Revolution of Love

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Theme Thursday: Answer & {pretty, happy, funny, real} vol. 85: Beautiful Hikes, Happy Days & Superheroes

I’m a day late but I am linking up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Answer (scroll down to the very last photo for that one) and Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real}.

{pretty}

In an earlier post I shared that during Lent I wanted to regain my happiness in daily mommy life. One of the ways to work on that was to get outside more and spend time with the family doing fun things. We started it off with a hike at Point Lobos. We haven’t been there since last summer so we were due for a visit.

If you visit the Monterey Peninsula, you simply must come visit it here. It is breathtaking. We like to park in the picnic area parking lot and then follow the trail to our favorite scenic spot…

…which you can see once you get to the top of this hill. You can see the tiny people at the very top. (I took the previous photo at the top of that hill.)

We spotted some lounging harbor seals on the way up.

Then once you get to the top, you keep going a bit until you reach the other side of the hill and you look down at this. The colors are gorgeous. One day we will then hike down to the sandy beach below but there isn’t a designated trail that way so it is a bit hard with all the kids.

The hike would seem a lot harder but it was easy enough for all the kids (and this out of shape mama) to handle. If you continue along the trail you can go to the another section of forest.

{happy}

“Because I’m happy…Clap along if you know what happiness is to you…”

How can I not be happy looking at these smiling faces. πŸ™‚

{funny}

I think the kids’ favorite moment was spotting this little guy. πŸ˜‰

{real}

Matthew has been on a superhero kick, wearing his Thor cape and Spiderman shirt for days. (I have to secretly wash them while he sleeps.)

Shopping with his mama.

Scoring a free banana and kids cliff bar snack at Whole Foods from a child friendly cashier. (I was a little shocked. It’s usually the pooches that get the royal treatment around here.)Β  πŸ˜‰

And finally….

I’m linking up this photo with Theme Thursday: Answer

The answer to where a superhero gets his real power…humbling himself before the Lord. πŸ˜‰

Thanks to Cari and LMLD for hosting! πŸ™‚

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, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. πŸ˜‰


{pretty, happy, funny, real} vol. 84 & Theme Thursday: Dirt

I didn’t quite finish my second Lent post so for the time being I’m doing a quick photo mash-up as I link up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Dirt (refer to {pretty}) and Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real}. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably already seen most of these but for family not on Instagram, these are more for you. πŸ˜‰

{pretty}

I’m linking this photo with Theme Thursday: Dirt.

Β Bella has been working on a science project this week and it was perfect for the theme of dirt.

New buds are starting to sprout through the dirt.

A week later, she had this.

There are signs of spring everywhere. The trees are growing leaves and flowers are beginning to bloom.

Including these on a neighbor’s tree. So pretty.

 

{happy}

I was happy to be able to go to Mass yesterday with my sweeties.

{funny}

It was funny to see this thing on the road the other day. Bella and I were a little freaked that it was going to tip over. The girls chatting in there didn’t seem too concerned.

I was at Whole Foods and saw this escargot for sale. (I tried not to gag.) When I came home I had to watch the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy has lunch in a French cafe. πŸ˜‰

{real}

I’m participating in the Holy Lensphoto challenge from Surviving Our Blessings.com. Every day from Ash Wednesday up to Easter Sunday, they provide a prompt based on the daily lectionary scripture readings.

Yesterday’s topic was “fast.” (And I’m really tempted to saty up until midnight so I can eat that peanut butter and jelly sandwich I’ve been craving all day!)Β  πŸ˜‰

Happy Thursday. πŸ™‚

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, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. πŸ˜‰


7 Quick Takes (2/21/14) and Theme Thursday: Dishes

I’m linking up with Jen for today’s 7 Quick Takes. πŸ™‚

AND I’m linking up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Dishes. (Scroll down to #5 for that one. ) πŸ˜‰

~ 1 ~

Mama Time – Aw, it is that magic time of the evening – 7:30 PM. We finally have our bedtime routine down pat so by 7:30 all the boys are tucked in bed with the lights out and Bella is reading quietly in her room. Andrew and John-Paul sleep in the same room and Matthew, like all the little guys did, sleeps in our room until he turns three. (Then he graduates with the big boys.) I turn off the lights and stay in the room with Matthew until he falls asleep, which takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes. In the dark, stillness of the room I either read or turn on my laptop and start typing (or browsing) for the next hour while Brian showers and prepares for the next day. Then we meet back in the family room at 8:30 to spend time together, chat and watch a show or movie. As much as I love my life as a mom, I relish this quiet time to relax after a hard day and unwind.

~ 2 ~

Tender-hearted Wrestlers – It’s funny how the boys can drive me up the wall with their antics and constant NOISE but this evening as I passed their room, I saw Andrew helping John-Paul button up his pajama top. It was so sweet to watch them working together. It reminded me of earlier in the day when Matthew’s toy broke and John-Paul said, “Don’t worry, Matty. You can play with my toy instead,” and he gave it to him. It melted my heart. So although most of the time they are jumping around and wrestling each other (and with his shirt off, Matthew has the physique of Nachooooooo) it’s nice to get those tender moments that reveal their sweet nature and loving hearts.

~ 3~

Brian Update – A big thanks for your continued prayers for Brian. He is recovering well from his surgery and will be able to go back to work in another week. Although on Tuesday he will have outpatient surgery to put a port into his chest for his upcoming chemo. I googled it to see what it looked like and it was not pretty. Let’s hope it’s better than I am imagining. The whole situation is weird because he seems back to normal (besides all the weight he’s lost) and at times I forget about this whole mess but then I remember that the cancer is still inside him. I worry that it is growing while he is recovering from his surgery. But I do my best to put those thoughts aside and ask God to grant us a miracle and banish the cancer from his body. Until then, we keep fighting.

Speaking of my sweet man, he is ready to relax and watch a movie with me so I’ll finish this in the morning. Have a good night! πŸ™‚

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Good morning. I only have a few minutes to finish this so I’ll try to get it done quickly. πŸ™‚

~ 4 ~

Jen Throws Down A Challenge – My fingers will be busy next week since Jen is hosting another blogging challenge of 7 Posts in 7 Days. It was a lot of fun the last time and I’ll see if I’ll be able to make it through next week. I have enough favorite link ups to inspire me each day of the week! πŸ˜‰

~ 5 ~

One of those favorite link-ups is Cari’s Theme Thursday, even though I am a day late for this week’s challenge of DISHES. I thought I could snap an easy pic of the dirty dishes sitting on the sink but I have a sneaky feeling some of you have a load of your own dirty dishes waiting for you. πŸ™‚ Instead I am submitting this photo I took of the banana oatmeal honey cookies (no sugar) that I got from my sister. I’ll most likely post the recipe on Tuesday’s Pinterest Party, unless my sis asks me not to because she wants to post the recipe. What say you, sis?

When Brian and I moved into our first real home (not longer renting an apartment) we decorated in a sort of Spanish Mission style. I found these red dishes at Costco and fell in love with them. (I’m not a dainty dish girl. I am a sturdy stock girl.) πŸ™‚

~ 6 ~

Mamarazzi – Spaking of photos, I’ve been having fun participating in theΒ  SlowMama Photography Challenge on Instagram. Instead of having a topic each day, we only have to take one photo a day for the month of February. So far I haven’t missed a day. For those of you that don’t follow me on Instagram (bobbi_rol), like you, Mom, πŸ˜‰ here are some shots I took with my iphone in the past week.

Β Taken at the Carmel Mission. This reminds me of a page out of yesteryear.

After we drop off John-Paul at preschool, Matthew always asks if we can “go see Dedus” (go see Jesus). I’m happy to make a visit to the Adoration chapel with him. I love to see him “praying.” He reminds me of his Daddy. πŸ™‚

Time for whole grain blueberry pancakes.

Taken the other day during one of our morning walks along the beach.

Matthew is enjoying the scenery.

During this time of year you can catch a lot of harbor seals along the beach.

It is fascinating to watch them waddle along the sand or jump into the water.

Β If you are one of my snow bound friends, I pray that the sun shines on your face and spring reaches you very soon!

~ 7 ~

Have you ever been on instagram and wanted to pin a photo to Pinterest or repost a photo that you loved? There are a few online sites that can do that but my favorite is Statigr.am. They also have a lot of cool stats about your photos. For example, these are my top five liked photos.

Okay, my time is up but I’ll be back soon for 7 Post in 7 Days. Have a blessed Friday! πŸ™‚

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, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. πŸ˜‰


Theme Thursday: Hearts & {pretty, happy, funny, real} vol. 82: Struggles, Puddle Jumping & Cheeseheads

It’s a photo mash-up as I link up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Hearts and Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real}.

{pretty}

I’m linking this photo with Theme Thursday: Hearts.

Dealing with Brian’s cancer and surgery-recovery has been a roller coaster ride. Thankfully, Brian is getting better and stronger but he is still not able to do the things he used to do before the surgery – helping with the kids and around the house . (I didn’t realize how much he did until he stopped doing it!) That has made my days busier and more exhausting. Not to mention the emotional toll of knowing that the !@#$ cancer is still inside his body and he will have to go through chemo to get it out. It’s scary.

A couple weeks ago, Jessica made a comment about me being positive through all this. I’m trying, but don’t get the wrong idea. I have my moments (many moments) when I am stark raving mad. Motherhood in itself is a sure fire way to test just how selfish you are. Being a mother and a caregiver to an ill loved one has brought out my selfishness in ways that makes me ashamed. I know some will say that I am being too hard on myself but I also know what God is showing me. I know he wants me to rely on him more. To lose myself in his arms and gatherΒ  my strength from him. But that’s hard to do. It’s easier to keep myself busy…to complain about this or that…to blow up at the kids for driving me crazy because if I don’t…if I stop and “think” about all this, I’ll lose it. I’ll crumble to the floor and cry until I have no fight left in me. I need that fight to survive.

Instead, I allow myself little crying episodes, like right now as I am typing, when all the house is quiet and everyone is sleeping. Then I can let the tears fall without scaring the kids or worrying Brian. When I’m done I take a deep breath, shake it off and blog. (I’ll hold off on that nervous breakdown until we are over and done with all this cancer drama.)

Well, that was a rather long intro to my first photo of a heart. Sorry. I’m doing my best going to try harder to trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let him be my strength, especially when I am feeling weak. I don’t have to give up the fight, I just have to make sure he is the one powering it. (If that makes sense.) πŸ˜‰

A portion of the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that hangs over our family altar.

***

Okay, now that I’ve had my cry and am feeling better let’s have a few fun photos. πŸ™‚

Remember how I told you that I used my saved up Target gift cards to buy some new bakeware? Well, I put this new heart shaped muffin tin to good use by trying a new recipe for healthier carrot- apple muffins. (I’ll post the recipe at the next Pinterest Party.)

They were not super sweet so I added a little drizzle of honey on the plate. The kids actually gobbled them up! (Even my picky eater.)

{happy}

Despite the difficulties, I am so, so, so happy to have Brian home and in my life each day. I was also happy to enjoy the beard he was growing. I loved the rugged look it gave him, although he was not happy with the gray it showed. LOL. He decided he wanted to shave so I took one last photo of us together with it.

Here is the after photo. I have to admit, he does look younger without it. I told him either way, he still makes me swoon, so it’s all good. πŸ˜‰

{funny}

We finally got some much needed rain and when it stopped Matthew couldn’t wait to jump in some puddles. It’s the prefect way for a two year old to start his day. πŸ˜‰

{real}

Brian’s boss and co-workers are awesome people. They sent him a get well card with many lovely sentiments and this little gift…

A Packers cheesehead autographed by Aaron Rodgers! He was golfing this weekend at Pebble Beach for the AT&T ProAm and they pulled a few strings to get this for him. Brian was so excited. I love it. πŸ™‚

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, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. πŸ˜‰


Theme Thursday: Church Windows & {pretty, happy, funny, real} vol. 81

It’s a photo mash-up as I link up with Cari for Theme Thursday: Church Windows and Like Mother, Like Daughter for {pretty, happy, funny, real} .

{pretty}

I’m linking this photo with Theme Thursday: Church Windows. The lighting was not good and this was the best I could do. It was taken at the church where John-Paul goes to pre school.

{happy} & {real}

It has been crazy busy and I have been having some stressful moments so I was happy to get outside this morning. I went for my walk and the sky was gray and cloudy but the sun was breaking through and reflecting on the water. I took this photo with my iphone and used the filters to give it a dramatic look.

By the time I was done with my walk the clouds had cleared and the sky was a gorgeous blue. I took this shot with my regular camera. It’s the real thing. No filters.

 

I tried zooming in on this shot to get the bee but it was too high over my head.

{funny}

This guy just cracks me up. He can simultaneously drive me nuts and melt my heart. If we send him to pre school next year (very likely) I will go a little stir crazy not having a bambino in the house anymore. I told Brian he’d either have to get me a dog or another baby. πŸ˜‰

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, Pinterest, GoodReads or Instagram. πŸ˜‰