Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas hangover:

I forgot about the day after CHRISTMAS...

My big kids remembered and pretty much found something to keep them busy away from the little guys all day.

Starting with my newly 13 year old who is very sensitive and emotional anyway...the kind of sweetie who cries with me during Hallmark movies...he came to me with swollen eyes and said I don't like this day...everyone is grouchy and tired.

My 11 year old was pretty resilient and listened to Adventures in Odyssey in his room till his cousin got here.

My 9 year old did fine in the morning but she was fading fast, her eyes looked sullen and she looked like she was gonna lose it!

Now here is where it gets dirty:

My seven year old woke up kinda happy but she faded fast. Before lunch we gave the kids their gifts that my sister sent. She opened the purse with such excitement like it was the first gift she ever received. (This is my Dec 1st birthday girl who had had a really busy month all about her!) As she unsnapped the purse the wallet fold attached inside had a photo of my mommy. My mom died Feb 15, 2011. My little sweetie just lost it and just started bawling saying she wanted "Her Gram!" My very insensitive husband and I just started laughing. We are so bad! Then the rest of the day she was just a mess. Many times she would say mom, "I need you!" She did and I tried my best to be there. We played cards, (I won!) then we cuddled and read a book she got in her stocking, ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY! (See I told you I was insensitive.) Although, she appreciated the book in her own silly way.

Now to the next mess:

My five year old. My hubby and I forgot to have "The Christmas Talk" this year with the kids. This is the talk where we sit the little guys down and talk about being grateful, saying Thank You, not complaining, not saying you don't like the gift, not saying we have this already, etc...etc...

So Christmas morning he opened his first gift from my other sister. It was a really cool kid lantern. He proceeded to throw it across the room because he didn't like it. Well, he liked it but he didn't think it turned on like his little brothers did. The day proceeded with him just being pretty overwhelmed.

The day after was kinda humorous with him too. He woke up and told me that next to God, Uncle Eric was his favorite, then everyone else. (Of course Uncle Eric is his hero and just happened to give him a totally cool Captain America car.) Then he got a sad look on his face and said, "Mom, what about the poor people. Don't they get any gifts?" I said, "Yes, remember we gave lots of gifts to children from the giving tree in our church." Then he looked at me so serious and said, "Mom, don't tell me what we gave them cuz, I am gonna be so jealous!" That pretty much summed up his day!

The three year old and the 10 month old were perfect, they just kinda bumbled along accepting gifts and having the time of their lives.

We are all tired from all the stimulation and our bodies are sick of all the junk food...so we are trying to keep the Christmas spirit living here with Christmas music playing and toys everywhere.

May you enjoy the rest of your Christmas Season with baby Jesus living in the hearts of all your family!

Before I end I wanted to give a shout out to my favorite ETSY site where I have gotten my kids Christmas shirts the past two years. 

Aren't these cute:
 My daughter and son in love aren't here yet...they got theirs at dinner

My son in Love...last year he got Thing 1 1/2 but I upgraded him this year!

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

My Advent Short Story: Some special women God put in my life::

Once upon a time in the year 2011 an amazing lady, who is the type who helps the entire town, had a really beautiful Nativity necklace.

Being pushy and bold I went to her and inquired where did she get it cuz I had to have one too!!! She informed me it was a gift and said she would keep an eye out for one.

After Christmas 2011, she said she found one and would purchase it for me if I wanted. Of course I said yes and put it away in hopes of wearing it the following Advent.

Advent 2012 came and I took it out. For some reason it just didn't seem like it was meant for me...so it sat in a box waiting for me to figure out what God wanted me to do with it.

As I put my kids teacher's Christmas gifts together a particular teacher stood out...she deserves way more than my typical teacher gift this year...and of course that is when the Holy Spirit told me to give her the necklace. My girlfriend who bought it for me agreed that this lady would appreciate it. I hesitated cuz I still kinda was attached to it as my own. Than I remembered something one of my mentors had taught me years and years ago. It was a tradition she handed over to me of giving away one special thing I was attached to each Christmas. I mean God gave away HIS most prized possession right!?

So, I wrapped it up and had the kids give it to her early enough so she could wear it during Advent.

It did my heart good when I saw her wearing it as she sang in the Folk Group at mass.

Time passed and my heart was getting weak as the due date of my precious Steven Thomas approached. I was scheduled for a c section on Dec 13th but the doctor said I could proceed with my Dec 18th due date and go natural.

My heart was breaking for the poor families in Conn who wouldn't be able to hold their precious babies this Christmas so I was gonna offer up my emotions for them.

Dec 18th, my due date,approached and as I was preparing to leave the house for the first time since I was sick,  I bumped into a friend who told me she had been praying for me cuz she knew my due date was approaching. I almost lost it and held back the tears and said I was offering up my sadness for the victims families in Conn.

Then I bumped into my kids music teacher, who has ever kid in our town mesmerized with her ,and she handed me a little treasure box and said it was in memory of my baby. I knew I couldn't open it up just yet or I would start bawling right there. So I handed it to my hubby for later.

When I got home I opened this:

Of course I texted my friend who first had the necklace, and asked her if she told the music teacher that I wanted one, she said no and couldn't believe the surprise.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!
Each of these women were part of my Advent story 
and none of them had any idea how important of a roll they played.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Sunday, December 16, 2012

sick of being sick...


We are sick...In 23 years I don't think we have ever all been so sick!!! What a crazy time of year to be sick...I think I am more depressed about all the things we are cancelling, than I am about feeling lousy.

Wednesday we hosted a Mother/Daughter cookie exchange...I thought I just had a cold...please God, I hope and pray we didn't give anyone germs.

Thursday we just layed around feeling sick and guilty for maybe infecting my friends.

Friday we cancelled a Creche Blessing Party, and a sleep over for my almost 13 year old.

Saturday we couldn't go to the CCD Christmas Pageant and the girls didn't get to sing. Only my son who was in the play got to go...thank God for his two big sisters who went to cheer him on.
2012 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
2005 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
2012 KING
2005 SHEPHERD 
My poor 5 year old couldn't get to go to his first real b day party where he was gonna dress up like the HULK! I had to find two subs for my boys for mass tonight cuz they may be carriers of something. My son who surprised me by coming home two days earlier for my family party left this morning back to school cuz he can't get sick before finals.  My hubby and I can't go to his work party tonight, which means no eating huge shrimp and lots of yummy food and I can't wear the gorgeous dress I bought. ($6 at the consignment shop) It also means that my 3 sisters didn't show up this morning for a visit and sleep over to get ready for OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY on Sunday.
Sunday is my sweet boys 13th birthday...he has been waiting like 9months to be 13!!! I can't help with the preschool Christmas Pageant and my 3 year old can't be in the play. We had to find someone to help out with the donuts and coffee cuz it was our turn. I am sad beyond words that I had to cancel my family Christmas party. About 60 of my relatives come over to celebrate and now they are all going to my sisters.  Of course we won't be going cuz we are probably contagious.

We have never watched so much TV in our lives...we are all to sick to do anything other than lay around and fall asleep in various places. Earlier today I was sitting between my 5 and 7 year old who are both sleeping. Next to us is my 9 year old with rosy cheeks and then dad asleep on the couch. My 11 year old is asleep on the other couch. The 14 year old has the baby in the other room...we also have a Korean college student living here who was sick but is on the mend.  My 21 year old has been hiding for days-but he is getting it just in time for exams, and my 18 year old has had  a light touch of it but is in her room getting ready for finals. My 16 year old was in New York earlier this week and must of missed out on the germ attack cuz she is fine and out of the house today hoping and praying to stay healthy. My married daughter is thrilled to be out of the house and excited about going to the Christmas Party with her husband, and some of her healthy siblings, to see her cousins. At bed I got a text message from my 19 year old saying what he should do cuz he was starting to feel sick-poor thing was home for less than 24 hours!


I am just sitting around pouting and eating everything in site. My girlfriend assured me that like her I would loose weight cuz I would have no appetite. Well...it ain't happening! Every morning I wake up get dressed and put on make up and jewelry in hopes that it will help me feel better...it lasts like 30 minutes.

We are hardly ever sick...I would take the 24 hour stomach virus any day over this!!!
I am trying to offer it all up for those tragically killed in Conn. 
Here's to a healthier week!
 May you all be healthy during the Holiday!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

You are finally 13

 What you wish to be: Professional Soccer Player like Messi with a pope shirt on no less!
 First Communion

 Your b day party when we had the fire station show up to show the kids the firetruck!
 Great face shots


My sweet son  promised he wouldn't be an obnoxious teenager, like the big kids were, when he was 11. Well on his 12th birthday last year I looked him in the eye and said, "I just want you to know that I love you very much and I will be yelling at you for what it seems to be no apparent reason for the next year." He looked at me practically in tears and said, "Why?" I said, "Well, cuz I don't do preteens that well!"

It took days till I asked him to do a regular task that I always used to ask him and he rolled his eyes at me...I said, "You are being 12!" So, after a year of this we are both really excited about 13!

13 is exciting in our house...you get an ipod if you can afford one or if you want to ask for one from Boompa for Christmas/B day gift! You get to hang more with the big kids! You get to read Harry Potter. (Since my baby was so sick he read it in a day!) BUT-the very best thing about being 13 in our house is you can watch your baby brothers and sisters!!! Yippee!!! Oh yeah and get all the fresh babysitting jobs that get called in!

I love you sweetie and I know God has huge plans for you! Always stay close to HIM and keep the faith!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Thursday, December 13, 2012

My due date with Steven Thomas:

I was scheduled for a C Section today with our precious Steven Thomas! 
The funny thing is that my due date was about Dec 18th but I am always late.
The specialist told me that since Steven and I were doing so well, 
that I didn't have to have a C Section and could go naturally with a midwife!
Go Figure!
It was a roller coaster ride  but we made it through. Still a little shaky in our boots. 
We have moved up from only crying once a week instead of daily. 
Holy hours are killers making the tears flow like crazy.
We are still placing our fertility in the hands of God 
but being 44 I am mourning not only my 
Precious Steven but my fertility as well.

 We miss you sweet one!!!
I have been exercising and trying to get back to my pre baby weight but I really don't care
about being back to my old weight...I want to be 9 months pregnant!
My hubby took my after pictures to link to my before weight pictures 
but I haven't felt like posting them yet...
maybe later.
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

St Lucy's Day

Our day started off with a bunch of us with bad coughs and not feeling to great. But we managed to eat our cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. Now we have eye ball bouncy balls flying everywhere!



For cup cakes
Once a year we get chicken from POP EYES on this day...get it...

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Story of Jesus Birth- The Facebook style

OUR BAKER'S DOZEN!

On Saint Nicholas Day this last week my husband was reading this book to the kids. 
He said, "Hey honey, look what you wrote inside!"
Inside (weeks after I delivered my seventh child) I wrote, 
"Rob Darling-Happy Epiphany 1999, 
May the good Lord bless us with a baker's dozen! 
Love, Your Bride Sam"

Well, after a rough year losing 2 babies and gaining a foster child...we actually do have a baker's dozen!
Thank You Lord for being a God of Hope!

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Saturday, December 8, 2012

St Nicholas Christmas Cookies: secret recipes!

Deanne's secret recipe:
Ice box Cookies ( do not double)

1 cup butter
2 cups dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4teaspoon salt
1 teas. soda
1 teas. cream of tartar
1 1/2 teas. baking pwd.
1 teas. vanilla
 4 cups flour
refrigerate for a few hours ( or overnight) until firm
roll out and bake at 375 for 10 ish minutes
Amy's secret recipe:
(Dutch Spice Cookies)
Thirteen-year-old Lisa Jaarsma of Pella, Iowa, says, "I brought these cookies to the Marion County fair, where I received a top ribbon for them. From there they went to the Iowa State Fair where I received a blue ribbon and the special Meredith Award for them." Lisa adapted this recipe from one used by the first settlers of Pella. Lisa's father Ralph owns Pella's Jaarsma Bakery which features many traditional Dutch pastries. These cookies are usually formed in cookie board molds, traditionally in the shape of St. Nicholas, they're often called "St. Nick" cookies.


St. Nicholas Cookie from 18th Century Mold
Historic Hudson Valley
2 cups brown sugar
1 ½ cups butter or hard margarine
3 ½–4+ cups flour
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp salt, scant
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon ginger
Cream butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix, adding enough flour to form a very stiff dough. Press well-chilled dough into cookie boards (flour mold well, press dough in with fingers, level it off, then turn the board over and bang one end on the counter so the cookie drops out).* Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350º F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in sealed container to retain crispness.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Happy Birthday to my CC who is 7!

May God bless my baby girl! 
MY PERFECT 10!!!
She is our crazy hunter baby who ran at 9 months old and got into everything!
We love you and are so blessed that God gave you to us.


You make us laugh and ...
Stay close to Jesus sweetie and follow Him all the days of your life!!!
My little St Cecilia who receives her First Penance today!
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+