Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Online Daybook & #7QT (8/15/16): A Call to Love, High School Ventures and Current Faves

Happy feast of the Assumption! I have been on a blogging break but I’ve popped in to catch you up on the latest. Enjoy. πŸ™‚

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • That the last two days have been smoke free and that the local fire is now 60% contained.
  • A productive weekend, even though I am tired from it.
  • A few moments to myself to write and catch my breath before the busy schedule takes over again.
  • Food on our table, warm beds to sleep in and family to love.
  • Another year of life.

Praying for..

  • My mom’s continued health.
  • Numerous friends who are carrying heavy crosses.
  • The Olympians.
  • Our nation.
  • Kids (and their teachers) as they return to school this month.
  • 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, friend and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

It seems like lately God has been telling me over and over that I need to increase my love for those around me. In Saturday’s Blessed Is She devotion, Brigid talked about the anxiety her heart feelt over the turmoils of the world and she wondered how she could go from prayer to action. She said:

“I want to fill my heart up with love. I want to carry love with me as I move through the world. I want to respond in love to the people I meet. Sometimes the love will be a love of justice, to be sure, but I will move and live in love.”

Those words have stuck with me.

Then yesterday at Mass the visiting priest said:

“It’s our capacity to love that will bring others to Christ.”

It makes me think about the people God has placed in my hands – my husband, my children, my family, my friends, members of my community, even you as you read this. It is not mere chance that they are in my life and I in their lives. I have a role to play and a mission to fulfill. But that requires me let go of my instinct to be selfish. It means thinking of others and how my actions (or lack of action) affects them. It means taking a few extra minutes on my knees to pray for you or for a struggling friend or making a meal for a mom who is having a rough time. Or not losing it when one of my kids breaks something in the house again. It means tuning off the phone and talking with my teen or reading to my sons. There are so many ways God wants me to share his love with others. I just have to decided if I will listen and act or turn a blind eye.

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Around the House…

The house has been neglected these last few weeks because I have been helping Brian with a work project. All my free time has been going to helping him so besides the basics, the house will have to wait!

 

Family Chit Chat…

For those who were asking, my mom is doing well in her recovery. In fact, she asked to relay this message: “My mom wanted me to let you know that this week when the therapist/nurse checked her they said she was doing great and healing remarkably well. Mom told the therapist that she credits it to the power of prayer because there has been countless people praying for her recovery. The therapist said that he find those who have prayer in their life do heal faster. My Mom also wanted me to send a big thanks to you again for all your prayers and support. She was in tears telling me how much it has meant to her. So a big thanks!”

With that in mind, this month I have my pap smear and a mammogram scheduled. They are not the most pleasant experiences but a definite must for my health!

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In family news, my sweet little Bella started high school this week! High school!!Β  How did 14 years pass by so quickly!!!

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Taking care of the kids when they were babies and toddlers was its own kind of crazy stress but now I’ve entered into another kind of crazy mental stress, having mama-worry about Bella’s physical, emotional and spiritual well being! Sigh. I need a piece of chocolate. πŸ˜‰

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The boys have been busy with swimming and attending their first VBS (Vacation Bible School) this month.

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They had so much fun and I was so impressed with how well it was organized! We will definitely be attending (and volunteering to help) next year.

In other news, on Thursday it is my birthday! That is both bad – another year older – and good – another year of being alive! Brian wants to know what I want for my b-day but seriously, I have everything I want (well, unless you can instantly make me a few jean sizes smaller. Hmm… maybe I should pass on that chocolate.) πŸ˜‰ Seriously, in all the things that matter, I already have them. <3

 

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In the Kitchen…

Monday: Roasted Chicken with potatoes/carrots/celery and salad.

Tuesday: Ravioli, Italian chicken sausage and green beans.

Wednesday: Breakfast dinner.

Thursday: I’ll be at a baby shower so an easy dinner but not sure what!

Friday: Date night. (Kids get pizza.)

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: (John-Paul’s birthday choice.) Spaghetti and Meatballs with sparkly juice. (Sparkling apple cider in plastic wine glasses.)

 

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Reading…

The Summer Before the War

I’ve read Section 2 of The Summer Before the War. The next podcast for the #pnsbookclub should be up soon over at Planned But Not Scripted. Their blog post for Part 1 is already up.

Persuasion

For fun I re-read Persuasion, my favorite Jane Austen book. πŸ™‚

 

 

Watching…

(ON TV)

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During the day I’ve been enjoying the Olympics with the boys. Matthew is particularly enamored with Micheal Phelps. I was touched to read Micheal’s story about his struggle with substance abuse, and feelings of no self esteem and no self worth to the point of thinking about suicide.Β  Thankfully, his friend, NFL star (and Christian) Ray Lewis stepped in and challenged Michael to re-evaluate his life and turn to God. Eventually Michael did and by the grace of God he was able to heal broken relationships and turn his life around. It’s such a powerful testimony to the fact that all these amazing successes mean nothing when your heart is lost. (You can read the whole story here.)

 

As I mentioned, Brian and I love British detective shows. Now that Inspector Lewis has started again, we are watching that.

 

We have two episodes left of The Tunnel until we find out of the killer is caught. (Parental note: Rated MA. Not for kids.)

 

— Brian and I finished the BBC mystery/thriller Thirteen about a young girl who escaped after 13 years of captivity. I really enjoyed the show but the ending seemed a little rushed and anti-climatic. (Parental note: Rated MA. Not for kids.)

 

— Meanwhile, I finished the BBC show The Crimson Field. I enjoyed it but there was no season two and that left a lot of questions unanswered. Boo.Β  It is available for free on Amazon Prime Video. (Parental note: Rated TV-14. Adult situations, language and non-sexual rear-end nudity.)

 

(AT THE MOVIES)

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Some of the movies I’ve watched this summer.

The Conjuring 2 – I’m not usually a fan of horror movies but loved the first Conjuring and this one was scary good too. PG-13

Finding Dory – I’m not sure if I liked it as much as the first one but there were some cute and funny moments. The kids enjoyed it. PG

Tarzan – Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. The thought of a hubby doing anything to save the woman he loves made my heart swoon and run home to my own hubby. πŸ˜‰ PG-13

Beyond – I wanted to love it but I didn’t. I really liked the first one and the second (Hello? Benedict Cumberbatch!) but this third one was enjoyable but not great. PG-13

Suicide Squad – My expectations were so low that I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it. (The soundtrack would have been more enjoyable if there weren’t so many bleep words in many of the songs. ) PG-13

 

Listening to …

The newest songs added to my playlist – Red Flag by The Moth & The Flame and Heathen by 21 Pilots.

 

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The other thing I have been listening to is the latest Blessed Is She Workshop – Raising a Holy Family: From Toddler to Teen by Kathryn Whitaker. She had so many excellent points, I had four pages of notes in my journal. I also loved being able to chat with the others and ask questions as we watched. Plus the fact that I could attend without leaving home, was the icing on the cake.

You can purchase the workshops individually or subscribe for the year and get at least one workshop a month (some months have two). Plus the much loved BIS Advent and Lent journals are auto shipped to you. If you buy these items anyway, it saves a lot to buy a membership. Just click here and go to the BIS shop.

The next workshop is scheduled for Aug 23. It is a prayer journaling workshop given byΒ  Ashley Woleben, a blogger and homeschooling mama who uses commonplacing and prayer journaling in her daily life. I hope to see you there!

 

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Recent Posts:

I have been taking a blogging break so this is my first post in a few weeks!

 

From the Archives:

Revolution of Love - Saturday Spotlight (logo_saturday_spotlight_3)August 2015 – Saturday Spotlight: Erica of Be A Heart

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August 2014 – Daily Planner Goal Sheet (Free Printable)

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August 2013 – Theme Thursday: Shadow & {pretty, happy, funny, real} vol 74: Bubble Play

 

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Pinned…

paleoparents1.jpg-866x1300Lemon Rosemary Chicken by Bravo for Paleo.com

 

Around the blogosphere…

— A Very Real Way You Can Help Our Country by Better than Eden

— {bits & pieces} and a matchbox makeover by Like Mother, Like Daughter

— [podcast] Kids & Chores #033 by Danielle Bean

— Audio Stories Recommended by Age by Whole Parenting Family

— Liturgical Crafting for the Non-Crafty Moms by A Knotted Life

— freedom…it’s what God wants for ALL of us… by Passionate Perseverance

 

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Taken yesterday after Mass. I love the color!

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any book or movie 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, πŸ˜‰

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 πŸ™‚

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Online Daybook/ 7QT (7/19/16): Growing Boys, Fave Shows, and Counting Calories & Pennies

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • The fog rolling out and the sun shining.
  • The sounds of the kids’ laughter as they play outside.
  • A few moments to myself to write.
  • Our little home that is a haven from the turmoils of the world.

Praying for..

  • My mom and her fight against cancer.
  • For Brian’s CT results and his upcoming appointment to see if he is still cancer free.
  • All those suffering from illness, especially those with terminal a disease.
  • For peace in the hearts of men and an end the senseless violence.
  • All those who have asked for my prayers.
  • 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, friend and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

The other day I was balancing my checkbook and when I was done I went out for my walk to keep on top of my #rol100milesin100days challenge. As I was walking I was thinking, why is it that I am walking every day but not losing any weight? And why is it that we’ve made a little extra money lately but I barely have enough to pay the bills? I had a sneaky suspicion that my guesstimating about how much I was spending and how much I was eating may be a little off from reality.

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So this week I updated my monthly spending log. Then I started writing down everything that I put into my mouth. Suddenly it became apparent why mama was losing money and gaining weight. All those “insignificant” purchases here and there were adding up just as all those little nibbles here and there were. Sooo, that meant I had to get back to keeping track of what I eat and what I spend since both seem to be trigger marks that I love to indulge in. Ugh.

I was reading a blog post about a woman who was trying to curb her spending habit by making a wish list in her bullet journal. When she had the impulse to buy something she wrote it down and let a few days pass and a few dollars save up. Then when she had some extra money, she looked at her list to see if she really wanted an item on there or if the urge to buy had passed. I like that idea and may do the same. As for food, I am noticing that I always seem to screw up around 4 pm when I get the munchies. I started making sure I have baby carrots, red pepper slices or grapes on a plate in the kitchen counter to munch on. It’s not as tasty as chips and guacamole but such is life. πŸ˜‰ Do you have any tips on eating and spending less??

 

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Around the House…

Summer life is still busy but I have pockets of time to work on projects. I have been taking one small cleaning project a week. Last week I put up a new book shelf and filled it with books that were overflowing our current shelves. The week before I tackled the corner of my bedroom that still held a baby table and random junk. I cleared that out and made a large pile to donate to charity. This week I will tackle the kids’ bathroom.

 

Family Chit Chat…

For those who were asking, my mom’s surgery went well and she is recovering nicely. She has an appointment later this week with her oncologist to figure out the next step in her cancer fight.

Meanwhile, Brian had a CT scan on Friday to make sure his cancer has not returned. We haven’t gotten the results yet but he has an appointment with his oncologist on Thursday so we’ll know by then. I appreciate the prayers! I always dread these appointments and worry a little about “what if.” I’m trying not to think about it!

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The other day I was looking at a photo of the boys from four years ago. They look so young! Especially, since I feel like they have gotten so much older this summer!

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See what I mean? Big boys! I don’t know how I will feel when they are teens. (I’m still in shocked that Bella starts high school in a couple weeks!) Anyway, this month the boys have been busy with swimming and next week they’ll attend Vacation Bible School.

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In between there is a lot of playing outside, visiting the library and of course playing Pokemon Go! We went to Target to get school supplies but we were delayed in the parking lot as we tried to get two critters in our car. The bottom two pictures were taken in Monterey where the boys were excited to find their first Pikachu. At least it has gotten us outdoors more. I’m sure the excitement will last for another week or so then the novelty will wear off. πŸ˜‰

 

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In the Kitchen…

Monday: Roasted Chicken, artichoke pasta salad and green beans.

Tuesday: Kale ravioli, chicken sausage and asparagus.

Wednesday: Fajitas, pinto beans, 5 minute salsa and salad.

Thursday: Leftovers.

Friday: Minestrone soup and grilled cheese.

Saturday: Meatball sandwiches and salad.

Sunday: Eat out.

 

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Reading…

The Summer Before the War

I’ve read Chapters 1-9 of The Summer Before the War. I stopped and waited for the book discussion over at Planned But Not Scripted. Are you it reading too? If so, add your comments on their blog post. I just did!

This week I will read the next section (and maybe just finish it ahead of schedule.) πŸ˜‰

East of Eden

In the meantime, I started (and finished all 600 pages, woohoo!) East of Eden. I’ll share more about it at the end of the month when I review my July reads.

Next I am reading…

The Bronte Plot

What are you reading?

 

Watching…

(ON TV)

One of our favorite British detective shows in Endeavor. I think we have one more episode left in our DVR.

Brian and I have been watching the BBC mystery/thriller Thirteen about a young girl who escaped after 13 years of captivity. The last episode is next week and we can’t wait to see how everything is wrapped up. (Parental note: This is rated MA. Language and adult situations.)

I am also two episodes into the BBC show The Crimson Field. I’m really enjoying it so far and there are so many familiar faces. It is available for free on Amazon Prime Video. (Parental note: I think this is rated TV-14. Adult situations and some battle field gore.)

 

Listening to …

I never get tired of this one – All We Ever Knew by The Head and the Heart.

 

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Recent Posts:

I haven’t posted much except for a week of book posts!

 

From the Archives:

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Β July 2015 –Homemade Coconut Granola (One of my favorite things to make!!)

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July 2014 – The Top Ten Theme Songs of My Life

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July 2013 – When He Wants to Fix It and You Just Want A Hug

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July 2012 – Making It Count (Vol 2): Mama & Me Journal

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July 2011 – Catholic Baby Shower Ideas

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Pinned…

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Photo Credit: Productive & Pretty

 

Around the blogosphere…

-> Dear Lonely Mom; You Are Not Alone by Real Catholic Mom mom.com

-> Read this, not that: Books about marriage by Like Mother, Like Daughter

-> Your Rights During a Miscarriage by Elizabeth Ministry/ Better than Eden

-> MOVIES: “THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS” by Hell Burns

-> Pray for Peace with me by Positively Imperfect

-> Bullet Journal for Busy Families with Candace Madera by Boho Berry

 

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We get a lot of fog in July but the walks are still pretty.

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The summer fruit is amazing!

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Any book or movie 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, πŸ˜‰

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 πŸ™‚

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Online Daybook & 7 Quick Takes: Lake Tahoe 2016 Edition

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This week’s version of Online Daybook is a little different since it was written while on vacation, so welcome to the Online Daybook/ 7 Quick Takes Lake Tahoe 2016 Edition. (Linking up with Kelly for 7QT.)

 

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Β© revolution of love.com - tahoe_park1WGrateful…

  • For a safe trip to Lake Tahoe.
  • That my mom’s surgery went well.
  • For phone calls, texting and social media that keeps me connected with family even when I am far away.
  • For a date night with my Sweetie thanks to Bella babysitting.
  • For vacations in general. I need this recharge! (Even though I sometimes think it is more stressful than being at home!)

Praying for…

  • My mom. For her recovery from surgery and that she keeps her positive spirit as she waits to heal.
  • The tired, the weary and the overworked.
  • For the safety of all travelers.
  • For the person who was hurt at the lake yesterday and air lifted to the hospital.
  • Some special intentions.

Pondering…

Of course, my mom is on my mind right now. The trip has been nice so far but it is not as fun as last year when my mom and dad were able to join us. This is actually our first solo trip without a set of grandparents to accompany us. It was hard not having my parents with me, especially knowing that my mom would be having surgery while we were in Tahoe. I really wanted to be with her as she recovered in the hospital.

I thought about canceling our trip but in one of our phone conversations my mom told me that she did not want me to be sad or to feel bad that we were having fun withoutΒ  her. She wanted me to enjoy this time with Brian and the kids and she said she’d be there in spirit with us and God willing, physically with us on next year’s trip.

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As it turned out, even if I was there I wouldn’t have been allowed in her room since visitors had been restricted so she could heal without germs from the outside. So for now, I am doing the best I can to enjoy this time with my family and have fun because I know that is precisely what she wants us to do. On the day of her surgery I wore my fight cancer shirt and we prayed our rosary for my mom, lifted her in prayer and took lots of photos so we could share them with her when we visit her in a couple weeks.

UPDATE: My mom is back home and recovering nicely. Thank you for the continued prayers! πŸ™‚

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Around the Hotel…

It looks a lot like home…books scattered on the tables, action figures on the floor, fingerprints on the windows. πŸ˜‰

 

Family Chit Chat…

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The first time we came to Lake Tahoe was 13 years ago when Bella was just a year old.

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Thirteen years later and Brian is still my sweetheart…

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_6_20_16_aHowever, the baby is now 14 and we’ve added three cute boys to the mix. πŸ™‚

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In the Kitchen…

Thankfully our hotel has a good sized kitchen so we’ve been able to cook our meals. However, tonight is Mexican night and we get to eat out. Ole!

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Reading…

I’ve been reading like crazy but I am behind on writing my summer books posts so I will work on those this week! Hint: Some of my list is pictured above. πŸ™‚

 

Watching…

Brian and I just saw the first episode of the BBC mystery/thriller Thirteen about a young girl who escaped after 13 years of captivity. However, something about her story does not ring true…so the mystery begins. I love the feel of British mysteries (and dramas.)Β  The show itself reminds me a bit of Broadchurch, minus the lovely David Tennant. (Parental note: This is rated MA. The first episode had some language and the story line itself is dark.)

 

(At the Movies)

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The last three movies I watched were Love and Friendship, Captain America: Civil War and The Jungle Book. Surprisingly, of the three my favorite was The Jungle Book.

The Jungle Book – I took Andrew to see this and I think I landed out enjoying it as much (if not more) as he did. The story was captivating and the special effects were enthralling. I was completely swept into the movie and it held my attention the entire time. It went beyond what I expected from a “kids” film. (Parental Note: The movie can be scary for younger kids. My 8 yr old loved it but my sensitive 6 yr old and 5 yr old skipped it and I’m glad they did. They’ll wait to watch it on blu-ray where it’s not as intense as a bigΒ screen.)

Love and Friendship – While it was not my favorite Austen story, the humor and wit of the dialogue left meΒ smiling.

Captain America: Civil War –Β  I am fan of all the Marvel movies and while the movie was enjoyable I hated the “brother against brother” story. I can’t help it. I am not a fan of conflict and like when more peaceful means solve a problem. πŸ˜‰

Next on my list of movies to see are Conjuring 2, The Legend of Tarzan and Star Trek Beyond.

I was also debating about watching the French film The Innocents but then I read Sr. Helen Burns review of the movie and decided to definitely watch it if it opens locally. The story, which is based on actual events, takes place in Warsaw in December 1945. A convent of nuns is attacked by Russian soldiers and many of the sisters are raped and consequently become pregnant. A young French doctor puts herself in danger to help the nuns. Sr. Burns says, “This is a very sensitive, non-sensational film of based on actual events (and many nuns have been raped and gotten pregnant during other wars as well) that manages to wrap itself around and enter deeply into the psychology of this very pointed and specific trauma” and “The Innocents is a truly religious film. Religious films are about God, not the trappings of God or His human mouthpieces.” (Read the full review here.) It is not light summer fare but sounds like a deeply moving film.

 

Listening to …

Summer is officially here. Here is the first song on my Summer 2016 playlist. πŸ™‚

It’s Sweet Disaster by Dreamers.

 

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In the blogosphere…

Parents, Quit Lying about This by Team Whitaker

Three Martyrs for Marriage by Like Mother, Like Daughter

Writing Secrets: How To Be Your Own Editor by The Sits Girls

Some Good News by Positively Imperfect

 

Pinned…

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Photo Credit: Call Her Happy

I love this super cute idea from Jenna at Call Her Happy.

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I haven’t posted anything since my last Daybook. Hey, it’s vacation time! Later this week I will hopefully finish my summer book post. In the following weeks it will be the return of Spotlight Saturday and bullet journal updates.

From the Archives:

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Summer 2015Five Favorites: Summer Activities with Kids at Lake Tahoe

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If you follow me on social media, you have already seen these. If you haven’t, then here’s a peak into our vacation.

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I love walking through the tall trees. It reminds me of the Redwoods in NoCal.

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Fun at the Lake! I love the ocean but letting kids play in the calm lake is 100% less stressful than dealing with the unpredictable Pacific waves.

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We don’t have miniature golf close to where we live so the kids love to visit the local Magic Carpet mini-golf. There are dinos and pirate ships on 3 different courses, although Matthew sometimes looked like he was playing hockey instead of golf. Afterwards, the boys enjoyed playing a racing game with their dad.

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Playing at Tahoe Paradise Park.

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Andrew giving his sister a push.

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Despite the heat, there is still a bit of snow on the mountains.

RevolutionofLove.com - Lake Tahoe 2016 - cwa_6_20_16_tahoe_b3If you go past the park and though the grassy area towards the river, you’ll find this to the right.

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However, this year I discovered a little trail that leads to the left side of the park, along the river. When the kids were done playing I told them we were going exploring to see where the trail led.

RevolutionofLove.com - Lake Tahoe 2016 - cwa_06_20_16_rWThe scenery was gorgeous.

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And about a quarter of a mile down I spotted this lovely scene. I could hear the sounds of the water rushing and birds tweeting and for one brief moment life was completely perfect. Until I listened a little closer…to the whining voices around me saying, “It’s too hot!” and “There are too many bugs!” and “Are we done yet?” Sigh. Oh, well. I had my moment, brief as it was. We headed back to the park so the boys could spin themselves sick on the merry-go-round instead.

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I did keep up with my walking challenge of #rol100milesin100days while in Tahoe. Bella would join me in the evening when the weather cooled down.

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Other times we’d go as a family and the boys were more than happy to join me (well, when I promised them ice cream cones at the finish line.) πŸ˜‰ Either way, I caught up on the days I was slacking before we left.

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When the sun set on our last day we had to say goodbye to Tahoe and promised to be back next year. πŸ™‚

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Will you be doing any traveling? Do share.

Have a great weekend!

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, πŸ˜‰
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 πŸ™‚


Online Daybook/ 7QT (6/13/16): Graduation, Birthdays & Mom Updates

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • This first day of our summer vacation.
  • Warm days and blooming flowers.
  • The love and prayers of friends.
  • The grace to say I’m sorry and the opportunity to start over.
  • Hugs and kisses form my little ones.
  • Quiet time with Brian.

Praying for..

  • My mom, her upcoming surgery and that she will be healed and cancer free.
  • People suffering from violence and hatred.
  • All those who have lost loved ones, especially for those struggling with depression because of it.
  • All those who have asked for my prayers.
  • 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, friend and those most forgotten.

Pondering…

The death of the 50 some people in Orlando. I was watching on the news that footage of the mom crying and looking for her son and I read that post about the mom who was texting her son just before he was shot. One of his last words were, “I love you Mommy.” It brings tears to my eyes to think of a grown man calling out toΒ  his mom minutes before he died. Regardless of the circumstances, this was a heartbreaking tragedy that has brought us to tears. It is also a reminder that we never know when we may not see our children, our spouses, our parents, our loved ones again. Life is crazy and often uncertain but we can make the most of the time we have together. We can let go of the pettiness that fuels grudges and unkind words. I’d hate to have my last words or text to a loved one be something I would regret later.

 

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Around the House…

After the whirlwind of activity last week, the house in a shambles including endless paper bags of old schoolwork and art work that the kids brought home from school. I am waiting for them to go outside to play so I can sneak it all off into the recyclable bin!

 

Family Chit Chat…

If you don’t follow me on social media, here is an update on my mom’s health.

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Thanks to all who have been praying for my mom. For those who asked, here’s an update: Mom has Stage 2 cervical cancer. The tests were inconclusive as to whether it got into the lymph nodes. They won’t know for sure until they operate but the doc doesn’t think it did. She will have the surgery in 2-3 weeks. They are coordinating the surgeons’ schedules. Surgery will take 6 hrs. She will be in the hospital for 3 days. Recovery will be 4-6 weeks if all goes well. After recovery they’ll discuss chemo and radiation. Meanwhile, she’ll return to hospital to have an MRI to make sure she is strong enough for the surgery. All things considered, there’s a lot of reason to be thankful and hopeful. UPDATE: My mom’s surgery is scheduled for June 21, the day after her birthday.

In other news, today is our first official day of summer vacation. When my alarm went of this morning I was able to turn it off and savor a few more moments with my pillow. It was a little slice of heaven. πŸ˜‰

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We finished all our school activities, including the school mini-Olympics. The kids represented Team Australia, Team USA, Team Scotland and Team Brazil. Although Matthew could not remember his country’s name and kept calling it Team Bra-zebra.” LOL. πŸ˜‰

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And biggest news of all, Bella graduated the 8th grade!

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Here she is with her proud Papa. πŸ™‚

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And with her little brothers. Matthew and John-Paul had to remove their ties an hour into the ceremony because they were choking them. πŸ˜‰

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Lastly, Andrew turned nine years old. My sweet oldest boy is the most like Brian and a little more quiet than his brothers. Unlike his mother, he is a natural organizer and my biggest helper around the house. He comes home and does all his chores immediately without me even having to ask. (Are you sure he’s my kid?) πŸ˜‰

 

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In the Kitchen…

It’s “clear out the freezer” week. So there’s sure to be something Mexican, something Italian, something Breakfast themed, and something that makes everyone go, “Huh??” πŸ˜‰

 

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revolution of love blog - od_logo_sights

 

Reading…

I just finished reading these two books. Reviews coming soon. (Spoiler Alert: I loooved them.)

When Breathe Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

 

Watching…

(ON TV)

We finished watching the new Amazon PrimeΒ  showΒ  Doctor Thorne. I loved it, especially that it had a happy ending. πŸ™‚ (Added bonus – the commentary from Julian Fellowes.)

landgirls

Next on Netflix I’ll be watching Landgirls

the_letters

and the movie The Letters about Mother Teresa. Have you seen either? Did you like them?

 

Listening to …

This song has been a regular on my Walking Playlist. Laugh about It by Paper Route.

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revolution of love blog - od_logo_blog

Recent Posts:

From the Archives:

Revolution of Love - Slow Cooker Pulled Pork - pp_pork_5

June 2015 – Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

June 2014 – Saturday Night 7 Quick Takes, {pretty, happy, funny, real} & Answer Me This

June 2013 – Travel Tips

 

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Pinned…

Pork-and-Peach-Kabobs-on-100-Days-of-Real-Food

Photo Credit: 100 Days of Real Food.com

In the blogosphere…

There’s not much blog reading time but I’ve recently enjoyed:

 

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I have this obsession with water droplets on flowers and spider webs. (As you can see from above.)

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Here’s another I snapped the other day after a very thick morning fog.

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

I’m linking up with post 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, πŸ˜‰

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 πŸ™‚

 

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Online Daybook & 7QT (5/16/16): Prayers, Family Memories & New Music

Revolution of Love - logo_daybook_4

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od_logo_quiet2Grateful for…

  • A blessed weekend, even if it went by a little too quick.
  • Blue, sunny skies. (After so many days of grey, I was really missing it.)
  • The body of Christ and the prayers of family and friends.
  • Random hugs and “I love you’s” from the kids.
  • Morning walks.

Praying for..

  • My mom and that we find out her cancer has not spread.
  • Those suffering with illness or life altering disease.
  • The repose of the soul of my father-in-law.
  • All those who have lost loved ones, especially for those struggling with depression because of it.
  • People suffering from violence – whether within their home or their community.
  • 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, friend and those most forgotten.

Β© RevolutionofLove.com - jesus_i_trust

Pondering…

My concern for my mom’s health has been a constant occupant in my head. No mater what I am doing it seems to be sitting there and, at times, making me feel guilty when I am doing something “fun.” It is a weird feeling. On the other hand, the worry has forced me to turn continuously throughout the day to God and place it at his feet. I keep repeating to myself, Jesus, I trust in You until the worry subsides. This has also definitely renewed my devotion to the rosary as I place my mom in Our Lady’s hands. Why do we need something bad to happen to shake us up and get us into a better place? I want to be able to get the lessons without the heartache but I guess that’s not always reality. πŸ˜‰

 

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revolution of love blog - od_logo_home2

 

Around the House…

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_iWThe view from the couch in our front room. It was a cold and gloomy day but I had a some quiet time to work on an upcoming Blessed Is She devotion. I am truly honored to be part of this beautiful ministry. πŸ™‚

 

Family Chit Chat…

My mom had her contrast cat scan yesterday to check if the cancer has gone into her lymph nodes and she will meet with the oncologist on Friday to find out how bad (or not so bad) the cancer is. I’m on pins and needles waiting.

However, there have been some more pleasant family moments that have helped me not to stress out so much. Here are the highlights.

RevolutionofLove.com (ajm_5_2016)Andrew made his First Communion. πŸ™‚

RevolutionofLove.com - The Rol Family (fam_5_2016)Our happy little family. πŸ™‚

RevolutionofLove.com - Gilroy Gardens (cwa_5_16__16_f)On Friday I went with Andrew to his class field trip to Gilroy Gardens.

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_aIt is a theme park but they also have an educational science program.

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_eAndrew likes rocks and gems so this session was fun for him.

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_cWe also enjoyed the reptile show. This big guy was 13 feet long!

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_dThe peacock was pretty but it had a loud screech.

RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_bAndrew and I had a great mom and son day out. πŸ™‚RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_gThen on Saturday it was a mom and daughter day. Bella’s early graduation gift was to watch Disney’s Broadway musical Newsies live on stage. It was so much fun! πŸ™‚

But seriously, I feel like I just need to stay home for once and take a nap πŸ˜‰

 

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In the Kitchen…

RevolutionofLove.com - pasta_spinach_5I made a super easy 30 minute pasta dish that we love. I’m posting the recipe next week. πŸ™‚

 

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Reading…

waiting_on_the_word_marriagePhoto Credit: Blessed Is She

I just started reading a new prayer series this morning – Waiting on the Word: Our Vows. This scripture study is written by Nancy Bandzuch, Nell O’Leary, Laura Kelly Fanucci, and Jenna Guizar. (Nancy, Nell and Laura wrote theΒ much loved Advent and Lenten series that I participated in earlier this year.)Β  Waiting in the Word: Our Vows is a 4 week, lectio divina based study on our wedding vows. You can get more details and the link to download the study here. I hope you’ll join me!

* * *

I’ve also gone through a lot of fiction books lately, thanks in part to Audible. Since I have a number of books I finished, I will give mini-reviews for those in a separate post later this week. Titles include: All the Light We Cannot See, Me Before You, Eleanor and Park, and The Husband Maker Series.

 

Watching…

(ON TV)

Now that our favorite TV series are ending until next fall, it is time to switch over to some summer shows.

I am especially looking forward to the Julian Fellowes new Amazon original series Doctor Thorne, which will start on May 20th on Amazon Prime.

 

Listening to …

I heard these guys the other day on the iTunes alternative music station and I fell in love with them. Here is Run or Hide by Run River North.

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I feel like I am finally getting back into a blogging routine. Upcoming posts – book reviews, recipes, summer goals, bullet journal Q&A, Spotlight Saturday and more.

 

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In the blogosphere…

There’s not much blog reading time but I’ve recently enjoyed (or have in my reading queue):

 

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RevolutionofLove.com - cwa_5_16__16_hWHere is a shot from my morning walk.

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

I’m linking up with post with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes and Cristina for Lovely Tidbits. πŸ™‚

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, πŸ˜‰

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 πŸ™‚