Anniversary and a case of cramping....

Yesterday was a little crazy around here. I was up at night with this painful cramp in the middle of my lower abdomen. I didn't get worried until I couldn't find a comfortable position to lay in to escape some of the pain. Being that it was the middle of the night, I contemplated driving myself to the ER just to see what was going on. I really feared a miscarriage. I had never experienced that before. I waited until morning and the pain was a little better (at least when I laid a certain way). I called the dr. first thing. Matt drove the kids to school and came back to take me to my appt.
I turned to him at one point and said that I was glad he was home for our 15th anniversary but this isn't what I had in mind. We arrived at the dr. on time. As I told the nurse my symptoms, she got that hushed tone that people get who know that this may not have a good outcome. That's when the anxiety really set in. As soon as the dr. came in, the flood gate opened. He asked why I was crying. Um, hello, I am pregnant, do I need a reason to begin with?? Everything checked out alright though. The best part of all...we got to hear the baby's heartbeat. What an awesome anniversary gift. Matt and I truly have been blessed.

The Power of Prayer.

As I mentioned last post, there have been many God things that we have been blessed to be witness to. My FIL received his transplant. The next day, Olivia received her first communion. It was a beautiful day. One of those days that you don't need a picture to remember some of the images your mind has captured. One image is Matt praying over her before heading off to Mass.
During the Mass, each child went up to receive Jesus for the first time. The parents got to walk behind them. The child kneeled and we watched our child receive Christ. Olivia was one of the last ones to go. I stepped out of the pew and followed this beautiful (and I mean beautiful!) child towards the front of the Church. I watched the concentration on Liv's face. I don't think she smiled once due to being so "in the zone". Liv is all business when it is a serious moment. I watched as she knelt down and Father bent to pray over her before giving her the Host. I looked beyond Father and watched Jack, who was serving Mass, witness this from a better angle. And I bawled. I couldn't help it. I don't think there is anything more precious than to watch someone take Jesus for the first time...especially when it's your child.
During this Mass, we offered it up for my FIL's healing. We had received news that he was heading back to surgery due to a small leak in a major blood vessel. We lit a candle in front of St. Joseph's altar for his healing. What we didn't know at the time is that he told my MIL he knew he was dying. The tear was repaired. He came thru that surgery just fine. Praise God and the power of prayer. I truly believe that praying at that moment helped him through that time. I don't need proof, it's just something I know in my heart.
One more God moment: FIL is on medication that can cause hallucinations. He called and explained that he had these horrible nightmares...ones that he thought were real. I won't go into detail with what some of these nightmares were about. He was afraid to go back to sleep. So he stayed awake. Matt and Jack visited him in the hospital later that day. They brought him a picture of St. Michael (Jack had purchased at a local shrine to St. Joseph), a small crucifix, and a prayer card of Jesus. He has not had nightmares since. My MIL has kept the picture and is now saying the Prayer to St. Michael. The power of Prayer.

Time goes by so quickly...and the NEWS just keeps piling up.

It has been forever since my last blog. Much has happened here. Many life changing events and as always, God events.

On April 27th (there is significance to this date) I found out that we will be expecting our fifth child. Hannah's birthday is this day. Being that she too was a shock full o' blessing, it is very appropriate that I found out on that date.
At first I just kept praising God that He is so merciful to us in blessing us with another child. Then the reality of this news set in (I really need to trust in God and not listen to all of the junk in my head). I wasn't sure how Matt would react. I knew it wouldn't be anger or anything obnoxious but I wasn't sure it would be positive. Despite my own shock, I didn't feel like I could handle anyone else's. He was shocked but supportive. What else could he be? I don't think it is fair that he isn't allowed to express his real feelings on it for fear of offending me. But, I am not a big believer in life is fair anyways. He is a good man that husband of mine.

On May 8th, my FIL was called suddenly, unexpectedly, surprisingly etc...to go to the hospital to receive his new liver. When my MIL called, I was laying on the couch feeling crummy due to morning sickness (even though it was almost 10 pm). I heard Matt answer the phone and after a few sentences, I knew who was on the other end and what they were saying. An electric current went through my body. I can't describe it any other way. Very unexpected but what a blessing...this is my new motto.
FIL has come thru the surgery very well. He has had a few set backs. He is currently back in the hospital for various issues related to his transplant. He should be back home in a few days though. It has been a strain on my MIL. She has been doing very well despite it.
Next post I will talk about some God things. I have prayed more this month than any other time in my life. The only other time I remember praying with such vigor is when my brother was in Iraq. I find it ironic that I will pray for others with such fervor but when it comes to myself, I just kind of wing it. I will have to work on that.

St. Michael

I had a very interesting conversation with my sister. It was a conversation about those who have faith and those who reject it. In this conversation, she revealed that she had a personal encounter with a friend who not only rejects religion of any form, but also rejects God. When my sister was sharing her story, at first I just felt a profound sadness for her non believing friend. As the story went on, I at one point stopped my sister and told her she should rejoice that she was being tested. However, as my sister went on with her story I quickly came to understand why she was so affected by it. What started out as a simple exchange between the two, somehow turned into something that was disturbing. In this conversation my sister came to see first hand the hatred of our Lord. Don't get me wrong, I am not so naive that I don't think there are those who don't. But, When my sister revealed to me the contents of her encounter with someone who I think is beyond atheist I was in such shock. This person was just downright hateful. I had never heard before the spewing of such malice towards another human being simply because they spoke of God.
It made me realize that we are in battle.

St. Michael the archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray. And do thou O' Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God , cast into Hell, Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Kids say the darndest things...

This post will be a work in progress. I am just thinking back on a few things that our kids have said over the years that were totally unique to our family. You know, the names they give things that a person outside of our circle of friends/family would have no clue as to what the kids were talking about.

Some examples are:
Emma has a care bear spoon. It has been washed so many times that all you can really see on it are some clouds that were once part of the picture. She has named it her "Michigan" spoon. I don't know why. I have no idea where the name evolved from. But everyone who has made themselves at home here knows that when Em asks for her Michigan spoon, it is the faded one in the drawer.


Jack eats a silly sandwich. A silly sandwich is something he invented at about three years old. It is a piece of bread, a slice of bologna and a dill pickle. He then curls the bread and bologna around the pickle (kind of like a make shift hot dog) and eats it. Ouila! Silly sandwich.

Olivia had her Num nee. This was her pacifier. She also called Noodles, NOONIES. This name stuck even to today. What's even funnier is that all of our neices and nephews now call them noonies. She used to call Hannah "Honey" and Jack "Guy". She would never say her own name. She was simply "Me".

Hannah spoke complete sentences at 15 months old so I cannot recall too much that she came up with. I will have to repost as I search the baby books.

I also find it funny that all of my kids have said "Callapitter" instead of caterpillar and aminal instead of animal.

Another treat in our house is orange juice mixed with 7UP or Sprite. I had a 2 liter of 7UP about to go flat and a little bit of OJ left so I mixed the two to make enough for everyone. They asked what the drink was called. So I said, "Juicy Spritz". Somehow that morphed into Itsy Spritz. I can only guess that it was because we were singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider song and it just kind of garbled all together. But years later, it has stuck...even with my 11 year old who will sometimes ask if we have 7UP to mix with his OJ and can he make an itsy spritz.

This next one probably could use it's own post because it's a bit long. But it has alot to do with mispronouncing words. On Thanksgiving of this year, Matt took his grandma home after dinner. I had eaten too much (who does that on Thanksgiving right?) and laid on the couch. We have Netflix so we had the instant movie going. I picked PeeWee's Big adventure. Well, there's the part where Pee Wee is in the truck with Large Marge. Those who have seen the movie know where I am going with this. Well, when Large Marge shows her "true colors" all four kids jumped on me screaming. The kids were traumatized but I never laughed so hard in my life. I had forgotten about that part but I will never forget it now. Anyways, Emma started talking about the movie (which ended with that part by the way) and called it "Peege Weege". I think she blended PeeWee and Large Marge.

I will update this post as more come to mind.
Other words the kids said:
My ties unshoed (my shoe is untied)
Scoof it (excuse me)
Meenas (bananas)
Mow lawner (lawn mower)
Poders (spiders)
Weeva (Olivia)

Jesus take the wheel...

I recently had a situation arise where I wanted to handle a family matter one way, and it turned out that the Lord steered me in another direction. I had an issue on my mind so I thought I would write a letter about it to vent it out. This letter was about certain issues going on in our extended family. We (Matt and I) felt the issues needed to be addressed.
The feelings put in that letter weren't uncharitable. In fact, I felt quite justified in what these feelings were. These were addressing issues that really needed to be brought up. Being that we all live far apart a letter seemed an appropriate forum to use.
It never ceases to amaze me that once you give your life over to God how he will steer you. (and it is a constant discipline that I am not always good at. It's kind of like air breaking from the passenger seat...instead of just trusting that the driver has things under control, you think you can take over by pumping the imaginary break).
So, I started writing the letter and it morphed into this totally different entity that I had no intention of it being. Many of my letters never get sent. They are for therapeutic purposes only. But this new letter was sent with Matt's approval for it had been on his heart too. I had no feedback to see how it was received. That is until a few days ago. Then the Lord let me see the fruits of my letting Him "drive" from a source that was unexpected. There were several recipients of this letter. The feedback was not only positive, it was full of thanksgiving to the point where I was a bit uncomfortable in saying, "your welcome". This source of thanksgiving isn't one to dole out compliments on a regular basis, let alone on a subject as serious as this one. I have to say that I was taken by surprise at the gratitude (I think falling off the seat was a better description). I felt guilt at not explaining myself to this source about the process of this letter and taking all of the kudos for it. I handled it the way I usually do...talking incessantly until the person starts to glaze over. Lots of hand motions and lots of going on and on about the same thing I just said in the letter. I think it's a coping mechanism...I don't know.
Maybe my goal for this week should be to repeat over and over....I must decrease so that He may increase.

I am way too saddened by this campaign to even comment on it. I think in this post I will just let the picture speak a thousand words.


Pax