She's 91 Next Week

Here's a picture of me, my gram, my cousin Tisha and my sister. My grams 91st birthday is next week, she's a new years baby. She's tired and ready to go to heaven to be with Jesus, my Poppy- grandfather, and her super big family she had but I'm not ready for her to go yet and I'm so happy she was around for another Christmas. I think she looks great!

A Little Christmas Cheese

Trains

Marlee and Manny has a 5 train display going on here. Good thing I picked up 2 mega packs of batteries on sale at Rite Aid yesterday.

Christ is Born!

Christmas morning.....

Saucey Sundays

I just love our Saucey Sundays. This Sunday we're having lasagna. We usually alternate between lasagna and noodles with meatballs but sometimes we make ravioli or stuffed shells. I try and go to Divine Liturgy on Saturday nights so that I can be working on our meal when Tommy is at church so that it's ready to eat when he gets home-my husband and I are both Christians but he is Anglican and I am Byzantine Catholic.
I'm hoping that we are making great memories for our children. When I was young I can remember going to my grandparents for Sunday Roast. It was so good and I'll never forget how wonderful their home smelled when we would walk in the door- if I hadn't spent the night there. I was lucky enough to spend most of my Saturday nights sleeping over at their house. I would go to Divine Liturgy with them Saturday evenings and then we would either go out for pizza at Jakes or go back to their house and play cards and she would make us dippy eggs and toast. I hope I can give my grandchildren the same wonderful memories. I was hoping our children would have that same experience but our parents have different lives than my grandparents did -they work and still have a parent to help take care of - and they still really enjoy their social life- which is fine- but I can't wait to have grandchildren sleeping over my house! Ok, I'll quit rambling and reminiscing now-lol.

Homemade Mac n Cheese

Made this especially for Madison cause her mouth is sore from getting her braces on. It was soooo good. I made it with ditalini noodles cause they are nice and small so they would be easy to eat. Easy for Manny too cause I didnt have to cut them.

Recipe-
7 oz of noodles cooked
Mix with-
1 egg
1 cup of sour cream
2 cups of cottage cheese
2 cup grated cheese like cheddar
A little salt and pepper
I also added some cream cheese this time.
Bake uncovered at 350 until heated through.

Beautiful

Look at these lovely eggs I bought for $2.00 off of a local man. They are huge. The carton wouldn't even close. I wish I was hungry. Can't wait to try one.

Zonked

My Girls Last Meal Before Braces...

Madison gets her braces on tomorrow so I let her pick the meal for tonight and she chose Pizza Hut pan pizza with pepperoni and bacon. And for dessert I made brownies with chocolate icing but the kicker was crispy crumbled bacon in the batter-
sprinkled on top- then after I iced them- more like a chocolate glaze- I sprinkled more crumbled bacon on top. They were so yummy.

Bigger View

Manny is by the train table crying about something????
It's not yet the ideal setup for me but I can only do so much right now. Don't want to get worse while I'm finally feeling better.
I just have to say that I still feel just so blessed to be renting this house (parish house) from my husbands church. It has been such a blessing from God, what I prayed for for a long time. I still pray for a farm a cabin in the woods someday but He knows what's best for us right now and we are very happy here.

Doll Area in Attic

Finally Well Enough to Work on the Attic

I'm still not totally better yet but I was feeling good enough to work on the attic a little. This house has the kind of attic I dreamt of as a child. I have been wanting to get it fixed up so that it gives the children another place to go and play especially since it's cold out and they can't really go out for long and it's cool in the attic. In the summer it is just so hot up there. Also Manny is pretty good with the steps now and I feel much better about his safety up there.

Caught in the Act

Look who is going to take more ornaments off the tree. Do you see how his hand is blurry cause it was in motion? He thinks they are sparkly balls.

She's a BIG Girl

I have never has a tree so wide! Looks nice though.

Our Christmas Tree Bonus

Three Praying Mantis egg cases. We're going to put them outside and watch for them to hatch in the spring. They are so beneficial for the garden. Fun little homeschool science project.

This Picture is a Classic

Here's the Nest

The Older Girls and I Loved This Little Tree

It had a nest in it!

First Time at a Christmas Tree Farm

Photo Card

Faith Love Family Religious

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Review- Trader Joes soup and cornbread

Yummy!
All the children liked it too! The soup is creamy and delicious. I used the extra to make stuffed peppers and they were great. I used orange peppers and the flavor is so much better than with green ones.

Sweetness

It's been a while since I blogged and I think I'm on the mend but I just had to share this picture of my 2 baby boys. I just love them to pieces!

Look at Our Little Scout!

Isn't he just adorable?

25 Ways That Parents Provoke Their Children to Anger

1. Lack of Marital Harmony
2. Establishing and Maintaining a Child-Centered Home
3. Modeling Sinful Anger
4. Habitually Disciplining While Angry
5. Scolding
6. Being Inconsistent with Discipline
7. Having Double Standards
8. Being Legalistic
9. Not Admitting You're Wrong and Not Asking For Forgiveness
10. Constantly Finding Fault
11. Parents Reversing God-Given Roles
12. Not Listening to Your Child's Opinion or Taking Their Side of the Story Seriously
13. Comparing Them to Others

This is the first half from the book Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo. I have had this book for years but just never got around to it but since I'm spending so much time laying around this is the perfect time to read it and really work on it. One of our children is especially angry and very defensive and I really want to help her with that and to help my husband and I correct in ourselves the things we need to correct to be the best parents and role models we can be. Now I just have to get him to read it too. Do you see yourself in some of the examples listed above? I sure do- see myself that is.

Meatball Meatloaf

Since I'm not able to get up and roll meatballs for our Saucy Sunday-we always have some for of Italian on Sundays after Church- or make lasagna I decided to make a meatball meatloaf. And we will have to use jarred sauce :(.
All I did was use the usual ingredients I would in my meatballs- stale Italian bread cubes soaked in milk, free range ground beef- wish I had some veal too- eggs, parsley, mama garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Topped it with some pizza sauce and baked it. So much easier than trying to stand and roll meatballs!

Mandarin Orange and Almond Salad

A good friend made us dinner the other day, marinated pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, biscuits and this delicious salad.  I would have never even tried it when I was younger-oranges and spinach???- but I really would have been missing out. I love it!  I think she "candied" her almonds.  Thanks so much Julie!

MANDARIN ORANGE AND ALMOND SALAD

1/2 c. chopped almonds, toasted 6-8 c. mixed lettuce's 2-4 sliced green onions 1-2 cans (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained DRESSING: 1/3 c. vegetable oil 3 tbsp. sugar 3 tbsp. vinegar 1/2 tsp. salt Dash of pepper Dash hot sauce (optional) 1/2 c. chopped parsley (optional) Refrigerate. Mix all salad ingredients on individual plates or in large bowl. Mix all dressing ingredients in shaker jar until blended. Pour over or toss into salad.

The Apostle James

      The Apostle James, Brother of the Lord – was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Comm. 26 December). From his early years James was a Nazorite, a man especially dedicated to God. The Nazorites gave a vow to preserve virginity, to abstain from wine, to refrain from eating meat, and not to cut their hair. The vow of the Nazorites symbolised a life of holiness and purity, commanded formerly by the Lord for all Israel. When the Saviour began to teach the nation about the Kingdom of God, Saint James believed in Christ and became His apostle. For his God-leasing life he was chosen first bishop in the Church at Jerusalem. Saint James presided over the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem, and his word was decisive (Acts 15). In his thirty years as bishop the Apostle James converted many of the Jews to Christianity. Annoyed by this, the Pharisees and the Scribes plotted together to kill Saint James. Having led the saint up on the roof of the Jerusalem Temple, they demanded that he renounce the Saviour of the world. But the holy Apostle James instead began to bear witness, that Christ is the True Messiah. Then the Jewish teachers shoved him off downwards. The saint did not die immediately, but gathering his final strength, he prayed to the Lord for his enemies, who at this while were stoning him. The martyr's death of Saint James occurred in about the year 63.

      The holy Apostle James composed a Divine Liturgy, which has formed the basis of the liturgies, composed by Saints Bail the Great and John Chrysostomos. The Church has preserved an Epistle of the Apostle James, which under his name is included among the books of the New Testament of Holy Scripture. In the year 1853 the Alexandria Patriarch Hierotheos sent to Moscow a portion of the relics of the holy Apostle James. The Church makes a distinction between the holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord, from James the son of Zebedee (Comm. 30 April) and James Alphaeus (Comm. 9 October).

Dealing with PAIN

This constant pain is getting really annoying. When I'm laying it's tolerable and I can even get distracted and forget for a few mins but when I'm walking or sitting it becomes almost unbearable and I wish I could just figure out how to make it go away and be myself again. I want so badly to be well and waiting on my husband and children again instead of them waiting on me. I want to drive my van and go to the store or even clean my toilet! I don't know how people do this, how they live with long term pain. I guess maybe if I could take the drugs it would help but I know there are a lot of people who just live in pain that the drugs don't help and I don't know how they do it. I feel like now i wake up and it hurts so I just find myself wishing the day away till it's time to go to bed and hoping the next day I'll feel better cause it's been over a month and this can't go on forever right?
Okay, I'm going to quit complaining because I know it could be worse and say my prayers and go to bed and hope I wake up feeling better tomorrow.

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Looks like a little too much trick or treat?

No, they are just really tired. Mason only would do it for 45 mins and that was with daddy really encouraging him the last 15 to keep going. My husband is a die hard trick or treater and the only one of children that would go the distance- or full time- with him was Madison but she doesn't go anymore. I'm fine with the kids not going and buying bags of candy for them at 50 or 75 percent off after Halloween. I don't like how dark Halloween has become. The kids don't even like to go in stores from the time they start putting the decorations out until they are all gone. And they start so darn early!

Mason on the Trolley

He's in the middle is the red jacket.

Manny Loves his Gift

Mason's First Cub Scouts Field Trip

Trolley Museum. He's in the middle. So cute!

First Snow of the Season

I wish you could see just how big these flakes are. At least the size of a quarter!

Happy 2nd Birthday Manny!

Your such a blessing!

Finally went to the family doctor

So today I finally went to the family doctor cause I'm giving up hope that this is just going to heal and get the MRI. The biggest reason I don't want to get the MRI is the cost. Our insurance stinks. We have a very high deductible. She feels that it is a disc problem as well. I'm just very sad about all this and I want it to be over so I can be the wife and mommy I'm used to being. I know it could be worse though and atleast I'm home with my family around me and not in a hospital. I'm also very thankful that we are home schooling and they are here at home to help me get through the day. Please continue to pray for healing, kindness, and patience for us all including my mom who is just a huge, huge help and blessing to me

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Grammys Back!

Yeah, my moms back and she came to pick up the kids to play in her yard. They really needed that. She has such a nice yard. One of the things I'm finding to be the hardest for me with this back/leg pain is I can't go out and enjoy my favorite season. I have been looking forward to fall so much. Going to the park, raking leaves, taking a ride to the mountains and I can't do any of it! It's so frustrating!

Tears and Prayers

Well I just got my boys to sleep and my husband is working on getting the girls to bed so I finally have a moment alone to cry and pray. To ask God to heal me, to take away the pain and to help me manage until then. To help me stay strong for my family and to help provide financially for the blow are Christmas and savings are taking from this. I have faith and I don't see tears as a sign of weakness just a release of hormones and frustration. I try so much during the day to hold it together for the kids and I'm blessed with a pretty high tolerance for pain but when it's pretty constant it gets hard. And I don't like drugs and try really hard not to take anything other than Montrin. Just like anything in life this will only be for a time and I know I'll be better and forget all about the pain but I won't forget about how my girls, especially my oldest really stepped up into my role and has told me how now she really appreciates all that I do. For that I'm so thankful.

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Mary Cassatt

Louise Nursing Her Child

Mary Cassatt

I want to start studying Mary Cassatt.  She was born here in Pittsburgh, then Allegheny City, Pa.  

She painted such beautiful images of mothers and their children. 

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Still on the Couch

This is beginning to get really old and annoying. Apparently there is a problem with a disc in my lower back and it's not really getting better. I have been going to the chiropractor every day this week and am only getting minimal relief. My back doesnt really hurt, the pain shoots the whole way down my right side, to my toes! Driving is the worst, sitting in general isn't tolerable and standing and walking are painful. Laying is the only relief. I just want to be better and be myself again. The children have been very helpful, especially Madison. She's cooking, cleaning, even washing clothes. Thanks honey!

Homemade Sunflower Seed Butter

Well I've been feeling awful so I'm eating all raw -except for veggie soup- to try and clean out my system. One of the things I've read that is really good for my gallbladder is celery but I am not to fond of it plain so I made some raw sunflower seed butter so that choke it down. With the sunbutter it was pretty good- or I'm just that hungry!
Anywho, here's what I put in my food processor but as usual I didn't measure- I could barely stand and wanted to get it done as fast as I could
Raw organic sunflower seeds- I read if you roast them the butter will be creamy but I wanted them raw-processes a bit then add
Pinch of salt
A few drops of Flax oil
A few drops of pure maple syrup
A few drops of honey

My Girls are so Sweet

Marlee has hot tea and a cookie waiting for me this morning and Madison made us all toasted cheese and tomato soup for lunch. It was delicious!

Unbelievable - Vaccine info

 

---

This truly frightens me....

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b62698a50aececa2aded9f56b&id=37fdf5f946&e=f19e67d489  Today Governor Brown signed into law AB499 which will allow 12 year old children to be vaccinated with out parental knowledge or consent.  This currently applies to the Gardasil and Hepatitis B vaccines, but will expand to include ANY new STD vaccine that is brought to market in the future. This means that as of tomorrow, boys and girls as young as 12 will be alone in their doctors office, or pulled into the nurses office at school, be offered a vaccine and told that if they don't get it, they can get sick and die, the child will be given the shot and parents will never know.  This also means that parents no longer have access to their child's full medical records, but are only able to request PARTS of their child's heath records once they turn 12.   The package insert for the Gardasil vaccine is 30 pages long.  Take a look at it.  Gardasil Package Insert.  The state of California has decided that 6th graders are competent to read and properly digest this information, to fully understanding the risks and benefits of this vaccine, and to make an informed consent decision.  Absurd.   This is nothing more than a marketing ploy for Merck (who makes Gardasil) to get around parents who understand the risks of these specific vaccines, and the corrupt public officials in Merck's pocket who are handing innocent children over to them for power and profit.  The California legislator that introduced this bill, Toni Atkins, took money from Merck and then lied about it when confronted on her motives for this bill. And this morning on Fox, our friend and Canary Party member Rebecca Estepp, who is the communications director for the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law and Advocacy, debated former California state assembly woman Sally Lieber, who previously introduced a bill making the Gardasil vaccine mandatory for 11 year olds.  Lieber had to remove her name from the leadership on the bill when it was discovered that her family was heavily invested in Merck. As most of you know, when vaccine injuries occur, since no one involved in the vaccine program or vaccine administration is held responsible for deaths or vaccine injury, it is now merely denied by the medical establishment, no matter how much evidence comes to light that a vaccine was responsible for the damage.  Now Merck and the public officials that they have co-oped have made huge headway to insure that those vaccine injuries will never even be investigated, much less reported to the vaccine injury registry, as a 12 year old will merely fall ill (or die), parents will never know why, and will not be able to ensure that the child gets proper medical evaluation or treatment.  This for two of the vaccine that have the highest injury rate of them all.  Gardasil and Hepatitis B. Please send this to your friends, especially if they are in California.  The media has not carried this story and few Californians are aware that this is happening. (click the "View it in your browser" link at the top right of this email, and forward that link to your contacts, also share on twitter and facebook). The Canary Party's work is needed now more than ever and we urge you to get involved at your state level and on our project teams.  Please consider donating to our efforts. This is why we fight. Ginger Taylor, M.S. Executive Director VIC (Vaccine Information Coalition) Autism is 1 in 67 children today and it's impossible to have a genetic epidemic!  Please learn from our mistake and educate BEFORE you vaccinate! For more information visit www.vacinfo.orgor call 800-939-8227

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Injury can really kill your budget!

Since I pulled my hamstring I have gone to the Chiropractor 3 times, to his daughter the message therapist 2, need some supplements, and easy food to feed a family of 7 so that has really hurt my budget. I really didn't need this with Mannys birthday and Christmas coming. Oh well, it will all work out somehow right? I sure hope so. Just a little frustrated right now, needed to vent a little ;)

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Went to the zoo lastweek....

Not the best idea with how I've been feeling but Tommy already had the time off work and the weather was beautiful. Manny enjoyed the sea otters. They really put on a show. So did the penguins.

Recess

We went to the park today. It was fun. The ride up was awful for me with my pulled hamstring- sitting and driving is the worst since it's my right leg. But walking around is fine, actually feels pretty good. I love having nearly 2 year old Manny around but when the day comes that I can let them all just run and play and not have to worry about a little ones safety, well, that will be nice too!

He Needs to go, please!

'Darn Tooting!' Obama Brags About HHS Reg Catholic Bishops Call Attack on Liberty

By Terence P. Jeffrey

October 5, 2011

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President Barack Obama (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(CNSNews.com) - Bantering with the audience at a fundraiser in St. Louis yesterday, President Barack Obama bragged about a new regulation, proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services, that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has denounced as an "unprecedented attack on religious liberty."

"Darn right!" an audience member at the fundraiser shouted as Obama described the regulation.

"Darn tooting!" Obama said back.

The proposed regulation, designed to implement part of Obamacare, will require all private health plans in the United States to cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives--including those that cause abortions—without charging any fees or co-pay. These regulations were drawn to implement a provision in Obama's health-care law that calls for all health-care plans to cover "preventive services."

Combined with Obamacare's mandate that all individuals must buy health insurance, the "preventive services" regulation would require all American Catholics to buy health care plans that pay for sterilizations, contraceptives and abortions--all of which violate Catholic moral teaching.

A "religious exemption" in the regulation is so narrowly drawn that it does not include any lay Catholics, or any Catholic hospitals, charitable organizations, or colleges or universities. Thus, many major Catholic institutions in the United States would be forced to choose between dropping health insurance coverage for their employees and students or violating the moral teachings of their own church.

In comments on the regulation submitted to HHS last month, the Catholic bishops called for the regulation to be "rescinded in its entirety" and described the proposal as "government coercion of religious people."

"Indeed, such nationwide government coercion of religious people and groups to sell, broker, or purchase 'services' to which they have a moral or religious objection represents an unprecedented attack on religious liberty," the bishops said.

At a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Renaissance Hotel in St. Louis last night, Obama touted the "preventive services" regulation to an appreciative audience.

"And, yes, we passed health care reform because no one in America should go bankrupt because somebody in their family gets sick," said Obama, according to the official White House transcript of his remarks.

"Insurance companies can't drop your coverage for no good reason," said Obama. "They won't be able to deny your coverage because of preexisting conditions.  Think about what that means for families all across America.  Think about what it means for women." 

At that point, an audience member shouted: "Birth control."

"Absolutely. You're stealing my line," said Obama.

"Breast cancer, cervical cancer, are no longer preexisting conditions," Obama continued. "No longer can insurance companies discriminate against women just because you guys are the ones who have to give birth."

At this point, a member of a laughing audience shouted out: "Darn right!"

"Darn tooting," Obama answered back—to laughter. "They have to cover things like mammograms and contraception as preventive care, no more out-of-pocket costs."

Last week, the Catholic bishops distributed an insert for placement in church bulletins all across the country. It called on Catholics to contact HHS to object to the regulation. On their websitethe bishops are now asking Catholic to write Congress to urge members to support legislation that would overturn the regulation.

Jodi

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Good Morning!

We hope you have a blessed day.

Lembas Bread

We are reading, watching and loving Lord of the  Rings so this morning I made us Lembas Bread for breakfast.  

From Middle Earth.com-

Elven Lembas Bread Recipe

6 TBSP butter or margarine, slightly softened
2 cups self-rising flour

1 TBSP granulated sugar
½ cup raisins (optional)

1 egg, well beaten
½ cup milk

4 TBSP heavy cream
Mallorn leaves


With a pastry blender of fork, cut margarine into the flour in a mixing bowl until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Do this rapidly so the butter does not melt. Add the sugar and if desired, ½ cup of raisins. In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk together until mixed. Reserve 1 TBSP of this mixture to brush the tops of the Lembas. Add the cream and egg mixture to the flour and mix just until combined into a stiff, soft dough. Knead three or four times on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough to a ¾" thickness and cut with an oval or leaf shaped cookie cutter. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, leaving 1" of space between Lembas. Brush the tops of the Lembas with the reserved egg-milk mixture. Bake for 12 -13 minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven.

My leaning Tower of Paper Products

I love Rite Aid. I lived right up the street from one but didn't shop there for years until I discovered the Ups program and I now live there.
I cleaned up there today. Between Ups rewards and coupons I got all this for $50.00-
2 - 8 packs of Scott paper towels
2 - 12 packs of Scotts tp
1 - 40 ounce bag of Mars mix chocolate candy bars
6 - packs of Trident gum
2 - bags of Halls cough drops
2 - tubes of Toms of Maine toothpaste
2 - bags of natural Huggies diapers
1 - bag of chips
1 - pack of Mario trading card
1 - WII candy dispenser
1 - bottle of Infusium Shampoo
Not bad?

Sleeping Beauties

Don't they look so peaceful?

Infant Martyrs

From Orthodox Education Blogspot-

Infant Martyrs

A Prayer to  Jesus to deliver us from the sin of abortion 

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who – at the 6^th hour of the day – didst shed Thy precious Blood upon the Cross for the salvation of all mankind: receive the souls of all the innocent pre-born babies, who have been, are being, or will be slaughtered today in the hospitals and abortion chambers throughout our Nation.  And as their untimely deaths have prevented them from receiving the grace of Holy Baptism, I entreat Thee to accept their innocent blood as their Baptism (as Thou didst with the early Martyrs); so that they can share eternity with Thee.

To the doctors, nurses, parents and hosts of accomplices responsible for this infanticide, grant tears of repentance; so that they can run to Thee for forgiveness and healing, and thus avoid the eternal death of their souls.  I believe that all things are possible with Thee, O Lord.  Therefore, I entreat Thee on this day – through Thy divine grace – to convince at least one mother in every state to cancel her abortion and bring her child to full term; and to convince one doctor in every state to repent of his actions, and never again kill a child in the womb.

Receive my prayer, O Lord, even though it is offered to Thee from such a sinful and unworthy servant; and unite my entreaty with those of all the other brothers and sisters that are crying out today on behalf of all Thy little ones, who are now being formed in the wombs of their mothers. Deliver us and our Nation, O Lord, from this shedding of innocent blood!  Forgive us!  Heal us!  Save us! Amen.

Umm Umm's

Manny loves the blessed bread at Church. He always grabs a handful after liturgy and in the line going up to receive Holy Communion you can hear him saying "umm umm".

Serenity

Manny needed a little nap ride in the van after Masons birthday party and he fell asleep pretty fast so I drove up to our favorite park and swung for ten minutes while he napped in the van. It was so relaxing. I haven't done that in years. It was a beautiful 60'degree day with a light breeze in the tall trees. The birds were singing and I felt like i was the child again. Praise be to God for the beauty and calming effects of nature.

My Big Guy is 6!

Fall is Coming!