Moments of Gratitude…

Today I am especially thankful for

• Family time.
• Quiet time with Brian.
• Spring walks.
• Seeing the light at the end of a huge laundry tunnel.
• A tax return that paid for a new desktop computer because the old one finally bit the dust.
• Little boys that are playing (relatively) quiet so I can blog. 😉

 

Beauty in the Ordinary…

You’ll see a lot of ice plants in these coastal areas and our backyard is in full bloom with their flowers.

 

In the Kitchen…

M – Turkey burgers, coleslaw and veggies

T – Pork Roast, brown rice, broccoli

W – Soup and tuna salad sandwiches (We have a school function that evening so quickie dinner.)

Th –  Grilled Chicken and All Hail Kale Salad

F – Breakfast dinner

S – Leftovers

S – Dinner at Oma and Opa’s

 

Praying…

• For Brian’s chemo and continued recovery from cancer.
• For all those who are fighting cancer and other illnesses.
• For my brother-in-law who left home for training before being deployed to Afghanistan.
• For my sister, his newlywed bride, that she is given the strength and courage to endure the separation.
• For all our military, especially those we’ve adopted.
• For the military wives and family left behind.
• For peace throughout the world and in the hearts of mankind.
• For all those who suffer abuse or are victims of crime, especially the kidnapped Nigerian girls and particular Na’omi Bitrus, the girl I chose to keep in prayer.

 

On the homefront……

Today starts Brian’s off week of chemo. He is officially half way done with treatment. Yay! He starts round four on Tuesday. Since the doc adjusted his meds, this third round was not as difficult as the second. He’s hanging in there. Thanks for the continued prayers! 🙂 We had such a lovely weekend together and I made sure we spent time as a family and that Brian had time with me while the kids were at the in-laws. It’s so wonderful to see him smiling and happy.

 

Pondering…

My prayer life. During Lent it was going really well. I was spending time each day in meditative prayer with God and it was helping with my attitude and keeping the family in harmony. Frankly, after Easter and going on our spring vacation, it was like I also took a vacation from my prayer routine. All those lessons I was learning in the Restore workshop were falling to the wayside. I could feel the negative effect of it – it gets much harder to be at peace amidst the chaos when I am going at it alone. I need to keep on top of my prayer routine. It doesn’t take away the trials of the day but it helps greatly in keeping me focused on God so I can take care of Brian and the kids and keep a peaceful atmosphere at home.

Time in prayer with God is key but I also know that taking care of myself, having alone time to recharge and having time alone with Brian for us to reconnect is also vital. I was talking to Brian about this yesterday and told him I am going to work on getting back on track and reinstall the disciplines that were helping us. First on the agenda – a schedule change so I get some prayer time in the morning; Second – Confession for a good soul scrubbing and a boost of grace; Third – schedule a date this weekend with Brian. After all, we’re better and happier parents when we keep our love and friendship alive and growing. 🙂

 

Around the house…

You’ll find a new computer in our front room since our old one was hanging by a thread. Thankfully, I learned from my previous mistakes and back upped all my docs, photos and videos on an external drive so I wouldn’t lose them. As I was looking through some old folders, I found a bunch of old videos I took of the boys when they were all babies and toddlers. The boys spend almost an hour watching  through them and giggling at their cuteness. Why does time have to go by so incredibly fast? Sigh.

 

Reading…

Same as last week.

Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It.

The Little Oratory: A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home

The Fault in Our Stars

 

Listening to…

h/t creative minority report.com

This Frozen’s Let It Go – Mom Parody. It’s hilarious.

 

Watching…

Mr. Selfridge Season 2, Grimm, The Middle, Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed and Delivered past seasons of Veronica Mars and Big Bang Theory. (Bazinga!) 😉

 

On the blog…

I’m finishing up a post with an update on my Menu Board and a post listing all the weekly link-ups available to Catholic bloggers. Sometimes it takes a link up to get us motivated to write and post on a regular basis. 😉 I’ll also continue on the Restore series.

 

In the blogosphere…

Yesterday I meant to link up with Kendra / Haley for Answer Me This but I never got around to it so I’ll answer the questions here instead.

1. What’s the scariest thing that’s ever been in your yard?

Hmmm… the only thing that comes to mind is when Brian and I were living in a rental when Bella was our only child. Outiode our front door there was a wasp nest and every time we got near it the wasps got angry. We had to go around the side and enter our home from the rear until we could get the landlord to take care of it.

2. Beards. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

I would say I’m thumbs up 75% of the time. There are a few faces I’ve seen that actually look better clean shaven. I grew up with my dad having a beard and a number of my 5 brothers having beards at various times so it seems natural to me. I relished when Brian came home for the hospital after his surgery in January and had a beard. He let me enjoy it for a few weeks before shaving it off.

3. If stuff breaks, can you fix it?

Depends on what it is. If someone gets a hole in their stiffed animal or loses a button, then Brian is the one to fix it. If something electrical breaks down – computer, TV, ipod, then I’m the one to get it running again. Anything requiring hammer and nails or tools is a toss up. But fixing a car? Hopeless.

4. What was your first car?

source

It looked something like this only I think the curves were a little chubbier and rounder. (Kinda like me. ;-))

My first car was a white Chevrolet Prizm. I was spending the weekend with girl friends and when my parents came to pick me up they had this new shiny, white car. I thought it was a rental. They took the money I was saving for a used smaller car and helped me with the down payment on this car instead. I was ECSTATIC. I remember that every night I would go out in the garage and sit in it and smell the new car smell for a few minutes before going to bed. LOL. I know there is a photo is of me sitting in the car on the day my parents delivered it but I can’t find it. Do you have it, mom?

5. How often do you eat out?

Nothing like we used to! There were times when we’d eat out 3 times a week. Now that we eat healthier it is more likely to be once every 2-3 weeks. Our treat it a burrito bowl at Chipotles. Yum!

6. Why is your hair like that?

Because every now and then God likes to play a mean joke. 😉

I have thick, dry, unruly, curly hair. I have been able to tame it using these products. These days, I keep it shoulder length so I can wear it down for special occasions but 99% of the time I have it up and off my neck with a scarf/bandana.

 

Pinned…

My timer is almost up so here is a screen shot of my latest pics. Get the links here – pinterest.com/rol_bobbi/pins/

 

Plans for the Week…

On Wednesday Bella is participating in her first school musical. They are doing Peter Pan Jr and she plays one of the Indians. I am not sure if we are doing anything special for Memorial Day but I’ll see if my father-in-law can babysit the kids so Brian and I can go out on a lunch date before he starts his 4th round of chemo.

 

Captured…

I never posted the photos from Mother’s Day so here are a few shots I captured.

John-Paul’s preschool had a Mothers’ Day tea. 🙂

John-Paul in his class.

Matthew. He starts preschool here next year. He can’t wait. 🙂

A quick snap.

 All my treasured homemade gifts from the kids.

 

 

Linking-Up with…

Jenny at The Littlest Way

A Mama Collective’s Currently

Answer Me This

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