Wisdom of Chesterton: Forgiveness and Lent

"These are the things which might conceivably and truly make men forgive their enemies. We can only turn hate to love by understanding what are the things that men have loved; nor is it necessary to ask men to hate their loves in order to love one another."     
~ G.K. Chesterton

Today is Cheesefare Sunday or Forgiveness Sunday - aka the start of Lent is tomorrow (in the Eastern Catholic Church). Lent is the time before Pascha/Easter in which gives people the focused time to fast and pray - just as Christ did. He gave us the perfect example of fasting and praying so we must do the same. Here's a run down as to how our family observes Lent. 

1. Food. A few dietary changes on the way...

2. Prayer. My single favorite part of Lent is The Prayer of St. Ephraim. 

O Lord and Master of my life, spare me from the spirit of indifference, despair, lust for power and idle chatter

Instead, bestow on my your servant the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love

Yes Oh Lord and King, let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters for your are Blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen

3. Praying. Something new we are going to try is praying the Rosary in the car on the way to school. Just a decade a day so reasonable but setting the standard L-O-W. 

4. Presanctified Liturgy. Ahhhhhh…. Lee and I first put our eyes on each other at a Presanctified Liturgy back in 2005. I love love love this church service so much. Last year we made it to a total of 2 PLs because I was in my first trimester and R was just not a pleasant church goer. Presanctified Liturgy is one of the oldest codified Christian services (did I get that right, Papa). If you have never been to one find your local Eastern Catholic Church and go go go. 

5. Stations of the Cross. Last year we had to come up with a Lenten activity that the girls could go to and make it through. Stations of the Cross kicks off with a Fish Fry before which is excellent for R because she goes to Stations with a full tummy. I can trust E to sit in the back pew and pray through MOST of Stations without too much back and forth. R and I hung out in the back which will probably be much of the same this year except M will be joining us. E has been talking about Stations and Fish Fries since last year so I know she is looking forward to it. 

6. Saint Mail calendar. Have you heard of Saint Mail? It is a pretty neat idea for teaching young kids about saints. Each month your family receives package that includes a letter from and an activity for a saint. We got our starter box in the mail which included a handy-dandy Lent calendar. So I know E is going to love to check those days off the calendar. 

E and R colored their booklets about how to become a saint. They don't know it yet but the March saint package is waiting for them. I'm going to do a review of that package and I'll post the giveaway details so that you can win a one month Saint Mail package for your family!

Linking up with:

and 

Monica at Equipping Catholic Families

Equipping Catholic Families on Facebook

Chris at Campfires and Cleats

Campfires and Cleats on Facebook

Tina at Truly Rich Mom

Truly Rich Mom on Facebook

Tracy at A Slice of Smith Life  

A Slice of Smith Life on Facebook

Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos

Home to 4 Kiddos on Facebook

7 Quick Takes - The Friday Evening Edition

And now back to our regularly scheduled program-a-rama!

--- 1 ---

Here's another picture-less potty update. I let R wear her big girl undies this afternoon and she kept them totally dry!!! until she ate dinner : ( so a washing of the high chair seat was in order {perfect segway into point numero 2}

--- 2 ---

About laundry. 

Because I know you want to see my laundry room!

Anyone else want to size up their laundry piles? {crickets}

--- 3 ---

K. That one was boring.

Drinking milk from the bowl… NICE!

I started a policy of setting a timer to beep at 7:50 in the morning. That gives me 5 minute buffer to get done the last few things in the next 300 seconds so we are marching upstairs to say prayers at 7:55. This puts us loading up on time and pulling out of the driveway early by our standards! Except when my button in the van does not want to close the garage door so I have to back out, get out, press the button and run back to the van. {Please try and feel bad for me and my problems}

--- 4 ---

E decided to have an 'animal meeting' during her rest time… in our bathroom. Seriously the animals were lining the floors and tub. How can I pass my germ-a-phobia on to my children?!?!?!?

--- 5 ---

Dear spring/warmer weather - COME BACK TO MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

--- 6 ---

Woke up to this...

Now this kind of snow is awesome. Pretty snow. Pretty sunrise. Pretty ride to school/work. Pretty roads and school was NOT canceled!!!!!!

--- 7 ---

Throwback Friday? 

These are from E's swim class a few months ago. She wants to go back to swim class but I cannot think about when she might go back. Spring is coming and E informed us she wants to do gymnastics {thanks Sesame Street}. Which is fine. I need to call to do the free trial class before we make a 2 month commitment.

Any-how… Happy Friday. I'll be doing a giveaway here in a few weeks so check back

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

And the Winner is...

Bethany at Before, During and After won the Keep Calm and Latch On Giveaway.

This is what she picked for her little guy.

Don't forget to find the Big Latch On event closest to you!

Seven Quick Takes - It is pay day Friday Style

--- 1 ---

{Here's to Papa...}

I am sure Lee said something funny this week I just didn't write it down so I am going to fill in with the fantastic logical of my OB

Me - I don't want to take my glucose test (etc etc etc)
Dr - Well your first was 6/13 and your second was 7/10 so you are on track for an 8 or 9 lb baby
Me - I am all about 6 or 7 lb babies but that still does not change the fact I don't want to take the test
Dr - But you are trending towards a big baby
Me - Yeah, and if I had 8 or 9 kids that means that they'd be 14 or 15 lb babies...

--- 2 ---

On the topic of the doctor - sorry I just went yesterday... my doctor scored major points because we compromised and he let me take the glucose juice home! He asked me what my problem was with the test  (no base line blood reading before drinking the mess and high percentage of false positives) and among other things I said I have to be here at 8 am and I have two kids. So after I after asked him what happens if I just didn't show up and that I am the patients and I did not think I should have to negotiate - though I will for the baby's sake - he proposed the bring the drink home and come in at 9. BAM! His nurses were shocked and the lab tech (who is awesome) couldn't believe it. Score one for me, people!!!

Saving it for a raining day... aka my glucose test day!!!

                                    

--- 3 ---

Okay last baby topic take. Had the ultrasound and I PROMISE and I did not see any evidence of boy or girl. Tech said (of course) she knew. So that makes me lean towards girl because it should be pretty easy to spot a boy, right? Well I have been leaning towards a girl since.... forever, so I had best get on board with this girl name, right? : )

Like mother, like child : ) I totally don't like having my pic taken too, little one

--- 4 ---

On the similar doctor vain.... How about E had a dentist appointment this week. Not a problem. 30ish minutes late getting pulled back. Hygienist brushes her front teeth with the world's most expensive non-electric toothbrush. Brush same teeth with sonic toothbrush and a DAP of toothpaste. Flosses a few teeth. Wait 3 minutes for the dentist. Dentist looks at teeth and bite. Hygienist puts insta-dry fluoride on her teeth. E gets 3 stickers. Check out. Bill.... $126!!!! I looked at the lady and said this is the rate for people who are paying in full because they don't have dental insurance. Yes ma'am. Me - Last time it was $70. Lady -Right well its $125. Me - That is more than I pay at my dentist. 

E's toothbrush and toothpaste... Grrrrrrr

                                     

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!??!?

Still trying to figure this out. 

A. From time in chair to time out of chair is approximately 5 minutes. That breaks down to a little less than .50 per SECOND!!!!!!!!! and they did not even do ANYTHING

B. I am still fuming

C. My kids are NOT going to a peds dentist every six months. Maybe, maybe once a year. 

D. Let's not get me started

--- 5 ---

R is starting to get over her fear of water outside and to show off dumped shovel fulls of sandy water on her head. Let's just say bathtime was not a pleasant experience for her.

                                    

I have been trying to figure out why the dirt and sand WON'T come out of her outfit. First wash sprayed it with Shout. 

                                 

That's what came out after wash one. Wash load two, Tide Pod on stain and presoak cycle. There was improvement but FAR from acceptably clean. So now I am going to go with Oxiclean and/or Clorox 2. Very perplexed by my stain situation.

--- 6 ---

This kid is definitely a Southern Belle. She begged for more "cheeees" aka pimento cheese. It is my first batch of the summer and could have used a bit more cayene pepper but it is still really really really good.

--- 7 ---

Have you checked out and entered my giveaway? If not you totally should because, A. Entering is super easy B. You probably know somebody who has a baby and breastfeeds (excuse me as I make some sweeping assumptions!) C. These onesies are SO SO SO CUTE!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

Giveaway - Keep Calm and Latch on Onesie or T-shirt

Okay I looked at the shipping times from Cafe Press and I decided I better get this giveaway going.

I saw these yesterday when I was checking out the Big Latch 2013 site. They caught my eye and I am kinda obsessed with them. So I am giving away one onesies or infant t-shirt or toddler t-shirt (not longsleeve and not an organic one). You can pick the color of the onesie/shirt - blue, pink, white, green, yellow and the color of the button - blue, pink or green. Go check them out. If you are interested in the Big Latch check out that Web site too. R and I went last year (E and her baby went too : ) and it is an awesome way to meet lots of other nursing moms and share all your nursing secrets! Really bummed that baby #3 won't be here yet to participate but there is always 2014.

So what combo is your favorite. There are a million (not really) different color combinations. Check them all out on Cafe Press. Here are a few:

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Other legal-ish stuff.
Big Latch and Cafe Press have nothing to do with this giveaway. Consider it a Public Service Announcement : )
I will post the name of the winner as well as try and contact you for your pick and your address
I will order and ship you the onesies or t-shirt if you win - to a USA address.
It is my hope that the onesie/t-shirt will get to you by the time Big Latch event are going on - but I am not guaranteeing it.

I'll Take One of These...

Okay apparently I'm way behind on the times and have no idea what the obsession/fad/thing is with the "Keep Calm and...".  Sorry I don't get out much and have no idea what goes on in pop culture so feel free to clue me in.

Well any-who... I LOVE this onesie and I think I might just get one. Kinda disappointed baby numero 3 and I won't be able to participate in the Big Latch this year... this baby needs to bake well into October or early November. R and I did last year - maybe this baby will still be nursing come time for Big Latch 2014. If you are a nursing mom and can participate... Totally recommend it. Nursing moms who are complete strangers always have a MILLION things to talk about so get out and socialize at the very least : )

Maybe I'll even giveaway a onesie or toddler shirt away just to support the cause... Anyone up for it?

Giveaway Update...

Okay I promise I will tally the vote for the April giveaway - I think there were five. Come on people all you have to do is answer one silly question! Well at 20% odds more power to the people who did vote!

I decided to change things up a bit. I'm going to use Rafflecopter because I think its pretty interesting and I have entered a few giveaways with it and its super easy. So I giving it a whirl this month. We'll see how it goes