Making Some Changes

I'm making changes, though probably not enough.  Sure, I need to lose weight which probably means getting rid of the remaining Easter candy and moving my body more.  And something has got to change with the nap schedule.  [Are we really moving to one nap a day ALREADY!?!?!]  It's getting hard to get any work done anymore!!  But those aren't the changes I'm making right now.

I've given the blog a slight face lift.  If you only read via a blog reader or RSS feed, click on over to see some of the new things I've added.  I kept the background the same but changed the layout a bit.  I also finally added "pages" to the top of the blog.  Hooray!!

Okay, so pages, or tabs, aren't completely new, but I don't think having just the one "Home" tab really counts as much.  Now I have two more.

One tab in particular will be a continual work in progress and I hope my readers will check it out and share more resources than what I've already listed.  It is labeled "Pregnancy Loss Resources."  It's a pretty small list right now because I know there are many more resources out there than what I've already listed.  But this is just the beginnings and mostly off the top of my head (and past my bedtime).  So more to come on that and I hope if you know of a good resource (particularly Catholic ones) you'll share it so I can add it to the list.

Wouldn't it be great to have a really good comprehensive list of resources on pregnancy loss, particularly from a Catholic standpoint, that is easy to share with someone?  I think so!!  It was the one thing I looked for after my first loss and never really found.  There is more out there now, thank goodness, but we still need a one-stop-shop.  I hope this can be one of those places.

Thank you, faithful readers, for following my blog and for any helpful resources you are willing to share to help others during times of pregnancy loss.  May God bless you abundantly.

Another with the Sistas

I had not planned on writing two posts for Catholic Sistas this week, but due to unexpected circumstances I jumped in to help someone out.  I had originally started writing this piece for this blog, but when I offered to help out it became a post for Catholic Sistas instead.

I'm starting to lean more toward writing about pregnancy loss again and this post takes on that topic.  So for those who have found my blog while searching for information on miscarriage, stillbirth, or pregnancy loss, I encourage you to go check out this post with the Sistas:

Easter Teaches us Hope, Even During Times of Loss

Find me with the Sistas today

But Mom ... everyone is doing it!!

All of us, at one time or another, has said this (or something similar) to one of our parents.  If you’re a parent, you’ve probably even heard it from your own kids.  And when you do hear this from your kids you probably hear yourself saying the same thing to them as you heard from your own mom or dad:

If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?

You don’t live at Everyone’s house, you live at our house.

We don’t do things in life because everyone does them, we do things because they are the right thing to do.

We’re not everyone, we’re our own family and we do things differently.

It is so easy as a kid to feel like everyone is doing something that you are not allowed to do.  You start feeling a little like the outcast, like everyone around you is part of some special club, or you laugh at jokes and stories that don’t make any sense to you because you didn’t get to go to the movie everyone else saw, or see the TV show that everyone else watched, or go to the party that everyone else went to.

And then you became an adult!

Suddenly you could make your own decisions.  No one could tell you that you couldn’t do something.

No one.

Or … maybe not.


Read the rest here at Catholic Sistas.

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 39

~1~

Lent this year was decent, probably better than last year, but nothing Earth-shattering.  I gave up something that may have been a little superficial and I finally relented for the first time in my life and used the Sundays to enjoy the thing that I gave up.  While in some ways this was good for me (the giving up part, not the Sunday part), it still felt kind of ... flat.  

~2~

Good Friday, however, was different.  Last year I didn't fast on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday because I was growing twins and having restless leg syndrome and all sorts of other issues due to being on bed rest.  I needed to stay nourished.  This year I was able to fast again.  I don't completely recall how Ash Wednesday was, but I think I remember it being difficult.  Somehow Good Friday was not.  I'm not entirely sure why and I've been contemplating that for a few days now.  Still no answers.  

~3~

I did add something to my fast on Good Friday.  I gave up Facebook for the day.  This was easier to do than I expected and somewhat difficult.  Facebook has become a lifeline for me, for better or worse.  More and more I find myself going there to visit with my friends from a Catholic group.  We all fasted from the group on Good Friday which was partly why I didn't find giving up Facebook completely on that one day too difficult.  But I still like seeing what my other friends post, getting news, and all sorts of other things that pop up on my Facebook feed.  Honestly, these days I get more of my news from Facebook than I do from anywhere else.  So that part was a little difficult.  Maybe, too, this contributed to why giving up food on that day didn't seem as hard as it usually does.  It's a theory.

~4~

So I had extra time on Good Friday, right?  Yes and no.  I still have plenty to do with two little ones and work.  But I did use the time on that day that I normally would have spent on Facebook catching up on many, many blogs that I hadn't been reading.  I also reorganized the blogs in my blog reader and deleted a few that either were no longer active or I wasn't really reading anyway.  It felt refreshing to clean those up.  It was also so great to catch up on the writings my favorite bloggers had been doing.  I love reading smart, witty, and thought-provoking bloggers and I realized just how much I had missed that.

~5~

Actually I realized that I missed a lot of things about following all those blogs more regularly.  It is not just the  intellectual stimulation from the blogs I read (and the fun posts too), it is just the joy of reading someone else's ability to put words together in an inspiring and creative way.  I love that!  I miss that!!  I want to be able to do that!!  As fun as Facebook is, most posts there are pretty short one-liners (or so) that express a clever thought or relate a cute/funny/ridiculous happening in someone's life.  All fun to read, but not necessarily the kind of reading that is going to be helpful to someone who wants to improve her writing skills.

~6~

It's not really a big revelation.  Actually it's one of the basics of being a good writer right after "Write what you know": A great writer is a great reader.  I don't read enough.  That's so weird to say!  I used to devour books!  I was the kid in school that always had a book with me.  I read whole books in a day, spent whatever time I could reading while my mom told me to go play outside with the other kids, and when I wasn't reading I was writing.  Somehow, somewhere I got off that track and have never quite found my way back.  I still read, but not like I used to.  My reading tastes have changed considerably since my younger days, but the desire to read, I believe, has always been there.  I just haven't been listening.

This past Friday, while fasting from food and Facebook (how odd does that sound together!), that hunger came back.  And along with it, my desire to write more.

~7~

Lent overall may have fell flat for me this year, but I feel like God got my attention on Good Friday.  And He did it despite the fact that I did not go to Good Friday services as I had planned (oh, yeah, I was sick that day too; forgot to mention that).  There will be more writing in my future and most of it will be on this blog and will be more focused (write what you know).  Don't worry, updates on the boys, family life, and pictures will still be here, but I want to do something more as well.  Stay tuned!

For more clever, witty, smart, thought-provoking, and funny Quick Takes, check out ConversionDiary.com.

He is Risen!!

He is risen!!

Alleluia, alleluia!!

Resurrection
Giotto

Happy Easter!!

Four Years Later: A Reflection

Four years ago on this date I was a little over 8 weeks pregnant with our first baby.  We were so happy and enjoying our secret joy for a little while longer before we told our families and friends.  That all changed around 10 or 11 that night when I started spotting.

A lot can happen in four years.  I had no idea on that night four years ago just how much more pain and anxiety, excitement and hopefulness my husband and I would go through.  On the night of March 31, 2008 I don't think I would have wanted to know even if I could.

It's interesting, really.  I remember questioning God's will so, so much at various times during the last four years.  Why did we continue to lose children?  Why were my cycles not returning?  Why could my body not maintain a pregnancy?  Did God have other plans for us that did not include having children?  If so, what were they and when was He going to let us in on His Plan?

Going through a pregnancy loss is like nothing I have ever dealt with in the past.  Death is a part of life, but it isn't supposed to happen before that life gets a chance to live.  Knowing that your baby has died is incredibly painful.  And then to have to go through the physical pain on top of it adds even more to the burden already on your heart.  No woman, no mother, should ever have to go through this.

I have been asked several times how I ever got through this three times.  Honestly, I don't know.  Perhaps having a strong faith in God and knowing that He wants only good for us, His children, has helped me.  But I can't say that for certain.  In the midst of those loss experiences, my thoughts were not nearly that deep.  It is only with distance and reflection that I can start to have even the smallest amount of imagination as to what carried me through.

Today as I remember that very first loss, I remember the physical pain I experienced, I remember the love and support that was showered on us, and I remember the emotional pain and confusion over the whole thing, I am also thinking of a dear friend who is experiencing all the same physical pain, emotional pain, confusion, and hopefully love and support in the here and now.  I'm heart broken for her, her family, and the child that they will never get to welcome into their family.  There are some experiences that are fun to share with friends.  This is definitely not one of them and I hate that my friend and I now share this common pain.

So today, as I think of my little saint, little Casey Marie, I pray for healing for my friend and her family.  I appreciate your prayers for us on this day, but I ask for your prayers for Baby T and the T family.  Although four years and two children later doesn't change my grief over that first loss, the T family needs many prayers right now as they deal with this grief that is still so fresh and new.

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 38

~1~

Basketball: In honor of March Madness, I decided I needed a sports themed quick takes with a twist.  And speaking of basketball, I have never done a bracket as part of a pool.  Well, this year we were moving the very week that brackets had to be done.  At the very last minute, just before my husband took down our wireless, I quickly did a bracket in a pool with some friends of mine.  I didn't have time to create one for the pool my family does.  Oh well, maybe next year.  In the pool that I am in, I am currently fourth, although I'm second by best possible score.  We'll see what happens.

~2~

Wrestling: I'm getting good at this.  I may have to watch some wrestling in the summer Olympics this year, I may need some pointers.  The boys will not be allowed to watch, they do not need any pointers.  Let me tell you, changing diapers and getting them dressed is becoming quite the workout!

~3~

Rock Climbing: I think Peter could get into this sport!  He's doing a good job climbing up on just about anything vertical: shelving units, baby gates, boxes, mommy and daddy, chairs, and even walls.  Nothing stands in this boy's way.  He climbs over Ethan and Ethan gets a kick out of it.  I love Ethan's laugh!!

~4~

Weight Lifting: One of my regular exercises now is carrying about 36 pounds of baby, 18 pounds in each arm.  It took me over nine months to get to the point where I can actually pick them both up at one time.  They still can't help in any way, but they do hold on some once they are up in my arms.  And I don't know why, but Ethan finds this hilarious as well.  Such a silly boy!

~5~

Mountain Climbing: Not really, but it sometimes feels like it!  I know I'm out of shape and this is a daily reminder!  The whole point of being able to lift both boys at once is to cut down on going up and down stairs to get them both up or down for diaper changes and naps or lunch time or down to the basement where we set up a playroom and then all back the other way again.  Now I can make one trip, 36 pounds of baby and two flights of stairs.  Phew!

~6~

Swimming: Ethan LOVES water!  From the very beginning he has loved bath time and still does.  While Peter has learned to crawl, Ethan seems to be a fish out of water.  His mode of getting around is the butterfly stroke.  It's so funny to watch!!  Not only is he doing the butterfly, but he gets so excited when he sees something he wants, turns himself towards it, and then starts his "stroke" to get there, making excited little noises the whole time.  And it keeps going and going since his attention is very quickly caught by something else the moment he reaches his original destination.

~7~

Walking: We have been walking every morning since just a few days after we moved into the new house.  There is a small park with a walking path around it that is about a mile long.  Each morning after breakfast we get everyone in the stroller and head out.  The weather has been so unseasonably warm lately and these morning walks have been great!!  I love that the park is so close!  I haven't done this much walking since I belonged to a gym, which was over a year ago.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary.

Have a great weekend!!

Video for I have a say

Yesterday the video got posted for our "I have a say" counter-campaign on the Catholic Sistas website.  We got a lot of photos from people across the country.  If you sent one in, thank you!!!  If you don't see your photo in the video, don't worry, we hope to post pictures on the blog that didn't make it in.  We got so many that the person putting the video together was not able to get them all in.  More photos are welcome as well.  We're not above making two videos if we get enough!

Check you the original post explaining how the video came to be on the Catholic Sistas page here.  Video included.

Father John Hollowell of the Diocese of Indianapolis also posted the video on both of his blogs:
http://i--have--a--say.blogspot.com/2012/03/cool-i-have-say-photos-from-across-us.html
and
http://on-this-rock.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-have-say-photos-from-across-us.html

Thanks again to all who sent in photos.  You helped make this video a reality.  Please share the links above and the video with as many friends as you can.

I have a say ...

The president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, is presuming to speak for all women across America in supporting the HHS Mandate that will require all employers to provide contraceptive, abortion, and sterilization services for free to all employees regardless of religious moral beliefs.  You can see her video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RXKHg1Wzk

But many of us do not stand with her and do not want her speaking for us.  So we have started a counter-campaign.  We are collecting photos to put together a video in response.  And we need your help!!  Create a sign that says "I have a say ... Cecile Richards does not speak for me!  Here comes the Catholic Church!" (be creative) and take a picture of yourself holding up the sign.**  Be sure the sign is legible.  Here is my picture:

Once you have your picture you can get it to us two ways:
1. Post it on the Facebook page for the Gospel of Life Committee -- Diocese of Owensboro, KY
Or
2. Send it to designsbybirgit{at}me{dot}com and it will be downloaded from there for inclusion in the video.

Here is another sample of photos posted by Designs by Birgit.  Send us photos as soon as possible, the sooner the better.  And have every member of the family participate, you do not have to be a woman to do this.  Thanks!!

More information on "I have a say" at Catholic Sistas.

**Or use this sign: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jQOFjZhCU_lIbIyhYIrqI881Vs7HkrIIzCVqLNUBlKk/edit

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 37, The Late Edition

-- 1 --

So much has been going on and thus I haven't posted on my blog in almost a month!!  Here is one of the reasons why:

We sold our house!!

-- 2 --

We are now renters!  We closed on our house, but are still living here.  We were given 30 days from the closing to move which worked out great for us. We close on the new house a week from today and then we will start the moving process.  Let the packing begin!!

-- 3 --

In a January Quick Takes post I shared how Ethan was pushing himself up on his toes but I had no pictures at the time.  I do now!!

Ethan doing his push ups.

A floor view.

-- 4 --

We have had such a mild winter, as I imagine many people around the country have had.  We have flowers already blooming in our yard.  These were from a few days ago when it was still February:

-- 5 --

A midst the packing and house closings and taking pictures of my boys, I also have a sabbatical project I'm working on.  Yesterday I posted an update at the two month mark on the blog I set up for the project.  If you're interested in what I'm working on and how it is going you can check it out here: Two Months Gone, Four To Go.  (And feel free to look around at the different pages I have there and "Follow" the blog if you are so inclined.)

-- 6 --

Also written yesterday but posted today was a bit about the challenges I have while working on this sabbatical project.  I have several purposes for why I have a sabbatical blog.  One of those is to journal about the project so I have a record of things for when I need to produce something later: an article, presentation, report, whatever.  So that's why I have a post that seems a bit more about my life than it does about the project.  For readers of this blog, this post may also explain why I haven't been posting much here lately: Sabbatical Challenges.

-- 7 --

Finally, the boys are nine months old now!!  A couple pictures for your amusement:

Feb. 29, close enough to being 9 months old!
Peter on left, Ethan on right.

Peter has discovered that he can climb things.  Ethan isn't quite sure what to make of it.

Peter's climbing antics include over his brother.  He knows no bounds.

Enjoy the weekend!!  For more Quick Takes visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 36

~1~

A recent discovery: Peter is scared of the electric hand-mixer, like immediately breaks down when Hubby turns it on.  It's so hard not to laugh!

~2~

I have news that I have not yet shared here or on Facebook or anywhere: we sold our house!!  I wanted to wait to share the news until we had the inspection and the appraisal.  All is done and we are moving forward!  So excited!

~3~

Of course, selling the house means we have to move.  So we immediately started looking.  We found a great house in a really great neighborhood.  It was further away from town than we originally wanted to be, but it was such a great neighborhood and house that we didn't care about the location.  Plus, what we didn't realize that since it was practically on the county line, there was a grocery store and little shopping center just on the other side of the county line.  So it wasn't near town, it was still near a bit of shopping, walking distance even.  So we put in an offer.

~4~

And apparently someone else liked the house just as much as we did and also put in an offer.  They got the house.  Back to square one.

~5~

Another afternoon of house hunting ... a Saturday morning of more house hunting ... and then another look at a house on Sunday after church.  We decided to put in an offer and after a bit of negotiating we got the house!!  Yay us!  It is also in an awesome neighborhood and a really great location!  It's an older home (about 40+ years old) and has been kept up really well.  It has some quirks and plenty of charm.  And it's really close to town, our church, a park (in walking distance), a grocery store, the university where I work, and so much more!  The inspection is Friday.  Hoping there are no major surprises!!

~6~

Isn't it cute:

Believe it or not, this is a two-story house with three bedrooms upstairs and it has a walk-out basement.  The three upstairs bedrooms are all really good size as well!

~7~

Next week I'll be attending two meetings, the Music OCLC Users Group Meeting and the Music Library Association Annual Conference.  I look forward to visiting with old friends and making new friends!!

Enjoy more Quick Takes at Betty Beguiles blog.

Happy Weekend!!

Stand with us or it will be YOU next

Over the last several days to a week, I have seen many of my friends post to Facebook about the recent HHS decision and "like" other friend's posts on the same.  Sometimes I read the comments from my friend's friends and follow the conversations for and against contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion.  The more I read the more I realize that people are missing the real issue.

What is the issue?  Is it the right for individuals to have access to free birth control?  Is it the about whether you can use your insurance coverage to get an abortion?  Or is it the right to be able to sterilize yourself from the "danger" of a future pregnancy?

No, no, and no.

If you work for a private company and your insurance coverage wants to pay for these things for you and you want to use them, then fine.  I may not agree personally, but that is the right of your company's insurance provider.

The issue is about the government (i.e. the state) mandating that a faith-based organization (i.e. the church) cover procedures and medications that said religious organization is opposed to.  Thus, the state stepping in to mandate the church do something contrary to the church's beliefs.

Hmmm!  Doesn't that sound like a "separation of church and state" issue.  I sure hope so, because that is EXACTLY what it is!

For us Catholics this is a matter of religious freedom and a policy that goes against our moral convictions.  For everyone else, this is a matter of the separation of church and state.  Maybe this mandate does not affect you and you don't care that Catholic employers (schools, hospitals, charitable organizations, colleges and universities) will be forced to comply with this mandate or close their doors.  Whether the specific mandate affects you specifically or not, the issue affects all of us.

If this administration feels that it can pass a mandate that does not allow for a comprehensive conscientious objection (there is an exemption, but it is extremely narrow) and thus go against the "separation of church and state" that has been a part of this nation's foundation since the beginning, then they can pass future mandates that will affect other religious groups as well.

Your religious liberties may not be threatened at this time, but if a precedent is set you may find yourself in the same position as Catholics are in now.  Stand with us: sign the petition the St. Michael's Society has put together, write to your congressmen and representatives, and let your Catholic friends know that you support them in fighting this mandate.  Next time it could be you and your religious liberties.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
They they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
                                           ~Martin Niemöller

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 35

A (mostly) twins Quick Takes:

~1~

The boys have improved by leaps and bounds with the rice cereal!  They now regularly eat the whole bowl.  Currently we're doing two tablespoons of the cereal mixed with two to three tablespoons of their formula.  They only get it once a day right now.  It seemed to take us so long to get to this point that I haven't really pushed anything more.  But ... I did buy some green beans for them the other day.  I think we'll take the next step this weekend!

~2~

Food is kind of a boring topic.  Well, I find it exciting, but you may not.  That's okay.  What is more exciting is how much they are moving!!  Peter can drag himself forward, spin himself around on his tummy, and he occasionally manages to get on his knees and rock a little bit.  He's not real stable on his knees though, so it doesn't last long.  But with the scooting, I've been surprised a few times at how far across the room he can go.

Ethan just recently started moving a bit more.  He can go backwards, but not forwards, which results in him sometimes getting stuck under things.  He has been working hard on pushing himself up on his toes.  He ends up holding himself up on just his hands and toes with his butt up in the air ... and he can stay there for more than a few seconds.

I really need to get some pictures of Ethan on his toes.  It's too cute!

~3~

Peter is a rolly-polly.  Even changing his diaper is a challenge.  He wants to always be on his tummy.  I admit that life must be more interesting from that perspective, but I didn't expect such acrobatics during diaper changes.  Oh my!  I'm getting better at getting him dressed that way, but I don't think I'll ever be able to put a diaper on him while he's on his tummy.  And now he's starting to try and turn himself around on the changing table.  A challenging child for sure!

~4~

I've started the big daycare search again.  I have a couple appointments next week with places that both have waiting lists.  Glad I'm starting six months early.

~5~

I bought a big storage container last weekend to pack up all the boys' newborn, 0-3 month, and 3 month clothes.  In the process I found a small stack of preemie diapers that they grew out of before we could use them.  Wow were they small!!  What a reminder of how much they have grown!!  Speaking of which, we have moved into the 6-9 and 9 month size clothes.  Some fit nice, some are really, really big; pants especially are big.  It's nice to know that they have room to grow in this size.

~6~

The boys are not yet sitting up independently.  I don't know when this is supposed to happen but I think if you go by their adjusted age they should be close to that.  They aren't though.  But that's okay, they'll do it when they are ready.  Obviously they are doing plenty of other things!!

I will say, though, that I may need to unsubscribe to the emails I get about "what your baby is doing at x weeks/months."  Those emails are already talking about lowering the crib mattress and baby crawling and pulling themselves up to a standing position.  Um, yeah, not my kids.  Those emails always seem to be MORE than a month ahead of where my boys actually are.  I'm still waiting for them to hold their own bottle.

~7~

Not related to the boys, but I had to share: Things are moving with our house.  I can't divulge details yet, need to wait until a few more things are finalized, but it might be very soon!  We have started the serious search for a new house!!

For more Quick Takes visit Conversion Diary.

Religious Freedom Being Threatened

The Obama administration recently announced that all employers must pay into insurance policies that cover abortion, contraception, and sterilization procedures.  This includes all Catholic employers.  There is an extremely narrow exception, so narrow that the vast majority of Catholic employers are not exempt.

This smacks in the face of our religious liberties and freedoms.  As Catholics we morally object to contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion.  It entirely goes against our beliefs to support any of these things.  Under this new HHS policy Catholic Churches, Catholic hospitals, Catholic charitable organizations, and other Catholic organizations will be required to pay for these procedures and treatments despite the fact that the Church morally objects to them.

All people of faith should be disturbed by this ruling, Catholic or not.  Even if this particular ruling does not affect you in particular, it is only the beginning.  It only takes one step to get the ball rolling.

So I urge you to sign the petition found on this St. Michael's Society website: Support Cardinal-designate Dolan Sign the Religious Freedom Petition.  After you sign it, share it with your family and friends.

This administration has been working hard to chip away at religious liberty and freedom in our society.  This needs to stop.  The government should not be forcing religious groups into morally objectionable policies.

March for Life

Today is the National March for Life in Washington, DC.  Hundreds of thousands of people will be there to march to the Capital steps to protest the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal in this country throughout all nine months of pregnancy.  May God bless all those who are marching today.  May their witness bring about change in the hearts of politicians and advocates of abortion.

cartoon from Umbert the Unborn 

Wordless Wednesday

Peter (on left) and Ethan
Jan. 15, 2012

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Zachary!

Can't believe it's been 3 years!  We miss you every day.  Sweet, little Zachary, pray for us!

Wordless Wednesday



Ethan finished the WHOLE bowl!!  1/9/2012



I don't need no stinkin' blanket.
Peter, 1/9/2012

Look at me, I'm so cute.
Ethan, 1/9/2012

My Saint for 2012

I went over to the Saint's Name Generator this weekend, said a prayer for the saint who would choose me this year, clicked the button, and out came:

St. Anthony of Padua

An interesting choice!  He's a popular saint and yet I realized I didn't know him all that well.  Of course, I knew him as the saint for "lost things," but otherwise I was surprised at the things listed under his patronage:

Patronage: Against Infertility; American Indians; Amputees; Animals; Elderly People; Faith in the Blessed Sacrament; Lost Articles; Mariners; Oppressed People; Pregnant Women; Travellers.

I did a Cursillo retreat in 2009 and my table was the Sts. Anthony and Jude table (we were lost and hopeless souls!).  I've been interested in St. Jude since, but didn't think much about St. Anthony.  I guess it is time I did!

So I will be spending 2012 praying with St. Anthony, getting to know him better, and asking for his intercession when I have prayer intentions.

Want a saint for the year?  Check out the Saint's Name Generator.  Also on that page are links to why Catholics pray "to" saints, how the Church chooses saints, and what a patron saint is.

7 Quick Takes Friday, vol. 34

~1~

Week one of sabbatical project has started.  I hope it will go well.  By day two I was starting to wonder if I was crazy to try working at home with two 7 month old babies and no day care.  Still too early to tell.  If anyone local wants to come visit during the day you're welcome to come during non-nap times.  The boys would love it!

~2~

I started a new blog just for my sabbatical project.  If you're curious about what it is or how it's going, I'll be journaling my way through the sabbatical over there.  You can go to Music Recitals Project to see more.  It's not a very creative name, so if you have suggestions, I'm all ears.  I'm not attached to the current name at all.  Seriously: not. at. all.

~3~

Also this week, I'm back on the wagon.  That is, the weight-loss wagon.  I've fired up the old Lose it! app on the iPod, weighed myself on Sunday, and started counting calories.  Man, I'm hungry!!  I also have a support group on Facebook that a group of friends started, so I'll have some accountability this time.  And motivation!

~4~

The boys and I went for a walk on Wednesday morning.  It's a little too cold for walking the neighborhood, so we went to the mall to walk before the stores opened.  I barely made it.  We had a pooping episode in the morning that required a change in clothes and an unexpected load of laundry and then when I got to the mall I had to remember how to unfold the very big and very heavy double stroller.  It took me a while to remember how the wheels fanned out, but I finally got it.  I was determined to get my walk in and not be foiled by a stroller!  I do love the stroller, though!  It is great: turns easily, is very smooth, looks comfortable for the boys.  But man is that thing heavy!

~5~

I got a Kindle for Christmas!!  It was totally unexpected.  I had been looking at them, but couldn't decide which I wanted.  Did I want the basic, original Kindle or the Fire?  Did I want 3G capabilities?  Did I want to wait a year and see if they released a Fire with 3G?  Maybe I should look at the Nook?  But all my questions got answered for me: Hubby got me the Kindle Fire.  So far I'm loving it!!  I downloaded a whole bunch of free Kindle books and am currently reading The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus (I also got free e-books by Aquinas, Belloc, Ignatius of Loyola, John Henry Newman, and a few others).  Hubby downloaded Angry Birds and started playing Words with Friends.  Currently he may use it more than I do.

I also like that I can get Facebook and my email on it, plus I'm enjoying the Pulse app that comes automatically with it.  Pulse is a little like an RSS feed, but mostly just for newspapers and magazines (current events), though you can also set up part of it to show you the links your friends post on Facebook.

I realized the other day that one of the best features of this is that when I travel I only have to bring the Kindle with me and not my whole laptop.  Bonus!!

~6~

Speaking of Christmas, we had a great Christmas visiting my family in Atlanta.  Everyone was there for Christmas day: my parents, all four of us kids along with two spouses, a fiance, and a girlfriend, four grand-kids, and my aunt who just recently moved (back) to the Atlanta area.  Opening gifts was overwhelming, probably because my two children aren't old enough to do anything and have no idea what is going on, so I felt as if I was constantly being brought gifts from my niece (6) and nephew (3).  Boy were those two excited!!  It was a fun day and very relaxing.  My family is always laid back during holidays, just hanging out, catching up, playing with the little ones, watching football, and enjoying a nice meal together.  And it was wonderful to have everyone there!

How was your Christmas?  Did you travel or stay home?  See extended family or celebrate with your immediate family?  Any special traditions?

~7~

My husband has already accomplished one big goal this year: re-organize the garage so the van will fit in it.  Success!!  The garage was already pretty well organized and neat (for a garage) but there was really only space for the two cars.  Now that we sold one of the cars and Hubby re-organized things, the van fits!!  That is quite an accomplishment if you know the neighborhood and kinds of houses in this area.  Garages are small!  The van barely fits, but it's in there.  Now that the weather is turning colder, this will be a good thing.  I don't want to deal with doors frozen shut early in the morning when we have to go somewhere (no repeats of what we had on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception trying to get to an 8am Mass ... no surprise, we were late).  And it was snowing all day while Hubby was working in the garage, thankfully mostly flurries or heavy flurries with the occasional moments of accumulating snow.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at Conversion Diary.