Because Manners Are Just For The Holidays

Apparently, my daughter has decided to take it upon herself to get this house crackin' in time for Thanksgiving. She decided to single out her brother today at lunch.

"Jonah, you really need to work better on your manners. It's almost time for Thanksgiving. Stop talking with food in your mouth, no yelling at the table, no playing and STOP showing people your food! Chew with your mouth closed."

And while she was at it, dear brother left the table and got this ear full:

"And another one! Don't leave the table until everyone is finished!"


Well then, my work here is done.


Truth be told, we could use a little manner maintenance. Little girl not excluded.

Feeling Like A V.I.P.

Since I shared with you on Wednesday that I was eagerly anticipating an evening out at a concert on Thursday, I figured I'd share the details and the photos. Not really that you probably NEED to see them or wanna hear about it....

However, Reed and I rarely take an evening out, so for me it was worth mentioning and sharing.

Okay, and I'll admit it, I just had to gloat a little. Yes, I am human.

Having pulled a few strings by merely asking how we could attain the best possible seats since we were huge Mark Schultz FAN-atics, we were granted a favor and even invited to the pre-show 'Meet & Greet' with the artists. To which I was MOST THRILLED. I'm geeky like that when it comes to Mark Schultz concerts. Which, ahem, this was number *FIVE*!!

We got this photo with our favorite Piano-Man, Mark Schultz, and the gals of Point of Grace:

Aren't we cute??!! Probably doesn't look so good that I am leaning more toward another man and less toward my own man,huh? All I can say is that I get so star-struck and giddy as a schoolgirl...tehe...

These were our seats:

Which were FRONT & CENTER. And merely 10 feet from stage!!

Basking in our 'Date Night' glow:

The gals from Point of Grace were on stage first. And let me tell you they can put on a concert! Great band, beautiful harmony and such gorgeous women of faith. In a way, you can't help but compare them to the Dixie Chicks. Remember them? Any way, POG ladies have similarities with them and even pull off a bit of a country twang as well.





And then, after intermission, Mark came on stage. We roared, we hooted, we hollered. (Well, I don't know what everyone else did, but with me being giddy and all that's what I did!) And we all geared up for some sweet entertainment. We sang along, laughed and were on our feet as Mark pulled off another exciting concert.



And the piano! Yes, there was plenty of Mark behind the piano doing what he does best, playing and inspiring with his voice, music and lyrics. He's such a wonderful performer and storyteller that the audience is quickly drawn in. It's like an evening with a friend. And I take it all in and thoroughly enjoy.every.minute.of.it. Sweetness to my soul.

And a little more singing with POG's back-up band:

With all of the special treatment and with such an excellent concert, it made for a very memorable evening out/date night for which I am most grateful. And not too soon will forget.

Looking Toward Advent

While we are just beginning November and the season of Advent is a few weeks off, I have already began to think on the season ahead.

In an effort to bring about a more peaceful and memorable four weeks of preparation for Christ's birth, I've already committed to being out of the stores by December 1st. Shopping done, pantry stocked. I'm hoping that only NEEDED errands will get me in the doors and gracing the aisles of Walmart and Target during December.

I desire simplicity. I desire peace, comfort and joy as my family awaits Christmas.

In order to do that, I would like to prepare our home and our hearts during those weeks of Advent. I'm looking for something simple, yet meaningful. Something perhaps for the mama, along with something for the family. We have walked the journey through the season of Advent in in the past with Jotham's Journey and we all enjoyed it. We may be ready for a new story and perhaps my children would still enjoy something similar.

Suggestions, anyone? What do you do? What does your family do? How do you prepare? I'd love to hear what you have to say and how you prepare for the great Gift of Christmas!

Many ideas are welcome, so share away!

Countdown!

Tomorrow evening I will go see him in concert:



They will be there in concert too:



And although we've seen Mark before in concert,



I'm so.excited. I know it's gonna be a great concert. He ALWAYS delivers. It's not just beautiful songs, done with an amazing voice. It's the storytelling, the jokes, the fun and the heartfelt songs that leave the audience pleased.

Not to mention, it's DATE NIGHT for Reed and I!!

Prayers, Please!

Because I know that you are a community of prayer warriors and intercession, please send your prayers this way! They are needed for a member of my extended family. Due to privacy issues and a number of other reasons, please just pray for restored health and a miracle if it be God's Will. Pray for peace and strength for our family.

I hope to one day give you a better report and more information, but for today all I ask is that you continue to pray. However you are led, please join me.

Prayers are powerful and right now are most appreciated.



Prayer to Our Lady of Good Remedy

O QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, Most Holy Virgin, we venerate thee. Thou art the beloved Daughter of the Most High God, the chosen Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Vessel of the Most Holy Trinity.
O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of Our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee, Dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender and caring mother.

Hail, Mary....

O LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of unfailing help, grant that we may draw from thy treasury of graces in our time of need.
Touch the hearts of sinners, that they may seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Bring comfort to the afflicted and the lonely; help the poor and the hopeless; aid the sick and the suffering. May they be healed in body and strengthened in spirit to endure their sufferings with patient resignation and Christian fortitude.

Hail, Mary....

DEAR LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of unfailing help, thy compassionate heart knows a remedy for every affliction and misery we encounter in life. Help me with thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my problems and needs, especially for... (Indicate your special intentions here).
On my part, O loving Mother, I pledge myself to a more intensely Christian lifestyle, to a more careful observance of the laws of God, to be more conscientious in fulfilling the obligations of my state in life, and to strive to be a source of healing in this broken world of ours.
Dear Lady of Good Remedy, be ever present to me, and through thy intercession, may I enjoy health of body and peace of mind, and grow stronger in the faith and in the love of thy Son, Jesus.

Hail, Mary.....

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of Good Remedy,
R. That we may deepen our dedication to thy Son, and make the world alive with His Spirit.

Tick-Tock

Ever wonder what makes your child 'tick'? What goes on in their head sometimes? What fascinates them?

And then one day you notice that your daughter runs to the kitchen an awful lot. And stares at the clock. And you find out that what literally makes her 'tick' is the ticking of time. Seriously. Lily is in awe of "O'Clocks", as she calls them. She will watch the time wherever she is and when it's close to an o'clock, come running to the kitchen. You see, there you can catch the o'clock on THREE clocks: the radio/cd player, stove and the microwave. It is a clock carnival in here!

It's pretty cute, really. Although slightly odd. She's even declared numerous times that her favorite times are 12:00 and 6:00. Why? Simply because of the way that the hands line up on the face of the clock in the living room.

So now rather than feeling like I'm being followed and monitored in my kitchen when Lily suddenly appears, I look to the clock and realize that it's time for my daughter's (almost) hourly fixation. At least I know where to find her when the hour approaches.

All Hallow's Eve

Here's our All Hallow's Eve in photos. Not much to say, just that it was simple, delightful fun with family.

My Angel & Pirate, ready for Trick-or-Treating:

Our Trick-or-Treaters:

(That's our nephew and his wife, along with their daughter. Soon to be our newest neighbors, just down the road from us. Mommy & Daddy are tourists in Australia and Miss Cutie Pie is a kangaroo. Aren't they cute??)

Black Cat Cake:

After 'Black Cat Cake':

Scary, huh?