Standing in the way of Spiritual Growth.

I found a couple great quotes from yesterday's reading of "In Conversation with God" by Francis Fernandez (ICWG). These fit with where I'm at spiritually, and go well with some recent posts by a friend.

From reading 22.1, ICWG Vol3:

"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."

From reading 22.2, ICWG Vol3:

"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."

(emphasis mine, in both cases)

Definitely something to pray about and meditate on...

How am I impeding my spiritual progress? What "little things" is the Lord asking me to do for Him that I refuse to do or only do grudgingly? (think everyday tasks pertaining to one's vocation) What sacrifices am I being asked to make and how am I trying to get out of them? Do I really seek holiness or just the "warm fuzzies" of knowing God?

One last quote, something I found in my college days:

"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

Maria's B-day.

These are from Maria's fourth birthday. She requested a castle cake, again, and princess themed plates and decorations. She's decided that next year she'll have Tinker Bell.

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!"

What a lady likes...

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.

Somewhere in the middle of the scrubbing, to make it more interesting to Maria I mentioned that Cinderella also had to scrub the floor. She thought about this for a minute and then said, "Yeah, ladies like to mop the floor. It's one of their favorite things to do."

More pictures.

Another two images from the ultrasound. You may have to enlarge to read the labels.

Sneak peek....

Baby 3 grabbing his/her foot.
(no,we didn't find out the sex)

More 'pictures' to come. :)

The hazards of parenthood...

...remember to check under your pillow and between your sheets before you lay down to sleep.

Finally... Christmas pics.

I know, I know... it's not Christmas anymore... it's not even the Christmas season any more. However, I know you all still would like to see the Christmas pictures, so here they are. I'll be trying to get more pics up later today, and maybe a real post or something. I'm always optimistic that today will be the day that I figure out how to bend the laws of space and time to accomplish all the things on my to-do list. :)

Oh, and these are in backwards order... starting with Epiphany.

..."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!"

This makes me laugh everyn time I see it...

The Mom Song from Northland Video on Vimeo.

Snow...sort of...

Here's some pictures of the girls playing around in our recent "wintery mix." It did contain some snow, but mostly ended up being little ice pellets. This did not deter the girls from wanting to go outside and play in the "snow." They enjoyed it, but we slightly disappointed that we couldn't make a snow man. Maybe soon we'll get some real snow... I think it's on Maria's Christmas list. ;-)

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!

Feast of St. Nicholas

Maybe next year, the kids will get more appropriate St. Nicholas day gifts, but for this year there was a princess theme. And instead of putting out their shoes to get gifts, they got slippers from St. Nick.

Then we baked Specuulas cookies. (Scroll down on the linked page for the recipe.)

It was fun, but exhausting, since I caught the annual "trip to Centre county cold." Wee!

The kids really got into it... they especially liked "trying" their new rolling pins. If I'd let Amelia roll the cookies would have looked like a mountain range - all peaks and valleys. Maria did pretty well, after a little instruction.


All in all, a fun feast day, and good start to the Christmas countdown.

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.

First Look.

Here's a small preview of what's to come.... Baby Volpe Number 3.

Baby is facing the "camera", with the head at the left, then two little dots for hands, then the body on the right. Baby looks just fine and was moving around a lot during the ultrasound. Baby is ten weeks young. :)

Praying for Life!

Join in the fun, and pledge to pray for our country here. You can still join in. I think that this is a great way to handle any post-election depression, and you might finally be able to make praying the rosary every day a permanent part of your spiritual life!

Now more than ever... support Pro-Life Causes.

A Baby's Breath Crisis Pregnancy Center
will host it's annual Silent Auction
on Friday November 14th
from 7:00 - 11:00pm
at the Sheraton Park Ridge
480 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia PA 19406

Tickets can still be purchased
Call Maria Diesel for tickets/donations
610.430.0271 or email help@ababysbreath.org

Ugh... Obama Babies???

I find it terribly ironic that the followers of the most Pro-Abortion politician, now president-elect Obama, are actually celebrating his victory by having babies. It would be more fitting, if those who in a fit of revelry over his win tossed the contraception out the window only to regret the decision, days, weeks or even months later would then take advantage of the liberal, abortion on demand that Obama promises. That would seem more in line with his ideals and agenda.

Not that I'm suggesting this course of action however. Hopefully, if anyone does have regrets about going for an "Obama-baby" they will seek out help at the nearest pro-life crisis pregnancy center.

Please watch...

... a choice for Obama is a choice for more stories like these.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com


Ht: American Papist

Happy Birthday Amelia!

I can't believe she's two already. Maria was very happy for her, but also wanted to keep her in her place. She kept telling Amelia, "I'm three and on my next birthday, I'll be four! I'm a big girl. You're one, but you'll be two on your birthday. You're a BIG baby! And I know what big babies are called! They're called Toddlers!" This was pretty much the breakfast/lunch/snack conversation for the whole week preceding Amelia's big day, with a few other comparisons worked in for good measure. "I'm a big girl, I don't need a bib, but Amelia is a big baby so she still needs a bib!" and "I'm a big girl, so I get to sit in a big girl seat, but Amelia is a big baby so she needs to sit in the booster seat."

It's no wonder then that Amelia staged a small revolt the on her birthday and refused to wear a bib to eat her soup. She kept saying, "No, I big! I don't need bib!" and "No t'ank you!"

Of course, we may have set a precedent the night before at her party when we allowed her to fuss her way into sitting at the kids table for dinner. Though it did seem wrong to let a girl cry at her own party.

Here's some pictures from her party.

For Delbert.

I actually have four pics of the Egret eating the Mouse. In these two you can kinda see the mouse.
For all those who are confused see the comments here.