Random Photo Friday

Wow..It's Friday all ready!! Well this weeks photo is from Feb. 3rd of 2008..This is one of my favorite photos of the kids..

Tune in next week for another Random Photo Friday..

Lent 2009 Plans

Well, our Mardi Gras party was a success..We had 2 other families with us, and don't you know I forgot to take pictures!! We had Ponchki, made rosaries (at lest we tried to), and chatted..It was a nice way to start the Lenten season..

I am going to put my Lenten Plans (or List) down here..I may have posted some of these before, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating stuff..

1. Lenten Prayers (you can find them here) & Scripture ~Every day
2. Rosaries ~ Every night
3. Stations of the Cross ~ Every Friday
4. Confession ~ At least 2x's a month (maybe more)
5. Eucharistic Adoration (you can find a list of times & places here if you're in the Pittsburgh area)
6. Sacrifices ~ We changed our no T.V. to no T.V. on Fridays & to put our extra change in the Charity can..
7. Service ~ Volunteer for Church or visit our elderly family members in the nursing homes..
8. Fish Fry ~ We're going to go to different parishes for dinner Fridays

I also have a few other things planned. I bought a big white poster board, and I'm going to write down our schedule so the kids have a visual of what's going on..

You can also find inspiration or information at this blog..I checked it out, and it's great!!

We will be putting up the Stations of the Cross that I made a few years ago..So it's going to be a busy Lenten season..

Check back tomorrow for another Random Photo Friday..

Getting Ready for Lent 2009

How do you like the new backround? I thought this would be appropriate for the Lenten season..You can find more free backgrounds here..

Tuesday we're having our "Mardi Gras" party..Then for Lent we're giving up T.V. (oh the groans you should have heard..And the kids were upset too)..

I am going to try and go to Mass during the week, and make it to Eucharistic Adoration at least once a week..It's the least I can do for the Lord..

Random Photo Friday

Here is another installment of RPF..We're going back to 2005 again..This is from Easter 2005..The funny thing about this photo is that Ariana (in the pink flowery dress) is as tall as Bob now!! Yes my 12 year old daughter is almost 6ft..

18

Today is my oldest baby's 18th birthday..I can't believe 18yrs have gone so fast..18yrs ago today at 9:11am, I had a baby girl..She was 8lbs 9ozs & 21 inches long..She had a head full of hair, and the chubbiest cheeks..She was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on..

I was an 19 yr old, unwed mother..I had dropped out of college..I had a psychiatrist tell me to abort my baby because I would not make a good mother..The father told me he couldn't handle being a dad at 19..All of my friends abandoned me..It seemed like the whole world was against me..The only people I had to rely on were my parents, and God..My parents took care of me all 9 months..My mother & father coached me through the birth..God watched over us the whole time..Jenna was baptized, and raised in the Catholic faith..She still is..My whole family has embraced Jenna..Even though I didn't have a baby shower (because we felt it wasn't the right thing to do) Jenna was outfitted for almost every day..I even received assistance from a crisis pregnancy center..Our church never shunned us or disrespected us..They received us with loving open arms..Just as Jesus & his blessed Mother has..

And so, I raised my baby girl at home with my parents..I eventually went back to school..But my main purpose in life was Jenna..She settled my life down..It was just us 2 for 4yrs until I married Bob..And he has claimed her as his own ever since..

Jenna has not wanted for anything..Sure she has material things, but she has been loved since the moment I found out I was having her..Even though it was a rough start we made it work..I call her my "unexpected blessing"..She was never a "mistake" at anytime..She has grown into a beautiful, compassionate, caring, young lady..

Whatever she decides to do with her life, be it a vocation to religious life, marriage, etc..She knows that she was and will be loved..That we will accept her choices, help her in anyway we can..She knows that her Lord & Savior loves her despite of how she came into the world..

And so, on this her 18th birthday..I say to my beloved child..I love you Jenna, with all of my heart, & soul..My our Lord bless & keep you..My our blessed Mother shelter you under her mantle..And my you have a long, rich, faithful life..

To My Beloved..

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! I Love You!!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.I love thee to the level of every day'sMost quiet need; by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath.

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Thank you for everything..I love you more than words can say..I thank God for bringing you into my life..I thank you for our children..I am so happy to spend the rest of my life with you..

Random Photo Friday

We're gonna go back a few years..2005 to be exact..This photo is of the kids on Jen's 14th Birthday..

Oh what a few years can do..

Christmas 2008