Hoarders, Satsumas, Marriage, Cookies, Advent - Basically, Everything

Oh! Fashion post!...2014, hopefully.

'Cause its just done gone and got crazy on me.

Here is basically a stream of consciousness post.

Because posing for pictures is not fun, Mom.

Ok I watched an episode of Hoarders, and it kept me up for about an hour with anxiety - like the kind you get after a thrilling/scary movie.

Y'all.  If you or someone you know has this weakness (we ALL have our weaknesses) please pray for them and ask the Holy Spirit how to approach them. It's so sad.

Something happy!

Ok, well, I mean, grab a box of tissue and read this article by Hallie at Moxie Wife. But it's BEAUTIFUL.  Hallie Lord has an uncanny ability to hit the nail on the head every time. Not all authors/bloggers are this way (trust me - blog reading is like my favorite past time) but Hallie has an amazing gift.

What else?

Yummy-Nummy! Top-right is a cookie cake 'cause a friend has taught me that having a random cake in the freezer is so wonderfully and surprisingly awesome.

I'm baking these cookies right now. Specifically the second recipe (we have used white cake and yellow cake and both worked great, but the cookies get HUGE, totally not complaining about that though!).
Delicious. Delicious. Delicious.
And wonderfully simple!

Jo has hit the destructive-curious-get-into-everything-unplug-and-replug-wreck-the-house-and-finish-with-the-sweetest-chubby-smile stage. It's great and umm messy, to say the least. And I'm losing a few brain cells. To be expected, no?

Satsuma season is in full swing and our intestines are bursting with high-fiber deliciousness.
Remember my ode to satsumas?

must.stop.eating.cookies.

Please keep praying for the sale of this house, although a new location has not been secured. Never fear. We are not concerned (cough-sputter-laugh). ok ok Tyler is way less concerned and I'm just piggy-backing on his confidence.

sidenote: Jonah is running around with a crayon. I continue to blog, because sanity must reign supreme.

Static TV? Unplugged gaming system? Yes, please, says Jonah.

"BOOM!" Translation: He wants to watch football. Already. (face palm) 

"Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley is sort of scary for a two-year old sing-mimicking, well at least hearing it is creepy. That would be a thumbs-down Pandora. Thanks. Alan Jackson? Much better.

I really really really hope that you have a great Thanksgiving! Hoping these cake-mix cookies make a good contribution.

Advent is Sunday! I know!

I have a few great ideas on pinterest and last year I snagged one of these off of the clearance rack. El cheapo. Pretty much my life attempt is to become a cheapskate since moving in this house. Slow getting there, (read: morning sickness, newborns, etc.) but there is hope yet!
Anyway...stale chocolate all Advent? CHECK!

Happy Thanksgiving!

St. Matthew, pray for us!
St. Joseph, pray for us!
All you holy angels and saints of God, pray for us!

Love Matters

My sweet cousin and his wife had us over for dinner tonight at their adorable first home.  Even cuter is their sweet little 19 month old girl who Rita had a total blast with!

As I walked into their bathroom I saw one of those happy-excited-talk-and-sing-and-totally-get-crazy-when-you-void potty training toilets. And guess what? 

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter that the earthy/attachment websites I consult bash these potties.

It doesn't matter that we use a super old school potty.

It doesn't matter that we have friends that use a Baby Bjorn potty.

It doesn't matter that sometimes I cloth diapers and other times I use disposables.

It doesn't matter if I keep updating you on my pendulum decisions about diapering.

It doesn't matter that I only have time/remember to EC with Jonah a few times a week.

It doesn't matter that Rita is 23 months and not potty-trained.

It doesn't matter that her 19 month old cousin is nearly potty-trained.

It just doesn't matter.

Poop grosses me out.

Rita was so nearly potty-trained but as she gravitated to inspect poop in the potty I lost my cool a few too many times.

And so guess what?

I've decided it just doesn't matter.

Potty training isn't a big deal for me anymore.

I was so impressed that our Chinese neighbors in married housing potty-trained their girls by 18 months.  I really really wanted that.  And I didn't consider Rita or my own limits.

My baby Jonah isn't even six months old.  I can give myself a break.  I can let go.  I can be grateful for a child that has the potential to potty train.  I can be grateful for a child with healthy voids.

Sometimes Rita potties and sometimes she doesn't.

Sometimes she asks for panties and sometimes she whines for a diaper.

I just have way more important issues like eating healthy balanced meals, reading with my babies, rocking my babies, washing laundry, doing dishes, praying the Angelus at noon, teaching Rita Catholic prayers, making time to set-up painting for Rita, playing patty-cake with Jonah, singing and dancing with my babies to Christmas music.

Sweet Rita and St. Francis

Thank you Jesus for using Advent to teach me this.  Thank you Lord for your love that sees far far far beyond my shortcomings as a wife, mother, friend and daughter.   Thank you Jesus for helping me to understand my priorities right now (which are very different from and should NEVER be compared to anyone else).  Thank you for teaching me that love is what matters.

In Light of the Fact that I Tend to Overspend

Yep! I admit! Using a cash back credit card with the intention to stay within budget has yet to work for grocery shopping for me! Since Jonah's birth our finances have been in crazy land of I-have-no-idea-what-is-going-on!

So I had given myself the deadline of Thanksgiving as the end of postpartum madness (haha!).

So today I go shopping with cash! Renewed and recommitted to the Big B: Budget!

Advent tomorrow! Our wreath and candles totaled only $8 before tax at Hobby Lobby! Hoping you can put together a simple one for you and yours!

Radiant Love: A Visit with Our Lord

Well, back in September I said that it was back to chapel for me...but after one creepy visit in which a man stayed lingering outside in the chapel parking lot, Tyler asked that I visit chapel at some other time than dark...great idea...not so practical since he comes home after 5:30 every day! 

Stained glass above the tabernacle.

So, life happened and I thought of chapel and I attempted visits but never got there.  But the truth of the healing and rejuvenating Eucharist kept calling to me and I didn't let myself stop trying.

It FINALLY paid off!  Two months later (so embarrassing) I made a visit to our Lord in a local church.  I spent a little more than 15 minutes but it felt like hours.  I was so refreshed by quiet, still prayer time in the presence of Our Lord in the tabernacle.  

The stained glass had me marveling at the beauty of God in this world, as did the gorgeous tabernacle. 

I'm so refreshed.

It's God is amazing.

I'm looking forward to another visit!

Candles burning beneath the mantle of Our Lady.

My goal is confession once a month and chapel once a month.  My last two attempts at confession have left me starring at an empty confessional...just a few minutes too late.  Shucks.  I'm not giving up!!

On another note, Tyler has a retreat coming-up soon.  Please pray for him as he prepares to spend time away from the busyness and wooing nature of the world.   I pray that he is blessed, revived and refreshed during his time of spiritual renewal.

As we near Advent,
Come Lord Jesus!

Ad-venting

Dear loved ones, friends and readers,

I am so excited for this holiday season. Rita is nearly two and I know she is going to love baking cookies, painting ornaments and preparing for the exciting birth of Our Lord.

And Jonah will be bopping in the bunbo, chillin in the sling and along for our adventuring!

So I will be posting haphazardly! Maybe just photos, but stay tuned so we can share with you.

Enjoy this season!!!! Be thankful!!! Let's embrace this Year of Faith by being grateful and content (amidst this frenzy of consumerism).

Love and prayers!!!