Our Trip to Oklahoma

Warning: very heavy picture post! But a great recount of our wonderful Thanksgiving Family Reunion, meeting the family members related to Steven's mom. There were 51 of us there, sharing a fun 4-day weekend at Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

The kiddos did well in the car ride overall! We went to Pam's house near Dallas on Wednesday night (baby didn't do so well on that one), and then drove on to Broken Bow on Thursday morning.

Finally, the Red River! Crossing the border...


and soon after, arriving at Beavers Bend State Park!


Our cabin (duplex) and the cabins down the lane


inside


Thanksgiving Dinner at the restaurant


a Great Horned Owl at the Nature Center


Steven goes on a little fishing trial, watching Stu


Hanging out in the cabin


Caleb checking out the doll and dress-up high heels!


And finally out to meet the extended family!

It was COLD that night!


On Friday morning, Steven and Stuart went on a guided fishing trip.




Steven's BIG CATCH!


The Rainbow Trout of a lifetime! Happy Guy!


Now it's time for the family photo fiasco of 2009!
(All the good photos were taken by cousin Angie; can't wait to see them!)

BopBop relaxing with Caleb and MC


Cousins playing while they wait their turn


Take One of Grampatti and BopBop with all their grandkids


Take Two.


Take Three!


Our little family :)


A sweet one of the Stevens.


Throwing rocks, what fun!



Wasn't expecting gorgeous hills like this!


Watching for the release of the dam waters...


The guys couldn't wait any longer and had to go get a closer look, on the pier.


Surfing Jeff!


That evening we hung out at Katie and Lon's cabin and had a campfire outside.

Aunt Katie was the s'more queen!

Enjoying the night around the campfire!


SJ didn't care for the fire much.


The kids played many games of checkers.


Everyone declared Ellie the "smart one" as she fell fast asleep on the couch at about 7:30pm!


Saturday morning, celebrating Sarah's 14th birthday with a horse ride for big cousins and little cousins alike! (Megan, Seth, Sarah, John, Mary Clare, Andrew and Emily)


Ellie checking out the horses


Mary Clare, the brave little girl!

That is, until about 2 minutes after this picture was taken, when she started crying and chickened out. I'm impressed she even got on the huge horse! Maybe next time...thanks anyway, Aunt Katie!

She opted for the train ride with Daddy and siblings instead.


Saturday lunch and sports at the pavilion






And then it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Uncle Don and cousin Sarah!



mmmm, cupcake!


Finally, we end the lunch festivities with a dance lesson by Aunt Sandy, starting with the Merengue!






and ending with Swing!


The cute couple heading up the sound department, Jenny and Tim!


Uncle Lon and cousin Seth keep watch over Steven Joseph, sleeping on the picnic table at the left of them!


Steven and Uncle Thomas take the kids on a nature hike


And then a funny memory of Uncle Thomas trying to negotiate the sharing of an orange soda with his two kids; priceless.


Saturday night we once again hung out at a cabin and had a campfire outside!
The kids were all over the Halloween candy. Whoever brought that...thanks a lot, haha.


Kids playing their own version of "cocktail party"


and the adults saying goodbye


movie-watching on the DVD players was an important aspect of the weekend


Sunday morning came too soon.

Off we go...



Back into the Lone Star State!

To all the B/M family...thanks for a wonderful time! We'll treasure the memories of this family reunion for many years and will be looking forward to the next one! We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

We are home.

We had a fabulous trip to Oklahoma. We are exhausted. We are thankful. We are still remembering the losses of the past few weeks...my friend Kelly, my grandmother Doris, and my friends' little baby Catherine. But it was good to get away, to clear my mind and enjoy my family.

I was filled with joy to come home and find that THREE of my friends welcomed new babies on Friday, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! Many congratulations go out to Karyn, Marie, and Kerrie who welcomed Bryan, Juan Pablo, and Jude respectively. I can't wait to meet these newest bundles of joy!

Now it's on to a new week of homeschooling and the start of the Advent season. Tomorrow I'll be trying to fight off some kind of allergy/head cold and do about 10 loads of camping laundry. But hopefully I'll get around to posting a photo montage from our trip! Here are a couple shots, which to me were the essence of our trip...time enjoying nature and having fun with family. We have so much to be thankful for!

Another soul in heaven

I'd like to ask you to pray for my friends, the Simmons family. They welcomed their 4th child, Catherine Elizabeth, with great joy and preparation. After 9 beautiful days with her, she passed away yesterday during her 2nd surgery (she had Spina Bifida). Please keep this family in prayer.

Rest in Peace, Nana

This will be a light blogging week. My grandmother's funeral Mass and burial are tomorrow in San Antonio. We will be going there and back in one day, and then leaving for our Thanksgiving family reunion on Wednesday. I doubt I will have internet since we will be at a state park, having a glorious time with cousins, and meeting some family members who live out of state too! We have had a rough few months, but have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

This is the beautiful photo my mom is putting on front of a little program for the funeral-

Doris Rosalie
1915-2009

And here are my beautiful Pops and Nana, Al and Doris, visiting our home in the early 1990s.
I take great joy in imagining this sweet couple together again in Heaven!

They were quite a pair, full of life and energy for so many years! They raised 4 children and spent their retired years traveling the world, volunteering, and working in the parish gift store. Nana was a breast cancer survivor, nothing could stop her from her goals...I know I get a lot of my go-getter personality from my grandma. Pops lived to age 93 and Nana to 94, but we've missed their jokes and silliness during the final years they spent in the nursing home . I love imagining these two sharing some laughs and praying for us up in Heaven.

We miss you Nana!

Please pray for the souls of Doris and Al, for all who grieve their passing, and for our travels, and all who travel this holiday weekend.

7 Quick Takes!

1. We survived the stomach bug. 2 1/2 days of every family member puking at some point was not much fun for anyone. At least it was a quick virus; less than 24 hours and we were all feeling much better :) I've got a barking cough, which will hopefully bark its way out of my body soon, but hopefully we can stay healthy for the upcoming week of road trips.

2. Laundry. Although the washer is backing up, I've been able to slowly complete probably 20 loads of laundry this week. I've got about 2/3 of it (and the past few weeks' laundry) folded all around the living room. Hope to finish that tomorrow!

3. I've been making healthy fruit smoothies! One of my many purchases from Kelly's things. It's being put to great use!


4. Another wonderful find at the sale...A set of white stoneware. I love it! Today I packed up our old set of dishes and am working on getting the stoneware put into the cabinets. Can't wait to serve dinner on them! Aren't they beautiful?


5. Ellie got a new car seat this week! Brother and Sister are a tad jealous.

I have pondered this decision for many months. Steven Joseph's Britax Roundabout was expired, so he is moving to Ellie's Britax Marathon. Mary Clare is in a Britax Parkway. As you can tell, I really love the Britax seats. They are very safe, sturdy, and easy to use. But I wasn't ready to fork over the money for a Frontier which is very similar but nearly double the price of her new Nautilus. Hopefully it works out well for us and should last her until she's out of a car seat!

6. This was hilarious. Daddy was working on the washer and SJ was walking around with a stethoscope around his waist, hammer in one hand, and light saber in the other. Such a big helper!

I also have to give "props" to my husband who is such a smart and handy guy and always tries to fix things himself first! That washer will be back to normal soon! (Now the heater is next on the agenda...)

7. About Nana, thank you for your prayers. As far as I know, as of late Thursday night, my grandmother is still hanging on. She was given a prognosis of a day or so, over a day ago...so she is fighting hard. Another feisty woman who actually survived breast cancer herself. We are praying for a peaceful death, for my mom and her siblings who are losing their final parent, and for all of us as we prepare for a likely Thanksgiving week trip out of town for her funeral, as well as our already scheduled big trip out of state for Steven's family's Thanksgiving reunion. I'm exhausted just thinking about it all! EDIT--Nana passed peacefully around 11pm last night.

Road trip advice for small children appreciated!

Read more Quick Takes over at Jen's Conversion Diary! And have a fabulous Friday!

new victims

the girls have fallen victim to the stomach virus. vomit all around! i'm feeling nauseous but holding my own...i have a stomach of steel! at least we know it's short-lived and at least i'll have a somewhat quiet home today without my whiny chatterboxes running around. try to see the positives, right?

i'll leave you with a funny photo from last week. thankfully this was a washable marker!

Daybook

Outside my window:
Sun is shining, low 60s, a cool breeze. I have the front door open while girls go in and out playing fairies. The windchime chimes. A gorgeous day.

I am listening to:
Fairies arguing, baby whining in my lap, he's sick with a tummy bug. Appears to be improving so I think we're going to sit here for awhile and cancel the doctor appt.

I am hoping:
That Nana has a peaceful death...That Steven Joseph has a good night tonight and that the rest of us don't catch the tummy bug! His vomiting has stopped since mid-morning but he is still pretty cranky and gassy.

I am wearing:
Black yoga pants and dark pink tee; also wore light pink hoodie when we were outside today. I think the hoodie was Kelly's...came from the sale. I love pink!

I am thankful for:
Steven's job, my amazing friends this weekend, our loving family.

I am excited about:
Our upcoming Thanksgiving trip to Oklahoma for a family reunion! Also excited about my special purchases from the garage sale...a set of stoneware dishes, a Pottery Barn pillow to inspire some living room colorful decor, a smoothie maker, some clothes and toys, and much more. It's like an early Christmas!

I am pondering:
Just how much more "fruit cocktail" we can handle. This has been a rough year.

Fitness:
We've dropped the ball on most all exercise since Steven's job started. The hours just don't allow us to get out alone to exercise, and I'm not about to leave the kids in drop-in YMCA childcare during flu season. Last weekend we did take 2 family bike rides, and the big garage sale must have counted for some exercise with all the walking and lifting. I actually took a big fall and hurt my knees during the prep for the sale, I'm all sore and bruised up but hopefully I didn't do any real damage that will affect all my post-Thanksgiving exercise plans I need to draw up!

In the kitchen:
We've been eating horribly the past few weeks. Meal planning is the thing that goes out the window when I'm stressed. I haven't made a home-cooked meal since Thursday. Tonight (finishing this post about 10 hours after I started) was takeout Mexican food...yum! This reminds me to go take some chicken out of the freezer for tomorrow. We are loving the smoothies from our new smoothie-maker, so I'll aim to make those a few times a week.

I am creating:
Ideas in my head about living room decor. I've never been able to find a color scheme I like that works with the gold leather couches. But I think I've found it! Now, I also need to do some creating...for a birthday gift this week. Maybe some more fairies?

Towards a real education:
We've been educated in Life and Death the past few weeks. Now we are preparing to say goodbye to my grandmother and lay her to rest. Schooling is secondary when it comes to family matters, so our Alphabet Path activities have really been on the back burner. Still we've done a little that I'd like to recount, hopefully tomorrow!

Towards beauty:
Working on beautifying my house as I'm trying to clean it up. Also looking into having someone come help in that department this week. Even if it's only for one visit, I think having a housekeeper help with some big cleaning chores will bring some joy to my heart this week. I do find peace and beauty in a clean house, although it's so rare...

Towards rhythm:
Need to get back into a routine. Start with morning prayers, meals, schoolwork, and internet only after those are done. Oh and housework. That too. Also, working on a bedtime goal of 11pm...2 minutes away!!!

A picture thought I am sharing:

a pensive Mary Clare at a fairy party yesterday...

So much for rest...

Steven Joseph has been throwing up all night. Please pray for us!

a little update on nana and kelly's sale

(or maybe a long update!)

Well, my grandma proves her strength once again! Apparently she is improving, and from what I understand, the doctor even mentioned that she could live another 3-6 months! After what seemed like a very dire situation this morning, her heart-rate improved and the medications for her pneumonia seem to be helping. We'll see what God has in store for her!

My family is full of long lives. My other grandparents lived until early-80s, 93, and 93 and they all have a tendency to receive dire prognoses and end up being taken on and off of hospice care a few times. Nana is 94 and maybe we'll even get to see her again before her earthly days are complete.

~~~

The garage sale was a HUGE success! We raised thousands for the precious boys and had a fun (albeit exhausting) time! Our entire parish and community of Kelly's friends really came together to make this a great sale. I know I always rave about our homeschool group, but it really is like a family and we had a blast with dozens of families coming over on and off throughout the past several days. I only wish I would've gotten some pictures.

Our days have been filled with dirty kids running in and out of the house, playing with all the garage sale toys, and enjoying time with all their friends. Air hockey and pizza in the front yard, toddlers playing baby basketball in the driveway, girls playing dolls in the backyard, dads negotiating with buyers and doing deliveries, and teens helping the moms out with pricing. Lots of fun memories were made :) You know who you are, friends...from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing these days with me.

But I'll admit...to see a cleared driveway, hear a quiet house, and have kids bathed and in bed before 8:00...It feels really good! And I'm thrilled about all my garage sale finds, including some very special items from Kelly that will bring me and my family so many smiles.

Oh how I wish she was still here, sharing this fun with us! But I know she's laughing with us from up above. The communion of saints is becoming very real to me, that's for sure! Thank you for all who've been praying for us. I feel truly lifted today!

Please Pray

For my grandmother, Doris Rosalie. It appears that she is in her final hours. May God grant her a peaceful death and may he grant all of us consolation as we grieve her passing.

(We are in the midst of yard sale mania over here, and unfortunately probably won't be able to go and say goodbye. About 20+ families donated items for the sale of Kelly's belongings to benefit her boys. I am already an emotional mess, so losing my grandma in the midst of this was not quite what I had in mind. Can we say, "FRUIT COCKTAIL"? Not sure what God is teaching me through this...)

Wooden Peg Fairies!

A new use for the little peg people...fairies! I made these two little ladies, inspired by the Flower Fairies, by painting, adding glitter, and gluing some fake flower petals for wings. Aren't they adorable? Along with the Flower Fairy Book and CD, I hope they made a special birthday girl happy! Bought my pegs here, for those who've asked!

Her earthly belongings

dwell in my garage. The boxes call me. They speak her name. They breathe the life that is gone. They share the memories of her with her boys. The plans she had for the future. The joys of the Christmas ornaments and the coffee mugs. The craft projects and the worn shoes.

One of her wishes was that her belongings be sold to put towards a trust for her boys. Her wish. But how to give away a life to strangers? Her jewelry and her clothing? Her dishes and her towels? Her jewelry and furniture and books? This is too hard.

A few things we will buy ourselves. Things to remember her. I hold a necklace in my hands. Run my fingers across the colorful beads of blue. From a colorful time gone by. Days of life and love and joy. Dinners with friends, bike rides with boys. Nature hikes and daily mass.

The rhythm of an ordinary life that held an extra heavy burden. The cancer was there at every turn. Chasing her at night, washing fear into her days. Oh, the agony of five years of suffering! How did she carry on?

Fight she did. With all her mind, all her soul, and all her strength. For her boys. But in the end God was calling her. Leave your possessions behind and follow me.

The ironing board and sewing machine will dwell with that mother of 12. The bunk beds will hold her children's friends. The rocker will rock some baby she loved to hold. The towels will dry a cold and wet body. The books will inspire a friend. The plates will hold the meals of a family. The jewelry will bring a smile to that lady's face. And the Christmas wreath will bring joy to a new home.

Whether the belongings dwell with friends or strangers, it doesn't matter. She needs them no more. Her smile and memories will always be a part of her family and friends. Her strength and courage and determination will inspire us. Her ordinary life will help us to find joy in our days and faith in our nights.

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Mark 10:21

Always a Full Plate

My husband often recounts a funny story about meals in the Army. It started with his own father’s Army tale about how hungry he would be after a full day of training.

At mealtime he would walk his tray down the line, accepting every single item because he was so famished! When he got to the end of the line where someone was waiting to serve the fruit cocktail, all the spots on his tray were full. “Just put it right there on top,” he would say.

So when my husband faced the fruit cocktail server with a full tray during his own Army service... Read the rest of my article on Faith & Family...

Dead Trees

Last week we had a tree company come to remove 2 dead trees from our backyard. The children were totally entertained watching this man climb up the tall tree and cut off the branches with a chainsaw, while the other workers helped to remove all the limbs from the ground. I think it kept the kids entertained for a couple hours!

My mind is filled with many thoughts these weeks. First of all I'm remembering my friend Kelly, our good times together, her final days, her memorial services, and thinking of her boys and hoping they are doing well with their father overseas. I know it's going to be very emotional as we start to sort through her belongings and prepare them for sale over the next few days. I'm looking forward to finding a few little treasures to keep in the house to remember her.

Today I'm also remembering Linda, the other mother of young children who died of pancreatic cancer last week. Her funeral is today and I so wish I could be there to honor her beautiful life spent serving others. Natalia was the young lady who died of Leukemia. Just before her diagnosis she had started a group to collect shoe donations for children in need. Shelly was a mother and grandmother who was part of an online community which has been a big part of my life the past 6 years, who passed suddenly last Friday of a possible heart attack. She was a devoted homeschooling mother who served the youth of her parish, attending World Youth Day and working in the food pantry ministry.

Throughout the day I am thinking about the lives and deaths of these beautiful ladies. I'm dealing with grief, processing my sadness, and shedding tears. I'm having to let go of these earthly friends, somewhat like sawing off the branches of the trees. As the branches fall, I'm watching their earthly bodies fall to the ground, taken away. I can hear their voices though, still loud and clear, encouraging me to continue on my journey.

Their earthly smiles and the charity they showed to those around them were like the beautiful living branches of a tree, offering shade to those in their presence. The bright green colors of their leaves will not be seen on earth again. But I know we will see the fruits of their prayers for us. As a Catholic, I believe in the Communion of Saints, that those in Heaven can pray for us. We can ask their intercession and imagine them praising God with all the saints and angels around the throne!

But right now, the tree branches seem to all be scattered among the yard which is my mind. I am working on letting go, working on the joy which should come with knowing that they are no longer suffering, but experiencing the true happiness of seeing God face to face.

As I work through this grief and try to let those branches be taken away, I also have to work through the other grief I've been facing...the fear and unknowns about the possible heart surgery for Steven Joseph next year. Thinking of my healthy toddler on a heart/lung machine and ventilator is almost to much to bear and I need to put that in God's hands for now, hoping and praying for a miracle. May God heal his heart defect through the intercession of these faithful women and Father Solanus Casey! (more on that later)

Unfortunately I'm also still dealing with the grief caused by the scandal of the founder of the lay movement I've been a part of. I am having to let go of the trust I had placed in this man, my false hopes that his earthly life was like one of a saint. I had spent many, many days meditating on his words and reflections in prayer. It has now done harm to my spiritual life as I'm really having a hard time moving forward and grieving this person who was not who I thought he was. Again, I need to put this in God's hands, recognize that all men are sinful, and try to put my trust in God and not in man.

The challenges, losses, and health issues of this year have been very hard. But I have a lot to be thankful for. Even though those branches and big trees are gone, I still have a big backyard where children run and play and find joy in the little things. They see those tree stumps there but don't dwell on them. They don't entertain the "should have done" or "could have been" thoughts. They live in the present and see life for what it is now.

But I'm still glaring out the window. Hopefully I can run out and play in the grass soon.

Steven Joseph Video

Here's a little video clip I took last night of Steven Joseph's latest words. He's 22 months old and talking so much! I love this age, when they learn new words every day and start to string them together. You can tell how much he loves talking about his daddy, and just how incredibly loud our house is with 3 kids trying to talk above each other!

Chipper Girls after 7am Sunday Mass

Homeschooled girlfriends :)

Joey this week

always wanting a "HAT!"


getting a hug from his sweet friend, our goddaughter Cecilia


at the funeral reception


my handsome men


heading home, barefoot babyboy


and at First Friday Preschool class...can you spot him?


what a cutie pie, sitting with the big kids!


love my little man!

Recovering

My heart and mind are starting to recover, but my home is still in need of some deep healing and cleansing!

What my mind and house have been like the past few weeks!

We made it through Kelly's Memorial Mass, Burial, and Reception. Many tears were shed, but hope prevails. Yesterday we said goodbye to her boys, and I tried my hardest to hold it together. We are going to miss those mischievous monkeys and their mama! Today they moved with their father overseas.

As Kelly's Mass was starting, a new soul was entering eternal life. Linda, another Catholic mom in this area, passed away on Thursday after a short battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a 13yr old daughter, 6yr old son, and devoted husband. Then yesterday I woke up to discover that an online message board friend had suddenly passed away. What a week!

Today was a new day, with new hope and blessings, but a busy one nonetheless. Ellie had her first birthday party to go to without her big sister, then we went on a bike ride with Stevie and Daddy. Tonight she got to run another errand with me and was thrilled to have a special "Ellie day!" Mary Clare had fun with NeNe planning her January birthday details.

Tomorrow we will brave 7:00am Mass again and start the new week. I'll be starting "I" week over again, since last week was focused on survival and assisting with details for Kelly's services and not much official homeschooling was completed. I'll also be preparing to host a yard sale next weekend to benefit Kelly's boys, so I think that will continue to keep us on our toes!

I have lots of photos to share and stories to tell, but now I need to pick out mass clothes and find a spot in my bed! Last time I looked there were 3 children in my spot! Have a blessed Sunday, all!

Final Goodbyes

(A friend gave me this photo tonight which I'd never seen before. What a beautiful gift that I will cherish. She and I were apparently upper-gum smiley partners!)

I had ample opportunities to say goodbye to my friend. I visited her during one of her last hospital stays, saw her twice at her mom's home, and three times at the hospice house. But for some reason, I still feel that it has yet to sink in, that I need some closure which the funeral will hopefully bring. The past few days/weeks I've been doing and doing...keeping busy is what I tend to do to deal with stress.

Today my friends and I spent nearly 7 hours creating a scrapbook for Kelly's boys. It was fun putting the pictures together and spending time with my friends while the 15 kids ran wild around our house and backyard! But it wasn't until the last friend was starting to leave, that things started to hit me. Kelly is gone and we're going to be saying our forever goodbyes to her, and possibly her boys, tomorrow and Thursday.

Tomorrow will be the Vigil and Rosary and Thursday morning a Memorial Mass and Burial. The traditions of our Catholic faith are familiar and healing. There is a sort of peace that comes with these beautiful, ancient rites of our Church. I hope it will be a healing celebration for all of us, especially her family.

I ask of you, dear readers, to please pray for all of us who mourn the passing of this young mother. For her two precious sons, who are dear to us and part of our homeschool family, and now prepare to move far away with their father. And for her extended family, that Christ would continue to heal hearts and draw souls closer to Himself through his beautiful daughter Kelly Ann. We miss her so much.

Thank you.

A Hallowed Weekend

started with pumpkin-carving with the K family...


scooping out the "guts"


swinging junior josephs, the only boys of our families!


adults finishing up the masterpieces! with a little help from GraceAnne!


BOO! Our adorable Goddaughter, look at her beautiful blues!

roasting some pumpkin seeds, yum!


my finished product


mommy/daughter date night Friday night for a ballet benefit


HALLOWEEN fun with friends!


Ellie as a fairy, SJ as a pumpkin and MC as a cowgirl
(her costume was mine when I was little!)


precious pumpkin!


All Saints Day morning mass
Mary and Joseph


Our crew of Mary, Joseph and Bernadette


All the parish kids who came in costume!


A great Holy weekend, celebrating the saints gone before us, and remembering the newest in the Communion of Saints, who we are missing terribly.

Tomorrow (Tues) morning is the Funeral Mass for Natalia, a teen in our homeschool group who died of Leukemia last week. Thursday is Kelly's funeral. We are busy preparing to celebrate her life. All you holy men and women, PRAY FOR US!!!