Thanksgiving Blessings

Even though it seems that there are not that many things to be thankful for right now, with the disappointing elections, all the soldiers overseas still fighting, and the general state of affairs in the US, we are still very blessed by God, and we found a great way to visualize this list, this year!

Thankfulness Tree 2012

This is the beginning of the tree, that we put together Sunday night, the kids have been adding a few more leaves each day as they think of new things, plus Turtle tought since we still have grass outside, the tree needed grass too, so there is green grass at the base. The blue circle is Frog's coconut falling from the tree. Can you tell that his favorite book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! 

I would have to say, that my favorite leaf so far, is the one that says "laughing with friends".  It is the simple things in life that count in the end, and it is through the simple things in life that God shows us how much he loves us. Let us not get so caught up in the busyness of the season, that we forget to be still and hear His voice.

Time For A Change

Well.. it has been a long time since I last posted. Things have been pretty crazy, and I have been going through a small dark night of the soul! Losing our way for awhile is sometimes just what God uses to help us get stronger in the end. And also trying to keep up with a blog that seems so item and research specific with lots of children running around was taking its toll. So now my blog will be more about our family, traditions, and everyday life.. more musings, and more of me!

So things are lightening up around here. We made a major change in our home. Every weekend we would spend at least one whole day fighting and arguing about cleaning the kids rooms. Not that I have or want some grand model home to run our lives, but the fire hazard of the kids literally having to climb their way to their beds through all the toys and stuff week after week for the past eight years just got the better of me. During a conversation with my mom she said "You have lived this way how long? And every week you do this same thing, why do think things will just change?" So we changed the way we did things! All those years of threatening to throw all their toys away, we finally did! We grabbed black trash bags and boxes and loaded everything up and hauled it to the basement!

The kids were left their clothes and their books, with the opportunity to earn things back. Everyday they have the chance to earn back at least 4 items. Make their beds, pick up their clothes, close their dresser drawers and do their homework without complaint. The other chances they have, is to do a good deed for someone else. This one has been the big one. It is opening their eyes to the people around them, and they are searching for ways that can help! In one day Turtle had five good deeds!

This was a week and a half ago this happened. Before the week was out, the Cat made the comment that the family was so much better now! Her exact words were "everyone is so much nicer and calmer, and there is more time to play." Don't think they haven't been playing either, they have been playing harder, and together! For one, there is room TO play, they can FIND what they are looking for, and there are fewer chores with so much less to look after!

This last weekend, with a clean house, we turned our attention outside, and did the garage! It has been raining for two days and the kids' bikes, and dump trucks actually fit inside! Maybe we can make it through a summer without having to replace rusted chains and broken toys that were left in the yard for the dogs!

With company coming in a few weeks, 2 birthday's, Easter, a Confirmation and a 1st Communion all by April 15th.. I am looking forward to this year's Holiday Season!

Reflections on Humility and Daily Chores

Humility is a hard thing to come by. We live in such a competitive society, that even in elementary school we are taught that we must be able to "sell" ourselves, verbally and non-verbally to employers, organizations, and even to potential spouses! What does it mean to be truly humble? Webster's dictionary defines it as 1. not proud or haughty 2. not pretentious, UNASSUMING 3. ranking low in a hierarchy or scale. So being humble is not doing something for the glory of self, or self recognition, or to be the best; but to do something for the benefit of someone else, and for the glory of God. St. Francis taught his brothers to look on everyone as if they were Jesus. With this in mind, they are servants to Jesus, in the lowest of jobs; the mundane, ordinary chores of life. as your folding laundry or packing a child's lunch, look on it as folding Jesus' laundry, and packing Jesus' lunch. Wouldn't you put a little more care and love into it?

A few thoughts that I had as I worked yesterday:

Reflections from the sink:

• A slow and steady stream in the middle temp range is best. You allow water to pool and soak the gunk for easier removal, and there is no splashing, and you are using less water overall. Giving us the lesson of the turtle "Slow and steady wins the race"  
• It is easier to remove a blob of ketchup off a plate 20 minutes after its use, then 10 hours after it's use, meaning, don't leave things for tomorrow, that could be done easier now.
• It is unwise to dump the greasy skillet into a sink full of glasses. Keep our priorities in order of importance, and do them in order!

 Reflections from laundry:

• Do not wash a new blue blazer with a pale pink dress, you end up with a mess. Do not say one thing, and do another.
• Doing 1-2 loads daily, is a lot easier than 12 in one day. Putting away each load as it comes out of the dryer, makes shorter work overall; less resorting in their destination, and lighter loads to carry up stairs. Do things as they come along, and you will have more free time in the end. 

Reflections from cleaning the kids rooms:

• Kids work harder when there are helping hands. Many hands make light work.
• Kids are less attached to their items, and are more charitable then we presume. Materialism and love of things and money, are learned, not inherent.

So I have learned that doing a little work everyday, in a slower and steadier state of mind makes less work overall, and more time for things I want to do. So I must slow down and not try to do everything, everyday, and for everyone. To do things in priority order and the important things will get done, making me calmer and a more comfortable and loving home.
My Priorities: God, husband, kids, home, work.

Today's meditations shall be on how to arrange my days to reflect my priorities in their proper place. Holly Pierot used Mother's Teresa's schedule for her order to help her make her Rule. Let's also look at Mother's and see what we can learn from it.

Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity
4:30-5:00 Rise and get cleaned up
5:00-6:30 Prayers and Mass
6:30-8:00 Breakfast and cleanup
8:00-12:30 Work for the poor
12:30-2:30 Lunch and rest
2:30-3:00 Spiritual reading and meditation
3:00-3:15 Tea break
3:15-4:30 Adoration
4:30-7:30 Work for the poor
7:30-9:00 Dinner and clean up
9:00-9:45 Night prayers
9:45 Bedtime

Priorities For Our Children

This weekend I had a mother say to me that in high school all the children are expected to be in all the clubs and on all the sports teams at the school. She said in high school one of their classes is study hall, just to do their daily homework because they have activities from 7:30 am till 7-8pm at night! We live in a small town and the total population of our school, grades Pre-K thru 12th is 150. Am I the only person in the world that sees a problem with this?? She also had the audacity to make the statement that "several kids have tried to move into our school, but don't get into all the activities and are therefore completely excluded and friendless." Am I the only person that finds this completely insane!!?? And then people wonder what is happening to our country and morals! Her philosophy is that it looks good on a resume.

That is all well and good, however, what is the goal of life? To get a high paying position, title and wealth? Or is it to get into Heaven? To be an obedient servant of God's? To love God and your neighbor? Where in all this business. busyness and pushing for the top position is God? As parents, it is our responsibility to our children, and to God, to teach them the virtues and priorities to be successful in this life, AND THE NEXT! How are we to do this, if we don't even see our kids? Kids should be taught to TRY new things, but it is not expected of them to be the best in ALL things. We are all given special talents and abilities by God, and it takes time to discover and nurture these talents so that we can use them for God. In order to discover what your talents are, and what God is wanting from your life, you must have QUIET, STILL hours in the day. If we want our children to develop virtues and morals they need to spend more hours a week with people who are demonstrating these virtues and morals, and who are willing to listen and talk with them openly about these morals and virtues. Who are these people? THEIR PARENTS! Family time needs to be a priority on a DAILY basis. Remember.. it is quantity time that leads to quality time.

Do you honestly think that all these so called friends, who are by definition, trying to best you in clubs and sports, going to give you the loving guidance, support, and trust, that parents are supposed to? Nope.

Sports are supposed to be a fun way to play with our friends and get some exercise; they are not a definition of our lives. Clubs and organizations are supposed to help us develop the interests and talents that we have, and a way for us to serve our community using those talents; they are not there as a "who can do the most" contest. We can not do everything or anything ourselves. We are dependent on God. Our relationship with Him is the priority of our lives, and our children's. We develop this relationship by spending time with Him. God doesn't want us to do everything. He has a specific job for each of us, not ALL of the jobs, that is why we are communities of lots of people, each of whom as a special place and ability to help the community.

If we exclude and shun people who "don't keep up" will we recognize God if he knocks on our door?

Things to think about..  

Back Up and Running

Our computer bit the dust a few weeks back, and we are finally up and running again! I was excited to see and hear about having other people who actually read this blog! Thanks Aunts! Now I will try to be more faithful to it. Been trying to get my house deep cleaned and organized for the start of the new school year. One more week! It is going well, and I am looking forward to some quieter mornings.

We have had some challenges the last couple of weeks, computer breaking, water pump out of Kevin's car, a couple other unexpected bills, and Kevin's Godfather passed away suddenly. It is harder in these times, it seems, to be faithful to God's will, and keeping him first when you have all these matters pressing in on you from all sides that seem to need to take a priority in your day. You can't let yourself slip from God as your center. He is your most important allie, and He gives us these challenges in hopes of drawing us closer to Him, and building our character. Like parents everywhere say "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!" Sufferings, even everyday ones, are graces from God. He only lets His closest friends suffer. How you choose to handle these sufferings, is the test. Will you give up and turn away into depression, or will you persevere, continue the fight and make God proud.

Showing God Respect

Another aspect to keeping God as your number one priority is to respect Him. By this, I mean several things, first is to do your best to follow the 10 commandments without complaining, and to apologize when you fail. Honor the Pope and ALL of the Church's teachings and doctrines as directives from God Himself, because they are. Recognizing that the rules handed down by the Church are rules handed down from God for your own good. They are there to help you stay on the narrow path to sainthood. Remember this truth: individual people are imperfect sinners, but the Church is infaliable in it's doctrine's. Jesus himself makes sure of it, He has promised it, and He never fails to fulfill His promises!

Other practical and small ways to respect God is to not take the Lord's name in vain. The phrase "Oh my God" is one that is in way to wide a use these days. It is one thing to say it in response to shocking and devastating news, another when you are gossiping or mocking someone! Being faithful to God in the smallest matters, makes it easier to be faithful in the largest ones.

Another important way to show God respect is dressing and behaving appropriately at mass, and other Church related functions. You wouldn't wear flip flops and jeans to meet the president, therefore you should not wear them to feast with Jesus! The proper attire for attending mass is dresses for women and girls that are at least knee length, and that do not show the bust, back or shoulders; and dress pants (slacks or khaki's) for men and boys with at least a nice polo shirt if not a button-front shirt with tie. Also mind your shoes are clean and appropriate for the clothing choice. It is also still customary, to show humility before God, for women to wear a mantle, and it is inappropriate for ladies to cross their legs during mass. You should sit with your knees together and feet tucked under the pew. I get so angry when I see people, especially the alter helpers and song leaders wearing tank tops and flip flops. That is disgusting! Proper mass behavior is to follow the local Parish customs of when to sit, stand and kneel, to sing the songs, to shack hands, to listen to the readers and Homily with proper eye contact and mental focus, to bow before approaching the alter and Eucharist, and to not talk before and during mass. Before mass is to be used for inner reflection and to prepare yourself for receiving the Lord. During mass, all the angels are prostrated in prayer and awe, the least you can do is not chit chat about where to go for lunch afterwards!

It is also your responsibility to teach your children to do these things as well. If they are taught from the beginning what is appropriate dress and behavior they will grow into teen-agers and adults who respect God. Dress your kids correctly and teach them to behave properly right from the start. For my kids I have them following along, doing all motions by the end of first grade.

It was a long day today. Had to run errands to get ready for my son's second birthday tomorrow, and get some bills paid, stopped at a couple garage sales, and even hung around outside playing with the kids. Spring is finally here in the upper midwest and I am itching for some fresh air. The trees are showing some buds. It always amazes me how the world is ordered to toward God. The world reflects Him everywhere we look. That is, if we take the time to look and see. My schedule is about to get hectic with all the end of the school year events and all the birthday's, celebrations, and plans being made. Today I sat back and reflected on the why's in my to-do list; though not all of my list was accomplished. it is good to know the why of what you are doing. What goal are you reaching for; what are you making your priority, what are you reflecting to others as your values, what are you teaching your children by your actions. It is either in Deuteronomy or Leviticus, it escapes me right now; but there is a line that says "Talk with your children in the morning, in the noon, and in the evening, about the way they should go, and when they are old they will follow." I get from this that it is quantity, not quality time that people and children need to truly know and understand the lessons that you are teaching them. Through quantity, you get quality; especially at the swingsets..