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!"

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Chilling out...

and watching some T.V. Read more!

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

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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.

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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

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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!

Pick a hand...

Emma walked up to me with one arm behind her back.

"Pick a hand!" she exclaimed, with a big grin and her eyes sparkling.

There was only one hand to pick - so I did and surprise. It was the right one! Imagine that!
In the hand behind her back was a bright purple pen with a fluffy feather on the end.

Her delight in surprsing me was contagious and I was very glad for it because today has been very hard. I think that if life was a huge classroom and God the teacher - I would have been wearing a dunce cap most of the day given my inability to grasp the lesson that He has set before me.

My lesson for today has been the same one he has been tutoring me in for the past four years. Trust. Trust and remembering to pray when I feel that I can not endure the stress I am surrounded by for one more second, never mind possibly for years to come. It is time for me to get out one of my favorite prayers and keep it close by.

Thankfully,God is a merciful and kind teacher and I am not wearing a dunce cap - that I can see anyway. Read more!

In and Out...

In and out, in and out, in and out. Elsa just could not make up her mind about the pool we were playing in during our overnight stay in Savanah last night. Since Tuesday we had been on the road, by 3 pm Thursday we knew we had had it and pulled off in Savanah, Georgia and started searching for a hotel - preferably one with a pool and two tvs in our room. We do not have tv here at home so we prefer not to have to fight over the remote with the kids the few occaisions we can watch it. It did not take us long to find one that met our few basic needs.

In a jiffy we had the knapsacks, diaper bag and extra pillows heaped on the couch in the sitting area of the hotel room and we were in line for the bathroom - suits in hand. Thankfully we only had three children with us so I knew we were in for a relaxing time in the pool. I tossed Hugo a little swimmer as I took my turn in the bathroom but while I struggled to squeeze into my pre-Elsa bathing suit we decided he should go ahead and leave with Bethany and Nathaniel. Once I won my battle with my bathing suit I quickly slipped the swimmer onto Elsa's chubby little bottom, slipped her dress off and scooped her up. She and I grabbed a few pool towels from the front desk and then hurried to join Hugo and Elsa's two older siblings.

I couldn't wait to play in the pool with Elsa - she had loved the water so much the last time and this trip we had left Emma, the pool hater, behind! This was going to be a blast - just three kids!

As I approached the side of the pool Elsa's arms tightened around my neck and Hugo turned to greet her. As he spoke I heard a gurgling sound from behind him and Bethany's head emerged as she spouted water like she was a whale and before Hugo could even move to reach for her, Nathaniel chose that moment to be brave and step out beyond his height - dissapearing from site. Given the smallness of the pool Hugo had them both out in a nano second, but for Nathaniel the damage was done. He clung to side of the pool bewailing his plight and Elsa's grip around my neck tightened even more.

I cheerfully ignored the pleas to leave the pool that Nathaniel made to no one in particular and began to descend into the twinkling blue depths but Elsa is no dummy. In fact, she is quite an observant child and had taken in all that had passed in that nano second. Still, I continued to labor under my delusion of a peaceful dip with only three children. Bethany - far from being intimidated by her near brush with drowning continued to try and stretch her 4 foot 3 frame above 4 feet 6 inches of water and Nathaniel continued to wail from the pool steps.

With Elsa's scream of terror as her feet touched the warm water I finally gave in to reality. I placed her on the side of the pool and scrambled after her as she tore into the furthest corner from the pool. Then she turned and I could see the shimmering water tempting her. She watched her Daddy playing with and alternatively rescuing Bethany. Nathaniel, realizing no one was going to acknowledge his whines to leave the pool, had decided to join the fun.

It was too much for Elsita and she toddled to the edge and reached her arms out to me and we desended the stairs again. But as her toes touched the water she squirmed and cried to be released back on solid land once more. I let her pull herself over the side and back onto the cement. Hugo and I both flinched as she dragged her knees across it and then stood up. I was especially tense as she bounded away and towards the chairs. She scrambled onto one and not content with the heart attacks she was giving me each time she toddled towards the pool's edge - she had to stand up and grin at me. Hugo kept telling me to relax, that he would watch her - but no one can watch a baby like a mother so I ignored him and continued to suffer my heart attacks.

Over the next twenty minutes she toddled back and forth and backed up towards the edge of the pool on her knees and carefully let her legs into the water as I watched her from the poolside and Hugo guided her from behind. Each time as soon as the water got to about her ankles she would scramble back out. Exasperated, I watched her and wondered - how many times is she going to do this before she finally relaxes and trusts Hugo to hold her in the water?

At that moment I was stuck by the similarity with what Elsa was struggling with and my struggles to trust God. Again and again Hugo patiently helped her into the pool and then back out while I, like her gaurdian angel, stood close by as back up. How many times has God stood patiently by; holding me as I dangle at the edge of dispair, afraid to let go of my problem and let God take care of it because maybe, just maybe, this time God won't take care of it? Yet just as Hugo stood there carefully and patiently helping her in and out of the pool, God is faithfully waiting for me to just jump in and let Him take care of me and what ever problem I am facing.

Eventually, Elsa did let me carry her into the pool and she relaxed as I gently swished her about softly talking to her as I reminded her that just 14 months ago she lived in the water and floated about in it for nine months. Now I just have to try and let go and relax, and let God gently guide me through life. Read more!

What's THIS from Mummy?

This question is usually followed by what is to me some obscure quote from a movie a I vaguely remember seeing. However - recently Emma challenged me to this game AND I actually knew the answers.

"What's dis from Mummy", she asked as she squirmed through her face being washed.
"Wockyyyyy? Giiiingerrrr?"

"Chicken Run?!" I shouted with glee.

"Yes!" she grinned.

"And dis? What is dis from? I like ta move it, move it! I like ta move it move it!"

"Madagasgar!"

Look out quiz shows - here I come! Read more!

Thank you Saint Anthony

We were asking for God's blessings of the new (to us) van through the intercession of Saint Anthony, and our Priest suggested this as a Novena of Thanksgiving.

O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited upon your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, we implored you to obtain for us the favor we saught through a novena. The answer to our prayer required a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, you whispered our petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of our hearts will always be yours.

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we fogrive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit in honour of Saint Anthony, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

Amen.

I decided that, as well as praying this daily, I would keep this up at the top of my blog for the nine days. Please if you care to - join us in this prayer of thanksgiving!
Thank you everyone for your joyful congratulations!!

(Originally posted June 18th, 2006)

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From the living room couch...

...came words of wisdom and common sense as my 15 year old daughter, Gabriela, perused a commerical insert that had come in the mail.

"What's this? Oh, a chart for choosing the right hair colour for you... Hmmm - I would have thought God did that when he created me." Read more!

Oh the tangled webs we weave...

...when first we begin to deceive.

Ever tell a little white lie? Just a tiny little story ... so as to distract a child, or to get him or her to do what you want. And then have it come back to bite you in the umm... derrière?

Months ago, several months ago, we began to encourage Emma to go play with a sister or brother by saying... "Oh - but you don't want her to be LONELY, do you?" This worked so well that it slowly evolved to stories like; "Oh, but your Teddy Bear is lonely, he is MISSING you - you really need to go to bed so he won't be LONELY." This worked very well.

But now Emma is lonely, oh so very lonely. She is lonely when it is time to go to bed. She is lonely when she is sent to put her cup back in the kitchen. She is even lonely when she needs to the bathroom.

"Oh, but Mummy - I am wonely. Pease tum wit me. I CAN"T be wonely. I just tan't be all alwone!"

I have tried leaving the bathroom door open so I can keep working.
"But look I can see you. YOU can see ME!"
I have begged and pleaded. I have told her her gaurdian angel is with her. All to no avail.

And then the other day she bounced off my bed in the wee hours of the morning after announcing the call of nature and began cajoling me to join her.
"Tum on Mummy. I just tan't be wonely! Peeease tum with me."

As she reached my bathroom door she turned to demand my presence, and an idea hit me. I whiped my toes out from under the bed covers and wiggled them.
In a falsetto voice they said to Emma, "We can see you from here, you won't be lonely!"
A miracle - it worked. But now my toes have to watch her every morning. But that's okay - it's progress. And it is one less bathroom call that I have to attend personally. Read more!

and heeeere it is!

SURPRISE!!
Our NEW TO US 1994 van! How did this happen? Well - I can only attribute it to Saint Anthony's prayers. Our new cheque arrived on his feast day and the money was available this morning - the cut off date! So we are off in a few minutes to Wednesday night Mass to thank GOD and maybe have Father bless our van if he has time!

God is Good!

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Surprise...

I have a BIG SURPRISE to share that I learned about yesterday. Check back later today for pictures. Read more!

Careful - Her Bites

A few weekends ago we had carefully made plans to do a barbeque at a nearby park – the one we discovered on Memorial Day weekend. I loved that park. It was clean and pretty, the play equipment safe and not overly busy. I do not typically enjoy parks but this one really appealed to me. So after preparing the food, packing up the van and settling kids into their car seats, we headed off. Thankfully it was only a ten minute drive as when we got there – we discovered that a local festival was taking place. Complete with pop corn stands, cotton candy and people. Tons and tons of people.

Neither Hugo nor I felt like having to beat our way through crowds with so many younger children in tow – no matter how many teens and pre teens we might have to help. So we made a quick u-turn and high tailed it out of there. Within ten minutes we were safely parked in our own driveway again and busily prepping our own little barbeque. After all a picnic is a picnic if you are eating outside.

The kids were happily playing with the badminton rackets that I picked up at the dollar store to make up for not getting to swing and slide at the park and I was happily burning calories right along with them.

The only downside was having to dodge little heads that were often weaving between us and I was relieved when Nathaniel, Emma and Elsa settled down to play near the front porch. Keeping my eye on them, I continued to chase that elusive birdie around the yard with the older kids. After a bit I needed a break and decided to try and catch some snap shots of all the fun we were having.

I snapped pics of kids running and jumping, twisting and giggling and I caught a one of what looked like Nathaniel hugging Elsa. But suddenly there was a high pitched scream causing all heads to turn ensemble, towards the front porch - where I thought Nathaniel had been cuddling with his baby sister.

Instead, there on the side walk was Nathaniel with several fingers stuck in Elsa’s mouth and she showed no signs of loosening her hold on his hand. A pit bull might have had a weaker grip than she did at that moment. By the time I got there she had finally relinquished his hand and Tanny clasped it to his chest and between sobs explained. “She has somefing in her mouth!” Surrounding her, were little crumbs of Styrofoam – lending us a hint as to what she had been so fiercely defending.

We got Nathaniel some ice for swollen little fingers and praised him for his attempt to protect his baby sister. Several minutes later I noticed that Elsa had once more stuffed something in her mouth. As I bent over to try and dig it out, Nathaniel passed by, his bag of ice still offering relief to his wounded fingers.

“Careful!” he warned me, “Her bites!”

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