Friday Fun Day

Today is our wrap-up of Catholic Schools Week.  It's been a long and crazy week, but we enjoy it so much!  This afternoon, our staff is surprising the kids with a flash mob during the staff vs. 8th grade volleyball game.  Should be a fun time!  What's on your mind today?  Have something fun planned for the weekend?  Want to share a success from this week?

Soup's On

What are your go-to easy meals?  Favorite soup recipes?  Yummy Super Bowl snacks?  Please share!

I do!

We all know that we must make a daily decision to love our beloved, but sometimes it's easier said than done, right?  What can you do TODAY to show your spouse just how much you love and appreciate him?

Being a woman is great, right?

Okay, I'll just put it out there.  We use Natural Family Planning and I have a love/hate relationship with it.  Whew!  Felt good to say that out loud.  It has blessed our marriage more than I can tell you, but lately it has become a thorn.  Anyone else out there struggling with NFP?  Other health issues?  Need prayers? 

Bless the Little Children

We have two wonderful children who always pick up after themselves, eat their veggies, and never ask for anything.  Okay, so not true!  They do pick up...when we ask them.  They never eat their veggies, except for our dear daughter who actually likes broccoli.  And it seems like we're forever fighting the "Can I have...?" in the checkout line.  All that being said, would I trade one single second?  No way!  I wasn't one of those young girls who dreamed about a wedding and kids.  Truthfully, I didn't even see myself getting married.  God obviously had other plans and blessed me with the best husband ever...and then sent us two children made just for us.  They share our quick wit and love of sarcasm, our obsession with 80's music, and would pick staying in their pajamas all day on a Saturday over doing most anything else.  Many days, I just look at them wonder what in the heck I did so right to deserve such gifts.  What do you have in common with your children?  What are you struggling with right now?  What have they done to make you proud lately?

Gospel Reflection

This weekend, we see Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee and calling Simon and Andrew to His ministry.  They, along with James and John, left everything and followed Jesus.  What do you need to leave behind in order to grow closer to God?  What is detouring you on your way to Heaven?  How can you start TODAY to change your path?

Friday Fun Day!

What's on your mind today?  Big plans for the weekend?  Date night with the hubby? 

What's for dinner and where are my socks?

Am I the only one who detests putting clean clothes away?  The washing and drying, I don't mind.  Even the folding isn't so bad.  But getting those piles in their rightful place is beyond torture.  And what about dinner?  I love the planning of meals, sometimes I actually enjoy the grocery shopping, but there are afternoons when I just can't make myself go into the kitchen.  What are your household struggles?  Successes?  Tips and advice?

For Better or For Worse

I'm sure we all recited these words when we were married.  I know I was floating on a cloud of love and happiness, not once thinking that there would be any "worse."  Well, twenty-one years later, we have certainly had our share of struggles, as well as an overabundance of love and happiness.  At this point in time, we are struggling through my husband's unemployment, but also celebrating our children's success in school and our ability to laugh at just about anything.  What's going on in your marriage right now?  Need us to pray for you?  Chime in....

Happy New Year!

I pray that everyone had a fantastic Christmas!  We traveled and saw friends and family.  We had a great time, but it sure is nice to be home.  I am still finalizing details for this website (along with doing lesson plans and planning RCIA, Baptism, and youth ministry meetings).  For now, why don't we share something that touched us over the holiday season? 

All of our family lives in the epicenter of the H1N1 epidemic, so we were a tad weary about going there and possibly exposing ourselves to something ugly.  But we persevered and had a wonderful time.  As I continuously prayed for our good health, I was constantly reminded of Joshua 1:9..."I command you: be strong and steadfast!  Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go."  I struggle with anxiety and felt like I was heading right into the lion's den.  But, as usual, the more I prayed, the calmer I felt.  God never fails to show me his enduring mercy and love.

We were also able to celebrate the new year with my older sister.  It was one year ago on December 30 that she had a massive stroke.  The doctors held no hope and eventually asked us to make some heart-wrenching decisions.  But our family and friends began praying for Fr. Emil Kapaun's intercession on her behalf.  If you haven't read his story, please run to www.frkapaun.org and delve right in!  Within a few hours, she was giving us a thumbs up and nodding her head.  The doctors are still baffled by her recovery.  She still has some paralysis on her left side, but all her faculties are there.  It was such a blessing being able to spend the afternoon at her house, surrounded by family, knowing that God had truly provided a miracle to us this past year.

I pray that the new year has been good to you, thus far.  And I pray that God will continue to bless our families, our communities, and our country throughout 2014.