Christmas 2008 Memories

Bean was accepted to Franciscan University, the only college she has really ever wanted to attend.

Fish received the Sacrament of First Reconcilliation on December 17th.

Alicia turned 21!

Boo loves Chris-chris yights, and Chris-chris trees. He recognizes Santa. Even better, he recognizes Jesus in the Manger.

Godmothers give great presents... Think a Nativity Set for children, complete with SAND!!

While finances were tighter, the love flowed freely and God has blessed us immensely.

I set a new world record... I had to go to Hobby Lobby 7 times for the same craft project and Michael's once. Three of those trips were in the same day...

Speaking of crafts...something I learned this season... what do you get when you leave a 7 year old, a 6 year old neighbor, and a bunch of craft paint unsupervised?? A unique "artsy" look upon the garage floor. And acrylic paint does NOT wash out of the good shorts, only the yucky ones. Guess which ones he was wearing!

Happy 21st Birthday, My Sweet One!

Alicia turned 21 today! I can recall some days in those turmultuous teenage years that I wasn't so sure she would make it this far. She has brought me to my knees in prayer so many times, and now I drop to my knees in thanksgiving for her safe, healthy, and much more happy outlook on life.

I thank each one of you who have prayed for my sweet oldest child. I do not doubt that your prayers coupled with ours are what have carried her this far.

I look to the future now, with hopes of a wonderful life. A life that she deserves and that she will embrace as God reveals it to her.

I love you so much, Alicia. You are the one who transformed me from a selfish young woman into a mother and in turn, towards my vocation in life. I thank God for you every single day!

The Season May Still Have a Reason!

I am just as guilty as the next person of getting caught up the all of the craziness of the season. We don't usually go overboard with the cost of gifts, but we do try to give something to most everyone we know.

We also try to do enough baking that could, honestly, feed lots of hungry people.

Add to that the special moments I've tried to "create" (aka as contrive) over the years, the perfect Christmas card picture, the 400 Christmas cards I try to mail out, the traditions I try to instill, and I end up one stressed out mom who is not much fun to be around.

This year is different. Perhaps it's the fact that the economy is slow and more of us are trying to conserve that which we have. Perhaps I'm finally realizing that I really don't have to run myself into the ground. Perhaps I have really, truly, and honestly found the real reason for the season.

I have always known the reason, and I've always talked about how we should always remember the reason, but what I did was contrary to what I was saying. My heart is in a different place this year.

Just like everyone else I know, we have cut back quite a bit this year. We've been moving in this direction for a few years now and this is the year that we finally have made Christmas more about what it is and less about ourselves.

I know that there are many people suffering this Christmas season, and for those people I pray that times get better and life gets easier, but for those of us who have not gone without very often, if ever, I pray that this year, we embrace the true meaning of Christmas, and that we hold onto it the whole year through.

In an effort to really be family-centered for the remainder of the Advent season and the Christmas season, I am restricting my computer time to only that which is necessary. I will not be blogging until 2009. I will be snuggling with the kids and finishing up our home made projects. We will be worshiping Christ and thanking Him for His gift to us. We will be reflecting on our baptismal call and what that means to us as a family.

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Houston We Have Snow!

We don't typically see this on our desktops...



It was a night of fun watching the kids reacting to real snow falling in Houston. By this morning it was gone, but for just a brief few hours, we had an early Christmas complete with white stuff!

2nd Week of Advent

It seems that the season of Advent hardly gets it's due. I know that I try in my heart of hearts to celebrate the season through a few small traditions in our home that can easily be forgotten with the business of the day.

I am so thankful that my children will remind me to stop and light the candle on the Advent wreath or that we will be mindful of taking the time to attend Mass on the feast days that make this period of waiting more beautiful.

I pray that you are each enjoying this small time of waiting before the Christ child comes to us on Christmas morn.

The value of persistent prayer is not that God will hear us,
but that we will finally hear God.

The newest Fishism

Today, Mark was reviewing some of Fish's religion lesson and was asking him if he remembered where Jesus went to pray before he was crucified.

Fish responded, "He went to Olive Garden to pray, Daddy!"

I wonder if he got breadsticks while He was there...