Chit-Chat, A New Book Giveaway and Photos

Warm golden light from the setting sun lights this hay field in Shawnee Co. Kansas. -Kansas Whispers

It seems a long time since I put some photos up…or told you of news along the way….

It is an exciting time for us…all of our couples (we have six that are married) are expecting! So the next months will be busy with little newborns everywhere! I was hoping to get a photo of all our ladies together but that just doesn’t happen too often (or I forget about the photo shoot when everyone is around). Our daughter-in-law, Z, is due in a week!

In our area, the harvest is in full swing (it is later this year because of the abundance of rain in the spring and early summer) and the leaves are turning.

What a beautiful time of the year! Most people who talk about their favorite season, fall back on….fall! I can’t help but agree…cinnamon sticks, oranges and reds, lots of whipped cream (oh…and don’t forget the tea under it!), and rosaries around the bonfire!

Here is an old post called Feminine Fall Fashions with lots of different outfits for the season of fall. Maybe it will give you some inspiration today!

And here is a post by my daughter, Theresa, about Fall with its Five Senses. It will get you into the mood of Auspicious Autumn Awesomeness!

I also have some questions that were asked of me and I would like to answer them on a post. I just haven’t had time. So sorry to anyone I have neglected along the way! It is very unintentional!

Before I continue, I would like to make you aware of this Copyright Disclaimer for this site. It will be under the “About” Tab in the top menu for further reference:

When I post something from a book of a living author, I have that author’s permission. (Emilie Barnes gave me her permission before her death in 2016)

All the other articles are from books that were published in the 1950’s or before and their authors have passed on. Most of the books can be found online (the complete text) on EWTN or otherwise.

These authors gave us fantastic information that would remain buried or hidden so I am getting it out there. I think the authors would be grateful (I pray for them and to them) and I know many of my readers are grateful, too.

By my referencing their works, I hope the reader will be encouraged to purchase the entire work.

Introducing my new book (and a Giveaway)….

The Catholic Boy’s Traditional 30-Day Journal!!

After I finished the Girl’s Journal, I had requests for a boy’s journal, too. So, here it is! It is not off the press yet but will be soon and will be included in this Giveway!

 

Let’s keep our young boys engaged in the Faith! Let’s teach them how to be organized, how to prioritize, how to keep on top of, first, the Spiritual things in their lives, and then the other daily duties that God requires of them!

Nothing is more valuable than this type of education…an education for life! That is where this journal comes in! It will give your boys a feel for keeping a To-Do List, with spiritual things at the forefront! What more could you want for them?

Let this journal help you along the way, Mothers! The boys will have 30 days of checklists, thoughts to inspire them for the day, some fun things…like drawing their day and other things to keep them focused. This next 30 days will be invaluable to them…to learn life skills, to have the satisfaction of checking off the activities they finish, to learn to be thankful for the good things God has given us, to offer up their day for someone in need, etc.

This journal is for boys 8 (with the help of Mom) to 16 years of age. Your boys will enjoy it and be able to look back on it for inspiration and encouragement!

Available to pre-order here.

Package Special of the Girl’s and Boy’s Journal is here.

The giveaway includes the two books, The Catholic Girl’s Journal and The Catholic Boy’s Journal, and this beautiful Sunflower doily made by Rosie’s talented crochet hook!

What great Christmas gifts they would make so please sign up by making a comment on this post. I will draw the name next Wednesday, October 30th!

(Please continue to keep Rosie in your prayers. It is hard to believe it has been a whole year since she entered the convent. It has been a hard year. Yes, she is doing better but she is not well enough to resume normal living. I would appreciate any prayers sent our way and so does she!)

Rosie and Willoughby

Steve

As I posted earlier, my brother, Steve, unexpectedly passed away at the end of August. It was truly a blow, especially because we weren’t sure the state of his soul…he had a wayward life. (He had made strides in the last year…but we just weren’t sure).

I want to let you in on something to remind you….never, ever give up on prayer…never give up on the virtue of hope!! God hears our prayers.

Two weeks after Steve died, the funeral home in Canada contacted us saying they found something on Steve and they wanted to know what to do with it. This is what they found on him….

I cannot tell you how happy we were to see this! God is good! Remember the promise of Our Lady…. “Take this Scapular. Whosoever dies wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and pledge of peace.” There were also 2 St. Benedict medals and a Miraculous Medal attached!

We had Steve shipped from Canada to here in Kansas and buried close to my dad.

The Gallery…. (click on the first picture to view)

 

Mom has many that love her and did their best to console her.

LIttle boys praying for their uncle.

Steve’s daughter came from Canada…

Little children’s prayers….

It was a consolation to have them all there praying.

Mom and I throw flowers…

The children console Grandma.

Pete and Vin

Rosie and Edward

Benjamin

We stopped at Dad’s gravesite also.

Theresa’s family visit the grave of Grandpa often. Last time they went there Adrian brought along a bag of BB’s that were for his gun to give to Grandpa. He laid them at his grave…his big sacrifice!

On another note…here is a little taste of reality! We were very busy making pretties for the Shakespeare Festival so here is our table…yipes!

The beautiful stage at the Shakespeare Festival. Vincent helped build it.

Silly Hannah

Silly Gemma

Here is our booth with some of our wares…

Gin’s hats

Rosie’s doilies, my books

Spanish mantillas and wire-wrapped rosaries

Penal rosaries and homemade rings by Hannah

Handmade jewelry

My girls

My girls

Fun times

Angelo made this BIG bouquet for me!

Lovely flowers!

New hairdo

Margy is making pierogies for Grandma

Lookin’ good!

Gemma is quite proud of her pumpkin with the very large stem!

In Vin & Gin’s bus to go to the Pumpkin Patch!

Angelo and Edward

Vin and Gin’s little people

Vin and Gin & Co.

Peter and Vin

Peter…haha!

Lots of pumpkins for home!

Lovely Gin! Expecting her ninth!

Vin, Gin, Juliette

Gin and Gemma

Mike and Jeanette’s family went to the Pumpkin patch, too. A place full of autumn fun and color!

Kiddos

Jeanette and her mother-in-law, Rosalie

Mike and his mom

Peek-a-boo!

Train ride!

Brendan is picking his pumpkin!

How do you like Theresa’s do? We teased her about it….especially her brothers.

She wanted a picture of all the ladies who wore sneakers to Family Night.

She called it “Sneaky Day”!

A typical scene on a Friday night….

One of Gin’s projects was to upholster this red chair.

Lovely!

Well…at least it kept them quiet for a time!

The last roses of the season.

Last zinnias before we pulled the plants.

And Vincent’s dahlias that brought smiles all summer!

Sunday morning smiles!

Gin was busy making large tea rings for the Skeet Shoot!

Wowsers! That’s a mouthful!

Yum!

Another project of Gin’s – an old cupboard door she whitewashed and painted with pumpkins.

So pretty!

A friend thought we needed a little autumn teatime!

Dev and Theresa’s 10th Anniversay brought them back to Hermann Hill in MO where they had their honeymoon.

Theresa

A nice glass of wine…

And trying on the wedding dress…expecting number five!

Gemma and Hannah are planning to go to the Chartres Pilgrimage in June…if they can get sponsored.

They are trying out these NewBalance sneakers they bought off of Ebay that are supposed to be perfect for that sort of thing!

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

One of the most delightful traits in a personality is a real heartwarming smile that comes from within. Get used to smiling and you will spread the sunshine of God’s love, if you smile from the motive of loving your neighbor and making him happy for God’s sake. -Fr. Lasance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tids ‘n’ Bits and a Gallery

Summer is quickly passing and we are back on track with school. Rosie is slowly getting better. Her headaches are still intense but she is able to spend much time outside in the garden before she succumbs to them and goes to her room. I can’t believe that it has been a year since she told us of her plans to enter the convent and got the call from the sisters saying she was accepted! It’s been quite a journey! Lots of tears, lots of growth….

We had a wonderful visit from our friend, Father Janosch Donner, a German priest just ordained at the end of June. I am sharing pictures today of that visit and other tidbits of our summer.

***I started this post before we got news that my dear brother, Steve, was found in his camper passed away. It has been a hard couple of days, especially for my dear Mom who was in constant contact with him the last few years…many texts a day. She tried not to worry when she didn’t receive any texts on Friday…but by Sunday she was very worried. She got the call on Monday, when the “wellness check” proved the worst. (There were no signs of foul play or him taking his own life…for as rough as his life had become, he was a surprisingly upbeat fellow). This is the second son Mom has lost. Please say a prayer for him, if you don’t mind. He needs it…

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him….

Here is the gallery of our happy summer days…

The wonderful (and sometimes too profuse) rains of the spring brought an abundance of fruit this year. Here’s some of our peaches.

Theresa has a nectarine tree on her property!

And whoa! the cucumbers!

We eat cucumbers like apples so when we acutally have our bellies full of them, you know there is an abundance!

Rosie is our #1 gardener! She spends many hours in the garden before she crashes.

Beans, cukes, tomatoes…

We bought special seeds this year for the cucumbers. They were more expensive but it has paid off! All through the summer they didn’t get bitter!

Gin took a couple of old dresser drawers….

And made this lovely display for Z’s birthday! what a transformation!

I couldn’t resist these little dollies at the Resale Shoppe for my granddaughters when they come over.

Here they are (some of them) having a good time! Ah! Nice to watch as a Grandma! 🙂

Vinnie is putting up a swing for the kids.

We’ve been taking in some softball games lately at the park. Our good friend, David, plays for a team. Looks like a homer!

Magdalene watches on Angelo’s shoulders.

Good times

Margy and Magdalene

Lots of little people

And big people

Our trampoline between two trees…a good place to take a nap.

And close by, the kids are having a picnic.

Tea time for my daughter-in-law, Z!

A lovely rainbow as everyone plays volleyball in the rain.

Toby and Agnes

The family that “sprays” together, stays together!

Dominic, Dad and Colin

Our little basketball court. We watch from my mom’s apartment patio.

Grandpa…

Hannah’s ready for the Shakespeare Festival.

Colin and Z raise goats.

It’s Colin’s passion. He has quite a herd! Here is Gracie.

Colin’s wife, Z, and all the kiddos.

“Here’s lookin’ at you, Kid!” hehe

Father Flood’s enormous sandwich!

Our sidewalk up to the house.

Cheers!

Playing Texas Hold’em with crabapples!

What will they think of next!?

Rosie’s um….hairdo?

We were invited to Gin’s for dinner. She said I could share her works in progress with you. Here is her Mary Garden.

She did this with an old dresser!

This is part of her patio.

She did all her flowers red and white this year.

Very pretty!

The patio

From a distance

She painted and put the decals on this step ladder.

She painted the fireplace and redid the cushions on the chairs. A black and white theme.

With a doily that she bought from Rosie for the table!

Emma is laying on the couch Gin bought second hand and re-stuffed the cushion on the bottom. She also painted the chair beside it which had been a dirty cream color.

The bistro table she painted. She said it was a pain. 🙂

Baskets are a woman’s best friend!

Her nook where she irons the aprons she makes.

Her craft room.

Craft room

An old piece she bought from God’s Storehouse. She will eventually paint it.

These are ready to don her beautiful crocheted hats for the Shakespeare Festival.

Craft room

Material for aprons…

Lots of goodies.

She will revamp this mirror

Lots of baskets in nooks and crannies.

Another old piece she plans to paint. She gets these pieces of furniture for very good prices.

Her sewing machine.

Top of the fridge. This was an old window she redid.

And here is an old cupboard door she painted.

Gin

Coffee Nook

Apron waiting to have pictures taken.

Another apron

Another of Rosie’s doilies.

Just chillin’ outside at Gin’s

Grandpa scaring Toby

Our Infant of Prague in summer garb.

Showing off Agnes’ school books.

Jeanette, Agnes, Magdalene and Toby

Chillin’

Agnes is doing school

Angelo doing school under Our Lady

The girls are doing school, Rosie is reading Divine Intimacy

First day of school! Grace and Jacob

They go to school at Gin’s where the families have hired a teacher.

Isaac

School

Lunch break

Margy helps teach

Snack time!

A soccer game at the parish! Colin and Father fight for the ball!

Father Adams is a treasure.

Action!

Mike and Nettie on a Sunday afternoon….

Gemma doing a photobomb

Father Adams at last year’s Shakespeare Festival. This is Angelo’s game booth.

Mulberries!

Jeanette will make the elderberry syrup we use for boosting the immune system.

Yum!

Father buries Ethan.

The booth was a mess as it sat all winter. The rats had a heyday!

Getting the booth ready for the Shakespeare Festival.

Spreading mulch. Otherwise it is so muddy!

Gin is disinfecting everything because of the rats!

Angelo and his cohorts getting his booth ready.

Vinnie is spraying a new color for a fresh look!

Toby! Look at that smile!

Jeanette made a card for a dear farmer friend. Love the corn accents!

Inside of the card.

Father Janosch visited from Germany. Here some of the clan are heading to the convent with him!

Father listens as they practice for choir.

Father and Rosie.

With Father

Jeanette with Father

Father with Angelo and Gemma

First blessing

Outside Cracker Barrel

Father and I

Nice breakfast…

On the way to the convent!

Taking a tour.

First blessings of the sisters

Father is concentrating hard…

Bowling! We went early enough so Rosie could come.

Rosie with Father’s hat

Mike and Jeanette’s family with Father.

Mini-golfing

Bocci ball

Ticket to Ride

Shooting…

Father, Gemma and I

We did a procession at home for the Assumption. Here is the fresh flower crown that Rosie made.

Getting ready…

Jacob and Angelo have the privilege of carrying Our Lady.

The girls and boys are ready with their baskets of petals to throw before Our Lady

Father leads the rosary…

On the road…

To the little altar under the tree.

Mary is adorned with flowers

We pray the Litany of Our Lady

Agnes gets to crown Blessed Mother.

Rosie helps her.

Our Lady, Queen of all Hearts, pray for us!

A final photo.

Thanking God for each day that He gives us….

 

Good times! The Traditional Family Weekend 2019 Photos

The end of June found us wrapped up in a very fun and wholesome event…The Traditional Family Weekend! It was a great time and I wanted to share some photos with you. Maybe you can make it next year?

As aside….Fr. Allen gave the two conferences on Holiness in Family Life…reflecting on St. Therese and her family. If you would like to listen to them, the link is here.

 

And now, the gallery….

Getting the lovely zinnias and roses from our garden to adorn the tables at the Weekend.

The girls tape the plastic tablecloths on so they don’t slip around.

Madeline and Hannah

Tables are ready!

Getting some “puff balls” ready to hang up.

Sarah is working on Father Walker’s table

Lovely!

Rob and Cheryl rehearsing with the sound equipment.

Talent Show Rehearsal

Mr. James Eichman was here visiting and was able to take part in the Weekend.

Our coffee nook that Gin and Margy decorated.

Potluck Buffet time!

Good food

Good comaraderie

Our live entertainment did a great job! The MacDonald Family Singers.

Foosball was a hit!

Dom and Vinnie

Tom Walker and Fr. Allen

Chatting…

Ping Pong! Mary Frances played a great game!

Jeanette…

Gemma…

Martin chats with Rob…our sound guy…who is the backbone of the weekend!

The singers…

The Play Train Area was a hit!

It kept the little people in one spot and contained…if mothers chose to use it.

Fun!

Virginia’s table of goodies…that are always well received by the girls!

Father Flood stops by…

Grandpa is outside doing the grandpa thing…

Lots of volleyball!

Fr. Adams had the younger guys playing dodge ball.

Winner!

A hand-crocheted blanket was raffled off.

Saturday afternoon, Fr. Allen gave 2 great conferences focusing on St. Therese’s family life.

Fr. Adams…getting ready for his part in the play?

Dominic and Augustine.

What a cutie-pie!

Fr. Flood and Vincent discuss business…

Good job, Tony!

Vin, Gin and Juliette

After the conferences, Fr. Flood led the rosary.

Then…more games and pizza!

Rita was hungry!

Where’s mine? …says Ethan.

Commiserating?

Talent Show begins!

The McCune family with a song about moving to Maple Hill, KS.

A sweet song with the Ecks and the McCunes.

Ernie plays a very hard piece on the guitar

A funny skit about a dear family in the parish.

Father takes part.

The bus is full!

Joseph Walker plays a piece.

Madeline

Madeline and Sarah (daughter-in-law)

Captivated audience

A little singing and guitar

A skit by the Porter Family

Kids in the front row sitting on the floor.

Me

John was very good…and funny!

My girls were hams.

Hannah and Gemma

They sang a song with Ernie.

Mr. Eichman

Fife and drums…excellent!

Angelo’s juggling act was a hit!

Smell the Roses Along the Way! A Gallery….

I love this time of the year. The roses are blooming and the yard is a galaxy of flowers!

We haven’t always had a yard that looks beautiful. But we have always tried, no matter how hard times were, to eke out a little bit to get some blossoms going. Flowers spread joy and happiness. They are a gift from God and therapy for the soul.

We lived in a very small, one-bedroom home for ten years. We had seven children in that home. We tacked on a couple of little make-shift bedrooms for the kids off of our own bedroom.

It took us a few years to build our new home and we moved in when it wasn’t really livable. But it was all good….an adventure. Maybe some day I will write about it and dig up some old pictures.

Anyway, when we lived in the little house, (which many called “the shack”) we always had flowers, though not an abundance like we do now. I didn’t plant perennials there and I am glad of that so I didn’t have to say good-bye to them. But we managed somehow to have our little annual flower garden.

This year, my husband, Vincent, and daughter, Rosie, along with Angelo, the youngest, have done most of the yard work. Vincent has his own small greenhouse now and is able to start a lot of the flowers…or over-winter them from last year. Their team work has paid off! We have lots of beautiful flowers!

So…if you can, plant some flowers, nurture them, watch them grow and bloom. Maybe each year you can get a perennial or two so you can enjoy them each growing season and one day have an abundance of easy-to-care-for blossoming smile-makers!

And when the winter months come, get yourself some African Violets for the house. They are not expensive and they will bring a smile to your heart. 🙂

I love this quote from My Prayer Book by Father Lasance:

“I have always noticed that wherever you find flowers, no matter whether in a garret or in a palace, it is a pretty sure sign that there is an inner refinement of which the world is not cognizant. I have seen flowers cultivated and cherished by some of the lowest and poorest of people. Where these emblems of purity are found, you may rest assured that they represent a hope, and speak of a goodness of heart not to be found where they are absent.”

These photos are  about flowers….and other tidbits of our summer…just stopping and smelling the roses! I hope you are doing the same. 🙂 Click on the first picture to view gallery. (The gallery ended up being a whole lot longer than it was supposed to be…. )

This is our raised garden in the front of the yard. It awaits some renovation.

Our beautiful zinnias!

Zinnias and tomatoes.

We love the daylilies.

They only bloom for about 3 weeks but what a display when they do!

The end of our driveway.

Vincent grew the petunias…we painted the buckets to put them in.

A lot of hard work went into this wall.

Sidewalk up to Grandma’s apartment.

On the way to Grandma’s, there are nooks and crannies with flowers….

This is called the hyacinth bean and it came up from last year. It’s a beautiful vine that will bloom in August.

Vincent planted dahlias this year. They’re lovely!

Grandma’s apartment.

I’ve showed you this before but it keeps getting prettier. Grandma’s pergola that Vincent built for her. (I call her Grandma because my kids do…she is my mom).

Looking down from Mom’s apartment.

This little sumac tree Vincent found in a dumpster. It still had the price tag on it of $75! It’s very pretty.

Our swing is the most used place in the yard. We gather here for the mercy chaplet, for the rosary, and just to chat.

I got these two wrought iron planter chairs from our favorite Thrift Store for a steal! We ordered the coconut bowls to go in them off of Amazon.

Vincent is proud of his spike plant that he over-wintered from last year.

Beautiful colored petunias!

Another rock garden.

Sedum…and yes, Our Lady is due for another coat of paint.

Beautiful Echinacea!

Our cucumber and beet garden!

Pretty little wishing well. And our poor beheaded St. Francis. Father tells us that it is a tradition in Catholic Families….to have a yard statue of a beheaded St. Francis. Hehe (It has fallen down one too many times!)

Coming down from Mom’s.

And of course, gladiolas and doilies on the table!

Gladiolas, dahlias.

Zinnias!

Gemma models one of Rosie’s wreath doilies… Not quite where it belongs.

Enjoying an evening with the priests.

Father Allen made the trip to the parish to give the conferences for the Traditional Family Weekend

July 4th fun.

Friends….

It was early in the morning and Rosie was up. I knew she hadn’t had enough sleep so I was glad when I couldn’t find her. I thought she went back to bed. Then I looked out at the rain and saw an umbrella bobbing in the cucumber patch!

Sure enough! It was Rosie, picking breakfast! (We love our cukes and eat them like apples!)

Margy and Toby

Rosie went golfing with some of the clan to ride in the golf cart.

Magdalene and Agnes

Jeanette

I texted and asked how Rosie was doing and this is the pic they sent.

Silly girls!

Hannah

Jeanette, Margy, Magdalene and Toby

Grandpa, grandson and chiggers!

Jeanette at her house along the creek.

Her three little ones.

Fourth of July party at dom and Sarah’s.

Colin and Z

Jeanette, Mike and Dom

Madeline and Hannah

Gracie

Sienna and Avila

The new pot-bellied pig!

Ordination of our good friends, Father Janosch Donner and Julius Kappler, in Germany two weeks ago!

Father Donner will be visiting in August!

Take time to smell those flowers!

 

Nice Quotes and a Spring Gallery

Some inspiring quotes for your day….

“Happiness in marriage must be earned. It is something you must work out for yourself, chiefly by forgetting yourself and serving others. No marriage is a success unless less you make it so, and that takes persistent effort and, still more, a constant and humble reliance on God.” – Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik. The Catholic Family Handbook http://amzn.to/2rsThRU (afflink)

“It’s better to submit a thousand times to losing an argument than let children see a parent fail to exhibit the patience and consideration he’s trying to teach.” – Mary Reed Newland, How to Raise Good Catholic Children https://amzn.to/2v4Reaj (afflink)

Events, An Update and A Giveaway!

Our annual Traditional Family Weekend is around the corner. Below is the invitation and you are welcome to take part!

Here is the promotional video (Friday Night Potluck and Social will take the place of the dance.)

Also, coming up this fall, in this locale, is the fantastic Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival!  It is a great event and all are welcome!

This is the 2018 Promotional Video to give you an idea….

And here is an older post that I wrote about the Festival with pictures, etc.

An Update on Rosie…

Through the help of a couple of very good Catholic doctors, it turns out Rosie most likely has POTS. This stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It is a condition that affects circulation (blood flow). It involves the autonomic nervous system (which automatically controls and regulates vital bodily functions) and sympathetic nervous system (which activates the fight or flight response).

From Cleveland Clinic…

Each case of POTS is different. POTS patients may see symptoms come and go over a period of years.

There are various forms of POTS. The most common are:

• Neuropathic POTS: Peripheral denervation (loss of nerve supply) leads to poor blood vessel muscles, especially in the legs and core body.
• Hyperadrenergic POTS: Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system
• Low blood volume POTS: Reduced blood volume can lead to POTS. Low blood volume can cause similar symptoms that may overlap in neuropathic and hyperadrenergic POTS

*******

Her recovery from this bout has been painfully slow but we are getting progress. Rosie has not had a “seizure/episode” for a while now. The “up times” are getting longer and she can do some real work outside (which she loves)! By late afternoon and evening Rosie checks out and goes to her room where she reads, prays, crochets and listens to audio books. She would love to take part in what goes on in the family at these times, but not yet….

Anyway, I wanted to give you an update and thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we continue on this journey! Thank you!

And Now…..A Giveaway!

The winner will receive this lovely  handcrafted Rosary Bracelet set. Take your Rosary wherever you go!

Also included is this lovely doily made by Rosie.

Just leave a comment here, and your name will be added! It is always great to hear from you. 🙂

I will announce the winner next Wednesday, June 5th!

Parents should remember this: children can get along happily without constantly demanding their parents’ attention, provided there are regular times when Dad or Mom have no concern except being with them.

If we are riddled with anxieties instead of leaving them in God’s hands, we can’t offer our children that kind of time, and they will never feel secure in our love, no matter how many expensive gifts we lavish on them. -Fr. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom

There’s nothing complicated or magical about learning to be kinder; it just takes greater attention to the things that you do and how you do them. The Hidden Power of Kindness shows you how to become more aware of even your most offhand daily actions. You’ll find simple, step-by-step, and spiritually crucial directions for how to overcome the habitual unkindnesses that creep undetected into the behavior of even the most careful souls.

From the thousands of personal letters by St. Francis de Sales comes this short, practical guide that will develop in you the soul-nourishing habits that lead to sanctity.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

Show & Tell/Creativity

“Keep a hobby and ride it with enthusiasm. It will keep you out of mischief, to say the least; it will keep you cheerful. Here as in all things you can apply the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God).” – Fr. Lasance, My Prayer Book

Being creative is something that we love to do here!

We all have some sort of creativity within us. Oftentimes it lays dormant because of busy lifestyles, lack of ambition, finances, etc.

This post is meant to encourage you to pick up that needle, that paintbrush, pick that bouquet for the middle of your table, get your camera and go out in nature to take a photo, etc. These things bring joy to the one who is creating and joy to the recipients! It doesn’t take a degree, lots of money or tons of time.

I think it is very important to bring back to life the creativity that God has given us! Don’t let your lifestyle get so busy that you don’t squeak in a little something, just a moment or two where you can let those creative juices flow! It is like therapy to a weary soul!

Some of my girls are not creative in the way you would think of creativity. I tell you this because there are many ways to express ourselves….baking, a lovely dinner, a beautiful garden, etc. It’s not all about a needle and some yarn….Find your niche and begin your innovative path!

All of my daughters and daughters-in-law have creative streaks, every one of them, expressing  them in different ways. I don’t have pictures of each one’s “streaks” but I have included some of them here.

Also, we have been perusing a site called Paint it Beautiful on Facebook where they teach you how to rejuvenate old furniture and turn it into something new with a paintbrush, stencils or maybe a transfer or two. It has been a lot of fun and a cheaper way of brightening up your home without having to buy new things to replace outdated items. (Which we don’t usually do anyway….we wear them out, outdated or not!)

Anyway, these past few months we have done some creating around here. Here is our “Creativity” Gallery….

I needed a new look for these oak cupboard doors. So I painted them bayberry.

Virginia picked up the knobs for me from Hobby Lobby.

And I got this wall print to add to the look.

I wish I had a before picture of this. It was very dark and well, kind of yucky. So I was pleased with the outcome.

This little bench was dark before I got started painting it. I used sharpies to do the doodles on it.

Jeanette did her little bench and used stencils for the butterflies.

Our two wooden doors in the kitchen were very dirty and marked up. So Angelo sanded them. Vincent did a bayberry “wash” on them so it didn’t completely cover the wood.

This stenciling is a little tricky. You have to be careful to have your paintbrush almost dry or it will drip.

Looks nice when it’s done.

Top right is what Gin’s chair looked like. It was still a very nice chair, just dirty.

So…you guessed it! Gin painted it! Looks lovely doesn’t it?

Here’s the next project she is going to tackle.

Vincent is working on a job and the door was replaced. He brought this old door home. Gin and I both agreed it was beautiful! It is now the door on their office and Gin will have fun painting all the intricate parts!

I bought 5 of these chairs (on the right) from a garage sale. After painting and reupholstering (adding a transfer) they transformed into the left picture!

I repainted our old round table that was covered in hard glue (we glued our puzzles on it). It now looks like a brand new set!

I got this little dresser from our lovely little Thrift Shop and asked Virginia if she wanted to redo it.

So she did! And gave it to me for my birthday!

Isn’t it lovely?

The drawers had old, dusty velvet lining them.

Here’s another one of Gin’s lovelies!

I repainted an older baker’s rack.

I used the colors of soapstone and coral.

Then stenciled a flourish.

It’s now our coffee nook.

An old window Vincent brought home from his remodeling job.

I decided to make it into something unique. It sits on top of the cupboard.

Our prie-dieu needed an overhaul….

We were exchanging project pictures via text. This is the picture Theresa sent with the caption: If you think you’re crafty, you need to take a look at what I did! Two weeks ago I painted half a crate yellow, then got pooped out and never finished it. I call it “lacrate ombre.” I’m thinking of giving classes, if anyone’s interested.

Vincent is building a shade garden for Grandma.

This picture doesn’t do it justice….it is so lovely!

And this is what it looks like at night.

We often pray our rosary up at her apartment, with the frogs jumping about. Quite lovely!

Rosie and Angelo have been the landscapers. They built this rock wall beside the Knockout roses.

They tilled and reseeded this grass that Vincent is mowing.

Jeanette’s sourdough bread.

Theresa painted their little rocker.

And their plant stand to match.

This is Z’s wreath…with an old window as the stage.

Theresa made this wreath…

And this one.

This is the center of Jeanette’s table with one of Rosie’s doilies part of the display.

The Knockout roses right now are, well… knock outs! This is the middle of our table with lots of lovely flowers and Rosie’s pretty doily that she gave me for Mother’s Day. (St. Anne graces the middle of the table, too) ❤️

Jeanette took this beautiful picture last night after the storm…

And last but not least, Agnes has something for show and tell, too! She’s growing up! 🙂

First Communion/May Crowning!

May is such a beautiful month…a month of nature’s rebirth, the wonders of spring coming to fruition.

It is also the month of exciting graduations, and the time of expressing our gratefulness on Mother’s Day.

For Catholics, it is much more… It is the Month of Mary, the month of First Communions, Confirmations and May Crownings! A glorious month indeed!

This year, we had our first little batch of granddaughters receiving First Communions. Up to this point it has been grandsons. We had three young girls receiving Jesus for the first time…and what a blessing it was!

I was so inspired by my daughters and daughter-in-law! They made this day so special for the First Communions of their daughter. I’ve never seen anything quite like it…it was almost as big as a wedding! And shouldn’t it be? It is the most important day of their life!

They were ready on the inside. They studied and studied the First Communion Catechism questions throughout the year. When it was time to get tested…they were nervous, but ready!

And all the exterior prep that the mothers went to great length to accomplish…done with such care and fastidiousness, making everything as perfect as they could….They will always remember this day!

Below is the gallery….

Getting prepared for the big day!

Theresa’s getting Sienna ready.

Margy is helping out beforehand.

Margy’s in the choir but had time to do last minute touches.

Little Grace is ready!

Juliettte and Zaelie….best friend/cousins!

Emma

Cousins are ready!

Gin and her two girls.

The Knights of Columbus are ready.

Father gives the girls last minute instructions.

Our Traditional Council of the Knights of Columbus add a beautiful touch!

Processing up.

Consecration.

Group photo with Father Adams.

Vin and Gin’s family.

Colin and Z’s family.

Devin and Theresa’s family.

Outside with the Knights of Columbus.

Vincent/Grandpa with the three granddaughters.

Next day, Mother’s Day…Getting ready for May Crowning!

Little First Communion girls have their roses ready.

Grace carries the crown for Sienna to place on Our Lady’s head.

Devin waits for Sienna and Grace to bring up the crown.

The girls process in with roses.

Sienna is blessed and excited to do the crowning this year.

Dad helps….

Prayers afterwards…

Vin and Gin at Mass

Lovely dresses!

Emma, Gin, Sienna

Emma, Hannah, Sienna

Rosie and Emma

Sienna, Rosie, Grace

Theresa, me, Grace and Sienna

“The objection that a child should wait until he can understand what he’s doing when he receives Holy Communion is no objection at all. He understands as well at seven as at seventy. The Holy Eucharist is a mystery as profound and unfathomable as the Trinity. One does not understand how Christ can assume the form of bread and wine. One believes.” -Mary Reed Newland, How to Raise Good Catholic Children

Questions/My Answers & A Gallery

I have had some ladies ask me questions that I have not had the time to answer. So I thought I would take this time to answer them here. Please forgive me for not getting right back to some of the questions. There are too many things to do and not enough time.…

Question:

I would like to ask for advice…. because my family also believes that daughters stay at home until marriage. Would postponing a career still be wise if you’re still single after your twenties, yet feel that God is not calling you to religious life? Also, what if you are the youngest or one of few siblings, how would you keep yourself busy at home without young brothers and sisters?

Answer:

I think one question to ask is…Does your daughter WANT a career instead of marriage? When you say a career, do you mean the time and money put into a college degree in order to pursue a particular field? Or do you mean a job for “something to do” or to earn some income until she finds Mr. Right?

We encourage our girls to find many things to keep them busy….in a more organic atmosphere. Helping the parish, volunteering (or being paid) at our little school, working for their siblings with the nieces and nephews all fall into the category of “organic”. They have also had jobs in our town close by, and this is a good chance for them to learn responsibility and how to handle the world…mind you, we are picky where they work. Once they get of age, though, this is their decision, but hopefully they will listen to our advice.

I do believe it is important, if they have a job, that they still live at home. They need our support….and I don’t think it is a valuable thing to live on their own (or with a friend) unless needed….(and there may be times when it is.) Too much independence is not necessarily a good thing. The world and its maxims pull and pull….

So back to your question…no, I don’t think college and a career are an answer to filling in time. There are so many fulfilling things that can help a young lady grow…spiritually and mentally….that she does not have to seek her fulfillment in a “career”.

As far as keeping busy at home….your daughter can learn a craft….and sell her wares. This is always exciting (well, not all the time…but when it’s not, then it’s called “character-building”). But to make something beautiful is therapy…and to sell it is satisfying!

Every girl has skills and talents that can be tapped into in order to fulfill her own life and bring joy to others. This must be cultivated! And then pray that the flowering of her vocation comes to fruition!

Charity is huge for the fulfillment of a young lady still at home. If she makes herself busy at the service for others, her inner happiness will grow. In turn, she will “turn heads” and Mr. Right may be just around the corner!

A beautiful balance of prayer, outside activity (whatever it may be…going to a community function, babysitting or cleaning house for someone, etc.), home chores, self-improvement (books, online classes, learning home-skills), and a fulfilling craft can fill up each day. When offered to God in the morning, it will serve her tremendously better than seeking a career.

On a side note – Yes, we need good nurses and good teachers. If your daughter wishes to pursue these noble careers, she should also be ready to leave it aside to raise her own children, should she get married.

Here’s a post to peruse that I wrote a while back.

If You Want to Find the Right Person…..You Must BE the Right Person

 

Question:

You mentioned in your second point (in the post, Raising Girls) that if the kids ever said no or struck you they would be swiftly punished. Can you elaborate on that?

Answer:

I am not against spanking used with discretion, balance and without anger. So…if my child said no to me or struck me they could see, first off, through my expression, that I was horrified…this was no little thing, it is not acceptable, I am your mom and you DO NOT step over the line!

Then I would spank their hand or their leg. Nothing terrible. If they began to cry and kept it up, they were sent to the office (right off the kitchen) to calm down. When they were done, they could come out. For the most part, this lasted 1 – 5 minutes. I was always checking on them….and never left them in there too long…though I found that generally wasn’t a problem.

Consistency is important. I know there are strong-willed children out there that are difficult. Keep it up….your own consistency will pay off.

Remember….this consistency is not all about spanking.

There are other areas to be consistent. Are you letting them get away with being controlling and pushy throughout each day? If you have a child that gets very angry when he doesn’t get his way, take away the object that is desired….or some other consequence. This won’t be perfect with so many littles but keep trying. (Believe me, my consistency wasn’t perfect!)

It is important, too, that you are surrounding them with joy and love in between times. Then they won’t want to break friendship with you and will want to get over the “bump” in order to have that mutual bond. This doesn’t mean you have to be continually saying encouraging things, doing stuff with them, etc.. No. Just a general atmosphere of love and joy. Not easy. Not perfect. But something to strive for.

Pray for guidance from the Holy Ghost…and strength from Our Lady who sees it all.

Question:

In your post of Raising Daughters you did not mention about boys. Any tips?

Answer:

Boys need men. When my boys were able to help their dad on his construction work, they were encouraged to work with him, in between schooling. In my estimation, the work becomes more important. Sitting in a desk for long periods of time as the boys hit puberty is not necessarily bad but they had better be wearing off some of that testosterone with some good, sweaty, self-fulfilling work!

Mom oftentimes has to take second fiddle as the boys learn to work. In other words, we begin to encourage them to take flight (in controlled circumstances) and don’t get personally offended when the men are their idols. They still love us, but they are learning to be men. And we have to let go of that control that we used to have, to a certain extent. Not that they don’t have to listen to us and do their daily duties, but it may become harder for them to listen to Mom. Insist on it, but don’t think that isn’t normal.

Encourage them in their hobbies…even if it means a mess. Oh boy! How many times have my boys made a mess in the yard working on something! It was irritating…but oh! so valuable!

Don’t let them spend time in their rooms besides sleeping and getting dressed. Technology? Well….pretty much nil! Boys are better off without it…unless highly monitored. Right now, my Angelo is working on painting a picture on the counter….watching a Bob Ross Youtube. But he is right here where we can see everything. He looks for airsoft guns on Amazon….but right in front of us. Never let them have at it with technology!

The hardest thing for me with my boys was letting go. As a homeschooling mom I had much control. With the girls, they still stuck pretty close by and listened, for the most part. The boys were much more independent and it was hard. Our oldest son was pretty much on his own by 17 years old and was building a wall for the monks in Wyoming by 18. He met his future wife there and ….well, that was it! Ouch! but it is what we have raised them, for, right?

So, my point in this is, encourage healthy and wholesome independence….not without respect for Mom and Dad, but just knowing that, when done the right way, it is a very good thing!

I know there is much more….purity (which is huge for a boy), work ethic, etc. It would make a long post and I am hoping that you are tuned in to this website because I do have lots of posts on this type of stuff. Look in the different categories (especially parenting) or put it in the search bar.

And now for the gallery that I wanted to put before you so you can see some progress in the Lenten Activities (and other stuff)….

 

Haha! Huckleberry (the dog) is making sure Ethan can’t go anywhere!

I just had to laugh when Z sent me this photo! What precious, pooped little people! haha

Grandpa and Toby…

Rosie has had a couple of better weeks. She has taken a downspin the last week but we are hoping it is very temporary.

Painting her trunk.

Mom lives in an apartment attached to our home. What a blessing she is to us! 💖Here is the little gazebo that Vincent built for her this year using an old picket fence. It is so quaint and pretty and will look beautiful once the vines start growing up the sides and all the flowers are in full array!!

Rosie is blocking and starching new doilies!

Rosie and Agnes happened to have the same pattern on their dresses!

Rosie and Margy…

Lots of new baby kids at Colin and Z’s.

New puppies over here!

Cottage cheese pancakes are one of our favorites! And you don’t feel all carbed out afterwards! 1 1/2 c. oats, ground in blender, 4 or 5 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese.

Put in blender and you have batter for some lovely and delicious pancakes.

Slather with good butter (Kerry Gold) and organic 100% maple syrup. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Mike and Jeanette’s littles!

Helping in the garden…

Kansas is not Kansas without spring prairie fires.

It can be very beautiful.

Our neighbor farmers burning their field out our front door.

Lovely!

Unfortunately, during a burn, our son-in-law, Vinnie got badly burned.

The unfamiliar four-wheeler he was driving stalled amid the flames.

Here he is ….healing up.

Laetare Sunday…with Rosie’s lovely doily underneath the Infant of Prague.

Passion Sunday, the Infant of Prague is donned with the purple of Lent once again. And a purple doily created by Rosie.

Agnes is working on her Lenten pathway to the cross.

Our own Crown of Thorns is being filled up with the flowers of sacrifices.

Theresa’s Crown of Thorns is getting filled with flowers, too!

Agnes has her Resurrection Garden prepared!

Just had to share. Here men are kneeling in Poland, praying the Rosary, led by the priest.

A Quote from St. Francis de Sales & A Gallery

A lovely quote and reminder from St. Francis de Sales….

“Theotimus, we must be always rendering ourselves pliable and tractable to God’s good pleasure, as though we were wax.

We must not trick ourselves into willing and wishing for things, but leave them to God for Him to will and do them for us as He pleases, “casting all our anxiety upon Him, because He cares for us,” as the holy apostle says.

Note that he says, “all our anxiety,” that is, not only our anxiety as to accepting events but also that of willing or not willing them. He will have care as to the outcome of our affairs and to will whatever is best for us.