Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that my American readers are enjoying this special day.

Thanks to all who follow along.  I truly appreciate you.  Without your visits, I would never be able to share so many reviews and giveaways.

I'm hosting dinner today, and am looking forward to enjoying my family and counting my blessings.

Memorial Day, 2012

Graves at Arlington on Memorial Day

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed, 

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

The Luxembourg American Center

For love of country they accepted death...  
                                                 ~ James A. Garfield

Sunday of Divine Mercy - #Catholic #Forgiven

Are you familiar with Divine Mercy Sunday?

"It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.'  - Pope John Paul II

Each year, the Sunday after Easter is designated as the Sunday of Divine Mercy – a special day to remind us that the Church is a refuge for sinners.  Fallen away Catholics are urged to return.  In most churches there are special hours of devotion and extended time for confessions.

Our Services begin in about an hour.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. - Luke 15:21-24

Blessed beyond measure,

Friday’s Fave Five - 4/13 #Gratitude

Welcome to this week's Fridays Fave Five.  I missed last week, we were so busy with Holy Week activities! We surely had plenty to be grateful for though, and I was thinking of my FFF friends.  I hope you all had a Wonderful Easter.

Thank you to Susanne who is our hostess. She blogs at Living to Tell the Story.

Here are my Fave Five from the pats week:

1.  Easter - for obvious reasons - and also, the fact that my boys came with me to their first Easter Vigil Mass.  They were so focused, and attentive, and I was so proud of them!



2.  Tim Hawkins.  He makes us laugh, and I love it when we laugh.



3.  NHL Playoff Season.  It's long.  It's gritty.  It's wonderful.



 4.  No Schoolwork.  The boys and I have been kicking back, relaxing, playing games, and having fun.



5.  My husband has been wanting this set up for a while now, and he finally got it.  He's really happy with it, and I love it when he's happy.


I wish you a week full of blessings.

Friday’s Fave Five - 3/30 #Gratitude

Hello and Happy Friday!  On Fridays, I link up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for this meme.  I love it.  It's a quick recap of five highlights from the previous week.

1.  My father's best friend won a community service award on Sunday for being the catalyst of  a wonderful program in our area.  To remember fallen veterans, he works with local town boards to dedicate the roads where these men lived, worked, played ball, or took part in some other meaningful activity - in their names.

The program has taken off and many local communities have joined in, and now, other states are going to be following suit as well.  I know my Dad is proud.  I wish he could have been there to hear his friend's speech, and to take part in the standing ovations.



2.  I attended the award ceremony with my mother and my sister. They weren't wearing their Easter bonnets, but since it is the season, I thought I would use this picture.  I do love my family.  <3



3.  The boys and I have been playing this game, Dabble on my iPod and iPad like crazy, and we have the board game version as well.  It is so much fun!  The company who makes it has been so sweet and they are allowing me to give one away


3.  Great Wolf Lodge!    My boys love it there, so much.  We took a quick to the Pocono Mountains and had some indoor waterpark fun.



5.  The chance to watch my husband play with the boys.  What more could I ask for?  My family, together, healthy, and having fun.  I am very blessed.


I hope you have a wonderful week, filled with "faves".

Friday’s Fave Five - 3/23

Each week on Friday,  I join Susanne who blogs at Living to Tell the Story for Friday's Fave Five.  The bloggers who link up with her take quick look back at five highlights or blessings from the week before.



1.  I have already blogged about this, but I am so happy that myself, and some other great homeschooling bloggers were able to announce our new project, Homeschool Mosaics.  It is a blog about life, and parenting, and it's written by Homeschooling moms, but it is so much more.  The site will go live on April 2nd, and our Facebook page is currently accepting "likes".  (and yes!  We would love as many of those as possible so please click over and like us, and invite your friends, too!)

We are planning an "Opening Night" Facebook party and have over 40 giveaway prizes lined up already. There will also be freebies for anyone who attends. If you'd like to join us, you can get the details here.   There is a great mix of items, and many have nothing to do with homeschooling.  It will be fun for everyone!

This site is a labor of love, and I think it will bless many families.

2.  This week, I am also thrilled to be part of  a homeschooling family.  All week it has been in the 70's and even the 80's!  Because we can make our own schedules, it's easy to find ways to enjoy the gorgeous weather or get out and do something fun in the sun.



3.  The first day of Spring, and finally some color!   Blossom filled trees and spring bulbs washing away the dead, brown remnants of winter.



4.  My funny kids.  This is Boy Two's idea of a stunning self portrait.



5.  My husband did all of the laundry for me this week.  All of it!  On two separate evenings I came home to the sound of the dryer going.  Yay!



I wish you all a wonderful week.

Friday’s Fave Five – 3/16

Unfortunately, last Friday I was unable to participate in Friday’s Fave Five.  I was a bit under the weather.



Thankfully, I have recovered considerably, and may get a post published before midnight today.  I will be linking up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.   She is the hostess of Friday’s Fave Five; a weekly meme which provides a chance to stop, count each week’s blessings, and share them with some of the sweetest women in the internet.

1.  This week’s number one is definitely modern medicine.  I entered the ER on Friday dehydrated and unable to keep even a sip of water down.  A few IV bags later, and after a dose of anti-emetic medication, I felt almost human again.  I was able to come back home and finally sleep.



2.   I’m also thankful for my mother’s help.  My husband had an important commitment as I came down with my awful case of the flu.  My mother came and stayed with the boys while I was being restored.  She also lavished them with wonderful things for several hours which made them forget their anxiety about me.



3.  As I began to feel better, the weather did, too!  We had three gorgeous, sunny days with temps in the mid seventies.  I had the windows open, and the boys played outside.  It felt fantastic.  Green shoots are popping out of the ground, and I’m looking forward to the sight of the first crocus.



4.  I thought we could call Friday a “sick day”, but as I was resting, to my surprise, the boys were working.  They turned their schoolwork over to me when I came downstairs to get them some lunch.  What good boys!  They also received another stripe on their Green belts this week.  They have been training hard at Mixed Martial Arts!



5.  My husband and his band were booked to be headlining at a show about an hour and a half from our home on the day that I was so ill.  He was very torn about leaving me, but he had to fulfill his commitment, too.  I kept assuring him it was fine, but he felt so guilty, it was almost funny.

It turns out the show became almost like a spin off of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.  I should have had him hold raffle on my behalf - I received so many well wishes, I started to feel silly!



I wish you a wonderful (and healthy!) week.  =)

Friday’s Fave Five on Sunday 3/11 #Gratitude

I have been feeling absolutely wretched for days, I couldn’t even try to type a post on Friday.  Even so, I didn’t forget to stop and think about the ways I had been blessed in the week before.  So, better late than never, Friday's Fave Five - On Sunday.

1.  My other brother.  Last week, I was glad to have spent time with my big brother.  This week, I was happy to have spent time with my little brother.  He’s such a sweet soul, and always quick with a joke and a smile - even when his own heart is hurting.



2.  The day before I was overcome by the vapors, we had the most gorgeous 75 degree day.  The sun was shining, I had the windows open, and it was so nice to remember Spring.  It’s almost here. 



3.  An evening mini retreat with other CCD instructors.  There was a wonderful turn out, and it was very good for my spirit.  
  

4.  The boys went to a birthday party at a roller skating rink.  They had only been on roller skates one other time, but they were very eager to try again.  I was proud of them.  Sure they landed on their bottoms a few times, but by the time we left, they were staying on their feet, and having lots of fun!



5.  My husband is good.  He brings me home my very own Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.  He knows how to make me happy.


I wish you a wonderful week.

Friday's Fave Five - March 2nd #Gratitude

Happy Friday!  I love Friday's Fave Five with Susanne at Living to tell the Story.  Sometimes, the weeks just fly by, and it's good to take a look back and remember the highlights.

1.  A sweet Little Birdie made me this new header for my blog.  And she stayed up very late last night to do it.  And I love her for it.  Thank you, Birdie!  xo

2.  My big brother is a pilot, which sometimes means he can be in town for a quick hour or two.  It was really nice to get a phone call inviting us to a quick lunch meeting.  He was my very first best friend, and I love him so much!  Thanks for the visit, Big Brother!  xo

3.  That horrific mess in my Wordless Wednesday Photo came out well.  It became the bricks which made these lovely Roman arches.  The boys did a great job on this project, and I was proud of them for following the directions, and for taking the time and care needed for these to come out right.  (even if I was twitching over all the mud and goop in my kitchen and dining room)  Thanks for doing such a nice job, boys! xo

 4.  I'm enjoying this Lenten Meme with Trish and Laura.  Anyone can join in, whenever they'd like.  The Linkys stay up for a week.  Thank you for hosting, ladies!  xo

5. I'm lucky enough to be married to a man who has allowed his home to become a huge schoolroom, adjusts his schedule around our field trips, and clears his calendar so I can go to Homeschool Conventions, special Masses, and seminars.  He's also really supportive of my blogging about it, when I could be ironing shirts or doing something more wifey.  Thanks for all of your support, and so much latitude, Love.  xo

I wish you all a wonderful and blessed week.  Thanks for dropping by!  xo