A Guest Post From My Eldest

Lily seems to have a fascination with my blog and all things held within it. I'm not sure why she enjoys re-reading my posts that I've written, especially when most are just photos and it's all things that she has witnessed IRL. However, I won't turn away any Hopeful Heart fans, including my daughter.

I told Lily she could write a short guest post answering questions I gave her.

I guess she is more of a short and sweet type blogger and no need for extra fluff. I prodded gently guided her to get more to her answers, but you get what you get.

Without further ado, my resident guest blogger, Lily.......


Use three words to describe yourself:

Happy,funny,shy.


If you could have a day where you do anything you want, what would you do?

I would go to a water park,have a pedicure, and go out for lunch with friends.


What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is my Mom's lasagna. Yummy!!


Who is your favorite Saint and why?

My favorite saint is St.Agnes. I like that she was a younger saint and I like in her story that it says 'her wrists were so tiny that the chains slipped right off her arms'. It reminds me of myself because I am kind of petite and have small wrists too.

Do you have a favorite prayer?

The Guardian Angel prayer is my favorite. I like asking my angel for protection and knowing that my angel is always watching over me.


What kind of work do you want to do when you grow up? Why?

When I grow up I want to be an assessor, because my Dad is an assessor. It seems like the work would be kind of fun, but still challenging.


What is your favorite season? Why?

My favorite season is summer, because I get off from school,can go swimming, and get together with friends.
I don't like winter because of the icy roads, so that would definitely not be my favorite.

If you could meet in person any blogger's kids, who would you choose?

I would like to meet Patty's kids.**

**Disclaimer: I made her chose someone and she did have difficulty deciding. It wasn't that she didn't want to meet all of you or your kids, but given two seconds to decide her choice was the 'ones from Texas'. Sorry, ladies. Texas always wins. Right, Patty?

Sometimes The Race Is Tiring

After last night's main event, I've felt like I am in an Election Hangover today.

No, my guy did not win and take the Presidency.

No, my state amendment to keep marriage between one man and one woman did not pass.

No, my U.S. Senator was not elected.

Disappointed, very disappointed. For me, for my family, for my children. For all of us.

But somewhere in the midst of today while my heart still heals, I saw several postings from today's Mass readings:

'Do everything without grumbling or questioning,

that you may be blameless and innocent,

children of God without blemish

in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,

among whom you shine like lights in the world,

as you hold on to the word of life,

so that my boast for the day of Christ may be

that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.'

My husband also shared this with me from today's office of readings:

' The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

blessed be the name of the Lord!

We accept good things from God;

and should we not accept evil?'

Let our hearts not grow weary in fighting the fight and let us always stand on guard protecting our children and our families.

Our Lady of Hope, Pray For Us!

   

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Due to the fact that I'm just plain tired of the politics, tomorrow I'll bring a fun, new post from a guest blogger.

Perhaps that will at least put something in your reader to smile over.

Until then, may our hearts be light, our prayers more powerful than before and may we rise up even stronger.

Go Vote And Pray Today

 A Pro-Life Prayer for Our President and Public Officials

Lord God, Author of Life and Source of Eternal Life, move the hearts of all our public officials and especially our President, to fulfill their responsibilities worthily and well to all those entrusted to their care. Help them in their special leadership roles, to extend the mantle of protection to the most vulnerable, especially the defenseless unborn, whose lives are threatened with extermination by an indifferent society. Guide all public officials by your wisdom and grace to cease supporting any law that fails to protect the fundamental good that is human life itself, which is a gift from God and parents. You are the Protector and Defender of the lives of the innocent unborn. Change the hearts of those who compromise the call to protect and defend life. Bring our nation to the values that have made us a great nation, a society that upholds the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Mary, the Mother of the living, help us to bear witness to the Gospel of Life with our lives and our laws, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

For All The Saints & Praying For Souls

This year our homeschool group didn't have an All Saints Day party as we usually have in the past. While it was a bummer not to be able to celebrate all of these holy men and women with other families, the day at home ended up being what we needed.

Literally, I was scouring online Halloween day trying to find unique and EASY brilliantly clever ideas to make the feast of All Saints special. There was a ton out out there, but I picked just a couple quick ideas.

We started off with a few rounds of Pin the Halo on the Saint and my kids thought it was a hoot.

A little bit of Saint trivia/Saint quotes and my kids were just a bit stumped. And they thought they had the day off from school, ha!

Next, we worked on saint puppets on paper bags. I found super helpful templates over at Catholic Icing. My kids really enjoyed picking out their Saints they were going to make and their attire. Even though Lily and Jonah are getting older and not as into crafts, then still enjoyed this project.


Jonah's choices:

St. Nicholas

St. Francis of Assisi

And Lily's:

St. Agnes

St. Clare

Lastly, for lunch I attempted PB and Jelly 'stigmata' sandwiches. Almost epic fail. But the kids got the drift and commended my effort. In case you can't see it, it's a cut out hand with jelly for the stigmat part.

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On Friday, All Souls Day, members of our homeschool group gathered at a local cemetery to pray the rosary. A bit chilly, but we walked as we prayed so that helped to keep us warm. I always like to look at the dates, family names and designs etched in the stones as I walk through a cemetery. Many of them are so beautiful and there is so much history written within them.

One of the mom's in the group had her brother, a local parish priest, come and 'flag' the grave sites of priests who were buried there. We were able to walk and pray the rosary while stopping at numerous priests' gravesides. It really was very memorable and I think it made the prayers so much more meaningful.

With such unique feasts that we can delve into as Catholics, we get to so fully engage in the richness and beauty of our faith. Don't you think?

What treasures and graces there are for us to keep unfolding as we go through life. Equally so, what gifts we get to pass on to our children for years to come.

A Dallop Of Halloween

On tap for today, All Saints Day: NO SCHOOL (we observe Holy Days as holidays), pin the halo on the Saint, Saint memory card game, Name the Saint Quiz and Saint Puppets (tons of ideas over at Catholic Icing).

Perhaps I'll post photos later, if I remember and the little girls cooperate and give me a free minute.

Happy All Saints Day!!

Wordless Wednesday: Hello, Tech Support

**I think Margaret would be a perfect mate for Mr. Xander, the IT Guy, don't you? Ahem, Colleen, we've found our match!

Latest And Greatest: A Few Of My Favorite Things

Some days there is nothing quite like home and hearth.

When the breeze blows cold, the kids are tired/cranky and baby is teething, I find joy in the simplest pleasures.

Keeping life simple keeps me sane and happy. (I'm easy to please, aren't I?)

What are some of my new loves, you may ask?


Well, let me share just a few......

A quick search while recently at Walmart led me to the limited edition Better Homes and Gardens candle that exudes autumn:

Candied Caramel Pecan

When I can't be in the kitchen, at least my house smells like I have been.

Another Walmart score was a little something for my crusty, cracked spent-too-much-time-barefoot-this-summer feet:

Bare Foot lotion in Peppermint + Plum

With the first few applications I could already notice the difference. Smells good and greatly improved my feet--double hooray!

Another electronic device made it into our household just over a month ago. While I don't generally think myself a tech geek or find the need for the latest and greatest gadgets, when I laid my eyes upon this one I was hooked:

Samsung Galaxy tab

There I was at Sam's Club just checking them out and then I held it and tried using it. A phone call to hubby and we agreed that the price was right. Plus, we made it out wedding anniversary gift and my birthday gift, so we were covered.

Yes, I'm spoiled. And double yes, I love my tab!



When one buys their new electronic gizmo, there are oodles of new possibilities. I'd been familiar with Apple apps on my iPod, but very unfamiliar with Android apps.

At first gander, I really didn't like the Droid apps. A little more time at the Play Store and I discovered a few that I like to tinker on.

My new favorite CATHOLIC app would have to be


Laudate



Not only is it FREE, it has a plethora of all-things-Catholic on there. To add to the wonderful prayers that are right at your fingertips, there is the entire Catholic Catechism, Bible, Rosary and Liturgy of the Hours.

My favorite part would be the daily readings. If I can't read through them, I can listen to a podcast instead. I also enjoy the meditations that are also podcasts and from excerpts of Pope Benedict's writings.

How awesome is that?!

Well, there you have it. My newest edition of  favorite things in a nutshell.

How about you? What's rockin' your world? Have a favorite Android app you want to share?

Happy Weekend!!