Are you listening?

The year anniversary is approaching of our girls' baptisms. It's amazing how far we've come over the past year and a half. However, our RCIA classes came to an end shortly after Easter and it didn't take long for us to fall back into the same old rut we were in before. Too busy for this and too busy for that.

I haven't spent any quite time alone with God in months and I know it's affecting me. Of course, God is still there nudging me along. Just a few days ago, I got a e-mail from our niece saying she has met a wonderful guy, a Catholic beau, who is very faith and family oriented. Since being  involved with him, she has started attending mass with her children. She enrolled her daughter in the PSR program and she is starting the RCIA program. This is wonderful news! She deserves nothing but the best.

Our niece went on to say, that whether we knew it or not, she really looks up to my husband and I. Wow! That's one of the nicest things we could ever hear. I could barely finish the letter because I was crying and I could not read it to my husband, who was just as touched.

Knowing that we were her role models wasn't the only thing that moved me to tears. It was knowing that God was using her to speak to me. I've fallen out of my relationship with Him. The one I was working so hard to build one short year ago.

And again yesterday, he used one of my blog sites to get the message through. I'll leave you with their message. Does it hit home for you as well?

It has been said, "If the devil cannot make you bad, he'll make you busy."

I wanna save

This post is really more of a question for everyone out there. At one of our RCIA classes, the speaker said something that struck a cord with me. He was talking about tithing and how you can't help others if you are always in debt. True? Yes.

I'm getting serious about cutting some more costs, but I'm out of ideas. Here are the things we've done this year....

• Switched to Virgin Mobile for cell phones. No contracts. We get 300 anytime minutes, unlimited text, email, data & web for $25/month. Savings = unsure?
• Cancelled our Dish Network services. Savings = $58/mo
• Switched from Huggies to Walmart brand diapers. Savings = $26/mo
• Eat out less. Savings = ? (I haven't tracked it)

My questions to you all......How have you gotten out of debt or are you still in debt? Do you budget or do you fly by the seat of your pants? How have you cut spending? What are your best tips for cutting costs? Lay them on me & everyone listening....we could all benefit from any and all saving tips!!

Saying goodbye to your best bra

Come on ladies, tell me.....Don't  you hate when you have a bra you love & the under wire pokes through? You know that it's done for......Adios. Hello Garbage.

Well this time I said....NO MORE! I pulled out the under wire & sent it to the laundry. :) That'll show you, Mr. Bra Maker!!

I'm getting ready for Church & head down to get my clothes off the line. I grab all the essentials including the bra I love. I head up, shower & get dressed. I leave my shirt off because I still have a few hours before Church begins. No need to have 6 little hands, caked with who knows what, pawing it. You Moms know what I'm talking about....don't act like you don't. Sort of like the commercial I used to hear w/Joan Cusack...I love you honey but don't you touch me with those hands!

Alrighty that was off topic....so moving on...I head in to blow dry the do & I glance in the mirror...WHY is my right Tata so droopy & my left is a perky princess? Oh, yes, the left under wire is missing. Curse you, Mr. Bra Maker!!!! Adios bra I love. The trash welcomes you.

Growing everyday

It was such a busy day yesterday. Whew! A day I've been excited about & dreading at the same time. Our convalidation. I'm not so sure it was the convalidation that I dreaded but the confession that was going to precede it. I hadn't been to confession since the day of my first confession. I was just a child. Talk about nerve wracking since I hadn't been a practicing Catholic for years. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts heading into Church that I stepped right in front of a vehicle!! I wave apologetically & wouldn't you know it, the driver was a familiar face....RD's Pre-K teacher! Eeek. The thought crossed my mind that she thinks I'm a flake! Who walks right out in front of vehicles? Maybe my body was trying to get me out of confession LOL...(just kidding by the way). There were about 5 or so people ahead of me. Good. More time to sweat, more time to think, & more time to pass out. I felt like I was about ready to give the biggest speech of my life! I'm next in line & start wondering...Is there some switch I flip to turn the light from green to red? Hmmm, I guess I'll look around. In I go. The only "switch" I see is a regular light switch. I think to myself it's a good possibility that this is "the" switch. I flip it on. The whole room lights up. CRAP! Nope that is not "the" switch. UGH! Doesn't matter now. Father knows I'm green. Right then & there I have a good laugh at myself. When I sit down to face Father, he's smiling w/me & I know it's all good. Father says, "Welcome home, sister" & I did....I felt right at home.

The convalidation was really heartfelt & personal. It was completely different than I expected. Our Deacon did a wonderful job & gave us the best compliment on our marriage. It was very nice to hear. I can't say enough about how awesome this journey has been & how welcomed we have felt. I am excited to be able to receive communion once again & look forward to Easter when DH will finally be able to receive all of his sacraments as well.

BTW...in case you are wondering...I asked Deacon about said switch...."the switch" is in the seat & kneeler. ;)

Tradition

Well, I haven't written in awhile & I've had this one saved back till after Thanksgiving. Since my house was stuck with the stomach flu yesterday, I'll share this one today.

With the Christmas holiday drawing near, I'd like to ask that you share a tradition you have. It could be something you did as a child or something that you've continued doing with your kids.

My parents always bought us an ornament every year so that when we were grown, we'd have a great start for our own trees. My Mom tried (meaning some years it didn't happen) to bake a cake for Jesus every year. I mean, 'Tis the reason for the season!! We always went to my Mom's parents house on Christmas Eve. I loved my childhood Christmas'.

I want so badly to start new traditions with my girls. I've decided that this year we are going to read a book on the true meaning of Christmas, attend mass on Christmas Eve, bake a cake, pick out & cut down a real tree, open new PJ's Christmas Eve night, & I will pass on the tradition of giving ornaments. I've also thought about having everyone write each member of the family a "Why I love you" note to give Christmas morning & donating our time to a local charity. Of course, those may have to wait a few years when the girls are older.

Christmas, Christmas time is here. Can you hear me singing to you? :)

Prayer

During my faith journey, I continually find myself trying to control my life. Ultimately, I know it's not my place to control my path but it's hard to let go. Putting my full faith in God & knowing He is leading me on the right path is my biggest obstacle. I have been asking God daily to help me let go & trust in him.

I've found, if I listen, God is always speaking back to me. NO, He didn't pick up the phone & give me a call, but He is working through the relationships that I have. It can be through friends, family, or a complete stranger on the street. You just have to be open to receiving the message & open to new relationships.

This morning, I received an email about this exact subject. Although the message was great, the included prayer was powerful. He knew how much I needed it. I would like to share the prayer with all of you because I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this.

Dear Lord, the dark can be frightening.
Jesus, sometimes my ability to trust seems so much smaller than the step I need to take.
Help me to build a history with You.
A history of seeing You will help me trust You over and over and over again.
I want that. I put my trust in You.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Dressed to impress?

SIDE NOTE: From here on out our girls will be referred to as apples. For security reasons of course. Our oldest is Red Delicious or RD, middle is Gala, & our baby is Honey Crisp or HC.

So for those of you that are following or *coughs* read my last couple of posts, you now know my husband and I have started attending Church. While I enjoy attending it has taken some getting used to. We have joined the Catholic Church. There are things Catholics do at mass that you may not be familiar with if you were not raised Catholic. Which neither of us were. So trying to figure out the missal, when to sit, stand, recite (OK, what prayer everyone is praying in unison) took a little time. We aren't even close to having it down but we're getting there.

Our other dilemma is attending mass with the girls in tow. It feels like a reenactment of the Civil War. We've attended every time frame of mass they offer. Deciphering which time is better for us, the perfect pew to sit or if other kids are present. We don't need ALL the attention on us. We take an arsenal of items: paper, crayons, toys, drinks, several different snacks, & all the diapering supplies. Now you might think that could keep 3 angels busy, right? Well it doesn't. I'm open to EVERY suggestion you guys have.

Our first couple of times we went alone. No need to bring the kids to something we had no clue about. I've been to other Churches were parents have their angels in tow. Never seemed to bug me. Maybe it's exaggerated because they're mine this time. Who knows.

The first time the girls went RD got very impatient fast. She wanted to go home, NOW. So she started chanting "I don't like Jesus" over n over. Thank you Lord everyone was singing praise. She was drown out. BUT my face was flush.

We always sit in the very last pew. It sits farther from the pew directly in front so there is more wiggle room for the kids, car seat & bag of goods. It also gives RD plenty of room to use the kneeler as a balance bar & Gala can't escape out the back because there's something (no, I don't have a clue what it is) firmly planted behind "our" pew. Her only options are to high tail it out the side (Daddy sits there so no chance of that happening) & going under the pew to the one in front of us (which has happened). Luckily she hits feet & gets stuck which makes her turn back toward us. I often wonder what the person in front of us thought about when they chose that pew. I'd of seen our mess of a family & kept on trucking.

I personally love sitting close to the front. I can't see a dang thing going from the back. If I was on Facebook, I'd hit the dislike button (if there was an option) about back row pews. About a month back I got a crazy idea. The girls have to be used to this by now & I wanna see. So I headed in & traveled half way up the aisle. The husband was in panic mode. I reassured him we'd be fine. Half way through mass HC started fussing. My darling husband, being the wonderful guy he is, picks her up & heads out the back. Gala goes crazy (she's a major Daddy's girl). I try calming her. After minutes, which felt like an hour, I decided to pack it up. I gathered our arsenal up off the floor & jammed it into the bag, grabbed a missal so I could start learning the mass better, swooped up Gala, hissed at RD to come on, genuflected, made the sign of the cross, & headed down the aisle disheveled. I am met with glares & wide eyes. Oh come people, have you never seen crazy kids? I open the doors & reached victory. I made it out with the girls in tow, alive. I see my husband's lovely face & felt a sense of relief wash over me. We head to the car. I throw our ransacked possessions into the car, buckle in Gala, plop myself into my seat, & grab for the seat belt. My face fills with embarrassment. My top is connected by 2 lonely buttons. The bottom 2. The ta-ta's are free. No wonder every eye was on me as I walked the plank......

Deep sigh. I still have to show my face there. Lessoned learned. No more button up tops. This is what the darling husband offered as his brand of encouragement. I'm sure they'll just say "There comes the crazy family. You know the ones with the screaming kids & undressed mother. Yeah the one that took the missal! That's them!" Thanks Honey, you always know how to make me feel better. :)