Halloween

Halloween night we got the boys all dressed up and took them around our neighborhood. We trick-or-treated for about an hour when Jacob said "Mommy, I have enough candy, I'm ready to go home!" After trick or treating, we roasted marshmallows and had s'mores! We had a fun night and a great weekend with Daddy!

Here are some pics of my Spiderman, Elmo and the cutest lil' pumpkin!

Meeting Glen Beck

We went downtown to the Blue Black Square in West Hartford and saw this bus sitting outside Barnes & Noble.......

Is that really his bus?

Yep, that really is Glen Beck!!

Where's your chalkboard?

Halloween Weekend

Halloween Weekend turned out to be a great weekend for us. Brian was actually home and we were able to spend some much needed quality time with Daddy! On Saturday morning, we headed down to West Hartford Center. They were having a festival for the kids with trick or treating to the stores. So, it was rather cold, but we bundled the kids up anyway. Jacob put on his warm pj's under his Spiderman costume and Caleb's costume kept him pretty warm.

Daddy, Jacob and Caleb in West Hartford Blue Black Square.

A family picture!

After getting to meet Glenn Beck and go trick or treating, it was time to head home and decorate our pumpkins!

Jacob drew his face on his pumpkin while Caleb and Noah watched!

Jacob was very serious about his pumpkin.

Caleb, on the other hand, was quite silly!

The boys loved pulling the tops off of their pumpkins.

Somehow, mommy got the unpleasant job of de-seeding the pumpkins.

Jacob decided to put on his Buzz Lightyear costume from last year for the pumpkin lighting!
Notice the large, angry pumpkin?
That is what a pumpkin looks like after 5 1/2 years of surgical training!

Jacob was very proud of his one-toothed pumpkin.

All dressed up!

The cutest pumpkin in the WHOLE world!

Elmo was NOT happy to have his hat on. Noah was clueless. Jacob was just being himself, silly!

A Sense of Purpose

We all go through life looking for a reason for our existence. Some of us find that in our ability to carry out God's desires for ourselves, some focus on their careers or material things, and sadly some are always searching and never find their reason. I spent a good amount of my college years "searching" and never finding. That was also the period in my life when I thought that I could get by just fine without Jesus in my life. How wrong I was!

Shortly after my 21st birthday, I decided to go back to the Catholic Church. I had been so angry at the Catholic Church for all her rules and restrictions. It felt like the church wanted me to live a life that wasn't possible. Who could participate in all these "extras" that are often criticized by other faiths? These extras like the Rosary, Adoration, the Sacraments, Stations of the Cross, daily mass; it was just too much for one person. My heart had hardened and I didn't want to see what God was trying to show me. It wasn't about all the rules and restrictions. It was about God and growing closer to him through my relationships with Christ, the Holy Spirit and our Eternal Mother, Mary.

It wasn't long after I began going back to church that I met Brian. At the time, I thought this was just luck, but it was all a part of God's plan. Brian is and always has been an extremely devout Catholic. I remember in the early years of dating and marriage, the only heated arguments we got into were about the Church. I was still a Cafeteria Catholic, picking and choosing what I felt my human mind knew better that God himself. Talk about a lack of humility. Brian accepted the Church and her beliefs in their entirety, without question or doubt; such a childlike faith and one to emulate.

Jacob was born in April 2007 and I realized at that point I needed to get my act in gear. Up until that point, I had been teaching things to my Catechism kids that I didn't even believe, but I knew I had to teach it. Perhaps that was how God began to soften my heart. The next year, I searched long and hard, was challenged by some Protestant friends and slowly began to understand my Catholic faith more fully! I started going back to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and talk about grace. The grace received from the Holy Spirit when the priest speaks those words "Your sins are forgiven". Of course, it is not the priest forgiving our sins, but rather Christ who comes to us through the priest. It is so powerful. This is truly the most peaceful feeling in the world and the presence of Christ is undeniable . I started going to church every week, never missing mass and receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist whole heartedly. To kneel humbly in God's presence is such a powerful experience and so peaceful. For about 15 minutes, Christ resides in our bodies and after that, the Holy Spirit has given us the grace to seek Jesus and continue to remain in communion with God.

I began to see that all these "extras" were not just things to do to earn salvation like I had once thought. It was about my relationship with Christ and being in communion with Him. Through the graces received in these sacraments, I am given the strength to live my Catholic faith to its fullest. When we allow our little light of Christ to shine, we can change the world by how we live. Of course, I am human and there are times that I do not represent Christ in my thoughts, my words and what I do. Our God is a forgiving God and as a result, I can ask for forgiveness and keep trying to live a life that is pleasing to God. In saying the Rosary, going to adoration, I am strengthening my relationship with Christ. It is no secret that in order to have a relationship with anyone, you have to spend time with that person. Christ is no different. He commands our attention and desires us to love him more fully so that we can experience His love and graces! My mom was just here a week ago and she taught Jacob a little prayer that I had forgotten. It is absolutely beautiful!

Dear little Jesus,
come to me.
All my love,
I give to thee.

In order to grow closer to Jesus, we must achieve this childlike faith. Jesus commanded this of us in the Gospel of Luke:

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. Luke 18: 15-17

So, what is your reason for existence? Are you here to serve the Lord or to serve the world? As a mother, my reason for existence is to help not only my husband, but also my children to achieve salvation. It is through my efforts with them, that I grow as a Christian and am challenged to live in communion with God. I am thankful and grateful that Christ has revealed himself to me through my husband, my children, my family and friends, and the Church. I can joyfully participate in these "extras" that help me to grow closer to Him. I wish that everyone could experience these as well.

The gift of life and the gift of the Catholic church are the greatest gifts my parents ever gave to me. For that, I am eternally grateful to them! I hope that I can live a life worthy of Christ and show the world how good He is.

My prayer today is this:

May the Holy Spirit burn in us the desire to seek a deeper relationship with Christ so that we may show the world Christ's love and joy!

A Gentle Reminder to Slow Down!

I came across this on a blog and wanted to share. It is a gentle reminder that these years of parenting go so fast. So live without regrets and enjoy your little ones, boy or girl!

To My Grown-Up Son

My hands were busy through the day;
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to.
I didn’t have much time for you.

I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook,
But when you’d bring your picture book
And ask me please to share your fun
I’d say: "A little later, son."

I’d tuck you in all safe at night
and hear your prayers, turn out the lights,
Then tip toe softly to the door…
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past…
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side
His precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,
There are no longer games to play,
No good-night kiss,
No prayers to hear…
That all belongs to yesteryear

My hands, once busy, now are still,
The days are long and hard to fill,
I wish I could go back and do
The little things you asked me to.

Alice E. Chase – 1975

Book Review for Sophia Institue Press: A Mother's Rule of Life

A Mother’s Rule of Life

By Holly Pierlot

ISBN 1928832415

http://www.sophiainstitute.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=253

I came across this book and was immediately intrigued by its title. Once I began reading it, it was hard to put down. This book was packed full of wonderful ideas and inspiration. It was written as if the author was sitting across the table from you while you both drank your morning coffee. Holly Pierlot has taken the concept of a Rule of Life, used by nuns and monks, and has adapted it for the Motherly role for all women. After explaining how the Rule of Life works in the convents, she breaks the book into 5 important priorities in life: Prayer, Person, Partner, Parent and Provider. In each chapter, she discusses techniques for how to fit each of these priorities into your life by means of an organized schedule. By scheduling time for each of these, you are allowing yourself to dedicate time appropriately to your priorities while still fulfilling your needs as a woman. She concludes the book by showing how these schedules can be created and how to implement the plan. I have started to implement some of this in my own life and what a difference it has made already. This book is a wonderful resource for any Christian woman. It will help her to place God as the top priority in her life. In doing so, the graces she receives from her relationship with Christ then trickle down into the family life. Our relationship with Christ is the most important thing in our lives and yet so many of us do not put Him in the forefront. In Holly’s book, she shows how this is not only possible but also how it enriches our lives as women, mothers and wives. This is a model for all Catholic/Christian families to follow!

Big Boy Noah

Noah has been working on some new tricks lately! See what he has accomplished:

He doesn't particularly care for tummy time, but when he does, he refuses to roll over. Silly boy!

His smile often begins with a big wide mouth grin!

Who cares about rolling over when you can sit up and see what your brothers are doing?!

He loves to kick and laugh on the floor!

Quiet times with Noah

As we have added more children to our family, it has taught me many things, but the thing most noticeable today is this....the moments go by so quickly and before you know it, they grow up. With Noah, I have taken more time to just enjoy him and not worry so much about a clean house and personal hobbies. This has allowed me to relax, enjoy the simple moments and reassure myself that staying at home with these boys is the BEST job I could ever dream of. God is so good to us and I'm grateful that financially I can stay home and give these boys the best start to life!

Noah is such a BIG boy! I had to take these pics of him naked
because he is not very roly poly, just solid!

Checking out his puppy, not sure what to make of it.......

I like my puppy!

Fun in the Leaves!!!

We have a park about 5 miles from our house that they boys love to play at. So, this afternoon we packed up and headed there. Dinner was in the oven and I knew Brian wasn't going to make it home until after the boys went to bed, so we needed to get out of the house and just enjoy each other. We headed to Wolcott park. What I love the most about my boys is that a simple ball and all the sticks you could ever ask for was enough to keep them happy! It is these simple pleasures that I intend to encourage them to seek. Time with the ones we love is a great way to end the day!

Jacob is such a happy child and quite the ham for the camera!

I can still see the little baby I took home from the hospital on April 17, 2007. His face has not changed much in the last 3 1/2 years!

Noah wasn't too sure of the leaves at first, but it wasn't long before I got a cute smile from him!

Ummmm....what's going on back there?

Caleb is such a little charmer. However, he avoids the camera so a picture like this is not easy to get with him!

Caleb is a true boy...he loves balls, sticks, dirt and climbing!

The boys loved to have me bury them in the leaves!

Playing soccer together. These moments warm my heart!

After a while, Noah wasn't too sure about the events of the day.

So, Caleb came over and consoled him!

We are excited for snow, as this will become our future sledding hill!!!!

My Little Pooh Bears

I love to find old pics of the boys in similar outfits and compare!

This picture of Jacob was taken on October 15, 2007 (exactly 6 months old)

This is Noah, picture taken October 16, 2010 (age 4 1/2 months).