Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts

Monday, January 6, 2014

SO, What's NEW?!?

So, what's new since I have last posted...
much!
Summer was a warm one, but the children got to enjoy swimming at the Minersville pool, two trips to Knoebles, a trip to Hershey park, Crystal Cave, Roadside America, trips to Rickett's Glenn Sgtate Park and World's End State park, the Reading Muesum, a Reading Phillies game and multiple playdates with different friends. In August, we had the bittersweet reunion of the Mills family here in 
Pennsylvania as we had to say goodbye to "Grandfather Lance".

We welcomed Timothy Michael to our family on
Sept. 18, 2013 after an early delivery by 3 weeks,
he was considerably small...7 lb 10 oz, 20" long.
We had a lot of help from friends with the children while I was in the hospital, for which we are thankful.


 Upon hospital discharge, we celebrated Marcus' 8th birthday with a party at home 
complete with friends and a chess cake, again without our friends help, it would have not been possible.
Then on Sunday, Sept. 25, we celebrated Timothy's baptism.
Brian had to go back to work on Monday as the paper was short staffed to begin with, so I was 
back to mommy duty, HOWEVER, I did let school go for a while...something had to give.
Needless to say, life was a bit crazy for a while, but we are all pretty well settled into being a family with 7 children.
Timothy is a delight to all of his siblings, we wouldn't want it any other way!
Our princess has decided to rename herself, "Sugar Plum Princess".
Thomas has become "Bomb".
The rest of the children seem to like their names which is a blessing!

The autumn left us with some fun activities, including festivals and hayrides. Halloween this past year was very wet, but the children had fun, none the less.
We walked around town with some friends, but ended up having to throw the 
candy away as there was a pin found in a piece of candy that was handed out in one of the
areas in which we were, we figured better safe than sorry...the kiddos didn't seem to mind terribly.
We had a Roman soldier, Robin Hood, Ninja Turtle, Bomb the Angry bird, Sugar Plum fairy and 
a cute little guy in the first Halloween sleeper.


Thanksgiving was spent at my father and stepmother's home and was very nice.
On Dec. 6, we celebrated John's 5th birthday at the Pine Grove Theater and watched "Planes".
He had many friends at the party, and everyone seemed to have a good time! This is the cake he had on his "real" birthday..at the party for convenience it was cupcakes.




  Christmas was a good time as well...we had our traditional Christmas Eve celebration here
with family and friends. However, I did go to Mass early, and Brian took Marcus and Luke to midnight Mass.  In the morning, which wasn't until about 9 am, the children woke up and opened their gifts, everyone seemed pleased.  We had our Christmas day dinner with some friends then 
Luke's godparents came to visit in the evening.


For New Year's Eve, we stayed home..again I went to Mass early, and Brian took Marcus the following morning.  My father, stepmother, and Brian's mom came for dinner.
Throughout the holiday, we had to deal with the fast moving stomach virus. And the week before the holiday, Timothy was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, it must work itself out as it is viral as well.
Here is hoping that we have seen the worst of the sickness for our family, but if not, we will 
handle it as it comes.

School officially started back on Monday, January 6 for us, and the boys were anxious to
get back into a routine, which made life much easier!

That is a brief overview of what has happened to us as we bid farewell to 2013 
and welcome in the year 2014.
                                      
We look forward to the year of 2014 and in it, our family is hoping to grow more spiritually
and to do things even better than before....
may you all have a spiritually blessed New Year!
With all my love to you!
God Bless!

Monday, February 4, 2013

SILENCE

You may be thinking, "Silence?!?  How/when does that household have silence?!?"

Well, I'll tell you when we have silence:
1) when the children are snug in their beds
2) when the children are playing nicely in their room or living room
(yes, it does happen!)

and

3) in the early hours of the morning
As the children in quiet mode, there are things I contemplate...as they sleep, I thank God for how busy they
were during the day, how healthy they are and what joy each one brings us. 

When the children are doing school, playing with their toys and games, or drawing and creating, I see the world through their eyes...the intensity with which they work/listen show they really are interested in what their current task happens to be.

During the early morning, before every one wakes up, I go downstairs, start a fresh pot of coffee and make my husbands lunch, thankful that I can provide a meal/snack to nourish him physically throughout the day.
Then when that is done, I have a few moments to just sit and let my heart open for the Lord to hear or
see what I may not be able to put into "proper" prayer.

The quiet of the evening and morning have become a very reflective time for me.  I am thankful that I have my Thursday evening Holy Hour to be with the Lord and give all my problems/concerns/thanksgiving to Him 

with no distractions of the little ones needing help, 
HOWEVER, I know that I can go to Him
even in the busiest moments of our day and offer up a quick pray and He will hear it.
So, you see, no matter how many children we have, no matter how busy our lives are,
you can always find time to have some silence in your life as I have in mine!
My prayer for you today is to find time to sit and 
listen to your heart, or let the Lord listen to 
what is on your heart.

and.....

EMBRACE THE SILENCE!