Lost Generation.

I was going to post this tomorrow but have decided not to be online for the day. I am going to spend some extra time with our children.

This is such a great message:





H/T to David

Friends connect.

Does anyone know what the friends connect actually is for?

I watched the video and put the link on my sidebar. Then I was asked to invite people and the gadget generated a list of people. I think it is people from my gmail contacts.

I am not really sure what it is though and how it is different from the followers gadget.

quick 7.

---1---
Teenage girls seem to be one of the biggest challenges of motherhood. I am on a step learning curve with our first daughter. I am praying for the virtue of patience and wisdom a lot.

---2---

Kathy has a great post on Children on Angel's I saved it for Friday Funnies but forgot all about it so it is now a part of my quick 7.

---3---

During lent this year we are going to start taking our children to church for some prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. We took Tom and Amelia on Thursday night. It was good to go there with just a couple and explain what we believe about the true presence. We will also take Sam, Madeline, Brigette and Christopher at some stage. They seem to like one on one attention so we are only taking a couple of children at a time. This also makes it easier for them since there isn't other siblings to distract them.

---4---

Last night at soccer, Tom and Amelia played on different teams. They have so many players now that two teams have been made. Each night two children are chosen to receive an award. Tom won a voucher for McDonalds and Amelia won a voucher for Wendy's. I will take them today to get their prizes. They were both thrilled to win.

---5---

Last week in my quick 7, I wrote about the importance of obedience with regard to Fr. Peter Kennedy. I have always known the importance of teaching our children obedience and to follow rules and this week I realized why it is so important.

My realization came when I read about Sean Penn saying at the Oscars that the people that voted against same sex marriage were discriminating and not willing to treat each others as equals.

To have rules about marriage and who can marry, isn't discriminatory. If it is, maybe we should let children marry. Maybe we should let siblings and cousins get married. Rules are put in place to protect us. Having rules doesn't discriminate.

---6---

Earlier this week, Alexandra posted a link to lots of girls free sewing patterns There are some really cute things here and I have saved some of the links. Thanks Alexandra.

---7---

Last week we had our car serviced. Our tape recorder/radio hasn't been working and they fixed it up. My sister had left a tape in the car so we put it in. It was a true blast from the past. This song was on there. I haven't heard Supertramp for years.

Don't forget to pop over to Jennifer's for other quick 7

Friday Funnies.

Hey there. What's your name?

Thankful Thursday.

Today I am thankful for lent. It is an opportunity to grow closer to God through our penance and prayers.

Ash Wednesday.

Fr. Speekman has a great Ash Wednesday sermon on his site:

Go and read it here

Fixed followers gadget.

Kate from Momopoly linked to blogger help group and I know what caused the problem with me falling off all the following lists.

All the blogs I am following had been changed to following anonymously.

I have changed them all back so I hope I am back on all your lists.

I am thankful for everyone following along with our families daily doings and enjoy following all the other blogs too.

Therese

A simple Womens Daybook.

Pop over to Peggy's for other simple womens day books.

Outside my window... the sun has set and the day is now over.

I am thinking... about the program I will do with Tom and Amelia for lent.

From the learning rooms... we are preparing for the new liturgical season.

I am thankful for... panadol. Earlier tonight I had an awful headache. I took some panadol and had a shower and it seems to have subsided a lot.

From the kitchen... we still have lots of pumpkins. Tomorrow being ash Wednesday will be meatless and Friday too. I think we will have fried rice (without any meat) tomorrow night and pumpkin pasties on Friday night.

I am wearing... my nightie and brunch coat.

I am reading... Nourishing Traditions.

I am hoping... to teach Tom and Amelia a lot this lent about sacrifice and penance.

I am creating... a floor plan for our end room and new bathroom.

I am hearing... the clicking of the computer keys as I type. Christopher keeps calling out from his bed too.

Around the house... I am cleaning out cupboards and getting rid of junk.

One of my favorite things... is enjoying the quiet evenings with Steve once the younger children have gone to bed. tonight there isn't even any older children around. Daniel is out at a friends and Sam, Madeline and Brigette have gone to bed earlier than they usually do.

A few plans for the rest of the week... The boys pajamas, less time on computer, praying the rosary every morning and cooking some snacks with the pumpkins.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


This picture was emailed to me and I just love it.

Have a great day everyone.

Therese

glitch with the followers gadget.

I am still following many of you that follow me. I noticed this morning that two people had stopped following me. It must be some glitch though because I was still following Therese but wasn't on the list for her blog.

So if it is showing that I am not following your blog, I haven't stopped following anyone. Just let me know so that I can go to your blog and click on the gadget again. I had to click stop following at Therese's and start following again for it to show up.

ETA I think the glitch is coming from my profile. On my profile page all the blogs I am following have disappeared.

God bless
Therese

Quick 5mart Martha Monday.

I have to post quickly tonight. I am trying to get to bed earlier and get up early so I need to post this and pray in the next 25 minutes.

I forgot to post my five last week because Tom was in hospital but I have done 3 of the 5 I had on my list.

My five for this week are:

1. Finish sewing the boys pajamas. (yes, this is still on my to do list).

2. I am going through different cupboards and de junking so I want to go through two particular cupboards in my kitchen. I really need to sought my plastic cupboard and we have a junk cupboard above the oven that I am not even sure what we have up there. These two cupboards are going to be cleaned out.

3. I want to draw up a floor plan for our end room renovations. We have a couple of ideas in our heads about what to do down there but I really need to draw it on paper to scale and see if what we plan is possible.

4. Since lent is starting this week I am going to limit my computer time to the evening once the children are in bed.

5. I am starting a bible study called Corageous Love This is going to be some of my spiritual reading for lent.

Do you have some 5mart Martha Monday plans to put on your blog? Let me know in the comments and I will add your link to my post.

Therese

Tracy has her list up

That Pro Life Add.

Up above is the video about President Obama that Catholic Vote made.

Catholic Vote wanted to have the add aired during the Super Bowl and NBC rejected it.

Now CNN has rejected it too and will not play this add during coverage of President Obama's first State of the Union Address.

I am going to leave the video permanently on my blog to promote it.

H/T to Pearl Diver and The Pomegranate Apple

Sunday Silence.

Lourdes Basiclica. I hope to travel here one day.

Have a great Sunday.

Quick 7.

---1---

tonight is girls night in. The boys have gone to Whyalla for the monster truck rally. We were going to get take away but decided on a ready made lasagna, some custard and chips to eat while we watch the movie.

The movie we will see is Aquamarine

---2---

Yesterday we had our car serviced. We need to get a new timing belt and drivers shaft. That will be fixed as soon as they have the timing belt in. Cars are such money pits.

---3---

Before Steve got his job in Port Augusta, we lived in the South East of SA. Today I spoke with a friend from there on the phone and got her email (that I had misplaced). I have sent her a link to my blog. If you are reading this Angela, it was great to catch up on the phone. Hopefully we will catch up sometime in the flesh.

---4---

I am thinking of changing my colour scheme for lent. The liturgical colour for lent is violet. Maybe I will make the background violet.

---5---

I have been following the case of Fr. Peter Kennedy from Brisbane. If you are unaware of who Fr. Peter Kennedy is Coo-ees from the Cloister have covered it. I have listened to many interviews of Fr. Peter and he doesn't believe in the Virgin Birth, he doesn't believe in Heaven and Hell. I find this very sad.

It is also sad to see the disobedience that Fr. Peter has towards those in authority. Obedience is a great virtue.

I have realized through watching this that one of the most important lessons I can teach my children is to be obedient to rules and regulations. Rules are made mostly to keep us safe. I will pray for Fr. Peter Kennedy that he will realize this.

---6---

Have you ever wondered what true love looks like?

Jean has a you tube video that shows us

---7---

Tomorrow we are going to have another hot day. It will be 35 here. I think after Mass we will go to the pool. We haven't been much since the heatwave.

Have a great weekend.

Don't forget to pop over to Jen at Conversion Diary for other quick 7.

What are you doing for lent?

Lent starts next Wednesday.

I have a couple of things in mind that I will give up. I am going to cut back my computer time. I am going to pray the rosary more. I really need to do this each day. I also want to spend more time with our children doing fun activities.

Dyphna posted a link to the home calender guide from Operation Rice Bowl at World of Mothers blog. I will be praying the prayers each day with my children and teach them about some traditional meals from around the world.

What are your plans for Lent?

Baby Faith.

Baby Faith was born today.

Congratulations to Myah on the birth of her daughter.

Small Successes

---1---

A couple of weeks ago we got a bill for a repair that Steve and I thought we were being charged too much because of circumstances surrounding the repair.

We got in contact with Consumer Affairs and asked them what they thought we were responsible for with this bill.

Today I wrote a letter to the company explaining why we weren't paying the full bill and what Consumer Affairs had advised us.

---2---

We got a new washing machine and freezer today. I will start our oamc soon and we have plenty of room to freeze all the meals now.

---3---

Even though our routine was interrupted with Tom going to hospital, I have still managed to keep up with most of the housework. (Don't ask me about homeschooling though).

Pop over to Faith and Famiy for other small successes

Thankful Thursday.

In the aftermath of the Victorian Fires, I am thankful for our house and the lives of all our loved ones.

What are you thankful for?

Attention Married Men and Women:

I got this email from Jean at Catholic Fire

I need your inspirational stories from a Catholic perspective affirming marriage and the family for a new book.

In it, I plan to share 15 compelling faith-filled stories of hope and healing from Catholic families who have dealt with great difficulties and hardships, but have managed to transcend these trials through the grace of God and the intercession of the saints.

Have you experienced great suffering in your family life, but managed to overcome it and experience great hope and unexpected graces in the midst of your trials through the intercession of a special saint or saints? Do you have a child who is handicapped, but instead of 'terminating' the pregnancy, you chose to keep your child? Has your family had to deal with unexpected financial hardships, debilitating or chronic illness but received healing and hope to transcend these trials? Has anyone in your family considered or had an abortion and the entire family was devastated by it, but God healed you and gave you hope? Have you dealt with marital infidelity or addictions that have been overcome through the intercession of a saint or saints? Has a spouse been converted to the faith through your prayers?
Would you like to help and inspire others through your witness?

Your story should be 1800 - 2000 words in length.

I am looking for content and not perfection in writing, as I will be editing the stories.

Due Date: March 15, 2009

Email your story in a Microsoft Word attachment to:

Jean M. Heimann
jean.heimann@gmail.com

Thank you!

God bless you!

Please also pray for the success of this book.

A simple Womens Daybook.

Head over to Peggy's for other day books

Outside my window... the sun has set. I haven't ever done the daybook before at night.

I am thinking... about all the things we need to catch up on from Tom being in hospital.

From the learning rooms... we haven't done very much this week. Tomorrow will be catch up day.

I am thankful for... the doctors that help me in managing Tom and all his other care providers too.

From the kitchen... tomorrow I will do some baking. I think we will make some more pumpkin scones and pumpkin bread.

I am wearing... three quarter denim pants and a pink, blue and white t shirt.

I am reading... Nourishing traditions. It looks great.

I am hoping... to see Tom's dietitian this week.

I am creating... the boys pajamas. They still are not finished but I hope to finish them this week.

I am hearing... the children playing in the girls room.

Around the house... the routine has gone out the window so the children are up way too late.

One of my favorite things... getting up and enjoying the quiet in the morning before the rest of the family wakes.

A few plans for the rest of the week... home school, a girls night on Saturday night. The boys are headed over to Whyalla to see the monster trucks so we will get a chick flick and have some take away.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...I was going to put a photo of the birthday boy from today but my cord to upload it is not by the computer where I usually keep it. Here is another photo of him taken at the pool a while ago.

Birthday boy.

Today Christopher turns 4.

He is such a lovely boy and we are so happy he is a part of our family.

I will post some birthday pictures later.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks everyone that prayed for Tom. He is home now and ketones are gone. He has got starvation ketones a couple of times now so I think it is time to have a chat with his diatician again.

Therese

Tom in hospital.

This morning Tom woke up vomiting and with high blood ketones. His blood sugar levels are good but because of the ketones he is dehydrated a bit and needs a drip.

Please keep him in your prayers.

Support the rights of home schoolers.

Go here and leave a comment to support home schooling rights. At the moment, the Govt in England is doing a review of home schooling.

Parents are the primary educators of their children and no Govt should threaten this. Please go and support Shell and her family in their right to educate their children.

Please pray for them too.

Thanks
Therese

Happy St. Valentine's day.

Quick 7.

1

Myah and Faith prayer group is something I found out about from facebook.

Myah is a 23 year old who is pregnant with a baby with anencephaly. Even though Myah is unmarried, and her baby is most likely going to die soon after birth (or even possibly before) she still didn't have an abortion. Myah's due date was 5 days ago. Please pray for her and her baby Hope.

2

We still have lots of pumpkins. Homeschooling mum for Christ asked for the recipe so Click here for Sarah's great recipe

Remember the photo I took of our pumpkin scones? I couldn't work out why they were so heavy. I thought the pumpkin might have made a difference. I realized though on Thursday that I had used plain flour instead of self raising flour. I will have to make them tomorrow with some self raising flour.

3.

Tom's pump site has changed this week. When he first went on the pump we were advised to use a quick set canula. Because he was so thin and tiny though, the canula kept on kinking and the insulin couldn't get through. We changed over to a silhouette and this was much better. The down side was the needle size. I hated injecting the site and he never got use to it. Emla cream made it easier but emla cream costs $80.00 a time. It has enough cream for about 20 changes so works out to $4.00 a time. Now we have the quick set the needle is only 6mm long and much easier to put in. I think Tom has enough weight on him now that the canula won't kink. We have had a successful week anyway with them this week.

4.

While I am on the topic of diabetes, I keep getting invites to join groups on facebook to find a cure for diabetes. I would love there to be a cure for diabetes but while jdrf and many other groups are funding embryonic stem cell research, I will not join any of these groups. I have though about starting a group called I want a diabetes cure but will not support groups that fund escr. Maybe I will. I just don't really know how to go about starting something like that.

5.

Today is Valentines day. We rarely do anything for Valentines. I think though today we will make some heart shape sweets for the children to enjoy and we will read the book about St. Valentine.

6.

The really hot weather has now finished. We haven't been to the pool at all this week. I think we will go over the weekend though.

7.

On Tuesday we will celebrate Christopher's 4th birthday. I am going to finish of his new shirt and shorts and we will buy him a toy this weekend.

don't forget to pop over to Jen at conversion diary for other quick 7. Therese

Friday Funnies.

Women drivers:



Patty Bonds linked to this you tube video and I thought it was so funny, I had to post it.

Small Successes

A new weekly meme from Faith and Family Live

1. My kitchen is clean. Our children have different chores. My 13 year old daughter was on clean up duty in the kitchen. It was a bit of a nightmare because she would rarely complete her job fully and many items were put in the wrong place after she had washed and dried them. I have decided to change her chore to folding the washing. I will keep the kitchen clean and I will know where everything is. Problem solved for the kitchen. I hope I haven't created a problem with our folding though.

2. I have preserved our chutney.

3. Our budget is on track and I have balanced our accounts and our spreadsheet.

Do you have some small successes? Post them on your blog and link to the Mr. Linky link at Faith and Family

New blog.

Marilena from St. Philomena's Garden has had a great idea. She has started a new blog called World of Mothers. and it is going to feature several mothers.

I am going to post on there regularly and Marilena has invited a couple of other mothers to participate too.

If you want to be a part of posting on this blog about motherhood and being a mother, let me know in the comment box. Anyone that wants to participate can.

Young girl speaks out against abortion.

I saw this over at Karens Catholic Journel

This 12 year old girl speaks very well against abortion and why it is wrong.

For a background story on this Go here

Wordless Wednesday.

Here is my new preserving kit.




I preserved our first three jars of chutney.




Here is some pumpkin bread and pumpkin scones that I also made today.

Great video.

Thanks Jean for emailing me this video.

5mart Martha Monday.

5mart Martha Monday is here again. I reported on last weeks list in my 7 quick takes so I will just do my list this week:

1. Go through all my fabric stash. I have way too much fabric and I will never sew it all so it is time to purge it and give some away. 90% of it I have been given by generous people when they have cleaned out their fabric stashes.

2. Finish Tom and Christopher's shirts, shorts and pajama's.

3. Preserve our chutney.

4. Keep up with the washing and fold it each day.

5. Finish writing up my art and craft weekly plan for our home school program.

do you have a list of five you want to add?

Grace has a list up

Let me know if you post a list on your blog and I will link to you too.

Therese

The latest on the Bushfires.

Here is a map showing the hot spots for the fires

Please continue to pray. Many people have lost their lives. These fires are reported to being deliberately lit.

108 people loose their lives in Victorian Bush Fires.

Australia's worst disaster

Please pray for these people that have died and those that have lost there house.

Sunday Silence.

The cool change is here.



This was on Yofed's blog this morning so I had to post it too. Just such a great song and since the cool change is here I am joyful joyful.

7 Quick Takes

1.

Today is going to be in the 100's again but tomorrow we will have a cool change. I am so looking forward to it. My plans for today are to do our Saturday clean up, take the children to the pool, write my menu plan for the fortnight, do the shopping and sit under the air conditioner.

2.

We have been going to Saturday night mass a lot. Steve has been singing with the choir and playing guitar sometimes. We have a nice routine worked out for it now. Clean up from our day starts at 5pm. I cook tea then so that we just need to reheat it when we get home from mass. The children get changed around 6.00 and we get to mass at 6.15. If we need to get to confession we try to get there around 6pm.

3.

I have managed pretty well with my 5mart Martha five this week. I have only had two cups of coffee each day and drank lots of water. I have cleaned most of my sewing nook out and should finish it off today. Spelling and Maths has been marked each day and I have cooked tea each morning. The only thing I didn't do was keep Tom's diary up to date. It went missing though on Tuesday. Hopefully we will find it today and I will catch up.

4.

I am really glad the week without our carolla is over. We got the car back last night. Even though it doesn't have as many features as our volkswagen, I do prefer to drive it. It is just an easy car to get around in.

5.

Last night I opened an windows live account. I am looking into ways for some Catholic mums to have a regular chat online in a group.

I asked my teenage children about the options and it looks like msn chat can have a group of people chatting all together. Hopefully I can work this out fully and we can organise a mum chat time.

6.

this week for science we did a cool experiment. Here is a youtube video of the experiment.



The experiment was a lot of fun. After we had balloon races. We had a go at holding the balloons in midair and letting go together to see if the carbon dioxide one hit the ground first. It did work.

7.

We are going to do some paper mache this week. Tom wants to make a rocket ship. I thought if I put a bit of cardboard on the top of the balloon we could make a rocket ship shape. It doesn't really look like it though. It looks more like an ice cream. Any suggestions for a rocket ship shape would be appreciated.

Don't forget to pop over to Jennifer's for her quick 7 and other's as well.

Friday.

Today at 3.30 the temps peaked at 45.7. (112)

I am looking forward to the cool change that is expected on Sunday.

We are taking the children to the pool tonight so here is a song for you all to enjoy. I love this song and the two movies too.

Oh I nearly forgot. Today we got our car back so this is why I wanted to sing Happy Day. Not because of the heat.

Miracle on the Hudson.

Divine Mercy prayed at the Hour of Mercy saves lives.

H/T to Kathleen from The Daily Grotto

I really need ----------------

About two more hours in each day. I just cannot fit everything in.

I haven't been getting to as many blogs to read lately. My reader built up to 400 unread posts.

I haven't deserted you all. I am still here and will eventually get a good routine. Just getting everything started for school has been super hectic. I think I should be back to normal by next week.

Therese

Wordless Wednesday

Mud Pie Anyone?

Please pray for Amy.

Amy Welborn Catholic author and blogger at the well known blog Charlotte was both, lost her husband this morning.

Please pray for her and her family.

The Simple Womens Daybook - 3rd February 2009

For more day books visit Peggy

Outside my window...the day is starting to cool down. We will still have temps over 100 for the rest of the week.

I am thinking...about our home school program and how the new schedule is going. It is going pretty well I think considering the heat we have had.

I am thankful for...Our air conditioner.

From the learning rooms...Our new school year has started well.

From the kitchen...we are having spaghetti chicken for tea tonight. I cooked it this morning.

I am wearing...my new tan floral dress

I am creating...a stuffed snake for Christopher for his birthday.

I am going...out chauffeuring our family a lot this week.

I am reading...lots of great blogs.

I am hoping...to keep up with Tom's bsl diary this week.

I am hearing...Steve spraying the fly spray, Sam playing guitar hero and Madeline coughing.

Around the house...no one wants to clean up from our day.

One of my favorite things...Nescafe Vanilla latte.

A few plans for the rest of the week: school, swimming pool, hopefully getting our little car back on Friday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...



My new dress that I am wearing. I sewed this to wear out for tea on our anniversary.

5mart Martha Monday.

I am starting up 5mart Martha Monday since school has started again for the year.

If you want to participate, simply tell us 5 goals for the week that make your household easier to run and help you get everything you need to get done.

My 5 for this week are:

1. I want to clean out my sewing nook area. Our children use my sewing area as a dumping spot. Fly lady would call it a fire area. I am going to clean it out and tell our children that anything that ends up on my desk will be kept by me.

2. I need to keep up to date more with Tom's bsl diary. I should update it each day so that I can see problem areas but I always end up doing only once a week. This week I am going to do it every evening.

3. I will mark Tom and Amelia's spelling and maths every day. Another thing I put off regularly.

4. I need to look after my diet a lot better. I eat a lot of junk, drink too much coffee and not enough water. This week I am going to try and drink 8 cups of water a day and have a maximum of 2 cups of coffee each day.

5. The heat wave is going to continue all week and this is when we start eating take away often. It is just too hot to cook. If I cook in the morning though while it is cooler, we just need to reheat it that evening. So my final goal is to cook tea each morning while Tom and Amelia are doing their school work.

Below is a Mr. Linky link that you can put your list in if you want to participate in 5mart Martha Monday.

Therese

Do you know what today is?

It's Groundhog Day

Know what else is special about today?

It is my good friend and blogger Marilena's birthday.





I hope you have a great day Marilena. Thank you for your friendship.

Just a quick post today.

On New Years Day someone hit our car and took off. We had a witness and the police are investigating but at this stage it looks like our insurance company will be paying for the damage done. We need to pay an excess and we will be without a second car for a week which is doable but very painful. It is going to be a long week. Please pray for us.

Therese

Please pray.

Courtney is an online friend that I meet at Type One parents.

Courtney husband Rob, was diagnosed a while ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Today Rob died and went home to heaven.

Please pray for Courtney, her children and their whole family.

Thanks
Therese

Eggplant Parmesan does work.

ON Saturday night I wrote about Greg and Jennifer going to scallini's for Eggplant Parmesan to try and go into labour.

It looks like it worked.

Lilian Grace was born at 1.07 on the 31st of January.

Go and congratulate them.