My Boy!

I don't know the last time I had a blog just about Logan, but I think it's due time.  I've been meaning to get this up, but I was waiting for pictures.  I had the pleasure recently to accompany Logan to his Civil Air Patrol meeting.  Kevin normally takes him, but he was promoting, so I went.  I was extremely pleased by the program, and the people were kind.  I can see Logan benefitting from it.  Here are the pics from his third promotion.

Doesn't he look dapper?  I tried to get a pic of him with his cover on too, but the sun was shining.

And just for kicks

Also in Logan news, we went to a mommy/daughter date.  Kevin usually takes the girls to a daddy/daughter dance, but my friend sent me the link to this one, and I swooped up tickets.  We had a wonderful time, and I was not expecting it to be full out ritzy like this.

I even managed to get his dancing on video, so we had proof it happened.

The tales of Logan continue with him scheduled to take his first O-Flight for CAP this afternoon.  It's a beautiful BREEZY day, so this momma is making his daddy take him.  Cross your fingers!

Relic's 2nd Birthday

Relic's birthday was the 24th of January.  I can't believe he lasted that long!  I kid.  He's a good dog because we trained him within an inch of his life.  He definitely has faces and characteristics that can be interpreted as emotions.  For instance, anytime Kevin leaves the house, he puts on his "Am I going to?  Please?" face.  Then when Kevin says he's not going, he has a "Nobody loves me" pouty puppy face.  He listens pretty well too.  I guess that's what happens when you pray for six months for a perfect dog.  

 He regularly sleeps with his tongue out.  

He tried to help wrap Christmas ornaments in bubble wrap.

 I told him to sit and smile.

 I made the same gluten free birthday cake as last year.  This time I topped it not only with peanut butter but also BACON!

He sat there until we finished singing.  He licked all the peanut butter and bacon off the top. Then he picked the whole thing up with his mouth and chomped until he got a bite.  He chewed that bite and picked it back up to get another.  The whole process took 3 minutes tops.  Happy birthday, Relic!

March for Life 2019

We march for life and use our voices for those who are silenced.  As usual, the media said nothing was happening and a few thousand turned out.  Numbers are actually coming in with 650,000 people on the high end.  Regardless of what the low end was, it was a lot more than just a few thousand.  This was our third year attending, and it's a wonderful experience EVERY time.  Prayers for New York and their evil decisions.  Long live babies!

Doodle Crates!

Nana and Papa gifted Marley with a Doodle Crate this year.  She used to get Kiwi Crates when she was younger, and she played with them, but she didn't fully craft them.  I was hesitant to suggest the Doodle Crates, but I'm glad she gets them.  Here are some of her creations.

This is a succulent garden.  It came in felt pieces with a book of directions.  Marley did it all herself!  I helped explain what they were saying to do, but she rolled all the plants, colored them, and arranged them.  When it came time to do the garden "stone," she had a bunch of different ideas of what to write.  She never told me what she settled on, so I was surprised and laughed hysterically at her message.  

Next up were the lanterns.  Again she did this all herself.  I didn't even know what she was doing.  I just saw her working on it, and then it was hanging in her bed.  They're so cute!  They're all different colors and you can't tell, but they have a design on them that she had to rub over the stencil.  She put a lot of hard work into them, and they are still working at setting the mood lighting for bedtime.  Here's a pic of them in nighttime action.

Don't worry.  She doesn't sleep with them on.  She does however seem to wear her hat like her momma in that she never takes it off.  I don't sleep in mine though like she does.  I'm so proud of her!

January Daybook

Outside my window...
it's white, white snow, white sky and cold.

Giving thanks...
for a canceled class this afternoon because of impending weather.  

In the schoolroom...
we are back to classes, although we have off this Friday for the March for Life.  Marley has become quite independent in doing her work.  It's a welcome change.

From the kitchen...
AIP is still happening.  I'm trying to meal plan and save some money.  My mom gives us a lot of meat every fall, so we're enjoying that surplus right now.  

I am creating...
still a community.  It's tricky.  

I don't ever want to forget...
everyone home together.  Even when we're not in the same room, I experience a sense of peace that I don't have when someone's not here.  If you're a mom, you know what I mean.

I am working on...
a budget.  It's a necessity.  I'm going back to my Dave Ramsey roots and figuring it out.  

I am reading...
a lot of AIP cooking books.  I've also picked up One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler.  Someone recommended it, and while there are parts that have value, it's just ok.

I am praying...
for a lot it seems.  

I am hearing...
markers coloring.  The kids are at the table coloring pictures.

Around the house...
things are getting cleaned.  Christmas gifts are still out and about, and there's dog hair everywhere.  I've been able to get to some rooms that haven't been touched for a while, so that makes me feel better.

One of my favorite things...
feeling accomplished in cleaning something or getting something done.  I've been trying to get better at not procrastinating.  Sometimes are better than others.

A few plans for this week...
The March for Life.  This has just become a fairly recent yearly tradition.  This will be our third time going.  We all love it!  After the march, we'll finally get to celebrate Kevin's birthday with his parents.

Some pics for you...

Birthday Boy

Gymtime

Light Bright

Field Trip

Haircut

Family Game Night

Word 2019

In case you need a recap, my word of the year is something that I will focus on the entire year.  My decisions and every day will be trying to live out this word.  Let's look at my 2018 word SEEK.

My friend Courtney and I had the same word for last year.  We are supposed to get together at the end of the month to discuss how our year went with the word.  I remember telling my spiritual director, Fr. John, about my word last January.  He said, "Well, that's interesting.  If you're seeking that means it's not right in front of you."  I panicked a bit at that because when I thought of the word SEEK, I did take it as a religious meaning.  Was I not walking with God in my life then?  Was I SEEKing Him?  

It turns out that I was SEEKing a few things.  I found what my relationship with Christ looks like.  Sometimes I try to copy what others are doing because I think they're smarter and better, so I should be doing what they're doing.  Unfortunately, a lot of my faith has been like that.  Last November I took my definitive promise as a Carmelite.  I haven't only found my own relationship with God, but I'm confident in it.  I'm not thinking that I'm getting it wrong or missing something.  I know with every fiber of my being that I am a Carmelite.  (SIDE NOTE:  I wish other things were as clear as that calling was.)

Another thing I found was who I was in my community and who my community was.  It wasn't who I thought it was which threw me for a loop.  I survived but not without some scars.

Through it all, it wasn't a bad year or a bad word.  This year's word is REMAIN.  Fr. John and I are already talking about how that might form this year.  We'll have to see.  So far, it's REMAINING home and working on things there.  Good luck to you in 2019.  May God bless you with love and prosperity.

Looking Back on 2018

I think it's been a couple of years since I wrote a looking back post with questions.  My friend sends it to me every year.  It's 20 questions.  Here we go for 2018.

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
The cross-country RV trip

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Family dynamics and hardships

3.  What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Finishing my Carmel studies and making my definitive promise

4.  What was an unexpected obstacle?
Schooling issues

5.  Pick three words to describe this past year.
Grace, Faith, Perseverance 

6.  Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your year-don't ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you.
Hard, Busy, Eye-opening

7.  Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their year-again without asking.
Fine, Fine, Fine 

8.  What were the best books you read this year?
Elizabeth of the Trinity, Unbound

9.  With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My family

10.  What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Eating AutoImmune Protocol

11.  In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I'm dealing with things a lot better rather than burying them and not dealing with them.

12.  In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
Rory and I did an Act of Mercy Consecration

13.  In what way(s) did you grow physically?
None

14.  In what way(s) did you grow in your relationship to others?
I've been working on trying to remember that I don't know what other people are going through, and their actions toward me might not be intentional.

15.  What was the most enjoyable part of your work both professional and at home?
I've enjoyed teaching this year.  Last year it felt like a chore, but this year I seem to have gotten a second wind.  I've let homelife slip from stress, but I'm hoping to work on that this year.

16.  What was the most challenging part of your work both professionally and at home?
Realizing that people weren't who I thought they were.  Letting my homelife slip.

17.  What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
TV

18.  What was the best way you used your time this past year?
The RV trip

19.  What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
What matters most and I can't change it

20.  Create a phase or statement that describes this past year for you.
I made it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!