Answer me This:: along with some news

 Joining up with Kendra @ 

Catholic All Year

for this week's Answer Me This

(a little late, but here I am)

 1. Do you have a smart phone?

Yes.  It's not a Iphone.  It's not one of the newer 4G kind of smart phones.  It's an Android and the best thing I can say about having it has been the handy use of the GPS. 

2. Which is your favorite meal of the day?

I'm with Kendra on this one.  BREAKFAST.  Over easy eggs, topped with a spicy nopale (catus) salad and sourdough bread!!!  Oh YES!!!

3. Shower or bath?

I may be a rare breed here, but I prefer showers.  I get cold in baths. I don't have a big spa-like tub to submerge myself completely, so I rarely get comfortable.  Nope, it's just not me.  

Funny, last Sunday I wasn't feeling well and I felt like taking a bath. I was just beginning to enjoy it when I felt the sway of the water.  A slight tremble that kept going and the loofah hanging from the rack was moving.  It was a 4.2 earthquake!

That was the end of my bath.

4. Think of a person you love. How many days have you been in love with that person?

Well that would be Victor, my honey.  

And we just celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last Thursday.  

We met, fell in love, and started 'dating' right from the get.  Married several years later (oh yes there is a story there) and loving every minute of it.

Total time together: 6386 days
That is: 17 years, 5 months, 26 days

How cool is that number!

5. What's the best church you've ever been inside?

Blessed!  We were so blessed to have been able to travel a bit a few years ago and visit my brother in London.  While we were there we celebrate Mass at this quaint little parish, Corpis Cristi Catholic Church.  It was cozy, reverent, and felt like home

Then, being that we so close to Paris, we jumped at the chance to visit the city and some of her holy-hot spots.  

Notre Dame

Sacre Coeur (just awesome)

Christ the King Chapel at Christendom College

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

in Washington D.C

They are all beautiful churches.  Hard to pick just one, but my two top choices have to be the little church in London and the grand Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Say that 10 times fast...

6. Happy Feast of the Visitation (on Saturday)! Has anyone ever come to help YOU?

I thought about this for a while.  There have been people around, always after each the kids' births.  For sure my in-laws, mom, sister-in-law.  I remember lots of friends and loved ones visiting each child. Lots of food, but mostly lots of people waiting to greet and love the new born baby.  Ya know we all love that new baby smell.

But, during the pregnancy?  The same family members have always been around to lend out a hand.  The family is just super close that way.

Perhaps I'll have a better answer to this question later, as this pregnancy progresses.

On our anniversary we had a little surprise waiting for the kids and family.  A baby, due in January, will be coming to join our little clan. We are over the moon at the news of this gift.

A Virtual Baby Shower

For Sarah!

Mary, from Better Than Eden blog, 

is hosting a virtual baby shower for Sarah

 of Amongst Lovely Things.

Sarah, is perhaps one of the cutest non-preggie women I've seen.  Now that she's pregnant with twins (twin boys even), she has increased her 'cuteness' times 100.

Having twins, among being a mommy to 4 other children, is an awesome blessing.  But, it's also a new future that can be a bit bumpy. My own SIL had TRIPLETS with 3 young ones running around.  The expense can be overwhelming, as well as the emotions.

This unique gift of multiple babies at once means that both Sarah and Andy will need some extra prayers.

Mary's virtual shower for Sarah offers the opportunity for us

 to pray for all the family!

It also allows Sarah's readers to pitch in for some diapers.

Very cool indeed.

Go check it out

HERE

and join in.

Humble Mary of Nazareth, you were chosen my God to bear within you our world’s greatest gift, the Savior of all humanity. I come to you now on behalf of Sarah who prays for the health and safety of the children that God has graced her to conceive.

Guard these lives that God has created, and protect the mother God has chosen for this child. Let your gently hands, like that of a skilled physician, assist in her delivery so that these babies will know good health and lasting happiness.

May her children be favored with the grace of Holy Baptism, and grow to love our Lord Jesus Christ above all else in this world. Amen.

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!