momto8blog

What Is The Best Family Vacation?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Guess it depends on who you ask!
Our family has had fun vacations... at the beach with extended family, at the beach with friends, anytime at the beach! Disneyland, that the kids don't even remember. We all did a cruise 2 years ago. LOVED Catholic Family land, yes, really it is called Family land. We recently came back from a week at a lake house, which probably makes the top 5 vacations. But I think the RV trip to Niagara Falls was the best vacation we ever had. That was 3 years ago in June, when our oldest just graduated college, and right before she started work. It was also our 25th wedding anniversary. What could be more fun and romantic than sharing an intimate living and sleeping camper for 9 consecutive days with 8 kids to celebrate an anniversary? And not one of us with camping experience or knowledge? My husband began the preparations with a mandatory RV driving course. The guy we rented from was a resource of information and assured us he was on call anytime. We designated harder tasks to the older kids, mapping routes, checking prices, finding and reserving camp grounds... We began at the Padre Pio museum, because it was only about 2 hours from home and we could see if all of this was really going to work, if my husband could even steer the thing and if the kids would even like it, and we would start our trip with prayers. Then we drove north to set up our first nights camp at a wolf preserve. The preserve was in the mountains. It was cold. And dark. We were just getting tucked in our 32 foot camper and the howling started. The wolves sounded a whole lot closer than they were. We told the kids we were safe inside this big camper all bunched together, and there was no reason to go outside anyway, so relax and go to sleep and ignore the howling. The camper really did sleep 10. Beds come out of movable walls and tables transform into beds. There was also a loft above the driver's seat. 2 little kids slept there. They were kind of squished but it was not really too bad. Me and my husband had a bedroom with a bathroom and a door! Luxury. The kids were all one cold mass, with 6 sleeping practically shoulder to shoulder and 2 boys huddled in the loft. The closeness kind of took the edge off the howling. During the night, one of the boys dropped his blanket (everyone wanted their blanket because they were cold and scared) and it fell below and landed on his sister. So the 8 yr old woke his 10 year old brother up and told him about the blanket. The 10 year old's plan to retrieve the blanket was to lower his brother by holding onto his ankles until he grabbed the blanket when he would bring him and the blanket back up to the loft and everyone could be happy and cozy again. But the brother dropped his brother, who fell on his sister...who never moved. She thought it was a wolf and so wanted to be as still as possible. This was only the first night....being in Canada by a GPS mistake and trying to get back into the US without passports is a whole other blog post...

Why A Lake Vacation Is Working For Us.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 14:44:00 +0000

1. No beach traffic. Not any traffic.
2. Smores around the fire. Wine around the fire.
3. Space.
4. Stars we can see twinkling.
5. A boat big enough to hold all our kids. But not the parents. See ya kids, be careful.
6. A black bear on Black Bear Ave.
7. The canoe gets the teens very tired.
8. Omaha steaks deliver here.
9. All those bullfrogs!
10. But the very best reason...the dog gets to swim with us!

Where is Our Yatcht?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:35:00 +0000

My husband and I just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary. We were on a paddle boat together exploring a beautiful lake in the Poconos and I saw a baby black bear! My husband got his phone to take a picture and so I started steering closer to the bear to get a better picture. My husband said he formulated a quick mental escape if the bear would come toward us...he would jump out of the paddle boat and push it while I steered, that way the paddle boat would move away from the bear faster. I said "Oh no! Remember what happened 29 years ago to this day? We were on our honeymoon in Jamaica and I was trying to steer the sail boat but it wasn't going anywhere. We were still. And you said it was because I was not "catching the wind", so you jumped out of the boat to "tip" the sail boat in a different direction and then suddenly it caught the wind and headed straight towards the horizon. 2 rescue boats had to come and get me, and you had to swim back to shore, while everyone cheered you on. Maybe you shouldn't be trying to move the boats around that I steer." His reply, "Let's get a yacht."

How Common Core Chips Away At Parental Authority

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:45:00 +0000

Common Core is the new national teaching standard adopted and touted by the Obama administration. From kindergarten through high school and from state to state students are taught the same material. SAT questions reflect the information taught. The emphasis is on writing, passionate writing. (All fiction is drastically reduced in the curriculum). Students are encouraged and instructed to use strong powerful words in their writing, and to become activists. The "passionate" themes are carried through all subjects taught, from social studies to math. Math questions ask how much money a school will save by using efficient green energy instead of dirty coal that pollutes, and the social study charts demonstrate how devastating humans and worse yet more humans are to our planet and clean water supply. The information taught in government schools has always been socially and politically slanted. But now there is no choice for any child in the United States. Private school and home schooled children have to learn to answer standardized questions with this way of thinking. College entrance exams are based on this teaching method. All children have to learn to think the same way! Here is a sample first grade question:
When my mother (nags or tells) me, I clean my room. The correct response the test questioners want is nags. To me this is like telling the 3 year old who is going to the dentist for the first time "Don't be scared, the dentist won't hurt you." The suggestion convinces the child the way to think about the dentist. The 3 year old never considered the dentist would hurt and now the adult put fear and suspicion into the child's mind. So it is with this test question. I expect my kids to keep their room clean. They are taught from the day they can understand words to get their chores done before they play. In first grade kids do not realize the importance of habits so have to be told...and told...and told. Using a strong word like nag distorts the meaning, the outcome, everything really, and makes me, the mom, the bad guy.
Another example is my son's 8th grade reading class. The question for discussion and debate was "Who should be responsible for telling you that you can't watch an R-rated movie, the government or your parents?" The vast majority of students say the parents. And then the teacher asks, "How many of you have seen R rated movies in your home?" and the vast amount of 14 year old students raise their hands. The 14 year olds then look around the classroom somewhat confused because they get the subliminal message that the government is smarter than their parents! The government sets higher standards for you than your parents do and so the government cares more about you. Trust the government more than your parents because they have your best interests in mind. I cannot even imagine high school...

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:28:00 +0000

What my kids really do at long graduation ceremonies.

Grandmas, Teens And New Moms... All Together

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:10:00 +0000

Yesterday was our grandson's baptism. Here are examples of conversations when 4 generations are together:
New Mom, "Oh! I just love this wrap."
Grandma, "My babies loved wraps."
Teen, "Babies like rap?"
Grandma and new mom. "Oh yes! Babies love it!"
Teen, "What?"
Grandma and new mom, "Yes! It is soothing and comforting for the baby."
Teen, "Rap is?"
Grandma and new mom, "Yes, it calms them."
Teen, "Rap calms babies?"
Grandma and new mom, "Yes! Since the beginning moms have used wraps to calm their babies."
Teen,"How long has rap been around?'
Enthusiastic grandma and new mom, "Since babies were born! Mothers have always swaddled their babies and then would be able to work. Wrapping gives moms freedom to move and work because they could use both hands."
Teen, "Oh. I didn't know any of this about rap. I thought it was from my generation.'"
There is more.
New mom to teen, "Will you please get me a beer ?"
Teen to female sitting next to him, "Would you like me to get you a beer too?"
Female, "Oh no thank you. I am expecting and so can't drink alcohol."
Teen, "Oh. What are you expecting?"
Female. "A baby."
Young teen. "Oh...."
Older teen now clarifying, "That means she's pregnant."
Young teen, "Oh."
Older teen, "She is expecting a baby."
Confused young teen. "She is expecting a baby?"
A really really fun day.

Unforeseen Issues Of Teen Employment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 23:45:00 +0000

I picked my 14 year old son up yesterday from his first day of work at Hershey Park. He is working in the food and beverage department and was issued the standard completely uncool mandatory uniform. I turned my head so he wouldn't see me smiling, but he saw me. He asked, "What is so funny?" I said, "I just am not used to seeing you in those sort of clothes." He responded, "Yea, well, wait till my friends see me. They will be like taking pictures and stuff with their phones and then pay with all pennies."

For Times They Are A Changing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:18:00 +0000

We now have 3 children who are college graduates. Yea for them and yea for us! Our third daughter graduated last week with a civil engineering degree and a minor in math. She starts her new job outside of NYC tomorrow. On Thursday she went in search of an apartment, mostly using information she got on Craig's list. (She had fall back options of staying with her friend's parents). Before she left, she viewed the places she was considering by looking at photos of the rooms and area on her computer here at home in Pa. She used a GPS to get to those destinations. When she arrived she mass texted me and my husband on our cell phones to give us her immediate thoughts and later called and e-mailed with more feedback. How different than when I was 23 years old and looking for my first apartment in Philly. I got my leads from an ink newspaper or roommate wanted bulletin boards and used a public pay phone to let my parents know I was safe!

What Is Sex Education In Government Run Schools?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 May 2013 18:57:00 +0000

My husband chaperoned a 7th grade field trip yesterday (I know...why would someone do that voluntarily?!). His perception was how much he enjoyed the kids, how loud they were, how easily they became embarrassed, how full of life, how well behaved and how not too different they were than he was many years ago in 7th grade. Kids are kids. What did change from when he was in 7th grade was the "health" curriculum. Our kids come come from school talking about what they learned in health class, not so much uncomfortable by the information but disappointed by the presentation of it, and more confused than enlightened. Even middle schoolers realize what they are being taught is not the whole story, something is missing, something is off, and this can't be all there is. Here is an example: this past week my sons co-ed 8th grade class watched a video of a live birth, presented after they studied the work sheet of 10 birth control methods: Sterilization for men and woman, intrauterine device, oral (the pill), skin patch vaginal ring, male condom, diaphragm w/spermacide, female condom, rhythm method and spermicide alone. The study guide was completed with a failure rate per 100 women and potential side effects. Abstinence was not included as birth control. Love or marriage or any emotional component were ever mentioned or considered. How sad for young minds to be taught and encouraged to think that how to avoid pregnancy is what matters, because even those loud active middleschoolers know intuitively there has got to be more to sex than just a physical act.

How To Get Smarter Without Trying

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:48:00 +0000

Have a lot of kids! This is what I mean....
Yesterday was my sons piano recital. This boy practices before he goes to school and as soon as he comes home from school, and every chance he gets he fiddles with some kind of music. The kids living in this house right now do not share any of his music passion. Any of it. And yet there they are sitting at a recital listening to students sing operas in Italian and play music from musicals. They just sit there and get exposure to a whole world they would have never pursued. And last week, my daughter was here with her 3 week old baby. The kids said, "She feeds the baby so much." And learned how breast milk is so easily digested and so yes, the baby is eating all the time. Oh, and yes, around the clock, yes at night. That's the way it's made, mother and baby seek each other. Their eyes get like saucers and they ask, "Were we all like that?" Suddenly a whole new level of appreciation emerges from them passively watching their sister tend to her newborn. The list doesn't stop, because each kid has their own interests that they talk about around the dinner table. My son the artist, who brings home from class his artwork using all kinds of different textures and mediums that they would have never realized existed. My math loving daughter who shares mathematical connections she finds in almost everything. And for a non math mind like me, those concepts are a something I would never even consider if my life depended on it. And how it is with each one...so many interests under one roof and as they share their knowledge they increase the knowledge of those of us listening...and increase our wonder in the world, and we all get smarter from each other. Without even trying.

Do Not Mess With GREATgrandma

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:34:00 +0000

My teenage boys got hand grip squeezers in their stockings from Santa. Last weekend when their 80 year old grandma was here the boys and grandma had a competition. They put a penny in the middle of the hand squeezer and wanted to see who would be able to keep the penny there the longest, without the penny falling. Grandma, who still plays competitive tennis, crushed every time, always outlasting the boys. My one son asked, "Do you think your grip is so good from holding a racket all these years?" Her reply, "No, I am just strong." And even those teenage boys could not argue with that!

Does A Liberal Arts Degree Ever Get You Anywhere?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:02:00 +0000

My daughter graduated 2 years ago from a private (expensive!) college. With a degree in creative writing and a minor in art. We have all heard a lot of grumblings lately about how a degree like this is an almost complete waste of time and money and that she graduated in debt with small chance of gainful employment. Well, she is proof this is just not so! She is most definitely rocking the sales world! Which makes us wonder, what is the reason for her success? The degree or her? My husband and I discussed this and talked with our boys about the conclusions we came to, in the hope they can learn something from her experiences. Last summer for vacation our family combined with my husbands siblings, he is one of 7, to be together at the beach. These relatives are financially successful by any ones standards, and my daughter knew this. So every chance she got she asked each of them individually for advice. What is the best sales strategy that worked for them? What is the best way they found to market? What mistakes would they most want to avoid again? What should she read that would help her? Do they have tips that help network? etc. etc.. It was a week of unscheduled vacation with experienced professionals and she knew this was a gold mine. She gathered so much useful, practical information! Of course, she did not learn this in college. What she did learn in college, from the seemingly endless reading she did for class, was how to extrapolate what she needed from those facts and apply them to human nature. Being well read she had more than a simple consideration of the consequences of human behavior and could apply this wealth of factual information she just gathered to her job. I do not know if this kind of insight comes with a math degree a science degree...it certainly came with her liberal arts degree!

How Can You Afford 8 Kids?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:42:00 +0000

We get this question a lot.
I'll start to explain by telling you my youngest son recently celebrated his 11th birthday. My husband and I scratched our heads, thinking what could we possibly get him that he doesn't already have? First thought was something sports, but by the time you're the 8th child in our house, mostly every sport played in America has been played by some other sibling in the house, so there are multiples choices of bats, balls, shin guards, cleats etc. in the garage. Guess we could get him shinny NEW equipment. How about something educational? Well, having parents who are avid readers and 7 sibling born before him who are readers, every book we could think of at or around his reading level is found somewhere in this house, and if it is a brand new release, someone in the house is going to the library. OK, how about new clothes? I would like that, but this kid cares zero about fashion or even colors that match, fortunately or unfortunately so did his brothers before him, so stylish brand name clothes sit in his closet until I force him to wear them to a party MY friends are having. So, I am happy if he is happy, wearing the hoodies that his brothers wore last year. What else would a kid want? A cell phone? Too young anyway, but it is $10/month to add a line on a family plan, and for the $100 we pay to have our teenagers share our contract, we get our value back in chores. Movies, music, roller blades, games, bikes or moving machines on wheels, speedometers, odometers. It's all in our garage or basement already. A swing set, a trampoline, a basketball court with a 3 point line... have it. Big families have lots of stuff! So we try to think specific not age related. He has an interest in music. So did my oldest daughter, and the piano and songs books became his already. Finally, he was happy with a rain check for when he could think of something he wants. It's been like this after the second baby. We only needed a crib, a high chair, a stroller, a play pen, the first 2 times, (because they were so close in age we needed 2 of everything.) We didn't have to buy big ticket items with every baby. And that continues as they grow. Like, we didn't have the expense and inconvenience of preschool. The kids knew their alphabet, colors, nursery rhymes from osmosis and got an abundant amount of imaginary play and socialization with their siblings. Yes, it is expensive to raise a child, but the costs gets less and less with each kid. College? Soooo expensive. Still, it's less expensive to have 2 kids in college at the same time, and even less expensive to have 3 kids in college. Every public, private, elite and ivy league college in America reduces the cost of tuition if there is more than 1 kid in college at the same time. Grocery bill? Yes, $, not as much as you would think. Individually wrapped products are rare in our kitchen but foods in bulk or large size containers are plentiful. For scheduling purposes alone we have to eat as a family at a set time so the kids grow up eating few snacks because they wait to eat together. Fancy prom dresses? The girls shared each others. Of course, all is not Pollyanna, I have Formica counter tops and my husbands prius (that we won brand new in a church raffle!) has 200,000 miles on it, but these things will soon change. What I am telling you is that you will regret not having another baby because of money worries. Ask anyone you know, whose biological clock ticked away and they have 2 kids, if they wished they would have had another baby. Ask them. You'll see what I mean.

It's A Whole Different Story

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:46:00 +0000

I drive to see my 2 week old grandson every few days. Bearing meals, supplies and wonderful intentions of doing all kinds of chores so my daughter can sleep. I tell her, "I'll clean the tub, vacuum, tidy things up and watch the baby. Maybe you can get some rest." And I have every intention of doing those things. Then I see him. I pick him up. He is so beautiful! I sing to him, bicycle his legs, exercise his arms, show him outside, tell him so many stories! Then I look at the clock and realize I have to go home to his uncles who are coming home from school and I didn't get one thing done because I played with him the whole time! I would have never, ever imagined I would be like this! And I can't get enough! It is a whole new ballgame ...

The Young Business Mind At Work

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:31:00 +0000

This past weekend 2 of my sons participated in a National Wrestling tournament (and placed)! This tournament was long, 8am till 5pm for 2 days, inside a crowded spacious civic center. There is a lot of down time between bouts and kids in the wrestling community developed this fad of buying and selling wrestling shoes. The kids exchange emails, cell phone numbers and home address and buy and sell all kinds of wrestling shoes among each other. Kind of strange, teenagers want used 1990 wrestling shoes! This weekend my 2 older wrestlers brought 2 backpacks of used wrestling shoes to the tournament. They had buyers from different states lined up and waiting. Security was not going for this idea one bit and told the kids they were not allowed to do this because they didn't have a vendors permit. The kids asked them what that means but already made $180 a piece and so called it quits for the day. Guess they are learning to expect glitches. Last tournament a 14 year old kid bought shoes from one of my sons but was short $40 on the agreed upon price, and promised when he got home he would send the money. Two weeks later no money and the kid stopped responding to texts. Well, my 15 year old devised a way of getting the money. He texted the kid that if he did not pay the amount agreed upon immediately he would notify the FBI and they would come to his house and get it, and the kid would get arrested for breaking a contract or stealing the shoes. Apparently this scared the kid enough that he responded within seconds with excuses for the delay and promised a fed ex payment immediately. Next day, the money arrived.

Our New Grandson!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:42:00 +0000

arrived into the world uneventfully Wednesday evening. He is wonderful, and mom and baby are doing great. Yesterday 10 of us overwhelmed the hospital room to see him. I gave the boys strict instructions before we got there, wash their hands, be quiet, be behaved! When we got there the baby was sleeping in the bassinet. What happened then was these normally loud, active, rambunctious, fighting with each other constantly offspring stood around the baby completely still. Looking. Mesmerized. Total silence. They all just stared at the baby. Like they never saw anything like this before! It was at least 5 minutes of complete quiet. Then the baby moved his head to the left and it was a collective gasp! The oldest son said, "He moved!" In reality I was a part of this group, just as amazed. Later that night, laying in bed, I said to my husband, "Mike, I think that is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen in my life." My husband responded, "I was thinking the exact same thing."

The Perspective of Age And Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:28:00 +0000

My normally 100 pound daughter is now 38 weeks pregnant. She posted a picture on Facebook of her pregnant self standing near the everything is ready crib. My friends are moms who have had babies and they remarked how wonderful, beautiful, radiant, all baby she looked. My 25 year old daughter's friends, who are completely unfamiliar with what a women about to have a baby would look like remark, "Holy cow! That baby must be gigantic!" Or agree with the sentiments of my 16 year old son, "Shouldn't she be sitting down? Is it ok for her to be walking around like that?"

We All Need Weeks Like This....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:52:00 +0000

And a great week it was for our family!
My oldest daughter had some preterm labor at 35 weeks is now still pregnant at 38 weeks, feeling well, looking well, working, going to grad school. Always great to be term! My next daughter was recognized by her fortune 500 company as being in the top 7% for sales in the country and was compensated financially. Always great to get a bonus! My youngest daughter who will be graduating from college next month accepted an engineering position outside of NYC. Always great to get job! Our oldest son uneventfully and successfully skied the Alps, after having only skied one other time in his 19 years. Always great to have a safe adventure! My high school son who had surgery 4 weeks ago on his knee no longer needs crutches! Always great to appreciate things we take for granted, like walking. The two middle school boys got first place in the regional mid Atlantic wrestling tournament and will move on to Northeastern Nationals in May. Always great to get gold! The report cards were full of A's. Always great to see your efforts reflected on paper! Yes...these kind of outcomes make us all happy. But the real true joy deep down in my heart does not come from accomplishments, money, careers, standing in the center of a podium...joy for me comes when when I see my kids support of each other. The kids were happy their sister got a job, their brothers placed first, their brother got to ski a gigantic mountain, their nephew is still waiting to meet them. They were rooting, hoping and praying for their siblings and they feel a part of their accomplishments. That support for each other is so beautiful and so abundant it makes my heart sing.

Who Would Watch MSNBC?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:15:00 +0000

I casually put that news channel on last night while I ironed my husbands shirts, just looking to see what was going on in the world. As I was watching, it seemed everyone on that channel hates babies! The news consisted of men and women berating pro life laws. Meanwhile, on the same day in Philadelphia there is a trial going on about a man with a medical degree who killed a woman and 7 babies. I would think that MSNBC would be all over this sensational trial, with cameras, interviews, investigations, etc especially since the transcripts are so unimaginable. Babies in the United States of America screaming for their life and then getting their brain severed with scissors and then that baby thrown in the pile with all the other dead babies. Unbelievable to the senses the mind and the heart. Yet, no MSNBC coverage of this, because it's not too different from the reality of what goes on everyday in planned parenthood abortion clinics across the country. And MSNBC likes planned parenthood, not babies.

Just Be

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:33:00 +0000

Last night I escaped to my bedroom and laptop and left my husband handle the kitchen and kids. He came upstairs awhile later and sat down beside me on the sofa. I closed the computer because it seemed bright and distracting. So we sat in the dark. He told me about his day and his depositions and the motion he is filing. I told him about the spring sports schedule conflicts and how surprised I was at the crabbiness of the patients that were waiting for physical therapy. No revelations. No epiphany on the sequester. Soon it was quiet. And we just sat, comfortable being together. I said, "I am happy." And he pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head.

Do Parents Have Rights?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:05:00 +0000

In the past my children started working payroll jobs the summer of their 14th year. We had to get a work permit, that was inconvenient but really just busy required government paper work. That meant bringing the required forms to the pediatricians office for a doctor to verify that sometime within the past 12 months this 14 year old had a physical. The next stop was the local high school where the receptionist would verify by the 14 year old's original birth certificate this kid was present before her and living in the school district, and would then document the teens hair color, eye color and approximate weight. We knew this routine by 6th child. So today when me and my 14 year old son went to get his working papers completed at the school, the receptionist informed me that now the principal of the middle school has to give final approval of my teen working. I was confused by this and asked, "What does the principal have to do with my child working a summer job?"
"Well, if the child's grades are not good, the principal will not approve your child working."
"What? The principal of the middle school has no say in weather my child works a summer job."
"Oh yes, he does! If he determines working would interfere with your sons grades he will not approve of him working."
"Are you kidding me? It is a summer job! We the parents are in charge of deciding whether our son can handle a job at Hershey Park in the summer, not a middle school principal!"
" Oh no, not anymore, honey. Times have changed."

The World Is Better When We Pray For Each Other

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:41:00 +0000

When I was pregnant with my 6th child I was having a continual crappy time. Did not feel well, had too many kids already, and wondered how I was even going to do it. I was at back to school night and a woman I did not know came up to me and gently tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "Are you Mrs. Pipa?" I looked at her, took a deep breath and answered, "Why?" She then went on to explain that she was a teacher in the school and knew I was pregnant with my 6th baby and so every morning she leads her whole class in prayer for me and my baby. Oh my goodness! I would have fallen over, but instead felt like she was lifting me up! My attitude and perspective on life changed that day. I am grateful to her for opening my eyes to the beauty of prayer for others, and since that day I too pray for others. Today I had a similar experience. My daughter called me with news that she may be in early labor at 35 weeks and they were admitting her to the hospital. I sent an email pleading with my friends to pray for her and her baby. The response pales in comparison to anythings else I can think of. Knowing other people were praying for my intentions makes me thankful and grateful and indebted to them, and makes me want to pray for them and support them back. A living kumbaya! Yes, I see with my eyes how our prayers for each other change us to makes us better people, and I know that prayers make the world a better place. Keep saying those prayers!

Government Run Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:26:00 +0000

My 7th grade son has a silent reading period during school, called reading workshop, with the goal of providing time for the kids to read, and hopefully foster a love for reading. This son has a love of military history. So much so he recreates famous battles with little green plastic army guys after he reads about the battles. He loves reading about biographies of the leaders, the battles, the strategy, and stays up too late in his bed reading history books. He was so happy to able to read Worlds Greatest Battles in school! When the teacher saw what he was reading she told him he was not allowed to read that book during this time, because it was nonfiction. The teacher then noticed the student next to my son was reading the Bible and she told him he was not allowed to read that book, because there was not a plot. So the teacher gave them Dairy of A Wimpy Kid Part 1 and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid part 2. They both accepted her suggestion, because they knew from reading the books already they liked her choice.

The Dollar Store Rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:31:00 +0000

I had a baby shower for my daughter this weekend. In the middle of the homemade Stromboli, antipasto salad, meatballs, etc was a festive centerpiece. That I bought at the dollar store 11 years ago. The first time I used that centerpiece was for a homecoming celebration for my daughter in high school, and the centerpiece was surrounded by bowls of skittles and Swedish fish. The table looked so happy and fun, I stored the dollar store centerpiece along side my fancy party dishes and plates, thinking I might use it again. Every time since then, when I use my party dishes and plates I put that dollar centerpiece smack in the middle...and it works every time, every occasion. Graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, victory parties. So as I was getting ready for this party the first place I went to was the Dollar Store. I bought banners and it's a boy decorations there to decorate the house. Then I started thinking what if the party looks like the dollar store? I went across the street to Micheal's...and even with my 40% off coupons the same banners would have been $4...I know that is not millions in savings...but it was the SAME product! Today, when I put all the stuff away, I kept the centerpiece out, because I'll put it on my Easter table. Gotta get my moneys worth.

Ask! Ask! Ask!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:03:00 +0000

And it shall be given to you. And here's proof:
This past Sunday there was only one altar server at a crowded mass. When my son noticed this he left his seat and went to serve. He wasn't always so eager and willing to help. It is because of the persistence in asking from a priest that changed his mind. Here is how it happened. Our family would enter the church and this priest would greet us with a smile and ask the boys, "Are you serving Mass today?" The boys would smile back and say, "No, not today." The next week the priest would smile at the boys as we entered the church and say, "Did you hear God calling you to serve Mass today?" The boys would smile back and say, "No, not today." The priest was encouraging and made the boys feel like they were being invited to something! The next week we would walk into mass and he would say, "Good morning! Are you going to be on that altar today?" My husband and I noticed the boys starting to pay attention to what alter servers do. On the way to mass, about 4 weeks after the priest started encouraging them to serve, one of the boys asked his oldest brother (who was an experienced altar server in the school) if he would show him what he was supposed to do as an altar boy. When we walked into church the priest said, "Hello! Who is serving today?" And my oldest son said, "We are." So the boy went to serve with his brother behind him showing him step by step what to do. The priest smiled and said, "Good to see you here." And so it happened that one by one each son wanted to serve at mass. The lesson we learned from that priest is embedded in every ones mind because it unfolded before our eyes. Today my son and daughter emailed me about their week. My son is studying abroad and wanted to meet with a high level foreign official for an interview. My son understood the hierarchy of him being a college student and the top position of this man but also knew he would lose nothing by asking to speak with him. He got an interview with the delegate, and got to ask all the questions he wanted in person! Because he asked. My daughter is in a nurse practitioner program and is interested in all kinds of medical care, but doesn't know details about what it would be like to work in some of these different places. So she called the managers of the departments and asked if she can shadow them this week to get some idea of what it would be like... not one person declined, instead they went out of their way to try and accommodate her. Yes! Ask, ask, ask, that is the lesson of the day. As soon as my husband gets home from work I am going to ask him to mop!