A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful for a great Thanksgiving week...lots of good food, family, & fun. We also had a birthday tied it...The Prophet turned 11 on Friday. Where has the time gone?


2) I'm thankful for how well the munchkins did w/ helping out their grandpa while he was staying w/ us Thanksgiving weekend.


3) I'm thankful for our church's Family Christmas Choir which The Prophet, The Princess, & I are singing in this year. We went to rehearsal last night & The Prophet was so happy to be a part of it. (The Princess stayed home because she wasn't feeling well, but I know she loves it, too!)

4) I'm thankful for a nice talk The Prophet & I had on the way home from choir last night. I love those moments when he opens up & WANTS to share w/ his momma!

5) I'm thankful for the generosity of my two older boys. At the store yesterday, they chose several toy items to donate to "Toys for Tots." This was their idea & they used their own money. During this time of year, when many children on focused just on what they want, these two boys thought of those less fortunate.

"Tuesday's Ten" - Places We've Been (or are Going) Today

Ten Errands for Today
(It seems like we've had a bunch of places to go today & it's not even lunch time yet!)

1) Children's Close to Home - lab work for The Archangel to make sure his body is handling his medication okay

2) Tim Hortons - The Archangel had to fast for his blood work & he really did not want to have it done, so I did what any "sensible" parent would do...I bribed him!

3) Our Credit Union - both older boys NEED new shoes, so I took some money from their savings accounts

4) Walmart - Unfortunately, this is the only store where I've been able to find shoes for the boys that both fit & aren't expensive.

5) Discount Tire Company - I needed to get our air pressure checked. The tire sensors in our van keep going back & forth between one & three tires needing air.

6) Half Price Books - The five year old boy we chose for our church's Giving Tree wants books.

7) Giant Eagle - Dropped off The Archangel's prescription

8) Church - Family Christmas Choir practice is this evening

9) Home - It's always nice to get home, esp. after running a bunch of errands.

10) Bed - After all this running around today, I will definitely be ready for bed tonight!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy hosts this meme each week. Read other Daybooks HERE.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...rain, rain, & more rain (100% chance for today)

I am thinking...of how to get my mind on this season of Advent. I'm having trouble getting focused so far.

I am thankful...that my cousin has found a wonderful man & that they will be married in February.

From the learning rooms...taking a break today, then trying to spend the next few weeks on the "Four R's" - Reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, & religion. The rest of the time we can focus on Advent activities.

From the kitchen...leftover turkey w/ Amish noodles for dinner this evening

I am wearing...light blue cotton PJ top w/ my blue, purple, & white plaid bottoms, w/ a throw blanket draped around my shoulders

I am creating...I'm trying to find a new blog template for Christmas, but haven't found one that jumps out at me yet.

I am going...to start cutting back on my computer time! I spend WAY too much time on here.

I am reading...Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (read aloud for the munchkins & one of my favorites from the series), My Dearest Cecilia by Diane Haeger (based on the legend that General Sherman's love for this woman is why he spared her hometown of Augusta), & I Surrender by my dear friend Judy Dudich.

I am hoping...that we can get our Christmas shopping done soon. We are a lot further behind than usual at this time of year.

I am hearing...the boys playing w/ their Ninjago Lego sets on the floor next to me.

Around the house...Fall decorations are down & Christmas ones will be going up w/in the next week or so

One of my favorite things...that first sip of coffee in the morning!

A few plans for the rest of the week...school, "Mom Therapy," The Archangel's psychiatrist appointment, family choir practice at church for Christmas

Here is a picture or two I am sharing...Thanksgiving Day - Casinodad's dad came for a visit & we had this family photo taken while he was here

Wordless Wednesday - The Saint's Playdough Tornado (before his haircut!)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful for long-distance phone calls. My nephew, who is in college at Brigham Young University in Utah & hasn't been home since August, called us last night to thank us for the Thanksgiving card & letters the munchkins sent to him. We talked for over an hour!

2) I'm thankful for second opinions on vehicle repairs on Casinodad's car. One place said it would be close to $3000 & the other was under $1000...that is a HUGE difference for the same repairs!

3) I'm thankful for fun times w/ extended family. On Sunday, we went to my aunt & uncle's house for the annual bonfire. All my cousins were there & it was so fun to see our kids (the next generation of our family) bonding w/ each other. We also got to meet my cousin's future in-laws. We did miss my nephew (mentioned in #1 above) & Casinodad, who had gone w/ his sister to pick up their dad.

4) I'm thankful for visits from Casinodad's dad. He's down here from northern OH visiting for the week, staying w/ Casinodad's sister until Friday. Then he'll be here w/ us Friday through Sunday. It's so great to see the munchkins bonding w/ grandpa!

5) I'm thankful there's no rain in the forecast today! It rained ALL. DAY. LONG. yesterday & while I'm sure we could use it, it makes for a long, dreary day!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
May God bless you all abundantly!

"Tuesday's Ten" - Thanksgiving Meal

Ten Things We're Having for Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Rolls
2. Cranberry Gel
3. Squash
4. Mashed Potatoes
5. Dressing
6. Beets
7. Some type of greens
8. Ham
9. Several desserts (pumpkin pie, apple pie, & birthday cake - The Prophet's birthday is on Friday)
10. Turkey

Small Successes

Sherry, at Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!

1) I have not lost my temper or freaked out over several issues that have risen this past week. I know they are mostly out of my control & am surrendering to God's Will in the matters.

2) I found educational aspects to our errands that we ran on Tuesday in lieu of having an official school day...grocery shopping, walking at a park, library visit, & dropping off recyclables. Those gave us math, economics, health & fitness, environmental science, literature, & much more!

3) I took everything out of the chest freezer in the basement, took inventory, threw out extremely outdated items, knocked the ice chunks off the inside, & neatly reorganized the items to go back in. Surprisingly, it only took about half an hour!

Last Week's Goal...Finish that closet shelf. Then I'll attack the basement, which may take a few months! Maybe I should break it into sections. This week we'll concentrate on the floor...I think a Lego tornado blew through there! (Finished that closet shelf! I personally didn't touch the basement, but I did have the munchkins clean up some of their Legos. Of course, they've been down there playing since then, so it still looks the same!)

This Week's Goal...Get the house in order for Thanksgiving Day. We are hosting my in-laws this year.

Wordless Wednesday - Hugs, Haircuts, & Hearts

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful for "Mom Therapy" on Monday...finally, after having cancelled the past couple of weeks!

2) I'm thankful for the way our family handled an incident w/ a neighborhood child last week.

3) I'm thankful for the peace I'm beginning to notice in our family since we've started praying the rosary & other prayers after dinner each night. While we're still not where I'd like us to be, we've definitely come a LONG way.

4) I'm thankful for the growth I'm noticing in The Prophet. He'll be turning 11 next Friday & I've seen so much maturity in him, esp. in the past few days. HelpfulGrammy even noticed & commented on it yesterday.

5) I'm thankful for Judy's I Surrender book & book club/discussion group on Facebook. I'm finding so much support there already & we've just started. It's so comforting to know that I'm not along in many of my own struggles & trials.

"Tuesday's Ten" - Ten People I'd Like to Meet

Ten People I'd Like to Meet
(Living or Deceased & in no particular order)

1. Jesus Christ
2. Mary, Our Blessed Mother
3. The Spiritual Babies we've prayed for, to know that our prayers saved them from abortion
4. Mother Theresa
5. Pope John Paul II
6. Judy Dudich
7. St. Gianna Beretta Molla
8. St. Therese of Lisieux
9. Mother Angelica
10. G.K. Chesterton

Notice I did not put any celebrities on this list. I chose people who I would love to sit down w/ & have a nice long chat over a cup of coffee or tea, those who would inspire & encourage me on my journey through life as a wife, mother, & (hopefully) future saint in Heaven.

Mondays About Me - Finding Peace in the Sacred Heart of Jesus

On our living room wall, right in the middle of our family photos, is a print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I have had this print since I was a little girl and as a child, I always kept it on the mirror of my dresser.

One day, several years ago, I came across it, stored with other photos & prints. I decided to frame it & place it among our family photos -- after all, isn't Christ to be the center of our families? The print itself is about 5x7 with a gold border around it. I used scrapbooking tape to adhere it to a sheet of dark green cardstock and placed it in an antique 8x10 gold frame. I chose green because it matches our living room, but also because of the contrast to the light and gold of Christ's image.

This print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the more popular images. I am no where near being an art scholar, but the lighting painted into this print is just beautiful. In the morning, I sit in a chair across the room to read & pray, the only light being the one next to me. Occasionally, I'll glance up at Jesus -- to pray, to gaze upon Him, or to just try to listen to Him. The light in the print radiates from His head, around His eyes, & all around His Heart. The more I look, the more real He becomes. It's almost like a photograph of Jesus, rather than a print. His eyes are so soft & gentle, gazing upon me as I gaze upon Him. His eyes follow wherever I go in the room. What comfort I find when I sit in the silent darkness of the morning, along with my Lord.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I Place My Trust in Thee

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee,
Whatever may befall me, Lord, though dark the hour may be;
In all my woes, in all my joys, though nought but grief I see,
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.

When those I loved have passed away, and I am sore distressed,
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I fly to Thee for rest.
In all my trials, great or small, my confidence shall be
Unshaken as I cry, dear Lord, I place my trust in Thee.

This is my one sweet prayer, dear Lord, my faith, my trust, my love,
But most of all in that last hour, when death points up above,
O sweet Savior, may Thy face smile on my soul all free.
Oh may I cry with rapturous love, I've placed my trust in Thee.

(I found this prayer at 2 Hearts Network, Inc.)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy hosts this meme each week. Read other Daybooks HERE.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it's quite windy this evening & it looks like storms are possible tomorrow.

I am thinking...of how well the older three munchkins did today after Mass. The PSR classes put on a presentation to explain the new parts of the Mass coming up later this month. They did quite well.

I am thankful...for relaxing Sunday afternoons, esp. when you can throw a nap into the day!

From the learning rooms...helping The Princess learn to read while The Prophet & The Archangel study the United States; verbs w/ the boys & nouns w/ The Princess

From the kitchen...we had frozen pizza for dinner! Yes, I know...great creativity, isn't it?

I am wearing...light blue cotton PJ top w/ my blue, purple, & white plaid bottoms

I am creating...a menu plan for Thanksgiving, as we are having it here this year

I am going...to start cutting back on my computer time! I spend WAY too much time on here.

I am reading...Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (read aloud for the munchkins & one of my favorites from the series), Homeschooling with Gentleness by Suzie Andres, Homegrown Faith by Heidi Bratton (my newest review book for The Catholic Company), & I Surrender by my dear friend Judy Dudich.

I am hoping...that our All Saints' Day / Mom Therapy session doesn't get cancelled tomorrow. We've had to cancel numerous times already due to illnesses.

I am hearing...my tubular wind chimes blowing in the wind

Around the house...we are enjoying our fall decorations

One of my favorite things...going to check on The Archangel & The Saint shortly after they've gone to bed & finding them both asleep in The Archangel's bed, w/ The Archangel's arm around The Saint

A few plans for the rest of the week...school, "Mom Therapy" & a belated All Saints' Day party (we've had to cancel the past couple times due to illnesses), cleaning/organizing, spending time w/ family

Here is a picture or two I am sharing...
I was going to make a tree out of construction paper to put on our kitchen so that we could add leaves of thanksgiving on it. That is, I was going to do that until I read what Judy's family makes, a Tree of Thanks. Here is our tree, just put together today w/ fresh branches from outside. Within 15 minutes, we already had all these leaves of thanksgiving on it.