Hey guys, happy Friday! It’s been a crazy week and the early part of it had me at the end of my rope but thankfully things are going much more smoothly now. 😉

I’m linking up with Kelly for Friday’s Quick Takes and with Jenny for Daybook Online Journal.

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Grateful for…

• God’s grace that lifts you when you can’t go on.
• A husband that cares for me and puts up with my occasional nonsense.
• For my kiddos smiles and kisses that makes me forget how crazy they can sometimes be.
• The beauty of nature that turns my heart back to the Creator.
• The grace of confession.

Praying for..

• Those who feel broken and alone in their plights.
• Those who are far from God that the grace of conversion will touch their heart.
• Those who are ill, especially for those fighting cancer, and that Brian remains cancer-free.
• Those fighting addictions and for those with loved ones who are addicted but refuse help.
• All pregnant moms, those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
• The souls in purgatory, especially fmaily, friend and those most forgotten.
• Some special intentions.

Pondering…

Mother’s Day came and went and while it was not a bad day, it was a very busy day taking care of people outside of my home. There was no time to sit and relax and the days following were no different. By Tuesday, I was at the end of my rope physically and emotionally and crying out to God for help. I made a comment about it on social media and I was touched by the friends who offered prayers and words of encouragement. It warms my heart to be a part of this universal Catholic family that knows no bounds. Plus, we have a Father that cares of us and gives us what we need just when we need it.

For me this week, it was in a form of an email from Allison Gringas. She had a Catholic Blogger Week Mega-Giveaway with numerous prizes and she told me that I was one of the winners! Guess what I won?? The gift of PRAYER… for one week I will be covered in prayer by a powerhouse woman of prayer,  Elizabeth Reardon from Theology Is A Verb. God does have a sense of humor but He’s also awesome because it is JUST. WHAT. I. NEED. And let me tell you, it is working because I feel so much at peace right now. I still have a tons to do but I am in a better attitude to do it. So a big thanks to all who have prayed for me this week, most especially to Elizabeth. And thanks to Allison for having the contest in the first place. I have been going over her blog and she has some great posts, fun link ups and interesting talks. Go check it out. 🙂

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Around the House…

Yesterday the kids were not feeling well and the weather was gloomy with rain in the forecast (all .01 inches of it) so I let them stay home from school and rest. It was a blessing in disguise for me because I was able to lock myself in the house and pay bills, balance the checkbook (which hadn’t been dusted off in months) and get a mound of other paperwork done. I feel a little more caught up in that area. Now if I can tame the laundry beast, I’d be golden.

Family Chit Chat…

As I mentioned, Mother’s Day sort of came and went but I did enjoy my favorite homemade gifts from the kids, a Mother’s Day tea at Matthew’s preschool, Mass with my lovelies and gifts that included a Fandango gift card, movie candy, nail polish kit and a selfie stick. Do they know me or what? As a side note, I first saw a selfie stick being used while we were at Disneyland last year and Brian and I couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it. But then, Karianna brought one when we attended the CWBNCA and I saw how handy it was and how easier it made taking group shots. This mocker is now a user. Thanks for the heads up, Karianna.  😉

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In the Kitchen…

As I mentioned last week, I was in a a meal planning rut so I’ve been trying to try one new recipe each week to add to our faves. This week I tried Sunday Slow Cooker: Pork Tenderloin and Apples from SlenderKitchen.com. It came out tasty and my mother-in-law loved it, which definitely pleased me since she is good cook herself. Next time around I think it may be better is I browned the meet before cooking it. (It wasn’t very “pretty.”) Plus, I got it in late so I cooked it on high and it was a little dry. Luckily, there was enough juice to pour on top to moisten it. So next time around I’ll cook it on low for a shorter period of time.

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Watching…

This week Brian told me I needed a break so he took over night duties and sent me to the movies.  I used my Fandango gift card to go see The Age of Adaline. Now, I am a sucker for romantic movies but it is always a little disheartening that most movies follow the typical worldly attitude that you must sleep together first and then see if you happen to fall in love. That’s probably why I love B&W classic movies and literary adaptations (like Jane Austen) so much. The norm is first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage. Call me old fashioned. With that said, this movie was not different but if you can get past that and the stretch of science behind AofA, then the movie was enjoyable. It had some sweet moments and kept my interest until the end.

Listening to …

I’ve been enjoying Death Cab for Cutie’s new album Kintsugi. The song Black Sun is great for putting me in a mellow mood.

Reading…

No changes here.

For my spiritual reading…

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life

For my fiction reading…

The Girl on the Train

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A little while ago I posted my Five Fave Podcasts. When I asked for podcast suggestions, my OLF Jen recommend that I check out SQPN. I had heard about it before but never took the time to look around. I finally did and I especially enjoyed Fr. Roderick’s show The Break. I loved it so much that I updated my list to include The Break. Like a musical Top 40 countdown, The Catholic Guy was knocked out of the Top 5. TCG moves down one notch to #6. Coming in at #5 is The Break with Fr. Roderick.

The Break

 I love how Fr. Roderick talked about movies, TV shows, and geeky topics in the light of our faith. I have had fun listening to his opinions but the real moment I fell in love with him was when I watched him last month preview the newest Star Wars trailer. As a movie lover, Star Wars fan and mom of three Jedi, I thought it was awesome. 😉

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Oh, and don’t forget to enter the contest to win one of Jenna’s Mini-Hoop necklaces! Only 9 days left!

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A few things I have been reading online…

Using PicMonkey to Make Good Photos Look Great by Catholic All Year

Want to Start A Blog? 5 Tips for Beginners by Best Bib and Tucker

Fr. Junipero Serra: A Vital Part of California’s Heritage by Muffin Dome

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons by Tomato’s Vine

{May Sketch-Along}: Come Holy Spirit by The Pitter Patter Diaries

The Many Shapes of Me by Saint Affairs

Bring Truman Home

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Here are some Instagrams I’ve taken this past week. (It’s been a slow posting week.)

1. Today I’m especially thanking God for my four blessings on earth (and two blessings in heaven) that made me a mother.

3. #projectblessed – Inspiration. I’m in a cooking rut so I browsed online for some meal inspiration. Tonight it’s slow cooker pork roast with apples and onions.

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

Have a great weekend!

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