Who Woulda Thought

Well, it has been a while since I last posted.  I tried a few days ago but it just did not happen. 

So...this happened today....

No...not making my bed!  I do that every day!  But last weekend, I convinced our brave leader to help me clean out our closet, which led us to this...

Not only did we take all the clothes and STUFF out of our closet...but also the carpet and some extra clothes rods!  We went from de-clutter to re-do in about 30 minutes!  All I can say is...this guy is pretty awesome! 

Unfortunately, it meant our bed looked like this...

AND....we were sleeping on the couch this week!

Jump ahead this weekend...and our brave leader willingly took our two youngest littles on a camping trip.  They joined up with our Little Miss' girls group (American Heritage Girls).  I had to stay back and take older boys to work.  I know I had the easier job (even though I was up until 1am) as he was sleeping in temperatures near freezing point! 

I got the boys up early...hopped in the car and joined up with the campers this morning!  We had the amazing joy of teaching the girls about GEOCACHING!!!!!  YAY!!!!  We had a great time and enjoyed lunch before heading back to get the boys back to work!  Our brave leader now took on the THREE youngest ones!!!! 

Once I got everyone to work, I was actually left in the house ALONE!!!!  WHAT?!!?!?!  I don't think I have had this happen in a LONG TIME!!!! 

What is a momma alone to do? 

Well...I thought about it and decided the best way to use my time...

I got the bed cleared off and bed made again...not for me...but for my brave leader!  I figured he would appreciate having a bed to sleep in again after seven days on a couch and two nights outside on a hard bed of blankets!  I hope he knows how much I love him!  Sometimes it is the little things that can show how much you care!

So...hopefully...this is my jump start back in the blogging mode.  Much to tell...I look forward to sharing our crazy mixed up beautiful life!  Who woulda thought it would take a cleaned off bd to get me going again!

Double Four!!!!

So today is my birthday...but oh so much more...some would say it is Groundhog's Day...but that is just silly...we all know that in the end we still have to wait for the cycle of life to unfold and wait for Spring to come in six more weeks!

BUT...there is still more about this day that I love so much...it is the Presentation of the Lord...also known as Candlemas.  We celebrate yet another revelation of the Lord...this time at the Temple when Mary has met the regulations of purification and is allowed in Temple to present her son to God.  Of course, we know that he is our Lord God who is revealed to Simeon and Anna as their people's Savior.  Because he is the shown as the light to all the world, we come together tonight at Mass to have candles blessed to show that he dispels the darkness.  A wonderful tradition of the blessing candles so that we too can remember that Christ is the light we must follow.

Going to this special Mass was a great way to end my birthday.  Or so I thought it was over...turns out the children made me a special dessert of Tiramisu!  SO YUMMY!!!

It was just one more way they showed me that they love me today.  They started out with breakfast in bed (at 4am!!!!) and then I had a special treasure hunt to find a geocaching picture hidden away in the cupboard.  After a morning of scrambling around...I picked up Henry and he took me to lunch at an Asian buffet.  Very good!  He was then informed to keep me busy geocaching at a local park so I would not go home before they finished dessert.  A fun way to spend the day!

We arrived home just in time to have dinner before going to Mass.  A delicious meal that I always enjoy.

In the end it was a great day...I always know that I am loved at the end of the day...so thankful for my family and friends!

Family Ties

I have started this post several times but I never seem to finish it.  Many opportunities to show how much I love my family these months since returning to Texas.  I am so thankful we were close by as my mom and brothers needed a helping hand.

I would be remiss in my blogging journeys if I did not talk about this past summer.  I think that with all the every day activities...the bustle of our lives in the routine...sometimes we must be shaken to remind us that we are not in control.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we never know what curve ball will be thrown our way.  Just when we think we know it all and have life "figured out," something happens that throws us off course.  However, if our life is already on course with God, we should be able to stay on the road and keep moving forward.  Unfortunately, this is not always the way life goes.  Sometimes, we are already off course...other times we are thrown off course instead of gripping the wheel and letting God lead us.

When we returned from California, we were already slightly eschew...trying to figure out how to adjust and make it all work.  We were trusting in God to help us...but we were still in that tail spin!

Then we had another curve ball thrown our way...I had just been to a funeral for my sister-in-law's father.  As we were leaving, we received a phone call that my brother, Nathan, was being taken from one ER to another hospital in Houston.  He was being put into a drug-induced coma.  We did not know if he was even going to make it through the night!

My mom and I decided to make the drive to Houston...not knowing what we would encounter.  Looking back now these many weeks later...we were scared but we also knew to pray.

Thankfully, he had the doctors he needed to stabilize him and after several days he was well enough to have open-heart surgery.  Funny to say it that way but we were so grateful that he would have that surgery.  There were definitely moments when we thought he would not make it to that point!

Day he was released

We took his son home with us for a few days and tried to help him understand that God was in control.  We even had a chance to go to a special prayer garden where he could pray for his dad.  I hope they all realize the importance of God's hand in their lives!

When he was finally released from the hospital, he recovered at our mom's house.  I would take him to his doctor appointments.  Now nearly six months later, he is going to be starting a new job and he is feeling better than he had in a long time.  I am so thankful for God's answer to our prayers...and proud of Nathan for his hard work in adjusting to a new healthier lifestyle.  I am also thankful for our mom who has worked so hard to make it all possible.

Just when this situation was resolving, we were hit with another whammy!  My older brother, Damian, also called to tell us he was going to have by-pass surgery.  He had gone into a routine doctor's visit due to insurance changes, and they told him he would need to have the surgery.  When he asked when he should have it done, they told him they were admitting him to the hospital immediately!

Once again our mom and I huddled together to work out a plan of action.  Unfortunately, I was not feeling well, but it all worked out for her to go down to the hospital.  Prayers answered...I waited for surgery and recovery time in hospital without being able to help.  However, I was there for his release...and later doctor appointment.  I was once again thankful that I could help...grateful for my brother's health and for our mom who worked so hard during the recovery in her home.

Through it all...I can only say that God was with it through it all.  My brothers continue to stay with our mom as they adjust.  This would never have been possible if we had not moved back to Texas.  SO...I am also thankful for the foresight to return.  God is good...he knows our needs before we do...I continue to be in awe of His plans.  I think he truly wants us to be bound together as family...it is through these family ties that we are able to help each otehr when we are down.

God is good all the time...and all the time God is good!

A Full Day with St. Nicholas

We love celebrating our holiday season a little different then most.  We actually take the time during the days leading up to Christmas to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior!  No decorating our tree or gift shopping...instead we think about how we need to change to be ready to stand before the manger scene on Christmas morning...giving the best of ourselves to the baby Jesus...in hopes that one day we will stand before Jesus...the just judge...and enter into heaven...our ultimate goal!

SO...when we try to better ourselves, we look to the ones who have gone before us...the saints...the Church Triumphant...for ways to live our lives for that goal!

Today, it is the feast day of St. Nicholas of Myra....many know him as Santa Claus.  The real man was not a jolly fat man flying through the night with his reindeer.  You can read more about him in my companion blog...here.

Our family tradition is to place our stockings or shoes out on this day...just as many families do on Christmas Eve.  However, we try to focus on things that are needed along with a little sweets and treats!  We also receive St. Nicholas notes that give us ideas of how we can improve as we patiently wait for Jesus.

This morning that meant waking up around 6am...this allowed everyone to listen around the table as we each opening our stocking...before dad and one of the boys left for their day.  It is always a joy to listen to these notes and enjoy a fruity breakfast.  Along with a few necessary items, I was able to help St. Nicholas slip in a small toy for each of us!

Our morning continued with trips to college...work...and dentist!  The boys even had a couple of teeth wiggle out during their cleaning!  Then a round about as we headed to the down town area for a laser show for the older boys.  While we were waiting the younger ones and I enjoyed our hobby of geocaching...taking us to historical cemeteries and fire stations!  The little ones were even given a special gift of sitting in a brand new fire truck!

Back home we gathered...took a nice walk to place some new caches...then a fun Greek-style pizza dinner (one of our favorite meals and with St. Nicholas being a Greek saint it works for us.)!

Through it all we tried to be the light of Christ for all those we met.  We prayed for those around us...the policemen...the firemen...those who have lived their lives and who are now at the mercy of God...those buried in the many cemeteries we visited today!  It was a full day but enjoyed by all!

Veteran's Day 2016

I have read a lot of posts from fellow Facebook feeds this week stating that they are not proud of our country...this makes me so sad...I just cannot believe that this country is so divided.Today we were able to go to a Veteran's Day event and I realized (I really have always known) that I am very proud of our country.

I met with some amazing men and women who have been brave enough to serve our country in the worst of times...and come back stronger...they did that for us regardless of how we vote...whether we burn the flag...whether we kneel or stand at attention during the national anthem...whether we hate them because of the horrors of war (Don't we all hate that, especially those who lived it!?!) or cry when we hear Taps at yet another funeral.

The veterans...of all branches...chose to give their lives for our freedom...some will never return to us and others come to us broken and in pain...but they are all heroes in my mind...and they make me proud to be an American.

State Senator Donna Campbell joined us

There was a young group of children who sang for us today.  They were so sweet and truly showed that they cared for those in the audience.  They were not showing signs of fear...they just sang because they love our country.  Let us all learn from those children.

Hey!  Also, a big shout out to Chipotle... they served us dinner tonight for half price even though our veteran is off in Pennsylvania...God love him!...they thanked our family for our sacrifice as well.  So kind of them!

God bless America!

First Days of Fall 2016

Isn't it still SUMMER!?!?!?

Well, it seems everybody is posting there "first day of school" pictures again around this time or year.  Not to be remiss in my parenting duties, I thought I would have some fun with the children.  We do not officially start school until next Tuesday.  However, we have had a lot of first days this month so it seemed this was as good a time as any to share.

The first day Michael started his new job...at his old job...that is now his new job...I know...its confusing to me too!

The first day Sean started his VERY FIRST job!  He is working at Six Flags as a grounds host.  A great first job with benefits that he loves to brag about (e.g. tickets to the park and buddy passes!)

The first day Henry also started his VERY FIST job!  He is going to be a season worker at Sea World this fall as part of the Scare Squad...how frightening!  No pictures of him as his costume is too expensive to take out of the park!  But I might try to sneak a peak sometime in October and I will update.

The first day Henry started college...he is taking two dual credit classes this fall at our local community college.  He is actually doing a great job with his History and Anthropology courses.  He made me proud this week as he was able to remember something from our past courses and answer a question no one else knew.  (For those of you wondering about Sean...we messed up and registered too late so he will start in Spring...bummer but it will be ok.)

The first day I insisted that my children could in fact make their own breakfast...and then proceeded to remind them all that they could scramble an egg!

The first day I taught a group of homeschoolers Algebra II.  A new cooperative study group started and I jumped at the chance to teach math again.  None of my children needed the classes that were being offered so they get to stay home and enjoy an hour without mom while I teach.

The first day of school...sort of...we kind of opened some books this week just so we could enjoy the Labor Day weekend.  So...I took some pictures of the children at one of our favorite parks with their favorite subject book in hand.  I thought their choices were very interesting!

7th grade-chose his writing folder!

2nd grade-surprisingly chose his Spelling book!

12th grade-chose his Lovecraft novel...
Who said it had to be a school book?

Pre-K...chose her cell phone!  Oh my!

Along for the hike through the woods