Natural Family Planning. It's a practice, a lifestyle, so to speak, that is very unknown in our culture and society today. And for us, Catholics, it's even rare to have heard much about it that's positive. Mr. ADM and I are working with an NFP (natural family planning) instructor to give our second talk on this subject matter to engaged couples who will be getting married in the Catholic Church. As I've been thinking about how to make our talk so much better the second time around, I happened to see this blog post, Simcha Fisher's Why Doesn't the Church Just Make a List?, on a few of my friends' Facebook pages. And it is a really superb article on certain aspects of NFP. It opened my eyes and really made me see a whole different side.
As I was reading this last night, my head was filling up with all sorts of great things to say that we missed the last time around. Then, today, she wrote this for the NCRegister which talks about God's will. Wow. Please, take some time to check out both! It'll be worth the extra 10 minutes!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Oh, Etsy!
Mr. ADM is 100% convinced we are having a girl. Okay, maybe 99.9% convinced. But convinced nonetheless. So is Matthew. When we mention the possibility of having a boy, he shakes his head fiercely and says, "No. I am having a baby sister and her name is..." Mark doesn't understand much of this whole baby-business yet.
With my pregnancy reaching its halfway point (wahoo!), Mr. ADM has begun to not only let me start buying a few girl items here and there, but has been the one to suggest it. Yep. Regardless, I don't know any families who have more than 4 kids that are all the same gender, so I figure my chances are pretty high at eventually having a girl. These items will not go to waste! Because we are on a budget and I don't want to go overboard anyway (well, I do, but I also want to be practical), we've bought her clothes gently-used and I have only picked up one headband and one set of barrettes. That doesn't mean I don't sometimes daydream on Etsy. So, I thought I'd post something a little fun and show you a little of what I've been daydreaming about...
With my pregnancy reaching its halfway point (wahoo!), Mr. ADM has begun to not only let me start buying a few girl items here and there, but has been the one to suggest it. Yep. Regardless, I don't know any families who have more than 4 kids that are all the same gender, so I figure my chances are pretty high at eventually having a girl. These items will not go to waste! Because we are on a budget and I don't want to go overboard anyway (well, I do, but I also want to be practical), we've bought her clothes gently-used and I have only picked up one headband and one set of barrettes. That doesn't mean I don't sometimes daydream on Etsy. So, I thought I'd post something a little fun and show you a little of what I've been daydreaming about...
Adorable felt hairbows by SweetyBaby.
Diaper bag by Hot Mama Handbags.
Colorful tutu by Trinity's Tutus.
Adorable tiny shoes by Fiesta Kids Boutique.
Let's not forget a cloth diaper, of course! By Woolly Bums.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Making a House a Home
Mr. ADM and I have moved 6 times now in the 4 1/2 years that we have been married. I joke that I'm a nomad, to which I usually get a shake of the head from him. Mr. ADM was born and raised in one single house. His family never moved while he was around. His first move was to college, 2 hours away. Then, he met, fell in love with and married me.
I grew up moving. I've lived all over the eastern half of the United States. I even spent a semester abroad in Austria. I can't say I love moving around, but I'm used to it. I never imagined I'd be moving around so much in my adult life, but I am not completely surprised either. The good part of all of this is that we have stayed in the same general area, but we're both hoping that this will be our residence for the next 2-3 years.
With all this moving, one can see that we've also yet to actually own any place we've lived. And with renting, it is not always easy to personalize as one would like. I have certainly had moments of frustration and impatience to owning our own home when trying to make our place unique and truly "ours." We just recently moved into our new apartment. In fact, it's been just over a month. We love where we live, but it's been a slow move. Since Mr. ADM is a teacher, we have always moved in the middle of summer in the past. This particular move was not planned but something we had to do, so mid-January it was! With Mr. ADM being the organized one in our marriage and two little boys in combination with part-time work AND an exhausting pregnancy, things did not get unpacked and organized within a matter of days. We still have a couple boxes that need to be emptied, but we've finally whittled down to only 2 :)!
My point? We've had bare, blank walls staring at us for this entire month. And it's not something we're accustomed to. The one thing we've always been allowed to do is hang pictures. Until this move, I never really realized how much pictures can personalize a space. Mr. ADM was busy hanging pictures, crucifixes and a few other items all afternoon and once he was finished, he had a huge grin on his face. He breathed a sigh of relief and said to me, "This finally feels like home."
What ways have you turned your house into a home?
I grew up moving. I've lived all over the eastern half of the United States. I even spent a semester abroad in Austria. I can't say I love moving around, but I'm used to it. I never imagined I'd be moving around so much in my adult life, but I am not completely surprised either. The good part of all of this is that we have stayed in the same general area, but we're both hoping that this will be our residence for the next 2-3 years.
With all this moving, one can see that we've also yet to actually own any place we've lived. And with renting, it is not always easy to personalize as one would like. I have certainly had moments of frustration and impatience to owning our own home when trying to make our place unique and truly "ours." We just recently moved into our new apartment. In fact, it's been just over a month. We love where we live, but it's been a slow move. Since Mr. ADM is a teacher, we have always moved in the middle of summer in the past. This particular move was not planned but something we had to do, so mid-January it was! With Mr. ADM being the organized one in our marriage and two little boys in combination with part-time work AND an exhausting pregnancy, things did not get unpacked and organized within a matter of days. We still have a couple boxes that need to be emptied, but we've finally whittled down to only 2 :)!
My point? We've had bare, blank walls staring at us for this entire month. And it's not something we're accustomed to. The one thing we've always been allowed to do is hang pictures. Until this move, I never really realized how much pictures can personalize a space. Mr. ADM was busy hanging pictures, crucifixes and a few other items all afternoon and once he was finished, he had a huge grin on his face. He breathed a sigh of relief and said to me, "This finally feels like home."
What ways have you turned your house into a home?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Is It REALLY February already???
I can't believe it! It's been almost 3 months since I've last posted! My, how time flies!
Just a short update to let you know we've been busy! I began working part-time in December. We moved (again) in January. And we're still unpacking. And catching up with laundry.
I went to the doctor and found an ob who does homebirths and so we're hoping this little one makes it to 37 weeks so I can experience my first homebirth!
Updates to come...and some thoughts to ponder as well.
Just a short update to let you know we've been busy! I began working part-time in December. We moved (again) in January. And we're still unpacking. And catching up with laundry.
I went to the doctor and found an ob who does homebirths and so we're hoping this little one makes it to 37 weeks so I can experience my first homebirth!
Updates to come...and some thoughts to ponder as well.
Friday, December 3, 2010
7 Quick Takes Vol 9
1. Today is my younger son's 2nd birthday! Happy birthday Mark! You have filled our world with smiles and snuggles and we are so blessed to have you in our lives!
2. Along with this wonderful celebration, our family has been excited in finding out that we are expecting baby #3! The baby is due August 4th and I began my morning sickness the day we found out. One of the few times I truly feel blessed to be somewhat sick, although this might be a lesson in finding redemptive suffering in all times of pain.3. Advent has begun! It is not always easy to remember with all the celebration that is taking place everywhere you go that Christmas begins on the 25th and that this time is our time in the desert to prepare, but it's one that Mr. ADM and I want to practice, remember and show our boys. Because of the pregnancy, I have not had the energy to do everything I'd like for this time, but we do have our Advent wreath up (along with our creche minus Jesus and the wisemen). The beautiful reflections from our beloved Pope Benedict XVI have helped guide us along this path. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).
4. Along with Advent and working on my store, sewing, I have been organizing and preparing for a wonderful event that is happening this Wednesday! We call it A BIG Fundraiser for little Logan. If you live in the area, please stop by and help a really great family who is near and dear to my heart. To find out more visit http://www.prayforlogan.com/.5. Also, tomorrow our family will be attending a beautiful Christmas performance by the dance studio where my sister dances. It's called The Promise and tells the Christmas story through dance. Once again, if you are in the area and get a chance, this is a performance you don't want to miss - more information at http://www.turningpointedance.org/.
6. We had our first snowfall this week! I was so excited that I jumped out of bed and opened the curtains in the living room where we have our biggest window and got the boys to come over and we all ooohed and ahhhed. I hope my children have a love for snow like their mama. It was only a small dusting, but the weatherman says some heaftier accumulation tonight! We may have to dig for those snowboots tomorrow morning! Mr. ADM and I always burst out into the "Snow" song from White Christmas whenever it snows - I love our tiny tradition :).
7. I am determined to make it out to the Christkindl Market in Chicago this year. No and's, if's or but's about it. I've wanted to go for the past 3 years, since I discovered it and just have never made it to the city. I spent a semester studying abroad in college in a little town in Austria. Because I went my fall semester, I was able to take part in many Advent/Christmas traditions in that country - including several different Christkindl markets! I've been told that this one is great, so I'm really looking forward to it! Not only that, but I'm going to meet up with some wonderful friends who have been through my journey of motherhood the whole way through :).
God bless and have a great week!
For more 7 Quick Takes, stop by http://www.conversiondiary.com/!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Writer's Block
I am not a naturally-gifted writer. The parts of English I aced were all math-related - grammar and writing objective essays. When it comes to being creative, my gifts lie in the areas where you tell me to make something, give me a pattern/a piece of music, and then I make it/play it/do it. Somedays, I think to myself, "Why did I ever decide to have a blog of my own?" I think it's because I hope for that creativity.
I do know I'm gifted. God blessed me with many talents. I love to play music and create things with my hands. I love being a mother and a wife. I love dancing, shopping (does that count as a talent?), and listening. Sometimes, I need to remind myself of that. But that doesn't mean this blog is going away. It just means that I need to stop telling myself I don't have the ability or talent to keep a blog going - I just need to go back to where my talents are and find some way to post it on this website :).
Happy and blessed Advent all!
I do know I'm gifted. God blessed me with many talents. I love to play music and create things with my hands. I love being a mother and a wife. I love dancing, shopping (does that count as a talent?), and listening. Sometimes, I need to remind myself of that. But that doesn't mean this blog is going away. It just means that I need to stop telling myself I don't have the ability or talent to keep a blog going - I just need to go back to where my talents are and find some way to post it on this website :).
Happy and blessed Advent all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)