Kisses from Katie

A long time ago, another blogger introduced me to this young lady.  Her stories and life blew me away.  She leaves all she knew behind at a ripe age of 18!  Then, as life is, through this chose and that chose... she ends up in Uganda, adopting 14 girls, opens her heart and door (literally) to the sick and poor EVERYDAY!  Sacrificing each day for a people she never knew, she follows Jesus and finds him in the faces of each person she sees.

How can such a young girl be so trusting of God's will?  I ask myself that whenever I read a post of  hers.  Her blog, Kisses from Katie, humbles me often.  Oh, I dare not compare my day in any way.  But, I am thankful that God has created Katie and those like her.

"Through Katie’s life, we’re reminded how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things for Him. We simply need to be willing to be used."

~ Rich Stearns, President of World Vision US

She wanted to be Blessed Mother Teresea of Calcutta... need I say more

Kisses from Katie

I can't wait to start reading this.

From our family to yours,

May God bless each of you,

May His grace be stowed upon you,

May we treasure His gifts, always!

Only God Knows...

In the times of great saddness for many families.  This song hit home for me.  Only God knows the whys in our lives.  In the lowest points of my own life, He provides what is needed.  In trusting Him, I can find comfort. 

My heart grieves for these families.

My prayers are with them and for them.

Lord Jesus, lover of our souls, you gave us your life so that everyone might be saved and have eternal life. Hear our prayers, look with favor and love on your people who grieve and others who pray for their passed family members. Only You are holy, just, mighty and perfect in all your ways; yet you look on us with compassion and mercy. By sacrificing yourself for us, you have given us access to You. Please give all those sould your light, joy and peace in heaven where you live and reign for ever and ever.

Amen

{p,h,f,r}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{PRETTY}

My girls

My guy!

{HAPPY}

So, happy for this table my mother-in-law painted and fixed up for us!

So, happy I have such an awesome MIL!

{FUNNY}

Silly dog! 

He does bring tons of fun to our family. 

{REAL}

Unfinished projects

(there are many)

Finished fun projects

The signs of tradition everywhere

all REAL
(including the uncompleted chore I can see in the background :-))

St. Nicholas:: 2012

In pictures

and a few words

 ~ Links & Resources ~

Main resource

St. Nicholas Center

The books

A Gift from St. Nicholas

The baker's dozen

The Shepherd's Christmas

The First Christmas Tree

The cookies

Speculatius (go here)

(German Spice Cookies)

*The only adaption to this recipe was the use unsalted butter, instead of the shortening*

The cards

Each child recieved a little note from Papi and I;

written in the back of indivdualized images of St. Nicholas

God of joy and cheer,

We thank you for your servant,

the good bishop Nicholas.

In loving the poor,

he showed us your kindness;

in caring for your children,

he revealed your love.

Make us thoughtful

without need of reward so that we, too,

may be good followers of Jesus.

Amen

Martha Showed Me...

I was skimming through a December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart's Living magazine the other night; and I saw something...
Something that I could actually do.
Something that used items I already had in the house.
Something that wouldn't cost me a single cent.

In the old house we use to hang our Christmas cards around the piano; or on the inside of the front door.  Our cards looked scattered though.  Not like the gallery displays I would see in the Better Homes magazines. 

But with a few supplies... 
I made a super cute, and easy display.

What you need:

1.  Get all the scraps of that Christmas paper around the house

2.  Clothes pins

3.  Glue stick

4.  Ribbon

5.  Scissors

The pictures are pretty self explanatory. 

Using the scraps of paper, measure out the approximate size of your clothes pin

Cut the paper to size

Using a glue stick, spread it on the side the paper with be glued too

and

just in minutes you have...

A pretty display for all those Christmas cards coming your way...

Evidently mine are slow to arrive...

Thank you

Martha Stewart!

Jesse Tree:: 2012

Paper cuts outs, home made creations, or treasured bought ones?  Jesse Trees are, and it's ornaments, popping more and more each year. 
Can there be an Whoop Hooo for that!!

We started a Jesse Tree a few years back.  I didn't have any fancy ornaments, nor any idea about a tree.  But I had bought a nice paper set from a local Catholic store (sadly no longer in business) and used a mini Christmas tree.  Then a couple of years ago I made some felt ornaments for my sister-in-law and her family, those were cute!  I had wanted to make our own set, but just never got around to it. 

This year came the offer from Jessica @ Housewifespice  (look here). 

Now, along with our Advent readings (look here);
we have a new set of Jesse Tree ornaments.
For our new home! 

Our box arrived just today (yesterday now)!

See the Noah's Ark at the top, that's my contribution to the set.

There are several places to go to for ornaments, readings, and to get the history of Jesse Tree.  Jessica @ Shower of Roses (look here) has a great list of resources. 

We keep it fairly simple; some years we've hosted a Jesse Tea (look here).  While other seasons we've kept to the traditions of my childhood; like posadas. 

So we've had hectic seasons, sickly seasons, peaceful seasons... etc.

Hey, we're normal right?

First Sunday Advent, for us, was just about perfect.

  Grandparents came over and Grandpa blessed our wreath.  Then we feasted on Pozole.

Ending with a chapter of a new book

Destination: Bethlehem

A Family Advent Adventure

Then a short movie for the kids.

Last night we began our Jesse Tree readings.

And this morning our little tree had the prettiest sunlight on it.

Though, they should have been outside already doing chores.  I couldn't get mad at them for cuddling up so cute to hear Lucy read from our books.

Advent has begun,

and we are so grateful for it!

I'm linking this up over @ Jessica's blog

Shower of Roses

Please pay a visit to the other moms... there are some adorable traditions being celebrated right now!

St. Andrew's Christmas Novena

Elizabeth Foss first introduced me to this beautiful novena.  It's longer than the 9-day novenas but, worth every extra day.  I usually print out a copy of the prayer and tack it to my refrigerator.  I figure I'd be for sure see it 15 times a day there.

But, Lena @ Joyfilled Family has made lovely Holy Cards.  She is offering a free download and has asked all to share.  So please...

Go, click, and print....

Then PRAY!!

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe,
O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

What's New in Books...for Advent

Yesterday, I posted our reads for this Advent & Christmas season.  I thought, today, I would do an introduction to the new reads on the list.  And add the book(s) that Lucy will be reading.

For Lucy

Since she is the older kid (15 to be exact) she'll read along with us all the story books we have but she'll ask for something older for her list.  I like to give her a little more meat to digest with her readings anyway.  Last year we read Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce, which was super good and thought provoking.  This year we opted for these two books:

The Real St. Nicholas: Tales of Generosity and Hope from around the World

by Louise Carus

and

The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas 

by William J. Bennett

This one is carried by our library

New in Picture Books

The Christmas Day Kitten

by James Herriot

The Christmas Path: A Legend of the Luminarias

by Sue Wright

With a surprise at the end, there is the telling of the focus of Christmas and an introduction to luminarias.  Luminarias have been used in various forms by different cultures.  Mostly by the Spaniards and in Latin America, they serve in offering light along dark paths. Isn't it telling, that here  these little flickers of light lead us to Jesus?

A Possible Tree

by Josephine Haskell Aldridge

Finding this book at a book store was a SCORE!

It's so cute and will go nicely for our plans for the third week of Advent.

"Deep within Joe Bracken's woods there is a tree. But this isn't just any old tree. This is a very special fir tree where animals go to seek shelter. From a top branch, a clever raccoon hides from a hunter and his dog. After flying away from Mrs. Bracken and her wash water, a dripping wet blue jay dries his feathers. And it isn't long before other animals discover the friendly old tree that protects them from harm"

The Shepherd's Christmas

by Michelle Andrews

It's a POP-UP book! 

Another find from our local book store.  If you can get your hands on a copy I highly recommend it.  The illustrations are beautiful and not at all cartoonish! 

Young Mary of Nazareth 

by Marianna Mayer

I'm not sure yet about this one yet. 

From what I've read, the illustrations are beautiful and the book is worth getting alone for how it portrays Our Lady.  There are these comments that I saw though,

"Though the previous reviewer is right, there is the one line about Our Lady being pale and in pain, the rest of the book is beautifully written and amazing in all ways."

I'm going to still check it out and probably skip over anything too far off when describing Our Lady in Bethlehem.

Off to plan now...

and clean!

Advent & Christmas Reads:: 2012

Ahhh..
The lists of reads are popping up again.
The season is near.
The stores are always a clear sign of it (I'm so bog hum bug about that though)

But I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the time of ADVENT!  The slow anticipation growing with each week, as we near and grow closer to that day!   It's just awesome.

We are also in a new house this year.  It's a bit 'undone', the house decor that is.  Not the house.  That's lovely!  And this house yells out "decorate me" and "grow memories here" and 'sit by the fire and READ!"

So we hope to.

We are starting with gathering our books from the boxes.  Looking at our older lists of titles.  Ordering others from the library (our new library has a great book store; where I already found some treasures).   This year I'm not going to wrap the books.  Instead I've group them to go by each week of Advent and Christmas.  So each Sunday of Advent the kids can look forward to a new stack in the basket.  They're kinda set up in groups that are similar to what may be going on in our home as we prepare.

2010 Books

2011 Books (newbies introduced)

2011 Books

~ Our 2012 lists ~

These first two books lead us all the way through Advent

The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide

First Week of Advent:
The Candle in the Window by Grace Johnson
The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot Waiting for Noel by Mark Graham
Saint Nicholas by Ann Tompert
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan
Mary, the Mother of Jesus by Tomie De Paola
Mary, Mother of Jesus by Mary Joslin & Alison Wisenfeld

Second Week of Advent:

The Lady of Guadalupe Tomie de Paola
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas by C. Lourdes Walsh
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Francisco Serrano (an awesome pop up book)
Lucia, Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde
Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki
The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
The Legend of the Christmas Rose by William H. Hooks

Third Week of Advent:

The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie de Paola
The Miracle of the First Poinsettia by Joanne Oppenheim
The Legend of the Poinsetta by Tomie de Paula
B is for Bethlehem by Isabel Wilner
Night Tree by Eve Bunting
A Possible Tree by Josephine Haskell Aldrige
The Christmas Path: A Legend of the Luminarias by Sue Wright

Fourth Sunday of Advent:

Here is Christmas by Donna Cooner
When it Snowed that Night by Norma Farber

First Week of Christmas

The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
Mary, Did You Know? by Mark Lowry
Tonight You Are My Baby, by Jeannine Q. Norris
Father and Son: A Navity Story by Geraldine McCaughrean
There was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pamela Munoz Ryan
Room for One More: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell & Jason Cockcroft
All for the Newborn Baby by Phyllis Root

Second Week of Christmas

Young Mary of Nazareth by Marianna Mayer
The Shepherd's Christmas by Michelle Andrews
The Little Drummer Boy by Carolyn Quattrocki
The Very First Christmas by Paul L. Maier
Who was Born This Special Day by Eve Bunting
This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar
Silent Night by Joseph Mohr

Third Week of Christmas

The Little Match Girl by Han Christian Anderson
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie de Paola
The Christmas Promise by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and David Christiana
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers by Kate Andrew Clements
A Medieval Christmas
Angels & All Children: A Navity Story in Words, Music, & Art

(Sophia, already checking out the books)

We are also going to add a bit of Elizabeth Foss's ideas to the mix.  We are catering quite a few events here so, I don't want to add more than I can do.  But I do like the idea of learning how Christmas is celebrated through out the world.  Perhaps next year our group of friends can do something like this.  Asking each family to share a bit of their special celebrated traditions.

Happy Readings!

Jesse Tree Swap

My loony self thought that in the midst of still unpacking boxes, driving to and fro, schooling, Thanksgiving; I can join a Jesse Tree Swap.  "Oh yes, I have time", thinks I.

My gosh, who was I kidding!  It wasn't that it was stressful to complete them.  There just had to be some creative thinking as to finding the time to do it.

But they got done!!

I made some felt ornaments for my SIL in few years back.  Those took a while to complete too.  But, because each symbol was different; and I had to find the scripture to them.  These came out cute though.

I got pretty stressed out thinking I was going to be late mailing them out.  Thus, 32 women around the U.S was going to be waiting for me.  And because I was late, then they would have to start their Jesse Tree late.  Oh the stress!!

But, I'm not late... Whooo Hooo. 

This is a big nerve in my stomach, you see.  The being the cause to someone else being late. 

So thanks Jessica @ Housewifespice for hosting and organizing this!

I hope you like my version of the Noah's Ark.

Cecilia says

Cleaning out the cobwebs growing on this blog.  It's been ages since I've posted a thing! 

How about we start a mini post on Cecilia!

As we look around the kitchen for ideas on dinner:
Me: Hey kids what do you feel like having for dinner?
Cecilia:  "Oh, I don't know... PIE?"

On one of the many nights that Cecilia refuses to go to bed:
Me: Cecilia, it's getting late... GET TO BED!
Cecilia:  "But, you aren't there."
Me: You have a bed and a sister waiting for you.
Cecilia:  "But, it's not YOU!"

She finally went.  But, didn't get too far.  She was sitting quietly at the bottom of one of the steps leading to the bedrooms.  Sitting there with her head resting on her knees.  She was awake, fully awake.  The Lineman asked her what she was doing.

Quietly. Very quietly.  She says, "just waiting... for you guys."

And so life continues here... busy, fun... busy, surprising.... always blessed!

glismpses

We aren't done with the move yet, but it's getting there.

Within the nuttiness of painting, lifting heavy loads, and such

we've had some lovely moments....

Cecilia says ...

I thought I'd stop by for a quicky post on Cecilia. 

Our stubborn, lovable, direct, says what's on her mind, 5 year. 

 She is such a hoot!!

1.  We're in the process of packing up our current home and moving.  (More on this later, but the new little girls room was used as an office by the previous owners.

Cecilia:  "I don't wannnna sleep in an office!"
Me:  "It's not going to be an office, it'll be your new bedroom."
Cecilia:  "But there is a desk in there and she called it an office, I don't wannnna sleep in an office!"

Ususally we don't tolerate whinning rants or voices.  But this time around she was so stuck on the new bedroom being an office.  I later asked her what was so wrong about the bedroom.  She told me that an office is for doctors and quiet behavior.  So she had it in her head that her 'new' bedroom was going to have to be an 'quiet' room for the rest of her life.

Cecilia is super dramatic!

2.  Having lunch with Grandpa and Grandma

Cecilia as she chows down her rice and sweet and sour pork:  "Ya know, right about now my acids are working super hard in my stomach. I can almost feel the swishing around in there."

3.  Coming in from playing outside:

Cecilia:  "Momma!  Rose almost push me down and I could have gottan a concussoooon!"

And that is all the time I have for the recent Cecilia outtakes!

{PHFR}, the long version

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{Pretty}

On the way home from the mountains, we had on our minds.  You know those moments?  The ones where you can't sleep, forget the littlest of things because your mind is so cluttered and your face carries this dazed look. 

Yep, that's us.  But on this drive, we were treated to an awesome sky.  I took it as a gift.  And I thanked Him for helping me find the beauty, even in the midst of craziness.

{Happy}

A five year old loves the library!  This five year old signed up for her very first library card.  Her first words, once she had the card in her hands was, "I can get ANY book now?  Oh how cool!"

{Funny}

I don't remember exactly what the situation was here. 

I do know that Obi was patiently waiting to be given permission to go into the van.  But, Cecilia was evidently struggling with something.  Though, knowing our Cecilia, she was being over dramatic.  Obi sure looks calm though LOL.

{Real}

We are in the process of MOVING. 
Our home is in chaos!
Trying to put 15 years of 'stuff' into nice sized boxes is grueling!!!!

But, YES! WE FOUND A HOUSE!!
Yippeee!!!