tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76962900245597225742024-03-18T21:37:12.870-07:00The Catholic WorrierThe rantings of a catholic wife and mommy who just can't stop worrying... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-66061844282355786382017-02-28T16:38:00.000-08:002017-02-28T17:34:15.832-08:00Finally an Update... Two Years Later<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So two years ago, I updated my blog and fell off the face of the earth. I *think* I promised I would start posting more often...yeah that didn't go super well. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I apologize to you all and this time I promise I'll try not to let this turn into yet another failed attempt at starting this blog... again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let me catch you all up. I think I had left you just before Rosie's first birthday. My husband and I went through a rough time trying to conceive baby number two. I think that contributed to a lot of why I felt the need to check out and stop trying to maintain my blog. We dealt with 6 months of infertility and one miscarriage ( which I'll cover at a later date). Finally at the end of summer 2015 we conceived, and on May 4th 2016 we welcomed Lawrence Gabriel Brason into the world. He is now my chunky, happy, goofy, thriving almost 10 month old. Rosie is a little over 2.5 years old. She is - well how to describe Rosie - she is the smartest, most dramatic kid I know. Guys, she is so quick, and so funny but also so particular. My husband and I have truly been blessed and our life feels very full - read busy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75q4b_NO5jaqn3di3alQBKgZ3J9sktLm3TucNZSrUf7sX4Pk-Uc30-cTuViEDS-9slB8bvc_i4OSEmJGHaTXXC4ViIgzSYxXIULs_H_c2uRryAWhScd2pVTXTYeAz8U0ngXsBNnxWVwwh/s1600/15826647_10155653833574202_3762173476993383250_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75q4b_NO5jaqn3di3alQBKgZ3J9sktLm3TucNZSrUf7sX4Pk-Uc30-cTuViEDS-9slB8bvc_i4OSEmJGHaTXXC4ViIgzSYxXIULs_H_c2uRryAWhScd2pVTXTYeAz8U0ngXsBNnxWVwwh/s320/15826647_10155653833574202_3762173476993383250_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I'm totally biased but these kids are so cute!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We still live in the same 3 bedroom townhouse, which is getting quite full of kids stuff ( I think I'm supposed to say full of love but ugh... false positivism is just not me). Boots is still around, and is still her same old crabby self. My husband is still self employed and I'm still a stay-at-home-mom. I feel like things are so different, and yet they are very much the same. Regardless, it's clear to me that I have grown quite a bit in the last 2 years. I don't know if it was losing a child or becoming a mom of two but I feel different, maybe wiser? I've learned not to worry so much about my kids, they will hit all the milestones regardless of if I fuss about it or not. I feel so much more confident with myself as a wife and mother. I was skimming through my older posts and it just hit me how much I was seeking approval from the world. I just kind of own my choices now and although I don't like it, I accept that not everyone will approve of everything I do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm really hoping I can share some of this wisdom with you all. Not that I'm an expert but I think that I could bring some perspective to some of the fellow recovering people-pleasers out there. That's my hope for the posts that will *hopefully* follow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The kids will be out of the bath soon and my "me" time will soon have run out. I think I'll sign off now before I end up with one kid on my boob and another trying to touch the keyboard. (Do you all see why I've been M.I.A. for two years?) But here's to hoping I don't end up a big liar again and I actually update you all soon. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-83889599665242887202015-06-05T08:24:00.001-07:002015-06-05T12:52:00.015-07:00Confessions of a New Stay-at-Home Mom<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O4rZxKQCnPrIJzGQPN1W0J4QW4X8xmiJH8BrVo24zQuDUjZ0w56gbVBumcuedmkecw7pZxrQJa3LwfUNp4V0-LNqXuigFstRDvu12zI0eXKGlDMaRLarXWv6I3U4zIqxkqkIMeMQcm5s/s1600/rosieandmama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O4rZxKQCnPrIJzGQPN1W0J4QW4X8xmiJH8BrVo24zQuDUjZ0w56gbVBumcuedmkecw7pZxrQJa3LwfUNp4V0-LNqXuigFstRDvu12zI0eXKGlDMaRLarXWv6I3U4zIqxkqkIMeMQcm5s/s320/rosieandmama.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosie and I on Pentecost Sunday.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Up until about a month ago, I had always flirted with the
idea of going back to work. I liked having the option to one day decide to go
back to my previous life where I got dressed up every day, went to earn my own
money and have adult conversations. Although the position I had was not in my
field, I truly enjoyed my job as an administrative assistant and I worked for a
great company. My employers were really good to me and I felt appreciated for
my work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then Rosie was born and I found myself working for this tiny
dictator who never seemed content with what
I was doing, was constantly yelling at me ( crying), would use sleep
deprivation as a torture technique and NEVER seemed to appreciate what I was
doing, albeit notice my existence. It was an immensely tough transition. I went
from talking on the phone to dozens of customers and many coworkers, to being
by myself all day, every day. I think I could have coped with the loneliness
but on top of it, I had to spend my entire day dying to myself in order to take
care of this tiny human being who needed me all the time for everything. By the
time my husband would get home from work, I would be starved for conversation
but I also needed to be alone. So I’d hand the baby off to my husband for some "me" time (which usually included some kind of household chore…fun) and by the
time I was ready to talk, Dane would have fallen asleep on the couch. Had it
not been for my mom coming to see me and being there to aunswer my phone calls,
I think I might have lost my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first 3 months of parenthood were so tough and while
covered in baby vomit with a newborn attached to my boob, I would find myself
imagining I was getting ready to go to work and talking to coworkers over a cup
of coffee. I even daydreamed about organizing the office files exactly the way
I wanted them. I quickly learned that although I had previously dreamed of
staying at home with my baby, it was not exactly what
I had imagined it to be. How so you may ask? Well in my stay at home fantasy I
always had time to get ready. In fact I was wearing a 50’s housewife styled
dress with a matching hair-do and heels. My house was spotless and my baby
napped on demand. I was involved in many social endeavors including volunteer
groups, mom and baby workout classes, mom and baby drop in’s and the likes. I
was very organized and would cheerfully do groceries with a baby who never
fussed so I could prepare delicious homemade suppers for my husband that would
be ready the moment he set foot in the door. Speaking of my husband, he would
be well taken care of and our relationship would just magically grow in love
and commitment to each other. I could go on but I think you get where I’m going
with this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead I was left with old over-sized ripped t-shirts and
sweatpants. A 3 day old unwashed ponytail with hopefully a shower in the last 48
hours but sometimes, sadly, it could go longer. My house was a DISASTER with
piles of dirty laundry stacked everywhere. My baby never slept and if she did, it was on me after endless hours of nursing. I barely had time to eat never
mind volunteer my time and going to play groups was made impossible by my A)
lack of a vehicle and B) the effort of bringing a newborn into public was just
too much work. My suppers were mostly out of a box and would not be cooked until Dane came home from work and could
hold the baby which meant we were eating very late at night. By which time we
would be too tired to talk and also I was just like “Eh get away from me and
don’t touch me”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was in those first months that the idea of going back to
work really appealed to me. But time went on and by some miracle I started to
“get it”. My stay at home fantasy started to kind of come together (minus the
heels) and the idea of going back to work became less and less appealing. Dane
and I both grew up with our mom’s at home. It was something that meant a lot to
the both of us and we had agreed that if the opportunity came we would take it.
As time went on and my maternity leave began coming to end, we knew it was time
to make a decision. Actually there was really no decision other than the fact
that we knew money was going to be tight. We are by no means well off
financially. I mean we’re not destitute but it’s not like I’m buying steak
every week. We have one vehicle which we bought used, we rent our house, I meal
plan and price match to cut on groceries. We rarely eat out. We shop at second
hand stores, we don’t have cable. We make sacrifices. But even with all the planning and the fact
that I knew it was coming, the day I told my employer I was not coming back was
very difficult. I felt like I was closing up a chapter of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a few weeks after the decision I also thought of maybe
going back to work but doing something else. Like a part time waitressing job,
or a work from home position or maybe even my own business. I was hesitant to
really say : I am going to stay home with my daughter, that is my life now. Then
one day, for no reason whatsoever, but possibly because we had been praying for
guidance, I saw my life as it should be. I knew I needed to stay home, not just
for Rosie but for my husband and myself. This is where God needs me to be right
now. It may mean that sometimes Dane works during the weekends and it may mean
that we don’t go on fancy trips never mind take vacations but this is the cross
God is asking us to bear right now. Sure I get lonely sometimes and my life
does get quite repetitive. But it’s amidst the loneliness and the repetition
that I encounter God – in those every day moments. He reveals Himself to me in
a sweet smile from my daughter or her cute little laugh, through a funny moment
shared with my husband and from kisses sneaked in while the baby is playing.
This is how God has chosen to lead me to sainthood. It’s not glamorous or
exciting but at the end of the day after I close my eyes, I rest in the the
knowledge that I have accomplished His plan for my life and isn’t that what we
all are trying to achieve? </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-6843613756945986252015-01-07T19:18:00.001-08:002015-01-07T19:19:59.029-08:00New Year, New Me...New Blog Post Finally<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so I admit it. I got wrapped up in mom world and haven't bothered to update this blog in a LONG time. I would think about it every once in a while but turning on the computer and trying to have a thought that didn't revolve around how to make my own baby food or when I should do the next diaper change seemed so daunting. But now that we have started a new year, I thought why not? Now I'm not going to promise a blog post a day, I can't even promise a blog post a week, but I am going to try to get on here more regularly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I get back to my regular posts, here's what you missed in the last few months. Rosalie got baptized on September 28th and is now a member (rather reluctantly considering she cried the entire ceremony) of God's family. She looked cute in her dress but we had to schedule her "photo shoot" a few days later since it was unseasonably hot that day and she was itchy. For those of you wondering why she is dressed in pink during the actual baptism, we were encouraged by the deacon who baptized her to wait until after the sacrament to dress her in white. At first Dane and I were like forget about it -that's dumb, but then we started thinking about the significance of baptism and what a great teaching tool this would be later when we show her pictures. So we ended up choosing two different outfits for her baptism day.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus was standing right behind us<span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie is freaking out at this point... notice the look of pain on Dane's face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same dress, different day, better mood.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October, we took a trip to Sault Ste Marie to visit Dane's family. Rosalie charmed (and subsequently was spoiled by) her great grandparents and great aunts. She also endured the 10 hour car ride like a champ with only one major meltdown on the way there and a 2 hour long meltdown on the way back. To be fair to her, we discovered that she was sitting on her pacifier for those 2 hours...ooops - you live and learn. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie riding a mini horse at her great grandparents.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Halloween Rosalie was disguised as both an owl and a duck, and we celebrated All Saints Day by dressing her up like Mother Teresa. Pictures are below, but I'm warning you it's cuteness overload. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November, I went to go see a naturopath because I hadn't felt normal since before I got pregnant and the doctor's only answer for me was birth control. I also decided to start getting healthy and losing the weight I gained during my pregnancy. I felt an urgency to do so since I don't know when I'll get pregnant again and I want to make sure I'm healthy enough to take care of Rosie and a new baby. The naturopath advised me to take a homeopathic remedy, a magnesium supplement and to continue exercising and eating right. Since making those changes I've felt great and lost 22 lbs. I'm 3 lbs away from my pre- pregnancy weight, my energy levels have shot up and I'm hoping to lose another 23 lbs before getting pregnant again. I just keep praying that God holds off on another blessing until then, but even if he doesn't I think that continuing eating right and exercising throughout the next pregnancy will make my life a lot easier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the beginning of December our cat Boots started peeing blood so we had to take her into the veterinary. She was prescribed antibiotics which seemed to work, but then a week and a half later she started throwing up everywhere (and I mean everywhere - there are still stains on my carpets attesting to that). She couldn't hold down food or water for longer than 15 minutes. We brought her to an emergency veterinary who gave her anti nausea medication and told us she was having a bad reaction to her antibiotics. Fast forward 12 hours and the cat is getting worse and worse. She was just dry heaving and throwing up bile to the point where I'm thinking this is it for her. I called Dane and we decided to take her into the the veterinary again because even though we don't have any more money to spend on her, we have a responsibility to make sure she doesn't suffer. I thought for sure that I was not going to walk out of there with her. Dane couldn't come with me because he was working, so picture this sad lady with a baby strapped to her in a carrier, dressed in full winter gear with a cat carrier in one hand and a diaper bag in the other - yeah I looked crazy. After some testing, we found out that Boots had an intestinal infection which was treatable for under $350. After spending a total of $800 of money we didn't have, a week of 2 different antibiotics and multiple battle wounds ( my hands are still all scratched up from trying to shove medication in her mouth) I'm happy to report that Boots is back to her normal, ungrateful, grumpy self. It was a tough experience, but I'm happy that I left the situation in God's hands. I felt guilty for praying for a cat since there are PEOPLE out there who are suffering, so I just prayed that Boots would stop suffering, regardless of how that suffering would stop. It was difficult for me to give up control of a situation, but I instantly felt peace and I know that it's a lesson for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosalie's first Christmas was great despite the strain Boots' illness put on our budget. Dane's brother and his wife came from Winnipeg to spend the holidays. They are expecting a baby in May so Rosie got to meet her uncle and aunt for the first time and indirectly met her cousin. We spent Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Dane's family. Next year we will switch days and spend the eve with Dane's family and the day with my family. This actually works out since I've spoken about it with my sisters and we will try to spend odd year Christmases with my parents and even year Christmases with Dane's family. Dane's brother is doing the odd year Christmases with his wife's family so we will be with them when they are here and with my sisters when they are here. Mind you my sisters will have to move out of my parents house for us to be able to actually miss them and want to spend time with them. (I'm just kidding... well a little bit) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QXvqjXf-VpkxokVPmQnC3TPf8eYyo5Jc0-snEWtvXt4pns5KF4mwxNSqQo3V8Gld8xuai23OBRPoYzjhzb-HDG9784locquo0syIsBHwCbxG47xjtBaXJeOS6LchP3-2D0gMREip6l5I/s1600/christmas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QXvqjXf-VpkxokVPmQnC3TPf8eYyo5Jc0-snEWtvXt4pns5KF4mwxNSqQo3V8Gld8xuai23OBRPoYzjhzb-HDG9784locquo0syIsBHwCbxG47xjtBaXJeOS6LchP3-2D0gMREip6l5I/s1600/christmas1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is the second family picture of us ever taken. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGfbmMR5R83_hXopJHiEjnDtNcAZInb31RtaAmKHoC5-7hyphenhyphengWwho16-J3O_gfcvg_VSF4vhMVcfZgOf408mCXtcqwfyZR0HDGSyw4paNJYxw8QZ1FWFw32vpKCW_voGF5w03nWcQ_pal7/s1600/christmas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGfbmMR5R83_hXopJHiEjnDtNcAZInb31RtaAmKHoC5-7hyphenhyphengWwho16-J3O_gfcvg_VSF4vhMVcfZgOf408mCXtcqwfyZR0HDGSyw4paNJYxw8QZ1FWFw32vpKCW_voGF5w03nWcQ_pal7/s1600/christmas2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cute Christmas pajamas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstNGYVlpIby3eNe-c2qz7TKdLNdg2QFTQA-djG4d0Lz_JYLW0SRtIF-FMs_NIgDHl335SZRAagDNIz_uAcu92SYpI8C1TKBgf8Pf8LzHR_HaMn6xrfZAm8fbS1i5OYcJw47Ma7njAqVip/s1600/christmas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstNGYVlpIby3eNe-c2qz7TKdLNdg2QFTQA-djG4d0Lz_JYLW0SRtIF-FMs_NIgDHl335SZRAagDNIz_uAcu92SYpI8C1TKBgf8Pf8LzHR_HaMn6xrfZAm8fbS1i5OYcJw47Ma7njAqVip/s1600/christmas3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full effect of Christmas outfit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We celebrated the full 12 days of Christmas this year by leaving our decorations up and continuing my binge -watching of corny made for television Christmas movies. On Epiphany I made a Galette des Rois for the first time and hid an almond in it. I know traditionally it's a dried bean, but that's a chocking hazard so I opted for an almond instead. Dane found it and was king for the day (he found it around 9 pm so his reign was very short lived). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New Years Eve and Day was great. After a week of grandparents and parents, and uncles and aunts and sisters and brother, we spent time just Rosalie, Dane and I. On New Year's Eve we went to mass, we watched a movie and ate yummy, unhealthy snacks and then on New Years Day I made one appetizer every hour and we just grazed and watched Netflix in our pajamas ALL DAY LONG. It was amazing! I am hoping that this will be a tradition that we can continue until the kids all have they're respective New Years Eve parties to go to (once they are of legal drinking age of course) and spend the next day too hungover to eat appetizers (good - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more for Dane and I). My resolution for this year was to have no resolution since I never keep them and always feel guilty that I did not keep them. So far, it's going very well. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_t2ZL3CrnsI7iIEXPWJOVbDjKE3GWoJrJp9vSgLX6dnGpvjTMeLuIv6ldCZnH5OcSEteyyU1CgbpWd3_ZS1oB2S9qt-R0MR9tGqsfxhyLFvXs8iJ0lvxj-EjMJ52y2GpLGWVs-2lHFpN/s1600/new+year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_t2ZL3CrnsI7iIEXPWJOVbDjKE3GWoJrJp9vSgLX6dnGpvjTMeLuIv6ldCZnH5OcSEteyyU1CgbpWd3_ZS1oB2S9qt-R0MR9tGqsfxhyLFvXs8iJ0lvxj-EjMJ52y2GpLGWVs-2lHFpN/s1600/new+year.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, she made it to midnight, we were in bed shortly after.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, in more Rosalie news, she got her 6 month vaccine booster today ( this is one that is approved by the Church - I checked when I got home and researched it) and barely cried. It's crazy to think that she's already 6 months. She's eating solids now (banana, avocado, pears and zucchini so far), she's rolling over, she's sitting up with just a little bit of assistance and she's babbling more every day. She loves attention and is a little social butterfly. When strangers take the time to come talk to her, you can guarantee she will smile at them and put on her little show. ( Sometimes, she even tries to get people to notice her by shrieking loudly and waving her arms. It's hilarious now, not sure what it will be like later on.) At night, when I'm lying with her and watching her sleep (yes she's still in my bed and I LOVE IT) I still can't believe that Dane and I played a part in creating this little person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that you're all caught up, I need to relieve Dane of his Rosie duties, but I'll try to post again soon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, if you want to hear me talk about a Christmas baking fail check out the new episode of The Catholics Next Door at the link below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thecatholicsnextdoor.newevangelizers.com/2015/01/04/068/" target="_blank">TCND #068 Obligation or Opportunity?</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My voicemail is about 6 minutes in but I suggest listening for a little while longer to hear a hilarious story about dog poop and a toothbrush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-25546131682832560652014-09-12T19:48:00.001-07:002014-09-13T09:24:30.287-07:007 Quick Takes – Where We Talk Baby, Doctor Who, The King’s Daughter and Beef<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/"><img alt="7 quick takes sm1 Your 7 Quick Takes Toolkit!" src="http://cdn.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg" height="195" style="text-align: center;" title="7 Quick Takes" width="290" /></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-1-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bumbo baby</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosie is finally
holding her head up well enough to use her Bumbo! Depending on the kind of mood
she’s in, I can usually get a good 20 minutes of non-holding baby time! I’m a
little bit of a Bumbo rule breaker though and have put the seat on the kitchen counter
BUT I swear she was being supervised the entire time. Rosie loves being up high
and watching me cook or clean or whatever. The cat however is not happy because
the counter is usually her domain (don’t worry I Lysol the counters a few times
a day) so she spent a good portion of the day sulking. I can’t wait for those
two to become best friends and keep each other entertained.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10635946_10153156431064202_7995012165413045531_n.jpg?oh=3b82d1e54958317dc2021eaa0ee271b2&oe=549569DC" style="height: 520px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 390px;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Rosie watching me eat yogurt this morning. Her expression is like "Woah, that's not breastmilk! How could you eat that?"</span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My crush on the Doctor</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started watching Doctor
Who on Netflix a few weeks ago. I figured it would keep me from getting bored
during the day when I’m alone with the baby. I liked the ninth Doctor and was disappointed
that he regenerated at the end of the first season but that was until I got to
know the tenth Doctor. What followed was a growing crush on a fictional character
that resulted in me binge-watching 3 seasons of the show. I was sort of obsessed
thinking I could sometimes hear the TARDIS appearing while on walks with Rosie.
Unfortunately, this Doctor also had to regenerate and I’m now trying to get
used to this new Doctor who just seems really geeky. I’d gotten about 20
minutes into the first episode of season 5 before I realized that I needed a
break to mourn the death of my favorite Doctor. I haven’t quite healed yet, but
I think I will start watching the show again soon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAcQjRw" href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=QBwM07PptOFKxM&tbnid=xGDdqG17ulbP5M:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTenth_Doctor&ei=I64TVK7WBYX_yQTgiICICQ&bvm=bv.75097201,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNFzCi0myBduk7sExkU2AZF33EkJSw&ust=1410662311830350" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="irc_mut" height="393" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQn0GEe2ZwN5Xs2t-A2urxetRdtOWkhBD19ty1XHyqjmYZunUpd" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="251" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Dane should dress like this for our next date night. </span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-3-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got 99 problems and the beef is number one</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally got around
to making my freezer to crockpot stews I’d been planning on doing since before
Rosie was born. Oh well, better late than never. I decided it was time since
large bags of potatoes, carrots and stewing beef were on sale this week. Unfortunately,
they were sold out of the stewing beef when we went grocery shopping this
weekend, so I purchased the root vegetables and planned to go back this week.
But since I have terrible luck, the store was still sold out of the beef when I
went early yesterday morning. I had to pay $1.50 per pound more for the beef from another
store which made the stews so much more expensive than I planned. I’m happy
that I have the stews; I just wish the beef had been available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Reading this over
just now, I realize how insignificant my problems really are. You know life is
going well when your biggest worry is the price of freezer to crockpot stews.
Or is it that your life is really boring? Who knows! Either ways I apologize
for blogging about the price of beef.*</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-4-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baby talk</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other Rosie news,
she has really started cooing lots lately. It’s hilarious to watch her because
you can tell that she’s really trying to communicate with you. We were at my
parent’s last night, and my mom stood Rosie up on her lap (yes, I said stood,
she likes to be upright and on her feet) which made her start to oooh, and aahhh
about everything around her (Rosie, not my mom – if my mom was doing that there
would have to be wine involved). It’s amazing to watch her discovering the
world around her. I really hope God blesses us with more children and we get to
see babies discovering the world over and over again.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-5-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking babies</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of other
babies, if I got pregnant today, the baby would be due in June. That means
Rosie would be 1 year old or just shy of 1. I think I’d be ok with that which
is kind of a relief. Any sooner than that and I would lose my mind. I don’t
think I’m going to get pregnant since I’m exclusively breastfeeding and all,
but since we are not using birth control it’s something we always need to be
aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless we decided to abstain
for the next year, and even though I tried to sell the idea to my husband, I
don’t think that is going to happen. It’s a scary thought however, and so when we
said grace before dinner I prayed “…and please don’t let me get pregnant…”, to
which Dane had to add “…but let your will be done…”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy my husband reminds me to stop trying
to be a control freak and to trust God, but I guess that’s what marriage is all
about, helping each other get closer to God.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-6-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My FBE ( Favorite Book Ever)</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAcQjRw" href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=f1LkmJzNOSw_KM&tbnid=Oav8ZqDK8guWDM:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F1356549.Jeanne_fille_du_Roy_The_King_s_Daughter&ei=iq8TVKXoGYygyATthIL4Bg&bvm=bv.75097201,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNGWiH_dIn69zXJwjpZKk5yyPICGdA&ust=1410662647709699" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="irc_mut" height="393" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKUjQoWxIRKotwbmQwBugQ1M6J9r3WkPBrVo0tfdktIb2ax5hj" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="248" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is definitely a MUST READ!</span> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I haven’t had
the time to go to the library, I re-read my favorite book “Jeanne, Fille du Roy”,
by Suzanne Martel. The book is originally written in French but I think it was
translated into English under the name “The King’s Daughter”. I first read the
novel when I was 9 after my mom recommended it. I had a hard time reading the
end, and I remember my mom reading me the last chapters as I cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, I’ve picked up this book over
and over again, and I’m just as impressed with the story every time I read it.
Without giving anything away the story is set in the seventeenth century and,
the main character, Jeanne Chatel, is an orphan raised in a convent who goes to
New France as one of the King’s Daughters. There she marries Simon de Rouville ,
a hunter and builder, who is in need of a wife to raise his two young children
after the murder of his late wife by the Iroquois. The story goes on to tell of
the young woman’s many adventures in the woods of New France, as well as the
blossoming relationship between her and Simon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeanne is gutsy, witty and resourceful making her a great role model for
young girls. There is also a catholic influence in the book, with cameos from
Saint Marguerite de Bourgeoys and Saint Marie de l’Incarnation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite lines from the book is when
Jeanne describes a childhood crush as “beautiful like the statue of Saint
Michael” which makes me think they did not have a large frame of reference for
handsome men.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can purchase the
book in French </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jeanne-Fille-Roy-Suzanne-Martel/dp/2762116198/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1410576129&sr=8-4&keywords=suzanne+martel" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and the English version </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Daughter-Suzanne-Martel/dp/0888993234/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1410576109&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=suzanne+martel" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-7-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Define: baptism</span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosie is getting baptized on September 28<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup>
at the same church Dane and I were married in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although the ceremony is being done in French, I figure language is a
human thing not a God thing, and Rosie will be baptized regardless of what
language the baptism is done in. We are starting our baptism classes on Monday
and we are meeting the priest briefly after mass on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been trying to think about baptism and
what it means to be baptized. I don’t want to go into it blindly, and I want to
understand so I can truly appreciate the significance of it for my daughter. If
you have an explanation, please feel free to send it to me!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find more 7 Quick Takes at </span><a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conversion Diary</span></a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-70223273403947116482014-09-05T10:48:00.002-07:002014-09-05T10:48:22.569-07:007 Sleep Tips for the Tired New Mommy<span style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1387 size-full" height="195" scale="0" src="http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg" title="7_quick_takes_sm" width="290" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know everyone says “sleep when
the baby sleeps” but if you have other kids or you are a neat freak or you simply
aren’t a great napper that is not always possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m not a sleep expert and I haven’t gone
through the teething phase, but this is what helped us when Rosie decided that
3 AM was playtime/morning.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-1-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Co-sleeping</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10600350_10153138451939202_3373322575694282075_n.jpg?oh=1a8757a4b7dbddbe2e1b1e409d941cdd&oe=54A4EEBB&__gda__=1419219373_f8b1e34f00a15ec5e783312922b94e2a" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Co-sleeping with teeny tiny newborn Rosie</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ve co-slept since day one. The
expert say it’s not safe, I say it’s the only way I get to sleep at all
especially since Rosie is still waking 4 times a night to feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to ease my mind, I did a bunch of
research about safe co- sleeping and this is what I found. First, you get one
pillow which is tucked in under your arm and as for blankets never have them
higher than the baby’s belly button. Second, tie up your hair, wear long
sleeves if it’s cold and make sure there are no strings or loose fabrics on
your sleepwear. Third, sleep on your side with one arm tucked under the pillow
and the other loose over the blanket (to keep it from moving). Tuck in your
knees and your baby should sleep on his/her back in the space between your
lower arm and knees (like a baby nest). Fourth, the baby should always sleep
with the mother and never between the parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fifth, sleep with the baby as far from possible from the side of the
bed, and once they get squirmy get a bed rail (cost about $40.00).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fifth, dress the baby according to the weather
and account for the extra heat coming from your own body. Sixth, never co-sleep
if you smoke, are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are obese, are
extremely tired or if you bottle feed your baby. Finally, when the baby wakes
to nurse, don’t get out of bed (I was an idiot and doing this for the two first
weeks), and instead nurse lying down by pulling down or opening your top (made
easier by wearing a sports bra). That way you get to go back to sleep and the
baby will eventually fall asleep while nursing (usually).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-2-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get into a routine</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most people need a bedtime
routine to signal that it’s time to sleep and babies are no different. When
Rosie was first born, there was no routine and we had a very difficult time
getting her to sleep. Now, we start around 8:30 – 9 PM getting her ready for
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If people are over past that time
or if we are still out, it seems to mess her up and we spend the night trying
to calm her down because she is over tired. We begin by darkening the room and
Daddy changes her diaper and puts her in a sleeper. Then I nurse her a bit and
once she’s full Daddy takes her and they both fall asleep. I get ready for bed
and once I’m ready we bring her to bed, nurse her while she’s still drowsy and
usually she will fall asleep shortly after her feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Develop a routine that works for you and
stick to it.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-3-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you don’t need to get up …
don’t</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For a little while I was still
trying to get up early even if Rosie was still sleeping. Then one day I
realized that if I didn’t need to get up what was the point of waking up at a
specific time? Clearly we both need the extra sleep and so now I sleep until
she wakes up in the morning. If you have other kids, maybe Daddy can handle the
morning routine or you can slip back into bed as soon as the other kiddos have
been dealt with (television anyone?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most importantly, don’t feel guilty about staying in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, you are up multiple times a night.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-4-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Be boring</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rosie spent a week deciding that
3 AM was morning. She would want to play between 3 and 4 AM and then cry from 4
to 6 AM. It was awful. At first I used to get up and play with her, then rock
and bounce her while she cried. That got old very fast and so I decided to try
and stay in bed the next night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
clockwork she woke up at 3 AM but since I refused to play with her, get up and
turn on lights, she only stayed up for 2 hours. Then the next night I stayed in
bed again and was very brief and boring when talking to her. That night she
only stayed up an hour and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon
enough she understood that night was for sleeping and now she usually sleeps through
the night with about 4 brief wakes up to feed.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-5-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Go to bed later</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10600389_10153138451949202_4820990531226339206_n.jpg?oh=83df4cfd2209a9e9431d40787ad9cedd&oe=54A2DE0B&__gda__=1419648606_1bb6a322aba096316e8e0e57d89eda19" style="height: 543px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 407px;" width="299" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look serene but really I'm thinking "Sleep! Dear God, please sleep!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you know that your baby only
sleeps for 6 hours at night, don’t go to bed at 10 PM because you will wake up
at 4 AM. I find it much easier to stay up later than to get up at a crazy hour.
Decide what time you will want to wake up and then got to bed at the
appropriate time. For example Rosie usually sleeps 8 hours so I go to bed at
midnight and we will wake up around 8 AM. Honestly, I must say that I’m
actually enjoying my late nights Netflix watching.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">-6-</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Things will change</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Realize that eventually your baby
will sleep. This is just a phase and it will not last forever. How many people
do you know that don’t sleep at night? Very few and even if your child is a
night owl, they will get more manageable and distractible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This thought helped me get through many
sleepless nights.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pray</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some nights (or strings of
nights) are just so awful that all you can do is pray. Even if it’s just “Lord
give me strength”, prayer has gotten me through the worst sleep-deprived
moments. As soon as I pray, I instantly feel able to get through the rest of the
night (even when Rosie is screaming her head off). So arm yourself with a
rosary and hang in there Mama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Get more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary by clicking <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-48053894310593067252014-09-04T10:48:00.001-07:002014-09-04T10:48:35.136-07:00We’re Not Trying to Get Pregnant But…
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I told my doctor that we weren’t
planning on using any birth control she almost passed out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just didn’t get that it wasn’t just artificial
birth control that we didn’t want to use, it was all forms of birth control
including condoms and the “pull out” method. I think her reaction is pretty
typical since most people keep telling us that breastfeeding doesn’t always
prevent pregnancies. But why should we be trying to avoid a pregnancy? Yes, we
have a 2 month old. No, we aren’t trying to get pregnant but if it were to
happen we would be happy – scared but happy. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before my mom starts freaking out,
I’m not going Duggar here and actively trying to get pregnant. Lord knows I’m
having a hard enough time taking care of one baby, I can’t imagine trying to take
care of two right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if God
blesses us with another child even if it is sooner than I expected, I’m not
going to complain. After Rosie was born, the hubby and I decided that we didn’t
want to stand in God’s way if he wanted us to conceive again. Whether that
happens next week, in a year or in 5 years is not up to us. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that seems crazy especially
since I’ve been guilty of judging other women for getting pregnant so soon after
having a baby. I realize now how wrong that was since pregnancy is not a sign
of being irresponsible, it’s a sign of God’s love, a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being told we were going to miscarry Rosie
and seeing her heartbeat at 6 weeks made me realize that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I’m not bashing natural family
planning, but I think that right now if Dane and I were to use it, it would be
used with a “contraceptive mentality”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For those of you who are wondering what I mean by that, I’m talking
about the mentality that views children as a burden. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mentality that tells you to wait until you
are financially ready to conceive, the mentality that says you should enjoy
being <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>newlyweds before getting pregnant
and the mentality that dictates that women should wait a reasonable amount of
time before conceiving again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we had
listened to that mentality, Rosie would not be here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband and I are both big
believers that God would never give us something we could not handle. When we
first got pregnant with Rosie, we had no idea how we would manage financially.
But in the following months, Dane started his own company and was able to
increase his salary, making up for the extra expenses and the drop in my
income. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no doubt that God will make
sure we can provide for the next child regardless of when we conceive again. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if I find out I’m pregnant again
in the coming months will I cry? Oh yes and worry and doubt. But I will also
rejoice and welcome this new life into our family. Because honestly, who wouldn’t
want another one of these? </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S3EMGC9bpvvLIUUMduLzaQHUPyhC74etsXKVahAz4hLhfJU8KldsS1xz-NncCABhyphenhyphen4AVa3q_1d5u7pkst4e3I06ubyXunBaRkty-ndx6RAyv62GOzO9ZB2ZbqjqaWYFG3uRR-t-Dfa6a/s1600/rosalie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S3EMGC9bpvvLIUUMduLzaQHUPyhC74etsXKVahAz4hLhfJU8KldsS1xz-NncCABhyphenhyphen4AVa3q_1d5u7pkst4e3I06ubyXunBaRkty-ndx6RAyv62GOzO9ZB2ZbqjqaWYFG3uRR-t-Dfa6a/s1600/rosalie.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally sleeping after a two hour fight to get her down for a nap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-78821658091594448122014-04-23T10:23:00.000-07:002014-04-23T14:00:44.223-07:00Morning Offering? ... More Like Morning Shortcoming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0xBaB3atMNYXHDnMII0EjC1VhsJ1sW02Ma2kxc6WbZBltOYB4MVBKzF4SxL7NOYIUAPn7IBdYSiN66bdekZ6ajMpPzF2VqEtbYESJl00RrN8jMoRlbSZCuvOB9ZIZA62JrGV5RDlMSU2/s1600/forgives.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0xBaB3atMNYXHDnMII0EjC1VhsJ1sW02Ma2kxc6WbZBltOYB4MVBKzF4SxL7NOYIUAPn7IBdYSiN66bdekZ6ajMpPzF2VqEtbYESJl00RrN8jMoRlbSZCuvOB9ZIZA62JrGV5RDlMSU2/s1600/forgives.png" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This morning, I woke up and somehow remembered to say my
morning offering. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this prayer, it
goes more or less like this: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer thee
all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions
of thy Sacred Heart in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the
world, in reparation for my sins, and for all the intentions of the Holy
Father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday, <a href="http://www.catholicallyear.com/" target="_blank">Kendra at Catholic All Year</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
created some awesome prints of this prayer and I promptly put one up in my
cubicle thinking I was once again doing a stand-up job at promoting my catholic
faith in the workplace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That lasted about
half an hour before I started realizing how terrible I am at living my day for
Christ. Because the truth is, I’m often forgetful of the fact that Christ is
ALWAYS with me. (I’d like to think He only shows up for the good
moments, like when I stay for adoration after mass.) Today, He was with me when
I text –argued with my husband over the price of a stroller, He was there when
I was ungrateful for my job, He was there when I was annoyed by my co-worker
and He was there when I thought mean things about a customer while on the
phone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sad thing is all
of that happened before 12 PM and I literally can’t think of one nice thing I
did today to glorify Christ. When you get wrapped up in your day to day, it’s
easy to forget about Him. But He never leaves you even when you are being the
world’s biggest grump and feeling sorry about yourself because you’re 7 months
pregnant and wishing you could wear pyjamas to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The morning offering
has a way of reminding me that this day does not belong to me and so I should
make an extra effort to live it like Jesus was physically standing next to me,
possibly whispering encouraging words in my ear. He knows that this pregnancy
has been sucky for me, and he knows that I’m sick of work and that I’m stressed
out over moving. However, He also knows (and I do too) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I’m capable of doing better than that and
seeing the words of the morning offering reminds me of the promise I made to
Him just a few hours ago. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thankfully, I know
Christ doesn’t hold this morning’s failures against me and I can try living out
the rest of my day like I had originally intended - without beating myself up
or wallowing away in guilt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will keep
forgiving my shortcomings every day until the day I die, and if I really mess
up, I can always go to confession and have the slate wiped clean. How lucky are
we that we have a God who loves us so much that He will keep forgiving us
regardless of how many sins we commit and how many times we commit them? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-38291686146940487012014-04-11T09:24:00.000-07:002014-04-11T09:36:34.375-07:007 Quick Takes – Where I Gross Everyone out by Talking about my Night Sweating<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP43_M2mSCdWGttLaXqdJyU8N7qeK0qEsancdFW5gdpYRX75IntNDlgsWgl7KJHy5HzYvnAeHrcc60QzIvxBVDkuM7zqhKb0lLbgT9RIymdQFdFuC1tOjz_1tP10EEaayU1rvyR2QJ_D6d/s1600/7_quick_takes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP43_M2mSCdWGttLaXqdJyU8N7qeK0qEsancdFW5gdpYRX75IntNDlgsWgl7KJHy5HzYvnAeHrcc60QzIvxBVDkuM7zqhKb0lLbgT9RIymdQFdFuC1tOjz_1tP10EEaayU1rvyR2QJ_D6d/s1600/7_quick_takes.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--1--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Palmiest of Sundays<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Sunday will be Palm Sunday and
although I LOVE waving around those palms, it always reminds me of the first
time I was an altar server. I was 8 or 9 and had just completed my “training” –
which let’s be honest, was just a bunch of kids in one room pretending to pay
attention. I was scheduled for my first mass on Palm Sunday with an older/ more
experienced altar server. Well I showed up, but my trainer never did. I was
stuck doing the altar serving all by myself and to add to the confusion, mass
started at the back of the church which completely threw me off. Thank God
the priest that day was patient, and he guided me through the entire mass,
letting me know what to grab and what to do. Other than the “deer in the
headlights” look I must have had, I think I came out of it generally unscathed –
that is, unless you count the terrible psychological trauma I endured. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--2--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pregnancy and Night Sweats</span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRcC9Q2P8MhOlqbViemCrrE8SLkn5KSyQD-6pZThYDCk6_wjWFNwFvU74ZD65wo-8s_8AMji90V7ExVvCX6qB6WUg5LHkT_XZb6KnBSa98SWPD3ZWUgDp266dJlVpy5Y7ZfMPp6C31woy/s1600/sweat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRcC9Q2P8MhOlqbViemCrrE8SLkn5KSyQD-6pZThYDCk6_wjWFNwFvU74ZD65wo-8s_8AMji90V7ExVvCX6qB6WUg5LHkT_XZb6KnBSa98SWPD3ZWUgDp266dJlVpy5Y7ZfMPp6C31woy/s1600/sweat.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m 27 weeks pregnant today which
means that I’m in or almost in my third trimester – some doctors will say 27
weeks, others 29 weeks – I say I feel big enough to be in my third trimester
therefore I am in my third trimester. Pregnancy developments this week include
the swelling of my hands and feet (Goodbye wedding ring and nice shoes), severe
heartburn, shooting pains in my pelvic region and hot flashes. The hot flashes
are seriously getting out of hand though. No matter what I wear to bed, I will
wake up drenched in sweat. Dane keeps telling I stink in the morning, like I
can’t smell or feel how sweaty I am. I would like to see how nice he smells
after sleeping with a little furnace strapped to his stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--3--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Week without my Husband<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week,
Dane went to Lake Louise for his brother’s wedding. Since my pregnancy is
borderline high risk ( ok it is high risk… I just hate to say that because it
sounds scary) I was told no travel until this baby has vacated my womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That left me alone for four days which is the
longest I’ve ever been a) without Dane since we started dating and b) home
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first day was hell, I spent
most of my time crying, but by day 3 I was starting to enjoy the quiet. Boots
was calmer, I watched girly movies and shows, I ate whatever I wanted, whenever
I wanted AND the house was clean. But regardless of the all that, I truly
missed my husband and I am so glad he is home. However, it seems like the house
got messy as soon as he walked through the door so I’m guessing that’s just
something I’ll have to live with as long as he’s around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--4--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A Tale of Two Houses</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since Dane
and I are set to move in about 2 weeks and we have the keys to our new house,
we’ve slowly been starting to pack up/ move over our belongings. My parents
came by last Saturday and we powered through the office, the guest bedroom and
most of the basement. After they left I was able to pack up my pre-pregnancy
clothes, shoes and some of my purses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also got to packing up some of the kitchen appliances that I won’t be using in
the next two weeks. All in all, our house in the Bay is slowly emptying out and
soon enough, we’ll only have the big stuff to haul over to our new place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it does make me feel like I’m in a
house limbo at the moment since we’re not really settled anywhere. I can’t wait
for all this to be over so I can start nesting!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--5--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sell, Sell, Buy, Buy<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of
the move, I’ve taken to Kijiji once again to try and get rid of some stuff I do
not want to bring to the new house. So far I’ve sold my dining room table and
the bed in the guestroom (to hopefully be picked up tomorrow). After speaking
to the buyers, I’m glad I didn’t over charge ( we sold for way under what they
are worth) since both the items are going to people who are having a hard time
financially. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Dane and I aren’t
exactly wealthy, we can still try to make life easier for others when we are
able to. It kind of makes me angry to think of how much Dane and I paid for the
dining room table and the bed, since we were very naive and didn’t understand
the real value of things. I would hate to do that to someone else. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zKnp9QBLqNLDJugg4hCWfCC7_vM6oL0vruXCJgT_3wZr77FIxw4Uey-TvIr0XE_bxLzgT6VVGWkHixGW7LaUR-SCPiKCIQlpOoXZxth9BGPR75XGPW0Dux_bShQ5SPejgKacEQrltmrh/s1600/table2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zKnp9QBLqNLDJugg4hCWfCC7_vM6oL0vruXCJgT_3wZr77FIxw4Uey-TvIr0XE_bxLzgT6VVGWkHixGW7LaUR-SCPiKCIQlpOoXZxth9BGPR75XGPW0Dux_bShQ5SPejgKacEQrltmrh/s1600/table2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And since we’re
already talking about good deals, Dane was able to find an awesome used dining
room table for me! I can just imagine our family sitting around the table,
complaining about how they don’t like supper and asking me why they have to eat
[insert food here] when Daddy gets to pick around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also bought an island to put in the
kitchen for extra counter space and a cabinet for extra storage. I think that
will make our new kitchen a little bit more functional, since right now it has
about 5 inches of available counter space and limited storage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--6--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cranky Boots<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUaTQAlXCmrce80M3IlKLhqt_KFIYkm9gsy6nvt6lMJIfHuSspidt61aAbMbByjsS9RzbfpvmjNFjioQTGyhtZfzNU4BRx-i87hfQnghMmXJcHqMaAeEyliXWXDgBdYGqWPj1ZmPqFqIU/s1600/cranky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUaTQAlXCmrce80M3IlKLhqt_KFIYkm9gsy6nvt6lMJIfHuSspidt61aAbMbByjsS9RzbfpvmjNFjioQTGyhtZfzNU4BRx-i87hfQnghMmXJcHqMaAeEyliXWXDgBdYGqWPj1ZmPqFqIU/s1600/cranky.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boots is not
the most easygoing cat around. Actually, between her mood swings and her
constant need for attention, I’d say she’s high maintenance. Over the last
couple of weeks though, she has been very cranky with everyone but me. I don’t
know if its spring or the male cat that prances in front of the windows every
day, but something has got that cat really angry. When my parents came over to
pack she was being a complete brat, hissing at my dad and just generally being
unpleasant. Dane thinks it’s because she can sense something big is coming (i.e.
the baby and the move), my mom thinks she needs to be socialized. Either ways,
I’m hoping this recent episode of crankiness will end once we move to the new
place and she gets used to her surroundings. In the meantime, I’ll just keep
doing my best to ignore her when she’s in a bad mood and give her attention
when she’s being a good cat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">--7--<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Delivery Confession <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dane and I
ended up going to evening mass in Orleans last Sunday since he got home so late
on Saturday night. I guess this will be our new parish since it’s closest to
our new home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mass, they had an
hour of adoration and confession for whoever was interested. Since Dane and I
had missed our Lenten retreat, I hadn’t had a chance to go to confession and I
had promised myself I would go as soon as I got the chance. Well “as soon as I
get the chance”, turned into whenever I find a convenient time and a convenient
time had turned into me ignoring the fact that I needed to go to confession. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when they announced that confession would
be available, I knew that I needed to go (even though I just wanted to go home).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like God was saying, “I’ll make this
real simple since you can’t be bothered to come to me, I’ll bring confession to
you”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told Dane
that I needed to go and asked him if he wanted to go and he declined because he
wasn’t prepared. I was disappointed but you can’t force someone to go to
confession. I then got on my phone and used the confession app. I mean it wasn’t
the greatest examination of conscience but it was all I had available. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I was done, a little line had formed near
the confessional booths, and I went to take a spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was waiting, I saw Dane get up and join
me in line. He told me that he had asked God to make him more humble and while
waiting for me he had read that confession is a good way to be more humble. He
knew, just as I did that God, was calling him to the sacrament of
reconciliation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which proves once again just
how important it is to be open to the influence of the Holy Spirit, since
without it neither Dane nor I would be in a state of grace. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">-----------------------------------</span></strong></span></div>
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</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well that rounds up my week! Now to get back to packing and preparing for Holy Week! </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-62176734948578918172014-04-09T11:46:00.000-07:002014-04-09T12:09:41.169-07:00An Open Letter to Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There is
unbelievable power in ownership, and women should own their sexuality. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a double standard when it comes to
sexuality that still persists. Men are free and women are not. That is
crazy. The old lessons of submissiveness and fragility made us victims. Women
are so much more than that. You can be a businesswoman, a mother, an artist,
and a feminist -- whatever you want to be -- and still be a sexual being. It’s
not mutually exclusive.” – Beyoncé Knowles</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8Hg8XEq9MgddVhwKoTUQa20dUjw3y2DP1ZvdXi0HREmYLgCVAgdHX_-hxA9_Zbe5lBjmTpJIEahEQjKzJnwX1_nQsLKZdlWcx8z9MevHDrcyRaTqj6N9o7ngyMdIwZFELDKeegQ6ZYA/s1600/2.-Sexual-Slavery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8Hg8XEq9MgddVhwKoTUQa20dUjw3y2DP1ZvdXi0HREmYLgCVAgdHX_-hxA9_Zbe5lBjmTpJIEahEQjKzJnwX1_nQsLKZdlWcx8z9MevHDrcyRaTqj6N9o7ngyMdIwZFELDKeegQ6ZYA/s1600/2.-Sexual-Slavery.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Mrs. Knowles,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recently came across the above quote from your interview
with “Out Magazine”. Although I can appreciate the sentiments expressed, I
cannot say that I wholeheartedly agree with your statement. Yes, women should
own their sexuality, but not in a way that allows a woman to pose with her
breasts exposed in a magazine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sexual freedom does not allow me to engage in sexual acts
with whoever I want whenever I want. Neither does it allow me to act unchastely
whether in word, dress, or deed. Furthermore, sexual freedom does not give me
the right to have control over my God-given fertility via unnatural means.
Finally, it does not give me the ability to choose to end a life when the
repercussions of this so-called “freedom” have surfaced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When sexual freedom is described to me as such, I can’t help
but think that the sexual revolution led all women a step backwards. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of enjoying the benefits of the
marital embrace, women are being duped into giving away part of themselves to
men who could care less about them. Instead of being respected and cherished for
their hearts and minds, they are being lusted after for their body and sexual
prowess. Instead of openly accepting the gift of fertility, they are forcing
chemicals down their throats and interrupting their natural cycles. Finally,
instead of lovingly accepting new life, they “choose” to kill their offspring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d like to know exactly how the above equates to freedom,
when to me it sounds a whole lot more like slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slavery to a society that has tricked women
into believing that this type of “feminism” is what we should be working hard
to achieve. Women truly are better than that. We are better than the promiscuous,
irresponsible, murderers that society is trying to make us become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I think of sexual freedom, I think of making love to my
husband who truly loves and appreciates all of me. Engaging in the marital embrace
with him does not degrade me, hurt me or leave me empty but rather brings us
closer together as a couple. Sexual freedom also makes me think of my wedding vows,
when I promised that I would honor my husband for the rest of my life. Those vows
mean that the things I do, the things I say and the things I wear need to be respectful
of our relationship. Finally, sexual freedom means truly accepting the gift of
fertility that God has given me. There is nothing more liberating than handing
over that aspect of my life to God and lovingly welcoming new life into our
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Women need to wake up and realize what is going on. They need
to stop allowing their true nature to be altered by societal ideals, and get
back to who they truly are. I am a woman and I can proudly admit that I am
submissive to my husband and that I am fragile. That does not mean I am not
free. It means that I trust that my husband will make the best decisions for me
because he loves me and that he will take care of me because he realizes just
how fragile I am. There is nothing more liberating than knowing that I have
someone who loves me so much that he will sacrifice himself to make sure I am
well cared for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To me what is truly crazy is that women would rather be objectified,
degraded and used by random men than be submissive to their husband. I’m sorry
but I’ll take the kind of love my husband gives me over feeling as though I “own
my sexuality”. Especially considering the fact that my sexuality never really
belonged to me; it belongs to my husband and to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so Mrs. Knowles, I ask you to reconsider your statement
for the sake of all the little girls out there (including my daughter and
yours) who will one grow up into women. Because, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure about you, but I’d rather have a
submissive and fragile daughter that finds a man who loves her for who she is, rather
than one who “owns her sexuality” and is used or lusted after by strange men. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for your time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Justine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-65372160797535268632014-03-25T12:37:00.001-07:002014-03-26T07:58:57.200-07:00May It Be Done To Me According To Your Word<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTR29Xz6U8wk13YqIHwy6QuGMFsISTMcVMtQw-88DSA4JtrKOaVWLfDWdMVPrMo-ol0vWELONnJdiVmASdQIUTH_qC8wDJWx2Kd4tDEBibNLZ0J83ejm_qmpfmFcMxhyJkMBuJSNZgNNst/s1600/annunciation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTR29Xz6U8wk13YqIHwy6QuGMFsISTMcVMtQw-88DSA4JtrKOaVWLfDWdMVPrMo-ol0vWELONnJdiVmASdQIUTH_qC8wDJWx2Kd4tDEBibNLZ0J83ejm_qmpfmFcMxhyJkMBuJSNZgNNst/s1600/annunciation.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which
means that Dane and I get to have dessert tonight BUT more importantly, it
means we are celebrating the moment the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin
Mary and told her she would conceive and bear the baby Jesus in her womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a HUGE moment in the history of
Christianity because THIS is where it all began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This is part of the reason that us <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pro-lifers are ALWAYS saying that life begins
at conception. ) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, possibly
because I’m pregnant for the first time, this story hits me more than ever.
Here is this young single girl, who has never “known” a man but is being told
that God has chosen her out of ALL the women in the world, to bear the Second Person
of the Holy Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary is troubled at
first, possibly because it must have been upsetting to see an angel appear to
you, and also because he says the Lord has found favor with her, which she
thinks is a really weird to greet someone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, she listens to him and in the end
just calmly agrees, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Behold, I am the
handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38.
<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok so God has just dropped this HUGE bombshell on her and
instead of whining or asking Him to pick someone else (*cough cough* Moses),
she just agrees to it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Handmaid can also
mean servant so basically she is saying “Lord I am your servant, do what you
want with me and I’ll gladly go along with it”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m willing to bet this was NOT an easy
decision to make. First she’s just agreed to be a young, unmarried mother who
just happens to be pregnant with the SON OF GOD. Then to add to her worries,
she has to somehow explain to her fiancé that no, she didn’t cheat on Him, she
conceived a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. And yet, even with all of
that going on she gladly agrees to what God is asking of her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I’m not going to go comparing the conception of my
child and my future children, to the conception of Jesus. Those are two
completely different situations. However, Mary’s willingness to accept this
life into her womb is similar to the decision that married catholic couples
have to face almost every time they are intimate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you are married
in the Catholic Church, they ask you if you “Will you accept children lovingly
from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”.
For some, that may mean will we one day have children, but in reality it’s not
that easy. Accepting children from God means that you let Him decide when and
how many of these children you will have. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So essentially, you agree to give up control
of a huge aspect of your of your life, one that influences pretty much every
other aspect from finances to leisure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Dane and I got
married, we agreed to let God make that decision for us. We did not use birth
control but we also didn’t plan our “intimate times” around my fertility cycle.
It was scary to think that every unitive act between my husband and I could
change our lives as we knew them, but there is also a beauty in trusting God
with that decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Knowing that every
time we made love could possibly lead to the creation of our child, a brand new
life, made every act so much more meaningful. I remember sitting there
wondering afterwards if this was the time that we had (with God’s hand of
course) conceived a baby. It was a scary at first, but then when I got my
period after our first month as a married couple, I couldn’t help but be disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cried and Dane had to remind me that since we
agreed to be open to life, we had to welcome life WHEN God wanted it. That
month had not been our time to conceive and we had to trust that God would
decide when that time would be. I didn’t have to wait very long after that
because our daughter was conceived two weeks later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we have more children and the stresses of life start
taking their toll on us, I’m not sure Dane and I will be as open to life as we
are now. I know it will get tougher to say yes to God’s plan as we worry about
providing for the children we already have. But I also know that God doesn’t
give you things you can’t handle and if He blesses us with a child He will give
us the means to provide for it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
it’s during those tough times that we will have to turn to our Mother Mary and
ask her for the grace to gladly accept God’s will, just as she did when the
angel Gabriel appeared to her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-16484189914558873862014-03-05T11:59:00.002-08:002014-03-05T11:59:23.473-08:00You Are Dirt and You Will Always Be Dirt <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is Ash Wednesday which means mass, ashes, fasting and
the beginning of Lenten penances! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually I’d be
grouchy by this time of the day, but since I’m pregnant I don’t have to fast which
means I’m in a surprisingly good mood. It’s not like I’m indulging in sweets
and junk food. I packed a meat free lunch and I’m having boring foods which
include: bread and peanut butter, a banana, a can of tuna, an orange, bread
with margarine, an apple, chopped vegetables, a yogurt, a container of cottage
cheese, raisins, almonds, vegetable juice and boring “healthy” crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For supper, I’m making mac and cheese using a
Velveeta loaf and a side salad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TIqfR3A5dxO-hp2Q0tNlINh59dukICsAEJS-JAr39WiO8zRadI1HWkUKsBQOayfPlVOxDdeus0n6RVW6ul8RVxCvbxcFYBwjTrs8Wp5H4ginBdTIYdx63jSaYVd2hbMSACVRC0X9Ch1D/s1600/ash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TIqfR3A5dxO-hp2Q0tNlINh59dukICsAEJS-JAr39WiO8zRadI1HWkUKsBQOayfPlVOxDdeus0n6RVW6ul8RVxCvbxcFYBwjTrs8Wp5H4ginBdTIYdx63jSaYVd2hbMSACVRC0X9Ch1D/s1600/ash.png" height="306" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That folks is what eating for two looks like. Considering I couldn’t
stomach anything during my first trimester I’m trying not to feel guilty for having
become a culinary vacuum. But then I get texts like this from my husband, and I
start to feel like I’m not being very pious. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUzC1lUVwO8F2xxCWRaooS6PqvJvKb_JGNcsh90TVJp1if2i3ZHqunCWhSKbhhATVucpgXyUPoyGZMYEK_S8bYvUdwSY0qmTUZA4GzNpeAhIV78h5W0nOTryLA601Nw05GiKBi5FDNgqg/s1600/fast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUzC1lUVwO8F2xxCWRaooS6PqvJvKb_JGNcsh90TVJp1if2i3ZHqunCWhSKbhhATVucpgXyUPoyGZMYEK_S8bYvUdwSY0qmTUZA4GzNpeAhIV78h5W0nOTryLA601Nw05GiKBi5FDNgqg/s1600/fast.png" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So after I’m done my Ash Wednesday “feasting”, my husband I
are going to Church to receive our ashes. I’m kind of excited because we didn’t
get a service last year and so I didn’t get to walk around with dirt on my
forehead. Thankfully, Father very casually decided that we would have a service
at 7 pm. The decision came during his homily on Sunday when he asked if people
would show up for the service, and parishioners nodded, and the decision was
settled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of receiving ashes, I remember my aunt telling us a
particularly funny story about a little boy going to an Ash Wednesday Service.
When they questioned him about what the priest said when he received the ashes,
the little boy responded “You are dirt and you will always be dirt”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they don’t say that (they say: “<span class="st">Remember that </span></span><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">you are dust</span></em><span class="st"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and unto dust you shall return.”) but I still laugh every year imagining
the priest telling me I’m dirt. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But today is not all about ashes and “feasting”, it also
means that I need to begin my Lenten penance. After a lot of thought I’ve decided
on two things for Lent, (well actually three but the third is iffy). First, I’m
going to give up an half an hour of sleep every day in order to clean the
house. So instead of sleeping in, I’m going to wake up and clean the kitchen or
vacuum or just tidy up. Today I managed to clean the bathroom which I think is
pretty good considering I am not a morning person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I’m grumpy and tired, I can try to
remember that I’m suffering alongside Christ. But the good thing is its not
needless suffering because my house will be clean which means I get to spend more
quality time with my husband on weekends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, I’m going to say a rosary every day. I
find my devotion to Mary (who leads us to Jesus) has been lacking lately and I
think the rosary is the perfect way to get back in touch with her. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third Lenten penance is iffy since I don’t
know how tempted I will be, but I’m tentatively giving up sweets because that’s
what my husband gave up. I feel like it would be unfair to eat sweets in front
of him BUT my cravings during pregnancy seem to be donuts, chocolate pudding
and chocolate. That means that I may or may not (probably not) be successful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So that marks the beginning of Lent 2014 for me! I hope
everyone is having a good Ash Wednesday and for those fasting out there,
remember catholic fasting is one regular meal and two small meals that do not equate the regular
meal (don't starve yourself). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-16588240822326477552014-02-28T13:29:00.003-08:002014-02-28T13:54:38.970-08:007 (Relatively) Quick Takes – About Moving, Napping, Food, Kijiji and Boots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gb0W0fVlOa8mUNLDTD9BFdME-dTBjDQaxnJzzWRBxpIwq4UjDGga7FWcjuSn2qXnQThKrb2t4bC7cda2b4NNLFsdKBkGbm378hDcW9gWbcKlgCySXJGjMqHtvpDNC8Tu7MYtkZn7rIm7/s1600/7_quick_takes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Gb0W0fVlOa8mUNLDTD9BFdME-dTBjDQaxnJzzWRBxpIwq4UjDGga7FWcjuSn2qXnQThKrb2t4bC7cda2b4NNLFsdKBkGbm378hDcW9gWbcKlgCySXJGjMqHtvpDNC8Tu7MYtkZn7rIm7/s1600/7_quick_takes.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">--1--<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">The Brason’s are moving!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">After a winter of spending close to $700.00 a month on ONLY heating
(oil is soooo expensive, never EVER move into a house heated on oil), Dane and
I have decided that it’s time to find a new place before the baby comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent a week looking at places for rent
near where we live, but none of them would be practical for a little crawler.
So after some discussions and some tears, we’ve decided to move back to the
east end of town to be close to our parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since Dane is now working with my dad and I’m about to go on maternity
leave for a year, we no longer needed to be situated in the west end. We signed
the rental agreement last week and we will be moving into a cute little 3
bedroom townhouse at the end of April. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">I’m excited to be moving into a house that functions better
for us (not to mention having an en-suite and walk-in closet) but I’m not
looking forward to moving while pregnant. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My belly gets in the way of everything AND I’m
not allowed to lift anything so I’m really hoping to get lots of help with the
packing (*cough cough* sisters). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
I will also miss our 1 acre lot, having no traffic, the country roads and the
people at our parish, but I know this decision is for the best. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">--2--</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Napping at Work<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">I wish they had a nap room at work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working full time and being pregnant is taking
A LOT out of me. I would nap during my lunch break but there are not private
spots for me to sleep and it’s freezing outside so I can’t go sleep in my car. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Most of the people I work with have never been pregnant
before (because they are men), so I get very little sympathy for my condition
AND I’m pretty sure if they caught me sleeping at my desk I would get
fired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make matters worse, my tiny
bundle of joy has decided that she likes to practice her karate moves in the
middle of the night which is keeping me up. Between the kicks, getting up to
take half a bottle of tums, and going to pee 8 times a night, let’s just say I’m
not getting the beauty sleep I need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hope I find a solution to this soon because I’m about to turn into a zombie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfS5YkdpjSh045Qz2q8SdtzFdSb_YzBx6V1gqSZ8L67bqzewBQ5VgcOSVgW8CAZ1FYy4N1ykUVM6sbaGUNu5zj-Vlirdhg2YCRWyZ188xIT3NJmSg3xU5sBhtKEeJDfwHD4a-MrYCvR1l/s1600/cat+sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfS5YkdpjSh045Qz2q8SdtzFdSb_YzBx6V1gqSZ8L67bqzewBQ5VgcOSVgW8CAZ1FYy4N1ykUVM6sbaGUNu5zj-Vlirdhg2YCRWyZ188xIT3NJmSg3xU5sBhtKEeJDfwHD4a-MrYCvR1l/s1600/cat+sleeping.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">--3--<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Salmon Cakes<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Now that I’m no longer repulsed by food ( thank you second
trimester) I’ve been trying lots of new recipes in the hopes of adding some
variety to our boring old menu list. I think I’ve been doing a great job (though
I could be biased because I want to eat EVERYTHING lately), but the recipe I’m
proudest of are my salmon cakes. Dane HATES fish and so I feel bad every time I
cook it because he eats it like I’m serving him a plate of worms. However, the
salmon cakes I made on Tuesday night were a HUGE hit. My husband actually said “MMMM”
and he ate one of my portions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially you mix crackers, 2 cans of canned
salmon (bones and all) egg and onions together. Press them into patties, coat
them with flour and fry them in a pan for about 10 minutes. I served mine with
garlic aioli which seemed to give them the extra flavor they need. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">--4--</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Dinner<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxia7XiYVAhAWPbtFbVVD7aRf1Url4h6qTAvYnqHY6qeDm7JixgHgJcGvLctzNja8m1x_AuurosFP_K4of6VIzMWENMeTbGB-VriylhxHrtSf88BpfND1jt2CuiE64VSy_J0kNojJWPFAM/s1600/pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxia7XiYVAhAWPbtFbVVD7aRf1Url4h6qTAvYnqHY6qeDm7JixgHgJcGvLctzNja8m1x_AuurosFP_K4of6VIzMWENMeTbGB-VriylhxHrtSf88BpfND1jt2CuiE64VSy_J0kNojJWPFAM/s1600/pancakes.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">It’s Shrove Tuesday next week and that means that Catholics/Christians
everywhere will be going to their parish hall and stuffing themselves silly
with pancakes, sausages and syrup. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
NEVER heard of this tradition until I started dating Dane and I thought it was
so weird. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s because I’m French Canadian
and this is just not something that we do, or it could be because I never
really paid attention to the church events around me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I decided to look into it and the
reasoning behind the tradition makes total sense. Shrove Tuesday is the day
before Ash Wednesday which means the beginning of Lent, a time of penance and
fasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, everyone wanted to get rid of
their rich foods (cream, milk, sugar, etc…) before Lent started and so, the
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper began. If you ask me though, I would have a
Shrove Tuesday Steak and Shrimp dinner because that seems a lot more indulgent
then pancakes, but I guess our ancestors didn’t have access to those foods. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">--5--<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Lent “Resolutions”
???<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Speaking of Lent, I’ve been putting some thought into what to
give up. Since I can’t fast from food I also have to think of what I should
fast from on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. So far the only thing I’ve come up
with is Facebook/ Twitter. I’ve also thought of fasting from smoking, drinking
and casual drug taking, but I don’t do those things anyways so I don’t think it
would count. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone has any
suggestions please let me know or else it’s looking like I’m going to be MIA
from social media websites (and every friend I have on Facebook is now
cheering). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">--6--<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">A Day in the Life of
Boots <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTSw11f4dJ_qwLDDNofsiwy6ySGX3MPm9pYilIWc2YOHXR1lxYHvd8NrjmIpg9w1G0zGVDn-7AZ3CNmtcFYjTTf4ZJ_fWpNtGlSPyGD2JNFHYJtJxQbaYiexCUgsMvyM6HMCHzHhuE3JK/s1600/boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTSw11f4dJ_qwLDDNofsiwy6ySGX3MPm9pYilIWc2YOHXR1lxYHvd8NrjmIpg9w1G0zGVDn-7AZ3CNmtcFYjTTf4ZJ_fWpNtGlSPyGD2JNFHYJtJxQbaYiexCUgsMvyM6HMCHzHhuE3JK/s1600/boots.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Boots, our cat, has gotten very clingy lately. I mean she
was always clingy but the past few weeks, she’s taken it to a whole other
level. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like I can’t do anything
without her following me. I’m hoping that maybe moving into the new house will
make her more independent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Lately, this has been her everyday routine. In the morning
she wakes up at the same time as Dane and follows him around the house until he
leaves. AS SOON, as I hear the door close, she is in bed with me either
sleeping in Dane’s spot or on me. Then she whines when my alarm clock goes off
(and doesn’t let me snooze), until I get up and go to the bathroom. I have to
leave the door open when I shower, and she sits on the bath mat waiting for me.
When I get out of the shower, she runs to the bedroom and watches while I do my
hair, get dressed, etc… The only time she leaves me alone is when I’m blow
drying my hair, because she hates loud noises. During that time she runs around
the house like a maniac and when I turn the blow dryer off she comes running in
the room panting and out of breath. Then she cries when I leave for work and I
can see her doing those sad eyes (like Puss In Boots from Shrek) from the
window. When I get home she is waiting for me at the door and follows me so
closely I almost trip on her. She watches me cook supper and whines for
attention and then she goes to do cat stuff for about two hours (which includes
sleeping, secretly playing with her toys and flirting with the cat that lives
next door). When she reappears, she tries to sit on my belly as I’m watching
television and then around 10 PM she goes to the bedroom and waits for us to
turn on the humidifier. (She loves the humidifier and can stare at it for
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still haven’t figured out
why.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes she will get into bed with
us right away, other times; she will go play and comes back within an hour. She
will then sleep in our bed until Dane gets up and repeat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">--7--</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">The Kijiji Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Since we are moving soon, are poor and are in need of some
new furniture, I’ve been looking to Kjiji in order to find some nice used
pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be honest, there is lots of
junk on Kijiji, but if you are patient and scroll through 14 pages, you can
sometimes get lucky. So far, I’ve been able to get a nice little 3 drawer
dresser for the baby’s room and a cute white rocking chair that barely needs
any work done to it. I spent $30 on each of the items, and I’m really happy
with what I got. Next up on the Kijiji challenge, a television and a TV stand
for Dane’s “caveman” as my dad would say (because he’s French and sometimes gets
expressions confused).</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-88701930754169546962014-02-18T10:46:00.002-08:002014-02-18T10:47:51.583-08:0010 Annoying Things Your Hear From Cafeteria Catholics<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJ-wa79ksPXTELCq1VjJGqpCvXcFbpFT6IPNKPjDc-753VuUqbxbllVR6Y0yCpuFxhaeO1QjaBrSIqV_CH1xdedchvFmmf5zCULCKO8IU5WpFxknOwy-BETIVnd2_K0u2lnecA3-Umsjr/s1600/cafeteria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJ-wa79ksPXTELCq1VjJGqpCvXcFbpFT6IPNKPjDc-753VuUqbxbllVR6Y0yCpuFxhaeO1QjaBrSIqV_CH1xdedchvFmmf5zCULCKO8IU5WpFxknOwy-BETIVnd2_K0u2lnecA3-Umsjr/s1600/cafeteria.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think we all of us
know at least one cafeteria Catholic. Some of them are our friends, family
members and fellow parishioners. These are people who identify as catholic but
yet don’t seem to follow anything that the Catholic Church teaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pick and choose elements from the
catholic faith that work for them and reject the teachings that are too hard to
follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of these individuals are grossly under-catechized,
and so in the hopes of educating some of the cafeteria Catholics in my life, I
put together 10 false ideas that seem to be common with these individuals. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I personally would never get an abortion,
but I believe that every woman should have the right to choose.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By saying you would never get one yourself, you are proving
that you recognize the value of that unborn life. Having said that, would you
knowingly let a woman kill her newborn child? Probably not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why would you sit idly by, and let a woman
kill the life that you clearly see as worthy of value, whether that life is in
your womb, or another woman’s womb or out of the womb? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My husband and I use contraception because
we don’t believe the Church should be telling us how many children we should
have.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church is not telling you how many children to have. God
is. And part of having faith, is trusting that God will not give you more than
you handle. Furthermore, there are natural methods of planning pregnancies that
are recognized and encouraged by the Catholic Church, namely Natural Family
Planning (which is actually just as effective-if not more-than the birth
control pill). </span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
just don’t see the problem with homosexual marriage. They love each other, so
they should have the right to get married. Didn’t Jesus tell us to love each
other?” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Christ came to earth, he permanently established
marriage as a sacrament between a man and a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of marriage is twofold. First, by
joining together in a covenant, man and wife become each other’s vocations, in
other words they will lead each other to heaven. Second, through their
sacramental love, a new life is conceived (a reflection of the Holy Trinity).
Since two men and two women, do not have the physical attributes necessary to
conceive a child, it is unnatural for them to be united in the covenant of
marriage because the twofold purpose will never fully be achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s keep in mind however, that even if the
marital act does not end in the conception of a child, the act is still
sacramental as it has the possibility to create a new life, without that
possibility, the act is invalid. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I don’t need to go to confession because
God knows all my sins and forgives them without me having to tell a priest
everything. It’s not like the priest needs to forgive my sins.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During his public ministry, Jesus himself forgave sins (the
story of the adulterous woman, the story of the woman washing his feet with her
tears), so clearly we should be asking God for forgiveness when we sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus himself also established Confession as
a sacrament. He gave the apostles authority to act in persona Christi (in Jesus’
Name) and that authority is passed down through the Church to all priests. When
you go to confession the priests acts as Jesus, therefore it’s not the priest
forgiving your sins it’s Jesus himself! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Only God can judge me” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are absolutely right, only God can judge you. However,
God left us some pretty firm rules as to what we will be judged on. When you
break one of those rules, it is our Christian duty to point out, with love, that
you have done something wrong. Also, God being your sole judge is not an excuse
for bad behavior. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I think that if you are a good person, and
you do good things then you don’t need to go to church every Sunday and follow
every rule to get to heaven.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I had one of those game show buttons that make an “EERRR”
sound, I’d press it every time I hear this. First, Jesus said that the only way
to the Father (i.e. heaven) is through Him. Cool, so to go to heaven you just
need to believe in Jesus? Well that’s true, but you also need to listen to what
He says and follow His commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
unfortunately, just being a good person and doing good things does not buy you
a one way ticket to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good
news is that Jesus left us a Church to guide us so that it can help us know
what to do to get into heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We were both raised catholic and still
consider ourselves catholic, but we won’t be baptising our children because we
don’t want to impose a religion on them. We want them to choose by themselves.”
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are telling me this, than you better be bringing your
kids to church, to temple, to the mosque, etc.. How can your kids choose if you
are not exposing them to any type of religion? Sure you don’t want to impose
religion on your kids, because they might feel suffocated by it, but it is your
duty as a catholic parent to raise your kids according to the teachings of the
Church. By having your child baptized, you are ridding him/her of original sin
and letting God give this baby all these spiritual graces in order to help them
grow in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why wouldn’t you want
that from the very beginning of your child’s life? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Women should definitely be allowed to
become priests. I mean men and women are equal.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church definitely views men
and women as equals. However, just like all humans have different vocations,
God has called men and women to have different purposes/roles within the
church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Married men are called to be the
head of the household and to lead their wife and children to God. Married women
are called to let their husband lead their household and support their
decisions. And so, just like married men and women, men and women who choose
the consecrated life are called to different purposes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consecrated men are called to priesthood in
order to lead the church community, and consecrated women are called to support
the church through prayer and acts of charity. Both of these purposes are very
different but equally as important within the church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My fiancé and I are getting married in a
catholic church because that’s where our parents expect us to get married.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you don’t participate or
believe in what the Catholic Church teaches, then please don’t get married in a
catholic church. The catholic sacrament of matrimony is so much bigger than a
quick ceremony at city hall. The sacrament binds you with that other person for
the rest of your life. From the moment you say your vows, God will see you and
your spouse as ONE person. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why
the Catholic Church requires that couples take pre-cana classes before they get
married. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, if you don’t
understand the immense significance of a catholic marriage, don’t get married
in a catholic church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, you can
always get your marriage blessed by the Church if you come to understand its
true meaning one day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We take communion to remember what Jesus
did at the Last Supper. It’s more symbolic than anything else.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was going to answer this, but I think this verse from John
6: 53 – 66, answers it way better than I ever could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">53 </span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. <sup>54 </sup>Whoever
eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at
the last day. <sup>55 </sup>For my flesh is real food and my blood is real
drink. <sup>56 </sup>Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in
me, and I in them. <sup>57 </sup>Just as the living Father sent me and I
live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
<sup>58 </sup>This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors
ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” <sup>59 </sup>He
said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">60 </span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who
can accept it?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">61 </span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does
this offend you? <sup>62 </sup>Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend
to where he was before! <sup>63 </sup>The Spirit gives life; the flesh
counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206#fen-NIV-26321e" title="See footnote e"><span style="color: blue;">e</span></a>]</sup> and life. <sup>64 </sup>Yet
there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the
beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. <sup>65 </sup>He
went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the
Father has enabled them.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">66 </span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed
him.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-79865242790129024172014-02-12T10:50:00.001-08:002014-02-12T10:50:10.683-08:00"Jesus I Trust in You" is Easier Said Than Done
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uvN4tA5ZTRPdRKfj1e3cuvXUDpFW4QB_IhLcAlDSjJDXYzw6QuxjPXTbESDHP6ROwisiHOPYdbMR1IKvrVBsTjfTBwZ8_2cSd0xIIVOZp26WdhFpIbmrPbCioUSEujr89KeQnQoOD134/s1600/trust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uvN4tA5ZTRPdRKfj1e3cuvXUDpFW4QB_IhLcAlDSjJDXYzw6QuxjPXTbESDHP6ROwisiHOPYdbMR1IKvrVBsTjfTBwZ8_2cSd0xIIVOZp26WdhFpIbmrPbCioUSEujr89KeQnQoOD134/s1600/trust.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love the Divine
Mercy Devotion, from St. Faustina’s Diary to the Novena and Chaplet; I believe
this is a devotion every Catholic should hold dear to their heart! For those
that are not familiar with it, I strongly urge you to look into it and get a
copy of St. Faustina’s Diary. The truths revealed in it are contemporary,
catholic-church approved, answers to today’s decaying sense of morals and
values. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think part of the
reason that a lot of people end up liking this devotion so much is because in
times where everything just sucks, it’s nice to know that you can trust in Jesus
and know that He will help you get through everything. And as a general rule,
when things don’t work out like I want them, I’m able to breathe and say “Jesus,
I trust in you”, which usually makes me feel better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But sometimes, I feel
as though Jesus hears me saying that I trust Him, and He asks me to prove it.
It’s as though telling Him I trust Him, is an invitation to let Him give me
opportunities to trust Him even more. And that’s where you have to truly give
yourself over to Him, and not just say that you trust Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I try to think of it
as a trust fall with God. If I stop myself before landing in my partners arms,
the exercise is not completed and I’ve just proved that I don’t trust the
person who is going to be catching me. However, if I let myself fall into the
other person’s arms, I have given my trust completely over to them and I’ve let
them decide what will happen next (either I fall or they catch me). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with God, we don’t need to worry that He
will drop us, because He has guaranteed, through Christ’s passion and
resurrection, that He will ALWAYS catch us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, it’s hard
to remember that. For my husband and I, we have to work hard every day to
remember to trust Him. From having financial worries, to determining if we will
use natural family planning, there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t
struggle to let ourselves fall into God’s arms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part of the blame, definitely
needs to be put on today’s society which urges us to take control of everything
right down to bringing new life into the world. However, Romans 12:2 reminds us
that we need to be in the world but not of the world. As Christians we need to
remember that even if society/ the rest of the world is doing it a certain way,
we as Christians need to do it Christ’s way. And Christ’s way, means trusting
Him with every aspect of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Handing everything
over to Him, does not happen in one fell swoop. It’s an exercise that needs to
be repeated every day for the rest of our lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, situations where we need to trust
Him are obvious but others aren’t as clear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that as long as we try to make Christ
the center of our lives, we’ll be able to see where we are lacking when it
comes to putting are trust in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So next time you know
you need to trust God, but you are having a hard time giving it all over, just
remember that after the initial fear of the fall, you’ll be falling into the
arms of someone who loves you so much, he already gave up His life for you. I
don’t know about you, but I couldn’t think of a better person whose arms to
fall into. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-74681204151651519822014-02-11T08:45:00.001-08:002014-02-11T08:45:28.839-08:00What My Parents Did Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFqqpFYc5LR7sHA4pzOc38dozHf44ryB5LNIk2yMhhANa3NraLKxW94Qm1aUM8KNFzXbnYvNFoR9uVNXB0vD_-IcYuOSPc_D_zOITIW3gaV70maYM4BZxXl5XcMz9q7v-OtVJyiIoSQMr/s1600/parents.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFqqpFYc5LR7sHA4pzOc38dozHf44ryB5LNIk2yMhhANa3NraLKxW94Qm1aUM8KNFzXbnYvNFoR9uVNXB0vD_-IcYuOSPc_D_zOITIW3gaV70maYM4BZxXl5XcMz9q7v-OtVJyiIoSQMr/s1600/parents.png" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Becoming a parent is scary. From which car seat is safest to
what school you will be sending your children to, there are so many
opportunities for you to mess up. As Dane and I prepare to welcome our baby
into the world, there have been moments of fear, frustration and excitement. We
are trying to develop a parenting style, agree on how to raise our children and
set up rules without even knowing the little people that God will be blessing
us with. Sure we can decide that we don’t want technology ruling our house, but
how will it really be once the baby comes? And as this baby grows, will we make
the right decisions, will we have set the correct rules and will we be able to
do all that without losing our relationship with that child? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All these worries have made me empathize with my parents.
Sure they didn’t do everything perfect but I think they did pretty darn well
under the circumstances. At 23 years old, I’m married to a nice catholic man,
we go to church every Sunday, we are involved in our parish and we always try
to keep the Lord at the center of relationship. I call my mom every day, and my
husband works with my dad so we are very close to my parents. We go visit my
in-laws (or they visit us) about twice a month and we often send each other
emails and texts just to check in. We’re not rich, but we try not to place too
much value on material goods and we are not irresponsible with our money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I look at some of the people I was friends with in high
school and wonder how we turned out so different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These girls are single, sleeping around with
different guys, going clubbing 3 different nights a week and posting some
really provocative pictures of themselves on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the same school as these girls, we
were raised in similar middle-class families in the same town, with the same
influences and yet we are polar opposites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And although you could say that we have different personalities, that
our college years were formative and we did not live them out the same way, I
have to give the credit to my parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My parents made incredible sacrifices to guarantee that my
sisters and I would be raised correctly. My mother gave up her dreams in order
to stay home with us and my dad worked insane hours to be able to provide
financially. We were not rich but our house was full of love and I never felt
like we were going without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents
brought us to church every Sunday and taught us everything they knew about
having a relationship with God. They took time out of their schedules to
volunteer for the church and gave back as much as they could. My mom and dad
never hid their love for each other, sure they would fight, but I never doubted
how much they cared for one another. They taught my sisters and I that great
relationships are not something that just happens, they need to be worked on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we turned into teenagers, my parents set up rules to keep
us safe and out of trouble. I remember hating my curfew and limitations but
then I’d hear the things my friends got up to when I was stuck at home and I
would be glad I missed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the
rebellious stages, my parents always kept the lines of communication open.
Sure, I didn’t tell them everything, but knowing that if something happened
they would be there, made me feel a lot better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eventually, I stopped being a rebellious teenager and turned
into a young adult. That was probably the most difficult transition for me as I
was trying to find out who I was. I tried different things, made some very poor
decisions and when life had kicked me around a little bit; I would crawl back
to my parents knowing that they would fix everything and take care of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the nice thing was that they let me make
those decisions, even though I know it hurt them to let me go. I needed to
learn, and I was old enough that they could trust that eventually I would
figure it out on my own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After moving out, getting married and getting pregnant, I
see how difficult it will be to be a parent. Taking care of yourself is
difficult, taking care of yourself and your spouse is even harder, but taking
care of yourself, your spouse and these little people who are dependent on you
for everything is almost impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My parents did an amazing job with me. They were dealt some
very difficult hands in life, and yet I look at my childhood and think “This is
what I want for my kids”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to
always keep Christ at the center of my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to adapt my parenting style according to my kids’ ages and
maturity levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to show my kids
love, even when they make terrible decisions. I want to punish my kids when
they do something wrong. I want to set up rules to protect my children, even
when those rules seemed dated or out of style and even when ALL the other kids
are allowed to do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m willing to sacrifice my dreams so that I can raise my
kids properly and give them everything my parents gave to me. Sure, Dane and I
will inevitably screw up every once in a while. But as long as we can give them
a childhood similar to ours, I think they will turn out alright and one day,
want the same for their own kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-59411764386044791812014-02-09T18:22:00.001-08:002014-03-05T13:21:46.745-08:00The Plates are Flying in the Brason House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
"Argue as much as you like, even if the plates fly that is fine, but never end the day without making peace,” - Pope Francis<br />
<br />
They say that the first year of marriage is the toughest. I think that I can agree with that statement. Dane and I have been married for a little under 6 months, and we’ve never argued as much as we have since we said I do. From cleaning, to family, to just plain silliness, we’ve sat there and bickered about it for hours, sometimes days even. There are some issues that we argue about once and others that keep popping up. We argue at home, in public, while out with friends, at the grocery store, in the car, at church, pretty much everywhere.<br />
<br />
Sometimes things are thrown and voices are raised. Sometimes we just plain yell at each other. Sometimes we argue because one of us is crabby and just wants to pick a good fight. Sometimes one of us threatens to sleep in the guest bedroom (which has yet to actually happen). Sometimes fights end casually with no resolution because both of us just forget what we were arguing about. Other times, fights end with me crying in the bathroom as Dane knocks on the door begging me to come and both us making promises to change our behaviors.<br />
<br />
Dane and I dated for 2 years and lived together for 9 months, before we got married and even though we argued sometimes, things got worse after we tied the knot. It’s as if the thought of being together for the rest of our lives, released our real, no holds barred, personalities. I would love to tell my naïve, engaged –self that even if I kept telling everyone we would be fine and things wouldn’t change that much, it wouldn’t make it true. I think that’s something every engaged couple needs to believe though. Because without the illusion that “Our marriage will be different”, no one would ever get married.<br />
<br />
I know things aren’t going to get any easier either because in 5 months we are going to have a baby, Dane is changing jobs, and we are going down to one salary. These are all incredibly stressful life events, and are bound to spark a few (or a lot) of arguments.<br />
<br />
It’s no surprise to hear that most marriages end in the first 5 years. Those are big stressful years for most married couples. Not only are you trying to adjust to this other person being in your life, but you buy your first house together, you have kids and you worry about money. Most of these things will warrant an argument or two, from silly things to where you will put the bread in your house (the pantry, a basket, the bread cupboard) to serious things like how you will raise your children.<br />
<br />
Because the truth of the matter is that you are two different people, from two different families, coming together and trying to make decisions about the most important things in life, while respecting both individual’s viewpoints. Moreover, you are bound together for life, so any decision from financial to minimal will directly affect your partner. That means that every single decision needs to be analyzed and discussed with your partner whether it’s something small like inviting people for supper or something big like buying a new car. And sometimes, even if you are well-suited for each other and you agree on key things like values and religion, your partner will disagree with you and you will end up fighting about what decision to make.<br />
<br />
I think it’s crucial for newly married couples to admit how much they fight and to share it with others. I want my engaged friends to know how difficult marriage truly is even if they don’t listen to me. Because some day, they will be arguing with their husband or wife ALL THE TIME and I want them to know that this is NORMAL.<br />
<br />
There are 2 reasons a newly married couple would not be fighting. Either one party is being walked all over OR they have emotionally disconnected themselves from the relationship and so they don’t care about the outcome of decisions anymore.<br />
<br />
I know some of you are reading this and think this will not apply to you because you’ve been with your boyfriend or girlfriend for x amount of years and you know them better than yourself. However, there seems to be something about the idea that you will be with someone FOREVER that seems to bring out the worst in people, if you let it that is.<br />
<br />
Before we got married, Dane and I had pre-marital counselling, we read relationship books together, and we abstained from any physical relations all in the hopes of getting to know each other on a deeper level. We wanted to make sure that we would avoid all the arguing, but sometimes you have to argue in order to get to know one another better.<br />
<br />
Although we do argue a lot, as long as it doesn’t ever get physical and we both refrain from saying things we can’t take back, I think it’s just another aspect of being newlyweds. Some aspects of being newly married are great ;), and others just suck (like figuring out who will clean the toilet) but ALL of them are bringing us closer together and strengthening our relationship.<br />
<br />
Yes, some days I think my husband is being stupid, or selfish or just completely irrational and I’m sure he thinks the same about me. But as much as we fight, at the end of the day before I fall asleep, I can still kiss my husband goodnight and know in my heart that I love him more today than I did yesterday.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-76641869545340744532014-02-01T18:09:00.002-08:002014-02-12T11:19:23.221-08:00Why I am Dreading My Baby Shower … Just A Little Bit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ungrateful for my family hosting the shower or my family and friends coming over and showering me with gifts. I am so touched that my family and friends care about me that much that they want to celebrate our little miracle coming into the world. So why would I dread my baby shower?<br />
<br />
It’s a long story but to begin, as someone who is pro-life I want to make sure that I’m sending the right message out there: Having a baby is affordable. However, in today’s society, it’s almost an inconceivable thought to try to have a minimalist approach to bringing a child into the world. The way I see it, this baby doesn’t need much, and I can make do without most of the gadgets first time moms usually purchase or receive. Sure there are some things I will need, like a crib and a changing pad and a stroller. There are also things I would like to have like a nice glider with a matching ottoman, or an ERGO baby carrier. But, those two things are not necessities and should not take precedence over things my child will truly needs like diapers. And so, with that in mind, I’ve put together a list of items that myself and other moms have deemed “necessary” and I’ll do my best to avoid purchasing things that are not on this list.<br />
<br />
Before people started warning me about waiting until the baby shower to buy things, I just thought of the baby shower as a time before the birth of the baby to get together with family and friends. We would play games, eat some cake and have a great afternoon. But now it seems as though I’m forcing people to get me gifts. I HATE that, because I’m not a gift grubby person. I don’t expect people to get me presents and it makes me feel as though my husband and I are some sort of charity case.<br />
<br />
What really bothers me the most is that even if I don’t expect people to get us presents, I know they will. However, I am extremely worried about getting items I will never use. There are a lot of baby items that are very personal, like a stroller. I need something agile enough to get around on unpaved trails, but not so heavy that I can’t lift it. Even if I pick out my perfect stroller, I’m concerned someone will purchase a lovely stroller I’m sure, but not the one that works best for me and my family. Another example would be receiving 100 different outfits which are all the same size. My child will only be that size for a limited amount of time and I do not want to have 100 outfits that are all worn once, if that. I’m just so worried about receiving too many things that will stay in my house untouched and unused until I finally get the energy to donate them or sell them online.<br />
<br />
All those worries have lead me to decide to register for the shower. This was a hard decision to make BUT I feel that in this situation it is necessary. As a general rule, I hate registries because it can be viewed as saying: “You must get me something, and I will limit your choices to ridiculously expensive things”. However, in this case I’m hoping it will convey: “ If you must get us something (and it’s not necessary that you do), please consider choosing something from our carefully selected list of necessary baby equipment.” The way I see it, we will have to buy these items regardless of if we receive them at the shower or not. By purchasing something from our list, our friends and family will not only facilitate our transition into parenthood BUT will also avoid me the gruelling task of sorting through endless amounts of items we won’t need.<br />
<br />
Please don’t think I’m kidding myself thinking that everyone will purchase from our registry. More than likely, some will avoid the list like the plague and purchase something I unexpectedly love. However, the registry will allow me to somewhat control the amount of things we receive and subsequently the amount of wastefulness.<br />
<br />
So to my friends and family who are planning or attending my baby shower. Thank you so much for caring enough about this little life in my belly to be part of this special day with us. Your sheer presence is enough, but if you feel the need to bring a gift with you, please consider choosing something from our registry. The items we have selected are all items we feel will be required in the coming year and will be put to good use. We love you and are so blessed to have you all in our lives.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-76988223284777118672014-02-01T18:02:00.003-08:002014-02-01T19:03:00.974-08:00Are You a Mary or A Martha?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><br /></b>
<b>Luke 10:38-42</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>38</b> As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.<b> 39</b> She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. <b>40 </b>But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”<br />
<b>41</b> “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, <b>42</b> but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”<br />
<br />
Whenever God needs to put things into perspective for me, He will usually find a way for me to read the story of Mary and Martha. I’ll be sitting at church and it will be the Gospel for that Sunday, or I’ll stumble upon it while reading the Bible or someone will mention it on the radio. Most of us have heard this story a million times. We all know that while Mary, is sitting and listening to Jesus, Martha is too busy with her house work to sit down and do the same. After all, I’m sure she had supper to make because Jesus just dropped by (I always wonder if he was unannounced), and her house might have been messy so she needed to tidy up. After running around for a while she goes up to Jesus and asks Him to get Mary to come help her with the house work. But instead, Jesus reminds Martha that Mary is not worried about all this stuff and has decided to spend time with Him and listen to Him because He is what is most important.<br />
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I am a Martha and if Jesus dropped by my house I’d more than likely be doing the same thing. However, my husband would be sitting in the living room, having a beer with Jesus and just chatting away. He wouldn't think twice about the way the house looks, or getting supper ready or any of that. I know this because every time we have company over that is exactly what happens. Sometimes, I’m resentful, just like Martha, because I have all these things to do and I feel like I’m the only one who a) does them and b) cares about doing them. But I’m slowly learning that as I’m cooking and cleaning and generally just being a perfectionist about everything, life is still happening around me. From household duties, to parish responsibilities, to personal preferences, these things are eating up time that could be better spent with my family and with God.<br />
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I’m not saying give up on cooking and cleaning, but I am saying that maybe the house doesn't ALWAYS need to be spotless. My mom used to clean once a day when we were little, if you came by before or after that, more than likely the house was a mess again. Maybe the things I do for others can be well done, but they don’t need to be PERFECT. I don’t want to be that mom who is absent from her kids lives because she is too busy keeping house. When my kids are making a mess I want to be there with them helping them make it.<br />
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I think that as women, we need to balance what society tells us our house should look like and what our heart/ our Bible tells us. My priorities should be God and people –centered, not materialistically centered. So what if someone comes by and my floors are not swept, or the dishes aren’t done? Instead of racing around and ignoring my guest, I should be spending time with them. Or instead of doing laundry late at night, I could be spending that time in prayer.<br />
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I know I’ll never completely be a Mary, and I have to work hard every day to stop myself from being a total Martha. I think that finding a balance between them is really is key. Like Martha, I’ll keep my house relatively clean, worry when I need to, and take care of my family, but like Mary, I’ll know what’s important in life and not let the little things take precedence over God and my family. And when I fall off center, I know God will bring me right back by reminding me of the story of Mary and Martha.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-10852921790849620102014-02-01T17:59:00.001-08:002014-02-01T19:02:19.873-08:00Evangelization and a Cup of Coffee<div style="text-align: center;">
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Often times, we think that evangelization, is harder and more complicated than it actually is. We think that in order to speak about Jesus, we have to read thousands of books have all the answers and be a little bit pushy. When thinking about evangelizing that way, it’s easy to assume that we should just leave that task to the professionals. However, speaking about our faith should be something we do each and every day. It’s putting yourself in situations where people will respond and ask questions about your way of life.<br />
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For example, I work in an office with mostly Russians who are Jewish, but do not practice their faith. They do not know much about Christianity or Catholicism so it’s very rare that I will forcefully “preach the gospel” to them. It’s just not my style and I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable at work. But just because I’m not in their faces saying “Repent! Repent!”, it does not mean that I’m not doing my part as a Christian.<br />
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Every day, I do simple things and wait patiently for them to respond. I started by decorating my cubicle with a rosary and prayer cards. Little by little, my coworkers started asking me about them. I would then explain what a rosary is, how Catholics use them and tell the stories of the saints portrayed on my prayer cards. I also wear a miraculous medal around my neck every day. Most people are not familiar with it and will ask me what the medal means. I’m also very open about my weekend plans. When people ask me what I did during the weekend, I usually start by saying I went to church on Sunday or if I took part in a parish event I’ll mention that as well. During my wedding planning, I also used to talk about my marriage preparation classes which generated A LOT of questions.<br />
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I never thought of these little things as evangelization. I just did them automatically because my faith is such a huge part of my life. However one morning, as I was making myself a cup of coffee in the office break room, one of my coworkers asked me what it said on my cup. “Live by faith, Galatians 2:20” He asked me what is Galatians and I explained to him that it was a book in the New Testament. As he walked away, I could tell he was intrigued. I don’t know if he will research it, but just the fact that he was thinking about it was good enough for me. At that moment, it dawned on me that I had just evangelized with a cup of coffee.<br />
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I don’t think it’s necessary that all of us go out into the streets with flyers to preach the gospel. That may work with some, but for others, it may just turn them off Christianity completely. I think the best form of evangelization is really letting Christ shine through you in your day to day life. I believe that people really do see that in me and once they see my joy they want to be part of it as well. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16”<br />
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So the next time someone talks about evangelization, don’t brush it off as something that can only be done by professionals. Let God shine through and evangelize with your own cup of coffee.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-20779882931773509262014-02-01T17:51:00.002-08:002014-02-01T19:01:58.035-08:00My Home is a No Phone Zone<div style="text-align: center;">
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Last week, I was sitting on the couch next to my husband. It was about 8:30 PM, the dishes were done and the next day’s lunches were packed. We were both relaxing after a day at work when I realized neither of us had said anything in about an hour. I looked up and found the culprit. My husband and I had both been on our phones for over an hour. I was probably looking at social media websites and the hubby possibly reading business articles and looking up sports scores. I didn’t say anything that night but, I knew something needed to happen.<br />
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This wasn’t the first time my husband and I had phone issues in our relationship. Before landing a job as an admin assistant, I worked in public relations and my phone was glued to me at all times. This caused major problems between my then boyfriend/now husband. After I left that job, the phone seemed to no longer cause too many issues, but then my husband got an Iphone. Shortly after he began to be on his phone ALL the time. It seemed as though he could not spend an hour off his phone. At first I felt ignored but then I started doing the same thing.<br />
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And so there we were, in the same room, but completely ignoring each other night after night. I would sometimes get frustrated at my husband for spending so much time on his phone. Occasionally, he would be reading his phone while I was talking, or would refuse to do something right away because he was busy playing a game on his phone. The cat would literally jump on him and try to get between his line of vision and his phone so she could get some attention.<br />
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After that evening last week I knew it was time to do something. I mean we couldn’t be doing the phone thing when we have kids. They would feel ignored by us. And so I decided to make our home a phone free zone.<br />
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The rules are as follows: First, when we get home we both have to put our phones away. We can’t carry them around with us or keep them in our pockets. We both leave the phones on top of a shelf I have in the kitchen. Second, if the phone rings, you can answer it, no questions asked. The same goes for text messages. However, once the phone call or text message has been answered, the phone goes back on the shelf. Third, if you need to check something on your phone ( an email, a question that’s nagging you, the weather, etc..) you have to ask for permission from the other person to be able to use your phone, and once you are done with the phone, it goes back on the shelf. Phones can be checked at the following times: when the other is in the bathroom, when the other is out of the house, when the other is sleeping. There are more exceptions to this, but as a general rule, if we are together in the same room, both phones should be put away.<br />
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It’s been about 5 days since our home became a phone free zone. It was very difficult at first, but we seem to be getting used to it now. If one of us forgets, the other usually just says “Phone free zone” and the offending party puts his or her phone away without complaining (so far).<br />
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As you can imagine, having a phone free home has allowed us to talk a lot more and spend more quality time together. With a baby on the way, and all that’s going for us, it’s very important that we try to spend time as a couple rather than just roommates. I think as time goes on the phone free rule, will continue in our home. As the kids get older and get cell phones too, we will require the same from them. It’s very easy to get lost in technology and forget to socialize with the people around you. I don’t believe that we should completely cut ourselves off from technology, but limiting its use will hopefully bring us closer together as a family.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7696290024559722574.post-37070050214427940022014-02-01T17:45:00.000-08:002014-02-12T11:18:40.483-08:00The Most Difficult Week Of My LifeThe minute I peed on that stick, I knew I was pregnant. The chemicals had already started taking action and I could faintly see those 2 lines that so many couples are hoping for appear. I ran away from the stick and went to go wait for those long 3 minutes. I knew, but in my mind I thought that maybe, just maybe the test had reacted early and line would vanish. When the egg timer rang, my husband and I walked to the bathroom full of anticipation. I looked at the test and there was my big fat positive, as fertility forums would call it. I was excited, shocked and blown away by the fact that I was going to be a mom. My husband didn't know what two lines meant so he just assumed it was negative and kept repeating “That means negative right? That’s negative?”. I remember looking up at him and just seeing his reaction as I told him “Nope, that’s positive, I’m pregnant”. We were so excited. That weekend we told our parents, who were shocked but happy. We had been married for less than 2 months, so it was expected but I think they had hoped we would wait a bit longer. However, in our hearts we knew that God was calling us to be parents and we weren't going to interfere with his plan – not that we had a choice in that matter.<br />
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I quickly booked a doctor’s appointment and began doing some online research. I read hundreds of baby forums, and learned all about all the diseases and complications I needed to worry about. After seeing the miscarriage rates, we decided that we would wait until the 12th week to tell the rest of the world. At 5 weeks pregnant, just a few days shy of my doctor’s appointment, I woke up one morning to blood on the toilet paper. It was pink, and there wasn't much to it, but it was there. It was 4 am and I woke up my husband. I knew what blood at 6 weeks meant according to those pregnancy forums. It meant miscarriage. I sat in bed shaking for about an hour as my worried spouse tried to calm me down. After an hour and half, the bleeding stopped and I dozed off for an hour. I called the doctor first thing and the nurse told me to wait until my doctor’s appointment, and that if I was miscarrying there was nothing they could do for me.<br />
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I spent the weekend crying and praying that everything was fine. I read online and found out that 1 in 3 pregnancies experience some form of spotting or light bleeding. When my appointment finally came, the doctor was not too worried but sent me for some blood tests just to verify my hormone levels. I had to go 2 separate days to see if they were rising properly. At this point I was sure that everything was alright and things were progressing normally. Unfortunately, Friday afternoon I got a concerned call from my doctor. My hormone levels were rising, but way too slowly. She gave me two options to prepare for, a miscarriage, or an ectopic pregnancy. I had to go in for an ultrasound first thing Monday morning to see what was going on. I was upset and I couldn't believe this was happening to us and to our baby. The weekend went by and I spent most of it crying and praying and yelling at God and then pleading with Him. I didn’t know what to do and I really truly felt like there was nothing going on in my womb, that the baby was passing or had already passed.<br />
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When Monday morning came, I was shaking I was so scared. We sat in the waiting room while women with big pregnant bellies went by us. I told my husband that someday we would come here and it would not be for bad news.<br />
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We got into the exam room and the technician rubbed the gel on my belly as I braced myself for the bad news. After some searching, the ultrasound technician pointed to a little cashew in my belly and announced she could see a heartbeat. She took measurements, assured us it was not ectopic and let us hear the beautiful sound of a strong and healthy heartbeat. I will never forget that moment. My husband and I were so relieved, so happy that our baby was doing fine and growing.<br />
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Today I am 15 weeks pregnant and I couldn’t be happier. My stomach is rounding out and our little miracle is starting to show to the outside world. Soon we will find out the sex, although we are thinking it will be a little boy.<br />
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During that week, I kept asking my mom why God was making my husband and I go through this. We are both practicing Catholics, we are involved in our parish, we give what we can and we kept our engagement as pure as we could. I felt like we were being punished for no apparent reason. However, looking back now I could see that there were things God needed me to learn. <br />
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First, I’ve always been pro-life, but not having been pregnant, it was hard to truly understand what the girls who decide to have an abortion go through. I was 6 weeks pregnant and I felt as though nothing was going on in there. It was important for me to understand that since some of those girls don’t believe that life begins at conception, AND they for sure don’t feel the life growing inside them, abortion would seem like a respectable decision. I know that someday, what I went through will help someone understand that there is truly a life growing inside them.<br />
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Second, before pregnancy I never thought about miscarriage. I knew it happened to some women but I never thought it would happen to me. However, miscarriages are a lot more common than we think but women usually keep quiet about them. As Catholics, I think we need to rethink the way we respond to women who have suffered miscarriages because we believe that life begins at conception and therefore that woman has lost her child. We need to stop saying things like “You will have another one” or “God wanted the child for himself”, because those grieving women do not want another child they want the one they had. They are suffering the same as a mother who has lost her 2 year old child, even if they did not know that baby out of the womb. If we believe that the child in utero is truly a life, than we need to respond with a lot more compassion and give them more support.<br />
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Third, God is completely in charge of bringing life into the world. There is nothing I can do and I have to trust that He knows what’s best. That is scary to me because I’m such a control freak. But I’m starting to grasp that God is giving me these children to love and educate, but ultimately they will always belong to Him first. I think that I will always need to remember that as my family gets larger and my children get older.<br />
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I know there’s probably more to the experience but I think it will take time for me to see it. One thing is clear to me however, my husband and I always wanted a big family, but this has definitely re-enforced our beliefs when it comes to openness to life and leaving God some room to work within our family.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08285636307525301386noreply@blogger.com0