Crazy Eights

Recuperating Jamie tagged me for this meme. Like her, I was thinking that it may be tough to come up with a list, but it wasn't really so bad.

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

1. Getting to the greenhouse and buying more perennials and my annual flowers for my pots and flower gardens in our yard. I love tending them throughout the summer. Not that I do it so well or that is isn't a lot of work, but I just love the color that fills our yard when everything is in bloom.

2. Planting our garden and reaping it's abundant harvest. We do this every year and try to keep it a family activity. And in these tough economic times, who couldn't use some free vegetables out of your own garden!

3. The Catholic Homeschool conference at the end of May. I'm already perusing the catalogs/online and deciding what we'll be using for curriculum choices in the fall. This year I'll be adding more for Jonah since he'll be in preschool, but I've got to find something that will hold my little Thomas-themed boy's attention. Reed and I also make the conference an event we attend together, so we look forward to it!

4. A couple of sweet ladies' little arrivals at the end of May (Lerin, Margaret & IRL friend Michelle). Can't wait!!

5. A few possible summer projects around home: tiling in the kitchen and laminate flooring throughout a majority of the main floor. Of course, these are only POSSIBLE projects and we'll have to see if we can swing them financially, but they are a lot of fun to think about!

6. Doing something special for Mother's Day. Not sure what just yet, but hubby usually makes a big deal out of it and enlists the kids' help and I enjoy whatever it is whether planned or last minute arrangements. I want to do something special with my mom and Lily this year too, but perhaps that will be the following weekend so that we can extend Mother's Day a bit.

7. Garage Sales! This has become a hobby of mine while in my mommy years and I've gotten pretty good at spotting a "good" one from a block away! I also know which local cities have their city-wide sales and keep them marked on my calendar. This year, unfortunately, three of my usual frequented ones are on a Saturday that we have to head out of town. I wonder if I can do a little before we leave? Hmm...

8. Certainly not the least on my list, but just happens to be the last on this list: A BABY! Hopefully one day VERY soon we'll have good news.


8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Attended Mass with my family.

2. Enjoyed brunch that Reed prepared after Mass.

3. Blogged.

4. Made cookies with hubby and kids.

5. Went for a short walk in the rain.

6. Attended to little projects like filing and paying bills!

7. Enjoyed Dinner that wonderful hubby prepared.(I know, Sunday's make me spoiled!)

8. Relaxed in the evening and watched Amazing Race.


8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Conceive again! (I know, I keep mentioning it, but it's on my mind!)

2. Read a little more in the evening after the kids are in bed and NOT fall asleep while doing it!

3. Sew from a pattern with ease and without frustration. I can do some pretty good basic stuff, but I do wish I could sew a simple dress one day too.

4. Have Reed home for more than two days each week. I know, I should be grateful for what we do have because it's more than some families get. It's just that our weekends are always too short and go too fast.

5. Keep a better exercise routine. I know it's good for me and it's a healthy choice, but I have a hard time always sticking to my exercise plans.

6. Dance as beautifully as some of those ladies on Dancing With The Stars. But with a little more clothing.

7. Be graced with a bit more patience.

8. Travel to Rome with my family. Perhaps one day, but it seems unlikely since hubby is not big into traveling. Anywhere.


8 Shows I Watch:

1. Amazing Race

2. Dancing with the Stars

3. Biggest Loser

4. The Office

5. Ace of Cakes

6. The Mentalist

7. Rachael Ray

8. Bathtastic (or any show really on my new FAVORITE channel, DIY!!)

Some of these are rather hit-or-miss, depending on the week, but I like to watch when/if I can.


Ok, so now I'm to the part where I am supposed to tag 8 people, but I really don't like doing that, so I'll just do a few. Let me know if I forgot you and you want to play along!

Amy, Lerin, Stacey, Colleen.

Timing Is Everything

In another chance for God to teach me that He indeed is in control and it's all about His timing and plan, He again came through loud and clear.

Around a month ago, Reed and I were once again re-evaluating where we are going on our infertility journey and what the next step (if there were one at all) we should take. This is always a struggle that involves a fair amount of conversation as we try to prayerfully decide whether to continue with whatever course of treatment we are currently in or to pursue other possibilities. It has not helped that although we've had the chance to work with a few very considerate and kind doctors (not to mention the few that we ditched as fast as we could!), we've struggled most of this time charting our own course alone. Most of the research and follow up we have done has been through advice given from family or friends and what we've ventured to find on our own. Our desires for truly Catholic and morally sound physicians have been largely unfulfilled.

Proving His timing, I randomly recalled last month a physician who I heard a number of accounts of back in my single days and who I knew was located somewhere at a clinic a good two hours away. God showed me His providence within the week as I was introduced to a new blogger who had found me (or did I find her? I can't even remember). In reading Mommy Monkey's blog a number of things struck me and led me to email her a few questions. From what I had read it sounded like she too had children, but that had her own struggles with infertility symptoms/diagnosis. Upon hearing back from her, I found that she did indeed have PCOS issues and that she had found a wonderful, Catholic physician, Dr. Mary. After putting many pieces of the puzzle together, I ventured to inquire if her Dr. Mary was indeed the Dr. Mary P. that I had heard of years ago. Come to find, Mommy Monkey was also a Minnesota Mom blogger and her Dr. Mary WAS the physician whose name had popped into my head the prior week.

From there, I was not only blessed with encouragement and support, but also with vast knowledge about this wonderful Christian/Catholic clinic that perhaps could help me out. I knew that even if I could get an appointment with a physician at this clinic and they gave me no new diagnosis or no new answers, I would be grateful to be in the presence of morally sound physicians. A breath of fresh air.

I was blessed enough to call the clinic last Monday and get an appointment for Thursday! It was a distance to drive a little over two hours, but I knew it would be worth it. Might I say, it was. The atmosphere as I entered the building filled me with peace and prayerfulness. Again, I realized that I wasn't here for a perfect diagnosis, but for support and possibilities for treatment and affirmations that we'd been doing the right thing all along as we walked alone. My feelings of peace were confirmed as I turned and saw each wall revealing very Catholic images (Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II to name a few). Oh how sweet it was!

For now, I don't have a new diagnosis, but a number of things revealed to the physician possible issues with ovulation and progesterone which could lead to problems in my NFP charting and therefore lead to inaccurate timing on our part. I'll be undergoing a bunch of lab work and an ultrasound yet before there's more conclusive answers, but the physician also gave me a list of other options that we may give a try before ultimately referring me to Pope Paul VI Institute for further treatment.

Timing is everything and in time we'll see where it leads us.

In seeing God's hand in all things, I shouldn't have been surprised when I read Friday's Psalm:

Wait for the Lord, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14


We will continue to wait on the Lord and His answers and in time, all will be revealed! In the meantime, I'm thankful for the perfect timing of Mommy Monkey's appearance in my life. After all, a burden shared is definitely a burden halved. Thank you MM!

Wordless Wednesday: A Little Wordy

These are all around my house. But then, perhaps, I need all of these little reminders. Maybe it's a little wordy around here?








(It makes sense though really, since I am the kind of lady who ALWAYS buys the really 'wordy' cards at Hallmark!)

He's 4!

Today, my little man turns 4! I can hardly believe that we are at this landmark...where did the time go? I still remember the first moments after his birth and being told, "it's a boy!" and wondering what in the world it was going to be like having a boy. My world had only been filled with pinks and purples, dolls and dresses prior to that moment, so I had no idea what new horizons awaited me with a little boy. I have learned to see life differently while gazing at it through the eyes of a little boy. Now my color palette is filled with blues and greens and lots of orange these days (his favorite color!) and an abundance of Thomas trains everywhere I turn.

For fear of becoming too teary eyed and reminiscent, I'm just adding a few photos to finish off my post today. In honor of my little boy on his birthday....

Happy 4th Birthday Cubby!!











He's growing up so fast!:




Thanks to Picnik for the photo edits!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Unfortunately, time does not allow me this morning to go into detail about today's wonderful Feast of Divine Mercy. I wish it did, but we have a marriage course to speak at this morning and then we will be off to pray and celebrate today's feast at my hometown parish.

My family began praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy while I was in my teens and my parents have actively promoted the devotion and a Divine Mercy Sunday Celebration each year for 13 years in their parish. It's an afternoon filled with prayer and reflection imploring Jesus mercy. I've always loved that this beautiful feast is celebrated in the spring time and on the Sunday after Easter. It seems only fitting that when we are encompassed with new life around us that we should celebrate this feast and be granted new life as our sins are all forgiven.

Concerning the Feast of Mercy Jesus said:

Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary 300)

I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary 341)

This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies. (Diary 420)

On one occasion, I heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.* [our emphasis] On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will I contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary 699)

Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary 742)

I want to grant complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy. (Diary 1109)

As you can see the Lord's desire for the Feast includes the solemn, public veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy by the Church, as well as personal acts of veneration and mercy. The great promise for the individual soul is that a devotional act of sacramental penance and Communion will obtain for that soul the plenitude of the divine mercy on the Feast.


You can look here to find more information on the Divine Mercy.



Jesus, I Trust In You!

If Only It Were That Easy..

(After spending the day at my friend's home who has three children under the age of 3)

Little Girl: How old is (friend)?

Mommy: She's 31.

Little Girl: Oh. It must be because she's older than you that she has more children.

Mommy: Or it's because she's more fertile.

Little Girl: Okay...What does that mean?

Mommy: She maybe has an easier time getting pregnant and can have her kids closer together.

Little Girl: Maybe it's because she knows how to get pregnant by herself. Or maybe she just knows how to do it better than you do.

Mommy: Maybe it's because God wants me to be happy loving just Lily & Jonah right now. Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers in His time.

Little Girl: Why? I can't wait until I have a sister.

Mommy: And I can't wait to give you one.

Little Girl: Well, I want one today. or tomorrow. or maybe next week.

Mommy: So do I my dear. So do I.



Of course, this was a very serious conversation and it was important to Lily. Reed and I couldn't help but get a little chuckle out of this one last night at the dinner table. If things were always as simple as our children perceive them to be.....