You Can Do Anything You Want ... Really?

I attended Wednesday mass today, my first "Children's Mass".  It was spectacular.  The music was awesome; guitars, tambourines, and maracas with the children gleefully singing out & doing hand motions to "Lord I Lift Your Name on High."



This day is the Feast day of St. Joseph, Mary's spouse, foster father to Jesus, the second highest saint in Heaven, after Mary.  I've always adored St. Joseph, even before my conversion.  He was given the option to say 'no', but he did God's will and went down the path God laid out for him.

Father's homily was for us all, but directed at the children at mass.  He told them, "people will tell you can do whatever you want in life, but that's not always true."  At first I worried that Father was bursting their little bubbles and telling them they can't be what they want to be.  I waited as he explained, "God may have a different path for you.  He has given you talents that he wants you to use to serve others and to serve Him.  This is your role: to find these talents and find the path that God has given you to do His Will."  He goes on to say that some children are good at math, some, music, some English.  Find what you have and use it to praise God in order to do in life.

St. Joseph had his plan in place until a wrench got thrown in.  He could have gone against God's will, not married his betrothed "divorced her quietly", and she would have likely been stoned to death for being pregnant and unwed.  I like how the Laudate said it: "St Joseph protected Jesus from an assassination attempt."   He is the guardian of the Holy family.
Interesting:
St. Thomas Aquinas commentary on Matthew’s GospelBut according to Jerome and Origen, he (Joseph) had no suspicion of adultery. For Joseph knew Mary’s purity and had read in the Scripture that a virgin would conceive (Is 7:14) and in 11:1): “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”  He had also known that Mary had descended from David. Hence, it was easier for him to believe that this had been fulfilled in her than that she had fornicated. And so, considering himself unworthy to live together with such holiness, he wanted to put her away secretly; just as Peter said: “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man”  (Lk 5:8). Hence, he was unwilling to put her away, i.e., bring her to him and take her in marriage, for he thought himself unworthy.

Reflection: "Father, may I see the full significance of Your calling of Joseph to be Jesus' foster-father.  And may I use my talents in order to fulfill my vocations."

Homemade Granola Bars

I copied this recipe from Sister Jen. 

Mix 1/2 cup honey & 1 cup peanut butter. Microwave for 1 minute. 

Add 2 cups quick cook oatmeal & 2 cups Rice Krispies. Add 1 cup of nuts or dried fruit of your choice. Press into 9x13" foil-lined pan, press hard! Add choc chips & press again. Refrigerate. Take out & cut. Keep refrigerated. 

March ... And still waiting for the warm up

Hop on Pop

Great Grandma's clip ons

Forest Gump moment in our pinks

Mini cupcakes 

Two-fers!

Happy March!

David: "oh, you're making shamrock cookies."

Elizabeth: "no Daddy. Not shamrock. Clovers." ;)

March 2014

Elizabeth's first selfie:

Kate Ann @ her baby shower, 7 wks to go until baby girl makes her appearance. 

Felicity in Momma's tushy-ruffled outfit. 

A Nice Recognition from our Church

Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines day was spent w/ some of my favorite people. We went out to dinner, ran the kids out @ the mall, and did some errands. Low key, but that's how I like it. We hooked Elizabeth up to Felicity in the stroller and she pulled her like a sled dog at the mall. ;) afterwards we played 'tractor' in L&M, pretending to check the oil & gas in them then 'racing'. It's the little things in life that are so special. Happy Valentines day, my family. 

Smooch!

02/07/2014: cut 1st tooth

7 months old & we cut our 1st tooth, just like big sister!

Busy Weekend: swimming Fri. & 2 parties Sat.

Daily Successful Habits

I read the book Rich Habits a while back.  I made my goals into a bookmark to keep in whatever book I'm trying to find time to read.  Start small & work your way up.  To start: Make a list of your downfalls or areas that need improvement and write a goal for each one.  Read them 3-4x/day.  (Two thumbs up on this book, BTW.)

Goals:

(in no particular order of importance)

• Say kind words.
• Choose silence when upset.
  • Breathe & Count to 10.
• Pray for others.
• Love those who are unlovable.
• Finish a task before moving on.
• Limit sugar intake to 1 t/day.
• Exercise daily.
• Read 15 min/day.
• Become a better wife, mother, dtr, OT.
• Smile.
• Avoid gossip.
• I will remember names & write them down.

Egg Bake

20 oz thawed hash browns
14 oz egg beaters
1 sml can mushrooms
1/4 diced grn pepper
1 sml diced onion
1 clove minced garlic
Handful of cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper, mrs Dash, garlic powder, or season salt to your tastes.

Mix together & pour into greased 8x8 pan. Bake @ 375 for 45-60 min. Serve w/ ketchup, salsa, or Tabasco sauce.

Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards

I just finished the book "Marriage: Small Steps, Big Rewards" by Dr. Ray Guarendi. Two thumbs up. As a reminder to myself, here's a quick summary:
1. Say "I'm sorry."  Just b/c you apologize doesn't mean you're claiming 100% of the blame. But an apology is still necessary.
2.  "Don't say it". Don't say hurtful things during a surge of emotion. Sometimes those words are permanent. Practice silence.
3. "Listen a minute." Give your spouse 1 interrupted minute to view their side.
4. "Ask a few questions." Ask for clarification from their side story.
5. "Accept it." Disagreements in marriage can be lessened by an honest effort to accept it, the other persons position or reasoning.
6. "dump the D WORD." "It's utterance alone can foster disillusion, detachment, or depression. It invites thought of the formally unthinkable."
7. "use your manners." It shows respect. Familiarity breeds laziness. We are often more kind to strangers and we are to those we love.
8. "Protect". Often times mothers are the disciplinarians. When a child fights back the husband should defend his wife to the child & the child must know (s)he cannot play one parent against another. Women allow your husband to be a strong disciplinarian as well.
10. "And a touch."  Check your body language. Hug. Kiss. Touch. Be responsive to your mate's touch.

Good Morning Routine

Elizabeth: is it good morning time?

Me: yes. Please go wake your sister. 

This is what I come in to find, #1 hugging #2 awake in her crib. And #2 tapping out. Lol. She'll appreciate it someday. 

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Windchill: -50. But I still have to say, I can handle this (short term) slightly more than 90 degrees & 100% humidity.

Goodbye 2013...Hello 2014

Sending Grandma Koney a birthday hello

Elizabeth helping take out the old dishwasher. 

Baby snuggle time. 

Shhhh...do you hear what I hear?

Listen & silent contain the same letters. I can spell. All I need to learn now is put these words into action. God gave us 2 ears & 1 mouth for a reason: to use in the same ratio? I think so. 

Christmas 2013

Baked Apples

Not much of a 'recipe' but just fun on a cold day:

Use a melon-baller to get top 3/4 of core out of apple (you don't want to go all the way through). Fill up w/ butter, sugar, & cinnamon. Pour water in bottom of pan.  Bake @ 375 for 30-40 min. (Or I used the toaster oven.) Num!

December - Baby it Cold Outside!

All smiles before beddy-bye time

Everything's better w/ polka-dots

 This has been a terribly cold month. -20 is for February, not December. Finally, the girls played outside yesterday when it was 33 (above), but again today, -16. Have to make our own fun indoors!

Rudolph, Frosty, Turban Santa & Holly

Chocolate Lasagna

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
• 6 Tablespoon butter, melted
• 1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cold milk
• 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
• 2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
• 3 1/4 cups cold milk
• 1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

I need this a few weeks ago for A coworker's birthday. They loved it so much they asked me to make it again for our Christmas party/recipe exchange. Now all I need is my ugly Christmas sweater and I'm ready to go!

Here's mama's little kitchen helper.