All mapped out in my mind - something cute, funny,short and pertaining to the kids. So I sat down at the computer and made the fatal error of peeking at a few favourite blogs. Ate lunch as I perused them and then opened my blog to start typing.
Problem is - the the 20 minutes while I ate and read - my mind went blank. No more perfect, cute short post pertaining to the kids. Oh well - since I never got around to posting a picture of Sophie, who was adopted by friends, I'll just send you to Good Remedy's blog instead.
Then I'll get back to what I am supposed to be doing, completing the last two seminar slides for the tool kit portion of the seminar Hugo and I have been developing the past six months; Parenting the Internet Generation. In it, we cover things like 'grooming'. And no, I don't mean how to make sure your kids look good for your facebook profile picture. I mean how an online predator grooms his victim.
As well as presenting the dangers and difficulties that lie in wait for a child left alone to explore the Internet we also deal with practical ways of dealing with these dangers. And that is what I am working on today - the last two slides in this section.
Make sure you drop by Good Remedy and enjoy a lovely picture of Sophie with her new sister Anna. And while you are doing that, I will try to get those last two slides researched and created.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Most Excellent Update on 14 yr old Michael B.
We have gone from thinking 'if Michael pulls through' to 'WHEN Michael pulls through'. Glory be to God and THANK YOU to all who are praying.
However we MUST continue to pray as, while Michael is rallying and feeling the best he has in several days, doctors have warned Michael is facing a potential wall in his recovery that can make a large difference as to how long his recovery will take. His kidneys could still fail, leading to the need for dialysis and/or a blood transfusion.
We, of course, are praying this will not happen and that Michael skirts that wall. Tests have been done to see where his kidneys are at during this critical time.
Still - the news is good and I could not wait to share this with all of you! Please keep the prayers coming so I can keep sharing excellent news!
God Bless you ALL and THANK YOU for your prayers. Michael's parents and family are extremely grateful for the prayers as well as the spiritual support they have received as a result.
Our son is now on his way home to NC so please, if you don't mind, keep his safety in your prayers as well. This weekend he will return to Tennessee to visit the family and hopefully bring the rest of his girlfriend's dorm furniture which had to be left behind in the rush home to see Michael & be with the family.
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However we MUST continue to pray as, while Michael is rallying and feeling the best he has in several days, doctors have warned Michael is facing a potential wall in his recovery that can make a large difference as to how long his recovery will take. His kidneys could still fail, leading to the need for dialysis and/or a blood transfusion.
We, of course, are praying this will not happen and that Michael skirts that wall. Tests have been done to see where his kidneys are at during this critical time.
Still - the news is good and I could not wait to share this with all of you! Please keep the prayers coming so I can keep sharing excellent news!
God Bless you ALL and THANK YOU for your prayers. Michael's parents and family are extremely grateful for the prayers as well as the spiritual support they have received as a result.
Our son is now on his way home to NC so please, if you don't mind, keep his safety in your prayers as well. This weekend he will return to Tennessee to visit the family and hopefully bring the rest of his girlfriend's dorm furniture which had to be left behind in the rush home to see Michael & be with the family.
"How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer."
"You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him."
St. Teresa of Avila
"You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him."
St. Teresa of Avila
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Michael is IMPROVING!
Details will follow later, We are waiting for the Doctors report to the family! PRAISE GOD! Keep the prayers coming please so that we see a complete miracle!
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What kind of English do you speak?
In our home we speak English and Spanish and recite various prayers in Latin. A family we know speaks a variety of languages - largely English and German. One of the priests we know speaks French among the many languages he knows. Our eldest daughter has often sung songs that are Gaelic and one of our favourite groups, the Rankin Family, sings often in Gaelic. So it is little surprise that Elsa today came up to me and warbled some strange sounds and then asked me "What kind of English was I speaking Mummy?"
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Monday, May 11, 2009
We now have a name for what ails Michael
It is hemolytic uremic syndrome and is a rare condition caused by the bacteria E. coli.
Here are some links about it. What is HUS, Hamburger Disease , eMedicine .
Pretty frightening. The mother of this young boy can not for the life of her figure out how he picked up the E. coli. He has not been swimming in lakes, a common source for E. coli bacteria nor has he been eating in any restaurants the past two weeks. No one else in the family has been sick. It will likely remain one of the mysteries that we never resolve.
However - with all that is in the news about Swine flu it seems to me that we are at greater risk of contacting E coli food poisoning then Swine flu and 1 of every 10 children will go on to develop HUS - which is life threatening.
What is abnormal about Michael's case is his age - he does not fit the typical age profile; a very young child or an elderly patient. None the less - he has it and they are looking at possible kidney dialysis and blood transfusions. Antibiotics were worsening the condition so this battle is in the hands of God. Please let us keep praying and passing the prayer request on.
THANK YOU again for your prayers. They are very gratefully received by the family who has asked us to thank you for your prayers.
GOD BLESS!
IGNORE Read more!
Here are some links about it. What is HUS, Hamburger Disease , eMedicine .
Pretty frightening. The mother of this young boy can not for the life of her figure out how he picked up the E. coli. He has not been swimming in lakes, a common source for E. coli bacteria nor has he been eating in any restaurants the past two weeks. No one else in the family has been sick. It will likely remain one of the mysteries that we never resolve.
However - with all that is in the news about Swine flu it seems to me that we are at greater risk of contacting E coli food poisoning then Swine flu and 1 of every 10 children will go on to develop HUS - which is life threatening.
What is abnormal about Michael's case is his age - he does not fit the typical age profile; a very young child or an elderly patient. None the less - he has it and they are looking at possible kidney dialysis and blood transfusions. Antibiotics were worsening the condition so this battle is in the hands of God. Please let us keep praying and passing the prayer request on.
THANK YOU again for your prayers. They are very gratefully received by the family who has asked us to thank you for your prayers.
GOD BLESS!
IGNORE Read more!
WAITING
...for an update on Michael. In the meantime here is an important link you can check out while we wait to hear. There are many worthwhile Catholic causes, website etc to support, but I can personally vouch for Envoy. My husband and I attended the Institutes's conference here in NC last year and we both enjoy reading the magazine. Each are uplifting sources for growing in your faith as well providing you with opportunities to increase knowledge of your faith.
I doubt there are many Catholics who have not heard of Patrick Madrid - he is a regular guest on EWTN and is one of two co-founders who started the magazine Envoy in 1996. Currently he is the director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College and publisher of Envoy Magazine and he is making the call for our support in what he is calling a war!
This summer Belmont Abbey will host Envoy's second annual conference. Click here for the dates. Make sure you mark this link so you can check back for details, such as scheduled speakers. I've heard rumors that Peter Kreeft will be there again. If you are not familiar with him check his website out here. I have already marked my calender and I recommend you seriously consider doing the same. My husband and I enjoyed last years conference thoroughly and I know we will again this year. Come join us in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains which are a piece of the Appalachians & enjoy an enlightening weekend building your faith, hearing great speakers, and meeting fellow Catholics who are also seeking to grow in their faith.
Is it not just breath taking? I hope you will consider joining us this summer!
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I doubt there are many Catholics who have not heard of Patrick Madrid - he is a regular guest on EWTN and is one of two co-founders who started the magazine Envoy in 1996. Currently he is the director of the Envoy Institute of Belmont Abbey College and publisher of Envoy Magazine and he is making the call for our support in what he is calling a war!
This summer Belmont Abbey will host Envoy's second annual conference. Click here for the dates. Make sure you mark this link so you can check back for details, such as scheduled speakers. I've heard rumors that Peter Kreeft will be there again. If you are not familiar with him check his website out here. I have already marked my calender and I recommend you seriously consider doing the same. My husband and I enjoyed last years conference thoroughly and I know we will again this year. Come join us in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains which are a piece of the Appalachians & enjoy an enlightening weekend building your faith, hearing great speakers, and meeting fellow Catholics who are also seeking to grow in their faith.
And if my words are not temping enough for you - then let this photo of the grounds, where the conference will be, lure you in!
Is it not just breath taking? I hope you will consider joining us this summer!
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a phone book....
As I was inputing a new contact in my phone book, Elsa exclaimed "YOU have a PHONE BOOK?"
'Umm, yeah." I responded absently - as I focused on those little keys on my phone.
"Yeah" giggled Nathaniel... "IN her PHONE!"
Peals of giggles filled the room as the two of them relished the humour in that.
A phone book within a phone. But you know I can only begin to imagine the amazement of my great grandparents of such a thing. A tiny little hand held device that can not only make calls, but also contain a PHONE BOOK.
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'Umm, yeah." I responded absently - as I focused on those little keys on my phone.
"Yeah" giggled Nathaniel... "IN her PHONE!"
Peals of giggles filled the room as the two of them relished the humour in that.
A phone book within a phone. But you know I can only begin to imagine the amazement of my great grandparents of such a thing. A tiny little hand held device that can not only make calls, but also contain a PHONE BOOK.
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
UPDATE ON MICHAEL B
(UPDATE AS OF LATE SUNDAY EVENING)
We thank God that Jonathan, our son, and Alicia, his girl friend, arrived safely in Tennessee this evening. We have learned that her 14 yr old brother, Michael, received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick this morning. He has been seriously ill for five days now, vomiting almost every 15 minutes as well as other digestive problems.
Today after the anointing and countless people hearing our prayer request through the Internet, Michael has begun to gain a little in strength. Through twitter we have possibly reached as many as 8000 people.
He has been removed from anti-biotics as the ecoli was not responding to this. In fact the ecoli has begun to release toxins in his blood stream which are attacking his kidneys, causing the capillaries to rupture within them. The Doctors say that his body/immune system MUST fight this on his own.
Michael is beginning to show signs of turning the corner though still far from being out of danger. Also - the longer it takes for his body to fight this - the greater the risk of permanent damage to his kidneys. His family is asking specifically for prayers for his spirits and his kidneys.
After five days of this devastating illness, he is very low in spirits. They can not really give him anything to help him sleep or for pain. They have only been able to attempt to treat the nausea and provide IV fluids.
Please share this prayer request with anyone and everyone you know. Pass it onto prayer lines and, if you twitter, please add a prayer request for Michael B. to your tweets. This battle is now in the hands of God! so we must pray and keep the number of prayers growing. We are possibly sitting on the edge of a miracle as this morning all hope seemed to be lost when Michael was anointed. Since then little glimmers of hope have been shared with us.
GOD BLESS you all and thank you for your prayers.
We will keep updating on Michael's condition!
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We thank God that Jonathan, our son, and Alicia, his girl friend, arrived safely in Tennessee this evening. We have learned that her 14 yr old brother, Michael, received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick this morning. He has been seriously ill for five days now, vomiting almost every 15 minutes as well as other digestive problems.
Today after the anointing and countless people hearing our prayer request through the Internet, Michael has begun to gain a little in strength. Through twitter we have possibly reached as many as 8000 people.
He has been removed from anti-biotics as the ecoli was not responding to this. In fact the ecoli has begun to release toxins in his blood stream which are attacking his kidneys, causing the capillaries to rupture within them. The Doctors say that his body/immune system MUST fight this on his own.
Michael is beginning to show signs of turning the corner though still far from being out of danger. Also - the longer it takes for his body to fight this - the greater the risk of permanent damage to his kidneys. His family is asking specifically for prayers for his spirits and his kidneys.
After five days of this devastating illness, he is very low in spirits. They can not really give him anything to help him sleep or for pain. They have only been able to attempt to treat the nausea and provide IV fluids.
Please share this prayer request with anyone and everyone you know. Pass it onto prayer lines and, if you twitter, please add a prayer request for Michael B. to your tweets. This battle is now in the hands of God! so we must pray and keep the number of prayers growing. We are possibly sitting on the edge of a miracle as this morning all hope seemed to be lost when Michael was anointed. Since then little glimmers of hope have been shared with us.
GOD BLESS you all and thank you for your prayers.
We will keep updating on Michael's condition!
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URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
Please pray for 14 yr old Michael B, he is 14 in hospital. Diagnosis is possibly rare form of ecoli that does not respond to treatment. At this time his kidneys are shutting down. Please pass this on to all you know with prayer lines. This is my son's girl friend's little brother.
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Saturday, May 09, 2009
Borrowing an idea...
...from Building Cathedrals, a blog by seven graduates of Princeton who, upon starting to build their cathedrals, realized they still had much to learn! However, I just gleaned a great idea for helping little ones to participate in the Rosary from them - to take a peek at this fun blog and a great idea - click here.
Amanda, dearest, you know your mother is hopeless with any needle but a sewing needle so the flowers will have to fall upon you, if we are to have them crocheted. Hmmm - 4 little ones times 50 hail maries... you will be busy for quite some time! Perhaps we will have them in time for thier little ones?
Never fear - I have my creative thinking cap on and will be looking at different options such as felt flowers with beaded centers, paper flowers to begin with, cloth flowers with embroidered centers, laminated paper flowers with intentions on them... the possibilities are endless.
As you can probably tell - I am thrilled with this idea, especially as we have temporarily put the Rosaries aside and have simply been using our fingers. Can anyone guess why?
At any rate this is a lovely thought that I am going to pursue especially as this is Mary's month.
IGNORE
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Amanda, dearest, you know your mother is hopeless with any needle but a sewing needle so the flowers will have to fall upon you, if we are to have them crocheted. Hmmm - 4 little ones times 50 hail maries... you will be busy for quite some time! Perhaps we will have them in time for thier little ones?
Never fear - I have my creative thinking cap on and will be looking at different options such as felt flowers with beaded centers, paper flowers to begin with, cloth flowers with embroidered centers, laminated paper flowers with intentions on them... the possibilities are endless.
As you can probably tell - I am thrilled with this idea, especially as we have temporarily put the Rosaries aside and have simply been using our fingers. Can anyone guess why?
At any rate this is a lovely thought that I am going to pursue especially as this is Mary's month.
IGNORE
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You know this old familiar tune
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb... Mary had a little lamb and its fleece was white as snow.
For some reason 6 yr old Emma thinks this is Mary - Jesus's mummy...
Hmmmm, there is a certain logic there, no?
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For some reason 6 yr old Emma thinks this is Mary - Jesus's mummy...
Hmmmm, there is a certain logic there, no?
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Friday, May 08, 2009
Father Corapi
How sad in the month of Mary - a famous Catholic college is blatantly ignoring the dictum of our Bishops to Catholic colleges to not honour pro death/anti life speakers by inviting them to speak on their campuses. We all know that I am speaking of Notre Dame and not only its invitation to Obama to speak, but to also confer upon him an honorary degree. It is an open slap in the face to our church and her prolife stance.
Father Corapi addresses this in the video below.
Please share this video and message. It can also be viewed here. I would also suggest that students attending this college or planning to attend to seriously reconsider this decision through prayer. Sadly the most effective way today to send a message - is with your dollars. If you really believe that this college is dishonoring GOD and His church through ignoring a clear directive from SEVENTY Bishops to not follow through in its invitation to Obama - you must decide whether you will support this college with your college funds and attendance. Go to Jesus and ask Him what would HE do?
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Father Corapi addresses this in the video below.
Please share this video and message. It can also be viewed here. I would also suggest that students attending this college or planning to attend to seriously reconsider this decision through prayer. Sadly the most effective way today to send a message - is with your dollars. If you really believe that this college is dishonoring GOD and His church through ignoring a clear directive from SEVENTY Bishops to not follow through in its invitation to Obama - you must decide whether you will support this college with your college funds and attendance. Go to Jesus and ask Him what would HE do?
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MARY's month... is MAY!
We are already heading into the second week of May - Mary's month. Do you remember this video from last year?
Well - here is the new one.
I'm not sure which one I like best. Neither can my kids. We like them both a LOT!
Anyway - I thought it was a good time to remind everyone that this is Mary's month. Do you have any special family celebrations planned for this month? Any family traditions you would like to share that might inspire the rest of us? I did not grow up Catholic so I am always happy to hear about new customs and traditions we might want to incorporate in our family celebrations.
Please feel free to link and share this post to spread the videos as well as to promote the opportunity for people to share their ideas of how to celebrate this month in a meaningful and fun way!
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Well - here is the new one.
I'm not sure which one I like best. Neither can my kids. We like them both a LOT!
Anyway - I thought it was a good time to remind everyone that this is Mary's month. Do you have any special family celebrations planned for this month? Any family traditions you would like to share that might inspire the rest of us? I did not grow up Catholic so I am always happy to hear about new customs and traditions we might want to incorporate in our family celebrations.
Please feel free to link and share this post to spread the videos as well as to promote the opportunity for people to share their ideas of how to celebrate this month in a meaningful and fun way!
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ADOPTED!
Whew - Such a relief! We got all three puppies adopted and I am pretty sure they all went to good homes! For some reason I could not log into my Craig's List account so as to delete the ad - so I wrote another Ad with DUKE ADOPTED in the title so that hopefully people seeing both ads would not email me to see if he was still available. So this morning I open my email and low and behold what do I have but an email from a lady with a 6 month old beagle/Russell terrier mix. Her older dog apparently is not happy about the new adoption and the continuous fighting is driving her crazy. Would I be interested in rescuing her puppy....
Maybe - if, like her, I did not have a lot of children underfoot. (She has 3 under 4rs) The relief I felt when I waved good bye to Duke - as much as I liked him and as cute and cuddly as he was... the relief was immense! This was not a good moment to ask me to take on another puppy. Seriously! Not even a crate trained UTD on her shots puppy! Nope, not right now. Uh uh - NOT happening. Really. I sent her some rescue links.
I'm just glad she did not attach a photo! I'm a sucker for cute faces... as you can all attest to.
(Will add a picture of Duke later, but his pics are on another computer.)
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Maybe - if, like her, I did not have a lot of children underfoot. (She has 3 under 4rs) The relief I felt when I waved good bye to Duke - as much as I liked him and as cute and cuddly as he was... the relief was immense! This was not a good moment to ask me to take on another puppy. Seriously! Not even a crate trained UTD on her shots puppy! Nope, not right now. Uh uh - NOT happening. Really. I sent her some rescue links.
I'm just glad she did not attach a photo! I'm a sucker for cute faces... as you can all attest to.
(Will add a picture of Duke later, but his pics are on another computer.)
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Blaze has a sleep over...
Blaze and Duke get along better than Blaze and Bella did. Sharing the crate was not even an option with Bella!
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Monday, May 04, 2009
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Pandemic Crisis
This is what happens when you promise someone that only a pandemic crisis will prevent you from attending a function she has arranged, and that you really want to go to. Although I am not sure a broken water pump on one's van qualifies as a crisis, but it sure does "dry" up any possibilities of a long drive until it is repaired.
So Saturday found Hugo surrounded by tools, oil, grease, radiator and the a/c, along with other bits and pieces of internal engine organs vital to our van's health. It only took about 3 hours to get to the offending pump and would have taken less time to put it all back had a 1$ part not broken. As our only working vehicle was sitting in pieces all over the front lawn... he had to walk to the closest auto parts store to get the replacement.
The plan at the time I am writing this post is to get it all back together in time to attend Mass tomorrow so we can go to Charlotte and pick up TWO more puppies. One is being adopted by another family in our parish and we have a potential home lined up for the other. The family from our parish is coming with us and we will have a Picnic lunch up there. It should be fun.
Assuming Hugo can remember where all of those hoses, tubes and screws go, that is. I'll let you all know!
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So Saturday found Hugo surrounded by tools, oil, grease, radiator and the a/c, along with other bits and pieces of internal engine organs vital to our van's health. It only took about 3 hours to get to the offending pump and would have taken less time to put it all back had a 1$ part not broken. As our only working vehicle was sitting in pieces all over the front lawn... he had to walk to the closest auto parts store to get the replacement.
The plan at the time I am writing this post is to get it all back together in time to attend Mass tomorrow so we can go to Charlotte and pick up TWO more puppies. One is being adopted by another family in our parish and we have a potential home lined up for the other. The family from our parish is coming with us and we will have a Picnic lunch up there. It should be fun.
Assuming Hugo can remember where all of those hoses, tubes and screws go, that is. I'll let you all know!
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Saturday, May 02, 2009
Emmm..... Barbecue...... charcoal?
"Now," Benjamin said as he walked in with his freshly barbecued sausages "don't get mad 'cause this was my FIRST time making sausages on the grill AND my first time not supervised.'
"Hmm" I murmured, "they are a little uhhh..."
"Crispy? " he filled in.
Yeah - thats the word I was looking for - Crispy, black ... and.... uhhh - crispy!
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"Hmm" I murmured, "they are a little uhhh..."
"Crispy? " he filled in.
Yeah - thats the word I was looking for - Crispy, black ... and.... uhhh - crispy!
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Nap Time
Where else would one want to nap on a hot summer day but in a light airy hammock?
Okay, so it's May and therfore technically spring, but the temps here are in the 80's
(or 27 - 31 c) which in my mind - equals SUMMER!
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(or 27 - 31 c) which in my mind - equals SUMMER!
Friday, May 01, 2009
Fine dining
What does any self respecting mother do when she walks into the dining room and finds her 11 yr old daughter setting up a "photo shoot" as she called it, with the puppy at the dining room table, complete with place setting?
Why she suggests adding a colourful napkin, of course!
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Why she suggests adding a colourful napkin, of course!
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