Feast of the Holy Family

Today is the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family. It is usually celebrated the Sunday after Christmas, but since this year the Sunday after Christmas is January 1 (Feast Day of Mary, Mother of God), the celebration was moved to Friday.

I found this wonderful meditation by Blessed Mother Teresa for today:

You are to be a family, to be that presence of Christ to each other. God has sent the family to be His Love. Love each other tenderly as Jesus loves each one of you.

Jesus is always there...
to love
to share
to be the joy of our life.
Jesus' love for us is
unconditional
tender
forgiving
complete.
Just allow people to see Jesus in you
to see how you pray
to see how you lead a pure life
to see how you deal with your family
to see how much peace is in your family.

Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity. If you learn this art of being thoughtful, you will become more Christ like, for His Heart was meek, and He always thought of the needs of others. If we also have that kind of thoughtfulness for each other, our homes would really become the abode of God most high.

I've been tagged!

Alexa tagged me with this meme!

Write 5 resolutions for the new Liturgical Year (it started about 4-5 weeks ago or so?)

1. Attend at least one weekday mass weekly (in addition to, not in place of Sunday mass)
2. Schedule an appointment for reconciliation when I can't make the scheduled times
3. Take the time to learn about 12 new saints (one a month)
4. Continue to lead the mother's group at our parish and add more faith-filled activities to our meetings
5. Pray with DH in the morning - over the phone if necessary!

Thanks, Alexa! I tagged one of my email lists ;)

exhausted

B is very sick. He slept most of yesterday away, tossed and turned and coughed all night long, went to his meeting this morning, had a sales call cancel, and has been in bed again since coming home at 1. He's feverish now, all over body aches, cough and congestion. It's either the flu or bronchitis like my sis.

I have a migraine today and am barely able to see my head hurts so bad.

Thankfully, the boys play together well and aren't feeling poorly (yet).

I spent the last week & 1/2 caring for my sick sis, and it looks like I'm headed into more sick care. B is so rarely ill that he's kinda like a little kid that just doesn't understand he has to rest to feel better usually -- so I know he's very sick since he has willingly gone to bed 2 days in a row.

I'm really hoping the boys don't catch this. With no insurance until June, I don't know how we can find the extra money to pay for doctor appointments and prescriptions for the 3 of them. I think that's what is stressing me more than anything. In fact, I know that is what is stressing me more than anything. I need to give it up to the Lord - but right now my head hurts so bad I'm nauseous.

Christmas

Christmas was lovely. The boys were thrilled with their gifts and we had a very laid back, relaxing day. My sister is still sick with bronchitis, but did come over for a bit in the afternoon and stayed for dinner.

My mom told me yet again today how we should just sell our house and move back to Wisconsin where "we belong". I wish she understood how I believe we "belong" here -- and how the chances of us moving back to the midwest are pretty slim. I won't say never; because you just don't know what life may bring. But, as it stands now, I have no intention of leaving Arizona.

B is sick with a cold. He's rarely sick, and I hope that this cold doesn't last long. Purely selfish on my part because I don't want the boys or myself to catch it and I don't want him to lose time from work. I'm lucky that he doesn't turn into a baby when he's sick. I hear from various women that their husbands tend to become completely helpless when they're sick. I have to say that it would annoy me to no end if he was like that!

Santa's Snack

Colin and Santa's Snack
Originally uploaded by mellyrose.

C & N chose to leave Santa a hard boiled egg (he needs protein for energy, you know!), carrots for the reindeer, and Daddy talked them into leaving a Coke instead of the hot tea with milk they wanted to leave. C was a very tired boy by the time we put out the snack!

blessings

We have been so blessed during the time of B's layoff. Even though he's currently employed, it's 100% commission, and sales are slow. It'll be months before we're back to pre-job-loss income.

From every corner of my life, though -- from email list friends to real life friends - we've been blessed with gifts and prayers and amazing generosity. I'm humbled and awed and ever thankful.

I sometimes don't feel worthy - but I have to know that God knows what he's doing and I hope I'm up for living up to the blessings that have been placed with me.

St. Nick's Day

The boys woke up to chocolate in their shoes (N was extremely excited because he LOVES chocolate) and a set of shepherds, sheep & another angel for their Fisher Price nativity. We've talked about St. Nicholas and who he was, and C thought it was pretty neat. But, for some reason, he thought the chocolate was from St. Nick (who came down from heaven just for his feast day) and the extra pieces for the nativity were from Pope John Paul II (who apparently also came down from heaven to help out St. Nick). I'm not sure where he got that idea, but it was too sweet to argue with, you know?

Birthday Verse Meme

The idea is to find your birthday verse in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. My birthday verse is 11:10 for November 10.

Matthew 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'

Mark 11:10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!"

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

John 11:10 But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

The New American Bible (Catholic version) is online here: New American Bible to make it even easier.

What color is your heart?

Your Heart Is Pink

In relationships, you like to play innocent - even though you aren't. Each time you fall in love, it's like falling for the first time. Your flirting style: Coy Your lucky first date: Picnic in the park Your dream lover: Is both caring and dominant What you bring to relationships: Romance

What Color Heart Do You Have?

Update

Well, the cruise was absolutely wonderful. No complaints -- lots of chances to relax, unwind, rest and eat.

We came back and B went to work and was fired. He called to tell me and I didn't believe it! Since he had a work truck, I had to go pick him up from the office and help him clean out his stuff from the truck. They gave him no reason -- just that they were going in a different direction, and didn't see him being part of it. They PAID for the cruise because he was such a great salesman. It made no sense -- and still doesn't, 5 weeks later.

So, he's been doing side jobs, thinking about going into business with this guy (that's been tabled, though), going on interviews and hopefully will start something in the next couple weeks.

The boys are totally enjoying the preschool program we're doing at the Botanical Gardens. The woman who runs it does a fantastic job and both boys eagerly look forward to attending.

I went to lunch today with a woman from my church's mom's group. I really like her - always have - but now I'm afraid I was a little too militant today in my dislike of mormons and my stance against corporal punishment. It's just like dating - but it feels like there's more at stake somehow - - because there are kids involved, and less time to focus, and it seems like more to lose if you don't connect, because there are so few chances TO connect when you're a SAHM of young kids. When I was dating, I always knew there'd be another guy along in a short time . . . now it seems trying to find a friend takes forever! Oh, well, hopefully she's not thinking I'm a complete basket case, because I like her AND her kids.