Happy 14th Birthday:

Our dear gentle soul...you are growing leaps and bounds! When you were born we joked and introduced you as our middle child...little did we know that God had great plans for our family! You are quiet and smart as well as a great soccer player. Your patience with your little brothers is commendable. You can handle E better than anyone! He is mesmerized in your presence. Thanks for always helping out with the little guys. Keep the faith and stay close to Christ. He is your best friend and confidant. We love you so much! We can't wait to see what Jesus and you accomplish.

THE 3 AMIGOS...

ALEX'S WEDDING

BIRTHDAYS!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Fr Leo:

Ash Wednesday:

We are tightening up the ship around here!
Doing 40 bags in 40 days and sharpening our daily chores and our spiritual lives!

Thy will be Done!!! +JMJ+

Happy 22nd birthday to my first baby!!!

1:18 in the morning on Feb 16, 1990 you made me a proud momma...seems like yesterday!!! Can't believe you are 22 years old...I thought I was still 22! Little did we know that you would be a big sister to eleven other siblings!!! You have raised the bar high for your siblings and your hard work and great personality has paid off. You have been a well balanced and wonderful young lady since you were born. You were "born old" with a mature spirit and wisdom that only God could of touched you with. Keep up the great job of changing the world one person at a time.

Love you bunches sweetie pie.
So proud of the amazing young women
and wife you have become!!!

KEEP THE FAITH!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!!
+JMJ+

Frugally Blonde: Frugal Friday: Healthy Homemade Corn Chips

Frugally Blonde: Frugal Friday: Healthy Homemade Corn Chips: A couple of weeks ago, I went to a friend's birthday lunch on a Saturday afternoon and left my husband home with the girls. We was fine wit...

Sports: what to do with a large family?

We have 12 children who are all very competitive and my seven boys are very athletic. We have a couple of rules that help tame this problem.

This is a great article here on the Marathon Mom blog:

1. Must be age 9/10 before playing on a game team. (we have let them play on a group activity that involves many of our kids that is mostly for fun...no uniforms, no games...just skills and fun...all on the same field and the same time) We have early dinners and early bedtime so we can sometimes squeeze in dinner before practice then home for showers and bed.

2. We try to find teams that more than one kid can play on...so many of our boys have played up...so finding a coach who is flexible is key...(btw...those boys who play up become the best players!)

3. No travel teams or expensive tournament teams with traveling far away with hotel accommodations.

4. If a coach really wants one of my kids...they find a ride to and from practice and games...this happened with my son who was a great goalie...the coach wanted him so bad that he came and drove him to every practice and most games.

5. The kids have to realize that we just can't be at every game...and if it is too hard to understand than they can wait to play another sport or on a different team. (they always deal with it)

6. I usually ask the coach about commitments prior to team...explain our family dynamic and if they are still on the phone...we try to work something out...like if we have church activities during practice and game time...God Comes First!

7. I always ask for a team list or send an email with our address to see if anyone lives near us to carpool...most of the time I can help another parent who is stuck to and then we have two happy families!

8. We only do a couple of seasons of sports...most of the time it is fall soccer...no winter...really relaxed tennis lesson/tennis team and swim lessons in the summer...spring we are flexible if we find a low committed team. We are very blessed to live in an awesome neighborhood with sports going on everyday.

This is a constant battle and one to take to prayer with your spouse. Many of my friends husbands would die if their kids weren't doing a sport each season...more power to them...no way in our family!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!1 +JMJ+

My Baby is 19!!!

Oh my dear...where did the time go? My dear sweet boy...my easiest labor...my cutest baby...(don't tell the others)! The one who drove me crazy but then brought me flowers and melted my heart!!! You have turned out amazing...a great student, hard worker, and a fine young man. I am so very proud of you and know God is just starting on you...He has a great plan for your life...embrace it!!!

If I were a song writer this is a song I would write for my kids:
(Thanks to the Sidewalk prophets for putting such beautiful words to music)

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+