Well, the music wasn’t a fluke last week, it was just as wonderful this week as it was last week! Also, people remembered us from last week and we got a “Oh good! You came back!”. Father’s homily was well thought out and not fluff. Did I mention the music was good? My kids paid attention and the only time they moved was to get a better view of the Altar during the Consecration! Okay, I lied a bit there, they were fidgety for the most part during mass. However, Karol did ask me to help him pray after Mass.

Next weekend is the parish picnic. We are so going! It has been such a long time since we have look forward to belonging to a parish and actually participating in its activities, this is a wonderful change.

On another note, I found via Fr. McDonald’s blog today:

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Originally called the Feast of Our Lady of Victory, we honor Our Lady today for her help in the victory over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto. The victory in this battle prevented the spread of the Ottoman Empire and prevented the spread  Islam through Europe. Look here and here for more information about the Battle and Our Lady.

I also found this wonderful article from the Opus Sanctorum Angelorum it is a bit long, but worth the read, as is a peak around the rest of their website!

Things to do today, aside from the obvious of praying the Rosary:

1. Make a Rosary Cake.(we will be doing this today, but are only making a decade)

2. Share with others how to pray the Rosary.

3. Have your older children draw a picture of the Battle of Lepanto.

4. Have your younger children draw a picture of the Rosary.

5. Try some things out from this page. (A wonderful resource and one that I visit just about every day!)

6. Checkout this blog and enter to win the Rosary.

Tonight, at 8pm on EWTN Life with Fr. Mitch Pacwa, will feature a segment on Pope Pius XII. I am sure most of you know that he is often called “Hitler’s Pope” as people think he did nothing to stop the sad killings of millions of people in Concentration Camps during World War II. He actually did many things to help save Jewish people during that time. He made visas available for safe passage of Jewish people as well as opened many convents and monasteries for the Jewish people to hide in.

If you do not have cable, EWTN can be viewed online at EWTN.com!
Edited to add a website with information about Sister Margherita Marchione, the Sister who spoke on EWTN Live this evening.

Today is the Feast of St. Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament. I have  a special devotion to St. Faustina and picked her name for my Confirmation name seven years ago. Our Lord picked this simple religious sister to share with the world His Divine Mercy.

When I decided to be serious about my faith, I  started attending classes in preparation for Confirmation, I prayed that God would lead me to the right name, a name that would inspire me help me to grow closer to Him. I learned of the Divine Mercy Chaplet while participating in my first Life Chain and wanted to learn more  more about St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy of our Lord. The more I learned of St. Faustina, the more it became clear that she was to be the one to help me grow closer to Our Lord.So, when I was Confirmed, just seven short years ago, I took the name of Maria Faustina and am ever thankful.

I highly recommend the reading of her diary to those who have not yet had the joy of reading it. I also recommend it as reading to those who have fallen away from the faith  or who question the Mercy of Our Lord.

Here is more information about Saint Faustina and here are directions on how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

I first heard of baby wearing around the time I had my first child. I knew or saw a few women from church who used them and I thought it might be something I was interested in doing. I ordered my first two slings from ebay and set them aside for use when  Karol was born.

After his birth, my midwife showed me a few techniques on how to use the ones that I had purchased. I have to say, I was hesitant at first, a bit scared that he was going to fall out, so I did not use them until he was able to sit up on his own, then I used them all.the.time. It was the most helpful during Church as it allowed me to participate without juggling a 15 pound little guy. The grocery store was another great place to use it, he was close and did not t fuss the way he did in the infant car seat or in the seat of the cart.

When Karol was just a year old, we welcomed Margaret. I needed something. I had a mei tai that I liked to use, but went with my stand by slings, the NOJO for most of her carrying. It was a huge help as I was able to attend to Karol while giving Margaret that close contact she needed.

While I was pregnant with Benedict, a government agency issued a statement that slings were not safe. I had no concerns about the safety of my child in any of the slings I owned. I hadn’t used one for a few months when I read the article, but I knew I was always aware of what was going on in the sling. Those memories have been confirmed with Benedict’s birth.

I have found that Benedict loves to be all snuggled up in the sling. I slip him in and have no problems with him and no fears like I did with Karol. I am constantly touching him, rubbing his little back, patting his butt, stroking his hear and listening to his breathing (or little snorts). Honestly, there is so much love in this house for the little guy, that it just isn’t safe to leave him in the bouncy seat or in his swing. The sling is the place that keeps him from the over exuberant love his older siblings try to show him. (Mostly, Caecilia, who likes to share toys with him by tossing them at him).

Yesterday I had him in the sling during Mass and he snuggled up with me and fell asleep for most of the service, snuggled like he probably was in the womb, listening to my heart, feeling warmth and security while hearing our voices. Where else could he feel that way?

(h/t to Jenny @ http://www.mamanash.com/ for blogging about baby. Also, check out this website http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com for more information about baby wearing and the baby wearing Call to Action. You can also check out the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance online and at Facebook, for those who Facebook. )

Monday Musings–October 4th, 2010

Right Now: 1035 in the morning, cool and sunny. So cool that I am wearing pants and a sweater. The kids have longs pants on and neither of the older two wanted to sit by the open window during breakfast. (Did I just say “Open window?”)

This Weekend: Saturday was our 6th wedding anniversary. We did not do much, made a nice dinner and watched a few shows on the computer. In the morning we went for a family bike ride (including Benedict). It was supper nice to be outside and not sweating. We rode for about 20 minutes and came back home. The kids ran around the yard and were attacked by a hill of ants and screamed like one of them lost a toe.

Sunday we went to a Parish about 45 minutes from here and it may be a great alternative between driving to Macon and the parish here. We were greeted afterward by a group of ladies and a few men who pretty much begged us to stay at the parish. We were also told how wonderfully behaved our kids were during mass. I guess they didn’t hear Caecilia yell “Book” as we sat down or notice that Karol had to be taken out because he refused to budge from the back of church.

After Mass, Joshua had a snack with the kids and let them run around while I nursed Benedict in the van.When I was done, we went for a ride in the country and looked at a few houses that I had found online that are for sale. (Our  Ohio house is in contract right now and hopefully we will close by the end of October, if it does, we are looking to buy a house down here, renting is no fun!)

Some Plans for the Week:  It is a big Feast week this week, St. Francis today, St. Maria Faustina tomorrow, Our Lady of the Rosary on the 7th, we will celebrate them accordingly. I have no idea what we are going to do, as my typical idea is to make a dessert. We will probably make Franciscan Habits out of grocery bags today. For tomorrow I think we will paint an image of the Divine Mercy Jesus. Our Lady of the Rosary? Perhaps a Rosary Cake.

We officially started Kindergarten for Karol this morning. I think Margaret will be learning right along with him, as she was very interested in helping him color his coloring page. She had one of her own, but it was just one that I printed and I think she liked the idea of the shapes book.

Tomorrow is pay day and I plan on going to the grocery store that is having a Buy One Get One Free sale to pick up some Michigan Apples and a few other items.

If I Find Some Time for Myself, I Want To: sit with a nice cup of coffee at a coffee shop and read a book for 20 minutes. Seeings as that probably won’t happen, I will probably take time this afternoon, if I get any, to hang up clothes and fold what does not get hung up. I also need to make some sheets for the cradle as I can’t find the one that it came with and have been unable to find some to buy on line.

Some Prayer Intentions: For our friend Stephen, during his Midterm week. For the sale of our home in Ohio, that the inspection goes well and we are able to close by the end of the month. In thanksgiving for a woman in Indiana who has been waiting to hear back on a biopsy, NO CANCER!!

Something that Makes Me Smile: a sleeping baby.
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Last night I had a wonderful phone conversation with my dear friend Jaime. If only the stars would align and we could live within an hour of each other again.That conversation plus the one I had afterward with my husband kept me up way later than I had expected. I am not complaining though, as we were heading to bed, two really funny things happened. Well, maybe funny in a way a parent could laugh at.

First, Caecilia had woken up and made her way to the living room (as has been her practice this week). We normally let her sit with us for a few minutes then send her back to bed. Last night, since I was on the phone and Joshua was doing work, he just set her on the couch with a book and a blanket. She fell back to sleep for a bit then woke up to play. She was having a grand ol’ time with us but we needed some sleep, so off to bed she was to go. First Joshua checked her diaper. Boy am I glad he did. That diaper was the ickiest diaper I have seen in a while. I told him, because he changed that one, I would get all of Benedict’s diapers for a week. Benedict’s diapers aren’t bad, per se, he just tends to pee whenever the diaper if off, requiring a new cover, another clean diaper, sometimes a change of clothes and some times a good scrub down of the couch. I am learning though, I now normally change him only on the changing table. Unless of course….

…one of the charming Facekids locks my bedroom door and I can’t get to it. Thankfully, Benedict did not have any issues with being changed on the couch that time.

While Joshua was taking care of Caecilia’s really icky diaper, Karol strolled out to the living room. He walked right by me, did not respond to my hello, proceeded to the toy area, looked around for a second, walked back by me, not acknowledging me again then headed back to bed. I figured he was sleep walking (like his mumma does), laughed and went back to staring at Benedict while he nursed. Then I heard Joshua yelling talking sternly to Karol to get to the bathroom. I thought maybe Karol was throwing up or something, so I detached Benedict and ran down the hall way. There I found Karol with his pajamas down going to the bathroom, in the hallway. He woke up in the middle of it all and started bawling his eyes out. I got him a change of clothes, told him he was okay, then put him back to bed, where he was back to sleep in no time.

That was our fun last night. We then got in to bed and Benedict started fussing. I wondered aloud where he could be putting all this food when Joshua asked if I thought Benedict could still be hungry. I told him no, but he seemed to be rooting around for food. Joshua took him, laid him next to his side, patted his butt and he fell right to sleep. He stayed asleep for close to five hours! He woke up around 430 or so and nursed with just me, no supplement and was content until around 730, nursed with just me again slept some more. I was able to get a shower in before Joshua left for work, the kids breakfast and myself breakfast before he needed a supplemented feeding. I feel nice and refreshed and like I actually got some sleep.

I actually got dinner in the crock pot and Joshua agreed to make fried rice when he got home. I actually made dessert for tonight also, for the Feast of the Archangels and rescued Benedict from the clutches of Caecilia. Let’s just say that all of our Guardian Angels were protecting us this morning as Caecilia managed to move Benedict from the boppy pillow, where I thought he was safe and he was about to fall, head first, from the couch. I walked in the room just in time to catch him and Caecilia thought she was being a great big sister.

Before I go, I wanted to let you all know that it has rained all day long here, over an inch of rain has fallen today alone. This is good as our air conditioner broke on Monday. Last night we slept with windows open and it was wonderful. Today, Karol asked if we could close some windows as he was cold. What a nice turn around. In the 10 day forecast, we have a day where the high is 72 and the low is 52, I look forward to that day.

Mrs Logue tagged me and as I am chained to the couch nursing, I will, to the best of my sleep deprived brain, ability answer her questions, tag some of my followers and ask them a few questions.

1. How did you decide on your kids’ names? All of our children are named after saints (or future saints in the case of Karol). We have a list of names we compiled while engaged and refer to the list when we are expecting. We don’t always use the names on the list, though, as in the case with the boys. Often times one of us will toss out a name and the other one will say “heck no!” or “hey, I was thinking that too”. (As in the case with Benedict).

2. What is the one piece clothing you have had the longest and you can’t bear to part with it? I have a lot of clothes I have had for a long time. I think there is a sweater I got from my Grandma Martin many years ago (she died in 1994) that I would never toss now. I have a skirt that I bought in 2002 or 2003 that I LOVE and do not plan on parting with anytime soon.

3. What is your favorite movie and why? Favorite movie? I honestly don’t think I have one. I have a few that I will sit and watch without complaint. If John Wayne is the main character, I will usually watch it. Now, if the creators of NCIS made a movie, I would be there, first in line!

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? While I like living where falling snow is a major media event and I am sure to wear shorts in December, I would actually live in the Nort’ Country, that is the Upper Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
Now on to you lovely ladies:

Kimberly

Suzanne

Anne

Maryanne

Patty

I want to know:

1. Where is your favorite vacation spot?

2. What is your favorite dessert?

3. Who is your favorite saint?

4. When do you do laundry?

5. How often do you go out for dinner in a month, if at all?

This one supersedes the house sale prayer request. Would you all say a prayer for our dear friend, Joe Hasser? The Hassers are a wonderful family from Indiana and Mr Hasser is a truly wonderful man. Please say a prayer for him as he suffered a stroke last night.

St. Andrew Avellino, Pray for us.

Below is the email received from Fr. Tim at St. Boniface:

Joe Hasser, husband of Linda, Father of Fr. David and Nick

suffered a stroke last evening while on a trip to Cleveland, Ohio.

Linda tells me he is stable at this time.

Please pray for Joe’s complete recovery and for strength for his family!