the strength of the human spirit. I enjoyed The Zookeeper’s Wife, despite the grim subject matter. The stark contrast of the tranquil beauty of the zoo and the animals at the beginning compared to tragedies after the invasion was heart wrenching. There are some difficult scenes to watch (not so much graphically but emotionally) but in the end a beautiful story emerged from the horrors of war. Rated 4 out of 5 stars. (Parental Note: This movie is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images, violence, brief sexuality, nudity and smoking. My note: There are obviously war related scenes including a brief but heartless execution (not graphic), attempted rape, off screen rape of a young girl, no language that I can recall, foreplay between a married couple and a brief view of bare breasts while a husband and wife are talking in bed.)

* * *

Kong: Skull Island – I’d consider this one a popcorn flick – a fun diversion but nothing substantial. The retro 70’s vibe and soundtrack was fun and watching Loki Tom Hiddleston is always a treat but a little forgettable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language.)

* * *

The Promise – This movie may not have done well at the box office, but I really enjoyed it. Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, it portrayed the genocide of the Armenians by the Turks. It was a part of history I was only vaguely familiar with and this movie was eye opening. The suffering of the Armenian people was heart-rending. There were scenes that were difficult to watch and I was sobbing during one that was particularly difficult. It was similar to watching a movie about the Jews and the Nazis and wondering how anyone could survive such atrocities and heart ache. It is amazing how strong the human spirit can be, especially when relying on God. The movie touched my heart and I’m glad I watched it. (Parental note: Rated PG-13 for thematic material including war atrocities, violence and disturbing images, and for some sexuality. / My note: Definitely has war atrocities and disturbing images. Two characters have sex but it is not graphic.)

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Boss Baby – Two of my boys wanted to watch this one so we went over the weekend. There were some funny moments but definitely not for those who want to stay away from rude or potty humor. The “I want to be an only child” and “this baby is ruining my life” attitude was annoying but eventually the joys of having a sibling was acknowledged. Thankfully, my boys commented that they’d hate not having brothers to play with so that made me happy. 😉

(TV)

Most of the usual shows we watch will be winding down for the season. We’re almost done with Ironfist but don’t like it as much as we did Daredevil and Luke Cage.

I’ve been enjoying  season 2 of Homefires. I just wish there was a season 3!

There has been a lot of talk about 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. If you are unfamiliar, it is the story of a girl who commits suicide and leaves 13 cassette tapes of the reasons why she chose to kill herself. It would take a separate post to really analyze it and show the pros and (many more) cons. Since this is only a paragraph (or two) I’ll just say this –  The purpose of the book/series was to show how our actions can affect another person but many have complained that the show instead glamorizes suicide. I don’t know if I agree that it glamorizes it but I understand that Hannah can almost seem like a hero to have taught all her “oppressors” a lesson. On the plus side, it shows how our words and actions (or inaction) can affect another person. (Although, some of the 13 reasons may have seemed like “minor” reasons compared to something like rape or inadvertently causing someone’s death but again, that’s a whole other post.)

Unfortunately, the show itself, while addictive, is not appropriate for teens, at least not the teens in my life. If a teen is already living the kind of life portrayed, then they should watch it was a parent of trusted adult. There seems to be little hope and possible triggers for anyone suffering from depression on mental illness.  Besides that, there is language throughout with f-bombs all over the place. (I have a hard time watching  movies with a lot of bad language since I used to talk that way and it is hard to not slip back into that bad habit.) There is teenage drinking, drugs and sex. There are two rapes that are not super graphic but show more than you want to see. Hannah’s suicide is also shown and that was way more graphic (and difficult to watch) than I expected.

All in all, there is a big difference between a 40 year old and a 14 year old watching this. The show completely sucked me in but afterwards I was emotionally drained. It was a sober lesson, especially as a parent. Many students in Bella’s school have been talking about the show and Bella wanted to watch it. I told her what it was about and what it contained. I didn’t want her to put those kind of images into her head. However, if she still really wanted to see it, I would let her but only if we watched it together and I fast forwarded the inappropriate scenes. Thankfully, after we discussed it she said it was not the kind of show she’d want to see. Regardless, we will continue to discuss the themes of the show, especially as she gets further along in high school.

If you want more info, Sr. Helen Burns has many helpful links about 13 Reasons Why on her blog Hell Burns.

Another good article is from Lifeteen – Before You Watch 13 Reasons Why.

Listening to …

Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man

~ 5 ~

Recent Posts:

Blogging has been light these days.

Book Reviews for 2017 (Part 1): January – March

How Mr. Knightly Helped Me Find Mr. Right

From the Archives

In the Kitchen: Quick and Easy Cheesy Pasta with Spinach and Kale (May 2016)

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5 Favorite Natural Health & Beauty Products (May 2015)

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Despite What You May Think… You Are a Good Mom (May 2014)

~ 6 ~

Pinned…

The new 2017-2018 Blessed Is She Liturgical Academic Planner (Aug 2017 – July 2018) is now available for pre-order! I can’t wait! 🙂

Around the blogosphere…

Here’s a post I wrote for the Blessed Is She blog – When We’re Carrying A Cross Not Meant for Us

Here are some posts I’ve been reading…

• When Rescuing is Wrong by Parenting with Peer Review
• I Don’t Want to Be the Mom Who Yells All the Time by Carrots for Michaelmas
• Being Affirmed as Mothers by Whole Parenting Family
• If You Can’t Buy Everything Organic (updated for 2017) by 100 Days of Real Food
• Creating A Cleaning Schedule With Free Printables by I Heart Organizing
• My first year with the bullet journal by Modern Mrs. Darcy

~ 7 ~

I’ve been participating in the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Challenge and these are my photos from April.

Week 11: Split Tone

On my morning walk.

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Week 12: Orange

There is a blaze of color in our garden and this coral orange is one of my favorites.

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Week 13: Golden Hour

The setting sun.

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Week 14: Panning

This was tough because I didn’t know what it meant! This is the best I could do at first try. (The slower shutter speed blurs the background as the subject in motion is clear.) #learningasigo_

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Week 15: Hard

The cross is hard both physically and emotionally/ spiritually as you carry your own.

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Week 16: Leading Lines

Leading lines. Taken at my favorite mission.

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So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any recommendations? Do share.

I’m linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

Have a great 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, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – * Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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~ 1 ~

Grateful for…

• The love of my family and friends.
• Spring flowers blooming everywhere.
• God’s mercy and His untiring desire to pick us up when we fall.
• Food on the table, a roof over our head and material blessings we often take for granted.

Praying for..

• Many special intentions from friends.
• Those fighting addiction and mental illness.
• Those suffering from illness, injustice and abuse.
• For peace in the heart of all men/women.
• All pregnant moms (especially family members), those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
• The souls in purgatory, especially family, friends and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my father-in-law’s death. I was looking over my Daybook post I wrote a year ago and it brought all the memories and tears back. I wrote…

It was a Wednesday and I stopped by the nursing home to visit with him. After his third stroke he was no longer able to speak but I chatted with him about the kids and Brian. At one point I felt like an idiot, not knowing if he even knew who I was or if he understood what I was saying. I was hoping that my voice wasn’t like an annoying buzz in his ear. He looked at me and smiled but there was no connection when our eyes met. He drifted off to sleep and I was going  to leave but I thought I would stay just a few more minutes.

He woke back up and he looked at me and smiled but then he looked at me more intently and I saw it in his eyes, that glimmer. He smiled deeper and I saw the recognition. He knew it was me. I chatted a little and them he tried to talk to me. He grunted and tried to speak with emphasis but his words came out like gibberish. I listened then smiled and kissed his cheek and said, “I know, dad. That’s great.” He smiled back at me contently and I rubbed his shoulder until he dosed off again. Finally I kissed him good bye and let him sleep. I’d never see him open his eyes again.

Matthew holding Opa’s hand.

The next day Brian went to see his dad on his lunch break and the nurse said he was not doing well. He was asleep in bed and unresponsive. They could not get him to wake up to eat or drink. They told us that he’d most likely pass away in a day or two. Luckily the kids were off of school for Easter break so we all went over to the Center to sit with him, hold his hand and just be with him. Afterwards we said our final goodbyes to Opa and told him we loved him in case he passed away in the night while we were gone. I took the kids home and Brian stayed with my mother-in-law. Later he came home and my MIL stayed until the nurses told her to go home and get some sleep and they’d call her if anything happened.

The next morning Brian took the day off work and instead went to sit with Opa. He had a feeling today would be the day. He took the first shift to sit with Opa and then we’d meet him there after I fed the kids breakfast. Brian texted me and said Opa was just the same as yesterday. He was still sleeping and his heart rate was still low. While Brian was there he prayed for Opa and read to him the scripture about the Jesus’ resurrection. When he finished reading, Opa opened his eyes for the first time in two days. He stared off into the distance and then turned his head and looked at Brian. Then he closed his eyes and fell back asleep. Then he passed away. Brian said the whole room was filled with peace. Moments later I arrived with the kids. Brian told us that he just passed so we went in and kissed him goodbye again one last time. I took the kids back to the car so they would not have to see my MIL grieve over my FIL’s body. It was a piercing scene that leaves me in tears whenever I remember it.

The grief completely drained me but later I was able to feel relief that my FIL’s physical suffering was over. I am glad that his last days were filled with smiles and his eyes lighting up when he saw the kids. Even if he could not speak, we treasured the moments when we could see his joy in the simple pleasures of a kiss on the check or a picture the kids drew for him. He will always live on as we remember his loving smile, his tenacious spirit and his generous heart. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

* * * * *

Sometimes, I feel close to Opa and ask him to pray for us, as we pray for him each day. Other times I feel the emptiness of not having him around. I miss him.

~ 2 ~

Around the House…

You will find pockets of quiet prayer and pockets of wild abandon.

Family Chit Chat…

Here are some of the things we did this month…enjoyed the warmer weather, got stomach bugs, planted spring flowers, took field trips, went to the movies, had library days, had mom and daughter days out, took walks on the beach and went on a out-of-the-house date. 🙂

~ 3 ~

In the Kitchen…

Earlier this week on Instagram’s instastories I made Spanish cauliflower rice. Some watchers wanted to know where I got the recipe. I used the recipe from Wholesomelicious.com. (See the pin below.) The only difference is that I also added a tsp of chili powder to the recipe. 🙂

~ 4 ~

Reading…

Okay, I seriously need to sit down and write a post about  the last few books I’ve read, which includes these…

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

* * *

The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

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Truly, Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

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The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

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Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Watching…

(MOVIES)

I saw a number of movies in February and March. I wanted to see all the movies nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. I watched three more on the list. My favorite of the three was Hidden Figures.

I went to see this movie on a whim since the movie was starting at the time I was available. After walking out of the movie it became my favorite of 2016. Hidden Figures is the story of three amazing women mathematicians working at NASA – Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. They lived in a time when society viewed them as “less than” for being both African American and women. I bristled at some of the scenes of prejudice and it made me want to knock some heads together but their frustration did not squelch their passion. Katherine, Dorothy and Mary’s stories of perseverance and determination was able to shine thanks to a well written story, excellent acting and touches of humor. This is a must-see movie. (Parental note: Rated PG for thematic elements and some language.)

After the death of his older brother, Lee is shocked to find out that he has been named his 16 year old nephew’s guardian. Lee moves back to his hometown where he must face his demons and a painful past. This is the perfect movie to watch when you want to wallow in some sadness and have an ugly cry. I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, Parental note: Rated R for some sexual content and language throughout.

This movie is about two brothers who live a modern day story or David and Goliath or Robin Hood in the setting of a dusty Texan town. I found myself torn between rooting for the good “bad guys” or the likable sheriff trying to track them down. Franky, I was a little surprised this was one of the best movies of the year. I enjoyed it and Brian liked all the action but it didn’t seem like the typical nominee.  I rated it 3 out of 5 stars. Parental note: Rated R for some strong violence, language throughout and brief sexuality.

On the tamer sides of things, I also watched…

The Lego Batman Movie was hilarious. I don’t know who enjoyed it more – me or the kids. There are a few scary parts with the villains (some of the chosen villains are genius) that may upset the youngest of your little ones but otherwise, if you enjoyed The Lego Movie, make sure to watch this one too.  I rated it a 4.5 out of 5. Parental note: Rated PG for rude humor and some action.

There was a lot of controversy surrounding Beauty and the Beast and rumbles that it wasn’t that good, but personally, I loved it. I thought it was beautiful as it stayed true to the story of love and redemption from the original and added more depth to the story line of Belle and the Beast in regards to their mothers. The music was wonderful and I enjoyed the added songs. For those who asked me about a gay agenda in the movie, there was innuendo done for laughs that would most likely go over a child’s head. Frankly, if I was someone hoping for a “gay moment” I would have disappointed that I received so little. (Granted that is just my opinion. If you are concerned, screen it before you take your children.) My boys had no interest in the movie since there were no light sabers or super heroes but Bella and I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to see it again. Parental note: Rated PG for peril, frightening images and some action violence. (If you want a more in-depth review, I found this one helpful.)

(TV)

Most of the usual shows we watch of winding down for the season. Tonight we’ll watch the final Grimm episode and continue with Ironfist on Netflix.

We also are looking forward to season 2 of Homefires, which I believe starts Sunday on PBS.

Listening to …

Human by Rag’n’Bone Man

~ 5 ~

Recent Posts:

I’ve been on a blogging break so there’s not much.

• Unbound and Our Sponsored Child
• Lenten Goals 2017: Put on Love

From the Archives

I Am the Handmaid of the Lord (March 2015)

* * *

Restore Workshop – Lessons Learned (Vol 1): Melt Downs, Being at Peace & Theme Thursday: Hear (March 2014)

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Five Favorites & Five Things & Liebster Award (March 2013) This was a funny one to go back and read. 🙂

~ 6 ~

Pinned…

Cauliflower Spanish Rice by Wholesomelicious.com.

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I love these new products in the Blessed Is She shop…

Grace before Meals Prayer Poster

* * *

Blessed Is She Knotted Rosary (I just purchased this one!)

Around the blogosphere…

Here are some posts I’ve been reading…

• How to Become A Better Cook by The Surly Housewife.com
• The Heart That Receives by The Littlest Way.
• The moral life of the child and how to nurture it. Part 5 by Like Mother, Like Daughter.
• A Constant Inconvenience by The Fike Life
• Celebrating Catholic Sacraments, Like a Boss by Team Whitaker
• Listening for God’s Call… Keeping our children’s hearts open to vocational life by Parenting with Peer Review

Also, did you know that Blessed Is She also has a blog?? There are some great posts on their about faith, life, entertainment and more! Check it out.

~ 7 ~

I’ve been participating in the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Challenge and these are my photos from February and March.

Week 5: Take 10 shots and choose your favorite.

I love the water drop that almost looks metallic.

* * *

Week 6: Candy

My eye candy. #penandpapernerd

* * *

Week 7: Forgotten

You are guaranteed to find a forgotten warrior around the house any day of the week. #lifewithboys

* * *

Week 8: One Shot

Dewdrops after the morning rain.

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Week 9: Still Life

Lenten reflections.

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Week 10: Perspective

Changing the perspective changes a mug and a cloud into a cuppa Joe. 😉

* * *

Lastly, this one wasn’t part of the photo challenge but I snapped it on my phone during a walk this week and I’m smitten with the loveliness of God’s creation.

* * *

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any recommendations? Do share.

I’m linking up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes.

Have a great 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, Instagram, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd, or Spotify, 😉

PPS – * Disclaimer: “Revolution of Love.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.”

In other words, if you click on my affiliated links and make a purchase, I get a small compensation that goes towards keeping the blog online. Big hugs to those who click and help support the blog! xoxo 🙂

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