BACK ONLINE!!

At last - the new house has been connected to the world and I can once again post. I have a few photos of the progress we have made over the past 10 days or so. Since about the 8th of July we have been living half in one town and half in another. As I said to my daughter who was wondering if we were moved into the new house “that (at least) ALL the bodies are all moved into the new house and we are sitting on the floor and sleeping on air mattresses.”

It is amazing what one can live without! In the new house we have a couple of mattresses, our dining room table, two pots, the coffee maker, the toaster, 2 - 3 outfits each, a mini fridge and a stove. (In fact, until yesterday we did not even have hot water and we had to boil the water to wash the dishes or take a bath and possibly soon I will have a working kitchen sink!) We have a TV and DVD player and our album of DVDs. We have books to read, colouring books and crayons for added entertainment and really not much else. The past day I have I often found myself wondering what else do we really need to bring from the other house, which in truth, is packed solid.

I would love to wax poetic and brilliant about this idea but in truth a solid week plus of painting, scrubbing, chipping and painting some more has left me somewhat less that poetic and brilliant. So since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will close by adding a few thousand words…. Assuming of course that I can find the diaper bag… where the camera is.

PS Dad or Deenie - if either of you is reading this you daughter NEEDS some serious Tetly tea! I have gone to brewing two bags at once! HELP!!!! Read more!

A thought...

Some people will be want to assist the Schmiedicke family with a donation to purchase a new caar for the family and others will not feel this is the right means for them to show their symathy and support.

I have decided that I am going to purchase one or two of Regina's books Angel in the Waters and donate it to a prolife group or home for unwed mothers in memory of Joshua. In my case, I am going to send my copies to Room At the Inn . Read more!

May I ask for prayers again...

There is nothing that tests one's faith more than having a child ill - even if they are an adult. And in this case it is one of my adult children who needs to undergo an MRI, and an MRA and it will be several weeks before we know the results - possibly early August.

Until then we will be hoping and praying for the best results and worrying about the possible worst while we struggle daily to leave it all in God's capable hands.

"Gentle Jesus - healing physician, lay your hands on my child's body and bless this child. If anything is wrong - heal it. Breath on the soul of my child and bless her soul and help her not to worry too much. Hear our prayers and bring us closer to you as we wait for the results of these tests.

Guide the hands of her human physicians and also help them to will see her as a whole person and help them to heal her in whole.

Amen"

I will keep you posted, but I do not expect to have news before early August. Thank you all for your prayers, and also thank to all of you who have congratulated on us our new home. Pictures to post soon - if I can just find my camera - which is in the diaper bag... somewhere! Read more!

A most terrible tragedy has occured to a Catholic family this weekend. Please read the link to Danielle Bean's update on the untimely death of Joshua Michael and how his family is doing.

Families are donating money to buy a new vehicle for the family, please consider donating as well.

Joshua Michael

Please pray for Regina Doman.

Please forgive my terseness but this accident has left me wordless and in agony for the family and especially the mother.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!

Christi aka mum2twelve Read more!

Thanking All Prayer Warriors!

My good friend has asked me thank all of you prayer warriors who were praying for her to have her baby. Not only did she come, but she came pretty quickly! Weighing in at a healthy 10 lbs and 3 oz she is a very peaceful and contented baby and both mum and babe are doing very, very well! Thank you one and all very much!

Read more!

What was it I wanted to do?

We had had about three hours of sleep and we were now embarking on the huge task of painting the house, the whole house as I want it completed before we move the furniture in. It is just so much easier to paint an empty house. Still, easier though it may be – it is still a tough job. And very tiring. Especially with so little sleep. Soon I found myself wandering about the house – trying to remember why I had left the living room. ‘What was it I had wanted to do?’, I wondered aloud to myself as I made another pass through the kitchen staring hopefully at the counters, looking for a clue. A third trip through the hallway finally proved successful when my bladder reminded me why it was that I had left the living.

Later in the day it was discovered that we needed some wash buckets, a few rags, a trash bin… so I gathered the keys to the van and headed over to a nearby store. In less than thirty minutes I was pulling back in the drive, purchases completed and ready to head back to work. Hugo was there in the drive getting ready to attack the poison ivy with the bottled solution we had recently purchased. I showed him the shorts I had bought him for just 6 dollars and we chatted for a minute. I then headed into the house with a few of the purchases, attended by a long string of children who carried the rest my cleaning supplies. The screen door swung behind me and dumped everything on the counters. I thought of something I needed to ask Hugo and proceeded to seek him in the living room where he had been painted the past day and a half. He wasn’t there. Hmmm, I wondered where is he? I searched the whole house to no avail so I shrugged my shoulders and went back to the kitchen to start cleaning. At that moment Hugo walked through the back door.

“Oh there you are!” I exclaimed. I’ve been looking for you to ask you something, what were you doing outside?”

My husband stared at me for a second and said; “Ah, I was spraying the poison ivy, remember?”

No – I did not, nor could I remember what I wanted to ask him.

Clearly I do not function well on only three hours of sleep.

(Before and after pictures to follow - can't wait to share!") Read more!

The New House...

Read more!

Sweet Summer Cold

Ah, sweet summer cold – how I love you. First you tickle my nose and then slowly you travel down to my throat. The pounding rhythm that you create in my head is indescribable. My eyes begin to glow a fashionable red, matching my nose and my normally low voice becomes even lower and horase.

You defy zinc, nasal spray and vitamin c and linger on, unwelcome and persistent.

I swear that you are able to leap through my fingers and into the keyboard and travel through the internet to my good friends much like a computer virus, as how else does one explain how friends, healthy one day and miles away, yet are enjoying your company the next.

Sweet summer cold, who will you target next? Read more!

Prayer Request...

Please pray for my good friend who is at least two weeks past her due date with four young children at home. She is more than ready to have her darling baby so anyone who has the time and is willing - please pray my friend goes into labour within the next 24 hours. She is exhausted, and as all of us mums know - very, very uncomfortable!

"Gentle Jesus, healing physcisian, place your loving hands on my friend and bring her baby into this world. Bless her caregivers to make the right decisions regarding the birth, and for my friend to have the strength and graces she needs to get though the next few days.

Mother Mary - you have known the discomforts of pregnancy and the joy of birth. You encouraged Jesus to perform his first miracle at the wedding of Canna. Please now interceed for my dear friend that your Son will perform another miracle and bring about the birth of this very loved baby and allow the loving arms of all who await her delivery to welcome her."

Thank you one and all for your generous prayers!

mum2twelve aka Christi Read more!

Why has mum2twelve been so sporatic in her postings...

...of late?

We are moving 11 people, two dogs, three cats and 1 bird and possibly one fish if he is still alive (I must ask my boys who share hteir room with him) and a full time business and the past month has been spent searching for our new home. It has been found and needs to painted from top to bottom and what better time to paint it than when it is empty?

Details and pictures will follow, but they are not on the computer that I am using right now. I will regale you with lots of before and after pictures though as we progress.

Catch you all later! Read more!

Misplaced...

Gabriela currently wading through Emma by Austen walked into the kitchen, and with a huge sigh announced to the room in general.

"I've lost Emma again!"

To which our Emma gave a horrified gasp and said "You lost meeee?" Read more!

Never assume that all snakes...

...are on the ground. Oh yes - we watch exciting exploration shows and see Condas and Pythons hanging from branches in the deep jungles of Africa. We watch with bated breath as our favourite crazy host, the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin delicately extricates one of the most venomous snakes to be found in Australia out of a tree - by crikey. And we assume that it is only in these far off places where snakes chose to live above ground. But I am here to tell you and SHOW you that this is not the case - that here too in the US, snakes can and do climb trees. Very big trees. Trees in your yard, that you walk underneath every day - not suspecting that in those leafy green branches there just might be a 5 - 6 foot black rat snake lurking.

Read more!

This little fellow has been hanging about the past month or two. First he was hidden in the stones near one of the outbuildings. Next we had him sitting by our back door for a day. Then yesterday while Anna was walking Zack she almost stepped on him as he was sunning himself in the grass beneath the above pictured tree that you see him in.

She called one of the boys to come and get Hugo and I. Excited to finally see him out in the open we grabbed the camera but before we could photograph him sun bathing he grew tired of all the excitment and started to slither away. Fascinated we watched him but we almost fell over as he started up the tree. However - we did have the precense of mind to take a few pics of him as he did this. He is well above my 5' 3" frame in this picture.

So from now on - I will be checking for our handsome neighbour not just under my feet, but also above my head. Read more!

World Soccer cup

Comment over heard from the female teen age gallery during the game between Germany and Argentina.

"Hmmm, the Germans are MUCH more handsome than the Argentinians - BUT, I still want Argentina to win!" Read more!

Calling all parents...

... who worry their kids watch too much tv. Gather them up and show them the pictures below and tell them...

"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU - IF YOU WATCH TOO MUCH TV!"

Read more!

Chilling out...

and watching some T.V. Read more!

TOO MUCH TV CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR EYES....

Read more!

I forgive you...

The other day – while in passing my husband made a comment that hurt my feelings. It was not just what he said – but also the manner in which he said it. I felt blamed for something that was not my fault. I realized that in truth he did not mean it was my fault but still… I felt a little hurt.

As I prepared for bed, I mulled it over. “Really,” I thought; “I should point out to him how he has hurt my feelings.”

I began to plan out the conversation and just exactly how I should gently point out to him that “while I am sure you did not realize you had hurt my feelings you had, in point, done so.” As I brushed my teeth vigorously another question posed itself.

“If I was so certain that he had not intended to hurt my feelings – why should I point it out to him?”

I knew he was very stressed over how a few things had gone wrong recently and very preoccupied and what good was it going do to tell him this, except to upset him more? In truth, I was only satisfying my hurt pride by pointing out to him that something in his tone had suggested he blamed me and while I knew he had not meant to blame me, well he should just know that his tone made me feel that way…”

As I flossed slowly, the selfishness of my desire to make sure he knew this sunk in and I resolved to not say anything. Not a word, not even a tiny peep.

And if anyone wants to know what he said is such a way as to hurt my feelings… I can't tell you because, well, because I actually can’t remember anymore.

Read more!

Prayer to the Infant Jesus

Divine Child Jesus
In my difficulties: help me
From the enemies of my soul: save me
In my errors: enlighten me
In my doubts and pains: comfort me
In my solitudes: be with me
In my diseases: invigorate me
When others despise me: encourage me
In temptations: defend me
In difficult hours: strengthen me
With your maternal heart: love me
With your immense poer: protect me
And, into your arms, when I die: receive me
Amen

Read more!

I have received much comfort, strength and graces from this prayer. I have pulled it out again. I am worried that perhaps my post from yesterday (the 26th) seemed negative. That was not my intention. I meant only to share how sometimes, despite all that God has done for me I still struggle and I get frustrated with myself for being so like Elsa at the pool side - unable to just let go and trust. I also get frustrated with God.

I get frustrated with God because Hugo and I have been struggling for four years to understand and know His will for us. Some would say with the difficulties we have encountered with the business that perhaps God is speaking to us through the continued struggles we face with this business. Yet, we have asked God repeatedly that if this is not His will for us to please guide us in the right direction. Inspire us with an idea, open a door. Send us a sign we cannot possibly fail to see and understand.

I do not know if it is spiritual ignorance on our part that we have not been able to hear God or if it is that, for now, God is silent. I do know we have learned much from the struggles and challenges we have been through the past four years. I learned some rather upsetting news almost a week ago and while all appears to be working out - I still do not have a clear and resounding YES, all will fall into place and all will work out.

Therein lies my struggle with trust. God has NOT let me down yet. God will never let me down. Still - I have this fear in the pit of my stomach. Yet - what if the answer is no... Hugo and I will still live. Our children will still live. My husband and I will have to re-group and change our plans. What is so terrible about that, I wonder.

I am consumed with the what if instead of focussing on my duties, not just of the day, but of the MOMENT. I am living with my head in the future while my body tries to cope with the present, very unsuccessfully.

I have more thoughts on this swirling about, but I must lead the children in our daily Rosary and I am letting my wants get in the way of my duties. Read more!