A Floppy Ear Doggy Miracle

We had our own little Christmas miracle this year. A simple miracle, but yet it touched my heart so.
I don’t know if you have ever had the chance to meet a Floppy Ear Dog, but he is my daughter's favorite stuffed animal. She twiddles his tail when she gets sleepy. He has big droopy eyes, large floppy ears and the perfect tail for twiddling.
This Christmas, her big brother got a lovely red sled under the tree and seeing all that fresh snow out the window was too much for a little boy to take. He just had to try it out. So while at Grandma’s house, we all went up to the nearby big sledding hill to try it out. Even sweet Baby Girl, but being tired from all the excitement of the special day, she insisted on dragging her Floppy Ear Dog along and I let her.
Big Brother, Daddy, Aunt Cassie and Uncle Josh sledded until their hearts were content. Grandma, Mommy, Baby Girl & Floppy Ear Dog mostly watched. However, towards the end she finally decided she wanted to give it a try. Grandma held Daddy’s jacket (he was claiming to be hot by then), Baby Girl’s blanket and Floppy Ear Dog. Grandma gently wrapped Floppy Ear Dog in the jacket to keep him safe.
Baby Girl giggled all the way down the mini hill as she sledded with her Daddy! She loved it. Again, again!
After a few times down, Mommy, Grandma, Big Brother and Baby Girl piled into the car to head back. Daddy, Uncle Josh and Aunt Cassie decided to enjoy a walk back to the house. However, Daddy decided he better get his jacket for the walk home.
Once back at the house, we warmed up with cocoa and played a few board games, then everyone loaded up and said their goodbyes as each headed in their own direction back home. Not even five minutes down the road from the back of the car, we heard, “Dog.” Then again “Dog.” Thinking it was on the floor of the car, we pulled over to get it for our sweet Baby Girl. We searched, we pulled things out of the car. No Floppy Ear Dog! Oh my! Where could he be? This wasn’t good. An hour plus drive ahead of us, a sleepy little girl and no Dog. We called Grandma, could he possibly have been left behind at her house? Nope not there. We traced our steps and thought about the last time we had seen him.
Oh no! He must be at the hill! Would he still be there, even if we went back to look?!? It was dark now. However, we knew he must be close to the parking area since he had been wrapped in the jacket. We had to take the chance and go back to look. As we drove back, I prayed…”Saint Anthony, please, please, please, help us find Floppy Ear Dog. He just can’t be gone.”
As we pulled in, Daddy barely got the car into park before jumping out. People were actually still there sledding! He walked up and down beside the parked cars, searching the ground for the little brown dog. Nothing. He started to walk back to the car, shaking his head in defeat and then out of the corner of his eye, laying in the middle of the sidewalk on the path down the hill, lay Floppy Ear Dog! Not even snowy or wet at all. It was as if he never moved from the moment he fell.
Triumphantly, Daddy held Floppy Ear Dog high in the air as he headed back to us. Baby Girl and I clapped with delight, as she exclaimed “Dog!” As her Daddy handed him to her, she hugged him tight, and I added, “You know, you were just your daughter’s hero.”
I texted Grandma to let her know, that as was well. She texted back, “Amen.”

Truly…Amen indeed.

Making the Most of the Life You've Been Given

I've missed my blog. I took a bit of a break, not really planned, it just happened. Life got in the way, but in so many good ways. Summer was really busy, and now we're all back to a somewhat routine. I love routine. My hubby is back to work and the kids are back to daycare. I will never regret our decision for him to stay home with baby girl this past year, but man did it presents all it's own challenges! Me working my normal day job and him on nights. We hardly saw each other, but the important thing was our kids were happy and well cared for. I love that he works for a school system too. It allows the kids times to be home during his breaks. It helps me to feel better about them being in daycare. Plus we've been blessed with an awesome Christian daycare/preschool. I know my kids are in good hands each and every day. I still wish I could be home with them more, but for some reason God wants me right where I am. I'm really trying to make a better effort to bloom where I've been planted and trust. However, I know God feels the yearning in my heart to be able to do more SAHM things and I feel really blessed of late that He is opening more doors for me to be able to fulfill those desires. I am blessed to work at a place where the owners know how important family is and are flexible when I need them to be. I am blessed to be able to pop in the kids daycare during the day and participate in special functions. There are so many awesome blessings in our life - so many.

Moreover, this Fall I am finally getting to do something I've wanted to do for years! I've joined the MOMs group at my parish! I never thought that would be something that would happen for me. Their meetings aren't really condusive to a working mom's schedule. I was always put off by that. What about working moms?! I always felt looked down upon - like I wasn't being a good mom by working. I felt judged. I never thought that possibly if I asked, my boss would be willing to work with me on making it possible for me to do a few meetings a month, or that the MOMs group would allow someone to join that couldn't be there all the time. I have to say both sides really surprised me and worked to help me achieve my heart's desire! Blessings all around! I can't wait to write about my experiences as the year goes by - from my unique prospective as a Catholic working mom.

The biggest lesson I've learned over this past year, is to let go more and to make each and every moment count. Life is too short for regret, worries or disappointments. Make the most of the life you have been given and count your blessing each and every day.

Where did the time go?

My little man is 5 now! I can hardly believe it.

1 Year Old Already!

Little Blue Star

One of my favorite moments ever! Little man signing to his baby sister on the day she was born. I love how he sticks in "little blue star" too. What an absolutely perfect day. I couldn't have asked for more. Notice the Spiderman shirt too. It was a present from his sister and the beginning of Spiderman everyday all day. (Thanks Cassie for finding this video for me! Love ya)

Going BOLD - Cutting the Cable TV

I’ve been wanting to make some changes in our household, but I’ve been dragging my feet. Change is hard. We’ve been listening to a Matthew Kelly CD (a awesome Catholic speaker if I do say so myself!) on Building Better Families and it’s given us ideas. Actually wonderful ideas, but they involve being a little bolder than we are used to… His CD talks about asking the right questions of our children, praying as a family, creating a family culture, simplifying and developing a spirit of service. So out of all of that we’ve picked little things to work on…in knowing that our lives change as our habits change. Our first change is small but bold. We’ve cut the ca.ble TV! We are going to be converter box people, only local for us. We had the ca.ble shut off on Monday and we are picking up the box this weekend. We thought we’d try one week of absolutely nothing. I have to say it has been an amazing week! So amazing. I myself have barely missed the TV and enjoyed so much more of life! There has been more walks, playing outside, talks, family movies, games, dinner at the table, preparing food together and playing on the floor together. Our 4 year old (who I thought we would have the most protest from) has taken to less TV wonderfully. I think we are all blossoming into better people with less TV in our life! I am really liking this new simple “quietness” in our life. I guess our Grandmother had some insight when she called it an “idiot box.”
On to our next changes…reading scripture as a family each week, carefree Sundays and finding a way to serve as a family.

The blessings of a sibling

My heart swells when I see them play so sweet together. She adores him - thinks he is the funniest thing ever! And he is her protector. She loves to be included and he loves a playmate. What a blessing it is to have been able to give him sibling. I sure love my babies. I thank God for them each day.

In the first one they are playing Transformers and the second is a Sunday morning pillow/blanket fort. The simple things in life are always the most precious.

Happy 6 months Baby Girl!

Our sweet baby girl is officially 6 months now! She is doing amazing. She has almost grown out of the tracheomalacia and we couldn't be more thankful. It's been a long road and a lot of worry.

She is so precious and I adore the little personality that is starting to develop. She is more reserved than her brother and loves to sit back and observe, which is okay with us. I don't know if we could handle two "high spirited" ones! She is very amused by her big brother. She smiles and giggles the most for him. She loves her toes and if she can get them to her mouth that delights her beyond words. She likes when we sing to her, especially the song that her brother created for her. It goes to the tune of Spiderman, Spiderman... She is starting to get very vocal too. We love all she has to say and talk right back to her. She enjoys sitting in her highchair with us at meals but is not so found of baby food yet. Not even baby rice cereal. She'd much prefer to get whatever you are trying to put in your own mouth, than what's in her bowl. I love how she looks in this little coat. Kind of like a "Snowbaby," but she very much hates the coat. A cry fit every time we have to put any coat on to be exact. Due to the tracheomalacia she has slept in her car seat inside a pack in play until now. We are trying very hard to get her to like the crib, but not so much so far. I'd love any tips in this area! Anybody got good ideas? I need her in her bed and soon! Overall, we are just one big happy family. We adore both are beautiful children and thank God each day for what a blessing they are to us.

There's Nothing Like Sisters...Nothing

Everybody falls sometimes

You gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think its more than you can take

But you're stronger, stronger than you know

And don't you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn't ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I've seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That's what faith can do...

(Lyrics are "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless)

I think my favorite part above is that you have to face the clouds to find the silver lining. So true. I so love lyrics. Always have. Music just speaks to me for some reason. It's almost like prayer for me.

To my sisters, there is nothing like sisters. I am so blessed to have three wonderful ones. Ones that stand by each others side in the hardest of times. Ones that love each other even when it hurts. Ones that encourage and hold you up. Ones that hold your hand when you need it most. Ones that are there in a heartbeat when your at our lowest. Ones that tell you how it is even when you don't want to hear it. Ones that hold you when you need to cry. Ones that are there to celebrate the joys in your life. Ones that pray for you and want the best for you. Ones that forgive your flaws and love you ever so deeply no matter what. Yes, truly there is nothing like a sister.

Oh and yes I have finally started my other blog Restless Ponderings. I finally figured out what it was my heart wanted to say. So after today, Delightful Journey is back to being about the wonderful journey of just being Mommy and Restless Ponderings is for all the other stuff.