dry

dry.

The house, my hands, my desire to blog....

I have sat at the computer with intent and left with regret several times in the last weeks.

What I would have shared in a couple quick takes:
1. Paul's 94 year old Busia passed peacefully in her sleep after attending mass and celebrating the Polish Christmas eve dinner with her family.  Seriously I can not imagine a more beautiful way to pass.  I was grateful to be able to make the quick trip with my husband to celebrate her life.  Quick thanks to the family who made it possible for us to attend.

Rosie enjoying time with her pra-busia in October.  A memory & photo I cherish.

2.  Christmas was wonderful, full of family.  We finished our guest room in the nick of time.  A reveal that will have to wait for another day.

3. New Years Eve.  I quote my mom who said "most fun new years."  Pinterest style, I went to Party City and had balloons blown up to help us count down the hours.  In each balloon was a note.  Each hour, my alarm went off to summon the kids to pop a new balloon.

7pm - Make Caramel Apples
8pm - Make Soap Clouds
9pm - Play a Game
10pm - Watch a Movie
11pm - Sing Karaoke
12 pm - Make a Toast and Go to Bed!

The babies made it almost to 10pm and Rosie made it to celebrate midnight.  The evening was a blast.

4. The day after my mom left, I threw out my back.  I have never done this before and holy smokes...I do NOT recommend it.  I spent the first day in tears and with the help of my husband's ingenuity, was only able to lay down or get up using a table leaf as a back board.  I am slowing regaining movement and coming out from under almost a week of muscle relaxers and naproxin.

5. I hate hate hate HMOs.  Just for the record.

6. I am grateful for the women who have come forward and told me how much they appreciate or relate to my 30 days series.  Being completely honest in the blog world is a risk.  Especially for a foster mom.  My struggles have not ended, but I am strengthened with new resolve.  And each time someone thanks me for writing those posts, I am reminded to go back and read them.  Something I need to do regularly.

7. Did I miss the birthdays???  I forgot the birthdays!  Augie turned 3 and Catie turned 2!  We celebrated at a bounce house.  Best birthday ever for Augie, worst birthday ever for Catie.  Fortunately she enjoyed her cupcake.  I am amazed to look at my babies growing and think of how far we have come.

I am truly blessed to be mamma to these special little ones.  For as much as they challenge me, they are beautiful miraculous gifts straight from God.  He knew I needed them to purify me and bring me to my knees.  He knew they needed me, a mamma who would love them and do anything for them.  Happy Birthday to my babies.  I am grateful for you.

St Andrew Christmas Novena

This morning at prayer group one of the older women told me about the most beautiful prayer.  As she recited the words she teared up.  She told me of many miracles she has witnessed in her life from this novena.

When I came home I looked it up and discovered it is associated with St Andrew.  The Saint Andrew prayer starts on his feast day, November 30th and is recited 15 times a day until Christmas.

What a beautiful and perfect way for our family to enter in to the season of Advent!

A few years ago I was inspired to celebrate Advent and withhold Christmas celebrations for closer to the liturgical season.  It is so tough!  Especially now as Rosie asks me daily to get our tree, hang up a wreath, hang lights, etc.  My husband is surrounded by Christmas music at work and has to "turn that off" when he comes home.  I found this cute picture on Facebook:

I need to find ways to help our family CELEBRATE Advent.  So, we will start with the novena.  Hopefully add some family prayer time to our evenings and carve out a little more time for family fun. 

(JBTC, I just read your blog with info on the devotion!)

  

what we've been up to (in pictures)

In the last 3 1/2 weeks we have:

Driven to Chicago and Back (round trip 26 hours) to visit our 93 year old pra-Busia (great grandmother)

Celebrating Thanksgiving Mass in the Nursing Home with my Brother in Law as celebrant

Stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial on the way home

Boulder Marks Impact Site

Marble Wall marks the Flight Path

and unborn child

I hosted and was the MC at our Advent by Candlelight for ~175 women

Then we hugged Catie and Papa goodbye, drove to Maryland and flew home to Florida for a long weekend


Celebrated Augie's 2nd Birthday in FL with grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin (and papa via skype)



Threw a baby shower for my sister in law, I made these for my Niece, idea from That's My Letter

Met up with a friend from Alabama

(pic to follow)

Flew Home

Decorated for Christmas, Cleaned House and Celebrated Catie's First Birthday with a Polish Feast (thanks to my husband, our caterer) 

Happy Birthday Catie girl!

And now...we are putting our feet up a bit and preparing for a quiet Christmas. 

Happy 4th week of Advent!

A Social Network Christmas

This is fabulous. Merry Christmas to all!

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Little Star

I am very proud of an old friend, Anthony Destefano. We used to work together at Priests for Life. Add this book to your Christmas Wishlist!! He was recently interviewed on EWTN Bookmark. Check it out.

Christmas Wrap Up

Christmas Wigilia dinner H enjoyed helping her little cousin learn about wiring, and they learned to watch each other's backs to maintain a hat-free environment. H was able to spend some time with Uncle Dave and Meagan. We learned two days later that she is soon to be Aunt Meagan. We also learned that she is is newest to the family gets the most gifts. :) Also, this Christmas revealed itself as the year of the bean. Coffee Bean, Dunkin Donuts to be exact...proving, "ask and ye shall receive." And finally...enough!

So Grateful '08 :)

What blessings God has bestowed! We continue to be immensely grateful for the gift of H in our lives. She brings so much joy and teaches so many lessons. How awesome to have a child to demonstrate the life Christ calls us to live.

In this month's Faith & Family magazine, the suggestion was made to sing a short hymn at the Thanksgiving table, in addition to saying grace. So yesterday, before we had a glorious meal, Paul, Keith and I sang "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." H watched on in delighted curiosity.

It is such a gift to be able to pass on your faith to your child. She has not yet mastered the sign of the cross, but she clasps her hands during grace and kisses her picture of Jesus and Mary at bedtime. Well, she also kisses the couch and random other inanimate objects....but I know this is more special - especially when she sees a picture and points to "zeeezus" at Church.

So...in our hopes to continue to teach our faith, now we enter the season of advent. For Paul and I - the ultimate sacrifice is reserving Christmas for the Christmas season. While we have tagged a glorious Christmas tree this morning - we will reserve picking it up for a few weeks.

I found online a book that was a special tradition in our house growing up called "Family Nights." We hope that it will help prepare our hearts to enter in to the real meaning of the season.








Okay...so now for the less "storybook" parts of our holiday, here is a video clip of H's favorite way to entertain us:

First encounter this year...not such a good one.

Pretty Baby

Just a quick blog from the road to share a couple pictures we had done. Is it just me or is this child just too cute??? People have told us we "do good work." We hope we can continue to bring the world more beautiful children in the future. ;-) Merry Christmas to all! More updates to come later!

Advent Reflection

Wow. What a time to reflect. Last year at this time we were writing about our advent. The season of anticipation. Last advent we were filled with new hope. Our home study was complete, we had gotten our first "situation" phone call about a possible adoption opportunity - we were anxious with anticipation that we might meet our child in 2007. Little did we know that a child was about to come to us in a way that was beyond what we thought possible. Of course, with God....all things are possible.

We guesstimate that H entered our lives around 12/20. Last night, I had the opportunity to kneel by my bed and watch her sleep. To see our baby girl, with her hands in that precious baby sleeping position (fists clenched, arms raised above her head in "strong man" position), my eyes filled with tears as I watched her - breathing, smiling, dreaming. She is so beautiful. What is even more amazing, she is ours. For the first time we are not watching a friend's baby, we are gazing upon our child.

2007. Anticipation. Certainly we don't have anything to ask for this Christmas. We have everything we have been hoping, praying, wishing for. H is our gift. H is all we want for Christmas! We are so thoroughly grateful that God chose to bestow this grace upon us, that he decided to make us parents of this amazing child.

Congratulations to our friends that have recently welcomed (or are preparing to welcome) their own miracles into their lives. We can't wait to meet your blessings as well!

Chrismas Wishes

First, please let me extend our wishes to you for a very Merry Christmas. We hope the birthday of our savior brings renewed joy into your homes. This year, Paul and I wanted to wait to celebrate the liturgical Christmas season. We waited to purchase a tree, set up decorations, do baking, etc. And now, today is the first day of Christmas! This was, of course, preluded by wonderful family gatherings and meals. But we look forward to the days ahead to celebrate and reflect on our blessings.

What a year. And hopefully one year closer to the blessing of a child. We recieved several wonderful baby-wishes this year. Especially in the breaking of Oplatek. Every year we follow the polish custom of breaking bread (chrismas wafers pronounced oh-pwah-tek). This is a custom where those gathered have a chance to express well wishes to one another. The theme for us this year was "may all your baby dreams come true." In addition to oplatek, this was expressed in gifts received. Thank you for all that have us in their thoughts and prayers. It means so much!

I am very tempted to do a "year in review" type blog...but we will wait until next week for that!! Love you all!

Tis the Season to Be Jolly (Paul)

As this season of advent approaches it is a time of preparation I teach my 8th grade CCD students. Some of them get it and others look surprised. Its kind of funny. This year I was one of the surprised ones. It hard to believe that it is already this time of year. Getting so wrapped up in work and estimates and Elisabeth's new job and normal responsibilities the idea that this is a time of preparation slipped my mind. We are supposed to be preparing our homes and our hearts for the arrival of a baby. A king is promised to come. One who will bring peace to the world and to us individually. Although Christmas time may come and Go I am choosing this advent to prepare my mind and heart for a baby that is promised. One that will be ours. Maranatha Come Lord Jesus and See the blessing you have created for us some where.

May your Advent be a fruitful one and may the Lord's coming fill your home with Joy.