ANNOUNCING...

... the completion of a project that went underway back in March of this year. I hinted at this project a few weeks ago and it gives me great pleasure to announce Holly Pierlot's workshop that is a supplement to her book; A Mother's Rule of Life. (Her book can be purchased here. )

To see the Table of Contents of the workshop - click here. If you think you might find it useful you can click here to go to the link where you can buy it.

I enjoyed this challenge of helping Holly to convert her workbook to an e-book and I have to thank my husband who often stopped what he was doing to answer what must have been to him such simple questions, but were for me difficult obstacles!!! Thank you Hugo, without you... I would be still struggling to figure out how to create a URL that takes one to where you want to be. Totally amazing!

Slowly, but surely I am building up a lovely little repertoire of paid writing jobs. Thanks be to God. I already have another project on the go and I am looking forward to visiting Raleigh where I am being sent to do my research.

I also believe enough time has passed since my last paid article was published so I will share that article later this week with you.

Our family has also been featured recently in another magazine. I was not the author of this article, but rather one of the senior editors, Susie Loyd, of Faith and Family wrote it. I am suppose to get a copy of this article shortly. However, I do not have the rights to share this article with you so those who wish to read it will have to subscribe to the magazine. I will let you know exactly which issue it is/was in when I receive my copy.

Thank You to All the Holy Angels and Saints who kept us going through the trials and tribulations that we went through to achieve the accomplishment of publishing of this eBook. I think it is no small co-incidence that everything fell in place on the feast day of the arch angels. Read more!

What do you do...

...when it is your daughter's fifth birthday and you stop at the local Wal-mart to pick up a small gift to add the pile hidden at home and you slip in a little puddle of water and fall and wreck your right hand?

You know, the one that you need to fashion the eatable flowers for the cake you were going to bake when you got home. The same hand you needed to stir the batter with, that hand you need to cut the hair of three handsome young men whose eyes are disappearing under their bangs....

So what do you do?

You call your 23 year old daughter and ask if she might be willing to cut your boys' hair and when she hears why you need her to do this; not only does she say yes, but she also tells you that she will bake and decorate the cake and asks if you would like to come to her place for the party so you can relax a little....

And you realize what a great daughter you have and thank God for His wonderful blessings. Read more!

FEAR...

... can entrap us all. It can be a sly enemy that creeps up and slowly envelopes you so that you become like a fly trapped in a spider's web. Today I realized that fear often trips me up and keeps me from doing things I know I can do but am afraid to try; because maybe... I ... will... fail.

Now after thinking about just that... I came across this post that was sent to me through Sister Pat's Joy Notes. Timing is everything, eh?

And speaking of timing, I am up WAY too late working on a project that Holly Pierlot and I hope to launch on her website this week. But as I was preparing to sign out of my gmail account I saw the Joy Notes and just had to peek and then I just had to read a little and then I just had to share the post that connected so well with my earlier thoughts....

And tomorrow when 6 am rolls around and I am lying in bed wondering where to grab the energy to push all the kids out of their beds, plus a few into the tub because they fell asleep at the table before I could bath them... well - I will be just right pleased with myself - won't I?

Tomorrow, if there is time, I hope to share a beautiful novena a friend sent to me.
Until then... sleep well and GOD Bless!!! Read more!

Note to self

You know you have been IM'ing too much when you are typing an email and find yourself hitting the enter key after a sentence, and then sitting around for a few seconds waiting for a response.... Read more!

I see the light.... and want it OFF!!

It had been around 2 am when I realized that Elsa had been tucked into bed sans diapers and still in her big girl panties and I was too tired to grab around in the dark for a spare, so I just crossed my fingers and prayed. When she awoke, it was still dark but I whisked her into the bathroom regardless. I sat her down on the toilet, relieved I had not awakened in a puddle.

Obviously feeling a bit testy, Elsa grumbled at me:
"Turwn on de light!"

I ignored this slightly rude request and made to sit down on the side of the tub to wait; but before I could Elsa yelled again, a little louder than before.

"Turwn on de light!! Turwn it ON!!

Not wanting her to wake the others, I turned on the light....

Her eyes immeadiatly screwed themselves shut as she screeched:
"Tuwrn it off !! Tuwrn it off!! Turwn it off!!"

For some reason on our more recent pre dawn bathroom runs - she has not asked for the light to be 'turwned' on again. Read more!

Praise be to God!

I engaged in a spiritual excercise of trust today. Yesterday we learned that 450 dollars had been taken out of our account twice, when it was only suppose to be taken out once. So suddenly there was 900 dollars gone - leaving us without our rent money.



I felt very depressed about it. Especially because the online bank responsible for this error does not easily correct these kinds of errors. As if this was not bad enough, they did not apply any of the 900 dollars against the 450 dollar invoice this money was to be applied against....



With my husband's encouragement to trust God and to have a positive day regardless, I decided to place the whole mess in God's capable hands for a whole twenty four hours before trying to remedy it myself. Yesterday, when we first learned of this problem I was tempted to give into my depression, but agai, my husband encouraged me to be of good cheer. And I thought to myself at that time, I might was well try to be happy as being depressed about it WON'T FIX IT. A no brainer but felt like a light bulb moment.



To be honest, it was not easy but I did try to enjoy the joys of the day and some the more rediculous moments that having a family of twelve brings with it.



So since giving the problem to God, I have baked three loaves of bread, one banana and two pineapple. Watched some History of Britain (while baking). Had a lovely cuddle with Elsa, who insisted on then helping with the baking.... listened to numerous conversations and when not watching the history Dvd, listened to EWTN through the internet. I now plan on baking a few more loaves, including the pumpkin loaf I shared with you earlier. But after a luncheon break that included some pizza bread baked by Anna this morning, I decided to check the bank account.



The



problem



was



FIXED!!!

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

Read more!

Pizza Dough Bread

I found this recipe years and years ago... while in University. (Read 25 years ago!) It was in a magazine and actually was meant to be used as pizza pockets. They were delicious but over the years I developed many other ways of using it. One of them is as pizza bread. It makes an incredible addition to a hot soup, or a side to a salad; and helps to extend a meal in a very inexpensive but delicious manner.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons dry yeast
2 teaspoon sugar

5 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons oil

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl dissolve the 2 tsps sugar, then add the yeast by sprinkling the yeast over it. Put it aside to rise.

In a large bowl, mix the flour oil and salt. Add the yeast once it has risen. Add more flour as necessary until the dough pulls way from the bowl. Remove the dough to an oiled bowl and cover with tin foil or a moistened tea towel.

Let rise for approximately 30 minutes.

Prepare two cookie sheets and once the dough has risen to almost twice its height; punch down, break into two equal portions and then stretch them out on the sheets until they are almost completely covered. Brush dough lightly with olive oil and freshly ground sea salt. (Regular salt works well too.) You can also exchange the salt for some spices of your own choice.

Sometimes we lightly brush the dough lightly with a tomato paste spread and some spices.

Bake at 450 (f) for 10 - 15 minutes. Break into pieces and serve with your meal or enjoy with a cold glass of juice for a snack. Read more!

Fortuitous

I received an anonymous comment that I was using fortuitous incorrectly. Feeling slightly embarrassed I looked up the word as the anonymous writer suggested. From what I understand from the second meaning of the word, I think I used it correctly, but would be happy for input from others. To facilitate the search for the meaning I have added this link. Read more!

Fortuitous Question...

Just before Mass began we had the inevitable slew of bathroom requests. I ushered Emma into the only empty stall noting a pair feet in the other one. As I leaned against the door so that she would not have to bother with the lock, I called to her:

"Let me know if you need help, ok?"

From behind the door beside us came a little voice:

"I need some help!!"

Surprised, I glanced down and sure enough those were very little feet behind the door. Worried perhaps someone's small daughter had locked herself in I asked can you unlock the door. She replied in the affirmative and so let me in. She simply had a rather difficult snap that needed done up so I swiftly snapped it for her and she was off without another word.

I guess it was lucky for her that I just happened to ask if someone needed help at the moment she needed it. As I watched her head out the door I felt gratitude for this small moment of service to someone else's child, whom I did not even know and it reminded me of how we are all one family under one God - and we should always be mindful of the opportunity to serve one another. Read more!

Recalls

Do you have anything from this list in your child's toy box, or recently purchased and hidden away as a gift. To see if you do click here. Thanks Joanna for this link. Read more!

Lest we forget...

Image credit Read more!

Shame on you Danielle!!

Stop! Stop already with all the temping dark chocolate posts. I need so little temptation as it is... I don't need to hear how dark chocolate with lower my whatever. I stopped reading almost immediately as there is a bag of DARK chocolate chips sitting open in the cupboard... calling to me, beckoning, whispering; "Come on! A few chocolate chips won't hurt! Just a small handful!"

What I need, is to lose at least 10 more pounds. Shh!! Someone, quick, close that cupboard door! I can hear those chocolate chips chanting my name..... Read more!

To Jonah, who asked...

" I don't understand why you are so pro-military. It doesn't seem to mesh with the other things you hold dear. "

You can view my answer on the side board where I have added a tribute to the volunteer army that at least one of my sons hope to join one day.

I know I have a number of readers who are Quaker and pacifists. My eldest daughter is a Quaker. It is because there are young men and women who are willing to fight for our freedom that we are able to be:

Christian, whether Catholic or Protestant
Muslim,
Jewish,
Quaker,
Atheist...

I think, even if we disagree with war, these young people deserve our support. I don't think that I need say more as these pictures say it all.

God Bless America and may she continue to love God! Read more!

Mary's birthday...

Today the church is celebrating the anniversary of Mary's birthday. I can not think of any better way of marking it other than by posting this pro life story. To read about Aaliyah's story - click here.

Read more!

My first nomination....

I have been awarded the following award:

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass on to seven others whom you feel are deserving of this award"

...all I can say is aw!

Can one ask for anything better than being told they are nice and also a good friend. Now I need to think of seven bloggers that I also think are nice and inspire good feelings and are also a friend. I can think of lots of bloggers who are nice and inspire good feelings, but I only know a few personally ... hmmmm. I'll get back to you all with a list real soon, I promise! Read more!

Comfy hollows in my pillow...

The silence reached out and woke me from my deep sleep and weird dreams. I lay there in the quiet predawn light, waiting for the weight from my limbs to lift. I squinted at the alarm clock trying to see the tiny fuzzy red lines and what numbers they were currently forming. It was already 4 minutes to 6, or if you prefer 5:56 am. If I am trying to convince myself I have oodles of time before I need to get myself and my brood up, then I tell myself it is 5:56. If I am being honest about how little time I really have, I focus on the fact that it is only four minutes to six and drag myself out of bed.

I lay there feeling Elsa’s warm fuzzy curls against my shoulder. Her warmth drew me deeper into the sheets leading me back to sleep. My husband’s quiet form on the other side of her also made me want to rejoin the world of sleep. I was surrounded by the sound of sleep. Camped on the floor were two midnight guests who had dragged in pillows and blankets sometime during the night. I sat up and peered at them.

My whole body called back to the comfy mattress and fluffy pillow, the hollow in it still formed and beckoning me to return to it . Oh, such a dilemma. To allow myself to drift back to sleep or raise myself and my entire clan so we could attend the 7 am Mass that is only 30 minutes away? Perfect timing for us. It is easier to get to this seven am Mass than the 10:30 Sunday Mass. When I can win the battle, that is.

Once up all we need do is dress ourselves and stumble to the van. No breakfast, no time to kill that is all too suddenly gone with everyone in a last minute tizzy. We are not even awake long enough to start feeling hungry until Mass is almost over.

What to do? It was going to be such a busy day… I had a list a mile long of to dos. Really, did I have time to drive 30 minutes to Mass and then back…

But then I wondered if, with such a long list of important items to complete, could I really afford NOT to go to Mass? Who, if not our Lord, could give me the energy and strength to accomplish all I have to?

If I printed the list of all I actually accomplished today – you would be tempted to think I was lying. But you would know how I did it. All the Glory be to God! And now… I think I just might go see if that little hollow in my pillow is still there and, if it is, I think I will fill it.

Good Night!

Read more!

Blessed Mother Theresa....

"And you, you cannot go where we go. You cannot do what we do. But together, we are doing something beautiful for God. And my gratitude to you, President, and your family and to your people. It's my prayer for you that you may grow in holiness to this tender love for the poorest of the poor. But this love begins at home, in your own family, and it begins by praying together. Prayer gives a clean heart, and a clean heart can see God. And if you see God in each other, you will have love, peace, joy together. And works of love are works of peace. And love begins at home."

This quote is from Mother Theresa's humble words of acceptance when she was awarded the Medal Of Freedom by President Regan in 1985, 22 years ago.

To read the wonderful speech President Regan gave to honour this humble and beautiful Mother as well as the rest of her humble response... click here.

To view the website for her cause of canonization... click here.

To join our family in praying the official novena of Blessed Mother Theresa... click HERE. Together we can pray together as a family, the family of God, and together we can continue to grow in Holiness. Whatever day you come across this posting whether it be the first or the ninth day of the novena or even a week after, pray Mother's novena, it is very beautiful and no doubt is very powerful.



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