Old, but WONDERFUL news!

On Sunday, November 22nd, 2009, my children and husband fully joined the Roman Catholic Church! What a glorious day that was! I had waited, and prayed fervently, to see that day come, for many years. I fully give all credit to the Holy Spirit. All I did was pray, and what a beautiful answer to my prayers, to see my husband and children standing up and receiving their Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation, together. It was Monsignor's idea, that they all do it together, on Christ the King Sunday.

Here are a couple of pictures. I think the camera angle was weird, as everyone looks kind of funny in some of them.

Small Successes, Vol. 51

One Small Step for Momkind, Small Successes Vol. 51

I know I am late this week, but considering I haven't even been to my blog since August, I hope you will forgive me a few days of being late. I figured I would forget by next Thursday, if I didn't do this now, to get the ball rolling, as they say.

1. Remembering my blog, at long last, and fixing all the errors that had occured on it, since my last visit in August 2009.

2. Finally starting to catch-up on all the laundry. Does it grow behind our backs? I think so.

3. De-cluttering our books and movies, and getting paid for it! We've been consistently cleaning them out, and taking them to Half-Price Books to sell them.

A New Year!

Yes, I know, I am very late in stating that fact on here. I have been away for so long. I have not even been checking other people's blogs, people I had grown to love and learn so much from. It is my sincere hope to resume my reading of all the lovely blogs I had come to know, and to keep this blog updated, as best I can.

I do pray everyone's year has started off wonderfully, and that you have all been blessed beyond all measure!

~Kathy

This is a pic of my two children, right before we left for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. They have grown so much!

I have been neglecting my blog!

I do so apologize to those of you who are following my blog. Life has just been ever so busy, and I've hardly had time to even look at other blogs that I love to follow. I don't really have time right now to post an nice, long entry, but promise that on Monday, I will endeavor to start blogging again in earnest.

Pax Christi,

~Kathy

The passing of a wonderful lady

Kathy, from the blog Ambling Along, has passed from this world, into the arms of our loving Lord. Her husband e-mailed me today telling me of her passing back on June 1st. I have not had a lot of time to peruse my favorite blogs, so had not been by hers in a while. I will miss seeing her wonderful photographs and wonderful descriptions of her and John's travels. She had battled a very rare, and aggressive, form of thyroid cancer, for a very short time. She was blessed to see the birth of her latest granddaughter, 32 hours before she died.

It's funny how much you can feel a friendship with someone you have never met in person. When I first met Kathy online, after she had visited my blog, and I hers, I felt so drawn to her. She had such a joy for life. I will miss her. I know we all grieve here on earth for her, but we can rejoice in the knowledge that she had been perfectly healed now and is wrapped in the arms of our Lord.

Please join me in praying for the repose of her soul, and also for her family, who no doubt are grieving and missing their beloved wife, mother and friend.

A "must see" blog on Keeping Purity in Catholic Classrooms

Upholding Purity in the Catholic Classroom

A blog designed to connect parents with children in Catholic schools who have real concerns about the human sexuality and safe environment programs being taught to their children.

Please drop by Josie's blog, as the information she is trying to get out to parents is so important!

Pax Christi,

~Kathy

Great Video

This is such a great video. It just makes me so happy watching it, because he is having so much fun! His smile is so contagious! An added bonus is seeing all the sights around NYC!

Year for Priests: June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

Year for Priests: June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

Please Pray for Priests

Dear Lord,

we pray that the Blessed Mother
wrap her mantle around your priests
and through her intercession
strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide your priests
to follow her own words,
"Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).

May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph,
Mary’s most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart
inspire them to embrace
all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May your priests be holy,
filled with the fire of your love
seeking nothing but your greater glory
and the salvation of souls.

Amen.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us.

A very sad day around here...

Copper (1997 [?]-2009)

She's the Basset Hound behind the little black dog, one of the two dogs my daughter is holding on to. This was taken approx. 4 or so years ago (the old dog up front was put down, at the vet, about 6 months or so after this picture was taken, cancer also).

Mike had to put our old (12-12.5yo) Basset Hound, Copper, down this morning. I felt so bad for him having to do it, but we just didn't have the money and it had to be done. I woke up and the other dogs were upset, so I went out to see what was going on. I found her laying somewhere she'd never lay, and kept calling her, and she wouldn't come. She looked so sad, and like she was in pain. I called Mike outside and we determined that she was paralyzed from about the mid-section back. She could not move her legs. He carried her to our patio and I got her to finally take a drink of water, but she just acted so scared and sad. She tried to pick-up a dog biscuit (one of those mini Milk Bone flavor treats) and she could not bite down hard enough to break it.

We had been praying for the Lord to give us a sure sign of when it was time for her to go, and He gave that to us this morning. It's just so hard, when just yesterday she was running, barking and playing with the other dogs. We had one other Basset Hound have this happen, and it just does this, it hits their spine and then suddenly they can't walk at all.

Our other dogs are so sad and are whimpering and howling for her. They all loved her.

Please pray for my children, especially my son. She was his best buddy ever since he was born (we got her when I was 8.5 months pregnant with him, from neighbors who couldn't keep her due to their move), and they've been inseparable all these years. He did get to have some time with her this morning, which I think was really good, plus he had to go to our church's VBS, where he is also singing in the choir, so I think it helped get his mind occupied on other things. His eyes were sure brightening when we got to the church. My daughter will grieve here and there, over a long period of time. It seems that is how she processes her grief, no matter what it is that is grieving her.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook - June 1st

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook entries!

Outside my window... wondrously mild weather with beautiful blue skies!

I am thinking... about what I need to get done tomorrow (mowing the grass being one).

From the learning rooms... continuing along, as we school year-round, thanks to all of our moves with hubby's previous company.

I am thankful for... the Lord's blessings in my life, which are many!

From the kitchen... MIL's recipe for Fresh Mushroom Meatloaf, fresh corn on the cob, green beans, and mustard greens for hubby.

I am wearing... stretch denim capris, celadon green short-sleeved knit shirt, brown leather ballet-ish type flats.

I am reading... waiting on several books that I was able to get with a gift card we earned with our MyPoints!

I am hoping... this wonderful, mild weather holds out (it sure helps keep the house cooler)!

I am creating... some wonderful music files on my computer!

I am hearing... Hymns by Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Around the house... more cleaning and organizing, in preparation for MIL's visit at the end of next week!

One of my favorite things... listening to lovely hymns in Latin.

A few plans for the rest of the week... lots of things planned to do around the house, especially when hubby will be off.

Here are some pictures I am sharing with you ...

Monastery Miniature Horses - Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns

Brenham, TX