I just made two pages from recent Panthers games. I really like the "White-Blue Blur" page I made with shots of Matthew's interception. I also have another layout with shots from this week's varsity game. You can see them here: Pattie's Cards I also loaded a few pictures of recent cards I made. You'll need to scroll down to see the football pages. I love my kids, love taking pictures of them and scrapbooking their lives for them. It is a blessing to be able to do that!
Chris went to Enchanted Cottage the other day and bought a new stamp set for me. He is such a great guy! The cards on the bottom are made using the new set-- they look better in person because they are glittery and it just doesn't show in the pictures!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The American Revolution for Kids
The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities
We came across this book at the library and it is wonderful. We already own one in the same series "The Wright Brothers for Kids" with activities. These are both excellent resources and make learning fun!
We came across this book at the library and it is wonderful. We already own one in the same series "The Wright Brothers for Kids" with activities. These are both excellent resources and make learning fun!
Crazy Catholics
People are often puzzled by how we live our faith. Yes, we are crazy Catholics in love with God. We follow Church teaching and that may seem crazy to many, but there are many of us crazy Catholics out there! I think the biggest thing that make folks think we are crazy is that we don't se birth control and that we continue to have miscarriages. On the birth control issue, I won't go into debate on BC ... but I simply say that we trust God in ALL things. We can't just say we trust you in ALL areas except this one. We either trust God all the way or nothing else.
If we are not oepn to life, then we don't allow God to perform that miracle. The 21st pregnancy could be the one that makes it. Most of our friends know that Joseph doesn't have a match in the bone marrow donor registry. A sibling is the best chance Joseph has. While we have not tried to have more children, we do believe that God could also perform a double miracle: we' could have a baby make it to term and that baby could be a match for Joseph. We do believe that no matter what, if Joseph needs a bone marrow transplant, God will provide a match for him. Sibling or stranger. He was run against 6.5 million people in the registry and had no match, but it only takes one and God IS able.
Matthew is not feeling well today and is resting a bit. He is trying to work on his book report because he can't have a day without doing SOME school work! Sean and Joseph are doing fine. They are working on writing about the shot heard round the world. Of course they are also doing math, spelling, vocabulary.............
We are all excited about a Halloween party we are planning. It is helping me to focus on something other than what is going on at the moment. We hope to have the party on Friday, October 31. We'll turn our yard into a Halloween playground..... If I get to the othe rcomputer, I will try to post some pictures of Matthew's first varsity game. Hegot an interception. We were all so excited and proud of him! We LOVE fotball and it is even more exciting when we get to watch him play. God has blessed us with so much!
If we are not oepn to life, then we don't allow God to perform that miracle. The 21st pregnancy could be the one that makes it. Most of our friends know that Joseph doesn't have a match in the bone marrow donor registry. A sibling is the best chance Joseph has. While we have not tried to have more children, we do believe that God could also perform a double miracle: we' could have a baby make it to term and that baby could be a match for Joseph. We do believe that no matter what, if Joseph needs a bone marrow transplant, God will provide a match for him. Sibling or stranger. He was run against 6.5 million people in the registry and had no match, but it only takes one and God IS able.
Matthew is not feeling well today and is resting a bit. He is trying to work on his book report because he can't have a day without doing SOME school work! Sean and Joseph are doing fine. They are working on writing about the shot heard round the world. Of course they are also doing math, spelling, vocabulary.............
We are all excited about a Halloween party we are planning. It is helping me to focus on something other than what is going on at the moment. We hope to have the party on Friday, October 31. We'll turn our yard into a Halloween playground..... If I get to the othe rcomputer, I will try to post some pictures of Matthew's first varsity game. Hegot an interception. We were all so excited and proud of him! We LOVE fotball and it is even more exciting when we get to watch him play. God has blessed us with so much!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Mercy
I was talking to a friend the other day about our oldest boys and their pro-life work. We were discussing how one cannot enter pro-life work unless they have mercy. Mercy does not allow anger. We have to have compassion and mercy as we pray for the unborn and their mothers. We are both so proud of our boys for being so actively pro-life..... so much to learn on the journey.
11 years ago we had the first of our now 17 pregnancy losses (I am in the middle of 17 as I write this). For a long time, I could not pray at the clinics or do anything pro-life. I was angry. Then we lost the twins. I was so very distraught! A priest friend suggested I go to a Rachel's Vineyard retreat to help with healing, even though I have never had an abortion. It really was very healing and I was able to become more active in the pro-life community again. Seeing those women who had much more pain that I will ever have... it made me realize that I must have mercy. I could no longer be angry. We have lost 18 little ones..... but I do not have to carry the burden of knowing I ended their lives.
If we call ourselves Catholic, then we need to be merciful! Mercy is such a key element of our faith. For me, I have found it difficult to forgive those who have lacked mercy toward me and my family as we deal with chronic illness in our boys. Thankfully, there really have not been that many until a few years ago. I have shared that story before-- church lady. I pray for church lady often -- in fact, as I was walking today hoping to move things along, I was offering up my suffering for her along with all the other prayer intentions I had.
Certain people avoid us at church. Not that I blame them ~smile~ I realize that many won't know how to respond. I am not brutally honest when asked, but when people ask how the boys are doing, I will let them know if they have a bone marrow biopsy coming up or a swallow study like Joseph has coming up. I usually say they are doing well, but have X or Y coming up.
When we first began this "journey" I did not ask for prayer requests. We did not tell members of our church..... or our pastor. Many years later when they thought the boys might go to transplant, I was talking to a friend who told me that I should share with members of the church. It could be considered prideful. We've been told horrible things and even yelled at because of sharing what is going on in our lives.
If we have Mercy, we will want to pray for others and their prayer needs--- we will be thankful for the opportunity to do so. satan cannot get his foot in the door when I am suffering if I pray for others! It takes the focus off of myself and that makes satan very angry!
We need to have mercy in every single aspect of our lives. Mercy for others leads to compassion. I ask God to forgive me if I have ever been uncharitable or unmerciful to anyone I have ever met. With His grace, I hope to show compassion and mercy-- even when I am suffering!
11 years ago we had the first of our now 17 pregnancy losses (I am in the middle of 17 as I write this). For a long time, I could not pray at the clinics or do anything pro-life. I was angry. Then we lost the twins. I was so very distraught! A priest friend suggested I go to a Rachel's Vineyard retreat to help with healing, even though I have never had an abortion. It really was very healing and I was able to become more active in the pro-life community again. Seeing those women who had much more pain that I will ever have... it made me realize that I must have mercy. I could no longer be angry. We have lost 18 little ones..... but I do not have to carry the burden of knowing I ended their lives.
If we call ourselves Catholic, then we need to be merciful! Mercy is such a key element of our faith. For me, I have found it difficult to forgive those who have lacked mercy toward me and my family as we deal with chronic illness in our boys. Thankfully, there really have not been that many until a few years ago. I have shared that story before-- church lady. I pray for church lady often -- in fact, as I was walking today hoping to move things along, I was offering up my suffering for her along with all the other prayer intentions I had.
Certain people avoid us at church. Not that I blame them ~smile~ I realize that many won't know how to respond. I am not brutally honest when asked, but when people ask how the boys are doing, I will let them know if they have a bone marrow biopsy coming up or a swallow study like Joseph has coming up. I usually say they are doing well, but have X or Y coming up.
When we first began this "journey" I did not ask for prayer requests. We did not tell members of our church..... or our pastor. Many years later when they thought the boys might go to transplant, I was talking to a friend who told me that I should share with members of the church. It could be considered prideful. We've been told horrible things and even yelled at because of sharing what is going on in our lives.
If we have Mercy, we will want to pray for others and their prayer needs--- we will be thankful for the opportunity to do so. satan cannot get his foot in the door when I am suffering if I pray for others! It takes the focus off of myself and that makes satan very angry!
We need to have mercy in every single aspect of our lives. Mercy for others leads to compassion. I ask God to forgive me if I have ever been uncharitable or unmerciful to anyone I have ever met. With His grace, I hope to show compassion and mercy-- even when I am suffering!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Padre Pio's Words of Hope
I am reading this wonderful book: Padre Pio's Words of Hope. You can see a free preview here: http://www.amazon.com/Padre-Pios-Words-Hope-Pio/dp/0879736941#reader
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Honors Recital
The week has flown by!
We are plodding along with school. Sean and Joseph are working on The French and Indian War. Learning about it and writing a paper on it. They were able to give great oral presentations after writing their paper on various aspects of Colonial life last week. We need to get a few books on the French and Indian War. Surprisingly enough, I do not have much on the topic lining our home bookshelves. We've got a trip planned to the library tomorrow.
Sean is getting ready for the Honors Recital at the NC Music Teachers Association. Since he received a Superior rating at the State competition at the end of last school year, he was invited to the Honors Recital. No two students can play the same piece, so they have to get their selections in early. They can pick any piece they would like, too. Sean picked Prokofieff's "Playing Tag". He's still got a month to polish it for the recital, but here is a video of him playing:
We are plodding along with school. Sean and Joseph are working on The French and Indian War. Learning about it and writing a paper on it. They were able to give great oral presentations after writing their paper on various aspects of Colonial life last week. We need to get a few books on the French and Indian War. Surprisingly enough, I do not have much on the topic lining our home bookshelves. We've got a trip planned to the library tomorrow.
Sean is getting ready for the Honors Recital at the NC Music Teachers Association. Since he received a Superior rating at the State competition at the end of last school year, he was invited to the Honors Recital. No two students can play the same piece, so they have to get their selections in early. They can pick any piece they would like, too. Sean picked Prokofieff's "Playing Tag". He's still got a month to polish it for the recital, but here is a video of him playing:
