• I was having a hard time during mass today.  The children were wonderful, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything.  Then came the gospel.  I’m a very visual person so it helps if I read along with the gospel instead of just listening. 

    And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend
    to whom he goes at midnight and says,
    ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
    for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
    and I have nothing to offer him,’
    and he says in reply from within,
    ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
    and my children and I are already in bed.
    I cannot get up to give you anything.’
    I tell you,
    if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves
    because of their friendship,
    he will get up to give him whatever he needs
    because of his persistence.

    I had one of those awesome "A-ha!" moments.  Persistence in prayer.  That’s what I’ve been missing.  I’ve not been conistent or persistent.  I had given up on certain things and God cleared my ears and my mind so that I could hear this message.  Then the gospel continues on with this:

    “And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
    seek and you will find;
    knock and the door will be opened to you.
    For everyone who asks, receives;
    and the one who seeks, finds;
    and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
    What father among you would hand his son a snake
    when he asks for a fish?
    Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
    If you then, who are wicked,
    know how to give good gifts to your children,
    how much more will the Father in heaven
    give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

    I couldn’t tell you what the rest of mass was like.  After this revelation, I continued to have concentration problems.  It was exacerbated by my daughter having to go to the bathroom, my youngest who was singing "Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!" after we were well beyond that point in mass, and my middle daughter telling me I was going to be doing something yucky soon (drinking the Blood of Christ–her innocence and belief is so pure!).

  • Today was one of those do whatever days.  Here’s a quick summary of our day.

    • Took older girls to purchase ballet stuff–leotards, tights, shoes, skirts.
    • Quick trip to school playground behind our house (yes, the irony has not escaped our notice) for bike/scooter riding, shooting hoops, and play.
    • Lunch
    • Went to Target to purchase adapter to put more air into basketball.
    • Treats at Starbucks.
    • Autism support group meeting.
    • Dash home to start a very late dinner.
    • Ate dinner.
    • Baths, dishes (broke one of my dishes–of course it’s discontinued).
    • Children to bed.
    • Computer time for me, decluttering in office between computer visits. 😉
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    Ben was given Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) today for his work at his current job.  He says it’s just one of those things you get each time you change jobs, but the way his boss described it, Ben did one heck of a job.  Congratulations, Major!

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    Pumpkin hated being up there with all those people watching.

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  • I don’t have much to say so I’ll give you a picture.

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    The children and their cousins after a fun filled day.

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    Here’s how it looked Friday afternoon as they were building. 

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    Storms clouds were threatening:

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    But we didn’t get rain (Thank you, God).  There was a gap between two storms and it went right over us. 

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    Ben hard at work.

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    Such good help!

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    Here’s the finished product.  Isn’t it wonderful?  Ben felt such a sense of accomplishment and I have to say I’m proud of him.  He and our friend, Carl, worked very, very hard.

  • Brother:  Mom, did God give you a new baby?

    Me:  No.

    Brother:  Then why is your belly huge?

    Disclaimer:  My belly is not huge, it’s just a bit out of shape.

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    These boxes are turning into these…

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    This particular tower will go up with the poles on the right going on top.

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    This is the corner of the yard the play structure is going in.  Between the two towers there will be monkey bars/swings.  The children are excited as am I.

    Thank you to our generous benefactor.

  • Kristen has a contest on her blog where readers could guess how much a rose breasted cockatoo she had seen cost.  Well, I guessed $2000…and won!!!

    The prize?  The best I could have ever received:  the rosary said for me and my intentions.

    Thank you, Kristen.