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. 🙂

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Grateful 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!

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

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. 😉

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

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.) 😉 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. 🙂

 

 

Watching…

(ON TV)

Photo credit

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.  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.  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)

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. 😉 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.

 

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 by  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:

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…

Lemon 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, 😉

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