a gypsy caravan

congratulations ben!

Benjamin made his confirmation the other day.  He is growing into a fine young man. My mother was honored to be asked to be his sponsor.  He chose St. Patrick as his confirmation name and patron saint.  We love you, Ben!

happy birthday to the boy who made me a mother

  

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Our Christopher turns nine today.  We celebrated yesterday.  Chris frosted his own cake and made the Lego Star Wars ship for the top. :)

Today there are more lego ships to build and a trip to the toy store.  There is the requested pizza for lunch and spaghetti for dinner.  Happiest of birthdays to you Christopher!  I love you so much!

A Happy Mother's Day

...to all of you who love and care for children 24/7, who spend your days holding hands, reading books, wiping tears, watching ball games, cooking meals and singing songs.  To those of you who have fingerprints on the windows, a washer that is always full of clothes, cheeks covered with kisses and blouses covered with baby drool, I wish you a joyous, restful day of the same.  Because, really, would you want to change a thing? 

Have a beautiful Mother's Day! :)

Happiest of Birthdays!

Wishing a very happy birthday to my dear friend, Anne!  Have a wonderful day! :)

A Special Surprise

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago. My grandmother Kathryn called on that day to tell me that she had a special gift for me but that she was unable to get to the post office on time. I was so curious as to what she was sending.

Imagine my delight when I came home from the store today to find Grandma's package had arrived! I opened the box and inside I found this beautiful, handmade crocheted rug.

It is about three feet in diameter and is such a pretty combination of colors. Those of you who used to read my previous blog (of the same name) might recognize this rug from a post I wrote after visiting my grandmother last spring. My grandma remembered how much I loved her rugs and saved it for my birthday. I am completely giddy over her gift! I think I will put it in the girls' room which has a pink, yellow and white color scheme and where it won't see heavy, dirty traffic.

I am determined to get down to Florida sometime this year and learn, firsthand, how to make one of these beautiful rugs. She showed me a bit while I was there but I did not get the hang of it very well.

Here is a photo of Kathryn taken last spring.

And another of her hands fixing Mary's hair.

I am so grateful to have Kathryn as my grandmother.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing my friends and visitors a Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope your day is special and full of love. :)

 

Blessings Upon You

Happiest of Birthdays to you, dear Christopher!  I love you so much!
Love,
Mom

A Happy Day!

Wishing a peaceful, joyous birthday to you, my beautiful friend! :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Annie!

Oh, how we love you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not cooking this year but instead we will be joining Mike's family for their big celebration.  To top off the holiday festivities, Mike's baby sister is getting married this weekend.  Can you believe that she was the flower girl in my wedding fourteen years ago?!? Gosh, I feel old!  :)  Happiest wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

All Saints' Day Costumes

We spent the day with friends at an All Saints' Day Party.  We weren't able to pull together costumes until an hour before the party so they are kind of a hodge podge but here are the pictures nonetheless. :)

St. Martin of Tours (who is looking a tad underwhelmed if you ask me...Anyone else have adolescent boys who are not fond of having their picture taken?)

St. George

St. Therese the Little Flower

Annie the Angel who would not wear any part of the costume except the wings. :)

All Hallow's Eve Highlights

Annie as a pink poodle...

Mary as a fierce mountain lion...

Christopher as a cowboy ghost...

Benjamin as a glow in the dark Stick Man...

Without the flash... :)

Hope you all had a fun and Happy Halloween!

Please Remember Them this Memorial Day

Watch this video created by a 15 year old girl.

ETA:  I fixed the link.  Hope it loads now.

Wishing you…

...a very happy and blessed Easter!

Love, Rebecca and family

A Blessed St. Patrick’s Day!

Lorica (Breastplate)of Saint Patrick  I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In obedience of angels, In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock. I arise today Through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation St. Patrick (ca. 377) (Note: I think this would make a beautiful morning prayer. )

Birthday Highlights

Thank you all for your birthday wishes.  You really made my day so joyful!  I wanted to share some photos with you since you all could not be here to share it with me.  (I did eat enough cake for each and every one of you, though.  LOL!)

I wonder what  Annie is thinking about Mary?

Birthday flowers from my mom (Please ignore the counter clutter :) )

Annie and I blowing out the candles!

Oh, it was such a fun day!

I received a coffee maker and a beautiful miraculous medal from Gardens of Grace from the children.  (It is the top one on the page.)  I just love it and wore it all day (see above photos)! 

My mother gave me this little tea towel that I think is so sweet!

I must tell you my very favorite gift was from my husband who is giving me the gift of a freshly painted dining room this week! Pictures to come!

Tooting My Own Horn

Today is my birthday and I am so spoiled.

You see, for all of my 37 birthdays my mother has baked a delicious angelfood cake with whipped cream and sugared strawberries for the top.  She has made this cake each and every year of my life.  When I was in college, she drove the hour and a half to my dorm room and celebrated with me, toting the cake in her handy Rubbermaid cake carrier.   It is the yummiest dessert ever invented, in my humble opinion. 

My family is providing a birthday breakfast, one that I do not have to make or clean up. :) This morning, I was given some beautiful new drawings from the children to hang on my wall.  I will be sure to show them to you when the day is over so stop back later, OK? 

And won't you please have a piece of cake? :)

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

We have a blizzard here in Cleveland!  The view out our window...

Yup.  That's snow.  Snow on the ground, snow on the windows, snow in the air.

Though the outside is colorless, the inside of the house is full of color!

The remains of our Valentine exchange...

Our Catholic Mosaic valentines...

This one is for my beloved Karen....

as is this one...

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful, chocolate filled Valentine's Day!

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Here is a kind fellow who always has a smile on his face.  At birth, seven short years ago,  he was my largest child, weighing over ten pounds.   He is very independent, helpful around the house and is generous to his siblings.  Chris is a talented artist, loves to dress up in historical costumes and can throw a mean fastball.

You are growing up so fast!  I am so proud of the boy you are and I am grateful to be your Mom!