Seven Quick Takes Friday (4)

Thanks to Jen at Conversiondiary.com for hosting.  Let's get right to it... 

-1-

Wanted to make it to the beach this week to visit with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and their kids.  It's been such beautiful weather this week here in NH.  It never happened though.  It would have been Wednesday or Thursday that I took the drive out since I work Monday, Tuesday and Friday.  But it was a good thing I didn't on Wednesday because I ended up feeling horrible right after the girls' bed time.  Nauseous and dizzy.  Would not have been a good drive home.  I think that I may not have had enough water that day.  Maybe it wasn't enough carbs. Anyway, Thursday I visited with my mother-in-law who broke her foot the first day of summer watching our girls.  I figured she would have normally spent some time at the beach so we should go spend some time visiting with her.  It was a really nice visit, although the girls wanted to do nothing but climb on mama.  I wonder if it's the cast that is having Alicia be so standoffish with her Nana.  Alicia did do some drawing on her cast which she hasn't until now.  Nana's cast should come off in two weeks!  Hopefully!  I STILL feel guilty.

-2-

There was lots going on this week that I needed to get done.  I left my post-it "to do" list behind at my mom's house on Tuesday, so I rewrote the list in a notebook.  After taking a look at said list today, I only ended up accomplishing three things on my "to do" list out of a possible 14.  The list just keeps getting longer and longer.  Posting on my blog was on the list, but it will have to wait until early next week.  I started it, but never got back to it.  "Holy Roller" post will be coming next week.  I think...  tonight I'm off to finish thank you letters for my daughter's birthday presents along with the pictures I insert from her annual photo shoot!

-3-

Our 10 month old started crawling this week on Monday.  Funny thing is, the day I said that I wasn't ready for it, she started.  Now the fun begins.  A little delayed, this whole crawling thing, but her sister started walking at just a little over a year, well before she was crawling.  As much as I don't feel ready for this, I'm glad she's becoming more independent.  She was getting heavy, carrying her around all the time - I think she weighs almost 24 pounds.  Now, big sister Alicia HAS to pick up all her small toys.  She just turned three so this shouldn't be a big problem, but any tips on how to keep her focused on it so I'm not nagging her all the time?  Although, I suppose it's a mother's job to be a nag. 

-4-

Time to get going on my fundraising for the Jimmy Fund Walk in Boston on September 18th.  I've come to the conclusion that fundraising is not my thing, although in 2001 I raised quite a bit of money for the American Stroke Association.  I've committed to this walk in honor of a brave little 10 year old girl with an inoperable brain tumor (my husband's cousin's daughter - diagnosed at the age of 6).  Check out her website here, read especially "The First Year" and "Make-A-Wish" pages.   Last time we saw this sweet little girl was a few months back and she was so interested in watching and playing with both our little girls.  Anyway, I decided that it was best to step outside of my little world and help with a very worthy cause.  I only need to raise $250, so basically 10 people at $25 will do it, even 9 people would do since I'm considering myself donor #10.  Please consider donating if you can.  Every little bit helps.  I will be sending out a letter and email soon (this was also on the above "to do" list).  Thank you in advance for whatever you can do.  As far as my physical readiness for the walk, I'm not AT ALL ready.  OK, so it's only 5 miles I plan on walking, but I'll be pushing a double jogging stroller with at least 50 pounds worth of kiddos in it!  I signed up for this walk with the intention of adding walking to my routine and it has yet to happen.  Maybe in a few weeks when things settle down.  But don't we always tell ourselves this?!

-5-

Surgery for my cousin's endometriosis was just Wednesday.  The surgery went well and she seems to be feeling alright.  I'm really hoping it helps her and her husband on their journey to having children.  She started learning about the Creighton method recently and is seeing the Na Pro doctor that I saw when we had trouble conceiving baby #2.  She has a blog about her experiences with IVF and her more recent journey to learn Creighton. (There's also a link to her blog Eat.Scream.Cry on my "Bloggers" tab.)  Sending lots of love and prayers for a speedy recovery and to achieving the family of their dreams.  They will be great parents when it happens for them.  If you could add it to your intentions, please pray for them as they continue their struggle with infertility which will hopefully turn around very soon.

-6-

"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car." G.K. Chesterton.  I LOVE this quote.  Don't just stand there in church!  (OK, but you still should GO to church!)  Don't be afraid to live it people!  Get out there and be an example of Christ for others! 

-7-

Confession time:  I'm not doing so great with saying the rosary daily.  Actually, I haven't even said it once since posting about praying the rosary.  Best of intentions not put into practice.  Poop! (my favorite curse word since becoming a mom!)  Maybe soon?!  Why do I struggle with spending time in prayer?  This bothers me; ok bothers isn't the right word.  This makes me sad.  I MUST CARVE OUT MORE TIME FOR PRAYER!!!

Seven Quick Takes Friday (2)

My second quick takes to start off July.  Thank you to Jen at Conversion Diary for hosting and congratulations on your bundle of joy, Pamela.  Happy Fourth of July everyone!

-1-

Do you ever watch Maury Povich and think to yourself: "How could that poor girl not know who the father of her child is?"  OK, so I haven't really watched it, at least not in the past few years.  But while most people are quick to condemn and quite often find these ladies disgusting for having a lax moral code, I always have sympathy for these girls who are testing father #5, #8.  I mean, truly, what happened in this girl's life that led her to such behavior?  She probably thinks she is just having a good time with her sexuality and doesn't care, but anyone who has been there knows the truth.  Makes me sad.  I don't watch this show, partly because it is on when the girls are awake and I try not to watch a lot of TV, but mostly because it hurts my heart.

-2-



Praying the rosary is something that I don't think I ever got into saying when I was younger.  If I did, I know that I was not saying it paying attention to the mysteries and I would just say the Our Fathers and Hail Marys for each bead.  I think it may  be time to add this to my prayer life, just have to figure out WHERE to fit it in.  Would like to do this daily, but I think I will have to see where I can best find time for it.  During nap time for Hannah?  Maybe Alicia and I can start saying it together when I put Hannah down.  It might be nice or she'll drive me to distraction.  We'll see where that goes.   

picture of the rosary made with rose petals
from Memere B's memorial flowers

-3-

I have to wonder at people who go to church and think mass is too long, they don't say any of the words, sing or participate in any way.  It is really great that they are there, and I'm not supposed to judge, but sometimes I just get so annoyed.  Are you really there?  Why did you come?  Is it to fulfill an obligation?  Do you think your singing voice is horrible?  By the way, If God gave you a poor singing voice, He deserves to hear it back.  In my more generous moments, I wonder if they are going through a difficult time.  Do you have some hurt that renders you unable to get any words out?  Cannot sing because your voice will crack and bring tears to your eyes?  I've been in that last category - at church unable to speak or sing, lest I cry.  Which leads me to think, you know, sometimes a good cry at church might be a good thing. Haven't done that in a while.

-4-

Went to confession earlier this week.  I somehow came to the realization that I was firing on all cylinders.  I took a look at the seven deadly sins and figured I had at least one thing to confess in each category.  Envy, pride, wrath, sloth, gluttony, lust and greed.  I used to have my "usual" list that I would try to work on between confession sessions.  Luckily I seem to be doing better with MOST of those.  However, now I am adding to my shortcomings.  Great.  My last confession was a month and a half ago.  We'll see how long it takes me to go back;  my best bet - sometime in mid August.  Praise God that Jesus institued this sacrament before his ascension into heaven.  I left feeling SOOOO much better and am so grateful that God doesn't leave us to "sit in it."  We have the ability to put it all out there and let it go, and then start over with a clean slate.  This is ALMOST my favorite sacrament.  Almost. 

-5-

Saw another email in my inbox last week that didn't make my first Seven Quick Takes Friday (1), see #6 at the link for last week's email outrage.  Email #2:  Condoms were distributed in middle school to 7th and 8th graders by accident.  This by a school district that has an abstinence based health curriculum where "distribution of birth-control devices isn’t done at any grade level."  ODD!  There must be someone who knew what the topic of the assembly was going to be.  The health educator "maintains she didn’t deliberately distribute them, but that students might have picked them up."  Interesting...  I suppose at least we should be glad that the principal apologized for this action and that he called it highly inappropriate.  Not sure how I feel about sending my girls to public school these days.  The things I hear make me more and more nervous about what is going on in our schools.

-6-

I've been listening to the Station of the Cross on AM radio these days or online.  Can't stand it when it doesn't come in, or fades out just during what seems to be the main point of the topic the host is covering.  The SonRise morning show, Women of Grace, are top on my list, but my favorite has to be Mornings with Mother, even though they are all repeats of prior broadcasts.  The foundress of EWTN, Mother Angelica, is just too funny (I don't know she's doing any public speaking and I think that she is not in good health these days).  Every time I hear her speak she always has something she says that makes me chuckle right out loud and usually she is laughing herself.  I have various post it notes with little quips that may someday make it to a blog post.  She's pretty good for inspiration, I think.



-7-

Been really enjoying quite a few G.K. Chesterton quotes.  My favorite right now applies to so many different situations:  To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it. A Short History of England (1917). Really must find a book of his to read.  There would be plenty of options and I'm sure I'd be fascinated.  Need to renew my library membership...