Thank you Cath!

Cath left a comment, and as I so often do, I followed her back to her blog to take a peek at what her life is like. And I loved her blog. To my other faithful readers, please do not think because I have not made mention of your blog, after dropping by, that I did not love yours as well . I am mentioning Cath's because she very kindly posted directions as how to add the music play list to one's blog when I left a comment on her blog asking her how she had done that!!!

After going there and signing up - I realized that I am going to be the subject of much ribbing because it became apparent that this very music site is one that my older children have told me about repeatedly.

Slowly, I am creating a play list and will try to add it to the blog today, somewhere between the loads of laundry I am washing, drying, hanging and folding and hopefully actually putting away! Currently the house looks like a Chinese laundry mat while I sort through out grown VS still too big clothes.

I am choosing meaningful songs that have beautiful memories attached to them or in some way remind me of my older children's teen years! In that list will be a song that would have been the song Hugo and I would have chosen as our first dance had we had a big formal wedding, instead of the two informal weddings. Yes, there is a story there but that is for another day! Just as we have lived a life filled with craziness and adventure - so is the story of our weddings!

Hmmm - I have an idea for a contest! Details to follow! Read more!

follow up to HOT!

It is 10:30 am here in the eastern side the States and according to one weather report we have already hit 34C (Sorry, my Canadianism is showing through here, I will look this up in Fahrenheit and translate this below!) Expected high is 38, not counting in the humidex factor. With it - we will feel like 42C again.

Maybe now that I have found, err rather now that Benjamin has found, my camera ( and charged a hefty 3$ finders fee, I might add!) I will see if I can gather enough dimes and quarters in my change drawer and run to the store to buy some batteries so that I might be able to share some photos as to how we are coping with this heat spell. Even these temps are hot for us Southerners, esp we Northern transplants.

Check back later to see the photos!

Celsius to Fahrenheit
34 C is 94 F
38 C is 101.4 F
42C is 108F Read more!

HOT!

As we stepped out of our air conditioned van into the 102 temperture (humidex was 108) 2 year old Elsa commented:

"It ... 'mells like HOT!!" to which we all agreed. It did smell hot, face too close to the fire hot!

(For my Canadian readers... that is 38.8 and 42 respectively!) Read more!

to all my readers...

I am currently considering closing my blog to the public and making it available by invitation only. Some of you may be aware that a person left a very venomous comment in response to my request for prayers while my husband I try to discern what to do with the family business. It was not on the site for long as one of my oldest children saw the comment and arranged for it's removal. She was hoping I would not see the hate filled comment. I, however, receive all of these comments in my email and so I did see it and am certain that I recognize who wrote it.

We all know that when we write publicly we will incur the dislike of some, possibly even the hatred of others but for the most part we will enjoy the company of many who enjoy your writings and will leave pleasant thoughts as comments. Sometimes I have touched a nerve and a few people have left less than pleasant comments, but nothing as hate filled as the one my son deleted today.

Please keep us in your prayers as we think about this as a family and determine what is best to do for our family. If I decide to close the blog, I will let all of you know and try to make it possible for those of you who wish to continue to read it - to do so through private invitation.

God Bless
Christi aka mum2twelve and proud of them all! Read more!

loving life...

To protect the anonymity of this family I have removed the names. But this is such a strong message of hope and love for God and life that I had to share this message. If any recognize the family and leave comments please be careful not to use the family members names.
--------------
Let me begin by expressing how much my husband and I appreciate your continued
prayers for our little newborn son . We did not expect to welcome him into the world so
soon; and consequently, it has taken a while to adjust to our new reality.

I, in particular, have been reluctant to discuss the particulars of his
health; and I thank you for respecting that need on my part. Now that he is
four weeks old, however, it is natural for people to wonder about when he
will leave the NICU, how much weight he has gained, and similar 'preemie'kinds of questions. Given your kindness as friends and prayer partners with us, my husband and I would like to share some of the things that we are praying about for our wee son.

(Personal details regarding the baby's prognosis were here... it is expected the little fellow will be in the NICU for a few months.)

Please continue to pray for his healing. We also ask that you pray for
us - for our strength and perseverance.

We believe with everything we are that each day Our Lord chooses to give
our wee son life on this earth is an intentional act of love on His part and a
blessing for us. Regardless of the physical or mental limitations he might
face in the future, we know that our wee son's life has a spiritual power that
cannot be measured.

God Bless...
signed by the mum of this wee baby boy.
---------

Is this not a powerful statement regarding the sanctity of life and respect for God's authority over us?

Please join all of us who know or are acquainted with this family in praying for God's blessings, love, and support be felt daily by this family. Read more!

adorable grammar...

Some of Elsa's adorable turns of phrases:

"Ow! You pulled mine hair!"

"Help button me dress Mummy, pease!"

"Those are mine shoes!"

Me thinks it must be the Irish in her that causes these quaint little sayings. Read more!

Little Miracles...

My regular readers will know that my 20 year old, six foot four soon was diagnosed with Viral Myocarditis last fall. It was a shocking discovery and each test lead to more tests with more surprising results which finally resulted with our son being assigned to a cardiologist's care shortly after his 20th birthday.

We have been praying for his recovery and last week Miguel had an echocardiogram. In addition to this ultrasound of the heart a substance was fed into his heart through an IV in his arm and traced to determine if one of his valves was leaking into the other chamber. It is not.

We then saw the cardiologist today and we received good news indeed. Miguel's heart muscle which was functioning only at 45 % is not up to 56% and while one chamber is slightly enlarged it is in direct correlation with the lack of functioning of his heart muscle and his prognosis is very good. The doctor would like to see his heart muscle functioning at 70% and we are slowly edging up there.

A small miracle and happy news indeed. Thank you Jesus! I pray my son continues to heal and is soon stepped back down to his medical care being provided by his primary care physician. I thank all those who have included Miguel and his health in their prayers and ask that you continue to pray for him. Read more!

Ohhh!

I have so many little things to share and so little time to do it in. Say a prayer for me that I stay organized and on top of things this week and maybe I will even be able to do some serious blogging!

One such nugget - regarding generosity:

Emma to me:

"Mummy I decided to share your duckie, that I gave you, with Elsa, cause I want you to be good!"

She is getting the idea... in a way. Read more!

John and Jenny's online Wedding Album

John and Jenny's Wedding album is online for a few weeks and then in late August, people will be able to view by invitation only.

If you wish to peruse the album, please click here: John and Jenny June 23 2007. I would also like to thank Paul Tomas again at this time for sharing his wonderful talent with our family on this joyous occasion and enabling us through his fantastic photographs to be able to review those special moments over and over. Again, here is his website, Paul Tomas Photography. Paul has a special from now until October 31st, for wedding photo sessions. If you know of anyone in the NC area planning a wedding, please share his website with them so they can see first hand his talent at catching those special moments.

One last request, those who visit the online album please respect Paul's copyright of the photos. He has very generously allowed our family to freely use his photos, if you should use them for any reason, be sure to give him credit and if possible refer to his website. Read more!

Random treasures...

...or otherwise known as Pearls of Wisdom from the mouths of babes.

We were preparing to leave out pew and so I reminded Emma about the need to genuflect:

"Emma, don't forget to say good bye to Jesus" and I nodded towards the Alter where Jesus had just been placed in the tabernacle.

"But Mama," came 4 yr old Emma's quick reply. "You don't need to say good bye, Jesus is ALWAYS with you!" Read more!

Wedding photos...

I have been wondering the past few days when and how to go through the awesome wedding photos and pick out which ones to share with all of you. There are so many beautiful ones. However, I think I have found the solution.

The photographer who took the wedding photos has finalized the last details of his website and here it is. Paul Tomas Photography If you check out his web site you will see many beautiful photos, and not just of the wedding.

I promise though to share more of the photos but in the mean time check out Paul's website. Read more!

ITS A BOY!!!

Thank you to all who prayed...

Details are sketchy, this is all we know at this point...

C-Section last night at 5.27


8 Lbs 21 IN

Mommy and Baby doing well. He is nursing great! Read more!

NO news is good news...

...or so they say. And so far I have no news regarding our friends and the expected birth of their baby nor how mum is doing with her BP. Please keep praying. And thank you!!! Read more!

Sisterly love

Said by 14 year old Anna as we were drawing up to the front door after being out for several hours.
"Is that Bethany by the door? Oh, good it is. I have to give her a hug!"

and before I could comment on how sweet this was, her statement was followed by an evil giggle and:

"She HATES hugs!" Read more!

Yet another prayer request

Please pray for a very beautiful couple K. and E! They are expecting their first baby in ten days, only one short year since their wedding last June.

Unfortunately, several weeks ago I noticed that K's feet were very swollen. Very Swollen. We chatted a bit about that and some ideas for helping to reduce swelling.

Sadly today I received a phone call. accompanying K's swollen feet for the past three weeks has been swollen BP figures. Today those numbers reached a critical high and K has been admitted for induction. Please pray for her and her baby and her husband. K is at risk of going into seizures. I am very worried for her.

I will let you know how all goes and if I get permission I will release the first names but for now I will stick with initials. Please also keep K's very frightened mother who is traveling a long distance alone by car to be with her daughter, son in law and new grandchild.

"Mary we ask you to place your mantle of protection over this new little family. Pray for the grand mother as she travel to her daughter. She is full of concern and love for her daughter much as you must have felt as your traveled to Elizabeth with no thought for your own comfort but instead, full of love and concern for your cousin.

Please, through your prayers of intercession protect this grandmother from reckless, careless drivers or anyone who could harm her in any way. Protect her from mechanical failures of any sort, or running out of gas. Pray for her to a careful and observant driver herself.

We place them all in your tender care Mary and ask your son, the greatest healer, to place His loving hands over our dear friends and gently guide this new life into the world.
Amen!" Read more!

Pool time = Prayer time

With summer time comes pool time. With pool time comes water. With lots and lots of water, comes puddles. Oodles and oodles of puddles.

Add to this equation, summer wear like, oh, flip flops and you have skids and ... falls. Now bad enough is the skidding and sliding about like a baby giraffe trying to balance herself the first time on her spindly legs. But worse are the bruises that come to doing it twice within a few hours of each other. Then not only is the body bruised, but so is the ego.

But while the ego bounces back fairly quickly, not so the spine that feels more like a twisted pretzel than a malleable but straight nerve center. At fourty-five, I don't deal as well with these falls as I used to. So please feel free to throw a few prayers this way. I think I will be needing lots of them. That or the pool, and its puddles, will need to go! Read more!

Christmas come early.

I feel as though I Have been handed a Christmas gift. In less than three weeks I will begin to add two weekly appointments to my busy schedule.

Aha, you think, sarcasm abounds. You could not be further from the truth though, if you are thinking that.

But how is it then, that a woman who finds it difficult to find time to brush her teeth, would be excited to add two regular weekly appointments to her already hectic schedule.

Because, they are speech therapy sessions for Nathaniel Paul whose speech is severely impaired. We have struggled these past years, since his hearing returned, trying to understand him.

Our delight, and his, is almost indescribable. We been told to expect quick results. I will keep you posted about his progress. Read more!

A moment of gratitude

Tonight while out on errands, my husband had our 4 year old, Emma, with him. As they were driving home they were talking about the yummy things we would eat and my husband said and "we will also have lots of hugs and kisses."

"Lots of hugs and Kisses?!" Emma repeated

"Yes, we are suppose to give children lots of hugs and kisses because they are so wonderful."

To which Emma replied:

"You know something Daddy, I am so happy with the family God gave us. God is so good and kind" Read more!

Dryer Update

After waiting for about three hours for the same load to dry and even after removing half of it and stringing it across the line on the porch... nine year old Bethany finally came to me with her tale of whoa.

"Mummy - I fear your dryer might be broken. What will we do? My clothes are still not dry and not even the towels I hung on the clothes line on the porch are dry. "

Small wonder given the humidity we are suffering these days.

Now my faithful machine has been grumbling of late, in a high pitched sort of way. Something reminiscent of the whine of racing car tires on hot pavement until it slowly settles into a low rumble that fades away. Every day - it takes just a little longer for it to fade. So when Bethany broke the news of the lingering damp clothes that were just refusing to dry I resigned myself to the idea that the dryer was finished, capoot, DEAD

Well - I decided to pull out the dryer and make sure nothing had fallen on the vent. Lo and behold - it was crunched up so tight a spider would have been challenged to get through it never mind pounds of hot air trying to escape to the great wide outdoors.

I rearranged things took a deep breath and turned the dryer back on and presto - dry clothes 40 minutes later. So to all who opted to pray that my dryer would miraculously repair itself - thank you. To all who were praying that I am somehow able to miraculously afford a new set of stackable front loading environmentally friendly laundry machines, please feel free to continue in that vein. After all, one never knows when my poor old loyal dryer actually will give up the ghost.

God Bless you all and all joking aside - thank you very much for your prayers. Read more!

Oh no... say it ain't so!

I

think

my

dryer

might

be

broken

Feel free to join my howls of dismay as well as in prayer
for a new set of machines, maybe like these ones.

Sniff

Sob

Whine

Sigh

In the mean time, any body know where my clothes pins are?
The last few I saw were littered across the porch....

Read more!