If Mary and Joseph used Facebook . . . .

This might be the timeline if Mary and Joseph used Facebook, announcing the events leading up to the arrival of their Son Jesus.

Guilty!

Kobi ate half  my groceries!

A New Family Member!

We now have a new family member! Today I adopted a polar bear. I don't know his/her name yet, but will get a photo. I'm so excited!!!! Anyway, here are some cute photos - maybe one of these is our new family member.

Some Thanksgiving Cuties!

 Here are some pics from Thanksgiving. I have a really cute video that I'm working on getting uploaded and also some pictures taken earlier that include Jason & Erica and other miscellaneous.

Angela & Leah chilling after we all ate. Leah is still eating cantelope and more cantelope and more cantelope!

 

Aidan & his 'lil bro Dillon

The beautiful Katelyn. The next day she got 3 inches of hair cut off!

Leah feeding Dillon. He is 9 months but looks like he is smashing Leah. She didn't quite know what to think about this whole thing.

Julie & Dillon!

It's All in Your Perspective . . . . . .

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? This bald eagle may look like it is jet propelled - but it's actually been photographed as an airplane flies in the distance.

In this 1962 photo taken by LIFE's George Silk the refraction makes it seem as if her head is separate from her body!

Huge God Moment!!

What a HUGE God moment I had on the way to Mass this morning! I am so amazed at how quickly, and to the point God can act when it is His will. I was really needing something from Him and He delivered right away through music. I always have K-LOVE playing in my car and just as I was thinking my thoughts this song came on. It was my gift from God and I thank Him for it.

God is good - all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K-Love followers will LOVE this!!!!!

K-LOVE has a new morning show crew and this is their introductory video! HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!

Love, Love, Love K-LOVE!!!!!

"Have you loved? Have you cared?"

Immaculée Ilibagiza. Her Life was transformed dramatically during the 1994 Rwandan genocide where she and seven other women spent 91 days huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor's house. She entered the bathroom a vibrant, 115-pound university student with a loving family - she emerged weighing just 65 pounds to find most of her family had been brutally murdered.

Immaculee credits her salvage mostly to prayer and to a set of rosary beads given to her by her devout Catholic father prior to going into hiding. Anger and resentment about her situation were literally eating her alive and destroying her faith, but rather than succumbing to the rage that she felt, Immaculee instead turned to prayer.

She has written several books, but I would like to read "Left to Tell; Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust".

This is a quote I read from her this morning that I thought was a good way to start the day:

Remember…it doesn’t matter how healthy we are today, or this second, how many plans we have for tomorrow; all we are have for sure is, “the present moment…now!” 

It is up to us to choose to use this moment for good or for evil; to be happy or to be worried; to love or to hate; to forgive or to hold a grudge; to be grateful or to complain; to give a hand or to be indifferent etc… 

Sometimes in life, we have an idea about what the best version of us is.  We think about things we would like to fix, if we knew our lives would come to an end soon. We try to correct bad habits we want to let go of, and embrace good ones.  We think about a friend that we should forgive or apologize to; a debt to pay, or love and gratitude to express to the one who have done good to you. 

Don’t wait for tomorrow, decide to make it better today!  Decide to smile more, to be kinder, to be more loving and compassionate in our actions, words, and thoughts, there lies the secret to peace!  Be happy and know that God loves you.  One thing I know for sure; we will be asked at the end of this journey of life "Have you loved? Have you cared?" Think of what you would answer and make a decision right now to do it!

Blessings,

Immaculee

On This Day . . . .

On this day, 46 years ago, my sister Patti was born. She passed away almost 8 years ago.

For the past 7 years, on her birthday, I have gone to a local park which is FULL of beautiful, old trees, and have let loose a smiley face balloon. Patti LOVED the smiley face icon (she had mugs, trash cans, buttons, and on and on and on) so I have always found it fitting to do this on her "earthly" birthday.

Today was a very windy day, so when I let the balloon go it did not take long to start it's ascent to it's destination. I always stay and watch the balloon as it floats away. It becomes smaller and smaller until finally I can no longer see it. I can only guess where it will end up. I thought, wouldn't it be bizarre if I went into work tomorrow and someone said that a smiley face balloon had ended up in their tree?

As I let it go this evening I wished her Happy Birthday - as usual - but also had a very calm feeling. I know she is so happy and that she probably no longer celebrates this day as her birthday. She probably celebrates the day she passed away and went to be with Jesus as her birthday.

So, I have decided that not only will I let off a balloon on her earthly birthday, but also on her heavenly birthday.


Happy Birthday Patti!!!!!

A Reminder of the Cursillo Weekend!

Father Paul read to us the scripture in Ezekiel about the dry bones. Love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is What I Stand For

Every cold, rainy, snowy Thursday that I stand outside our local Planned Parenthood is for this, and THIS REASON ONLY. God is good! I pray that those entering can feel Him and will listen to His promptings. We are only His helpers in this mission.

Ascent From Darkness - My Review

I have recently joined Booksneeze, sponsored by Thomas Nelson Publishers. The deal is you get a free book, of your choosing, read it and then provide a review. So . . . . . . .

Here is the description of the book: 

"A life of difficulty and disappointment set 33-year old Michael Leehan up for the worst decision of his life—to make a deal with the Devil to follow and serve him. Practicing the dark arts that include ritualistic cuttings and blood sacrifices, while fine tuning his manipulation and control skills, Michael launched into a twenty year downward spiral that included job loss and detachment from loved ones, and even jail time.

But God had another plan that included a group of Christian men to love him and pray for him—even when it became evident his assignment from Satan was to kill their pastor, Craig Groeschel.

The life Michael Leehan lives today is an incredible testimony of the transforming power of God's mercy and grace, but is also a wakeup call to the church to be fully aware of the spiritual war that is going on all around them, and to the ultimate battle for their souls.

"I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26:18"

It truly was an eye opener as to how easy it is to become overtaken by Satan and his minions. It took Michael a long time to finally break free. He was literally hours away from death before Satan finally let loose. Michael had many people praying for him - the power of prayer is amazing! - and they did not give up. They did not turn their back on him when they found out the truly overwhelming evil he was consumed with. The power that Satan can hold over a person is astounding. But in the end God wins out because nothing can permeate his light!

For the Lord Knows . . . . . . . . .

When I read this story I was overcome with a feeling of security. I have no doubt that this couple had a love for our Lord and that because of that love and unity in Christ, were able to make it through 72 years of marriage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What an inspiration. And, what a reminder that God knows the plans that He has for us. His plan was for this couple to witness to the world - since it has been posted on the "internet" - that love prevails. Love for each other and love for our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Here's the story:

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa couple married for 72 years died holding hands in a Des Moines hospital within 70 minutes of each other last week after a car accident that also injured another couple.
"They're very old-fashioned. They believed in marriage 'til death do you part," Dennis Yeager, the son of Gordon and Norma Yeager, told KCCI.com.

The accident that claimed Gordon, 94, and Norma Yeager, 90, happened Oct. 12, when the couple left their State Center home for a drive shortly after 8 a.m. At the intersection of Highway 30 and Jessup Avenue, just west of Marshalltown, Gordon pulled "away from the stop sign and failed to yield to a westbound vehicle," according to Sgt. Joel Ehler of the Iowa State Patrol.

The driver of the other car, Charles Clapsaddle, 64, of Marshalltown, was unable to stop to avoid a collision, Ehler said.

 

Clapsaddle was treated and released from Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, but his wife, Barbara, was reportedly transferred to Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A man who identified himself as their son, John, said in a comment published on a story on the Times-Republican website that his mother suffered internal bleeding and a broken neck.

“She is currently stable but remains in the critical care unit,” he wrote. “There will be a long road ahead for her recovery.

Ehler said Yeager was facing pending action by the Iowa Department of Transportation to have his license removed, but citing privacy concerns, said he could release no additional details on what prompted that action.

The Yeagers' children told KCCI.com that their parents never liked being apart ever since Norma Stock married Gordon Yeager on May 26, 1939, in State Center. And they were relieved that the couple was able to spend their last moments together at the intensive care unit of the Marshalltown hospital.

"They brought them in the same room in intensive care and put them together — and they were holding hands in ICU. They were not really responsive," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com.
Gordon died at 3:38 p.m. surrounded by their family and holding hands with Norma.
"It was really strange, they were holding hands, and dad stopped breathing but I couldn't figure out what was going on because the heart monitor was still going," said Dennis Yeager. "But we were like, he isn't breathing. How does he still have a heart beat? The nurse checked and said that's because they were holding hands and it's going through them. Her heart was beating through him and picking it up."

"Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other. I couldn't figure out how it was going to work," the Yeagers' daughter Donna Sheets told KCCI.com. "We were very blessed, honestly, that they went this way."

The Yeager’s children said the couple complemented each other.

"Anybody come over — she was the hostess with the mostess. ... The more she did, the more she smiled," Dennis Yeager told KCCI.com. "Dad would be the center of attention, like, 'Wheee look at me,' and mom was like 'get him away from me!' You know we even got a picture like that."
And even though they argued every now and them, "They just loved being together," he said.
"He said 'I have to stick around. I can't go until she does because I have to stay here for her and she would say the same thing,'" he said.

The couple reportedly were holding hands Tuesday at their funeral in their casket. Their family said the plan was to cremate them together and mix their ashes.

It's All About Family

Beach Creatures

This is really neat.

A preview of things to come????

Last week at school they had theme days and you got to dress like the theme. One day was grandparents day. This is a picture of Katelyn and her friend Sydney. Cute you two!!!!!

K-LOVE

I love listening to K-LOVE. The DJ's make me laugh, inspire me and challenge me. The songs that are played always seem to fit the situation and if I'm feeling down always lift me up. I support K-LOVE financially also. They are entirely listener funded. Right now they are having a fund-drive and people call in with stories about how K-LOVE has affected their lives. This was one caller . . . . .

Aww . . . . . . . . .

This has really been a time of reflection for me. Time is flying and my kids are growing. I know, that's what they are SUPPOSED to do, but . . . . .

Katelyn is graduating from high school and planning a college career and  Leah is going to be turning 2 in just a couple of weeks. It seems like all my kids are growing up, and into, great people! Anyway, here a a couple of pics.

The first two pictures were taken last Sunday at a pumpkin patch. It was a lot of fun and we got some really large pumpkins! Thanks to Nick for being there to carry them to the car!!!!!!!!!

These pictures were taken by a friend of Matt and Angela's , Sarah, who is a very talented photographer!!! She took them downtown and took pictures in various locations and with various backgrounds. I can't wait to see the whole set!!!!!!

Jason & Erica took a trip to the pumpkin patch and also a trip on the Harley to a local National Park. Beautiful . . . . .

Where Has The Time Slipped Away To?

Remember the song by the Steve Miller Band "Fly Like An Eagle"? It was actually about time that keeps on "slippin', slippin', slippin' away". If you grew up in the 70's you will remember it! 


Anyway, I was just thinking that there is not enough time and that I don't know where it all goes. This song came to my mind - because I DID grow up in the 70's - and I really liked the song at the time. It rings very true in my life right now. I NEED more time. There is God time, family time, work time and chore time. The way I figure it that adds up to 30 hours a day. Doesn't fit, right? Where is the time for reading, playing the piano, making cards and just plain ol' chilling out???????? 


Anyway, listen to the video. PLEASE keep in mind that it was a 70's song and is thus 70's hokey.

40 Days for Life

The 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign started yesterday, September 28, and will continue through November 6. Reports are that as of day 2, 11 babies have been saved. I remember my first day of the Spring Campaign, standing outside Planned Parenthood, same night of the week, same time - 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. It was so so so bitterly cold. I had earmuffs on and a scarf pulled up around my face. All that could be seen were my eyes. There were many more days like that but through the whole campaign, each week that I stood outside Planned Parenthood and prayed, I felt blessed.  I have no doubt, none whatsoever, that I will again be blessed during these 40 days.

It started out as a BEAUTIFUL day here in Lafayette. I even got to sit outside on my lunch hour, soaking up the sun in my beach chair with a good book. Then about 4:00 it started clouding up. I looked at the weather report and it was calling for severe weather - potential strong winds that could knock out power. "Really God?" I asked. "Are you really going to send me out in a tornado on my first night of prayer? Ok, I'll take my umbrella and brace myself for whatever you send". Well, it did start raining, but about 10 minutes before I was to arrive at 6:00 p.m., the rain stopped and the sun came out. I did not see a rainbow, but I still saw God's promise.

 

 

There were only three of us there tonight but it's not the number of people it's the prayers that are said during that time. I have an hour long version of the Divine Mercy Chaplet on my iphone so I played that. We had one young man come out of Planned Parenthood stop and ask us if we were Pro-life protesters. I said that we are Pro-life but not protesting. Just praying. He said

"You know, praying is the only thing you can do and still not do anything."

and he got in his car and tore out of there. My heart ached for him. Not only because he thought our presence there was of no good, but more because he did not believe in prayer and probably not in God. I prayed extra hard that God would show Himself to this young man. Then we had a couple of teen boys walk by and say nasty things and spit. Oh well - that's the evil of the world. But I say, if you look at this map which represents the current 40 Days for Life participating sites, you will see that MANY prayers are being said. Hopefully all these prayers will help that young man and those two young teens.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

Awesome Video of a Painter in Action

Wouldn't Want to Be Riding a Bike!!!!!!!

Peace . . . .

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

And where does this feeling of inner peace come from?  I found it in adoration last night at the St. Elizabeth Chapel. Wonderful!!!

"Neither theological knowledge nor social action alone is enough to keep us in love with Christ unless both are proceeded by a personal encounter with Him. Theological insights are gained not only from between two covers of a book, but from two bent knees before an altar. The Holy Hour becomes like an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the foul and fetid atmosphere of the world."

~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Boo Boo's in the Family

Leah had her first major boo-boo the other night. She was pushing her little book drawer around and it caught and smashed her little, cute, baby toe. Angela took her to the doctor just to make sure it was not getting infected and he said it looked fine but that the toenail *would* fall off. YUCK! Anyway, her toe is all wrapped up and she has a Dora the Explorer bandage on it.

When I picked her up from daycare yesterday she had a sock only on the injured foot and looked at me right away and said "toe" and "shoe" and then "nose". So who knows  . . . . . .

Anyway, she was in good spirits besides her poor little toe.

Then Erica injured her wrist.

Not quite sure of the story but at any rate it was all wrapped up. Didn't stop her from jumping though!

Plus, she got new Oakley sunglasses so that had to make it feel better.

Leah may argue that a Dora the Explorer band aid is better but they can settle that one!!!!!!!!

We Are Asked to Give Back . . .

I have been blessed to once again be on Team for the Women's Cursillo Weekend. This will be #95 for the women. So far we have about 28 women coming to spend Oct. 13-16 together learning the tools to be the christian women we are called to be in our everyday environments. It is an AWESOME weekend filled with faith sharing, the making of new friendships and very close times with our Lord. If you have never come to a Cursillo weekend I urge you to look into it.

http://www.cursillo.org/indy/

We have been called as Cursillo Team #95 by God to give back to Him. This team of women have been put together for a reason and I can't wait for the weekend!!!

This video is so very, very touching! Team #95 - let's give our all back to Him by giving to the women who will be coming to spend a weekend with us.

Congratulations Joel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brother-in-law, Joel, participated in the American Heart Association's walk on Saturday. He has really committed himself to the cause and we are all so thankful that he is here to do so. Way to go Joel! Keep up the hard work!!

Heart walkers lift feet to raise funds

Joel Robbins was caught off guard when a "widow-maker" heart attack nearly took his life last summer.

"It was unexpected," the 45-year-old said. "However, looking back, there were a lot of signs that I overlooked. I had shortness of breath, sweating that was unusual, and I was really lethargic."

Since his heart attack, Robbins has changed his lifestyle by eating healthier, reducing stress and exercising regularly.

"Being active is more of a mindset for me -- making it a point to not sit on the couch," he said.

Robbins was honored with the Lifestyle Change Award on Saturday morning during the American Heart Association's annual Heart Walk in West Lafayette.

Watch Out for Falling Moose!!!!!

An inebriated moose trying to get more fermenting apples apparently lost its balance and ended up stuck in an apple tree in Sweden.

After returning home from work Tuesday evening, Per Johansson of Saro heard bellowing from his neighbor’s yard. “I thought at first that someone was having a laugh. Then I went over to take a look and spotted a moose stuck in an apple tree with only one leg left on the ground,” Johansson told The Local. Johansson called the police, but while waiting for a response, he and neighbors began to saw off limbs to try to help the entangled, thrashing moose.

Responding firefighters managed to bend the tree down far enough for the animal to slide off the branches. Drunken moose are common in Sweden in autumn, when apples are abundant on the ground and in trees in homeowners’ yards. Johansson surmised the moose had been indulging for quite a while.

“My neighbor recognized it as the animal that almost ran into her car earlier in the day,” Johansson told The Local. “She was pretty sure the moose was already under the influence."

The freed animal lay on the ground seemingly unconscious before finally staggering to its hooves and eventually wandering off. "We often see moose stuffing their faces with apples around here," Johansson told
The Local. "But this is the first time we found one perched in a tree."

© 2011 msnbc.com

Dogs Do Teach Us Humans A Lot

This would be a bummer

Today in History

A lot of things happened on this day throughout history. But #1 on my list is the premiere of the Wizard of Oz. I wonder how many hundreds of times I've seen the movie as a kid myself and then with my kids?

On this day in 1939, The Wizard of Oz, which will become one of the best-loved movies in history, opens in theaters around the United State. 

The Wizard of Oz spawned two sequels, Journey Back to Oz (1974), an animated film featuring the voice of Judy Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, and Return to Oz (1985). A remake with an African American cast, The Wiz starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, was released in 1978 with music arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones.

The Wizard of Oz was one of the first 25 films to be put on the National Film Registry, which is reserved for culturally or historically significant movies.

My favorite characters, the munchkins! We represent the Lollipop Guild . . . .

LOVE This Video

I've Not Been Busy!!!!!

I read a very interesting article about always being busy and about how your first response to being asked how you are is usually always "busy!".

I was just getting ready to post a short blurb about how I realized I've not posted anything in quite some time. I was going to say it's because I've been so busy. So, since I should not use that excuse, I will just say that I've not been busy, I've just been spending a lot of time doing a lot of things that have required a lot of my time!

More later!!!!!



Here is part of the article:

“Life is just a quick succession of busy nothings.”  ~ Jane Austen

Do you remember the last time you asked someone how work was? How about life in general? What was their response?

What did you say the last time you were asked those questions? I bet I know. It’s the same thing almost everyone I talk to says, and something I’ve been keeping track of the past few weeks.

The unanimous answer: “busy”

The response is almost programmed. No need to think.


How did we all of a sudden find ourselves in a society where busy was the most acceptable way to be spending our time?

We’ve talked of being busy for so long that we’ve forgotten that being busy was never the goal. We are not on this earth to be busy. We are here to build relationships, experience life, go places, create things, help others, or whatever else you decide. Our reasons for being will all be different but I have a feeling that none of us feel we are here simply to be busy. But this thinking has lead us to think busy is good…no matter what we’re busy with.

Being busy is not the way we should measure our worth. It is up to each of us to decide how we ought to be spending our time. I do not believe being busy is a worthy goal for any of us. Before you know it, you might get caught up being busy doing worthless things.

I’ve realized that busy is simply a state of mind. A state that often causes stress, unhappiness and waisted energy.

I propose that we all take a moment to stop, recognize this unhealthy state, and make the decision to no longer be busy. Enjoy the weight that gets lifted off your back simply by changing your focus. Perception is reality and none of us need busy to be that reality. I bet you’ll get even more done and have time left over to do the things you really care about.

Life can never be too busy for the things that matter most to you. If you don’t have time for those, the busywork won’t matter anyway.

The full article is located here:



http://thinksimplenow.com/clarity/busy/

Thought for the Day

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.
Have you used one to say “thank you?”

Jason's Travels Back to Fayetteville, NC

Jason and Erica were up for a visit this past week. Erica had to fly back on Monday, but Jason stayed and fixed up his Harley so that he could ride it back to Fayetteville. I, and the rest of our family, were not so sure that we liked this idea. It wasn't because he isn't a good driver, but we worried more about the crazies driving around out there.

He left Thursday morning and made it all the way to Wise, VA.

He took off this morning around 9:00 and figured he should be in Fayetteville by 5:00-6:00 this evening.



This morning he sent me a couple pictures of the beautiful scenery he is seeing on his adventure. Beautiful!