This was where is was for most of the day... near the kids, trying to keep them happy and away from danger... such as falling boxes of ceiling tile and stoves. Guess I didn't do such a great job. But at least here they are contained for five minutes or so... until the crayon eating started.
Take two, a few more smiles here.
Final take... C's making a break for it, and Maria's makin' a move on S.I knew that the threat of losing favor with the Emperor would be more than a person like Pilate could take. ..." My "Emperor" was something different than Pilate's, of course: his was an actual man who had the power to make all Pilate's wildest dreams of riches and success come true; mine was a symbolic Emperor comprised of all my desires for things like comfort and pleasure and money and control and success and acclaim, an Emperor whose friendship I sought over doing the right thing on at least a daily basis.Not that I'm struggling with any one great sin at this (thank God), but that I find myself seeking comfort more and more, not wanting to give up the little things that I think I need. I want things to be easy now... as if in striving towards holiness you get points for hanging around for a long time.
Your 80s Song is "Walk Like an Egyptian" |
 If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about having fun. You love the wackiness that the 80s represented. Everything back then seemed a lot more colorful! You'd peg your jeans, get a "totally tubular" hair cut, and even wear one sequined glove. You would skateboard, play Pac-Man, and hang out at the mall. And of course, you would walk like an egyptian. |
"The difficulties, temptations, internal or external obstacles we come up against cause us to grow; the greater the difficulty, the more grace we receive. If He permits us to experience great temptations or setbacks, the Lord will give us still greater help to overcome them. Then all those things that seem to retard our struggle for holiness, or even make succeeding in it seem impossible, will become the cause of spiritual progress and of our effectiveness in the apostolate. It is only a lack of love, nothing less than lukewarmness, that causes the soul's life to fall sick or die. Only a bad will, a lack of generosity towards God, can delay or prevent our union with Him."
"There are various reasons that cause us to make scant progress in the interior life, and even to lose ground and give way to discouragement. However, these reasons can be reduced to just a few: carelessness, negligence in the little things connected with service to God and friendship with Him; drawing back from the sacrifices He asks of us."
"I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please - not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine.
I don't want enough of God to make me love an enemy or pick beets with a migrant; I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please."
Wilbur Rees
I didn't include the detailed views, but there is a princess looking out of the tower window while holding a rose (right side). On the left, the king, in white, and the queen, in blue with a red crown, look out their 1st floor windows. Such was Maria's vision for her cake....one that almost went unfulfilled, as the icing was not very cooperative.
A princess graciously accepting the adulation of her subjects.
1st bite.
"Look, more clothes!"
Maria's daisys.
Waiting patiently.
"Take picture of my bite!"
I finally got my floor mopped yesterday after several weeks of trying. Maria and Amelia "helped." Maria did pretty well, but Amelia had her sponge taken away for getting way too much water on the floor.
Baby 3 grabbing his/her foot.
..."we two kings"...
Mmm... cookies!
Christmas aprons... thanks Grammy!
At Mom-mom and Pop's Christmas day!
Christmas morning 2 am.... thanks to Jim for the picture, and the cleanup!
"Why'd we get these unassembled again?"
Christmas morning, 12:30 am. Still wrapping gifts, and putting things together.
Christmas Eve - Cute dresses courtesy of GreatAunt Rita!
Wreath making - When did Maria get so grown up?
Aunt Becky and her wreath.
Outakes from the Christmas pictures.
Say, "CHEESE!"
Poking at the "snow" on the bush with sticks. This kept them busy for about 10 minutes.
Ya, that swing set shouldn't really be out there...but there's no room in the garage.
Maria had to improvise a sled since we still don't have one.
Amelia very much enjoyed eating the snow, even thought I told her not to about 75 times.
Hot cocoa is the best way to warm up.
Yum!
Maybe next year we'll get one of those fancy St. Nicholas cookies boards, or at least a cookie cutter...but for now this one hand shaped St. Nick will have to do.
