Happy 17th Katelyn

Happy Birthday Katie.  We are so proud of you.  We had a great day.  Katelyn invited Fr. Gronenthal over for dinner and we had a great dinner and visit with him.  It was a really nice time.  And he shares my love for chocolate and coffee....great mix!  hehe. 

Kate's 17th birthday 8/29/12 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Tip of The Day!


During winter fill balloons with water and add food coloring, once frozen cut the balloons off & they look like giant marbles or Christmas decorations. I can't wait to try this!

Tony play/Mikey riding his bike at OneTrueMedia.com

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Our Lady of Consolation

Seems very fitting to my state of life right now:

Our Lady of Consolation.
Triduum Wednesday nearest feast of St. Augustine (8/28)-Saturday after the Feast of St. Augustine

Our Lady of Consolation with St. Augustine and St. Monica

Amid the sorrows of this earthy pilgrimage God has prepared for you in the continual help of your Heavenly Mother a rich source of consolation, Mary's power to console the afflicted arises mainly from this, that she above all ot hers has known sorrow.  She has taught you by her example never to despair of God's help, but to value at the proper worth the crosses He sends you.  In all your pains and disappointments do not seek relief in worldly pleasures, which soon pass away; rather unite your suffereings with those of Jesus and His sorrowful Mother in whom alone the afflicted can find true consolation.

"Come to me all you who long for me, and be enriched with my blessings, for my spirit is sweeter than honey"  (Ecclusl  24, 26)

Hail, holy Mother, who brought forth the King who rules heaven and earth forever, intercede for us!  Hail Mary...

"Just as a mother caresses her child, so will I console thee"

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all consolation, grant in Your loving kindness that we who joyfully venerate on earth Mary, Your most pure Mother, as our comforter, may deserve to enjoy with her the unending happiness of heaven.  Who live and reign forever.  Amen. 

Everyone needs a Rose, isn't she just adorable??? 

School has started

Carolyn is a senior.  Katelyn is a junior.  Jaclyn is a sophmore.  Joe is 8th grade.  Evelyn is 5th grade.  Madelyn is 3rd grade.  Mikey is 1st grade and Rosie is in her preschool year with Mommy

Evelyn moved to big girl uniform

Some Sunday playtime

So Rosie is riding Tony's trike and Tony is pushing her today.  haha.  Mikey is doing great on his bike, he'll be riding up the streets in no time.  He's been training wheel free for some time, but gets nervous still...

Couple more days...

Katelyn is almost 17.  Me and her dad took her out for coffee and cheesecake, just the three of us. 

Oh, Dear!

House project...

We are very thrilled Steve was able to get one project done.  He's been so busy between work, college and juggling being a dad.  We had this area in front that nothing grew in, not even marigolds!  And those things grow about anywhere.  The dirt was not very good there, and the dryer vent blew there which left lent even thought I'm tedious about cleaning the dryer screen.  Then the lent would stick to the dirt and look messy all of the time. 

Unfortunately it rained the day he did it, so it was more of an ordeal than it should of been but it looks so nice, and once we maybe put a nice table or something, it will fit in better, but atleast its clean and looks clean.  The area was so filled with those strawberry weeds, and we tried to grow grass and flowers or plants, and it just wasn't a good spot.  I'm proud of Steve and the kids, they worked very hard, they didn't stop until it was done, didn't even break for lunch, they put their all into it, even though the weather did not cooperate. 

Is it Murphy's law or something.  We've been in a drought, horrid hot tempertures all summer, not one lick of percipitation...that is until we have 2 1/2 years of wet cement in our yard!  Figures. 

Clare of Assisi

So we have our own little Clare of Assisi (her name hense the day we got her on)  She is tiny and sweet, playful but a bit needy as she was abondoned early as a kitten, we got her when she was six weeks.  She is fully trained and on dry food but we supplement a tiny bit of wet food since she's so little, we'll wean her off it, as she gets a bit bigger. 

The Holy Land Virtual Tour by Leen Thobias| p4panorama

The Holy Land Virtual Tour by Leen Thobias| p4panorama

You must see this.  Its amazing!

Our sadness and acceptance

Since this blog is private and only privy to those I want it privy to which is family and super close friends, I am writing to share our news.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago we found out we were expecting.  We were overjoyed. I tried to keep it quiet but I can't keep a secret for long.  We thought everything was fine and told the children.  We  had picked out names.  We were going to have a Gwendolyn Germaine or a Patrick William.  We really liked those names.  I was starting to look a little round and as we knew it was all going well.  I'm pretty healthy right now, have been walking a mile a day for over a month and felt really good, too good.

Saturday evening I started having symptoms of a possible miscarriage.  And we were shocked.  I had a trusted friend visiting (Mary Fries) and it was good to talk with another mom of many about the possibility of loss.  But not much we could do until Monday.  The symptoms continued, and then Monday went straight in, well the doctor was wonderful.  Turns out he's a pro-life doctor, has his own practice, he talks to you when yuo call on the phone, I really liked him.  We did a quick ultrasound and he said well I see a pregnancy.  Then while he was looking we saw a second sac as well, so the possiblity existed that I would keep one pregnancy and lose the twin.  They're was sadness but hope.  On Tuesday I was really having issues and I called in, I didn't feel well and I was having alot of urges to go pee constantly. So today we went back in and found I had a UTI.  So we were so happy.  The doctor looked again and the pregnancy is still intact, but no sight of the second sack.  The sack that was there was bigger ( a good sign) so we left hopeful but the pregnancy hormone levels were not back yet.  That would tell us for sure.  This afternoon at 3 we received the news, their was no hope left, the pregnancy is failed. 

This is my second miscarriage in addition to the two infant deaths, but atleast I know what to expect and can idenify the emotional and physical signs.  Steve is my rock.  He is simply put the most wonderful husband and he is sad, but he's so strong for me, and comforting.  I'm so blessed to have him. 

We grieved much over the last few days.  Today when we got the news I sobbed, but then an acceptance came over me.  Maybe Our Lady helping me, I had so many trusted people praying for a miracle, but today was not my day for a miracle.  My new prayer is for acceptance and to understand we asked God, and his answer simply put was no.  So we work on our new job God has given us.  Appreciate what we have, grieve for what we have lost, and accept and live in our state of life.  So we move on...we keep going...we love...we pray...and we be. 

Summer is winding down

Boo Hoo, my summer is winding down!  Oh, bother.  But we are making the most of it.  We have a few more dental appointments, Carolyn has a consult at an othodontist and a few more appointments.  We went swimming earlier this week and the kids had so much fun, Mikey went down the big slide.  We are going to try to hit the pool one more time next week.

School supplies shopping is a pain, but heading toward the end stretch.  Evelyn told me, "your list is winding down Mommy" yeah and I told her not fast enough!  haha.

I didn't get to paint like I wanted this summer, but maybe can still do it, once I get school supplies out of the way. 

Kids are so excited, we are getting a kitten on Sunday.  They have been patient and the right oppurtunity opened up to bring a little kitty in our life.  Not sure what we are going to name her, but I do know she's white and has gray feet and ears. 

I cut boys hair today, what a mess!  Mikey is way too ticklish.  And he got all sorts of hair in his mouth.  Why in the world do you have your mouth open?  Oh, for Pete Sake, drove me bonkers.  Joe looks super nice and well Tony looks nice but that was a feat for Mom.  Hurray, I won. haha.  Then of course Rosie wanted a haircut so I trimmed her and Madelyn's hair. 

Well birthdays are coming up again.  Soon to be Katelyn and Mikey's.  Gotta get a plan going.  I think I'll think about that next week. 

ok, off to bed, more appointments tomorrow.  I swear I should just move into this dentist office.  Atleast everyone will be done, and then they aren't going to see my smiling face for a year!  haha.

St. Philomena

St. Philomena has been successfully invoked by her supplicants in every sort of need, such that she has become another patron of "hopeless" and "impossible" cases, like St. Jude or St. Rita, but she is known to be especially powerful in cases involving conversion of sinners, return to the Sacraments, expectant mothers, destitute mothers, problems with children, unhappiness in the home, sterility, priests and their work, help for the sick, the missions, real estate, money problems, food for the poor and mental illness. But truly, as her devotees have discovered, no case, of whatever matter, is too trivial or too unimportant to concern her.

Novena to St. Philomena

Today begins the powerful novena to the martyr St. Philomena and it ends on Sat. Aug 11th.

I've called on her intercession many times. If you have a special need ask this miracle worker to help.


Novena Prayer to ST. PHILOMENA

O FAITHFUL VIRGIN and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity , O great Saint! Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee ...

(Here specify your petition.)

I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His Saints. Amen.

Saint Philomena, Powerful with God, Pray for us!

Tony turned 2!

We had a great day.  Lunch out, playtime, went to the park, opened presents, and had cake!  Great fun day to celebrate little Tony turning 2.  He kept saying "this is fun!"  What a blessing he is. 

He got some great gifts.  His godparents sent money for a picnic table just his size.  So we will have a busy little boy for a bit playing on his new slide and tricycle. 

Tony's Birthday at OneTrueMedia.com

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Some July days...

Supporting Chick fil A

Supporting Chick fil A today and their right to support family and their anti-gay stance, and to have the basic freedom to have business anywhere that they so wish. I was happy to see a very busy place, actually it was in the middle of downtown, people were happy, talking about our religious freedom to stand up for our moral standard in these times of great immorality. Even met a few republican politicians from the area. haha. The kids knew what we were doing and why we were doing and we held our heads up high.