What wasn't meant to be...

A friend's words have come around to bring a fuller meaning to me.  When I announced our pregnancy to her I voiced out a concern in telling people so early on in the pregnancy.  Never having lost a child to miscarriage, I now think it's odd that I even had that thought.  But in her complete trust in God she just blurted out, "Oh no girl, celebrate this baby."  Celebrate this life from day one". 

So we did.  From flowers with little notes to big "announcements" over a campfire we celebrated him. 

Now sadly we have to mourn him. 

As a mother I knew when we were pregnant.  As a mother I knew what was wrong before it had to be said.

Early Sunday morning we lost our baby. 

I won't get to feel him grow within me.  We won't get to have those times of dreaming what or who he would look like.  That anticipation to his birth isn't ours to have.  We won't get to hold him while he is still messy from birth.  There are many things we just won't be able to have with him.  And I am  struggling here. 

What gives me peace is God's will.  I humbly place my heart into His hands and trust his plan with it.  I do not doubt His plans for me.  I embrace it and am overjoyed for it.  I thank Him for our little saint in Heaven.  I can take ease in the truth that one day we will meet. 

It was only meant for us to have you for a short time but I am so so glad that we celebrated you.  Though our hearts ache for you now, we will hold our love for you until we meet.  Our sweet baby you are in our hearts forever. 

My Lord, the baby is dead!

Why, my Lord—dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face—it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord

“Why, My child—do you ask ‘why’? Well, I will tell you why.

You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty—he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”

I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity. -- Mother M. Angelica

(Miscarriage Prayer-ETWN)

There is nothing like...

a satisfied tummy after a good meal.

(photo credit: Henry Matisse's The Dinner Table)

I haven't been menu planning lately.  But, when the mood strikes to make something out of the ordinary; and surprise the husband after a long day at work, I go to the Pioneer Woman.

She is one of my main "go to" cooking blogs for culinary inspirations.  After trying several recipes, here is what I have found. 

1.  I can actually make the very dish she has so kindly shared
2.  She uses real food.  I don't have to go across the valley to find some specialized ingredient...not that I don't sometimes do that...it's just not convenient to do it for each meal.
3.  Have you seen her pictures!!!  You just want to make the dish of the day.
4.  Her voice speaks through the screen to me.  No, I'm not kidding.  I get the cool Texan twang telling me "don't skimp on that butter...you'll regret it for the rest of your lift".  I love her personality.

Thus we come to the very dish I want to share and remember to make again and again.

 

Chicken Cacciatore

This was good.  I mean really good.  Hubby and I like this dish and have tried several different recipes for it at home.  There are two favorites and this one by The Pioneer Woman has become one of them. 

It was an easy one pot dish with a super quick clean up time afterwards.  For any busy mom...you can't ask for anything better.

I am NO Pioneer Woman when it comes to the pictures but here goes:

The veggies are in after the chicken as been nicely seared then removed

Right before it goes into the oven

the smell yelled comfort food!

After the oven, spread over some pasta.  I still hadn't put the rest of the sauce over the dish yet.  I took Ms. Pioneer Woman's advice to cook the sauce over the stove a bit longer to thicken it up.  Oh yes, this last step was worth it.

He didn't want me to take any more pictures.  He just wanted to eat but, he indulged me at least a wee bit longer to picture his smile.  Isn't is lovely!!

You may find this recipe and much more here:

The Pioneer Woman

She also has a premenent place on my side bar under

What's Cooking

*this moment*

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Visit SouleMama for links to those whose moments have stopped time...for a little while anyway.

2nd Annual Barn Dance

Holy Family

Annual Barn Dance

Our Catholic homeschooling co-op had it's 2nd Barn Dance early this month.  With the help of several organizers and the hospitality of the host family, the evening was yet another success. 

A little behind the scenes:  The moms of our co-op get together early in the school year or just at the end of summer.  This year the group opted to delegate the monthly events of the year between the families.  Each family signed up to host a monthly event; be it a field trip or an activity related to our Faith.  For the biggie stuff, like the Barn Dance, we have committees to help put together a successful get together. 

It is because of everyone efforts that we are able to make and build such cool memories for our children.  I hope that the kids look back and get a kick out of some of the things we actually pull off.  If it weren't for homeschooling, there are a few moms that could go into the business of event planning.

We begin with the home preparations

Lucy entered the teen pie baking contest

and

Max and Rose entered the pumpkin carving/decorating contest

I was helping another mom with the contest portion of the night.  We had thought about giving out ribbons to all the winners.  But, we then had a "brilliant" idea of making some treats to give the 1st place winner.  I thought of making candy apples and figured it would be easy to get a dozen or so done.

They looked so pretty...

so yummy...

until they went into the bags. 

I don't know where I went wrong but, these gooey little things were sooo hard to make.  I just couldn't get the caramel to stay on the apples.  I went through several batches before I had the bare minimum to give out.  The ones pictured were just the few that were presentable for a picture.

Finally, it was off to the hoedown...

Our little check-in stand

Our lovely host couple

This was their second year hosting, God bless them!

Our hostess, Mrs. A, and myself

Mrs. A has baby #6 in attendance as well....we'll have a new little bucka-roo come this March

My co-partner in the contest area and Mrs. H

We had

My little Cowgirl-Princess

The young teens

And because we are Catholics and this was a Catholic Homeschooling event

we prayed the Rosary

There was so much food, contests, and games

This young gal came dressed to impress!

and she was ready for the games

There was horse shoe toss, bean bag toss, three-legged races, egg bean toss, and quite a few more.  Since we had this on a Saturday, this was a whole family party.  The dads were so cute gallant in their three-legged race.

After some food the contests began..

We had five of the dads, including my own husband, taste test the 8 or so pies.

Needless to say they had their fill of dessert.

The picture hopefully shows what kind of evening this was; is was so nice!  Families eating, dancing, and playing together

Princess dancing with her Nino

Thank you Holy Families for making memories!!

The view from a child

There have been several reactions to the news of our pregnancy.  We've had the raised eyebrows of surprise, the hysterical cheers of joy from the grandparents, the teary-eyed-hugged-filled happiness from siblings and friends.  And then we have these:

After we announced the news to the two youngest:

Rose:  "What, really...no really, momma is going to lay a baby...really she's going to lay a baby...oh yes, yes, yes!!!"

(I don't know if she considers me equal to a chicken or that I've just made a goal)

Princess:  (hands in two small fists clutched to her chin) "Oh yes, oh yes....I'm gonna be a big sistah"

Later in the car, after we picked up the older two:

Rose to Max:  (in a small whisper sitting in the very back of the van) "You know what....Momma is going to have a baby..."

Max:  "What really?" (still in a whisper....though Papi and I can hear the whole conversation) "Momma, you're going to have a baby?"

I nod yes

Max: (hands in prayer) "Oh please, please let this be a boy!"

Lucy: (as cool as a 13 year old can be, smiling from ear to ear, offers me a two thumbs up then adds) "Congratulations"

I did get a huge hug once we were home and a "I love you guys" from her...

Then the next day I had a early appointment to the doctor's office, totally unrelated to the new baby though.  But Rose was right on it and asked:

"Momma is it time?  Are you bringing the baby home now?"

Oh dear she has a long long while before this baby makes it home...poor thing, she'll need to learn patience.



for All the Saints

It's a artist card swap for All the Saints!

Kimberlee hosted a Marian ATC Swap last may and most of my kids really got into it.  Kimberlee had stated then, that perhaps she would host this again in November; in celebration of All Saint's Day.  Well she is doing it.  All the details are over at her blog; Pondered in my Heart.

This is a great way to get to know the Church Triumphant and have some fun while celebrating.

All forms of media are welcomed from crayons to acrylics or any combination you'd like to try.  

This is for all ages too, from adults to the youngest in your house. 

 ATC'sTh ( 7gypsies 17635 Artist Trading Card Card Pack) are about the same size as a baseball trading card.  Last year we didn't buy the pre cut sized cards but, used sturdy cardstock cut to size instead.

So now, choose a few of your favorite saints.  Get to drawing, painting, or sketching.  Click on to Pondered in my Heart for the details and her address (for mailing them in).  Then be prepared for the gifts in return as you receive 5 beautifully made cards from around the U.S.A.

Have fun!

Time, Talent and Treasure

Time, Talent and Treasure is a having a giveaway go check it out....

Our Lady of the Rosary

Our Lady of The Rosary

"Pope Benedict XVI invites all families to pray the Rosary for the intentions of the Pope, the mission of the Church and peace. "It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and profound." The Rosary, a "contemplative and Christocentric prayer, inseparable from the meditation of Sacred Scripture," is "the prayer of the Christian who advances in the pilgrimage of faith, in the following of Jesus, preceded by Mary," said the Pontiff."

~ Catholic Culture

We had a few things going on around here.  Mainly my hubby is home from an injury while at work.  So helping him through the day to be comfortable and completing our school work almost detoured the baking of the cupcakes for our feast.

But just almost...

My in laws showed up with a beefy stew

and

together we baked the mini cupcakes for our

Rosary Cupcakes

All for Our Lady

Rose kept counting them by 2s and 5s

who knew math could be accomplished with the Rosary!

 Rose, BTW, was hard at play...I didn't notice the hair until after the photo

Our completed Rosary

O Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of brazen impiety, show again they power, with the signs which accompanied thy victories of old, and from the throne where thou art seated, dispensing pardon and grace, in pity watch over the Church of thy Son, His Vicar, and every order of the clergy and laity, suffering in grievous warfare. Hasten, O most powerful destroyer of heresy, hasten the hour of mercy seeing that the hour of judgment is daily challenged by innumberable offences. Obtain for me, the lowest of men, kneeling suppliant in thy presence, the grace which may enable me to live a just life on earth, and reign with the just in Heaven, whilst with the faithful throughout the world, O Queen of the most holy Rosary, I salute thee and cry out: Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us! Amen.

(Prayer Source: Prayers from Various Holy Cards)

 

There are more versions of how other families have honored Our Lady

click on over to

Catholic Cuisine for a look

Beginnings

There is another post that I've written and rewritten a few times.  I have yet to post it.  There was no real reason not too, expect things have changed a bit here. 

I've been contemplating the desire for more children for a good while now.  Because of our personal situations I believed to be comfortable and fine with the four precious souls already charged to our care.  But, that little urge would creep up and just wouldn't go away.  Honestly, there have been those times where I felt content to what has already been given.  I have dreamt of the world Papi and I could provide.  Thus, the urge for another child would weaken in those moments.  Yet....

It just wouldn't go away.

We've discussed it, prayed about it, and discussed it some more.  Over and over again the answer has been "no".

So then what now? 

Hubby felt strongly he wasn't in the position with work and other areas to have more children...I had to take his feelings and fears into account.  Praying about it.  Then after talking this out with my spiritual director, I knew; or rather felt that it wasn't up to just me anyway.  Do not get me wrong, we are open to life but, are very aware of what we can provide and not provide.  And I'm not talking tennis shoes here. 

So I felt at peace and hubby was at peace.  We again began to plan our year with the four we have.  There was talk of a big move.  We looked at each of the four with new eyes.

Then came good sweet St. Therese.  Her novena was prayed and my prayers were simple and direct. 

Please sweet Little Flower pray for that peace in my heart to be at rest with what we have or open us to a new life"

I suppose I should have known.  God is good and boy does he listen to St. Therese.  God has answered me in the most direct way I know possible.

Hubby and I are expecting another soul to

care for

nurture

and love

There are some fears here but I TRUST!!  All will be provided for that is needed.  And we have one more precious little heart to join us!

Thank you St. Therese!

Sweet Saint Francis

(picture credit: Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), Legend of St. Francis, Death and Ascenstion of St. Francis)

"Remember that when you leave this earth you can take nothing of what you have received, but only what you have a given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage."

- Saint Francis of Assisi

Her Feast begins

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Pray for us!

A MORNING PRAYER WRITTEN BY ST. THERESE

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.

O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity. Amen.
 
We have a few things planned for today but over at Shower of Roses, Jessica has prepared a wonderful post.  It is filled with enough ideas to shower your family with many memories and delights.  I shall update our own celebrations after the day is done. 
 
For now, I'm off to prepare and spend the day with my kiddos (after the math and reading are done of course).
 

May St. Therese have heard your calls and shower you all with her answers.  God hear us and bless those that visit here.