My Joshy turns 17...

Picture of Joshua with his baby brother and Godson Eric... PRAYER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA (ONE OF JOSHUA'S FAVORITE PRAYERS)

Lord Jesus Christ, Take all my freedom. My memory, my understanding and my will. All that I have and cherish You have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your grace and your love are wealth enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more.

My oldest son Joshua turns 17 today...it seems like yesterday when I was 15 days late and drinking Castor oil...I do not suggest this...especially when you try to dilute it with orange juice. If you do take it, contact your midwife, doctor, or a plumber before digesting. Follow it with a strong drink, not vodka, but strong juice or soda, do not try to mix them, it make for a larger amount of consumption.

I became pregnant when my oldest was six months old who was just nursing and I was 22. (oh to be young again)

I was really excited about this delivery, my first home birth!!! I contacted my midwife to say things were starting and my husband and I were off to mass and we would meet her at our home in an hour or so. I also contacted my nurse, my sister, and a friend who would be watching our (at the time) Christian Bookstore for us. As we got dressed...it happened. The Castor oil kicked, punched, and knocked me out...my legs started to shake uncontrollable and I was having contractions as well as my bowels emptying. My husband contacted everyone to say come here and quick. When they got here things went fast and all I remember is my sister, husband, and a friend holding my up so the midwife could pull out my son who I had just delivered his head...not the body yet. Well with much help, he came out. Since I didn't see the delivery, you will have to check out my funnier, and handsome husband's post for the gory details.

Joshua was the first of many home deliveries, none as fast or shaky. He was our fussiest baby and I am sure he had some type of food allergy that we never found. When I got pregnant with the next baby people were shocked that we must have been serious with this pro life stuff because Joshua was one of the fussiest babies they had seen. Joshua grew to be one of the easiest going, pleasant, crowd pleaser we have.

He is planning on attending the seminary in the fall and we are very proud of this decision and will miss him very much.

God Bless you Joshua, we love you sweetie. +JMJ+

Hard Brown Sugar solutions...

found this on line http://tipnut.com/10-ways-to-soften-hard-brown-sugar/10 Ways To Soften

Hard Brown Sugar
It happens to the best of us: rock hard brown sugar. How to soften it? Ten easy tips below:
Place the brown sugar in an airtight container with a slice of fresh bread placed on top. Seal and leave overnight. It should be soft and fresh again in the morning, if not just let it sit another day or two. This is the one I tried...it worked great...in two days my rock hard brown sugar was soft.
Sprinkle a few drops of water over the chunk of hardened sugar, place in a plastic bag, seal, and let sit for a couple days.Place brown sugar in an open container, then top with a moistened cloth (paper towel works too). Let sit overnight.
Place the hardened sugar in an airtight container with a few apple slices. This should soften the sugar within the next day or two. Remove apple slices once sugar is soft again.
Use foil or plastic wrap to cover the top of the sugar. Then set a dampened sheet of paper towel (not dripping wet) on top of the foil.
Place in an airtight container and seal. Let sit overnight or a few days as needed. Remove foil and paper towel once the towel is dry and sugar is fresh again.
Buy a clay disc or if you have a pottery piece on hand (from a broken clay pot, etc.), set it in water for about 30 minutes. Dry the piece so it isn’t dripping wet. Put the clay piece in a container with the sugar and seal. Check after a few days. Keep the piece in with your sugar for months if you’d like–will keep it soft.
Quick Tip #1: Need the sugar soft now? Put the brown sugar in a container and place in the microwave with a small bowl full of water beside it. Microwave for about 1 minute–check. If it’s still hard, try for another 30 seconds. You can keep doing this until the sugar is soft, but watch that you don’t melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #2: Place the hardened sugar in a baking pan and set in oven (temperature at about 250° F). Check after 5 minutes. If still not soft, continue checking every few minutes until it’s soft and ready to use.
Quick Tip #3: Place the brown sugar chunk in a microwave safe plastic bag. Take a square of paper towel and moisten with water (not dripping wet–wring out excess). Place the wet paper towel in the bag with the sugar and seal. Place in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds. If still not soft, microwave for a few seconds more, repeating until the sugar is ready to use. Be careful not to melt the sugar.
Quick Tip #4: Stick chunks of the brown sugar in a food processor or blender and chop/pulse until usable.For best results, make sure to store brown sugar in a sealed, airtight container. A clay disc kept in the container can keep it soft for months (see tip above for clay disc).Brown sugar can also be stored in the freezer and thawed a few hours before using.

Final countdown to the end of school...

I finished the end of the year school schedule for two of my kids this weekend. It is a very stressful and thought provoking time. Everyone needs to give me space as I make them. I can't believe I only have about seven weeks left...have I even touched on what my kids should have accomplished? Dear Lord, I am sorry if I haven't. I do know we learn constantly, but sometimes the enormity of the task I have sometimes brings me to my knees, and I hope I am not missing teachable moments with my precious kids. THY WILL BE DONE...

Well I need to get off the computer and...JUST DO IT!!! +JMJ+

OUCH!!!

After reading Elizabeth Foss's blog about homemaking, I felt as if she had just been at my home...I have ll children, I find it important to do apostolate that fits my state in life...I also try to keep the "social" parts of my home tidy...people think my house is together and sometimes wonder how I do it. My family doesn't get the "treatment" our guests do...our upstairs is scary...my room is usually the last to clean, and I have LOTS of hiding places for my junk.

My mom was an amazing cleaner and was a wonderful example of homemaking to me...I guess I just wasn't interested in learning those traits. Being the youngest of nine and the fifth daughter I wasn't expected to do as much as I should of.

I agree with all Elizabeth says and I am slowly spending time trying to rid my house of my clutter...room by room. I have tried organizational tools over and over again...but, in a day everything is back to its crazy messy self. So, I decided to start over. I will spend this spring and summer gutting the entire upstairs, so to start over. This way I can start from scratch. I will post along the way...it is good to be accountable.

People are VERY generous to us!!! They give us everything. Clothes, toys, furniture, shoes, toys, and some more toys...I plan on monitoring EVERYTHING that comes in. I need to watch my own weakness and be prudent on what we keep. I have talked with the kids about Christmas...we will just get new bedroom furniture, bed spreads, the necessities...we also celebrate seven winter birthdays...so toys and stuff are usually everywhere!!!I have always wanted to do a post on the perfect toy...guess what...there isn't...I have decided the perfect toy is a sibling!!!

I pray that someday I too will be able to give my family "Guest Treatment"!!!
+JMJ+

Happy Birthday Barbara Philomena...

My sweet girl. You are 12...I am so proud of the young lady you are turning into. You were named for my mom and what a special lady you share birthdays with!!!Who would of thought you would take so long to get here? We are grateful to St.Philomena for interceding for us during our pregnancy and know she will be there to be an example of purity for you always. You get better every day. Even thou you are my fifth child and were 19 days late...17 hour labor (started on Good Friday)...I still remember the joy you brought to us all!!! You always make us laugh and you are so much help with the little guys, cooking, and doing projects for me. This Christmas wouldn't of been as magical if it wasn't for you sweetie. Thanks for being such a special part of our crazy family!!! We love you BABS...+JMJ+

Whose Shoes will they follow in???

Whose shoes will they follow in? As I look at my little ones and wonder who they will follow…I am so blessed to have them still believe and trust me. It worries me more when my teens give me the look when the little kids are loud, running through the house in their undies, or I am screaming at someone about doing their jobs or school work. Will they want lots of kids? Will they want to homeschool? Will they stay close to the Catholic Church? All I can do is pray and beg God to stay close to them in good times and in bad. Pouring His precious blood over them to protect and guide them. Asking our blessed Mother to pray and guide them along with St. Joseph the quiet one who listened to the Holy Spirit for wisdom on raising the Son of God.
Thy will be done…+JMJ+

GREAT FOR KIDS...

http://www.ewtn.org/ewtnkids/index.asp

Great games for kids, light a candle, send a prayer intention...
No membership required.
Have fun being Catholic!!!
+JMJ+