I'm back! Cannot wait to get back to the blogosphere...

Ever notice?

How once you own a particular vehicle, you actually see that same make and model on the road all of the time?

Deep thoughts by Sarah...

Gentleness and Compassion

gen·tle   /ˈdʒɛntl/ Show Spelled [jen-tl] Show IPA adjective, -tler, -tlest, verb, -tled, -tling.


adjective

1. kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.

2. not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap on the shoulder.

3. moderate: gentle heat.

4. gradual: a gentle slope.

5. of good birth or family; wellborn.
 
Full of gentleness and compassion...
This line is taken from the Mass. Today, in my Confession, our new priest counseled me to reflect upon gentleness. He said something that really caught me off guard. He said,"Pray for courage, courage to be GENTLE. It takes courage to be gentle. To go against the world and be gentle."
 
Today, that thought has shaped my day. Am I completely a new person with a whole new attitude? No, but it has helped me to think before I act, especially with my children. I know this beautiful family that has a myriad of children. I know, very well, one of their grown children, and this now married-mother-of-two-children-of-her-own REMEMBERS that her own mother NEVER ONCE raised her voice. Never once! This beloved lady has wrapped my little family in her own maternal care, and she is who I think of when I hear gentleness and compassion. I crave it. The Blessed Mother surely wasn't screaming at her son, Jesus, to get that room cleaned, etc, etc.
 
I try. I fail. I try again. I fail again. I confess it. I AM FORGIVEN. Then, I try again. Such beauty!
 
Pondering here in my little part of the world, the intricacies of daily life and love for those whom I hold the most dear...

I'll be home for Christmas...(and not only in my dreams)

Yay! We are in! Our beautiful new house! It is a distant memory, the old rental house (except for my deposit that I am still waiting for, but that is another blog post for a diffferent day). I love this house. I love the proximity to my kids' schools. I love that I have a kitchen than more than one of us can be in at a time. I love that Regina LOVES her new room, and is sleeping very well at nights! I love my neighbors. I love walking to Sunday Mass for three weeks in a row. What a blessing it is to live here, in this place. I am in love.

CRAZY DAYS!

Hi all!

I just wanted to let you know not to give up on me. I have been very busy. My dad had major surgery this last Monday with some complications, needless to say, that has added to a crazy week, as I try very hard to get there everyday. Throw Thanksgiving travel and Black Friday in there, and nuts! Oh, and did I mention that I went to the Nebraska game on Friday?? Oh, and...we move in 2 and 1/2 days. Oh, and I am building a baby, 28 weeks along. Geesh, no wonder I am exhausted!

I am seriously looking forward to my children (3 of the 4) going back to school tomorrow after a 5 day weekend! Maybe, then I can pack. YIKES!

Anyway, love to all the bloggers, next time I am on, I will be settling into my new house! Cheers to that!

~Sarah

I hope I never forget this...

The measure of a man is how he treats those at his mercy. -Plato

CRAZY TUESDAY

FOR TODAY ... November 9, 2010

Outside my window ... the temps are dropping. It was 72 today, and will be 53 tomorrow.
I am thinking ... I should go to bed soon.
I am thankful for ... family.
I am wearing ... tshirt and jeans.
I am remembering in prayer ... my friend and her son.
I am going ... to sleep well tonight.
I am currently reading ... not much, just packing.
I am hoping ... that we close Monday.
On my mind ... MY NEW HOUSE!!!
Noticing that ... friendships are complex, and that our insecurities can run very deep.
Pondering these words ..."mama".
From the kitchen ... My very generous dad brought us a Popeyes chicken dinner! Yummo!
Around the house ... boxes everywhere!!! Love it!
One of my favorite things ...quiet.

Monday mumblings

So, I am sitting here at my computer in my "never-done yoga" yoga pants, and black tank top reflecting on my day, and things happening around me. I mowed today. The entire yard. It was 75 degrees out, and beautiful, and the GIANT yard just sat there, calling my name. So, I went. And as I mowed, I got this amazing satisfaction, knowing that this would be the VERY last time I would EVER have to mow this particular yard. We move in 23 days, not that I am counting...

Fox news is on the tv in the background, and the current news is all about Nancy Pelosi putting in a bid for House minority leader. I realize that it is 8:43, and remember that I havent eaten supper yet. But, I had such a late lunch, that I am not sure that I care. I am enjoying a Hy-Vee grape pop.

Life seems great in the mundane tonight. I just read my friend's blog about her new baby boy, and it makes me yearn, yes yearn, to hold my new baby son, when the time is right of course. I wonder how it will go down, the ol' labor/delivery thing. #5, and I am still scared, I still re-read all of the books about childbirth. Funny how things go.

I need to pack or do laundry or something, but I love the bliss of hanging out in the same room as my husband, and just doing nothing. I like brainless activity. I especially enjoy it with some downtime after the kids are in bed, and I can just zone in front of the tv.

MMMM... grape pop, a good change up from my normal cola.

Sucker for a good deal!

I am a sucker for a good deal! I love free things. I recently received a coupon in the mail for a gallon of free milk, because I wrote an "essay" about my love for sour cream! Ha! And that is why I am shamelessly going to promote Shutterfly, but can you blame me?!?... Look at all of the beautiful photo products that you can create!!!

As you may know, I am a crazed photographer (more on that later), I even shot my first wedding this past summer, and this is such a great site! It's easy! Just upload the pics, arrange your pics on the premade cards, add text, and VOILA, gorgeous photo cards!

I am planning on using Shutterfly for this year's Christmas cards! My husband is adamantly opposed to anything that says Happy Holidays, so we also opt for a Merry Christmas-type card. I love pictures, the more the merrier, so I hope to use a template where I can use at least 7-8 photos. This is also quite compatible with my children, especially Regina (who has autism), because I can never get all four children to sit still and look at the camera. So, I love that I can put individual pictures on the card!

Here are some of my favorites!
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/picture-tree-christmas-4x8-photo-card-4x8-photo?sortType=1&storeNode=93480

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/merry-dots-christmas-4x8-photo-card-4x8-photo?sortType=1&storeNode=93480


Check out these Christmas cards--
Christmas photo cards to http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

I have a beautiful friend here who makes a photo book every year for each of her children, I want to get there someday, and I would use this template--
http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

And maybe, just maybe when I have this new son in February 2010, I could get around to making announcements (like I did with my first child)--
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements/baby-boy-birth-announcements?c=60375

And one last plug...If you Twitter or Facebook, help us spread the word: Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, follow the arrow à  http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Shutterfly.com   Check it out! You will love it! Brought to you by: Infomercials by Sarah

CRAZY Thursday!

FOR TODAY ... November 4, 2010


Outside my window ... Brrrr...it's supposed to get down to 29 degrees tonight, and possibly snow next Saturday...

I am thinking ... that true friends are excited for things that make you excited!

I am thankful for ... the grace of Confession.

I am wearing ... Husker hoodie and swishy pants.

I am remembering in prayer ... my dad.

I am going ... to sleep well tonight.

I am currently reading ... friends' blogs.

I am hoping ... that our move goes well.

On my mind ... MY NEW HOUSE!!!

Noticing that ... cleaning the tub for 2 hrs straight yesterday made me sore today!

Pondering these words ...

From the kitchen ... Jeff "cooked" sliced ham and chips. I am not complaining.

Around the house ... getting ready to move!!

One of my favorite things ... my nice warm bed.

From my picture journal ... sorry, coming soon.

I'm back!

It has been quite a hiatus, but I am ready to blog. Have to get things back in order on this ol' blog... be patient with me!

CRAZY THURSDAY??

FOR TODAY ... March 25, 2010 Outside my window ... Sun, sun, sun...probably 50's~ I am thinking ... that God is good, and our Blessed Mother cares for us so much!!

I am thankful for ... my faith. I am wearing ... jeans, tshirt, flip flops. I am remembering in prayer ... Emily and Paul, and J.D. and my dad. I am going ... to watch the KSU advance tonight to the elite 8! Go cats!. I am currently reading ... cookbooks. I am hoping ... that J.D. takes every opportunity that he is given. On my mind ... I want to buy a house! It is constantly on my mind. Noticing that ... This solemnity has been ESPECIALLY good to us!. Pondering these words ... Fiat! From the kitchen ...TACOS! and dessert...God loves us!

Around the house ... fairly clean despite Regina's best efforts this morning! ditto. One of my favorite things ... my kids' cheeks... peferct for nuzzling!

From my picture journal ...

St. Paddy's

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Rare moments

This is a precious picture in my heart. These two sisters rarely get along. It is beautiful to see them together, with Regina's arm around Libby. May they grow to love each other more every day, and may they be kind to each other...

Oldies, YET goodies...

Regina loving the fall leaves, Atchison

Itty Bitty Libby Thomas, right before Midnight Mass

Look at those kids!

CRAZY TUESDAY

FOR TODAY ... March 9, 2010

Outside my window ... Fog and RAIN!! I'll take it! The snow on the ground is G-O-N-E!

I am thinking ... that addiction is an awful thing.

I am thankful for ... my faith.

I am wearing ... Husker jacket and swishy pants.

I am remembering in prayer ... Emily and Paul, and J.D. and my dad.

I am going ... to make it through this evening without Jeff.

I am currently reading ... A Priest is Not His Own, by Fulton Sheen, and Hero of the Underground by Jason Peter

I am hoping ... that J.D. is safe where he is at right now.

On my mind ... J.D., my brother, who was just sentenced to a prison term.

Noticing that ... I'm sometimes lonely.

Pondering these words ... SODA IS LIQUID SATAN! (From Skinny B*%#^), another book I am reading!

From the kitchen ... the best chicken strips I have ever eaten, and I make some with buffalo sauce, I might as well be sitting in Chilis!

Around the house ... fairly clean despite Regina's best efforts this morning!

One of my favorite things ... Maddie cuddling up on me and falling asleep, yay for babies!

From my picture journal ... Picture of Emily, J.D. and me from 3 Christmases ago... (see above)

Madeline Mediatrix

SPRING

There is bird poop on the hood of my van! Yay! Never been so excited for that! Tell tale sign of Spring! That is how bad this winter was, I am excited about bird droppings! So it is.

Dog days

Dear Sarah, It is freezing here, it has been that way for three straight months. The snow that won't melt, because it is too cold. The ice-ridden end of driveway that you cannot break through even with a metal shovel, or a jack hammer, for that matter. The wind-blown snow cheeks of your kids. The bus sliding trying to stop to pick up Regina. The ice crystals on the windows. The inability to go out without heavy coats, hat, and gloves for fear of cold-burns. You remember, the icky winter that you whine about constantly. The one in which you promise to many people, even strangers, that you will not EvEr complain in August about the horrible scorching heat. The winter that has you so down in the dumps, you wonder if you will ever recover. The dreams of the possibility of just walking down the street. The beauty of the blessed lawnmower! The excitement of getting above freezing! Well, Sarah, I write this, so that come blessed July and August, you are reminded of your promise, just a mere 6 months earlier. To not whine about the heat. To whine about the GLORIOUS sunshine. To whine about it being too hot for your kids to go outside. I'm going to hold you to it. How fickle you are! You will be so sick of the HEAT when September nears. No more complaining, Sarah of August 2010. Sincerely, Sarah

CRAZY TUESDAY

CRAZY TUESDAY FOR TODAY ... March 2, 2010 Outside my window ... Cold, but it's trying to warm up. I am thinking ... about marriage alot lately.

I am thankful for ... my lil Libby break yesterday. I am wearing ... long sleeve T and sweats. I am remembering in prayer ... Bishop Bruskewitz and all of the Bishop/Cardinals celebrating Mass in Denton today. I am going ... I was planning on GOING to the library, but dont want to take the kids out in the cold with their colds. I am currently reading ... A Priest is Not His Own, by Fulton Sheen, and "I'd Rather We Got Casinos." (My black history month reading.) same. I am hoping ... for a healthy delivery for my friends, Cacki and Andy. On my mind ... marriages, families, new babies. Noticing that ... friends make my days live-able. Pondering these words ... Referring to her wedding vows: Judie says,"I didnt do anything heroic with Norman's end-of-life issues, I just made a promise, and lived it out. I just did what I said I would." Love that! From the kitchen ... who knows!. Around the house ... getting ready to host Bible study tomorrow night! One of my favorite things ... Maddie sticking her tongue out. From my picture journal ...