Small Successes: February 25th

1. Got the family room throughly picked-up so as to vacuum & spot clean the carpet.
2. Caught up on E.'s laundry including a couple of stuffed friends who really needed a bath.
3. Made a lunch for myself and C. to take to work everyday this week (so far).

Bonus: Continuing to rest when I need to & cuddle when asked to by my favorite toddler.

Giving thanks this day for:

a good night sleep

a husband who encourages me to rest

yummy crock-pot recipes

the sweet girl sitting in my lap

God's love and forgiveness

hope renewed each day

Please visit Faith and Family Live to share your own successes

Passing the Word: A Spring Give-a-way

So given that in February it snowed feet and feet (with more being predicted) it probably goes without saying that I am so ready for March. Next month will bring many wonderful family birthdays including Elisabeth's, and the promise of spring!!

Adding to the anticipation for the coming spring is a wonderful give-a-way sponsored by Sarah of This Heavenly Life, whose wonderful blog I have raved about before and if you have not yet visited please take this opportunity and perhaps win some beautiful jewelry.

This Heavenly Life, visit now, do not pass Go, do not collect $200!!

Ten on Tuesday: February 23rd

1. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Coffee

2. What is your earliest memory?

Visiting my grandfather at his nursing home.

3. What is your earliest memory of a dessert?

Eating ice cream cones, in the backyard

4. Do you have any recurring dreams?

I don't believe so

5. Have you ever dreamed about dessert?

Daydreams about yummy milkshakes!

6. What is one thing (aside from a cell phone or computer) that you cannot go the entire day without?

??Food??

7. What is one dessert you could go your entire life without ever having again?

Bread pudding

8. If you could go on vacation tomorrow, where would you go? (Assume someone else is footing the bill, but within reason…so “the moon” won’t work)

Vancouver, especially if I could get tickets to some of the olympic events.

9. If you could have any dessert tomorrow, what would you have (assume someone else is buying it for you. Within reason though, no “gold sprinkled ice cream cones.”)

White chocolate raspberry ice cream in a dark chocolate cup

10. What was your first impression of your significant other? If you’re single, what was your first impression of your best friend?

Nice eyes, great smile!

11. What is your first impression of dessert pizza? (Personally, I think it’s weird. I love dessert but I don’t want any on my pizza.)

Pears with gorgonzola, yummy!!

Please visit Roots and Rings to enjoy others take on these questions and thank our lovely host, Chelsea

Small Successes: Lent begins!

My life seems to be a day late, dollar short at the moment, but choosing to see the good

1. The devotional I've chosen to do for Lent arrived yesterday and I will begin today!
2. One and a half loads of laundry done, with energy and motivation to finish laundry today
3. Pushed past the fatigue and volunteer to watch a friends children when she had a scheduling emergency
4. Bonus: Treating myself with kindness at this time of great exhaustion

Giving thanks today for:

toddlers who sleep the night

husbands who surprise me with Valentine earrings

chocolate covered strawberries

hope renewed and waiting every morning

Please visit Faith and Family Live to celebrate your own small successes

Ten on Tuesday: February 16th

1. If you could open any type of store/place of business (money is no obstacle), what would you open?

A birth center or if I were to imagine a completely different life; a coffee shop

2. If all jobs paid equally, what occupation would you want? Why?

A photographer of babies and small children; I find them to be amazing and would love to capture that

3. If you could be any animal in the world, what would you pick? Why?

A mustang, beautiful, free and living in community

4. If offered one “service” free of charge, which would you choose? (chauffeur, maid, personal shopper, chef, etc.)

A maid, dislike cleaning in general and taking time away from being with my daughter in particular.

5. What is one habit, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to break?

Putting myself down

6. What is one thing that no matter how many you own, you still love to buy all the time?

Candles, anytime I find a new and interesting scent

7. Out of all the game shows (past and present), which would you want to be a participant on and play?

??Who wants to be a millionaire??

8. If you could play the lead role in any movie that’s already been made, which movie would you pick?

Philadelphia Story

9. Name 5 things on your bucket list (things you want to do before you die).

Parasailing, go to Ireland, Alaskan cruise, visit Cavendish Farm (L.M. Montgomery's home), hold a grandchild

10. Which one of your birthdays was the best? What did you do that day?

For my twentieth birthday, my mom and I took a trip back to Rhode Island (where she married and I was born), it was

a lovely trip, in particular sitting on Galilee Beach eating warm clam-cakes and talking.

Please visit Roots and Rings to enjoy others take on these questions and thank our lovely host, Chelsea

Quick Takes Vol #46: Blessings after the storm!

Choosing to count my blessings rather than rant about the ridiculousness of this weather

1. We never lost power!!
2. After three cancelled flights, Charlie did make it safely home before the second storm hit
3. Neither of the two trees that came down hit our house or our cars
4. Throughout the storms and their aftermath I had a cheerful, happy assistant with all the shoveling.
5. There was always a warm, cozy house to retreat to and watch the snow come down.
6. Snow can be quite beautiful (when not covering your car and every pathway).
7. Plans for the weekend, Staying warm and cozy when not outside playing in the snow.

Please visit Conversion Diary to enjoy the rest of the Quick Take round-up.

Small Successes: Blizzard 2010

1. With the help of my favorite toddler managed to weather the first part of the storm this past weekend and had us mostly dug out by the time Charlie got home.
2. Despite two large snow storms managed to plan a birthday dinner for my 'little sister'.
3. Remembered to breath and pray at times of greatest stress during the storms.

This Thursday I give thanks that:

we never lost power

neither of the two trees which came down in the storm hit the house

amazing cheerful attitude of my favorite toddler

my husbands ultimate safe return after three cancelled flights

abundant hot chocolate supplies

To celebrate more small successes please visit Faith and Family Live.

Quick Takes Vol #45

1. Am currently soloing as C is attending a conference in CA, yesterday went well but unfortunately it sounds as if the coming storm is going to delay his return. Praying for safe travel and a delays totaling less than a day.
2. Speaking of which, it is a very odd year when my family in Virginia are enjoying/contending with more snow then us in PA, wondering if the coming storm will help increase my total or set me further behind.
3. Searching today for a pint size shovel, E loves to help, just lacks the proper equipment.
4. Cute phrase of the week; at Mass this week following the psalm, "Good Job, Daddy!"
5. This week marked E's transition to the 2 yr old room at her school, it happened that this was a three day work week for me, which in the short run meant another teary drop-off but hopefully in the long was helpful to transitioning.
6. Have selected my devotional for Lent, (just need to order it). Have not yet nailed done the rest of my plans but am very excited about my book choice. More later...
7. Plans for the weekend: Praying for 'Daddy's' safe return, watching the snow fall, shoveling and watching the SuperBowl with whatever friends manage to dig out.

Please visit Conversion Diary and enjoy our host Jen's and others Quick Takes.

Small Successes: February 4th

1. Mailed out the selected book to my blogaversary winner. Thank you again to everyone who participated
2. With ONE days noticed was able to get the new stuff she would need and get us to school early to allow for extra time at drop-0ff for Elisabeth's first day in the 2 yr old room.
3. Focused on resting this weekend so as to try and finally kick this cold which seems to have cycled back for round two.

Thankful this thursday for:

occasionally breathing through my nose

a toddler who tells me "good job" after I sing her a song

a husband who encourages me to rest and heal

friends who travel from out of state to visit with us

snow in the pines

a down comforter to snuggle under

love abundant and everlasting

Please visit Faith and Family to read and share your small successes

Ten on Tuesday: February 2nd

1. What is your favorite travel destination spot?

New England, sometimes the beach, sometimes the mountains, but I love being in New England

2. Cats vs. Dogs.

Dogs, grew up sharing my home and life with various dogs and am allergic to cats

3. Do you believe in fate?

I don't think so but would not say definitely no (how is that for a hedge).

4. Do you believe in karma?

Yes in the sense that I believe that you receive back from the world what you put into and that people often treat you based on how you have treated them.

5. Everyone has a unique laugh. Do you like yours?

Yes

6. Is love really all you need?

No, I also need grace and forgiveness

7. What’s your take on the whole 2012 scare?

Don't believe or fully understand it.

8. If you won a million dollars and had to give it all away, who would you give it to? (Family and friends not included.)

My parish, my husband's high school, a small set of favorite charities

9. Do you believe in God/religion/the power of prayer?

Absolutely!

10. What New Year’s Resolution do you always make but never keep?

Pray and journal more consistently

Please visit and enjoy others answers to these questions at Roots and Rings hosted by Chelsea