It’s that fun time of the year when we look back over the past 12 months and relive the favorite moments, as well as the more difficult ones. Today I am linking up with Dwija for a look at the top 12 photos of 2014.
January marked our second battle with Brian’s cancer. Here he is receiving Anointing of the Sick before his scheduled surgery and following chemo. (We are also replenishing our supply of holy water!) It was a difficult time but Brian’s incredible faith not only kept him going but was an inspiration to me and the kids. Everyone’s prayers and offers of help was appreciated more than words could express. Through it all, our love of family, friends and each other grew even stronger, proving that good can come out of bad. On the day of his surgery, I started journaling my thoughts here.
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With Brian’s health, that meant a change in all our diets. We (mostly) eliminated white flour, processed sugar and junk food. However, the kids still wanted their Sunday morning treat after Mass so I tried new recipes with whole wheat and more natural sugars. It is not the easiest thing to cook from scratch and use whole foods but after awhile it gets easier and our tastes buds have gotten used to eating healthier. To be honest, after this season of breaking the rules and eating sweets and treats, I am tired of feeling ill and sluggish and look forward to getting back on track!
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This year marked the last year that my little Matthew was home with me 24/7. My morning walks were accompanied by my little super hero. Once September came around, he started preschool part time. It was a weird adjustment at first but now I am enjoying combining alone time with kiddo time. π
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This is my favorite photo this year of Andrew, John-Paul and Matthew. I love their playful smiles and I can almost hear their sweet giggles. Although the house is often filled with incredible NOISE, the tender moments like these make it worth it. π
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In spring we took an unexpected visit to So Cal to attend my brother’s graduation party and my brother-in-law’s going away party as he was being stationed in Afghanistan. We also made a side trip to one of our favorite places – Disneyland. We were able to time the trip on Brian’s off week from chemo. I love this photo of Brian and Bella. Their smiles reflect how much fun we had that trip. π
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June is one of my favorite months because it means not only is school out but we get to make our annual trip to Lake Tahoe. We’ve been blessed to be able to bring my parents with us for the last couple of years. I treasure this time not only with my sweetheart and sweet peas but my mom and dad too. We always have such a fun time and the day we come home from our trip I am counting the days until we can go back. (Mark your calendar, Mom. Only 173 days to go.) π
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July means summer vacation and lots of swimming lessons! I snapped a spontaneous photo of the kids and it is now one of the year’s favorite because it captures a little bit of each one’s personality. π
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August started the month I made a goal list and made small steps towards bringing them about. I was making good progress until the holidays hit. Then everything was put aside. Now that the holidays are winding down, I’ll be able to refocus and get back on track.
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I love this shot of me and Brian. He finished his last round of chemo and went away for the weekend to attend a Catholic conference. Meanwhile my sister came up for a visit. When Brian returned home my sister watched the kids so we could go out. We had such a lovely date; we felt like newlyweds again. My heart was filled with gratitude that Brian was in my life and that he was feeling better each day. #blessed
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October starts my favorite season of fall and I should have a photo of pumpkin patches and golden leaves but this quick shot I took after a morning walk continues to take my breath away.
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I’ve gotten closer to Our Lady this year. From relying on her to pray for Brian to seeking her help in being a better mom, it is comforting to know there is someone looking out for me and helping me grow closer to God.
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December marked the month of rain for our parched California. I loved when the rain stopped and the sun peaked through the clouds and everything just glistened. So pretty!
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Okay, I cheated on this one. I was done with the post but I decided to add one more. It’s a simple Instagram but it marks my favorite day of this Christmas season.
It was the day we put on Christmas music and sat by the twinkling tree as we roasted marshmallows in the fireplace. It was like Christmas magic was sprinkled on the house as there was no wild playing or yelling or arguing over who got more marshmallows.Β We just talked and laughed and had fun together. Then as the fire died down and the kids went into the other rooms to play, Brian and I snuggled on the couch and enjoyed each others company. It was the perfect afternoon. They don’t happen often but when they do they are fiercely cherished! π
Here’s to hoping that we will have more wonderful memories for 2015! π A big thanks to Dwija for hosting!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post – A Year in Review with Favorite Posts. π
On this last day of 2013, I am linking up with Dwija at House Unseen for 2013 in 13 AND with Pam from Everyday Snapshots for 13 for 13. Here is a collection of my favorite photos from 2013, plus an extra photo as a bonus. π Narrowing down the photos was a difficult choice since I snapped over 3,000 shots!! Well, I did my best to narrow it down. Enjoy! π
This photo was shot with my iphone as dusk approached on a difficult January evening. I was at our local hospital where Brian was recovering from surgery to remove cancer from his body. It was so hard to kiss him goodnight and leave him alone in his hospital bed. Before driving back home to the kids,Β I stopped in the lobby to compose myself. I did not want them to see me upset. I sat there and listened to the water fall and watched the evening sky darken andΒ give way to the moon and twinkling stars. It soothed my soul. No matter how dark it got that night, I knew the stars and the moon would still be there to give light and hope. The sun would shine once again… and in the same way, we’d get through this period and be happy once again. And we did. Blessed be God. π
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It is sometimes easy to complain about the warm winter weather when you wish you could wear a coat and mittens instead of shorts and a t-shirt but then when people are talking about being depressed by the gloomy weather in February, I can enjoy this. π
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When I first married Brian I told him that we needed to start having kids right away because our house was too darn quiet. (Remember, I was used to having 5 brothers and 3 sisters.) We may have had to carry a few crosses of secondary infertility and miscarriage but then God opened the floodgates of grace and boom, boom, boom these little guys have added all the noise and mayhem (and love) I could have imagined. What’s that saying…careful what you wish for? But I certainly wouldn’t have it any other way with their sweet smiles and hugs (unless you could also give me a little less screaming down the hallway and a little more picking up and putting away those darn Legos and Star Wars figures. π )
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At the beginning of the year I started participating in Cari’s Theme Thursdays and it really started me to explore photography a bit more. I also got a new “big girl” camera and it does great work because I am such an amateur stillΒ trying to learn the techniques of better photography. This was one of the first shots I was so pleased to capture. (This photo was taken at a different timeΒ from the spider web /water droplet photo I posted yesterday. I think I like it even more.) πΒ And as they say,Β April showers…
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…brings May flowers. Taking flower shots are one of my favorite things to do. I especially love big, bright and bold colors. I can’t help but smile when I see them. π
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There were a lot of photos I loved from our Lake Tahoe trip, but something about this black and white shot grabbed me. I particularly liked how the sun broke through the shadowy cover of the trees and created a path of light.
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This photo was for Theme Thursday: Knots for my knotted rosary. Brian and I received the statue of Our Lady for our wedding (oddly enough from a family friend who is not religious) but it was a perfect gift since Our Lady was instrumental in our meeting, dating and getting married. π
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I snapped these bubble photos and I not only love the content but the memories behind it. It was the morning of my birthday and I was outside trying to get a perfect shot for Theme Thursday: Shadow. I did get a shot I loved (whichyou can see here), but I posted this one as my favorite instead because it is so playful and fun. It also caused the most laughs and cheers from everyone as it was being blown.Β Brian and I had such fun playing with the kids out there and all it took was something as simple as soap and a wand and our time. I don’t remember the gifts I got that day but I remember this morning vividly. (Wait, I do remember my gift… the Macbook Air I am typing on now. Yeah, may just have been my best bday ever. π )
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In was 12 years ago in September that Bella arrived into the world a month early, on the day of our baby shower to be exact,Β and weighing in at a little less than 4 pounds. How did those years fly by so fast? Now she is my sweetie girl with a special place in my heart, not only as my daughter but as my comrade in this house of males. π
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I love, love, love autumn and although we don’t have the fiery autumn colors that the East Coast does, amidst the green you’ll find pockets of amazing colors such as these that I found in the forest at Jack’s Peak in Monterey.
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Technically there are things about this shot I wish I could fix – the harsh sun, random people in the background (I don’t have time to photoshop), JP looking away – but I LOVE the memories behind the shot. We met up with my parents and many of my siblings and spend a few days before Thanksgiving at Disneyland. It is an annual tradition and I look forward to it all year long. This year was especially sweet since January had such a rocky start.
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Also taken at Disneyland, I loved the sweet country Christmas feel to start my favorite time of the year. π
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For my bonus shot #13, I give you this photo from one of our family walks.
I simply adore this. Thinking about Brian sick in the hospital and now seeing him strong and healthy I can’t help but shed tears of gratitude as I type. This photo shows Brian at his essence, a loving husband and father that cares, protects, leads and guides the ones he loves AND he doesn’t complain (too much) that I keep taking shots of him and everything elseΒ because he knows taking photos makes me happy. π
Well, I hope you enjoyed the photos! Thanks to Dwija and Pam for hosting!
Merry Christmas! I hope you had a wonderful day today with family and friends. If you didn’t receive our Christmas letter in the mail and you actually have a desire to read it, here it is. If you are the type that hates Christmas letters, just skip this post and have a wonderful Christmas season!
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Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas! It is hard to believe that the year is almost over. And what a year it has been. I just finished looking over our photos to refresh my memory of all that has happened over the last 12 months. Hereβs a quick recap of how each of us are doing.
Brian – The biggest challenge we faced this year was Brianβs illness. He had been feeling ill for awhile and seeing various doctors. Finally, after a trip to the ER, we found out that he had colon cancer. We were shocked. Thankfully, Brianβs cancer was caught early at Stage 1 and his operation was successful with no signs of spread. It was a difficult time for each of us but we were incredibly happy when Brian was released from the hospital and we brought him back home. I watched him as he was playing outside with the kids and tears could not be stopped as my heart felt overwhelming gratitude. I could not imagine what life would be like without my sweetheart and I am glad this was not the time to find out. Secondly, we were grateful for the incredible amount of love and support that came from our family and friends. From my sister who took off work for a week to take care of the kids (and her boss that said it was ok) to my in-laws who give so much, to Brianβs coworkers that brought us home cooked, full course meals and desserts for a week. I told Brian he can never doubt that heβs loved! Okay, since I am literally trying to type through my tears as I recall all this, letβs move on.
Bella – My sweet little girl, who is growing into a young lady, turned 12 years old this year. She is doing well in the 6th grade and recently spend a week in the Santa Cruz mountains for science camp. It was her first (long) solo trip away from home. How we missed her! But I am glad she had a lot of fun. Bella still loves to draw and her talent continues to grow. (No, I am not the least bit biased!) She is an awesome big sister who knows how to mother (and tease) her little brothers, who love her dearly. She is also my comrade in this house full of boys. When we get tired of stepping on Legos or dodging swinging light sabers or hearing the yell of Packers fans, we escape for a mom and daughter day out. ο She truly is a ray on sunshine in my life.
Andrew β The oldest of the boys, Andrew is my sensitive child with a playful heart. He is six years old and doing well in Kindergarten. I love to see his eyes light up as he practices his reading and discovers new words. He loves to play with his Legos and build new creations. He is the leader of the boys as they dress up in costume or act out a Star Wars scene or race their Big Wheels out on the deck. Although he is quiet around those he does not know well, he is a bundle of energy and has a contagious laughter that can get me giggling even if I have no idea what he is laughing at. His sweet smile and soulful eyes melt my heart every day.
John-Paul β JP is my night and day child. He has a sweet, playful spirit with a laid back personality but when he gets upset, everyone knows it. At the end of summer John-Paul turned four and he is really enjoying pre school. His favorite place to go is the library. Like his father, you will always see him with a book in his hands. He loves to play with his βbrodersβ whether they are wresting on the floor, running outside or battling Angry Bird Star Wars. I love that John Paul is at an age when all the ills of life can be cured by a kiss or hug from mom. His curly top head and sideways smile steals my heart daily.
Matthew β What can I say about my little spitfire with the mischievous smile and big heart? The baby of the family may be small but he packs a big punch! Matthew is full of energy and spirit and he is ready to conquer anything his older brothers are doing. He is also the child most likely to fall in love with the country life! He loves the outdoors and hates wearing socks and shoes. I have to keep a close eye on him during these cold days because heβll strip off this jacket and footwear to run outside in his t-shirt, sweats and bare feet. Matthew is also tender hearted and quick with his hugs. If he sees Iβm upset heβll pat my arms and say, βDonβt worry, Mama.β I canβt help but recall when I was pregnant with Matthew. I was worried about how I would handle a fourth child but looking at his sweet smile and feeling the joy he brings, I canβt imagine life without him.
Itβs funny but lately I have been thinking about when I was younger and growing up with eight siblings. I used to wonder how a mom could love so many children equally and fully. But Iβve learned that a momβs heart has an incredible capacity to grow and stretch with each child. I love each of my babies tenderly and marvel at their unique personalities and abilities. Iβll admit, Iβll sometimes have to remind myself of how much I am blessed when I am in the middle of the chaos, but truly, I love it and thank God each day for the gift of life. This year in particular, we were acutely aware that life is precious and it should never be taken for granted! So give an extra hug to those you love and reach out to those that have grown distant. Life is too short to not share your love with others.
With that thought, I’m sending you heartfelt wishes for a wonderful Christmas! May this New Year be filled with peace and joy. And a special thanks to all of you that have kept us in prayer this last year. It was your prayers and Godβs grace that carried us through the difficult moments. God bless you!
To celebrate the end of 2012, here are my Top 10 Posts of 2012 in descending chronological order. Enjoy and Happy New Year 2013! π
(Below you can link up with your own blog’s Top 10 (or 5 or 1) posts for 2012!)
#10 – 30 Days of Thanks (11/15/12)
I saw this link up at Call Her Happy and I was excited to participate in it. We get so busy in life that is wonderful to have a reminder to stop, smell the roses, and thank God for all the numerous blessings He’s given us in life.
Here are my 30 things I am especially thankful for this month.
1. For life and that “God knew me in my mother’s womb.” Seriously, that gives me goosebumps.
2. For God’s mercy, second chances, and do-overs. I have had many.
3. For a husband who loves me and who can still make my heart skip a beat.
4. For Bella and her sweet smiles and for being such a “mama’s little helper.”
5. For Andrew and his kind heart and for moments when he still wants to hold my hand.
6. For John-Paul and his playful spirit and when he whispers to me “I love you, mama” before going to sleep.
7. For Matthew and his contagious giggles and sweet kisses.
8. For the gift of motherhood, even when it’s tough.
9. For my mom and dad for their gifts of faith, love and laughter.
10. For my brothers and sisters who were my first best friends.
I have been enjoying watching fellow bloggers link up with Fine Linen and Purple’s What I Wore Sunday. They have embraced their femininity (the skirt/dress wearing puts me to shame) without sacrificing their cuteness and individuality. Then yesterday I read Dwija’s post Why I Stopped Not Caring and Started Wearing Concealer. Both struck a chord with me because I have had many of the same thoughts. (Even though I still haven’t bought any much needed concealer or started wearing skirts…yet.) What I have done, however, is get a rein on my crazy hair.
The other day a friend was complimenting my hair. She didn’t believe me when I told her that before I discovered hair product, I had an unwanted fro. (I have the 8th grade photos to prove it but you’ll never see those here!) She wanted to know what I used, which made me think that there might be other fellow curly haired gals that want to know. So this week’s {pretty, happy, funny, real} is the Dry, Frizzy Hair Edition.
{funny}
About a year ago I was complaining to my sister that I hated my Christmas tree hair do. “Huh?” you say. You know, pointed on top and then it flairs out like a triangle. I felt like Gilda Radner and that character she played on SNL.
{real}
My sis BC told me I had to get a real haircut and stop just chopping off the bottom of my hair with dull scissors twice a year. With a heavy sigh, I searched for a hairdresser that knew how to handle curly hair. God answered my pleas and sent sweet Joyce into my life. She gave me a good cut with long layers and new hair products that took me from this….
(The bright flash highlights the dried mess. My hair is actually much darker.)
{pretty}
TO THIS…
(Don’t you love photos that make you look 10 years younger than you look in real life? π
Although I am more likely to wear my hair pulled up, I like that I can wear it down without being embarrassed! What products do I use? These…
**Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.**
Before I get into any photos, let me give you a little background…
Why the Bedroom? – For a long time the “master bedroom” has been on my list of organizing projects to tackle but it has been low on the list of cleaning priorities because no one really spends time in there during the day or when company is over. However, this week Leila at Like Mother, like Daughter gave us a challenge for this week’s {pretty, happy, funny, real}. I went back and read her original post about cleaning the master bedroom entitled The Reasonably Clean House: Did you guess that we’d start in your bedroom? She beautifully explains why we should start in the bedroom:
The reason is simple, but profound. Your home has many areas that express family life, but your bedroom expresses the foundational relationship between you and your spouse — the inner sanctum where the sacrament of your marriage is consecrated and continually renewed with the conjugal gift.
If it weren’t for the intimate aspect of your commitment, your family would not be. God has ordained it so. It was that way from the very start. It has always been that way. It always will be that way.
That reality should be expressed in your respect for this physical place, for your body, for the body of your husband. Your first steps should be to make the room — the bed and the places for your clothes — truly orderly. (Read the rest here.)
A Little Sanctuary – As I was reading this I thought about Brian and all he does for me and for the family. He works so hard and puts up with all our craziness and although he never shows it, I know there are times when he just longs to be able to sit and read or write or pray in quiet. I wanted to make an area in our bedroom where he could do that. So with that in mind, I started my quest.
Fast forward a few months… we had all the carpets in our house cleaned except the master bedroom. (The carpet was still new in this room so didn’t need cleaning yet.) That meant that everything from the other rooms went into our bedroom. That was a month ago yet the corner of the room still looked like this as of yesterday morning.
I figured that the only way to stop my habit of using the empty crib as storage/dumping ground was to get rid of the crib. Matthew didn’t sleep in it anymore and I didn’t see any babies coming in the near future (did I just tempt Murphy’s Law?) so I put everything away and took the crib down.
I then moved Brian’s small desk in front of the window where there is a view of our tree and the mountains surrounding our little valley. I added to the corner the small shelves (that used to hold video cassettes…remember those?) and the extra chair that sat at the opposite end of the room.
#7 – Making It Count (Vol 2): Mama & Me Journal (7/24/12)
Anyone who knows me well, also knows that I have been in love with journals since I was a little kid. Even today, if I see a really cute or pretty journal I have to buy it. I envision myself at home looking out at the mountains behind us as I scribble away or sitting at the beach filling it with prose. In reality, I have a collection of blank journal sitting on my bookshelf as I chase the kids around but should inspiration hit, I am well prepared!
When I was pregnant with Bella (and all the kids, actually) I kept a pregnancy journal that I planned to give her one day when she is older. So when I saw this simple project for a “Mama and Me” journal on Pinterest, I could not resist it!
I went over to Jenn’s blog MamaJennBlogs.com and she wrote:
What exactly is a “Mama & Me” journal? Well, it is basically a journal for my daughter and I to share. We write letters back and forth to each other…kind of like being pen pals (without the envelopes & stamps). My hope is that these seemingly simple letters to one another will become a book of memories to treasure for a lifetime!
She gave easy directions and a link where you can download the label for free. (There is one for a daughter journal and another for a son journal.) She actually got the idea from another blogger who got it from another blogger so the different versions continue to multiply.
In my version, I already had a blank journal I got on clearance at Target. It was a little too “pink” for me but I thought Bella might like it. (See, I told you those extra journals would come in handy!) The cover had a felt design so I used a Martha Stewart label to make a simple label on the front.
I then went through my binder of stickers and scrap book paper I had collected over the years and decorated the inside cover.
Hallie at Betty Beguiles has set up aLove Song Link-Up. How fun! It was hard to narrow it down since my “amore playlist” on my ipod is pretty long but here are some of my favorites. Some may not seem like love songs but they hold meaning to why I love my man.
Love Song by The Cure
This is my ringtone for Brian. He makes me whole and I will always love him.
London Calling by The Clash
I love this because when I met Brian he was an ex-seminarian who listened to Gregorian chant. Later I found out he had a passion for the Clash. I love that (somewhat hidden) bit of rebel rock and roll in him.
Sway with Me by Michael Buble
So fun and flirtatious.
Hey Mama by Mat Kearney
I love Mat Kearney. This song reminds me of the man that made me a mama. (BTW, Andrew and JP love this song and ask to hear it all the time as they sing “Hey Mama, hey, hey Mama…” To them it is their Mama kissing them good night.)
I shared with you the first letter we received from her and I thought I’d update you by sharing another letter we received last week that truly touched my heart. The letter translates:
Dear Bobbi,
I am writing this letter to greet you and all your family because you are helping me. Thank you! I love you very much and I pray for you everyday so that you may be healthy and you may always have a job and everyday’s bread. I have the picture of you next to my Virgin of Guadalupe so that she can take care of you wherever you are and she may cover you with her mantle.
I had a great time at Christmas because at the Foundation all the moms organized games for us so we could have fun and we could meet other sponsored children. My mom participated in the games, and then they gave us something to eat, gave us our gifts, clothes and a small bag with candies. All this is possible thanks to you who give us economic support.
On the other hand, I would like to tell you that my mom and my grandparents are very happy because you are helping me and they say that you are a part of our family now.
Let me tell you too, that I am going to receive my First Communion; my grandmother goes to the handcrafts workshops that they give at the Foundation because they teach them how to make bracelets, necklaces, earrings and now they are making a rosary and then my grandmother teaches me and I am making a rosary.
Goodbye to you, letting you know that I pray to God so that He may take care of you. I wish that with all my heart. May He bless you wherever you are!
A greeting to Bella: Hello, my friend! How are you? Do you like to go to school? Do you have many friends?
Goodbye to you from your sponsored,
Abigail
I am blown away that her mother and grandparents consider me a member of their family now and that Abigail is praying that Our Lady of Guadalupe watches over me and “covers me with her mantle.” How beautiful! I love the fact that we are helping Abi financially, yet we are the ones receiving the blessings of this little girl’s love and prayers.
To be honest with you, the other day I was going over the budget and I was wondering if we could afford to have all the kids in Catholic school and still send money to Abigail as well. Reading this letter, though, reminded me of how important this money is to her life and her family’s life. I quickly found a way to make it work by cutting out some other frivolous spending in my budget. Besides, I have already been paid back tenfold by the prayers of Abi and her family.
For more information about the CFCA or to sponsor a child of your own, visit the Christian Foundation for Children & Aging (CFCA) website.
#4 – Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 9 – Our DVD & Movie Shelf (5/1/12)
**Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.**
Last week I worked on my DVD shelf. Over the last decade Brian and I have collected a crazy amount of DVD’s – both store bought ones and movies we recorded onto blank DVD’s. I couldn’t fit them all on our shelf! Not only was it overflowing with movies, but also with other junk it had collected.
I finally decided to get rid of the DVD cases and placed the discs in space saving CD cases. For the DVD’s we recorded, I placed them in white paper sleeves.
I had a bunch of media baskets I bought at IKEA ages ago. I used those for my regular DVD’s and labeled them by category.
I put the paper sleeved DVD’s in a long basket I picked up at Target. I cut down two file folders into mini files sleeves and labeled them.
Here is what the final shelf looks like. I kept the TV series box sets (Like Lost, Psych and I Love Lucy) on the top two shelves. The third shelf has the baskets of paper sleeved DVD’s and the fourth shelf the CD cases with DVD’s. A big improvement. I debated whether or not to get new colorful baskets but it would be silly to spend money on new ones when these will work fine, even if it looks a bit “brown.” LOL. To keep track of the movies we own, I’m almost done listing them and placing the sheets in a binder for easy reference when we need to decide what to watch for movie night. π
#3 – Book Discussion of Style, Sex, and Substance, Chpt. 1 (4/18/12)
Book Discussion Part 1: Chapter 1 – How I Fell Out of My Minivan and Found Myself
I love Jennifer Fulwiler’s writings and was pleased to see that she covered the first chapter of the book: How I Fell Out of My Minivan and Found Myself. After wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes from her Dukes of Hazzard’s van story, I was hooked by this paragraph.
“I had a specific idea of what the authentic Catholic woman was like: She was the picture of joy and grace every time she went to Mass and always had an emotionally powerful experience upon receiving the Eucharist; she kept her home tidy; and she joyfully crafted elaborate celebrations for each liturgical season.”
I could relate to Jen’s feeling of inadequacy. In fact, this is a topic God has been drilling into me for the last 9 months. It all started last summer when I wrote the post Those Perfect Catholic Moms Are Killing Me. I had been reading a number of Catholic mom blogs and seeing all their accomplishments at homemaking and motherhood was making me feel like a loser.
As days and weeks passed I told myself that I can’t help it if I was messy and disorganized and that I couldn’t sew a button or keep a plant alive more than a week. So what if I get impatient and fired up at the slightest mishap, especially on the days when I forgot to spend time in prayer because I was too busy checking my facebook and emails. That’s just how I am.
But it was bothering me. Is that it? Am I to resign myself to “just being myself.” I knew there was plenty of room for improvement. Then I started reading the book The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers – Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity by Meg Meeker, MD.and the first Habit was called Understand Your Value as a Mother. In my post about it I talked about feeling inferior, rediscovering my talents and listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In one part I wrote:
“It’s funny that once I stopped comparing myself to my perceived super moms (after all, I am seeing a tiny, sanitized glimpse of their lives,) I started seeing that I possessed some of those same talents that I admired in them. It is as if my creative side woke up. I started posting on my blog again because I love having an outlet to write. I’ve tried new recipes and found cooking fun again. I’ve started organizing small sections of the house and realized I, too, could be organized. (Relatively speaking. ;-)”
That got me to thinking – what is “me” and what’s a warped vision of me? Then I read Jen’s words:
“To uncover your unique brand of holiness, you have to sift through your God-given quirks and talents from your sins.”
Suddenly the light bulb clicked on. That’s it! (If I was an Oprah fan I’d say it was my AHA! moment.) That’s what the Holy Spirit was trying to tell me! Separate the quirks from the sins. I had my own unique calling and vocation that matched my personality and my temperament. I didn’t have to become a carbon copy of mom A, B or C. I just had to be the best version of me and slowly God is showing me how to achieve that.
Jen sums it up using one of my favorite quotes:
“St. Catherine of Siena famously stated, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” We tend to focus on the second, more dramatic part of the statement, but the first is just as important: Be who God meant you to be. Embrace the one-of-a-kind brand of holiness that God has chosen for you. Reject your sins, but love your quirks.”
Perfectly stated.
At the end of the chapter, there are a number of questions for deeper reflection. I’ll share one of the questions and my reflection with you.
# 2 – 7 Quick Takes: Random Correspondences Edition(3/2/12)
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My Dear Sweet Hubby,
What kind of morning were you having? I woke up to find your phone, your scapular and your uneaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I am assuming was your breakfast? Were you called into work early at the last minute? Were you actually raptured while I was left here on earth? (I really do need to up my prayer life.) No, I guess you were just running out the door too fast. No worries, my love. I will drive over and bring you your things. It is the least I can do when you do so much for me.
Blessed to be,
Your Wife
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Dear Driver from Texas,
Please excuse me for smiling at you on the road yesterday. I was not flirting with you. I was smiling at the fact that your Texas longhorn logo on the back of your truck always makes me think of a priest’s clerical collar.
I know it is weird and most likely I need glasses but I can’t help it.
Call me,
Catholic
– 4 –
Dear Tourist of the Mission,
Welcome to my parish. I am so pleased to have you join us at Mass. I do not mind you sitting behind me. I will be patient with you and your children because I know how difficult it can be to keep them quiet. I am also sympathetic that sometimes little ones need bribes of cheerios and fishy crackers to sit still. However, once your kids are over toddlerhood (and in grammar school) it is best to not let them eat in Church. And it is particularly discouraged to have them eating Jack-in-the-box tacos and fries in the pew, minutes before Mass is going to start. The least you could have done is brought extra tacos for those of us sitting around you. That taco smell is very seductive, making one crave the greasy goodness of tortillas fried around mystery meat.
Ashamedly,
The Parishioner with the Growling Stomach
Today is Fat Tuesday, where we get to indulge a little before the beginning of Lent but instead of drinking and wearing beads I’m indulging in my last bit of Downton fun for awhile!
Here is a video clip of an interview from the Jonathon Ross show that the Crawley sisters (Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery) did December of last year before the Christmas Special aired in the UK. (Caution: Some of Ross’ comments are a bit vulgar but I had to laugh at the Carson album.)
I loved seeing the various actors from Downton Abbey in their modern garb, especially these two photos from The Clicker. Some of the downstairs characters are almost unrecognizable! Who knew O’Brien was so caliente!
Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) Siobhan Finneran (O’Brien) Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Crawley) and Rob James-Collier (Thomas).
Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore), Sophie McShera (Daisy) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Lady Sybil).
Now, if you want to keep your image of the Downton girls as they were on the show, then only look at this photo from Dailymail.co.uk and DO NOT scroll down to the ladies looking the opposite of modest and proper for the cover of Marie Clare.
Carson and Mrs. Hughes are not going to be pleased with such wild abandonment to proper decorum!!
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Clare Calbraith (Jane), Amy Nuttall (Ethel), Jessica Brown-Findlay (Sybil), Laura Carmichael (Edith), Zoe Boyle (Lavinia), Joanne Froggatt (Anna), Michelle Dockery (Mary) and Sophie McShera (Daisy).
It was only fitting that we ended with Downton Abbey since many of you, like me, are counting down the days until Sunday night. I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and a happy and holy 2013!!
xoxo,
PS – I forgot to add the link-up!! Share your favorite posts! Don’t have a blog? Leave a comment with your favorite memory of 2012!! Have fun. π
PPS – This post is linked up with Mandi at Messy Wife.com.
January marked our second battle with Brian’s cancer. Here he is receiving Anointing of the Sick before his scheduled surgery and following chemo. (We are also replenishing our supply of holy water!) It was a difficult time but Brian’s incredible faith not only kept him going but was an inspiration to me and the kids. Everyone’s prayers and offers of help was appreciated more than words could express. Through it all, our love of family, friends and each other grew even stronger, proving that good can come out of bad. On the day of his surgery, I started journaling my thoughts here.
With Brian’s health, that meant a change in all our diets. We (mostly) eliminated white flour, processed sugar and junk food. However, the kids still wanted their Sunday morning treat after Mass so I tried new recipes with whole wheat and more natural sugars. It is not the easiest thing to cook from scratch and use whole foods but after awhile it gets easier and our tastes buds have gotten used to eating healthier. To be honest, after this season of breaking the rules and eating sweets and treats, I am tired of feeling ill and sluggish and look forward to getting back on track!
This year marked the last year that my little Matthew was home with me 24/7. My morning walks were accompanied by my little super hero. Once September came around, he started preschool part time. It was a weird adjustment at first but now I am enjoying combining alone time with kiddo time. π
July means summer vacation and lots of swimming lessons! I snapped a spontaneous photo of the kids and it is now one of the year’s favorite because it captures a little bit of each one’s personality. π
August started the month I made a goal list and made small steps towards bringing them about. I was making good progress until the holidays hit. Then everything was put aside. Now that the holidays are winding down, I’ll be able to refocus and get back on track.
I love this shot of me and Brian. He finished his last round of chemo and went away for the weekend to attend a Catholic conference. Meanwhile my sister came up for a visit. When Brian returned home my sister watched the kids so we could go out. We had such a lovely date; we felt like newlyweds again. My heart was filled with gratitude that Brian was in my life and that he was feeling better each day. #blessed
October starts my favorite season of fall and I should have a photo of pumpkin patches and golden leaves but this quick shot I took after a morning walk continues to take my breath away.
I’ve gotten closer to Our Lady this year. From relying on her to pray for Brian to seeking her help in being a better mom, it is comforting to know there is someone looking out for me and helping me grow closer to God.
December marked the month of rain for our parched California. I loved when the rain stopped and the sun peaked through the clouds and everything just glistened. So pretty!
It was the day we put on Christmas music and sat by the twinkling tree as we roasted marshmallows in the fireplace. It was like Christmas magic was sprinkled on the house as there was no wild playing or yelling or arguing over who got more marshmallows.Β We just talked and laughed and had fun together. Then as the fire died down and the kids went into the other rooms to play, Brian and I snuggled on the couch and enjoyed each others company. It was the perfect afternoon. They don’t happen often but when they do they are fiercely cherished! π
