Summer Days..

It's slow out there in blog land.

12 years ago today, my first daughter made her appearance. I barely made it to the hospital on time. She was born 20 minutes after I walked in the door and the nurse hadn't even turned all the lights on. It was comical..she was delivered by the emergency room doc and and when my doc arrived, frazzled and in a t-shirt and shorts, he was quite upset that the room lights were not on. It was funny.

I am so happy to have her, she is one special young lady.

Thinkin' About...

changing my blog to Wordpress. They have some great designs and better feedback stats. Anyone out there have any advice?

Well It's A Hot One..

and it sure will feel like we are 7 inches from the midday sun. Another day in the high 90's. I love it. There may be some scattered t-storms this evening..good for the plants.

I went ahead and made the switch to Geometry, for both boys, next year. The original schedule had one doing Advanced Math I and the other, Algebra II. We have had a hard time with the last few sections of Algebra II. My options were to continue on as planned, take the Geometry course, or re-do Algebra II. I didn't want him to repeat Alg II just for those last few sections, he did well for 3/4 of the course. I haven't been able to find a tutor I can afford for Advanced Math, and both Hubby and I did well in Geometry so we will be able to guide the learning.

With both boys working on the same subject the teaching comes much easier. The tail end of this year was crazy for me. I'm no mathematician. I had 4 levels of math going at the same time..switching back and forth from basic multiplication/division, to pre Algebra, Algebra I and Algebra II. I look at my kids and am amazed at how they are learning these concepts. How much they are retaining. If I had known then, what I know now..I would have started introducing these concepts when they were babies.

Putting them on the same course at the same time will free up time for all of us and they will be able to use each other as resources. Although, they've already started the competition thing. When I told them what we would be doing, the middle one already made the challenge to my oldest "I bet I'll get a higher grade on the first test"! Here we go! Ahhhhhh..Brotherly Love.

My oldest is inches away from Eagle Scout. He's finished his last merit badge and just has to submit his paperwork and have his Eagle Scout Board of Review. He's very excited. I am very proud.

Out of 100 Scouts: Four of the one hundred will reach Eagle rank, and at least one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and Scouting contacts. Seventeen of the one hundred boys will become adult leaders and will give leadership to thousands of additional boys.

My middle son is following close behind. Next year he begins his final push for Eagle.

My daughter is headed to a Call To Holiness retreat the beginning of July. She'll get to spend some time with other girls to learn about vocations. All vocations. She'll meet the sisters from The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. I've had the opportunity to meet some of these sisters and they are the most joy-filled women I have ever met. I think my daughter is going to have a fabulous time at this retreat. Please keep her in prayer, it's the first time she has been away from home for any length of time.

Check out this beautiful video from The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

The Challenge(s)

I started a self-challenge this week. To run 10 miles in one week. M-Sat. Sunday's are a day off. So far I've logged 4.5 miles. I've had to use the treadmill because it's way too hot, even early in the am, (for me)to run any length of time. I hope to keep updates here, sort of accountability for myself. I never liked running. I used to dread the PT sessions when I was in the Navy, only because of the runs. I was so slow and inevitably ended up last person in and feeling like I was about to keel over.

Recently, however, I've had this weird desire to run. I feel sorta like Forrest Gump, but not.. he kept on run-ning and run-ning..I don't quite feel that good about it, but I don't mind doing it.

My other self-challenge is to cook more "from scratch" dinners. I usually have a box of something or can of this or packet of that. No more. I'm not going 100% organic or anything like that, but just fresher ingredients and less, much less, pre-packaged stuff.

So..that's my self-challenge. I'll keep you updated.

Well...

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

You know that saying about flies, right?

I wanna..

buy a camera. It's expensive. It's awesome! I just really want it. I am thinking of the 90 day thing..hmmmmm..

Today's Gospel

Matthew 7:1-5

If you want to avoid judgement, stop passing judgement. Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you. Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you miss the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, "let me take that speck out of your eye," while all the time the plank remains in your own? You hypocrite! Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother's eye.

NAB St. Joseph Edition

From the Word Among Us...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to pinpoint in someone else the same sins that you are prone to? If we tend to talk too much, we get impatient when someone won’t let us get a word in edgewise. If overeating is a temptation, we notice when a friend puts on extra pounds or accepts a second helping. If we tend toward laziness, we quickly fault a family member who doesn’t seem to be doing his share of the work.

That’s why today’s Gospel reading is so important. When we are tempted to criticize or judge someone else, Jesus invites us to shine the same light on ourselves. This is not so that we will condemn ourselves but so that we will grow in charity. After all, we should have compassion on people who experience the same weaknesses that we do. Focusing on our own failings can also show us where we need to repent. We all need to call on God’s power to help us change.

It’s important to learn how to see ourselves and each other in the light of God’s deep love. This person isn’t—and you are not—a gossip, a glutton, or a slacker. This person is—and you are—a beloved child of God, called into his family, graced and greatly gifted.

Often, the same traits that lead us to sin can be transformed into tools to build God’s kingdom. You may be stubborn in holding onto your own will—or you can be determined to stick to what God has called you to do. You can be passive when action is called for—or you can be trusting in God’s power, waiting to see how he will work out things that look unredeemable to you.

The key is to let God’s love penetrate your mind each day so that his thoughts flow into your mind and his love flows into your heart. If you hold onto him, he can purify you and prepare you for his service. If you focus on him instead of other people’s shortcomings, you can become a powerful instrument in his hands.

“Lord, you created me to love you as no one else can. You know me inside and out. Thank you for loving me and calling me to follow you.”