Menu Plan Monday

Here is my planned menu for the week:

Monday: spaghetti, garlic bread, salad

Tuesday: Chili Beans, biscuits or cornbread, salad

Wednesday: Nachos, fruit

Thursday: Onion Chicken, rice, mixed vegetables

Friday: Movie Nite! Pizza, salad

Saturday: Tacos, rice & beans

Sunday: Chicken Tortilla Soup

For desserts this week I hope to make a Strawberry Apple Pie and a Cookie Pizza!

For a look at other great menu plans, check out Laura at "I'm an Organizing Junkie"!

Quiet Time

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" John 10:27


Something I need to improve on is listening to what God is trying to tell me. As the priest mentioned in Mass today, I need to listen and not just "hear". If I need direction in my life, I need to calm my soul and listen. I haven't been good at that in the past. When I try to listen, all kinds of thoughts pop in my head. Things like my to-do list, what to work on with my kids, what to do with my husband, anything and everything. I constantly have to refocus. Then I just give up. I continue on with my petitions.

My goal for this week is to spend some quiet time with the Lord and try to just listen. Somehow I'll try to cast out distractions and not say anything. I'll just be available. I want to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening". (1 Samuel 3:9)

New Catholic Mother's Blog Roll

Yea! I just joined a Catholic Mothers blog roll! I look forward to checking out all the blogs. Thanks to Angie for creating this!

Schooling

Kathryn and Ryan have been admitted to a Catholic school for the coming 2007-2008 school year. I think this is the best and wisest choice for them at this time. Right now they both go to a Christian school, Kathryn in the 3rd grade and Ryan in Pre-K. It has served them well in all areas however enrollment there is very low. The retention rate is not good. The Preschool is fine but in Kathryn's class, there are only 6 children. It is a combined 2nd and 3rd grade class. They have two 3rd graders, including Kathryn. The other grades are not much better. I think the individualized attention is great. What I think is a problem is just Kathryn's socialization. I feel she needs more friends her own age. Since the turnover is great, usually her girlfriends leave at the end of the school year to move on to another school. We don't have any neighbors that have girls around Kathryn's age, her cousins live far away, and most of our friends have boys. This new school is more established, has a great reputation, and has plenty of kids. And the big plus is that it is a Catholic school. Since we are a practising Catholic family, this is great!

I've searched and searched for a Catholic school that really celebrates its Catholic identity. Our parish doesn't have a school and other schools in the area say they are Catholic but are not very orthodox. I think I may have found one that takes the faith seriously. Time will tell and I pray it is so.

Nugget of Hope

Sometimes parenting can be so difficult. There is constant bickering among the siblings, constant reinforcing of proper behavior, discipline doled out, etc., etc. Often I wonder if we as parents are making the right decisions. Will the kids ever "get it"? Will they learn to follow the Lord even with our many failures? Today I was given a glimmer of hope. Today the Lord allowed me to see a little reward for my clueless attempts at parenthood.

At Mass, all three kids acted better than they have in a long time. They participated and even two year old Emily behaved until the homily was almost over. That's pretty good for her. After Mass, we decided to go out to eat. I had a gift card to use up and I didn't really feel like cooking anything. Eating out can be a challenge right now with little ol' Emmy. Well, she surprised me and behaved herself! All three got along! All three ate their veggies! Oh my!

Today gave me hope that maybe some things I'm trying to get across to them are sinking in a little bit. Maybe my kids won't grow up to be ill mannered. Maybe I can teach them and I can believe that I am doing my part in producing future productive members of society. With God's grace, I can choose and I do choose, to do what He has called me to do...to raise up these children He has blessed me with. I cling to the belief that He chose me to be the mother to these specific children. He will give me everything I need to do it. I just need to seek Him first.

Goings On

I've been dealing with sick kids, again. But, isn't that the way it is when you're a mom. Ryan is over his ear infection. Emily seems to be over her cold. Kathryn looks like she's getting over her case of the hives.

Sunday night, she was complaining that she was itchy. I put some anti-itch cream and sent her to bed. She awakened me in the middle of the night and said she was itchy all over. Upon turning the light on, I saw that she was covered in hives! Luckily I had some over the counter allergy medication. She's been taking it for the past 2 days as the hives keep reappearing. Today was the first day without it and they seem to have stopped. Thank the Lord. Poor thing, she's been miserable with all the itching. If she can stay hive free today, I'll send her back to school tomorrow. I don't have any idea about what may have caused it. Perhaps a yogurt drink that she started drinking for the first time? Ryan had the same thing happen about two years ago. When I took him to the doctor about it, he said that sometimes we just don't know how they get it. It eventually clears up. It took Ryan about a week for them to finally clear up.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Ryan had a little accident at the park last Friday. He ran into the park apparatus and required 4 staples to his little head! He was so brave in the emergency room. Thank God that it wasn't as bad as it could have been! His guardian angel must have taken the brunt of it!

Farm Day

Today I took Kathryn & Ryan to an educational farm. We had lots of fun seeing the farm animals and the vegetable plants. Emily didn't go as she seems to be afraid of the animal noises. I attempted to take her yesterday, but she wouldn't budge after hearing the cow "moo."

Here is a picture of one of the goats. He attempted to eat my jacket but I was alert and moved away before he succeeded.

Here is the biggest pig I've ever seen. I'm a city girl so this creature was BIG! In this picture she is waiting for her food. The farmer (for lack of a better name for the worker) was making his rounds and feeding all the animals. Miss Piggy is quite anxious!

Anyway, we all had a good time. Later in the afternoon, Ryan had a game. He is a good player. He hasn't use the T all season.

Tomorrow, we are planning on going to a nature center at a local regional park. The weather might be cool and windy so I'm not sure yet if we'll be venturing out. Ryan is getting over another ear infection and Emily is in the midst of a real snotty cold. We shall see.

PS. I'm still attempting to upload pictures so that they appear where I want them so pardon the not so polished look.