Happy First Day of School!

That's what I will be saying in about 20 mins as I walk through the house. Right now, all is quiet. The kids are still asleep and unassuming. Little do they know..hahahahahaha (evil homeschooling mom laugh).

Lesson plans have been reviewed. Pencils are sharpened. Erasers are already broken off, crayons have been opened and lost and notebooks have been doodled in. And we haven't even started yet! I have so many plans!

Not only is it the first day of school, our pool is being installed today. We found out yesterday that the electrician was going to charge us around $1000 to install a dedicated outlet for the pool. I say "was". We said "no thanks". Originally, the pool guy (I love saying that), had told us it would be closer to $300. Big difference. The Electrician just laughed when we told him that. So..my darling hubby, handyman extraordinaire, will be learning how to run electricity to pools. :) I know there has to be a You Tube video out there just for him. ;)

We finally found a supplier of 55 gallon drums for our rain barrels and we purchased 4 of them yesterday. We had to drive an hour and a half to get them, but it will be well worth it when the rain is collecting in them and flowing out into my gardens. FREEly. Now we just have to get the gutter installed and set up the operation. Another You Tube video has already been bookmarked. Let me tell ya, I never thought I'd spend so much time on You Tube, but it's proved to be quite helpful for outdoor projects. There are some creative folks out there.

Next project is the deck surround for the pool and spa. Next weekend will be the deck building party. Some friends from hubby's work said they would help for pizza and beer. I offered pizza and soda. I want my deck to be plum. Ya know! Beer after the deck is built.

I will try to take pictures of the pool installation today. The kids can't wait to have their first pool party. Honestly, neither can I.

Other projects on tap here:
- Screening in the back porch
- Building a brick BBQ pit
- Sewing curtains for all the rooms

I'll keep ya up to date.
Off to get ready for school!

Vaccination Information

Just read an article on the use of aborted fetal stem cell use in many of our vaccines. This article is not about abortion per se, it is about the effect of the use of these stem cells on the children who receive the vaccinations. I find it very important to read for new mothers and fathers that will be making the choice to vaccinate very soon. If you care to be informed on this issue please click on the excerpt to read the entire article:

Today, more than 23 vaccines are contaminated by the use of aborted fetal cells. There is no law that requires that consumers be informed that some vaccines are made using aborted fetal cells and contain residual aborted fetal DNA. While newer vaccines produced using aborted fetal cells do inform consumers, in their package inserts, that the vaccines contain contaminating DNA from the cell used to produce the vaccine, they do not identify the cells as being derived from electively aborted human fetuses.

A Help for ADHD?

After reading my Mau's entries on the Feingold diet over at A Half a dozen Productions, I decided to do some research.

It seems like this Feingold diet could be on to something in the treatment of ADD and ADHD. Having family members who suffer from ADHD this became even more interesting to me.

If you have a child with ADHD or ADD please check this out. It could mean the difference between a medicated child for life and a medication free child. It can't hurt to try.

For my readers, if you have had any success or lack of with the Feingold diet please comment.

Mr. Pinch Goes To Parris Island

Well, okay, not the real Parris Island, but she is on her way to Young Marine bootcamp this morning. Her first day. She is so excited! She looks so cute in her red shorts and white t-shirt. Her hair is in a neat bun.

She keeps yelling "Semper Five delis"! The other kids are constantly correcting her, "Semper Fidelis"! They yell back.

I am not going with her. Honestly, I can't bear to watch her get yelled at. My husband says "You yell at her all the time..what's the difference?" He smiles. It just IS! She's my baby..my little one..she's just too darn cute to yell at. Ach!..what if she cries..I'd go to pieces.

Okay, okay. She's gone. Nothing to do about it now. She can fend for herself! She's strong! She's ready. She's just 8!

I love these kids..I love the way they have rallied around her to help her memorize the Young Marine obligation, to do facing movements, stand at attention and sing The National Anthem. She is learning love of her country, pride in service and self-respect. Being a military family it's hard not to be patriotic. I still get goose bumps when I stand for The National Anthem. We stand for the National Anthem, even when we hear it on T.V. It's our anthem. It's our country.

I remember very clearly, the first time I had to salute the flag during my own bootcamp. It was very early, 5 am. We were on the grinder at Naval Training Center Orlando, in formation. 80 girls. We were not yet women. The National Anthem comes over the loudspeaker and the flag begins to rise up into the morning sky. I remember being filled with so much emotion it brought tears to my eyes.

I am very proud to have served my country. I am very proud to support my husband as he heads off every day to do his best to protect it. My father, mother, sister and brother, have all taken on the responsibility of protecting this great nation.

Now, watching my children, I am very proud of them. They are learning what it means to be patriotic. To love their country. To make a personal choice to never bring disgrace or dishonor on their God, their country and it's flag, their parents or themselves.

God Bless America! And my children too!

A Generous Serving of Love at Grace Cafe

Donna Marie Cooper-O'Boyle has given us just that in her beautiful book Grace Cafe.

She fills you up with truths from Church documents, encyclicals and inspiring words from such saints as Therese of Lisieux and St. Joseph. She truly shines her light on Christian motherhood.

Donna Marie shows us mothers how to turn our everyday lives into one constant prayer and offering to the Lord. Beginning our day with prayer for our families. Asking Our Lord to bless our families and our husbands.

As wives and mothers we are placed by God as specially appointed keepers of our domestic churches. The opportunities to holiness are endless. Holiness is found in the teaching of prayers to your children, in fixing supper for your husband and even in the laundry piled high.

I highly recommend this book for those occasions when you feel overwhelmed by it all. This book ends with some beautiful prayers and poems that will renew and refresh you.

Check it out at The Catholic Company.

Have You Talked to Your Boys...

about the Priesthood? The other day my middle son says to me, "I am having trouble with my life choice, should I be a carpenter or a magician?" First of all, I was completely shocked that he mentioned carpenter. I had no idea. It really made me look at him a bit closer. So, of course, now I'm blasting St. Joseph with prayers ;).

We talk about vocations to the Priesthood and religious life often. I try to make sure the kids view it as a real option. As a successful, albeit sacrificial, option in today's world. It really helps when you are blessed with Holy Priests in your parish. My mom passed this poster on to me from Fr. Z's blog.

Print it out and post it on the fridge at home. Use it as a conversation starter at dinner. Just as I was shocked to find out about the whole carpenter thing, you may find out something you didn't know about your children when you discuss vocations.

As parents, we have the obligation to present a calling to the Priesthood and/or religious life to our children. It's up to God after that.

Reminders and Reversals

You might be wondering what the heck that title is all about. I'll tackle Reminders first..

- I will do my absolute best to post a reminder
for the Friday fast on
Thursday evening.
- Remember to catch yourself up to date on FOCA.
Just a few days now until Obama gets the
chance to make it happen. Know the Facts!
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
(I had to throw that one in
there, your "neighbor" includes your children)

Now Reversals..This is where I need all you prayer warriors out there. About 6 years ago my husband had the big V. (vasectomy) I don't recommend sterilization in any form. There is nothing like losing your fertility. There is nothing like losing it without your consent.

Well, then (and God is soooo good) he had a conversion experience and was accepted into the Catholic Church. As soon as he confessed his vasectomy I could feel the graces begin to flow back into our marriage. Ever since then, we have been looking into, researching, sidestepping and beating around the bush about a reversal. He was told by his doctor at the v. appt. that it was highly unlikely he could get a reversal and that it would work. He was also told that it was major surgery and in some cases life threatening. All of this served to put up a wall around him. I don't blame him at all..it was pretty scary stuff.

Then..we moved..we came to this good ol' great South and I met this great group of ladies and ended up in San Antonio on a women's retreat. On my knees in front of the first class relics of St. Therese of Lisieux, in the most beautiful basilica dedicated to her, I asked her for her intercession in this matter.

When I returned home, my husband tells me, as he was setting his regular doctor's appt.'s, he went ahead and scheduled a referral to urology to see if about a reversal. Come to find out, he made this call the same day I was on my knees having a serious conversation with The Little Flower. (She has completely won me over)

To make a very long story short, my husband is scheduled to have a reversal on Jan 29th. Please pray that it is successful and he suffers no complications. Whether or not a new baby comes from this(but I sure do hope it does) I am so thankful to St. Therese for her intercession and to God for His mercy and love in allowing us the opportunity to raise more flowers for His garden.

Thank you in advance for your prayers for my hubby. And for sticking through to the end of this post!

Blessings!