Wordless Wednesday

What Happens If You Don't Supervise Your Child's Lemonade Stand

My  9 and 11 year old were happily counting and dividing this huge pile of money.   I asked  "Where did you get all that money?"  Oh, they were happy kids!   The 11 year old said, "Well, the lemonade really wasn't selling..so we decided to take the lemonade to the people.  We knocked on all your friend's doors and asked them for money."

My Experience in a Holy Place.

 CS Lewis states Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or God.   I believe with my whole heart and soul the latter and worship Him in what Catholics call adoration.   Adoration takes place in a tiny little chapel, with 5 pews. The Blessed Sacrament which we believe is the hidden Jesus, is exposed on the altar.  We go into this wee little room and worship Jesus.  It is an experience so mystical I can hardly describe it.  Every sense  is affected.  The chapel is still and quiet.  The silence is perfect,  I can talk and listen to Jesus.  But it is the feeling of the outpouring of love from my creator for my insignificant self that is so powerful it is  overwhelming. Sometimes I don't want to open my eyes because I can feel His presence so much I am afraid when I open them He will be standing right there and I will be just too overwhelmed with this reality.   I can feel  the holiness in this room.  I love everything about being there.  I have gone to this chapel when I first found out I was pregnant, praying for the baby growing inside me.  Then I have taken my babies there and nursed them in His presence and gave them to Him.  I could feel the rays of His love seeping into us.  When there is a stress in my life I go inside my mind and place myself in that chapel, before Him.   And  hand over the stress to Him.  The holiness in this tiny chapel, just like Jesus Himself a gift to the world.

Why I Stopped Watching TV 10 Years Ago

I couldn't think of a reason to keep watching.

I Grew Up With My First Child.

Yesterday was her 24th birthday.  My first born child.  She was the easiest baby from day one and we would sit around looking at her congratulating ourselves on what wonderful parents we were..hahhahaha.  This is the first born who ate only pureed organic baby food that I made, had her first store bought cookie at age 4,  and actually had a bedtime schedule. Her first ear infection was a major crisis and I had to see the pediatrician immediately with a  long list of questions, for example, can she wear a hat? I was the homeroom mom and went on the field trips.  When the coach sat her on the bench I let the coach and the rest of the crowd on the bleachers know this was a big mistake, my husband was so worried about her modesty she pretty much had to wear turtle necks in the summer, and the first boy that came to the door got the stare from both parents up and down and all around while the poor kid just stood there shaking!  The summer of her 8th grade year, before she went to high school ,we spent hours discussing tactics to avoid trouble....the first day of high school she ran in the house, happy and said "oh mom!  All the kids in high school are not having sex in the hall and doing drugs."  Guess I went a little overboard. I prepared her the entire year for how homesick kids get when they first start college..reminding her that is ok to miss the only home you ever knew and that does not mean she won't be happy in school.  She smiled  and waved goodbye..I think I cried every day until Thanksgiving. When she was 21 and wanted to go on  cruise with her girl friends for spring break I checked to make sure it wasn't a cult ship....and now look.. my husband gave her away, she is married to the man I prayed would come into her life, she has her own apartment, she has a professional job, she is going to grad school ...she is all grown up., but is still my baby girl...isn't that just bittersweet .  

Wordless Wednesday

I Am Lucky in Love

Yesterday while I was waiting for my Shred workout video to start I looked at the computer and saw an advertisement that took up the whole screen.  It said, "Find who is searching for you right now.  Instantly."    I thought this might be interesting with all this blog stuff..wonder if this works.  So I plugged in my name, address and age and up pops a Google earth arrow pointing right to my husband's office!  It was a heart warming arrow to me!  It thought, wow..he is thinking of me right now....like how cool is that?!  Yes, I have found my Mr. Darcey...lucky me!.

What Does THAT Mean?

Today is the March for Life in Washington DC.  This is close to my heart.  As I observe our culture I realize people use benign words to conceal the REAL meaning of  those words because it creates a different perspective... which then makes it easier to justify their actions.
Here are some examples:

Reproductive rights ... Abortion.
Fetus ...Baby
Medical procedure..Abortion
Embryo..Baby
Right to choose..Abortion
Pro choice..Pro abortion
Terminate..Kill
Planned Parenthood..Largest abortion provider in the world
It sounds so much better when it is sugar coated..that way you don't have to think about the truth .

Curiosity Killed the Cat

My 2 sons rode their bikes to the baseball field. They got there first, before any of their friends.  They were 11 and 12. They noticed 3 kids in the dug out that they knew.  The boys in the dug out were smoking pot.  My 12 yr old said  "Let's get out of here . Now."  The 11 yr old said, "Well, wait a minute.  Who all is there?  What does it look like?  What does it smell like?  What do they act like when they smoke it?"  The older son said, "Who cares. Let's just go." 

How To Be The Best Version of Yourself

1. Love God more than anything else.
2. Use God's name with reverence and respect.
3. Spend Sundays going to church, thinking about God and your life.
    Take the day off from work.
4. Honor your parents.
5. Do not kill.
6. Stay faithful to your spouse
7. Do not steal.
8. Speak only the truth.
9. Practice self-control.
10. Do not wrongfully desire your neighbor's goods.

Wordless Wednesday

who signs your papers?

p.s. This is not my child!  

Don't Do Your Kid's Science Projects

My 11 year old son is bringing his 11 year old catapult project to school today. It looks like an 11 year old project.  He will be judged against catapult projects done by mostly men in their 40's.  Those kids whose dads did the project will get the ribbon.  And the better grade.  But really...even an 11 year old kid realizes that ribbon is a meaningless piece of material. On par with participation trophies parents buy for their kids for just being on a rec soccer team. It doesn't do any good to anyone to do your kids science project! My 8 kids have suffered through science fairs, history contests, etc because they did those projects themselves.  In second grade when the class project was in the hall the art work the moms did was beautiful.  Meanwhile my kids project was made from construction paper and the letters sometimes went downhill.  Wasn't ever a comparison between whose project was better.  But....by the time 9th grade comes my kids know how to do a project independently and theirs is the best on display.  That ribbon they get, they earned...and they know it!  By the time they get to college they are ready.  I am telling you from the voice of experience do not do your child's work!  You hurt them more than help them!  Being given a prize or an A they didn't earn does NOT promote self esteem..it has the opposite effect;  it detracts from their self worth. Of course you have to buy supplies and help a little bit..like the title can't be misspelled, but the rest is up to them.  Teach them how to fish!
They will thank you later!

They Really Do Grow Up!

I would have lost this bet.  If someone told me 3 yrs ago my husband and I would be leaving my 18 yr old son at home and in charge of 3 of his younger brothers I would have laughed and bet up to a million against this.  I would have lost. We have come a long way baby!
Friday night we went to a going away party for one of my sons  best friend. This friend is going to the Marines in 2 weeks. My son and this friend  grew up together and were partners in crime many times.  And now this 18 year old fine young man is going to be defending our country. Unbelievable. And there is more!  My husband and I left the party to drive to an over night tournament for another one of my sons, leaving the 18 yr old in charge at home.  Not as easy as it sounds.  He had to put them to sleep, fed them, get them up in the morning and take them to all the activities 9, 11 and 15 yr olds are involved in (a lot!),  keep the house clean, and especially keep them alive.
2 years ago I could not have even dared imagine this...even in my wildest imagination!  I think if I would have known he would grow up to be responsible and able I would have relaxed more..but then, maybe that is why he grew up to be responsible and able!
p.s. Just so you know all is not Pollyanna..his services were for  payment of his new eBay purchased laptop...because of the cup of water he spilled over Christmas break on his new $2000 MAC.
Keep the faith!

Best Motivation To Pray and Exercise

Your children will see you.

What I Heard From a Bathroom Stall

I was in the ladies restroom at the gym yesterday and was washing my hands and tying my sneakers.  I heard this lady talking on her cell phone.  She was in a bathroom stall.  She said, "Oh, I am so sorry I can't make it.  I am stuck in the worst traffic!  Complete standstill.  Must be some sort of accident. I was really looking forward to coming. Maybe we can get together next week."  She then comes out of the stall dressed in her perky little outfit, grabs her water bottle, smiles at me and heads to her spinning class.

Wordless Wednesday

Kids or pets?

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. One Week Review.

This is what our weeks are like in a family with 8 kids.
My oldest started grad school ! Yea!  My other daughter ordered new boots for her new job , but put this home address  by mistake on the order form, instead of her new apt address.  This huge box sat in our foyer for 4 days with people walking past it and wondering what was in it but not really doing anything about it...my daughter tried to contact UPS to track it  and UPS came to her apt to pick it up and woke her night shift working roommate up who didn't have any idea what UPS was talking about.   My other daughter fainted in church..full blown pupils dilated, skin cool and clammy faint.  Our Dr was sitting right behind us. She is better.   My college age son gave hair cuts to his brothers and spilled a cup of water on his brand new $2000 Mac...it is fried., black, nothing left of it.  My high school son tore his MCL in a wrestling match.  My other son got his 13th wrestling pin of the season.  Another kid had another air soft war with 15 kids dressed in camouflage outfits and my youngest sent his friends home while they were jumping on the trampoline because he had a head ache and then laid perfectly still for 2 days in a row.  I went to 5 doctor appts, an MRI in the hospital and 3 dentist appts. I locked my keys in the van while shopping for bargains at AC Moore then had to spend $150 at the liquor store while I waited for my daughter to rescue me.  But...our Christmas decorations are taken down and boxed , I exercised everyday, made dinner for at least 8 every night (chicken, beef, fish, pasta, soup and subs and pork), wrote a letter to the editor that will never get published ,got 200 more followers, and read 18 chapters of Pride and Prejudice.  My husband discovered a new upper body cardio work out for my injured son that he said is the best work out he ever did..but no none is interested. and my husband is sore from doing it.  It is a constant zoo.. there must  have been at least 50 other bodies sleeping eating or playing here...and through it all I tried to pray constantly..and never once did I doubt Tim Tebow.

Politically Incorrect

There have been tons of different boys here all week. Running, jumping, throwing, sweating.   My 11 year old, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, darts in the kitchen from playing outside, chugs a glass of water and says to me, "  I love global warming."

Rise And Shine!

Me  "Wake up! You' re alarm has been going off  for 20 min."
Teen-age kid  "What? Everyday that sound is a part of my dream.  I am becoming immune to alarm clocks."

Let the Results Up To God

Today is first Friday..the day the family gets up early, goes to mass and then out for breakfast.  Every ones alarms were set last night.  This morning, my 15 year old could not get out of bed.   He could not straighten his knee!  He hurt it last night in a wrestling match.. (he won 1-0!)  No mass, no school for him.. just a doctor appt.  Another day, another test of faith.   He seems to be doing everything he is "supposed to do".  He works hard, studies hard, practices hard, does the right thing on a consistent basis...he set his alarm for mass!  It is times like this when we have to live our faith...and accept we are not in charge!  We have to give 100%, 100% of the time...and then let the results up to God.   God has everything figured out..and His plan is always better than our plan.  Sometimes I just wish our plans were the same!

How To get Better Grades In School

1. Turn off the TV.
2. Turn off the computer.
3. Turn off the Xbox.
4. Turn off the cell phone.
5. Turn off anything that begins with an i.
Then you can exercise, read, think or pray.  Gasp!

Wordless Wednesday

  Happy 50th Barbie!

How To Be A Success In Life

An old priest friend taught us the keys to success:
1. Be kind.
2. Be kind.
3. Be kind.
Yes, it really is that simple.

How You Know It Is Time For Christmas Break To Be Over

Kid  "But Mom, the bus doesn't come for another 20 minutes."
Me " It might come early today. You should probably go and wait now, just in case."

My New Years Resolution

is to accept instead of worry.  God is smarter than me!
Happy, Blessed New Year!