Dwell in Glory

RIP Joe...good and faithful servant...

2012-01-22T09:50:00.000-08:00

I think I am going to be bad today and break some rules...I am about to break every good blogging rule. Today, I am not thinking about my audience. I am not thinking about how this post will help or hurt my fledging little blog. I am not even writing it for the man I am about to euligize...he is in a much better place, of that I am certain. I am writing it for me...and the idealistic person I used to be. In fact, I can tell you right now that I will not even post comments made to my blog today, because, frankly, i don't care. Just want to hear myself talk :o) No big surprise there, right. But I want to talk and I don't care if anyone agrees with me...ok, if you want to comment, agree with me and I will post it. I am feeling a little sad and sentimental and that always loves company.

Joe Paterno

I have spent much of my parenting years and if i squint, I think I can see some of the years prior to that, telling my children and other people that we spend too much time worshipping idols. There are no perfect people. Why do we worship them. There was only Jesus and Mary, and we spent just as much time crucifying them while they were on earth as we did worshipping them. Why then, do we idolize ordinary people who sing, or throw a ball, or have the genetic gift of perfectly placed facial features...really, does that make them special. Usually they aren't even very nice or funny or have anything special about them other than that gift that was presented to them by God solely for His Glory. But today, I am letting that go and talking about my only earthly hero, Joe Paterno.

Joe is my hero. I went to Penn State in the early 80's and it was a golden time. We had not one, but two national championships. Joe was the man...not just because he won those football games, but because he was our coach. Any university, an school for that matter, identifies with its football team. That is part of our hero worship mentality. The highly visible, usually revenue generating part will make us stand up and pay attention. But Joe was the face of our team...and by virtue, our school. We all had stand up Joe's in our apartments and dorms. We all wanted our picture taken by the Lion. Any news clippings I have saved from the 80's usually has something to do with Joe or the team. I let my long-held belief regarding hero worship go with Joe because, well, he was above all that. No, I never had a sit-down heart to heart with the man. But he was a heavily publicized figure for more years than I was even aware of the university. He did a few things and he did them well. He was a husband. A parent. A coach. A leader. Joe did those things well. He was there for his family, his university, his team, and his kids...He loved us and let us know by his dedication to his few absolutes. As a student, I was one of his. By his unwavering committment to us, he earned my unending love and admiration. Ridiculous unwavering loyalty to a coach...a public figure. Silly, yeah, maybe. But he walked with us down the mall. He waved as we attended classes. He was one of us and I was there. And he did a few things so well...so good, it made an impact. How many of us can say that.

Farewell, Joe...I am praying for you and your family. You were a good and faithful servant and I pray that you are hearing that right now from the only One who has the legitimate right to be worshipped...

The Baptism of Jesus and a little more...

2012-01-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

the baptism of Jesus from Wylio

Yesterday I posted about Epiphany. I was a little confused and still am, but today at Mass, things became a bit clearer. I knew that in some fashion, Epiphany also was about Jesus' Baptism. I couldn't connect all the dots because I thought all of it was connected. I am not sure, but I think that today's solemn feast is actually a distinct feast that is generally celebrated on Epiphany. It is not, this year, because of a scheduling of the Liturgical Year. Clear as mud...Why does it feel like, as a cradle Catholic, I am learning about my faith on a day by day basis. Anyone else feel this way. I guess trying to really teach it to my children I am, in fact, learning about it. So, Epiphany is the Pinnacle of the Christmas season...the highest part. And then, the Baptism of Jesus, and the beginning of his public ministry, is the end of Christmas...take down those decorations. I think we can eat more snowmen on a stick, too...totally appropriate.

Everything I Know About Parenting, I Learned From My Cat...
Many of you might remember that a few weeks ago, our cat had kittens. She is a young cat and it was an unplanned pregnancy :( We had not had the opportunity to take her for her operation; quite honestly, didn't even think she was old enough to have kittens. But she did and they were born prematurely. It was a devastating experience for my 10 year old daughter who spent a lot of time with her and then helped her with the kittens. Three kittens were born during a 24 hour period and we lost two shortly after their birth. The last kitten survived longer, possibly because she was born last and much later than the second earlier two. More likely because Tina hand fed it. Since they were so early...small and no hair...and our cat didn't really seem to have a maternal instinct, this gave the kitten a chance to linger. Unfortunately, it couldn't keep any heat, and when we finally left it alone with her mom, it expired. While she didn't seem to have a maternal instinct, Ashe, our cat, did feel possessive and she continually carried the kittens to her corner where she had the kittens. To our surprise, last week she stalked and "captured" one of Tina's toys...a small stuffed dog. I thought she was trying to eat it, like the dogs do with stuffed animals. But she just kept it. It wasn't until she tried to feed it, that I realized what she was doing...

Ashe's Kitty eats Kibbles...

Yes, Ashe likes to eat; is becoming quite fat actually. Eating is her favorite thing to do. We started to get the idea when we saw her place her kitty in her food bowl. She never really got the hang of doing it any other way and this is how all the other animals in the house eat :o)

Parenting does not come naturally to most. Like Ashe, we learn to parent by observing our own parents. The longer we live, the more ideas and models we have to parenting. That can be a good thing, if we have good models. If we don't, it can actually damage us. And, there is always books. I have reviewed two books and I will review more. However, I am going to spend some time looking at the bible as the ultimate parenting manual. The older I get...the longer I parent, the more I am convinced that the answer to most of our questions in life are found in this book. I am not wedded to a format, though, so if anyone has any ideas, please comment and tell me ideas...options...questions.

Happy Epiphany!

2012-01-08T12:32:00.001-08:00

Well, I did the disappearing act, again...this time it was health related. My bells-palsy incident contributed to my severe tiredness with my cross-country trek to PA and back, topped off by my children's vacation from school and yadda yadda yadda...Tough month! But very wonderful time with my birth family and some of the kids. Then back to reality with my little Murphy Family ;o) Love breaks...did I say I wanted to homeschool. I think someone hijacked my blog!! Seriously...I would love to homeschool except when they are home on break. If I could work out some kind of deal with the public school to watch them for me during the day...

So Epiphany! What is it? The best I could come up with was its the final day of Christmas. I decided with 7 new Murphy's becoming new Catholics, we needed a better description. After much searching, I decided even the Catholic Church doesn't have a good handle on this!! Very confusing. I finally got some answers on EWTN and on Dr. Italy's Website...Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio gives a great explanation. We haven't marked our door and blessed our house yet...that's later tonight but we did do a fun snowman activity I found on Catholic Icing and
Pinterest...

The snowmen representing, so I told the children, the Trinity (three beings one God) as well as the three Kings. All aspects of the Epiphany, or Jesus' recognition by the Gentiles as part of the trinity and as the King of Kings.

Truly, Epiphany is a great way to extend the holiday season past the craziness that it often is and remain focused on the season after the big box stores have already moved on to hearts and bunnies. It gives us quiet time to remember the little boy born in a manger who was recognized by kings as divine. A baby who could not care for himself who would one day die for our sins and redeem the world. Our next holiday frenzy--its nice to have time in between to reflect on The Man...Jesus, and, you know, eat donuts on a stick...always fun. Happy Epiphany people...its nice to be back.

Hold on to Your Kids...a book review

2011-12-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

I was checking emails and got sidetracked by this article. It is about a celebrity couple who is filing for divorce, celebrating with friends and each other at a party in honor of said divorce, and telling everyone that while they can't be together, they have very good feeling toward the other partner and want to work together for the children. Working together is very important for the children and that is very mature...or is it?

Last week I talked about this book, High Risk: Children Without a Conscience. I explained that while I believe it was ground-breaking when it was released, and still has an excellent overview of what attachment disorder is, there were some problems with it. My biggest complaints are two-fold. Holding Therapy, which is touted as the only way to get through to the child, is incorrect. And it can be dangerous for a parent to attempt alone. Second, it talks about attachment disorder as being relatively one speed...like, your child is only attachment disordered if he or she is a mini psychopath standing over you at night with a knife or sticking feces in your hamburger. Attachment disorder, we now know, have more of a continuum...degrees of attachment problems.

As some of you know, from my facebook posts and one crazy sessions when he fainted during our call, I had been engaging in telephone counseling with therapist and radio host, Dr. Greg Popcak. Dr. Popcak had many good things to say when he helped me with some problems I was having with our son. He steered me towards a book , Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld. I initially was less than thrilled with the recommendation. I assumed it was another book on holding therapy from the name and knew I did not want to go there with my 6+ foot 16 year old son. But Dr. Popcak's discussions with me regarding attachment--building and saving the bond with my children--made a lot of sense, so I ordered the book and dove in. I was delighted and LOVED the book. I highly recommend it for anyone who has children, works with children, was once a child himself. Yeah, I think everyone should read it. Why, you ask? I am so glad you did!!

The book defines a phenomenon that has not been named in today's society: Peer Culture. It is so spot on that it is almost frightening. The premise is that when children do not find their parents as reliable and dependable...they lose their authority with their children who then need to look elsewhere for someone to orient them; be their true north. That usually ends up being other children. The problem with that is other children do not have the emotional maturity to bond effectively with others, nor do they have the capacity to encourage other to become the individual they are meant to be. I realize, when writing that, it sounds ridiculously simplistic. It is. But it also explains some of the big problems of our times...precocious sexuality, though that is a tame name for what our children are exposed to on a daily basis, bullying which is becoming a huge problem at times leading to suicide, our peter pan boys who refuse to grow up, girls who pretend they are mature and then try and prove it by doing a grown up thing, like raising a child...and the circle continues. Many of the things that I rant against on a daily basis can be found here in the Peer Culture that we are raising our children in. Critics of the book raise two objections to it. 1. lack of remedies in the book. 2. lack of objective peer reviews in support of or even in opposition to his theories. I concur with both of those objections, but still recommend to book. First, it is obviously true. It can be seen clearly in society and in our own lives. There is something going on...Neufeld just explained it really well. Second, if it hasn't been defined before, it would be difficult for others to have studied it, however, if we did reviews for peer cultured studies on some of the individual issues Neufeld raised in the book, I am sure that we would find support for the ideas. Neufeld just put it all together. I for one am grateful. Also, if I recognize now what the problem is, I can find solutions in my life for our children. Neufeld doesn't need to tell me what to do.

This book has caused me to take a long, hard look at my own life. I believe I used my own peer culture as my True North...now I need to examine my life and see how it has affected me. How I did not fall into the same problems as my Peers; how it affected my siblings; most importantly, my children. It has caused me to look at how I am schooling my children. It has caused me to examine how casually my husband and I send the children to have play dates and stay overnight with friends. How we are actually encouraging the children to become independent from us before they have a chance to have a secure attachment. Most of the children in our home have only lived with us for 2 years. They do not have a strong bond and many of the things we do don't encourage a stronger bond. Their options are to look to immature peers as the source of their growth and development.

What are the things that I want to teach my kids that they won't get from their peers? Unconditional love...Responsibility for self and for others. Commitment and follow through. Family bonds and caring that is more than superficial. Maturity...self-actualization. I want my children to set goals and follow through on them. I want my children to try, risking failure. I want my children to be sure of themselves so that if someone laughs at them or disagrees with them, they will not blindly believe them or fail to believe in what they know is true. I want my children to have and be a good friend. I want them to practice that with their peers but know that they can be safe at home so that their peer interactions are not life and death. I want my child to become a responsible adult who will choose a friend to marry and be his or her best friend. And remain with that person forever. I want them to choose this person not based on what he looks like on the outside, but on what he is inside. I want them to stay together regardless of what life throws them, yes, and model to their own children what to be. Not just be mature enough not to fight and have a party celebrating their divorce. I want my children to love God and see him as the ultimate authority to trust. The arbiter of right and wrong...the true, true north.

Concluded with a Cross...

2011-12-09T08:38:00.001-08:00

So, I confessed that I don't like confession...but what I didn't tell you was that I went back. About three week ago. It was after about 20 years. I never really felt the need; no I don't think I am sinless. I always thought that if I did a good examination of conscience and asked directly, I was good. Lately, however, I have been listening to Catholic radio in the car. Day after day, hour after hour, I was bombarded by messages telling me I was not getting the full grace of my faith by missing out on one of the few sacraments I am able to access at any time. Then at church, the priest would echo that. I didn't even have any relief at home...Shawn hounded me all the time to go. I was feeling some pressure. But two things happened to push me over the edge. 1. I told my son that I went in an effort to get him to go to mass. I didn't intend to lie, but when he misunderstood me and was so impressed that I had gone...well, what was I supposed to say. 2. When I was beginning to feel the conviction to attend, it became overwhelming. I was still under the impression that Catholics are required to confess once a year or they cannot receive. I became convinced that the priest could sense that I had not received reconciliation in 20 years and so he would deny me the Eucharist. In a panic, I fled, in tears...no drama here! In our very large parish of thousands of parishioners, we only have confession one night a week. It happened to be that day. I arranged to attend, with great difficulty---i have 11 children with active schedules; they didn't feel my sense of urgency. But Shawn did...he moved heaven and earth and children to free my schedule. My panic was immense. I couldn't even remember what I was supposed to say. I went in and sat down with a priest I have never seen before and told him it was 20 years and these were my sins...and nothing. I could not call to mind one single sin. He was silent and finally asked, "so what brought you here." "Mother Angelica was hounding me", was all I could come up with...All my sins forgiven, though I hadn't really confessed one. I fairly floated home...weight that I hadn't felt before was gone. We have an awesome God...

Oh, and I guess I lied...It was not 20 years since my last confession. I had a priest absolve my sins during that time. I was under the influence of some amazing drugs and having gallbladder surgery at the time so I suppose I can be forgiven for forgetting. I do remember the feeling of lightness from my sins (no, it wasn't just the amazing drugs!!). Even afterwards, I had thought about having a little alternative surgery done on a regular basis to have a priest give absolution without having to confess...but I forgot after even a short time. Does anyone else ever read the old testament and marvel at those silly Israelites? God would bring them out of slavery through miraculous means and they would turn around and forget. I guess we are all just as silly! The memory is so very short. But having your sins forgiven by God; hearing it from a Priest is an amazing thing. So for my Catholic sisters and brother, use Advent as a chance to go back to the sacrament and remember what you have been missing. If you regularly take advantage, good for you! And if you are a Christian brother or sister...this is just another amazing reason for Catholicism! Just one...

from google images

Now, in my effort to make a reconciliation a regular part of my life, i am trying to attend once a month. I am trying to do an examination of conscience on a regular basis. An examination of Conscience is usually based on the 10 commandments. There are other ways to do it, but we have such a thorough process by which to accomplish this in the ten commandments. Interestingly enough, there was support for this in the first reading at Mass today, so I didn't have to look far (reading is from Isaiah 48:17-19).
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,

the Holy One of Israel:

I, the LORD, your God,

teach you what is for your good,

and lead you on the way you should go.

If you would hearken to my commandments,

your prosperity would be like a river,

and your vindication like the waves of the sea;

Your descendants would be like the sand,

and those born of your stock like its grains,

Their name never cut off

or blotted out from my presence

So, without further ado...the 10 Commandments:

1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
have I loved God more than anything else (sex, money, power, or ambition), engaged in superstitions (horoscope), or the occult (Ouija board, seances, worship of the devil), or let someone or something influence my decisions more than God?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
have I spoken with disrespect about God or failed to keep vows or promises I made to God, belittled others with my speech, or spoken obscenely?
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
have I remembered to set aside time each day for personal prayer, shopped, done labor, or business on Sunday without a good reason, missed or neglected to take a child under my care to Mass on Sunday or on a Holy Day of Obligation?
4. Honor your father and your mother.
have I obeyed what my parents have asked of me (if I am still under their care) or failed to take care of my parents in their old age, been to my children a good example of a catholic parent, lived in humble obedience to those who legitimately exercise authority over me, and not supported politicians whose positions are in opposition to the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church?
5. You shall not kill.
have I been involved directly or indirectly in an abortion, verbally or emotionally abused another, threatened another with physical harm, purposely provoked another by nagging, deliberately annoyed or teased another, joined a hate group or discriminated against someone, used tobacco immoderately, over-eaten, refused to forgive someone when asked, hated someone, indulged in serious anger, refused to control my temper, delighted to see someone else be hurt or suffer, engaged in animal cruelty?
6 & 9. You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
have I practiced chastity, given into lust, practiced artificial contraception, not been open to conception, without just cause, engaged in homosexuality, or dressed immodestly?
7 &10. You shall not steal.
You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
have I stolen, envied other for their possessions, freed myself from a consumer mentality, tried to live in a spirit of Gospel poverty and simplicity, given generously to others in need, or misused natural resources?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
have I lied, gossiped, or ruined someones reputation and destroyed his credibility, been guilty of a rash judgement, failed to speak in defense of the Catholic faith, the Church, or another person, or betrayed anther's confidence through speech.

It Started with an Apple

2011-12-08T12:06:00.001-08:00

"You just have such a bad attitude towards me. You don't treat me like the other kids. Dad sees it and he understands."
Those words were spoken to me by my oldest son...a boy who is having a really hard time right now...OK, a really hard time for the last few months. He is and has made some very poor decisions, but he is wrong about one thing. I love him dearly. With his sister, he was my first child. They came into our lives at 10 and 20 months old...biological siblings. I tell them the story of my first sight of them in the children and youth office. He strut into the office, big and brash. I swear he was jailing his overalls...so much swagger carrying a bottle of milk. I said "OH God, please let that be my boy..." His sister came in next in the arms of the social worker, wide as she was long and such a mean look on her face, I said..."I hope that isn't the sister!" At 10 months old, she scared me already. But the boy...I loved him at first sight. An 16 years later, I love him even more. No, I don't treat him differently, though I pray daily not to let my irritation show. I know that he needs my grace more than any of them right now. I think his perception of what I think of him causes him to think I am angry with him. A very adolescent response. However, on a daily basis he rains down hate on me. This morning, I thought, "wow, this feels like a physical assault..."

the man replied, the woman whom you put here with me-she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it. The Lord God then asked the woman...she answered, the serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it...

Ever since Adam and Eve first allowed sin into our world, our first response to it has been an adolescent. We hide, then we cast blame; we excuse our behavior rather than accepting it in a mature way and asking forgiveness. Today is The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In the first reading at Mass, we hear about Adam and Eve allowing sin into our world. The Garden of Eden was closed to all. On the Feast of her Immaculate Conception, we hear, in the Gospel, about how Mary agreed to be a Conduit to allow Jesus to be born into the world to be our Savior. To die for our sins and to open the gates of the Garden of Eden again...Life, eternal...

I had to wonder if when we deny sin in our adolescent way, if it feels, to Jesus, like a physical assault...

photo from pintrest

This weekend we will be celebrating the third Sunday of Advent...we are done with the penitential part and moving to celebration of our Savior's birth. I am afraid we have been celebrating Christmas a little too much a little too early. For the next few nights, we will be discussing our sins and doing a good examination of conscience. Many of the younger Murphy's are either not old enough to have had their first Reconciliation or just not been baptised yet. Still, none of them are too young to know the difference between right and wrong. We will spend the next week or so examining our sins praying for forgiveness so we can fully enjoy the joy of our saviors birth. Tomorrow, I will discuss how to make a good examination of conscience. However, today, I will touch on making a good confession. We learn how to make the sacrament of Reconciliation in 2nd grade and it is never talked about again. Consequently, many people are still confessing like a 2nd grader. A thorough examination of conscience is one way to avoid this. Also, telling the Priest confessor your marital status can help with his understanding of your sin. He doesn't have to know everything about you, but that can help him to put things into context. You don't have to confess every sin. He doesn't need to know that you missed Mass unless it was a larger part of habitual sin. He needs to know the one or two things that weigh most heavily on your heart. God knows the rest...

A Day of Note...

2011-12-06T11:45:00.001-08:00

When Shawn called from work yesterday, he told me they had a cake for him; it was his 20 year anniversary at his company...Wow, how time flies. I thought back and instantly thought of his 1st very memorable night, 20 years ago. He was on night shift and in the middle of the night, his brother knocked on the door, waking me up fromthe sound sleep that I had so much trouble entering; their father had died. And James was still with us...

There is nothing you can do for him...you should just let him go. You will never be able to afford the treatment he will need...

Those words were spoken by a highly respected therapist I knew for years. A man who was married to a close friend and co-worker. A man who was currently working for the Children and Youth Agency where we lived, fostered and consequently adopted our first son, and the site of one of the most horrible moments of my life. I don't know when I have talked about this last; its been years. I am Catholic, but have a problem with confession. Shawn tells me I don't feel the need because I confess everything in my life every time I open my mouth. But not this...The little boy we adopted when we were very, very young was being fostered by my parents. They could not handle his escalating misbehavior. Shawn had a pretty good relationship with him and it seemed obvious that rather than allow an eight year old to go into residential treatment, we would give it a shot. He was involved with foster care through the agency that I used to work for, so it all seemed possible. It went well. We had some problems, but overall when we went to court to put in a petition to adopt and the judge immediately granted the adoption, we thought, "well alright!" We changed our tune to a more conservative, "well..." when after we got home, the boy immediately called his best friend and asked to go live with him and his family.

The next several years were a nightmare of him trying to get away from us. Typically, as it turns out, he could not handle the closeness of our new relationship of parent and child. Also, typically, he turned to me to act out his anger towards the mother who hurt him so badly. No one could see it...not even Shawn. Especially not Shawn. He wanted it that way. Pretty diabolical for a nine year old, right...but family members who helped me with him at the time saw it almost immediately. He only behaved for Shawn...it almost broke up our marriage. If my sister-in-law...Shawn's sister who didn't live with us had not been with me the day that he systematically and with a smile kicked his bedroom wall in because I would not let him go outside until he picked up the dresser that he pushed to the ground--an hours worth of entertainment for him and me getting bruised from him repeatedly hurling himself at me, I might have thought I WAS crazy when he calmly picked it up and went outside after Shawn told him once to take care of it. Shawn had been sleeping because of his night job and finally the banging woke him up. I became upset when Shawn let him go outside and Shawn told me, "maybe if you weren't so mean to him, he would behave better for you." I left that day and didn't come home for a few days. But Beth was there and she knew I wasn't crazy. There was something seriously wrong with the child that years of therapy hadn't caught. My husband didn't see. But I did and I knew I wasn't crazy. I love my husband so I went home. For us and for my sister-in-law who lived with us since the death of her father. I had gone back to work, and the child turned his mommy anger on her when there was no one else there. We took to sleeping with dressers against the door. After many intances of him becoming violent, we called the police. The police didn't want him; Children and Youth were done with him...they wanted us to get him to a counselor. His therapist told me that he probably was too far gone to work with but respectfully apologized when the Doctor said he was fine after a two minute interview. One night he came after me with a butcher knife and Shawn took him to Children and Youth and said you NEED to do something. It moved quickly after that. The conversation with the therapist and his subsequent recommendation of the book, "High Risk: Children Without a Concience" convinced us that we needed to relinquish our parental rights. I won't bore you with the details. Really...it was heart-breaking and wrong. So much wrong in that little person's life. I don't feel good about my part in it. I was supposed to be the adult. I didn't know what the problem was and in 1990 not many therepists knew what Reactive Attachment Disorder was...the average mom certainly didn't. But I did, and in my job as parent education trainer (all snickering must be hidden...well!!) I vowed to learn all there was to know about attachment and problems with it.

My first introduction to attachment disorder was the first book recommended to me, High Risk: Children without a conscience, has a great introduction on the subject and describes the problem for children who have not been able to attach to their caregivers. The outlook in the book is very grim, however, much more is known about this disorder now. We are now aware that there are continuum's in the spectrum of attachment. Next week I will be looking at a more modern book on the subject of attachment disorder. I mention this book because it was pioneer in its day. However, while it called for a very "one size fits all" approach to therapy, the basic premises of the book are still sound. I think what I like most about the book--the hope I found there was that it listed, as a symptom of your child's disorder, "a very angry mother." Don't get me wrong...I don't think it is good for mother's to be angry. In a field where we tell people all the time that they are not responsible for someone else's feeling, it is appropriate to to recognize this. These kids deliberately try to splinter relationships and make, usually the mother, a target for all the bad. They usually have a very cute and delightful personality, except for her. While it wasn't an especially happy time in our married life, the trials we went through with James helped us to become better parents and better people.

Lord, help us to remember people in our past who are gone, either through death or circumstance. Help us to remember they still need our prayers. Even if we don't always have good memories about them, they have played a part in making us the people we are today. Help me to remember only the good, in order to help us pray fervently for them. Every person and every trial has a reason. while we may not know why on this side of heaven, help us to praise you in all things. amen...

Pretty Feet Notes and another give-away

2011-12-02T12:09:00.001-08:00


17	Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18	In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
19	The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20	For the ruthless shall come to nought and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21	who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
22	Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: "Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale.
23	For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24	And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction." Isaiah 29: 17 - 24

So, I don't really get prophesy...i am a tell it to me straight out kind of girl. I can pretty much let sarcasm, innuendo, and subtlety pass me by, as well, much to the frustration of my friends and family. I do well with pointed looks and body language though, which is probably what has saved me from totally alienating everyone around me. But prophesy...in the bible, nope. I don't get it. So when I got the opportunity to attend daily mass recently on a regular basis and heard the priest talking about this guy Isaiah and some of it started to make sense...well, i felt a little like the blind who began to see. Its kind of exciting...If I am understanding some of this correctly, prophesy isn't some end times thing. Its now. It already is...The prophet, Isaiah, was a, you know, prophet. Sent by God to tell us something. Then Jesus came, and he fulfilled these prophesies...and defeated the devil. That is a great thought. The devil is already defeated. We have won. There is no contest now. We just have to believe it. The only thing he has going for him...and its big...is that we don't believe in him any more. It enables him to keep telling us things that keep us separate from God's love. We need to take our blinders off, see him for what he is, and live. I had a thought yesterday that I would try and share, on a regular basis, some life-friendly news...taking those blinders off...kind of like my own Pretty Feet Notes...clever, huh? And finally...its late, and I am tired, so i am just going to remind you to let me know if you would like to be in the raffle for the amazing book I have available...Different Dream Parenting by Jolene Philo. Also, I have a link to a really great blog hop by teachers at Lady Bugs teachers files...Its a 12 day hop, so check it out...especially if you are a teacher or home school!

Beautiful Feet

2011-12-01T10:09:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I read something that made me very sad. This post, on Christianity Today, quoted a statistic that 90% of babies checked in vitro for downs syndrome are aborted. Convinced it was false, I googled it. Yep, its true. Isn't that the saddest thing...Some other individuals just confirmed the decision. "I am not in that situation, but if I was, I would abort. I wouldn't like to live like that and I wouldn't sentence my child to live like that." Wow, so sentence them to the death penalty...sounds kindof harsh. Why does the parent get to make the decision of what perfection is...they are probably inspired more by fear of the unknown. Raising handicapped children in any way is not easy, but that doesn't mean that it is not rewarding...even wonderful. If they choose adoption, it does not sentence the child to a lifetime of institutional care. Sometimes the test results are wrong, and a completely healthy infant never got a chance.
I have a whole new perspective on handicaps. I have been diagnosed this week with bells palsy. My doctor is unsure if its from my Multiple Sclerosis or a virus, but we are treating it aggresively...always fun. At any rate, the right side of my face is effectively paralyzed. Not pretty while talking, eating, or even smiling. Since I have been chided by husband and daughter about calling attention to it, I am forbidden from using humor and self-depreciation in dealing with it...my favorite safety mechanisms. I am seeing clearly how people deal with handicapped people. It ain't pretty. Even at church...but I am learning a lot of other things, too. Things about myself. I don't always have to be the funny person. People will still like me or want to know me even if I can't smile and talk...There is more to me than that which is visible. That is the message I teach to my children, who have visible and invisible handicapps. Even to my black children--horrible to think of race as a handicap, but it is. There is so much more to people than that which is known by looking at them. In this age of health care limitations and constraints, life is an issue that need careful considertion. Issues on this being heard in our congress soon include a prenatal discrimation based ban on sex and race selection-based abortions. African babies are aborted more than 5x the rate of white babies. Babies are routinely screened for other disabilities to give parents the chance to abort if this would be too hard for them...

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!

In light of this, one has to ask how much of this is ignorance-based. One of the readings in yesterday's mass was from Roman's and included the above passage. We need to spread the information about things like abortion, pro-life nurses being forced to assist in abortions because of federal mandates, and end of life issues. We need to do God's work and bring the good news. We live in an information age, but much of what we see is influenced by a secular media whose message is not God's. Are we becoming blind to even what people saw 2 generations ago generally in every day life. Do we just not see people with disabilities out and about. Do we think it is so much harder to raise a handicapped child than a "normal" child. Raising any child is a hard job. If we go in with expectation of perfection, we are sure to be disappointed. If we plan to revisit our youth through our children, I am so sorry but it won't be the same. But wanting to parent...if that is your goal, you can work with anyone! And love them. And be fulfilled as a parent, whatever that means; it really isn't about us.

I think there are three things we can do to be "beautiful feet."

We can raise awareness of the issues in the secular media. There are things like this contest, where youth are encouraged to spread the message in ways that get accross to secular and religious people on issues like abortion. Reel Life Film Costest also has a facebook page if you or someone is interested.
Speaking of the media, EWTN has done much to raise awareness and interest in our catholic faith. If you are interested in supporting them, you can go to the EWTN.com or any of its affiliates, like Guadalupe or Ave Maria radio. Both of those affiliates are holding fund raisers next week and provide information on right to life issues.
We can disseminate information on the dignity of life...all life.

That said, I would like to offer a recommendation on a book for anyone thinking about parenting any baby. It is Different Dream for Parenting by Jolene Philo. No, no one goes into looking for a disabled baby to raise, but increasingly, babies are being born with differing levels of disability. Combined with better heath care at birth, some babies are being born and parents are suddenly pulled into legnthy hospital stays and situations where they are called to make decisions for their child that is life and death with little preparation. Since a child can be born handicapped, needing a legnthy hospital stay, or have an accident and become disabled, it would beehoove everyone to read this. Jolene doesn't address any one issue or disorder, but instead writes about the process and navigating the medical community. She touches on everything from paying your hospital bills to organizing people who want to help (brilliant). She talks about babies who have chronic problems, to babies, like her own, who have issues that can be resolved, and finally, if necessary, she talks about ways to prepare for and plan for a death. It is an amazing reference. There is an excerpt to read a part of the book here. Jolene's blog also holds a wealth of information. I feel pretty bad about offering to be in this blog hop because I wasn't able to generate any interest in my raffle for a copy of the book. I will extend that until this weekend. If no one enters, I will advertise it through Amazon and Barnes and Noble :o) Just drop me a note saying you are interested!

The Centurian...

2011-11-28T17:04:00.001-08:00

It must have been easy to believe if you lived in the time of Jesus. I imagine if you met him...looked into his eyes, you would just know and believe. Course if you were wrong, you got et by lions... so there was some risk. But the opportunity to really believe in Jesus. Lay everything out for him. I would have loved to have a chance to believe like that. It must have been an exciting time...biblical times. I love the stories in the bible, like the lady who touched his cloak because she KNEW that is all it would take to get healing from him. Or the disciples who risked everything to walk with him. Or the Centurion...a gentile, like us, who wouldn't even trouble Jesus to come to his home...told him, Just command it, and it will be done...faith...strong, unshakable, and true. faith...

I pondered this on my way home from Mass this morning. I was a little worried. I am planning a visit home to PA for Christmas. Matt will be spending Christmas with his birth mom, Shawn is taking 8 of the children to Austin to see his sister and Shamu ;o) not in any particular order. And I get a break, driving to PA with just two kids. Tina is planning a birthday party with her biological siblings. Mariah just wants a break from whole foods. And me, I just want to enjoy some quiet with my family. But yesterday Shawn noticed my mouth is drooping...weird, right. But this morning my eye felt odd. I suspect its an MS exacerbation. Sure, just when I have so much going on. So much I need to do and get done. The kids have a few weeks left in school and I really want to begin homeschooling. We have so much on our plate and that kitchen is such a mess! And Shawn had to get the biggest tree at the tree farm...all the ornaments are all over the foyer and James and Tina have home extensions due by the 30th and I haven't even begun to shop for Mariah's birthday gifts--I know she gave me a list, but I thought it was NEXT week...where does the time go...And now this. My brother called...super grapevine we have in the fils-aime family. Sue has a friend who had something like what you are experiencing...bells palsy? Who knows, you should see a doctor. And now my eye won't close...God, really. Can you help me out here...

just command it and it will be done...strong, unshakably, true...faith.

Matthew 8: 5 - 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 As he entered Caper'na-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him

6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress."

7 And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."

8 But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it."

10 When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.

11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

The Best Mother

2011-11-28T16:20:00.001-08:00

So I have never claimed to be the best mom...my daughter often says I am, in fact, the absolute worst mom. I don't defend that...I realize motherhood isn't my strongest suit. When the new 7 children get upset with me and tell me that I'm not their mom and I'm mean, I say, "I never claimed to be...daddy and I are just people who were trying to keep you kids together...that is the only thing we promised." At parenting, we are all just trying to do our best--it is all we can hope for that we get it right some of the time; we are human. When I think of great parents, not even my own come to mind, though they weren't too shabby...I try to aim high and I think of our heavenly mother, Mary. I mean, she was without sin, so that has to count for something, right. She probably didn't yell at Jesus for bringing home his friend's yak without permission (did they have yak in the Holy land...that is just stuck in my head cause it was on someones facebook post this week...). But I digress, so when Jesus would come home with someone else's sandals or Joseph yelled for the fifth time that day she needed to get the water before it runs out...She just smiled serenely and carried on. That is a super mom!

The other morning on EWTN, I heard a priest giving an advent reflection which challenged that thought...I have never given birth, but have been present at one or two. I have had my arm clenched tightly by my sister enough to know that the nurses don't give enough care to the coach. I have seen the mess my cat made having kittens---I am not entirely naive. But this priest said, Mary, the mother of our Lord, a woman without sin, put her baby in a manger. A wooden barrel that has held mice and their excrement, been drooled on by hungry animals, and scratchy hay that had been, um, only God knows where. That is not the scene I envision. In the story in my head, Jesus is viewed by his travelling Shepperd friends and kings alike, in a somewhat cozy rustic room. He may be in a manger, but it is an adorable, rustic manger, perhaps covered by some royal cloak from a passing king. Certainly not smelly and NEVER dirty. Maybe I am a little naive...

I have held new babies...after the nurse has cleaned them off, of course. There is a purity about them. I even held my nephew, who was still-born, for several hours...my sister didn't want him leaving the room; we were in shock. But even in his stillness...his death, there was an air of purity and innocence around him. No, I could not imagine putting him in a manger described by the priest. It makes no earthy sense. But I believe it to be. The Priest posited that Mary's partner, the Spirit, let her know that this baby's life would not be easy. Yes, he is a king. But his soft flesh will be torn by much worse than straw. Don't let him get to comfortable in this life...he has a hard road. Don't coddle him...I believe the priest may have been correct. I am sure that was a part of it. But I have to think that the best mother, the one without sin, would not have thought that her boy needed to learn to get used to suffering. Can we even do that? For Christ to suffer for our sins on the cross would he need first to know the love of his parents, both earthly and heavenly or did it just need to be another day in his life of suffering starting with the manger? I don't think that I will know the answer to that question on this side of heaven, but I have a guess...

All through the bible, we are told that we have to be childlike. What does that mean? Our priest gave me one explanation this week when talking about Mary and Advent. What is the first thing you notice about a childlike child...they are full of wonder and awe and they look to their father to explain it and give direction. Mary did that. When God asked to be his handmaiden, she said, "I don't understand and I am not worthy but thy will be done." And when she was led to a stable to give birth; that cave that smelled like animal and worse...I know I would have been screaming, "haven't I done enough...people are talking about me and Joseph. I rode that animal all the way to Bethlehem. And now you want me to have the baby here...without a doctor, meds, and water...Really!?" Childish, not childlike. But Mary, she just smiled serenely and said, "thy will be done, not mine..." Because her Father said to, she put that innocent boy...the king of kings, her baby boy...she put him in that manger and let his visitors behold him. God made man...the word made flesh...shivering on the hay in the smelly manger. The best mom...

photo from pintrest :)

by meditating on these mysteries of the most holy rosary, we can imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise...

To get into the Kingdom, we all have to become childlike. To listen to the Father, we have to hear the Father. We are approaching the busiest season in our year, the winter holidays. I am having my family step back from the noise and we are making time during Advent to try and really hear what He has to say to us. We are using the Best Mother to help us; we are saying the rosary daily as a family...sometimes only the family that is present--whoever is home. We have moved out of our comfy living room, saying it sometimes during the busy evening meal prep time...whoever isn't working joins us on a couch and we pray...expectant...trying to hear what our Father has to say to us.

What are you doing to try to block out the noise of the world this Advent? Do you have customs and traditions you can share?

Lord, it can be so hard to hear your voice. Our family is tying faithfully to pray together during this season of waiting and listening for your voice. Tell us what you need us to do during this season. Always remind us to remain childlike and to ask you, our heavenly father, in all things. Help us to choose to do your will, not our own. Amen...

Our Different Dream

2011-11-24T05:35:00.001-08:00

I sit here on Thanksgiving Morning 2011, thanking God for the life he has given Shawn and I. When I reflect on Thanksgiving, 1987, our first as a married couple, I had just left my full time job as a social worker in anticipation of motherhood. We had discussed and decided we wanted a family early--while we were young enough to enjoy them and large...probably 5 children. It was scandalous! :o) Now, an almost 50 year old mom of 11 adopted children, well...you can see somewhere it wasn't any longer our dream but His. We just listened and agreed to go along with His plan. It hasn't been easy, but I feel incredibly blessed today in ways I could never have imagined in 1987!

Many people plan the life they imagine. And then God throws them a curve ball. The blessing that they receive are often much harder than they thought up, but His rewards always surpass anything we are capable of imagining if we just say "yes" and do our part. In doing our part, there is so much to navigate. As a social worker for many years, I though I had it all figured out :o). I wish I had a resource such as Jolene Philo's Different Dream Parenting. A treasure trove of resources and lists, I would recommend it to any parent. In fact, I will write a post talking in depth about it along with an excerpt from the publisher. In the meantime, I will let Jolene, herself, tell you a little about it. But for your Thanksgiving shopping pleasure, minus the mall crowds, here is a 10% off retail code from the publisher for Different Dream Parenting. Also, I have a copy of the book to give to one poster today. You can get one chance to win the book by posting a bit about their different dream. It always helps to talk to others in the same situation. You can get a second entry by subscribing to my blog. I will draw a name on Monday. And thanks to Jolene for allowing me to participate in this blog hop...I begged her for a chance to review the book which her publisher provided, along with the giveaway book. The opinions of the book are my own! Now, in her own words, Jolene...

GUEST POST BY JOLENE PHILO, AUTHOR OF DIFFERENT DREAM PARENTING

When our beautiful newborn boy was transferred to a regionalhospital, my husband and I felt lost at sea. A few hours later, we learned thatour baby required immediate surgery at a university hospital 750 miles away.Without it, he would die. That news threw us overboard. We longed for someonewho could come alongside and pull us out of the water. A book to chart a mapthrough unfamiliar waters and assure us of God’s presence.

But our son was born in 1982 when pediatric medicine was arelatively new field. Families like ours were hard to find. Parenting bookshadn’t been written. The Internet didn’t exist. Over the next twenty years,even after the surgeries and medical procedures that corrected our son’scondition were over, my search for parenting resources yielded scant results.Eventually, I sensed God nudging me to come alongside young parents lost at sealike we had been, to create a map they could follow.

Different Dream Parenting:A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs is that map. It’s amap for parents of kids living with medical special needs as well as conditionslike Down Syndrome, juvenile diabetes, developmental delays, and autism, andthose facing a terminal diagnosis. It guides parents by providing tools andresources they need to become effective advocates for their kids.

The book features interviews, advice, and resources from morethan fifty families and two dozen professionals. With their help, the bookaddresses the situations parents face every day. Things I wish someone had toldme, like:

• Askingquestions after diagnosis.

• Dealingwith insurance companies.

• Preparinga child for a hospital stay.

• Accessingfinancial resources and government monies.

• Accessingspecial education services.

• Determiningoptimum level of care.

• Mobilizingvolunteers at home.

• Supportingthe sibs.

• Preparinga child for death.

• Planninga funeral.

• Participatingin community and church events.

• Creatinga special needs trust for adult children with special needs.

In addition to practical advice, Different Dream Parenting tackles spiritual questions families areoften afraid to ask. Questions about:

• God’ssovereignty

• Parentalguilt

• Settingand maintaining spiritual priorities

• Grievingfor children living with specialneeds

• Grievingthe death of a child

• Passingfaith on to children with special needs

Thirty day prayer guides in the appendices are for parents tooexhausted to form their own prayers.

I remember what it’s like to be lost at sea, thrown overboard byan unexpected diagnosis, and drowning under a flood of care giving demands. Mygoal is to put Different Dream Parentinginto the hands of floundering parents so they have a map and know they’re notalone. To order the book, visit www.DifferentDream.com and click on the “buythe book” tab.

Thanks, Holly, for this opportunity to guest blog and tell peopleabout Different Dream Parenting atDwell in Glory.

We Are...still Penn State; just a little less shiny...

2011-11-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

I know that I promised you a book review...lets just call this a preview. I still have a book (or a few) I want to tell you about. But I have an apology to make...and maybe just one last, last word on this situation.

I am like my grandma. Took her to the funeral of her sister with my father. I don't speak creole so I missed a lot of the drama (note to self, don't go to any Fils-Aime gathering without learning creole). What I saw was my little, almost 100 year old grandmother ,argue with her nephew, the deceased son, and then, sniffling, be led out of her only sister's funeral by her son, followed by her only grandchild in attendance, me. I was also at a perfect vantage point to hear said nephew murmur something to which my grandmother executed a perfect 360 degree turn and launch all 100lbs of her self at him in the same movement...After catching grandma, carrying her out of the funeral home, and buying her donuts (another note to self, as I self-consciously push the tootsie roll wrappers off my desk...sugar really does not help in times of stress...) We settled her in her hotel bed and I googled "learn creole." I relate that story just to let y'all know that I come by it honest. If you have known me for more than 5 minutes, you probably know that I like my causes. And can get loud. Am totally not afraid of getting loud. And have had to be held back by people who know and love me when certain things are said...my triggers.

searching in the photo for my friends and family in state college and my loved ones in the State College Police Dept..I love JoePa, and I pray for the people of the city of State College. This is a nightmare

This week has been one long trigger. But as a mature almost...sigh...50 year old and mother of 11, i need to begin to take responsibility for myself. My behavior has been unconscionable. I am as guilty of those students having tear gas fired at them as any other adult who engaged in the debate of Joe Paterno's guilt in the legal proceeding going on in State College. A legal proceeding we don't have any business engaging in...we are not called to judge our brother. Just call him on his behavior. Done. But so many of us feel the need to blog, write, give our learned opinions, hear ourselves talk. Its the American way. And it was a trigger.

For me, college was a wonderful time. One big party punctuated by the occasional class. Yeah, when I did my masters at Marywood, it was about grades. But Penn State it was about parties and football. And Joe was our hero. I say that not to glorify alcohol and drinking, but to give you my point of reference. Didn't care what my major was. It was the 80's. We were as free as the kids in the 60's, but smarter. And we had a national winning football team...life was good. And even back then, JoPa was old. He walked the streets with us and didn't let his boys off the hook with grades. Get an Administration of Justice degree but get good grades!! That is how I knew Joe. I was an Administration of Justice major and so was much of his team. Joe wanted his boys to be the best on and off the field. And they loved him. Now many years later, I know as sure as I am sitting here that Joe wouldn't let a little boy be raped in his locker room and not do everything he could to ensure the boy was OK. I am completely sure, and interviews posted on the Internet bear it out, that he would not let any question of his wrong doing tarnish his team and his school. He would resign. But he would not bail on his boys at a crucial game. We all have to process that, let our conscience guide us. But every adult who entered into that debate helped fuel the turmoil that fed that riot. And our kids having tear gas sprayed at them.

A trigger. For me this wasn't all about a beloved coach though. The thing I am most passionate about is kids...my kids, our kids...I was a social worker before I was a mom (had to do something with that AdmJ degree and didn't want to carry a gun ;o) I have to wonder why that boy was in a locker room, with a man who was not his father, brother, or uncle, in the first place. My son would not have been. I wish this was hypothetical, but unfortunately, it isn't. One of my children, when they were 3 and still a foster child, was sent on a court-ordered home visit with the biological parents. On that visit, the child was molested by a sibling. I knew within literally 2 minutes of the kids getting back in the car there was a problem. Back at home, I called Children and Youth and had it reported, had collected physical evidence and was on my way to the hospital. I did not blame the boy who abused my child; he was small himself. Had been hurt. And he was sorry...I wish I could have told him we forgive him, but don't know where he is. I did not blame the caseworker, though he was, in fact, negligent. I blamed myself. I told my child that I was sorry I let them be hurt. I did that so they could heal. Ultimately, it was my fault. I was that child's parent. I eventually went to the caseworker supervisor. I did not go to the head of children and youth in that county who was at the time a close family friend. I went to the supervisor because that was the protocol. Actually, Shawn did, because he is the father and head of our household. He wondered aloud if the children's birth mother was supposed to complete a parent class but hadn't and had consistently failed drug tests while on probation but after her probation ended, they stopped testing, and wow, instant recovery. Not making light of a mom's pain. I liked the kids birth mom and spent a lot of time with her...but really. The agency made a decision, and with that, visits were stopped until she would comply with parenting and testing. She never did and we adopted the children.

It would have been very easy for us to come down on the agency and say they weren't doing their job. But it wouldn't have made it any easier for my child. And that is my gripe. My trigger...Yes, maybe Joe could have done more. But where was the child's parents. Why weren't they aware?

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1 - 6

We send our children to school earlier and earlier. We release them to the preK teachers and retire our obligation to be our child's teacher of education. And social skills. And moral responsibility. Emotional temperature...people, where does it end. We are our children's teachers and we are responsible for each and every aspect of their lives. I have been angry that the government has been trying to erode parental responsibility for years but maybe they are just assuming it by default...

We are...Penn State!

2011-11-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

If you are a Penn Stater, its been a roller coaster weekend...

I have been accused of talking too much but saying too little. I will make this long story short.

A long time member of Joe Paterno's coaching staff has been charged with sexually abusing children on Penn State property. While no charges were brought against him, there has been talk for years. Sandusky, the ex-Nittany Lion player and long-time defensive coach had allegedly been "grooming" boys for abuse by bringing them to games and buying them gifts. Allegedly, because, no one has proven anything. Sandusky makes a good case for being the injured party. He is an adoptive father, married, church-goer...foster parent.

The media speculates that there have been eye-witnesses in the showers. The students are upset because they see their thousands of dollars investment in education being tarnished. The fans are upset...JoPa is a legend. How could he not do more. How could he just do the minimum.

Lost in all of this is the larger issue...where were the parents. We are called to be the first teachers of our children. We are called to protect them. We need to be more aware...we are falling asleep.

Yes, a man who takes an interest in a child...a good man who is a football coach with access to one of the most revered coaches in our country at a football program that is respected not only for its talent but also its integrity, wants to take my son, by himself, to the school for a visit. NO!!! Big coach man can get a few tickets and my husband or almost adult son with accompany them. People, wake up. We are responsible for our children...their education, their livelihood, their souls. We do not let them go with people we don't know.

Yes, an adult who spends a lot of time working with children might be a very good person. Or they could be a pedophile. We cannot afford to know how they operate. According to Childline, the national registry for abuse of children, about 6 million children are sexually abused each year. More than 90% of juveniles know their abuser in some way. The really successful abusers (the one's who don't get caught) don't just snatch the child out of their yard. They groom the child. Get to know the parents. Buy them gifts. Earn their trust. Eventually, they might try to get the child to do something illegal...have a beer. Do some drugs. Makes the children reluctant to tell on the abuser if they might get in trouble, too.

This Sunday's first reading is from Proverbs and it talks about the wife and her duties.

Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31

¹⁰A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.
When I read this and thought about what on earth I could write...I don't clean. I direct the children and put away laundry...even that, I have them help. Shawn won't let me shop. I am a little scattered; he is much more efficient. Lately, he has taken to preparing dinner during his lunchtime from his very stressful job...less food waste that way. I am pretty much the anti-good wife. What do I bring to the table...why does Shawn, bless his heart, still love me. I am the information person. In this world, we need one. I am the one who knows that we don't need to check the sexual abuse registry for the perp on our block...there are plenty and they aren't registered or caught. There just are. Shawn deals in business world and then he just takes care of his family. I have seen the ugly and don't hide from it. I will help him protect the babies. And I will teach them. I will find books that they will enjoy reading and I will teach them to learn. God brought us together. He knows our strengths. We are learning to love each other because of the different things we bring to the table. We didn't know that I had multiple sclerosis when we were married. We didn't know that we would be incapable of having children together. We could have become disappointed in each other. Honestly, we probably were/are...but we are working through that. Instead, we adopted this nest of beautiful brown babies and brought a few families together...and it works.

So I promised I would be succinct...you should know me better than that by now. What am I saying...Sandusky probably hurt the boys. We need to learn that if a child is crying in the other room and someone walks out, he probably wasn't comforting her. Believe your eyes. Look at the statistics. Millions of children are being hurt each day. Look at the sex trafficking of our kids. Look at all the people and institutions that are trying to erode our rights as parents. Tomorrow I am going to review a book my counselor recommended (before he passed out during our session...are we facebook friends!!? I really blab there!!) It talks about the peer culture of our society and addresses bullying and attachment. Our children are in trouble and we are the only ones who can save them...even us handicapped moms can have our children rise up and call us blessed if we can save them from the Sandusky's and the bully's and the tormentors...and show them lots of love :o)

As for JoPa...he really isn't God. Sometimes it just seems that way. He told the police. Leave him alone. I personally hope he doesn't abandon his team while this is going on...though I certainly wouldn't blame him. Joe, do what you need. We still love you!!

And finally ;o) the lawyer I did my internship was noted as Sandusky's lawyer in a news article. Joe Amendola...if this gets back to you, remember the advice you gave me the first time we went to court...if someone starts shooting, get under the seats! Keep that in mind as you move forward and I'm praying for you!!

Happy Halloween and a 40% sale on My Grafico on my Blog

2011-10-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

so I stole this from pintrest...if it disappears in a day or two, know that my theft has been found out. I am going to argue that I was just caught up in the spirit of the season, but not sure how far that will take me...

I suppose that may be the problem with Halloween...we always push the envelope. In the case of Halloween, I am not sure what exactly the point was supposed to be in the first place...

We first decided we don't want to trick-or-treat because, frankly, we don't let the kids eat packaged poison. Then decided, we may look unfriendly, but do we want to be nice at the expense of our neighbors children eating more packaged poison supplied by us. In a last minute attack of conscious, we bought 120 Halloween pencils after which we will turn off the lights and eat organic popcorn...really. This is my biggest worry today.

After a weekend when I learned that the little boy who first brought us face to face with the local drug culture by stashing a tote in our attic wall filled with hundreds of small baggies of oregano (yes, the KPD is still chuckling about that one...) is sitting in a local hospital on life-support because of a gun wound inflicted by the father of the child he was holding up after breaking into their home. A day after my son was given by his religious ed teacher, the saints book of her son who had committed suicide last month. I understand that he was upset by a lot of things...I am guessing he is involved in local drug scene. I have spent much time learning about it through my own children's friends and their own involvement with it. I think I will have a very special night with my baby girls while daddy takes the older kids to their brother's last football game. After we hand out the last pencil and turn off the porch light, the girls and I will be praying a rosary for everyone who is celebrating or mourning or hoping...the spirit of the season.

Random Musings and some give-aways...

2011-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

So, I am not blogging on the scriptures today. I am not entirely sure why, but I am strapped for time and have guilt if I don't stay with the agenda. Then I thought, hey, my one subscriber joined when I posted scrapbook pages and if she is still here she is disappointed anyway, so I will just post :o) I am not completely giving up the format. I like that it always gives me something to say even when I can't think of anything else. Also, there are going to be changes in my life...there always are in Murphy-ville.

Another reason was my trip last week to PA. Since the onset of my multiple sclerosis and possibly just old-age, I don't travel so well anymore. And I was really busy last weekend. I tried to see as many people as I could and suck as much out of each interaction as I could. It felt so good. I miss my old life. I lovelovelove TX. The weather, the beauty, the convenience of city life. But I miss my old life. Even on a day, a week before Halloween and I am reading about 12 degree nights and snow already...I still do. I have tried to remind myself about all the trees that block the light and SAD and down days when I was lonely anyway because no one could leave home for days on end. But it doesn't help. I sat with a beautiful baby girl, held her on my lap and gazed at her mom who, yesterday, was also a baby girl. She lived across the street from us. She and her sisters, one older and one younger, were a huge part of the backdrop of our lives. I sat with her and her mom and her beautiful baby and we laughed about old times. We both posted about the visit on facebook and the third mom who was part of our three house cluster but also moved away chimed in. Its not like I lost all my friends by moving. They are still there, but there is something special about going to the store and running into old friends. Friends who I have know forever and their parents and kids too...and aunts and uncles. I know, it can be claustrophobic, but I miss it all. So I am praying that God shows us where He would really like us to be.

On top of all of that, we are also praying for discernment about the kids education. I know that I have praised the public school system and have had count downs for the end of summer vacation. Heck, I was almost thrown out of our elementary school at the beginning of the school year for doing my happy dance of joy. But I really feel that I am being called to homeschool...I would appreciate prayers there as well. And some thoughts if you homeschool yourself or if you don't. Input is good...someone said to me today that we hear God in the words of the people we talk to. Talk to me...

And in the mean time...some links to share. Enjoy!
Holly

Give-aways to enter:
Picky Palate
great recipe for pumpkin ice cream glazed donuts and a give-away for a Wilton donut pan for 10 readers...I love this site and the donuts look great...super way to wave good-bye to fall.

Pennies and Blessings
Chance to win Veggie Tales new Christmas story and a CD of Christmas music...HOHOHO!!!

Articles of interest:

Nest of Posies
Pinning it all and planning my menu for the weekend...maybe if the food is fun, they won't be so disappointed that we aren't having lots of candy!!

hey, its an apple (from Pintrest.com)

Heard on the Web...

2011-10-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

I disappeared again...this time to go visit my grandma for her 99th birthday and a bit early for my baby brothers bday...I missed them. Hoping some of these links are still good!! enjoy!

Inspired to Action
With the holiday season on us, this is a great reminder. It can always be so hard to find a balance between being your best and giving others you best :o)

Pancakes and Frenchfries
Even if this wasn't the BEST blog name and she wasn't based out of the DFW Metroplex, I would have still subscribed to her feed just for this amazing article...you really can't take it with you.

Homestead Revival
Having just spent a weekend back in PA where the snow will begin flying any second now and Hurricane season still underway here in TX, I thought this article on creating a three day emergency food stash was timely!!

Give Away's

Ask Anna is having a great giveaway for Purse Bling...very cool purse organizers. I am putting this on my Christmas list and purchasing for disorganized sisters everywhere...don't read my blog!! And ohmygoodness, the have purse hooks. My husband will be in christmas planning heaven. Making me happy and soving his woes all in one fel(t) sweep ;o) Check them out...here's the link.

Best of Blogville and a Giveaway

2011-10-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have been missing in action. Some problems with the big kids, a school holiday, and extra homework have kept me from posting as usual...life with a big family...

Using repetition and song to teach children
I use this and it works...my almost adults love to remind me still..."you reap what you sow." course not always in the spirit with which it was intended!! But you should hear my "hanging up my backpack song..." Can't wait till it hits the airway!!

Raising Olives
Eating good food on a budget. I wouldn't say that this is a frugal options, but many of her ideas are. It is just so much good information. We have to get the best possible options because feeding our 11 children without processed foods is a hard prospect and we don't want all our financial resources to go to feeding the kids :o) I was only able to read a little bit, but they really do get filled faster this way and eat less overall. She always has tremendous information. There are links to three other moms talking on the same subject. I am saving it here so I can read it later, too!

Keeper of the Home
Real food desserts and a chance to win a cookbook. I have to say my attempts at just making desserts from scratch with altered ingredients has not been successful and the holidays coming up, I need to find some recipes. If you are interested...

Eighteen 25
OK, if you have a girl and are taking her trick or treating and you can sew, even a little, you MUST see this cutest little tote bag.

Brooke McGlothlin
A wonderful writer, Brooke has been sharing lately about her thoughts on her recent miscarriage. She announced the pregnancy on her blog and has been sharing since she learned the baby died and how she and her family are coping with the news. This is an inspiring post for anyone who has wondered, "why?" when God answered our prayers in surprising ways.

Musings of a (recovering) Strong Black Woman
Talks about why MSG is so bad for us...eye-opening...

Women Living Well
Directions for making your own carmel apples...Happy Fall!!

Kitchen Stewardship
Very interesting article regarding vaccines. Even more interesting follow-up conversations from readers. Topic I have become very untested in with all of the controversy about Gardasil. What do you think?

And finally, my giveaway part of today's post---send me an idea of what to call my Best of Blogville Post each week...I need a catchy name. Also, subscribe to my blog in a reader or by email. There are links on it and I will feel less lonely if I have some reader!! Do those two things and on Monday b-4 noon, I will pick a random winner to win $15 towards going to see Courageous. I still haven't been able to take Shawn to see it and I want to support them in some way...everything I hear is still so positive!!
Have a great weekend and hope to be more regular next week :o)

its raining in tx!!

2011-10-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

Its raining...a slow, steady, soaking rain. Not really a big deal anywhere else right now, except maybe if you live in the Horn of Africa. Texas is experiencing its most severe drought in more than 100 years. I think everyone is very relieved by this rain...hope it is the beginning of a new trend in our weather. I guess I can't really say everyone, though. I know for a fact that there is one very sad little boy here in North Texas...he and his buds. Today was to have been his birthday party. Very exciting stuff, too. A paintball extravaganza and running around in the woods...a young man's dream day. I got the call while I was off getting children to religious ed classes and was not very happy to have to break the news to Nick, who has been looking forward to this for weeks. "Sorry, bud...Shane's mom decided to cancel on account of weather..." Oh, why does it always have to rain when I have something fun to do...

Well, Mr. Nick, did you have anything fun to do yesterday. Or the day before that. Or maybe anytime between today and last spring, which is the last time I seem to remember it raining. But I get it...when we have something planned and we are really looking forward to it, if something, even much needed rain gets in the way, it can be really disappointing.

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us another parable; one about a king giving a wedding banquet for his son.

Matthew 22:1–14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ²The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. ³He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. ⁴Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' ⁵But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. ⁷The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. ⁸Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' ¹⁰Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.¹¹But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, ¹²and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. ¹³Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' ¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen."

In Jesus' parable, the king wanted everything to be amazing for his sons' wedding banquet. In this case, the guest were the one's who chose not to come. As disappointing as it is when something like weather keeps people away, have you ever been on the other side. Having a party and no one shows up :o( Last spring, we chose, unwisely, to have our 6 year old's birthday party on the weekend after the last day of school. Never will do that again. And I am not sure I will ever forgive the parents who chose to blow it off (yes, I will...I will even go confess my forgiveness, but that's not the point of this story!!) She didn't notice. 5 children showed up and we played games and had a great time. But I was mad! How could they just blow it off. I totally get the king. His son just wanted to wed his bride and probably wouldn't have even noticed. But the disrespect...the casual disregard for the king and his feelings. Yeah, there would be gnashing of teeth all right.

Each week God prepares a banquet for us in honor of His son. How many of us easily blow it off or don't bother attending because we don't feel like it. He put a lot of time into planning it. He wants everything to be just right. If we do go, are we prepared with the gift of our preparation? Are we wearing our finest clothes? Are we just crossing a task off our to-do list? Why would we not appreciate the wonderful gift he gives us each week? And we wonder why when many are called, few are chosen...

my "lost" boys...

2011-10-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

So we are having some difficulties with our oldest child. My son, who gave up going to Mass almost a year ago, not because he doesn't believe in God, but because he doesn't trust the people who organize our religion...asked me if he could attend mass with me this morning. I was shocked, but happy. Without his permission, though I did warn him...I have been praying that God would force him to his knees. He is playing around on the edge of the law and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. What I warned him was, "I am going to Mass to pray that whatever illegal substance you put in your body from now on makes you violently ill...not just you, but you and your little brother!!" I meant it in the best possible way. But really what I prayed was, "Lord, these boys know you, but don't believe that you are relevant...Please show them that they are not as smart as they think they are. Let them know that only in you and through you will good things come." It just came out the other way...

My lost boys and how I try to remember them in my mind so I don't wish them harm!!

But isn't that the only thing we want them to know. I could not even hope to raise 11 children on my own. I don't mean that Shawn doesn't help. He is an amazing father with endless energy. Even with all we have going on, I never though we could do it alone. Parenting is hard. Before I even spoke to Shawn about trying to adopt the last seven, I had some talks with God and that passage kept coming back. That and the one I keep on my blog signature...the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. I took it to heart and it has kept me going. Our last adoption was not easy and Shawn and I were prepared at every step to call it off if it seemed that God did not wish for us to do this. So many times I was so beaten down and discouraged I would have gladly walked away. At one point, I think I was seriously depressed. But I realize now that that is just lack of faith. I was never expected to do this on my own. God has His hand on this and I all I need to do is "show up." So I will do my best and know that God will fix the rest if I am faithful and obedient.

I used to get very sad every time my children yell this at me...sorry you are sad (tired...need a sitter, etc...) but its your own fault. I don't despair anymore. I know that I am following God's will. Now they just tell me that God doesn't talk to me. Yeah...but have you talked to Him lately? Since I have become obedient to the Mass I have seen God moving. Same with the Rosary. Like my children, I didn't think that a lot of Catholic Traditions were really relevant, but I can see that they are. I am going to begin praying the rosary with my little kids each night, inviting the older ones, but not insisting. What are we going to pray for...an end to abortion...that their brothers become violently ill if they drink? Maybe a little of all of that. But mostly, I think we are going to pray for peace in our home and becoming a family who loves each other...

Sunday's Second reading from www.ewtn.com

Philippians 4: 12 - 14, 19 - 20
12	I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.
13	I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
14	Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
19	And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20	To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen Father, I cannot do this on your own. You asked me to take on these children. Please show me the rules of how to raise them in Your book. I am tired of reading the opinions of others. I need your word...and your stregnth. You have promised me that You have everything I need...amen.

Why I Will End Up in the Dung Pit...

2011-10-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

All those really good qualities we look for in a good, christian woman...I am the opposite of them. I have no patience. I feel disgust more often than I feel love, and I get mad, mad, mad way more often than I am supposed to. I really want to sell a book or a song, or my new favorite rap :o) to make a million dollars so my wonderful, long-suffering husband can stay home and take care of my beautiful children the way they deserve to be cared for. They need Martha, but even Mary would be a step-up. They got Holly...

Last night my son who I raved about in my last post was doing his homework and in a rare quiet moment, tried to share with me..."Hey mom, we learned a little bit about Martin Luther King in school today." A great, black man, a man whose name I gave to the only child I was privledged to name, and what do I say. I tell my son, a boy who is as equally likely to be a sports giant as one of God's Holy priests...he has my blessing where ever he can give more Glory to God...I tell him, "James, he was an amazing man who did a tremendous amount for the black people. But he ruined his witness by being continually unfaithful to his wife...When you are in position to be a witness and role model to people, don't ruin your witness. Run from sexual sin like Joseph..." To my 9 year old son I said this. Thought he was going to swallow his tongue. No, why can't I just be a mom...

The problem with my angst comes from watching my children suffer in this world. I tell them I only want them to gain Heaven, but there could be a lot of living between now and then. And we aren't faring so well in the real world. I have spent all of my parenting years living in a bubble...not white not black. Just those Murphy's with all the kids. The white community is kind...quick to send clothes in case there is need and more than once an unexpected package of food left on the doorstep. Kindness that is appreciated more for the fact that it is offered than because of a need. Often it is grudging...the neighbor who complains that we have brought down the property value and builds a trellis to cut the noise "from the street." Worse still is the black community reaction...the guardian ad litum who felt it would be better for the children to be split up in foster care than raised by white parents...really, and catholic. He was an altar boy...No, we don't think so.

The black community...that is the main source of my anger today. I sent two, not one, but two, scathing letters today to the black radio station in Dallas. Yes, they play disgusting rap music, but I try and tolerate it as long as I can in the mornings. When the kids realize they are listening to EWTN they move it to K-104.5 Dallas. I don't complain so much because it is usually pretty amusing. The djays are intelligent and often funny and its for a few minutes. This morning they were talking about a race for the cure. Susan B. Koman again...they really have set themselves up as the face of breast cancer. But they have not taken into account this angry black woman...and I have declared myself this as of today. If a housewife with 11 kids can stumble across the information, a radio station that has at least 3 people in charge of events could do a google search and find it. I don't have time to dot my i's and cross my t's...they can. Koman is sending money to Planned Parenthood which has a eugenic agenda and wants to kill black babies. Do you see the problem? I didn't expect to hear from the white ladies who are running the Play for a Cure Event in our school district. We have loved it...the two rival high schools in our district, Keller and Central have their grudge match and everyone, including the players wear pink and sing Kum Bye Ah. Its very successful and they raise lots of money, but Koman must disassociate from Planned Parenthood. Aside from the babies, abortion is linked to breast cancer. It makes no sense...send the money elsewhere. But no, I didn't expect a response. But a black radio station, supporting black artists, and earning revenue from the black community...their kids. My kids...

As I sat at mass this morning and listened to the gospel about Mary and Martha...I thought about next Sunday's readings from Isaiah. And yesterdays...they all say the same thing. Why didn't I see that before. Praising God is most important. Doing is necessary as well...just don't make an idol out of what you are doing...

Kiki at the Southlake Life Chain...we were asked to be respectful of the public and prayerful, not angry...words to live by...

Father, I am so angry. I know that my children need instruction and information, but they also need basic care and love. Please help me to turn off that need in me to have my voice heard and my issues addressed. The most important thing is that I point to You and then take care of business. Help me to keep my priorities straight...amen.

Player of the Game

2011-10-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

In our family, invariably someone has something going on Saturday...Saturday School, birthday party, community service. Usually Shawn ends up taking the majority of the children to all the football games and I take the overflow kids to wherever they need to be. This weekend the overflow children actually had a same time game at a different field. And we were in charge of after game Gatorade's...Being a last minute decision, we only had time to drop James at his game only a few minutes late from the hour early required by his team. By now I am in full-blown football mode--there is a reason why I don't usually do football detail. I head to Wal-mart and with only a quick passing nostalgia, passed the beer and thanked the good Lord that I just had Gatorade's and not snack, red 40 be damned and picked up 2 packs. Ran home, grabbed a cooler, some ice, and Matt. Ran him back to town, picked up some friends and drove them all to his friends house. Remembering the girls didn't have lunch I pull into the Qt. By now I barely remember what whole food is, and I don't even bat an eyelash when they ask for Juicy Drop Pops...or Poison on a stick as I like to call it. Some special Italian recipes snack mix for mom and a water (i didn't completely lose my mind) and we are back to the game with a half left to go. Struggling under the weight of my Gatorade I am near death when I reach our seats. I stagger into a seat next to 3 shreks, a donkey, some old play dough, and left-over snacks that are attracting bees. Not to worry, I won't be there long...2 bathroom breaks later, I get to see my boy snatch the ball and take it for a run that is stopped just at the end zone and is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes...So that is why Shawn ignores my pleas to let the boys pare down their schedules.

I am forced after we win the game to stand at the end of the field, hand out luke warm Gatorade's while offering to sign autographs along with my explanation of how James comes by his skills from my side of the family. He has been named player of the game, again. Oh Lord, is that why you did not allow me to bear children. Then the glory obviously cannot be mine, even while I try to wrestle it away from you. Is that why there are so many reminders in Your book about how the people of Israel were always so quick to forget Your glory. It is soooo easy to try and claim it while we are basking in it.

On the way home, I tried to forget the missing papers and reminded myself it was me who insisted to Shawn that we need a tutor for James and Tink; they are struggling academically and can not get by on sports--school has to come first. I handed him an extra red dye 40 container and said, "So James, did you know that whoever plays for JoPa gets to be Mommy's favorite?" Big Wink.

Sunday's gospel is from Matthew. Another parable about a vineyard. In this, Jesus tells how the farmer planted the vineyard and hired tenants to care for it. When it was time for the harvest, he sent servants to collect the fruit. The tenants beat and mistreated the servants. The house owner sent more with the same results. Finally he sent his son. The tenants decided to kill the heir so the vineyard would be theirs. Jesus asks what they think the homeowner will do to the tenants. He said "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." I tell my kids every day that the most important thing to their father and I is that they get into heaven. Grades, honors, the way they treat each other and us is secondary to their relationship with our heavenly father. It is just so hard in the middle of the glory to remember who's field it is...

Heavenly Father, you sent Your Son here to die for us. While you must have been so very proud of all He accomplished on Earth, You did not let Him claim the Glory that was rightly His. Instead, You sat quietly by while He died a horrible death for our sins. Thank-you, for loving us so much though we do nothing to deserve it. And please help us to sit back while you claim any glory for anything we or our children accomplish. It is only through you that we can do anything at all and it is only for you that we even try...amen.

The Murphy Family Saint

2011-09-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

This morning at Mass, I learned a little about St. Jerome and took a quick family poll of all family members who were in attendance. It was unanimous among me, myself, and I. St. Jerome is our new family Saint! When I was a little girl growing up in Brooklyn, I have some interesting memories of attending St. Jerome's Catholic School. It wasn't all full length gowns and marching around the street singing "Ave Maria." There were some dark times of nuns in full habits, rulers, and collecting pennies and nickels for the pagan babies (really...what were we thinking?) I didn't die and consider myself blessed to have survived Catholic education in the 60's. I think there are a lot of us who endured it and should have t-shirts and meetings. I bet the overwhelming sentiment would be, "wow, I wish our kids could experience that!" I mean, it couldn't fly now...rulers, pagan babies, praying on the streets...even St. Jerome himself would be too politically incorrect. An arrogant child blessed with wealth and brains, the classically educated Jerome made himself so unpopular in Rome that he had to leave in 3 years. He moved to Bethlehem, where he translated the bible for the masses.To the sarcastic Jerome, living in a cave, even if it was next to where Jesus was born, must have been a trial. However, if an arrogant, sarcastic, rich boy can become a saint...I think there is some hope for the Murphy's!!
google image of st. Jerome in his study...with a skull as a nod to the eminent season of Halloween :o) want to keep the kids interested!! It does lend him an air of interest, don't you think?

This weeks second reading is from Philippians's. St. Paul is telling them that they must always keep their minds on what is good, pure, and true. I think that is so important now, at a time when we are flooded with so much information. Last summer I read a book about the processed food industry. Prior to that, I suspected that there was a problem with processed foods. I had no idea that there were food monopolies running the industry...hell, practically the government. That there were genetically modified seeds and foods in our food supplies and the dangers to humans were so well documented that other countries...countries where health care was not privately funded....that refused to allow it to be sold. I do not live in a bubble. I read the news and go on the Internet, nothing. But once I was aware, it seemed like every where I turned there were other news sources, books, articles, and blogs on the subject. It is like that with all topics, though. If you are interested in it, all of sudden you will see it everywhere. That is what Paul wants for us. If we think about God, we will see him everywhere...If we turn our minds to everything that is good, pure, and true, that is what we will look for, and see. That is what we need to see.

Here is a worksheet to help your children with this reading...

Lord, help me to see what is good, pure, and true. Help me to know what is and focus on these things turning away from those that are not. If I am focusing on these things, it will naturally become that to which I point my children. As a family, we will turn away from things of the world on which our minds should not linger...amen.

Archangels and Other Super-Heros

2011-09-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Today is the Feast of Michael, Rafael, and Gabriel. No...not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...the Archangels. The only angels that Sacred Scripture has revealed the names of. Why aren't more people aware of the angels? Are they unimportant? Hardly...they just aren't Dogma or official Catholic beliefs in which we are required to believe. However, the Catholic church has a long Tradition of belief in these beings.

I am no expert in church tradition or dogma. I try not to preach, in fact I often just relate things heard at Mass or on EWTN and then do some cursory research if I want to talk about it. So I don't forget is my motto! But I can tell you that these beings have been made a laughingstock by Hollywood and book writers for a long time. In fact, they are NOT bumbling humans trying to earn their wings in their after-life. In fact, humans don't turn into angels after death. Angels are beings created by God, to serve Him. Like us, Angels primary responsibility is to praise God. There is some who theorize that there are categories of angels...seven. The highest being the Archangels who's job is to praise God. Some of these highest level angels have sent messages from God and they have been named in scripture, such as Rafael, who announced Jesus's birth. Satan was one of these most glorious angels...in fact he was said to be the most beautiful angel of all. In his arrogance, he challenged the Lord; a created being challenging his creator. The Lord didn't even deign to respond himself, charging another archangel, Michael, to do his light work. Let that be a lesson to us all...the battle has already been won. If God created all of them, why would He let a lesser angel be in a position to triumph over him. He could smite us all. And has. But in His great love and wisdom He allows us to choose which side we want to be on. Knowing He created all the players and knows the outcome, which side to you really want to bet on.

Sundays first reading is from Isaiah5 1-7. It tells a parable about a farmer who plants a vineyard and takes every precaution to ensure it will yield great fruit, even building a watch tower... but it yields wild grapes. The owner then plans to destroy it. He makes sure no rain can fall in it and leave it to go to weeds. I was listening to EWTN this week and a caller tried to tell the father who was hosting the show that the God of the Old Testament was different from the God of the New or Jesus. The caller could not understand how our God would ask Jewish soldiers to destroy whole cities; even the women and children. To not believe that, is to believe that our God is afraid to do what has to be done. Unlike us, God can look into the soul of small children, who are not innocent but born with original sin and a fully developed sin nature, and see what will be the fruit of this child. We cannot...the wildest child can, and history will bear this out, become a Saint. We cannot know this, but God can. He created us for one purpose...the Baltimore Catechism says he made us to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven. Not for his purposes but for ours. We cannot know His purposes, but we know that when He created us it was "good." And if He can look to the future and see that this one vineyard will produce no good fruit, then there is no need for it.

Not a fun topic for the kids, but they need to know we have biblical superheroes in the saints and the angels to help us in our journey which is not to be the best at school, best in sports, or even the best behaved child. It is to do God's work on earth and to praise Him. Yes, we can go to Hell and there is a purgatory. And the angels we talk about the most and have special prayers for...guardian angels. Want to guess which of the seven layers they belong to? Yes, guarding the humans comes in at the bottom of the rung at number 7. We are last; praising God is first!

Here is a work sheet to help you talk with your children about this weeks first reading.

Father, please help us as parents to prioritize according to Your will what is most important. Please help us to model that getting to Heaven is the most important thing in our lives, even when the living room is a huge mess and the homework is still to be done. Help us to always remember that even in the chaos of life here on earth, we need to keep You in front of us as a model of perfect parenthood. We need to teach our children to know You, to love You, how to do Your work on earth in order to gain Heaven and spend eternity loving and praising You...amen.

Best of the Week of September 19, 2011 and some giveaways!!!

2011-09-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Heart to Heart with HolleyHolley is a life coach and in this post she talks about what you can do when someone confides in you...who doesn't have this situation. Much better to have some plans in place for your friend who constantly loses her key or the one who is thinking about leaving her husband for someone she met on the internet! Don't be caught unaware!!

The Mother Huddle
Love this...it is a link to a Little Critters storybook where grandpa and the kids make his award-winning blueberry cream pie along with a recipe for little blueberry cream pies...looks so yummy! And how fun is that...my girls are going to love it (and I am sure all the boys too!!)

Picky Palate
The woman who makes the most amazing desserts and who is going to work for me when I am a zillionaire is have a give-away and contest for Jif PB (right...you like her already!!) and for a KINDLE!! Run, don't walk, and enter!!!

The Modest Mom
This is her fall reading lists...I love reading lists. I just save it in a file for when I don't have a "must read" in mind...

Raising Olives
Raising Olives is having a giveaway for a book in a new series about family; a family that is leaving behind the ways of the world and instead embracing God's ways. Looks good!!

Browneyedbaker
Ok, and one more recipe...this one for salted carmel cashew bark...figured it would make a good gift for the holidays...yes its fall, y'all...that means christmas is like, tomorrow!!

She is Dallas
And for you local readers, its alpaca day in Flower Mound...read about it here from Ms. Dallas herself!

Taking a Walk on the Wild Side...

2011-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

So if you are a friend on facebook, you already know I got my first speeding ticket this month. Not only that, I got two in the same week. My renagade 15 year old said, "slow down, mom." My husband said, "stay home." I said it is some kind of mistake; I bought an old drugdealers car and I am being targeted and profiled and I'm not going to take it sitting down. I called my brother, a US marshall--a guy who has to taze himself on a regular basis and has permission to drive around with a machine gun in his van. A guy who told me when he gets stopped for going 115, he tells the cops, "well I'm late cause you people keep stopping me!" So my little brother tells me, "yeah, newer black suv's with tinted windows are always a target...but you need to SLOW DOWN!!" Wow.

So, I pull into the municipal office today and park next to a kid blowing smoke rings out the window. I see his friend walking over pulling his shirt off and he is just covered in tatoos. Great, here I am, middle-aged soccer mom having to hang out with degenerates, rapists and murders. I clutched my purse to myself and practically ran to the safety of the police station. Sure enough, I forgot my check book. I figured the low-lifes would be gone. As I hurried by, I saw that degenerate #1 had traded shirts with suspect #2, and was now contemplating his tatoos in drivers seat. Oh, Lord, help me...I jumped into my car and locked it, found my check book, and pushed the door open to run back in. BEEP BEEP BEEP...I had turned the alarm on. The alarm on my car has a mind of its own and we haven't figured out what exactly causes it to go on. Or how to quickly turn it off. I just kept pushing buttons until it stopped. I heard suspect #1 say, "Lord, you bout gave me a heart attack." I went over and asked if he needed me to call an ambulence. We were both laughing by now. My new friend said, "no, but thanks very much...I hate when that happens. You really did almost give me a heart attack."

As I pulled into my second city office to take care of ticket number 2, I wondered if my degenerate, tattoo-wearing friends had to go to two offices today to take care of their business. As I walked into my second office, I could feel "defendent" written on my forehead. Funny, the lady didn't notice. We don't always wear our sins on our sleeves or chests. Sometimes, we look like an ordinary soccer mom. I wonder what God was trying to tell me with my tickets...

In Sunday's gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about two sons. One who was immediately defiant, but ultimately conformed to his father's wishes. The second, was compliant, but never carried through. Jesus wanted us to think about who actually did what their father wanted them to do.

Sunday's Gospel is here, from EWTN:
Matthew 21: 28 - 32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'

29 And he answered, `I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.

30 And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir,' but did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.

Only God knows the heart. And we can't always know who follows the Father's will. Is it the toddler who snatched half the cookie away from a friend but intended it for another friend who had none. Is it the defiant boy who keeps his headphones half on but listens or the girl who looks like she is listening intently but is really doing her homework. Is it the middle-aged middle-class woman who looks like she has it all together but is really flaunting the rules because she doesn't think they apply to her. There is a difference between being polite and being right. Between being socially acceptable and following the rules. Sometimes, the soccer mom really is the defendent...

(photo from Pintrest)

Lord, I don't like people to judge me or my loved ones. Please help me to always look beyond the exterior and at least get a glimpse of what is underneath before I make assesments. Remind me gently to not judge but to always treat everyone as I would like to be treated myself...amen.

Unshakeable Faith...an Oxymoron?

2011-09-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

I think it must have been amazing to have God walk among us. To see, touch, and hear the Son of Man, well, it must have been amazing. Don't get me wrong. I like that He holds us and carries us. I have access to Him at all times. Heck, I can't get the President on the phone because my dryer isn't drying well and I am backlogged 11 loads, but I can get God, the all powerful, all-knowing, creator of the universe at just a moments notice. But sometimes, having Him here with us would be nice. I guess its also nice to know that even when Jesus walked among us, we doubted. Makes us feel just a little better!

all scripture is from here at EWTN
1 Thessalonians 1: 5 - 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit;

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo'nia and in Acha'ia.

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo'nia and Acha'ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

9 For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I say all this because even those of us with a very strong faith can be shaken. An unexpected death can make even a man who has been unshakable in his faith for more years than I like to count lose hope...If you pray, maybe you could pray for my dad. He just lost, unexpectedly, his closest and much younger and healthier friend this morning. My dad has cancer and while he is failing very slowly, he is very old and in poor health. I think that this morning he faced his own mortality along with the death of his spiritual guide and very close friend. Pray for him and for the family of Sam Jennings...a good and faithful servant.

Feast of St. Matthew

2011-09-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Though I spent a lot of time at Catholic Retreats in high school, it was often just a social event. As far as past times go, it probably saved me from getting into other trouble...I was a magnet for trouble back then-- but it was not particularly beneficial spiritually. I began reading the bible seriously in the early '90's. I left my full-time job in anticipation of motherhood, working on my MPA, and helping my girlfriend who was terminally ill with cancer. In helping Anne to die peacefully, I had to come to terms with my own beliefs and it drove me to the bible. After her death, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and my search for answers continued. I was reading the New Testament and searching for more and I started at the beginning with Matthew. When about a year later, Shawn and I had the opportunity to pursue a private adoption, we explored names. When we knew the child was to be a boy, we found the entire process of naming a baby to be more complicated than we would have thought. We decided on Matthew because he was a wonderful and strong saint who immediately chose to do Gods will when asked, though it was vastly different from his own. We chose Martin as his middle name because Matthew would be bi-racial and we wanted to name him for the strong black leader and man of peace, Martin Luther King. Matthew also means "gift from God" which we totally believed him to be on so many levels. Matthew's birth mother made a difficult choice in allowing us to raise him and completely supporting us in the entire process. She is another gift that came along with being allowed to raise this child.

Even before he was born, we prayed for Matthew. We wanted a Saint. A man who would stand up for others, have the heart of Jesus, and be able to share that love. Tall order for a young boy. While he was an amazing quiet and compliant child, he began to show a back-bone of steel. I remember when we explained to him that the dentist was making us take away his beloved pacifier, mookie. He handled it well...until after the first few nights. Then he became angry. One morning, he grabbed the phone in a burst of energy that would soon become familiar saying he was calling the dentist. In his sweet little voice he said, "hello dentist, uhuh, uhuh, uhuh. OK. goodbye dentist." Curious, since I knew he could not actually call the dentist, I asked, "what did he say?" Matthew burst into tears and said, "the dentist said no more mookie!!"

That pattern has continued to play out as we head into adulthood--though not usually not so funny. Matt will turn 16 this year. As we prayed, he has a backbone of steel, a gentle heart and giving spirit, and strong loyalty to those he deems worthy. He will hurt himself to fight a fight he believes in, though his judgement in choosing his battles is not always as mature as we, the adults in his life, would like. I hope and pray that in the years to come, we will be able to watch him mature and fully support his endeavors. 15 is such a difficult age and you can really go any way...we will try to guide him carefully and pray that other adults in his life will nurture the positive traits that have been planted in him.

From the time he was a little boy, Matthew has been curious about abortion. When he was little, he stood in the narthex of our church and stared at a pro life poster day after day...a poster depicting a tiny baby in utero, but slightly enlarged with his little hand held out. Eventually, the poster became worn and developed a hole. My heart almost stopped the day I saw him slide his own small hand in the plastic and, comparing his hand to the babies, and seemed to give him a hug. I was snapping pictures that day for our parish, and shot one off. It has since disappeared from my library :o( but I will never forget that amazing moment. As he grew older, Matthew began to support abortion. Like many teens, he questions his parents beliefs and is unsure when life actually begins, so he is still trying to work it out in his own mind. We continue to talk with him, but hope to let him come to this decision on his own...life begins at conception, and that means even tiny embryonic babies still have the right to life. For now, we just pray...

I mention all of this today as I reflect on next Sunday's first reading from http://www.ewtn.com/:
Ezekiel 18: 25 - 28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25 "Yet you say, `The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die.

27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life.

28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

In PA, today, leaders are meeting to discuss abortion issues at 3:00. Senator Casey will be there, among others. Sen. Casey has a long history in politics, following his father, the former Governor of PA. Bob Casey was an amazing man of God, first, but also an outstanding father, and a strong politician. I witnessed much of this first hand at the aforementioned retreat house (yes, I am long-winded and boring, but there is usually a method...). His children, maybe in particular, his boys, have tried to follow in those footsteps. Possibly because of their early exposure to politics though spending the teen years in the governors mansion, they have held senior level positions when a more senior politician like Rick Santorum, also a strong man of God that I know from my earlier days (Penn State frat house; told you I would always find trouble!!) might have been able to stand firmer on hard issues. However, Pennsylvanians voted Mr. Casey in. His father was widely popular and loved--it carried over to his boys. But now there are some spiritual repercussions to these votes. Today at three, I will be praying for Sen. Casey. Yes, the fate of unborn babies are on the line. Other precious souls will be there as well. Souls who have the ability to make a decision that will impact hisor her eternal life. Only God knows a heart, but all of PA will see the votes. On this Feast day of St. Matthew, a strong man of God who walked away from everything to follow Jesus, save souls, and his own eternal soul, Bob, we are praying for you...

Father, it is not always easy or popular to do the right thing. You tell us that babies are alive from thier conception and that life is not a choice. Many believe that there are no absolutes and that we do not have the right to impose beliefs on others. That is not true. While only You can judge a person's heart, their actions can lead us to believe we know them, too. Please keep us from judging others. Help us to be strong in our faith and beliefs. Please be with the babies that have been murdered. Help your children, both young and old...both powerful and powerless, to stand up for what is right and good...amen.

The Bread of life Machine

2011-09-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

"I have a moral dilemma." Not the best way to open the phone conversation with your wife when you are out with all the kids...But in this family...That is what Shawn said when I answered the phone last week. He was dropping kids off at football, karate, and checking out the garage sales. When we decided to eat healthier, the first two things I looked at making were bread and yogurt. Both are pretty easy, have machines that would make it even easier, and are items we eat a lot. We live in a pretty affluent area and have found amazing bargains at garage sales so I told Shawn to keep an eye out for bread machines and a yogurt maker. Shawn found a bread maker at a yard sale. He ran out to get cash and try to get back before they closed (most yard sales here close by noon when it gets so hot!) He ran back with cash and the seller told him, "you just made it but the good news is everything is now 1/2 off." Great bread maker, half off...where is the problem. Shawn gave her cash and ran off with the bread maker while she made change. When he returned, she handed him his change and said congrats on his great buy and don't you feel good...all proceeds are going to Susan B. Koman.

Moral Dilemma! Just last week I had to give up my Evian's because they were advertising a portion of each sale will go to Koman. After much inner turmoil, rationalizing and heart break...I really CAN taste the difference in the water-- I decided I would change the filter in the fridge and drink that water...sigh. But we cannot support that agency anymore because of its ties with Planned Parenthood that I discussed in this post. Shawn didn't know what to do about the bread maker. After some discussion we decided that he should keep the bread maker...it was already in his car and he had completed the transaction--but he needed to tell the women who were running the sale about his qualms. To say that they were shocked was an understatement. They thanked Shawn for letting them know about Koman's not very advertised ties to the abortion industry. So what about you? Do you think that foundations such as Koman has a responsibility to inform donors that they contribute heavily to companies that actually contribute to the disease that they are fighting to cure?

So, after all that, we finally fired up the bread maker. We didn't even know if it would work...we laughed about that, wondering what if we got a bread maker without a pan or a wire. We both agreed that even if didn't make a loaf of bread, the opportunity to evangelize and spread the word about Koman to others made it the best $12 investment we ever made and that tastes so good.

The First will be Last...

2011-09-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

When we adopted our sibling group of 7 almost 2 years ago, our children immediately formed groups. Depending on the day, they were all equal brothers and sisters. If there was any kind of dispute, they split up into the ones who were here first and the new ones. No longer just brothers and sisters adopted by Shawn and I, they made artificial parameters about who was more important or had more say in decisions based on what they believed was fair. OH MY, the arguments we could have. I am so glad that we don't always have to make decisions based on their immature reasoning and feelings and instead get to rely on more objective and impartial standards. Shawn and I just want what is best for all the kids...we have known all along that however long we have had the pleasure of parenting them, they are not our children. They are Gods and He is pretty impartial and loves all of us equally.

Sunday's Gospel gives us a glimpse of our Lord's reasoning for us as more superior to our own petty jealousies and concerns. Why do the laborers hired last who only worked a little get paid first and as much as the workers who toiled all day...Because the landowner wanted all the workers to get equal pay and enjoy the fruits of their labor equally. Does the worker who only worked an hour not have the same needs as the one who worked all day? God didn't create all of us at the same time, but that doesn't mean that He loves Adam and Eve more than Shawn and I. And I would not like to be judged against Mother Theresa, much as I think I would do OK against Hitler. God knows the state of each of our hearts and he doesn't hold it against us or love us more for it. As unbelievable as it seems, He can love each of us the same.

(all readings are from www.ewtn.com) Matthew 20: 1 - 16
1	"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2	After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3	And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;
4	and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went.
5	Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.
6	And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7	They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.'
8	And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'
9	And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.
10	Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.
11	And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder,
12	saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'
13	But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14	Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you.
15	Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'
16	So the last will be first, and the first last."

Father, help us to tamper our petty jealousy and rejoice in every soul that prepares to enter you Garden. Regardless of our actions and how much we love You, You love us all more than we can even imagine. Thank-you for allowing each of us to be first in your heart and the least of us to be greatest in your kingdom...amen.

2011-09-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Feast of Our Lady of All Sorrows. This is my favorite Marian feast day, and not because I see her as a gloomy Gus!! I don't think she ever shirked from what was ahead of her; she must have known she had a tough road to walk right from that first angels' visit. I cannot believe the Holy Spirit kept her in the dark. Surely she would have pleaded for Jesus' life like her cousin did for John the Baptist. No, she knew he had a difficult future but she didn't encourage him to run away. From the beginning in a stable when he had kings and Shepard's alike come to pay him homage, she knew his life had a plan and she was committed to it. In fact, she pushed him into performing the miracle that began his mission when he clearly wasn't ready to begin. She knew it would lead to something scary, but she never hesitated. She knew that there is something better than what we have now.
The reason I like Our Lady of Sorrow is because it makes her more human, you know as human as a woman who is without sin can be! A mom, who loves her son, is afraid for him when he disappears on a family outing and watches cautiously while he is both adored by the crowds and hated by the Pharisees. A woman who was amazed as much bythe miracles her boy could do and and the strength he exhibited as she followed him on that long road while he staggered off to be crucified. A frightened mother who held her boy at the foot of that hated and feared cross after he died the death of lowest of the low...where had it all gone wrong. But through it all, she is serene...wow.

I have a fear...though I try to fear little of this world. I know that this is only a temporary home. I know that I have a much better place to be. I fear for my children...specifically, I fear they will die a dishonorable death. Isn't that crazy...but I do. How this woman, sinless and all, was able to watch her beloved son who did so much good be put to death on that horrible, hated cross is a witness to her faith; her certainty to that what comes next is better than this.

This Sunday's second reading talks about John wanting to be with Christ in that better place, but waiting to try and bring more people to the faith.

(all the bible translations are from http://www.ewtn.com/)
Philippians 1: 20 - 24, 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Father, please give me the confident heart of Mary that whatever trials I might face with myself and my loved ones, I am able to to meet them fearlessly. Please help me to pray tirelessly for my children that they know and love you. Protect them from unwise friends and their own anger. Help them to always walk in your path. Lord, if I ever face a trial with myself, a loved one, or one of my children, please hold me and keep me from despair. Enable me to model grace and serenity in all situations and remember that you have already won our battles for us...amen.

Our Job Description

2011-09-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

I had my son load the dishwasher last night. He overstuffed it in a way that would not allow the bowls to get cleaned. Since I was a little annoyed about the way he left his room this morning, I didn't fix it quietly and get on with my night...oh no! To his chagrin, I was rather loud and effusive in my criticism. His only saving grace was that the soccer field in the backyard was empty at the time so none of his friends witnessed his "failure."

Am I always a dish washing perfectionist? I just expect him to do his best at all times :o) That is good, no...God gave us the commandments, 10, that He expects us to obey. At Mass this morning, the first reading from Timothy (1Timothy 3:1-13) tells us what is required of a man if he wants to be a deacon. These are only two examples of lessons or rules we are given in the bible regarding our behavior. So why did I feel uneasy about my parenting moment last night. How was my response to my son's behavior inadequate.

My way is not Gods way. The Lord demands perfection from us at all times. This is mitigated by His immediate and complete forgiveness every time we ask for it. If I falter in my tasks, he can give me the strength to move on. He is really the only way we can even approach perfection and He is always willing to carry me through. I am unable to do anything without Him.

Also, our heavenly father has an advantage in that he is able to see our heart. He know if we made a sincere effort or were just trying to get by. That laundry list of rules for deacon's is something that many types of people would love to have, not to only to strive to be Holy and good, but because we think we can be perfect on our own, without the help of Jesus. We would make amazing Pharisees...

Next Sundays 1st reading tells us all of this and more. Gods ways are not our ways and he calls for us to be perfect...not something we can do on our own but only through his supernatural help...and then not on this side of heaven. But our way is not His, and He knows our heart...
(Sunday's readings are from www.ewtn.com)

Isaiah 55: 6 - 9
6	"Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
7	let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8	For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9	For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Lord, Help me to always strive to be perfect, like you, even when I am so far from hitting the mark. Carry me thorough, so that I am able to model for my children an imperfect soul who is trying...not a Pharisee who can quote rules but does not love...amen. I know that my job is to raise saints, not perfect dishwashers, or football players, or even scholars. I remember reading that God can change things in our children's minds and hearts, even when we fail. I hope that my children remember that parenting is a very difficult job and I pray that they know my heart, which loves them very much and that I am always proud of them. Click here for today's work sheet

Sad Day...

2011-09-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Up early to get all the kids to school. I think we have finally figured out the final pieces of the routes (thanks, Chris and Rhonda...you are angels!) Will never take the bus for granted again...darn budget cuts.

But no hating today. I decided shortly after the day began, there is entirely too much hate in the world. After dealing with the school and permissions, I ran into Mass a little late, but still wondering about the abundance of motorcycles and action in the parking lot. A lot motorcycle dudes were putting up flags. The priest told us there was to be a funeral. A quick google search made it clearer. A soldier had fallen, a church planned to protest, and these wonderful men wanted to honor him and his family by ensuring no one harassed them. Why would you want to harass a grieving family.

Anyway, I got into Mass and pulled out the missal and saw that it was the feast day of St. Peter Claver. He isn't a saint I was immediately familiar with, but one I will be learning about. According to our pastor, he was a Spaniard who was called to come to the Americas and work with black individuals who were captured for slavery and shipped over here to be sold. St. Claver working by himself baptised more than 300,000 individuals and gave many of them their last rites. What a ministry...

I was saddened by the events of my early morning, but a little angry as well. How can people be so blind as to commit such horrible acts against each other. Today's gospel talks about taking the plank out of my own eye so that I can see to take the splinter out of my brother's eye. For real...how many times do I have to do that!!?

The Gospel Reading for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 18: 21 - 35

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;

25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.'

29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.

32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;

33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
all bible verses from EWTN

God has the answer for all of our questions if we care to look. Sometimes, I must admit, I would rather feed the embers of my anger. But Jesus tells us the only way to have our own sins forgiven is to forgive others...over and over and over...I can do that, too. I have already prayed for the souls of the bigots who pulled young black men and women away from their homes and forced them to live in slavery. I even pray for the bigot's today who harass my children because they aren't the same color as most of the kids in the neighborhood. I will also pray for the people who think that because they don't believe in this war they have the right to harass the families of the soldiers who gave their lives to this country. I believe in big gestures...that is easy. Its the day to day forgiveness that I am asked to do that eats away at my soul...Yeah, I know you are in a hurry to get to work, but I didn't make this line--the school board did when they canceled our buses. Really, you forgot your lunch..again? Yeah, I know the laundry is still on the couch; did you notice the other three loads I put away?

Lord, remind me to yank the tree out of my own eye so I can see my brother. Help me to always feel compassion and love for him, whether he is is my child, my husband, or that lady in the big SUV who always tries to pull in front of me. I know that my faults number many and I know that You forgive them completely. Help me to not only forgive my brothers but to feel that forgiveness and always show the love that is due them...amen

Finally, Please say a prayer for PFC Michael C. Roberts, a 23 year old who gave his life for our freedom, his family, and all our military.

Happy Birthday to Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-09-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast day of the Nativity of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Happy Birthday, Mary. Mary is so loved because she said "yes" to God when she was asked to bear our Savior at great cost to her personally on so many levels. What a task for a young girl to take on, even one born without sin!!! I have to wonder, watching what her baby endured during the final days of His ministry on earth, if she was sorry for saying "yes"...

The reading that we are looking at today is not the one from today's Mass, but for Sunday's. It is very appropriate. It speaks of how we are to live of the Lord. Mary did just that.

Romans 14: 7 - 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.

8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Looking back at my 16 years old self, I cannot imagine agreeing to what Mary did. Though I lived in much more liberal time, I would not have been willing to face the censure that Mary had to face. I was not a very obedient child. In fact, obedience is still something I struggle with :o( Even many of the "right" things that I did in my younger years were more about rebellion than doing what is right, like homeschooling my children. Little wonder I was never really successful at it though I believed it was the right and good thing to do. I did not discipline myself so my children were rebellious as well...Surprise Surprise!!

I do not like the parts of the Bible that allude to "the sins of the father being visited on the children"...seems unfair to blame a child for something the parent has done. However, I can see through my own children how they suffer for my disobedience. While the children have the luxury of choosing for themselves to be defiant or to follow the Father, it is much easier if they have been raised with firm loving discipline and seen it modeled...In my latter years, I believe I still struggle with being subservient to my husband and gracefully conceding to his wishes, but I think I have been getting better as I learn to try and hear my Heavenly Father's wishes and fall in line with them....That is how we ended up with 11 children! In order to help these children to learn to obey Him, I am trying, desperately to become more subservient to my husband. No one ever said saying "Yes" was easy...

Lord, As I go to Mass each morning and pray for you to order my day, please impress upon me Your will so I spend most of my energy there. And please give me the grace to accept my husbands will and make it in line with your own. Mary, please help me to be like you...a wonderful example to my children and a woman who wants only what the Father wants...amen.

The Problem with Neighbors

2011-09-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

All the readings are found at EWTN...

Sirach 28: 1 - 9
1	He that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord, and he will firmly establish his sins.
2	Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3	Does a man harbor anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?
4	Does he have no mercy toward a man like himself, and yet pray for his own sins?
5	If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, who will make expiation for his sins?
6	Remember the end of your life, and cease from enmity, remember destruction and death, and be true to the commandments.
7	Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook ignorance.
8	Refrain from strife, and you will lessen sins; for a man given to anger will kindle strife,
9	and a sinful man will disturb friends and inject enmity among those who are at peace. So, I am not what you might call a quiet mom. I would like to say that I had to learn to yell over all 11 children, but that would be a lie. I always yelled. I used to be a cheerleader. That is my way... I have recently become convicted...could yelling at my children be a sin? I think that when I yell across the football field, "Go ANT!!" that might be perfectly acceptable, but yelling and screaming when my little girls are biting, hitting, and pinching each other is not so acceptable. I further have to wonder how much of their behavior is reaction to my repeated loss of....not so much control. The first reading for next Sunday makes it clear that we must love our neighbor. In loving them, we must forgive the wrongs they have done to us. I think this might mean, also, that I need to let go of the misbehavior of my babies...even if they know they are not supposed to pinch each other....even if it is 106 degrees out....and even if we have been waiting in the car for almost an hour. Sigh...why doesn't it just say that. Father, Help me to retain control at all times of my feelings and especially of my actions. Remind me that my children are always watching what I do and I need to model appropriate actions at all time because they are learning how to act through me. amen. I made a worksheet to use with my kids regarding this reading. We are going to do it prior to Mass so they will, hopefully, pay attention more since they will recognize it. Also, we always discuss the reading after Mass at lunch so a little familiarity might lessen the blank stares. A Week 24 Sunday 1st reading enjoy and God bless!

Cranky....you can bet your fatty acids we are....

2011-07-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

Imagine the look on the faces...my five year old has taken to telling people that she is deficient in her essential fatty asses. While I don't usually pull punches or talk baby talk to the kids, I am wondering if I may have to make an exception in this case...But the wee one is entirely correct. Most people are deficient in their fatty acids. Studies suggest almost 60% of Americans are deficient...this is particularly bad for the children. "A Purdue University study showed that kids low in Omega-3 essential fatty acids are significantly more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disorders, and to display behavioral problems. Omega-3 deficiencies have also been tied to dyslexia, violence, depression, memory problems, weight gain, cancer, heart disease, eczema, allergies, inflammatory diseases, arthritis, diabetes, and many other conditions." We pretty much have all of these problems, so this is one of the area's we are looking at :o) But right now I am just trying to get them to eat!! The hardest problem is that I have to cook...every day. Sometimes more than once. I am starting to feel like a Little House episode and I want to be like Laura but I have to act like Ma...and exactly how long does it take to detox from processed foods!! Behavior has not been so good. Nate spent the day trying to sleep (its the only time he comes home in the summer!!) and he complained that there was too much noise to get any rest!! Its been a bit tense...

the baby girls sitting around on their fatty acids before bed :o)

The Weed...

2011-07-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

At mass yesterday, the Priest spoke of the Matthew gospel where Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. In this parable, the farmer sowed good seed in his rows, however, when asleep, the enemy came in and sowed weeds in with the good. When they began to grow, the farmer told the workers to let the the wheat and weed, which had become entangled, alone to grow so they didn't in advertently pull up wheat and kill it. He said after threshing, they would seperate them and burn the bad.

That parable tells us how God only sows, or gives us, good things. We often think that God is making bad things happen to us, but really He never sends bad. Because He allows us free will, sometimes we allow the bad in. Sometimes, we invite it. Heck, sometimes we run after it. Sometimes someone else brings it in. Sometimes, when we are not paying attention, it sneaks in...

God has a plan for each of us that is all good! Sometimes we are unhappy waiting or want something different. With everyone going off and making his or her own plans, sometimes bad things result. These are not sent from God to test us, however, He does allow it. Not because He is enjoying it, but because He is our Father...Do we enjoy when our children are hurting or make mistakes, or do we allow some of it knowing they need it to mature and grow. We don't take enjoyment from their suffering. Neither does God. But the only way we ensure that we have all good is when we are sure we are following His plan.

When my older children are really angry, they refer to their younger brothers and sister as "your children" as if by saying that they can be seperate from them. Yes, adopting 7 children into our family makes things more challenging, but Shawn and I are sure we are following God's plan for our lives. Just as we are sure that adopting the three of them were part of His plan. He has assured us that it will all work for His good. Sometimes, however, it just seems like there is no way to make it better and the good starts to look like a weed...being sure that we are doing what is His will is what keeps us going. Sometimes its so hard to tell the wheat from the tares...

At Mass, Father told us something that I didn't believe. I was shocked actually. He said that the Susan B. Koman foundation supported abortions. I had much respect for the Koman people. If anyone said they were doing a walk and wanted a donation and mentioned the Koman foundation, I had no problem whipping out my checkbook. I had to google it when I got home. Here it is...shocking, no...I mean really, no. I was at first, taken aback, but after the things I have learned in the past two weeks, the Breast Cancer support group supporting an organization that provides abortions which are linked to breast cancer is...well, like the peanut butter manufacturer supporting the organization that supports the allergy kids and hands out their epi pens. It is job security. It is a way to conceal negative research results. It is like the wheat and the tare. Sometimes the Evil is hidden so well in the good that we support it without knowing. We fall asleep like that farmer in Matthew...

the screams...the horror...

2011-07-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

"I want chocolate!!!" My 5 year old daughter's cries could be heard throughout Target.
I had just fed her a banana in anticipation of the short trip to the Post Office and then into the store. We needed a few things since we just got back from vacation yesterday and the banana should have held off pangs of, well, anything. What I hadn't taken into account was how long I would wander around just looking for anything that did not contain high fructose corn syrup or soy. I got nothing. I finally picked up some cut fruit and some organic bananas and figured it will just have to "do" until I could figure some of this food mess out...
I just finished this book and was, frankly, horrified. I cannot believe how badly my family has been deceived by the food growers, Monsanto, and big Pharm...the American government!!! Our family is led by my husband who is charged with caring for a wife with Multiple Sclerosis and 11 adopted children with varying degrees of behavioral issues that are likely caused from the food we eat. Nicolette's melt-down was somewhat disappointing as I have been changing her diet for a few days now, and hoped to see less of the withdrawal from the chemicals. I understood, though, having spent the day arguing with more or less clarity depending on the age of the child, this foray into organic..."really, white bread is white bread, even if it comes from Sprouts." Heck, I had even contemplated, way longer than is sane, a disgusting leftover twizzler in my travel bag. I was almost relieved to see the banana still sitting at the table when we got home. She never ate it!! A light at the end of a very long tunnel...

Now I am going to lust after my twizzler...I mean pray for strength!!!!

tips from a cool mom...

2011-05-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

I was a new therapist at an agency where I was to do "parent training" or parenting classes. The girl who was training me introduced me to one of the moms who was "graduating." She encouraged the mom to tell me a story about her daughter. Her daughter had a difficult time separating and so it was hard to get her to go to school. One of our local family court judges had recently been sending mothers of truant children to jail in an effort to get them to take it seriously. Our mom took it very seriously and tried everything from hand delivering her to the front door (and she ran out the back door and walked home) to dragging her to car to drive her to school (the neighbors called the cops and said some lady was trying to kidnap a girl). In frustration, the mom parked outside the local jail and told her daughter, "there are some bad people in there...people who rape and murder. They want to put me in there because you won't go to school." They both sobbed and finally the girl looked at her mother and said, tearfully, "I'll miss you..."'

I was a kid, what did I know...I laughed. I tell you this, on a week, years later, that at least one of my children has been hand delivered to the school and then walked out the back or, when I told another if they missed one more day of school the truant officer was going to put me in jail and been told, "I'll take care of the kids..." Karma.

In my defense, I am separated by several generations from many of my kids...its been many decades since I was one of them and I am not quite as up on the lingo or the culture. Still, I was feeling pretty good when my kids started referring to me as cool. It wasn't until earlier this week that one clued me in that cool stands for "constipated overweight old lady." Sigh...So on this, the eve of Mother's Day Weekend (we moms of 11 children have to take the whole weekend) I remind myself of the night that I closed myself in the basement and sobbed and yelled at God for not giving me a child and how He proceeded to Bless me abundantly. I am the mother of 11 amazingly wonderful individual treasures. While it isn't always easy, it is my life, and I love it. These moments will pass all too quickly and then I may no longer be a nerd (never-ending radical dude ;0)

ding dong the witch is dead

2011-05-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a difference a day makes. Last week we were all crying about the government and our military guys and gals were justifiably upset because their paychecks were not going to arrive on time or at all. Today everyone is waving the flag and singing God Bless America! How convenient that, on a week when our military casualties were especially high, an almost 10 year operation to find that madman was completed. And why are we, as a country, compelled to give him so much air time. Hasn't he already taken enough from us. We don't need him or news of him to spur us on to remain vigilant; we have forever lost that sense of safety. We don't need him to justify keeping our boys overseas; we have other madmen to hunt. We're still busy. I'm glad there is some tiny bit of closure for Sept. 11, 2001. Yeah, I'm glad they found him but have to think it was just one item on a very long punch list. And I just can't find it in me to find joy in the death of any man who doesn't know the Way ...

A New Look

2011-04-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I am revamping my blog...I used it originally as a journal/art dump. I have recently decided I have something to say and began the makeover. Actually, if there is anyone reading this, you might recall I remarked that I was going to write a book about early 20th century Russian martyrs...yeah. That's what everyone said...my husband predicted a best seller. I felt especially compelled to write during a mass where a missionary priest was talking about far east Russia, catholic persecution and the martyrs. I figured He wanted me to write about them. Goes against the little I do know about writing...I know nothing about the martyrs, communism, heck, I didn't even know Russia had a far east, but I was trying to be obedient. That is generally a problem for me but I do try; just ask me some day about why my husband and I have adopted 11 children. The feeling didn't pass though, I began to think that maybe it was the writing and not the topic I was to begin. I am no expert on reading God's Will, though, and so in my imperfect way, I will explore the thought in my blog and try to practice following His Will. How hard could it be...there is a manual, right? So, I decided if I am going to take this writing seriously, first, I have to write...disciplined and routinely. Um, and probably about something I know--though don't hold me to that. Fiction is a viable genre ;o) If you decide to join me for this journey, strap in, and hang on tight. I have no map and only a vague direction...its likely to be a wild ride...

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-13T14:07:00.001-08:00

Today at Mass we talked about Love...loving God enough to obey His commandments. We had a missionary from Russia who gave a riveting talk on Russian Martyrs from the Communist Regime in the early 1900's. Unbelievably sad. I feel compelled to do something, anything, to help build up the Catholic Church in Russia...or here.

Today's post is an Anniversary Card for my BIL and his wife.

I LOVE Teachers!!

2011-02-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know that many people, myself included, have been quick to "dis" our schools...but when you look what these snow days piling up on snow days have done to us...and here in TX we have only had a few. There are news articles being published regarding the lack of school and isolation for the primary caregivers. I have seen moms worried, rightly so, about how this disrupts the kids routines...especially autistic children. So I say teachers, We Love You!! Special Kudo's to my 3rd grade sons teacher!! She is always super helpful, but this week she sent out a special extra credit assignment for her students...what is there to do on a fun snow day! So we are getting some extra credit and I get a little time off from "what can I do now!!" I am using that time to make some card sets for the teachers for the end of the year...slowly, since, you know...I have 11 kids at home!!! Here comes the sun!
here's a peek at some of my cards...

A wish or two....

2009-11-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

First I have been looking for stamps by Hanglar and I came up with almost nothing. Not sold in the US...But this nice person is giving away some images on her site as blog candy.

Check it out

...They are so cute!!
So I wish I would win ;o)
My big wish is for anyone reading this, please pray for my family. We are going to court tomorrow to find out if our adoption is going to go through. We really want to provide a home for these punkins and our whole family is pretty stressed out :o(
So I wish for your prayers.
thanks so much in advance :o)
hugs,
Holly

BOO...

2009-10-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Did I scare you? Probably scared all of you when I posted something other than someone else's blog candy!! Here is a bag I made to send a gift to my great niece, Alyssa who is turning 1. I forgive Ariana for making me a "great" anything since her babies are so adorable!! The inspiration for the bag was Mo's digital challenge I will enter every week to try and win some digi stamps so I don't have to spend my kids grocery money on them...so cute!!!
TFL!!
Credits:
Digital stamp by MO
paper (I will check and edit)
markers: Copic
flowers: Prima
buttons: (sigh...why do I bother...)
ribbon: craft supply

OK, so its not just blog candy, but blog candy for a cause...

2009-10-08T11:53:00.001-07:00

not mine of course :o)
see this post and GIVE :o)
hugs,
Holly

Another Blog Candy Alert...Copic Markers

2009-09-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

How bad is it that I am only publishing blog candy on other people's blogs...OK, I am going to take care of that this week sometime, but in the mean time!!!! courtesy of My Scrapbook Nook, the nice people at this blog (Life as Lous) are giving away six lovely copic markers. I LOVE copics so I had to enter and will let y'all know about it, too!!Good luck and check in later this week for my blog candy!!

blog candy alert...

2009-08-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

I lovelovelove cards made by designer Beatriz Jennings. She has a website now called Dream Designs and she sells card kits and does classes. Beatriz has blog candy for a free card kit at her store Dream Designs
take a look and try and win a SUPER card kit!!
hugs,
Holly

dusting off my blog...

2009-08-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

After a prolonged absence, I am blowing the dust off my blog and posting a layout. I joined the Queen of Paradise Challenge at Croppin' Paradise, a super online store and community. Here is my layout...hoping to start scrapping again and this is my chance!!
This challenge was about my favorite restaurant. After thinking, I decided that with all the fun restaurants here in the DFW Metroplex, my favorite place to go eat is at our good friends the Mulrooney's, NO Doubt About It!!
Thanks for looking!!

SEE, I really do have kids besides Tina...

2009-02-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

and I have the photographic evidence to prove it. We took the kids ice skating on Saturday and I could shoot at will. Mariah was the only difficult one and kept hiding her face. The photo I chose looks like her very helpful brothers were keeping her from falling. BUT, her brothers were actually having Tina get out of the way (see her scooting under their arms?) so they could build up speed with her and then let go so she smashed into the glass wall...ahhh, kids. I will spare you that one and instead show you one I don't have a negative for but just scanned to print and use for our latest adoption portfolio. Ahhh, they did it back then, too...
My cards are mostly from my latest favorite CTMH stamp. I lovelovelove it...C1340 Aspiration from the Spring 09 Idea Book. It's very versatile. Here I have used it for a sympathy card and then a thank-you. I am going to use it today to make some female birthday cards. The other card is a total Bella CASE...I wish I could remember who made it first, but I LOVED the idea to pop bella's belly. My beautiful niece Kelsey just told us she is expecting her first, so I used the opportunity to break out my preggobella. (Sorry, Ariana, I didn't have it when you were expecting...I am working on some baby albums for you--love aunt holly)
Thanks for looking!!
Holly

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-13T14:49:00.001-08:00

Made this card for my DH...very romantic, don't ya think!! Well, I do!! I hope that when we are this old next year, we are still this much in love :o) I am posting this a day early because I have plans all day on Valentines Day (don't gasp...I have plans!!) and they don't include my husband or kids (you can gasp now!!) DH and I are celebrating tonight at the Melting Pot in Southlake with the very fun Mulrooneys!! Its a tradition now...we will have done it two years in a row. But tomorrow, Daryle is taking me somewhere. I remember vaguely that we are picking a friend up at the airport but I pretty much remember nothing after I will get you and we will go to starbucks and Shawn will have the kids all day!!
Hope y'all are having a happy day, too!!
hugs,
Holly

Card is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #68
and satisfies Kathea's challenge and Rhonnies at the DS2 cyber crop weekend
PP and ink CTMH
Markers copic
flowers Prima
brad MM
chipboard clocks Heidi Swapp
TFL!!

OOHHH, Enforced Blog Candy!!

2009-02-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

I was one of the first five people on Tammy Hershbergers blog, so I get a homemade surprise from her (and I LOVE her stuff!!) So now I get to make five homemade surprises for the next five people who post to my blog. All you have to do is link back to my blog and post the same offer on your blog :o)
I plan to do these quickly and get them out...I am planning, hoping, praying to be too busy to do this much longer!!
Happy Valentines Day!!
Holly

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

2009-02-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I love Dr. Seuss, but my title is one of the Seussisms I am not familiar with...found it today, and I love it! I was looking for Seussisms because I was making a special scrapbook :o) I said there were going to be big changes in '09. My husband and I, really our family, is planning another adoption. I just finished a scrapbook to introduce ourselves to the children (yes children, its a sibling group!!) Please keep us all in your prayers as we continue this new journey!! And here are my pages...TFL!!
Hugs,
Holly

Happy New Year...

2009-01-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

Big Changes for the New Year, I think!! Here is a quick update...our smilebox that we sent to family for the holidays!! Hope to be back with more later!!
hugs,
Holly

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My Picture Princess...

2008-12-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

If you see the photos that I upload and the layouts I make, you will see that of my four children, only one will still pose for photos. Tina IS my picture princess, so when I saw this contest, I knew I had to enter her! PLUS...I think my Picture Princess will look adorable in this!!

Shabby Apple is a cool clothing store that also supports a charity that supports women on a global level to fight poverty.
So enjoy some photos of my Picture Princess and if you have one of your own (and even if you don't) check out Shabby Apple!

Howdy, Y'all

2008-12-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

Tina's birthday season is on us...Mariah's usually lasts a week or two, but this year she kept it to one day!! Must be feeling old. Shortly afterward we began celebrating Tina's 7th birthday which will end sometime in the wee hours of Christmas Eve :o) She just took over my birthday, which is the day after her actual date!! How many 40 somethings do you know who ask to have their birthday dinner at Chuckee Cheese?
Anyway, the big celebration was at a horse ranch in our town. My youngest son volunteers there and the ranch mostly does Hippo Therapy. We are honored to have anything to do with the awesome folks at Rocky Top Ranch. Here are a few photos of her big day (not to be confused with the lesser days to come ;o)
the first is Tina on her horseback ride
the second is our smallest cowpoke of the day and my favorite babysitting buddy
third is our largest cowpoke of the day, Matt, wrangler extraordinaire
and finally, cowpoke wannabe (or goat trying to get discarded marshmallows!!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

So Thanksgiving is over and I haven't even posted Halloween yet!! Been kindof Crazy here will illness and such...enjoy Halloween...hope to get to Thanksgiving tomorrow. Then its Christmas...now that's scary!!

Scraptoberfest!!

2008-10-08T05:58:00.000-07:00

Anyone else playing Scraptoberfest at Lifetime Moments?
It is one of my favorite games and the only time I ever get a lot of layouts done. I think I still have to put my layouts from last October into albums ;o)
Here is a layout using the sketch from the Day 3 challenge...The layout is from last December and the 1st Annual Santa Scurry here in Keller; a 5k race complete with Santa, Elvis (of course) and a bbq. I LOVE Texas!!! There are more photos of this event to come!! Sorry about the horrible photo!
So why don't you all pull up a beer and some scissors and join and join me in Scraptoberfest!!

Happy National Card Making Day...

2008-10-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

WooHOo...but alas, no card-making for me today...we are heading out for a little family time at six flags later. I am still nursing a major tooth, ear, headache. I think it all stems from the same thing. I was having a fever, too...but it came and went? hot flashes...sigh.
I saw Gina K is having an awesome give away to encourage cards for the troops...I definitely am going to do this!! Great cause and a great prize doesn't hurt either. Check it out here...
And finally, I DO have some layouts to share!!

TFL!!

More Layouts...I am on a roll

2008-09-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

These challenges have been hard, but I am getting some scrapping in, so I can't complain. I also did some cards...I will try to post some later this week.

The first layout is for my friend Terry in Puerto Rico. I was to send her a package of stuff from her profile, but I know she likes handmade items, so I made this for her to scrap some beach layouts :o) Hope you like them Terry...it is for a 4x6 and 2 4x4 photos.

The second challenge was to use the title "I wish/pray for you..." I couldn't think of anything so I used one of those cute quotes from Daisy D transfers.

OH, and those big fingers holding up my layouts. I finally got a photo of one of my older kids :o) I see a layout/rant in my future!!!
TFL!!
hugs,
Holly

Under the weather...

2008-09-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

the kids spent three weeks sliming me, and it finally took :o( I am nursing a bad cold and feeling blah! Managed to get my challenge layouts done for this week, whew!! I used CTMH Perfect Day for the papers and chipboard (football layout uses only my paper and one embellishment--chipboard)I am missing one photo and not sure if the error was due to the cold or Walmart, hmmmm. I am betting Walmart! The second layout is the first of an album that I want to complete on our new house here in TX. I had to make a layout about something I love, and I LOVELOVELOVE my tower. I know it sounds weird but it is what drew me to this community. The fact that I ended up with one in my yard was a huge draw for me!! I am so glad I am finally doing this book!! TFL!

Not much Ike, but still crazy...

2008-09-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I guess with four kids I should just learn to deal with it :o)
We didn't have too much Ike, this weekend though our prayers are with our fellow Texans who were clobbered.
Posting my challenge layouts...

I scrapped...

2008-09-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Again, its a miracle. But I joined a team challenge and I needed to get them done today!! These are very old photos of my daughters and my nieces. They were battling their brothers for the use of the pool :o) Tough girls!! All Close to My Heart papers and K and Co elements. I was going to make the circle flower embellishments with CTMH papers but ran out of time. We learned a great technique at the Got Sketch class. BTW, these are both based on sketches we got in class (thanks Valerie and Jana...these are sketch one and two :o)
Oh, and good luck, Michelle ;o)

Home again...

2008-08-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Spent most of the summer in Pennsylvania with the kids. Nate stayed here in TX to practice with the high school football team, but the rest of us froze in PA. I am not sure how I lived there my whole and never realized that all those trees block out any sun!! I ended up with S.A.D. from lack of sunlight...and it was July and August!! I think the only reason we don't all jump off the roof in the winter is because all the trees drop and we can finally get some sun!!

Looking forward to starting up my CTMH crops again. The company rewarded us with an AMAZING new catalog!! I can't wait to share with my local customers at the crops!! But I will share a new card kit that we have available. I sat down and made 16 cards in a day with the kit!! Needed an ink fix after being off scrapping all summer!!! Too cute! Off to charge my camera batteries.

This photo is one from the summer. While we were in PA, the Jonas Brothers played Montage Mountain. While I have vowed never to sit on the lawn, my girls begged soooooo much, I relented. The Brothers were about as big as the letters on this post but they didn't care. Tina was still able to yell, "I LOVE Joe Jonas" loud enough to get his attention, I am sure (Joe, if you are looking for Tina, she is too young for you!!) We were excited to see the Brothers driving in while we were standing in line. Luckily they had a police (well, several police ;o) escort because they were close enough to grab and there were some excited girls!! I think I got a glimpse of what Beatle Fever must have been like! Then we started hearing rumors that they are living here in TX now!! The girls couldn't wait to get home!! This picture was Jaqui and Tina posing by the Jonas Bus :o)

So you would have thought I rode the race...

2008-05-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

I have been so tired all week, but Shawn is doing great. He did say on Sunday night that he might never ride a bike again in his entire life, however, he was back in the saddle by Friday...not so bad. I, of course, am still recovering. I don't know how that happens...We were trying to figure out how to find him when we were watching the finish line and I told the kids, look for the guy on his cell phone. Sure enough, Shawn finished the race while participating in a work conference call :o) That's my guy!!
Now as for the blog candy, I am sorry I was so late picking it...I first need to say thanks to everyone who sent a donation. Shawn's team made almost $700 for the multiple sclerosis society. So yeah all of you!!! Shawn would love to send get well cards so if you donated, please send me your snail mail.
AND the stamp set goes to...
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

5
Timestamp: 2008-05-10 20:13:25 UTC
The winner is MELISSA who said...
I just donated for you. Good luck to your DH in his ride, and to you in your struggles with this disease. I cared for someone with advanced MS for a few summers in my teens, and she had a great impact on my life. Thanks for sharing your story with us!

So Melissa, again, please send your snail mail!!
Thanks so much to all of you for supporting my husband and this wonderful cause!!
hugs,
Holly

Blog Candy for a Cause

2008-04-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, I have MS. I have suffered from this chronic disease for many years and thankfully, God has allowed me to fare well. It isn't so for everyone. Multiple Sclerosis can be devastating for families because the disease is so unpredictable. One can go to sleep fine and wake up unable to walk. My family has always been very supportive of me...I remember my husband taking the babies with him to do the walk in PA to raise funds and awareness for MS. Well, here in Dallas, there is a major event to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society called the MS 150--a 150 mile, two day bike ride that benefits the MS Society. My wonderful husband has stepped up to the plate. He and a dear friend, Daryle, formed a team called Team Holly. I want to support this effort in some small way. I am going to have an eBay auction later this weekend and for right now I am going to offer some blog candy for a cause. I am going offer this stamp set as blog candy for a cause, and anyone who makes a donation of any amount to the MS Society in Shawn's name at this link
http://www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=221833
will be entered into the drawing for the stamp set. The art work at the top of this post is made from this beautiful set, Simple Beauty. Please make sure that if you donate you leave a comment. Also, please comment if you too have been touched by this disease. Remember, even $1 will help and its tax deductible :o)

Stressful Day

2008-04-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

and so I scrap...my cousin and her first baby. These photos are from last year and I am so happy to being scrapping some photos!! The papers and elements were from a free kit at A Peek into Yesterday.
TFL!!

I survived...

2008-04-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

DH went away for the weekend. He and his boss were going fishing...and they were going to catch a fish, come what may. Well, the fearless hunters got back, sun-burned and bearing fish. Me, the four kids, and their friends who flopped with us for the weekend made it pretty much unscathed as well...so did I tell you my husband went fishing this weekend ;o)

He just got back and took my six year old for a bike ride. The big kids are sleeping. I have sooooo much work to do, but I turned away from the shattered remains of my home and dropped pizza boxes and like any good scrapper...I did some layouts. I am only sharing one because the other I plan to embellish more. This one is finished. I love these photos of my nephew and I miss the little stinker!! I don't think he remembers that I am his favorite aunt anymore. I am going to have to buy him a pony when I get back to PA this summer. That should do it!

This is based on a super sketch at Gettin' Sketchy
the digi papers and elements are mostly from Digital Design Essentials (her monthly notebook is an amazing value and has GREAT stuff!! This is the first time I ever bought it, but I am a believer now!!)

OH MY!

2008-04-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

I scrapped...its been a while. This is for a sketch challenge on a yahoo group I belong to. My daughter stopped liking school. She said it was too hard and the kids teased her. Daddy took her shopping and her attitude changed. She still has trouble with take aways, but it just doesn't seem to matter anymore ;o)Look out, Hannah Montana!!

And Up, Up, Up with PIFs

2008-04-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, I was getting to be kindof a complainer...sorry. I worked myself up into such a tizzy about this whole Soulja Boy thing I forgot to pick the winner for my random.org picked it as comment #6 (6 Timestamp: 2008-04-08 18:38:30 UTC)
Poster #6 Carrie please post your PIF and send me your info!! Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn't win, I will have some candy soon, so stay tuned!

Down with Soulja Boy

2008-04-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

Wish I was posting my bella babe card, but instead, I am sitting here heart sick. I have two boys that I hope become respectful young men and two girls who I pray remain young women of virtue. But when I observe the culture in which they are enmeshed I become very afraid. I spent almost 15 years working with youth in PA and feel like I am at least aware of what the kids try to pull. But there is a part of me that resists that children are really this callous. When my children would play a very catchy tune by SOULJA BOY I would tap along...but eventually it sounded to me like he was saying superman that ho...what is that!! Well, Ho did it for me...if it sounds like a ho, then it probably is! I am not stupid. Evidently, however, I am naive. This blog was pointed out to me by a friend (thanks Irene!) I thought I was a careful parent; now I know I am not vigilant enough. I want my children to live in the world, but I don't want them to contribute to the evil.

DOWN with Easter Grass...

2008-04-04T12:08:00.001-07:00

Those of you who have known me for a while may remember the horror of the peep incident. About two years back, I was terrorized by an unnamed group in Indiana who were holding peeps captive until I gave into certain demands. I have never stopped fighting for the peeps release from captivity despite videos and photos that hope was futile. Yesterday I received confirmation that hope was, indeed, warranted, when I received this Peep Offering from an unknown location...Join me in celebrating the "safe" return of the peeps after two long years!!! Now, I don't like to mention this, but Easter is over for a while now and just when I thought it was safe to turn on the ceiling fan, I have green grass floating all over the house again!! I think it is time we demand that the Easter Machine stop using that green floaty grass that ruins vacuum cleaners everywhere!! Said in her best RosannRossannadanna voice, "Its always something!"

But enough of that, I went on this blog of my friend Julie, and she was offering a PIF (pass it forward)...So anyone who comments here by Monday is eligible to win this PIF...BUT you have to pay it forward. So when you win, you must send me a link to your blog showing the pif you are offering and then I will send it out. You may PIF whatever you like, however, I will be Piffing a GC to Stampin' Bella!! Lets Go!!

really Good Friday candy???

2008-03-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

This questionnaire is on Melodee Langworth's blog...I decided to answer it here and post it for all of you...if you answer it on her blog, you have a chance to win a BEAUTIFUL album kit. She is one of my scrapping idols, so good luck with the album (I mean if I don't win it!!!)

1. What do you put in your kids Easter baskets?
it differs every year, but I ALWAYS put a little candy and a lot of other stuff...they get too many sweets as it is. I just put my favs and hope they share!!
2. Do you go to a sunrise service at your church?
we usually go to the Easter Vigil...and as many events as we can that lead up to it, including Good Friday Stations of the Cross.
3. Name one traditional dish you always serve/ eat on Easter.
Peanut butter eggs ;o)
4. What is your fondest memory of Easter as a child?
All my cousins getting together and doing an egg hunt. One year, our dog got out first and ate all the eggs...she was sooooo sick!!
5. Do you color eggs at your house?
yes!! here we are coloring this years eggs...I am not sure who got more tattoo's; the eggs or the girls!!
6. As an adult, what is special about Easter to you?
Now that I understand the true meaning of Easter, I am always amazed that God could love us so much to send His son and allowed Him to go through all that for us. I am humbled by the whole experience and look forward to Lent in order to spend this special time preparing for His Resurrection.

Spring Break Hell...

2008-03-19T15:24:00.001-07:00

Any body else...if you are in it, you know who you are!
So, I have had some internet challenges in the last few weeks, but I think I am up and going again!! Yeah!! The first thing I am doing is thanking my super Bella Sistah, Lyn! What a great package she sent me. Lyn, yours is going postal as soon as I ship the little darlings back to school!! Mwah!!!

Sushi anyone...

2008-01-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

DH and I had a rare moment out tonight...the kids were being really good, so we slipped out to mass alone and then decided to go to dinner. I let him choose since he works so hard and groaned inwardly when he chose *predictably* Cowtown Sushi. I don't like sushi. To be fair, the only time I tried it was when DH fixed it himself (rule number one, don't eat homemade sushi unless you already love it!!) Well, I LOVED it!! I am a convert. I had to laugh though because fully half of the tables were teenagers. I am going to have to convert my kids or they will be social pariahs..
I am posting photos of my contribution to the valentine swap at bellaholics anonymous...hope you like. I am thinking of doing a workshop with a couple of cards. Do you think these are too plain for a workshop?
thanks for looking and have a great weekend!!!
hugs,
Holly

A card and a winner!!

2008-01-21T16:43:00.000-08:00

My DD and I made this card for her friends bday this weekend...I just love Bellas...check out her hair (yes, her friend really does have dyed black ends...sorry its so hard to see--Mariah took the photo in the car while driving to the party--oh, like you don't procrastinate...
But enough of that...I made you ladies wait long enough. I promise to do more candy soon...this was fun. I wish I could send it to all of you (mwah!!) but the winner is number 24 (used random.org)...who said...

tyrymom29 said...
A Campingbella and 4wheelingbella and fella would be awsome !!! I love the idea to have Milatary bella fella !!!! I Love the stampin bellas They are way too cute!!!!!

24

Timestamp: 2008-01-22 00:47:16 UTC

Please send me your mailing address and I will mail this right out!!
hugs,
Holly

We're gonna have us a hog-killin' time today :o) (BLOG CANDY!!)

2008-01-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

Now I don't want to kick up a row...I like hogs as much as the next guy...but I just found the cutest site on western-speak. Since I didn't have a chance to pick up my copy of "learn to speak southern in 3 days or less" I figured this is a great chance to practice. I want to fit in here in Keller, LOL. I found this site at Sunflower Studio where she has western stamp blog candy--so head over and see the elephant ;o)

Now I am adding my own blog candy--yee haw! I have a savaayshoppabella, three copic markers including EOO skin white, and one of those elusive clear topped nugget tins (I probably started the whole shortage...I wanted them for a workshop :o( To win you must post your favorite new bella name (maybe Em will check). I emailed a while back I wanted Sleighbella, hellsabella, and a few bella-fontes but so far I got nuthin'!! So post with your most wanted new bella and I will draw a random name on Monday 1/21.

My cards are for challenges at one of my yahoo groups and Lifetime Moments. The altered tissue box is creative imaginations and is for my Frosty Pal that I love even though she is tormenting me and I will never be able to look at a Peep again, sigh...maybe one day I will post the You Tube...

Speaking of You Tubes, Gina K had this one on her site today and I LOVED it...had to share too, in case any of you didn't see it...I hope you all had a heap of fun but I gotta shin on outta here before I cause any more shindy!!
hugs,
Holly

Has anyone noticed...

2008-01-02T14:15:00.000-08:00

days are going by really fast...do you think the earth has eroded and it is making the rotations go faster. Or is just me...but I digress. I am here to share some bellas!
We have had some serious Bella-fever going on here and I want to share some cards I made. Orignally they were for the Bella-babe contest, but due to that erosion thing, they were modified to fit some challenges at one of my Yahoo groups and at Lifetime Moments. But the actual cards are for my very patient December Card of the Month partner (so sorry Dawn...its in the mail), booboobella for my swim instructor who is going to nursing school(aka that little girl who is trying to kill me, don't get me started...), and the superbella is for a very dear "invisible friend" who has been fighting cancer for some years. I chose superbella because she is a superwoman in my book. I love her and I pray for her and wish her all the very best and great big hugs and kisses (mwah, Linden!!)
So, I have been wondering if I am the only one who reads my blog (and Dianne, waving hi!!) and if it has anything to do with how fast the world is spinning and time flying...so before I digress again, stay tuned for Blog Candy tomorrow or Saturday...in honor of my first crop that I am hosting I am going to give away some fun stuff and I think if you have Bella fever, you might want to tune in.

Serendipity gift cards

2007-12-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

I promised to have a gift bag ready for a MOPs auction today and I have procrastinated terribly. As I was, um, researching (ie checking out blogs) this am, I found this post and came up with a great idea!! I made a little set of gift cards in a bag with serendipity, a new paper pack from CTMH that is available from mid December through the end of January. Super paper...very versatile!! TFL!!

Parenting with PeeWee Herman...

2007-12-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

OK, so you know I am having a bad day when I resort to using Pee Wee Herman as inspiration in my parenting (can I be arrested for that...). My five year old is very high energy. I had a sleepless night and on my way to pick her up had an incredible and sudden sneezing attack. Trying desperately to keep the car on the road, I made it to the pick up line. She got in and gave the Kindergarten attendant who helped her a sweet little smile, almost as nice as the one reserved for Santa (see attached photo). Once safely buckled in she spun her head around 360 degree and spewed forth vile words and demanded I take her home. I decided right then it wasn't going to be a good day. That was confirmed when the peace offering cheese stick I tentatively handed her became a missile, narrowly missing my head, sigh...And then things got difficult. I managed to feed her some lunch and got a movie on. My sneezing finally subsided (What was that!!) and I had a little relief when she got stuck in the Close to my Heart catalog boxes that she had just ripped through. I debated the consequences of letting her stay stuck while I perused my new catalog, but decided against it when she started crying she had to go to the bathroom. That is when the Pee Wee Herman inspiration came. She wanted me to dance. OK...I did Pee Wee Herman's Tequila. She loved it. We found it on You Tube and she is now practicing it. I have posted the original You Tube here for your nostalgic pleasure and hope to have the Tina version sometime in the future...if not, its back into the boxes for her!!

Birthday Blues :o(

2007-11-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

I found this card challenge on a blog today and I loved it! Here is my take on it. It is a birthday card for my DD who officially became a teenager today :o( We can all have a little pity party for me. Why didn't it feel like this last year when my son turned 13...I guess its the same reason I feel I should send a blanket apology letter to the parents of all the girls in my son's school, sigh...but I digress.
All the pp, cardstock, stamps, ink, and die cuts are from a soon to be released paperpack from CTMH called Serendipity. I also used stickles and machine stitching. Serendipity is a special pack available beginning next month until January.

I INKED!!

2007-10-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it sounds bad, but its a good thing. I always feel better with ink on my fingers. It comes from having parents that ran a silkscreen business most of my life!! Just a few cards, but I hope to actually complete a layout prior to ringing in the new year! I want to document on our new home...YES! We should close this week sometime. We closed in PA last week (thanks sooooo much Jack and Cathy! We love you!!) I have attached a sneak peek photo of the house though--the sweeping prom staircase photo (home requirement #841). The layout will give you all a better idea of the new Murphy digs...we are living on the soccer field!
One of the cards is a BOO card we made when we BOOed our neighbors. I guess we do Halloween BIG here (you know what they say about Texas!!) The house down the street has an enormous spider on her lawn (not to confused with the big snake that was living on my balconey, but thats a story for another day!!) Right now we are just enjoying this cooled down to 50 Texas fall (or as Nathan says, "like a nice PA summer day ;o) Its Fall, Y'all!!

The Power of a Praying Parent

2007-10-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

I am sooooo glad I found this site. This is one of my favorite parenting books...basically because she puts it right out there...we can't do it without Him. I love The Power of a Praying Wife and have given it to more than one new bride (hey, sometimes the Honeymoon ends a lot faster than we would like, but that doesn't mean the marriage should!!) So, I am going to blog a little about this journey...there is a link back to the site where the study is being hosted...A Frog in my Soup (I bet there is a story there...)
This weeks chapter is Chapter 8 - Attracting Godly Friends and Role Models
I always felt this to be an important chapter. I remember too clearly how important peers were in influencing my behavior, and see that tendency in at least a few of my children. I have been guilty of being one of those parents that think that by carefully monitoring the kids and all their interactions, I could minimize any damage. Allowing them to attend public school when we moved here to Texas has been an absolute leap of faith...I must let go. I cannot control who they will meet in their life. All I can do is pray that they are led to peers who will bless thier lives...Or at least that they will learn to listen to that inner voice that says, "this isn't what I believe or want to do." Better now than later...

Why I do it....

2007-10-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

My Grandma didn't do it...I know my mom misses her every day. I remember her death, at an early age, which took so long in her otherwise healthy body. So much I would love to ask her now...why do you do it?

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Happy Tax Free Holiday...

2007-08-21T11:37:00.001-07:00

and other strange things that go on in Texas.
This past two weeks or so have been a major blur...lost a house, found a house, lost a car (moment of silence for my dearly departed truck :o( found a new car...lost a house. Sigh...But it wasn't without its moments...
I got to scrap!! I went to a crop at the Scrapbook Pad in Colleyville for a crop with Donna Downey. What fun!! I had a great picture taken with Donna that I will post when Josiane sends it to me (forgot my camera of course!!) The look on her face is priceless. I was saying I was going to post it on my blog while I told the world that Donna Downey called me a fat pig!! What she said was that I have a heavy hand (noted when I had trouble with an exacto knife)--heavy hand, fat pig...whats the difference, right!! And everyone thinks she is so nice, LMBO!! Just kidding, Donna, I love you (we Catholic Yankees need to stick together!!)and the class was fantastic. As soon as I finish it I will post and then it will be going to work with Shawn as his anniversary gift. Yes...once again, poor Shawn gets a delayed gift :o( He did buy me the car though and we are buying a house, so even though it is our 20th anniversary (you may applaud now!!) we didn't do individual gifts...but he gets to bring our "bloomin' family" to work to remember what his kids look like...
And he will need it. Poor Shawn is working all the time, and the kids are growing so fast. We took them school shopping (even though we don't have a school...they WILL be going!!) during tax free holiday here in Texas. What a trip...It was like Black Friday with no heavy coats!! And we saved over $600...Shawn was not impressed!! He asked how much do you have to spend to save over $600...men just don't get it :o)
I took some pics here of the kids in new outfits in case they grow out of them before we find a school for them to attend. The first is with our new van. The second is in front of our new church...St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Keller.

I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could....

2007-08-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

Finally getting around to posting. Things have been sooooo hectic!! But we finally did our first "Texas" thing this weekend. We had chicken at "Babe's" If you come visit, I promise to take you!! Next door there was a cute little old fashioned candy shop, and the nice woman who owned let me look through her books for sale. Shawn was with us so I didn't shop ;o) but I will be going back for "Learn to Speak Texan in 30 minutes or less." Anyone need me to pick them up a copy when I go back!!
Just going to post a quick picture or two of the kids so you can see that they really are still here and I haven't done anything to them (well, except Mariah. She had her adenoids out, AGAIN).
The first photo is a rare Texas sighting of two mermaids sitting by the pool. Quite amazing, don't you think....They are doing that classic mermaid look (its that or Bratz...can't figure it out!) The other is the rest of the kids cooling off with Popsicles...except Nathan. Darryl had her very pretty niece visiting and he was busy being cool :o) No popsicles necessary!!
Well, I will try to post more often...chronicles of a displaced northener...y'all take care now...

Holly's Close to My Heart Jumpstart Party

2007-05-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my party...we will try to go all weekend!! In between packing since I am Texas-bound (Did you all know that Texas is the home of the frozen margarita? We will get to that part of the party as time permits, but I digress ;o)

Quick recap of party rules...orders must be emailed to me at smurphy@echoes.net or hmurphy@myctmh.com and you can paypal me once I send you your total with tax and shipping. Shipping is from the company...I will cover shipping to you as a thank-you for coming to my party!

All my CTMH specials are in my newsletter on this site and if you order and need the new spring catalog (IT is super, btw!!) just tell me. If you only want the catalog, just email me. It is free, but you would need to cover shipping.

Finally, I will try to finish my projects I promised the Bunkhouse buds and post them on the site, but I will also post here in case you are coming from somewhere else...

LETS PARTY!!

Spring is Here...

2007-05-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I haven't posted since March 1 and here it is May 1.

I have started a new business since I last posted! I am a consultant for Close to My Heart. Close to my Heart is an acrylic stamp company that sell, um, acrylic stamps, cardmaking, and scrapbook supplies. Actually, the best products in the business which is why, if any of you remember before Tina interrupted my career path, I used to have a website for them. My new website is www.hmurphy.myctmh.com

At Close to my Heart we are running some specials this month...and I am celebrating my business grand opening, appropriately, this weekend on National Scrapbook Day. I will post some projects here and on my website on friday if you are interested. The company is also offering a special incentive with purchase for the month of May only...this beautiful 9x9 accordian album. Details on my website.

Dreaming of Summer

2007-03-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

Did a summer layout today...not only did it remind me of warm summer days, but it reminded me why I love my big kids. Once they were really adorable!! I know I don't tolerate the heat well, but I sure do miss it in the dead of winter. And with another ice storm expected tonight...well, this is as close as I will get for some time!

Cabin Fever

2007-02-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

With no dome to run around in still and temps often too cold to play outside, seriously scary cabin fever has set upon the Murphy home...and the kids aren't doing too well either! Luckily I have been able to take some solace in scrap therapy...unfortunately my scrap therapy makes Shawn crazy!! He was supposed to be winging to TX right about now but his boss canceled and is on his way to Germany instead...Hey Bill, if you are reading this, I think you should take Shawn, too. I figure if he goes to Germany for business, there is the possibility I can go one day, too. He could work all day while I sample, the, er, local customs ;0)

Tina is the only one who is really thriving in the snowy weather! She is a never-ending bundle of energy. She even wears Matthew out and I didn't think that was possible. I suppose it will serve her later in life if I permit her to make it to adulthood, ahhhhhhh. Nate and Mariah have been taking advantage of some down time to start taking practice tests for high school. Right now they are both looking at Scranton Prep...I am looking at soccer and basketball scholarships, sigh...

Digging Out

2007-02-19T06:19:00.000-08:00

Though in PA, it seems impossible that we would still be digging out from a storm so far after the fact, this was an unusual one. The large amounts of water mixed in with the snow in the form of freezing rain made this snowfall very heavy. Everyone is worried about roof collapse. We have been there and done that ;0) so we felt immune (how many time can it happen to one family, right?) But everyone from a local library to our parish church had worries. Our local sports dome, the Playing Field was one of the businesses that did suffer roof collapse. It is one of the inflatable buildings...like a giant bubble. The children are there so much for soccer that it is like a home away from home. I was very proud of my family when they spent their Saturday with others from the community at a shovel party helping the family Dig Out! Even Tina got a shovel and lent a hand. We hope to get back to soccer practice very soon and our prayers go out to this family and any others who sustained damage in this very horrible winter storm.

The Great Valentines Storm of 2007

2007-02-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

Barbie dined on my flowers...

But not us...not on Valentines day...Something about severe snow makes Shawn want to go for drives...or maybe it was the lack of appetizing choices for our Valentines dinner. Whatever it is, he piled the entire family into the dodge and we went four wheeling :0) I cannot believe I didn't bring my camera. I just didn't want to be cold and was pouting. What would be open...nothing obviously. The Chinese restaurant but it was take out only and we wanted ambiance (yeah with four kids in tow!) Not even a McDonald's, which I believe is against its contractual obligation to remain open all days except Christmas. I didn't even think we would be able to turn around anywhere. Finally, we spotted a neon light...Amore's; how appropriate. We piled in and hung out as far from the bar area as possible...and there we dined on a sumptuous feast of mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, breaded shrimp and fries...a repast for kings! Then it was back in the sled, er, truck to slide home again. A valentines day to remember for sure....thanks, honey...you are my hero :0)
I guess the only one who really dined in style was Barbie!

Its Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas...

2007-02-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

So I gave up and I am back here...my old new permanent home :0) We are just dying here in the cold…I thought we had some global warming going on? The kids have had two hour delays every day so far this week and I think THAT is the trend we will continue seeing for the future! I try to keep Tina in during this weather, but she doesn’t appreciate my efforts. Had to make a layout about the latest time she tromped on my warm and fuzzy mommy feelings! Hope you all are having a sunny day :0)

Why I Do What I Do...

2006-12-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

I decided my poor dh needed a way to see what is going on at home...its as simple as that. When he gets in, my mumbled recitation of the facts just doesn't cut it...he is missing out on some of the great stories of our lives. So I will tell some of them here for him to access wherever work may take him! Love you, Honey!!

Yesterday we had Christmas at my dad and moms. A good time was had by all but probably the most magical thing about the whole day was the snow...a true Christmas miracle because the weather lately has been anything but snowy!! Uncle Alix built a bonfire and the girls built a snowman. The boys spent a lot of time pushing snow down each others backs and waiting for the girls to come close enough to "get" which of course they didn't (boys are icky, right ladies!!). The "war" continued during dinner until almost 12 year old Nathan annoyed 10 year old Sarah. She pulled out her most distaining voice and told him "Act your age, not your shoe size!" Nate lifted his foot and told her "I'm a 13.5." The girls never really recovered their momentum after that :0) There's always next year!!