We have been sick with colds for over a week now. Nice, huh?!
One day we will all be doing better, and then the next we're all whining,
throwing tissues at each other, and snuggling in our bum clothes on the couch...
watching "Cars" of course. Because that's what boys do when they get sick.
And since I am outnumbered, there is no room for my vote to watch Food Network!
It is HARD to be patient, loving, and nurturing when your kids are crying
and wiping their snotty noses ALL OVER you and your furniture!
Praying for grace. I'm trying!!!
Unfortunately I am not as holy as God intends for me to be yet...
so instead of a HALO I've been wearing my favorite BANDANA around the house.
My kids think it's funny. My husband thinks I look like the karate kid.
So I am wearing:
{Jeans = thrifted & fit like a glove // gray hoodie = Target //
bandana = gift from husband when we were dating (AW!)}
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::: linking up with Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy //
Sarah from Tucker Up // Alisa from All Things Alisa :::
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...to bring you this REAL LIFE FASHION moment!!!
It's not always pretty and put together... but it is HELD together with lots of LOVE...
I am teaming up with the lovely Kristine over at Heart Shaped Sweat,
along with 23 other AMAZING bloggers, to bring you this giveaway!
$250 Visa. Enough said.
We will give you over 100 ways to enter.
I'm sure you can figure out the ways to spend the money!
... like take me on a shopping spree with you!!! *nudge nudge*
Start clicking and making friends!
HINT: If you haven't already - join me and the others on Google Friend Connect!
An easy way to organize and keep track of the blogs you LOVE and follow!
See the box to the right of this post? "Join This Site" - >>>> see it?!?!
Join and add your GFC "name" in the entry form below!!! Good luck, friends!!!
I was sharing with the kids about Lent and Jesus' sacrifice this week.
We talked about the "owies" He endured because He loved us THAT much.
... and still loves us that much ...
My Isaiah was touched.
He grabbed the crucifix, held it to his little chest, and whispered, "get better, Jesus."
I wondered for a brief moment if I had shared too much detail with him.
But he needs to know. Even at 2 years old, he needs to know NOW that he can be a
consolation to the heart of Jesus.
Simply arrange the clear tape in the shape of a cross with the sticky side UP.
Attach cardstock pieces to the edges for easy handling.
*SMASH* (that's what my boys did!) tissue paper shreds onto the tape!
Use scissors to trim the edges, attach twine and hang with mini clothespins. __________________________________________________
:: // negative space Scripture crosses // cardstock // paint tape //
hues of red coloring utensils // favorite "Jesus saves" Bible verses // ::
Cut out cardstock to fit frames. Arrange paint tape in the form of a cross.
Color in the exposed space and remove tape when finished.
Apply favorite Scripture passages on the cross beam.
:: Isaiah 53:5 // Colossians 1:13-14 // Luke 23:42 ::
:: // salt dough crown of thorns // 1 C. flour // 1/2 C. salt //
1/2 C. water // toothpicks // ::
Mix flour, salt, and water together to form a firm dough.
Roll into the shape of a crown. Add toothpicks for thorns.
Bake at 200 degrees for 2-3 hours.
We are helping relieve Jesus' suffering by removing a "thorn" when we
do a kind deed. The boys then receive a "jewel" for Jesus' crown...
which they promptly EAT!... as a visual reward of what is TRULY taking place!
Nathan and I decided that during Lent we would set aside 2 hours after Family Night
to have 1 hour of personal prayer time and then 1 hour to discuss, share, and pray together
about what the Lord has put on our hearts.
It was my holy husband's idea. Not even gonna pretend like I thought of that! Haha.
I'm all on board though. I appreciate, BEYOND WORDS, his spiritual leadership in our home.
And I hope that we are helping Jesus get better... just like Isaiah wished.
...doesn't mean that I don't desire to emanate beauty
- from the inside out -
"She is clothed with strength and dignity..." Proverbs 31:25
It doesn't mean that I have to cut my hair, throw away my make-up
and don the dreaded "mom jeans".
It doesn't mean that I don't want to have a good time, go out with the girls,
laugh til it hurts, or sleep until noon.
Just because I'm a mother doesn't mean I can't have a coffee break, paint my nails,
"get away" with my husband, or follow the dreams I've been chasing all these years.
Motherhood is what you make it.
"A mother is the one who understands everything and embraces each of us with her heart.
Today the world is hungrier and thirstier than ever for that motherhood
which physically and spiritually is woman's vocation..." Blessed Pope John Paul II
I'm trying to wear it well.
"Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her..." Proverbs 31:28
My husband and children are not "baggage" that I lug around in life.
I did not trade in my college degree, ideal job, or future plans for them.
I chose them. God chose them for me...
To be BEAUTIFUL extensions of my person.
To be the recipients of the gifts HE has given me.
They love, move, and grow with me.
They encourage, empower, and inspire me to go deeper,
climb higher, live with more laughter, share without holding back,
sacrifice like God is watching, and pour out all the beauty I've been given
- from the inside out -
And just because I'm a mother...
...I get to enjoy all of that!
"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30
God gave me a style and it's called {motherhood}.
I enjoy wearing {it} EVERY moment of EVERY day.
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::: linking up with Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy //
Sarah from Tucker Up // Alisa from All Things Alisa :::
__________________________________________ XOXO
A friend sent me a yummy looking recipe that I was able to tweak into something BEAUTIFUL
for my little family full of allergies!
This is PERFECT for no-meat Mondays... or Lenten Fridays...
or really whenever you feel like it!
I think Nathan said, "This is one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life."
Something like that. Followed by, "You are the best chef I've ever met!"
I'm not sure he's met many chefs... but I blushed!
I have a serious weakness for the olive bar. Don't judge.
It is not uncommon for me to have to re-route myself through the
grocery store to avoid this delicious temptation.
Look at this! Can you blame me?
Olive Bar Pasta
prepare: rice spaghetti noodles
(I used 12 oz.)(wheat would work just as well!)
saute: 1 red bell pepper, 1 medium red onion, 2 tbls. of minced garlic,
and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until "softer"
then throw in: all chopped - roasted red peppers, marinated olives,
bocchini mozzarella (we did a little - omit if dairy free),
1/2 C. tomato/basil sauce (I used Trader Joe's brand),
1 C. finely chopped baby kale or spinach, 1 tsp. dried basil, sea salt to taste
add: combine the heavenly vegetable mixture to your noodles.
watch: angels descend from heaven to join you for dinner.
thank: ME for this out of body experience you are going to have.
And my sweet friend over at Tamara's Camera who inspired this dish!
That's roasted brussels sprouts & carrots in the background + some fresh tomato on the side.
They are teaming up with me this month to bring you a DATING SERIES that literally left me speechless.
These are some beautiful, holy people with big hearts! I'm thankful they were willing to share!
I'll let them do the talking...
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Kyle and I have been dating for about 6 months now.
We met last summer at a friend's wedding! These friends just happened to be leading a mission trip to Africa
the following month that both Kyle and I were invited to go on. Although this was our first time meeting,
we didn’t really get to know each other until our month long adventure in Togo, Africa.
What was beautiful about getting to know each other in such a foreign atmosphere
(both in location and in culture) was that we knew our interest in each other was not
clouded or masked by first world luxuries or societal pressures -
I wasn’t wearing make-up or cute clothes, we didn’t have technology or social media...
Our mission in Africa allowed for us to grow in friendship first, putting ideas of potentially dating
out of our heads (easier said than done for a girl!), and placing our focus on working alongside
a community centered on Christ.
We have a deep desire to live our Catholic faith as radically as possibly.
All that we do should somehow relate to and reflect our Catholic-Christian roots.
We are constantly trying to think creatively and brainstorm ways in which we can bring
the teachings of Christ into everyday things, such as date night...
"The Corporal Works of Mercy are charitable actions by which
we come to the aid of our neighbor in bodily necessities." - Catechism of the Catholic Church #2447
This teaching is based off of Matthew 25:36-40: "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
In our Corporal Works of Mercy Date Series,
Kyle and I incorporate these actions into typical date night
activities by making dinner at home or going out to eat,
going to mass or doing a holy hour together, seeing a movie...
and also doing one of the ideas listed below!
1. Feed the hungry.
Contact your local soup kitchen and ask if there are any days where help is needed the most.
Volunteer to help pass out food to the visitors and take some time to talk with them, get to know them,
and spread Christ’s love! You could also donate canned goods to the local food bank.
2. Give drink to the thirsty.
This one can easily be included into volunteering at a soup kitchen, but a more creative way
to accomplish this work of mercy could be to set up a FREE lemonade stand during the summer!
Go to a local park or baseball diamond during a sporting event or a really hot day.
If you’re up for it, you could even do this during the winter, but use hot chocolate instead!
3. Clothe the naked.
Donate clothes to Goodwill or some other local thrift store.
You know those pairs of clothes in the back of your closet that you haven’t worn in a few years,
but just can’t seem to let go of? LET GO!
It will be freeing as well as beneficial to others who need them more than you do!
If you want to get really creative and think outside the box,
cover or flip inappropriate magazines in the grocery store.
The provocatively dressed women on the covers of the magazines need to be clothed as well.
4. Shelter the homeless.
Contact the local shelter and ask if there is any type of volunteer work you can do for them.
5. Visit the sick.
Bust out the arts and crafts and spend some quality time with your significant other,
or with your whole family, making cards for the elderly in the nursing home!
Ask your pastor if there are any people in particular that
could use a card and some friendly faces to brighten their day.
6. Visit the imprisoned.
Contact the local juvenile detention facility or prison and see what their rules are regarding visitors.
This one might be better if you get a few friends to join you as well.
Take some time to get to know and love them!
7. Bury the dead.
This one is a little trickier considering there is no way that we can
literally bury someone who has passed away.
However, we can certainly pray for those who have already died!
For me personally, my heart goes out to the innocent babies that will never have the chance to go on a date
because of the tragedy of abortion. We can actively take part is this work of mercy by praying in front of
an abortion clinic for the ones that have already been aborted and for God to graciously spare the lives
of the ones at risk. PRAY TO END ABORTION!
Saying a "walking rosary" is a beautiful way to spend quality time together
and get to know each other better on a spiritual level.
You can share your prayer intentions out loud and learn more about the things that
are important to each other. You can “bury the dead” by praying in a cemetery -
for the poor souls in purgatory - as well as the souls of people you know that have died.
One reason why the Corporal Works of Mercy is important to us is because
that is exactly what we were doing while in Africa!
For more ideas on how to actively take part in the Corporal Works of Mercy visit HERE!
It's weird to think that maybe someday I will get a Valentine that's not from my dad or grandparents!
Someday I will have my very own, handy dandy Valentine... all for myself!
... signed "with all my heart" on February 14th, 2003. I was 16 years old.
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I penned over 500 letters to my "future spouse" between the ages of 14 and 22.
500 letters. 1000+ pages. Lots of ink.
A series straight from my heart.
It became a bestseller on my wedding night when I presented my husband with this gift.
Hopes. Dreams. Lessons I learned along the way. Desires. Daydreams.
Ideas of what I was looking for. Regrets. Tears. Prayers. Love. Truth.
He got it all. The man of the letters.
______________________________________
I wonder what you look like, how you act, if you are funny, a leader, merciful...?
I can't wait to meet you. Maybe soon. Spring is almost here.
It is trying to come in, but keeps getting attacked by a sudden snow fall!
I hope you are well. I'm praying for you. I hope you are praying for me.
May God bless and protect you.
... signed "i love you" on April 3rd, 2002
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When I first met Nathan I didn't know.
I had no idea that he would be the one to receive all my letters.
We would be friends for almost 6 years before we'd say, "I do."
God knew. I know that God saw my willingness to trust in HIM -
my determined eagerness to be faithful to the man I would someday marry -
and He gave me all the desires of my heart...
"Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you all the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4
I am thankful to KNOW the "man of the letters" as my "husband" today.
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
You'll have to go check out Jen's work on Cartas de Amor over at Made By Girl
for more on LETTERS OF LOVE! It'll resonate with the romantic in you!
"Come here. Please let me wipe your face, Isaiah."
Creamy corn and roasted, red pepper soup had left it's mark all over his squishy, two year old cheeks.
He smiled, backed away, and wiped his soupy face all over the arm of my rocking chair.
I don't know if it was his defiance or the mess that made my blood pressure rise.
I washed his face anyway. Just to prove to him that I'm still in charge and momma WILL HAVE her way.
That's when I could feel the very last ounce of patience leaving my body today.
I'm not God - just the momma.
I found myself muttering to my Maker,
"I WANT to be holy, but these PEOPLE in my life... you know?!?!?"
There are ashes all over my forehead right now. Reminding me of my nothingness.
Shouting out, "YOU NEED A SAVIOR!"
The priest at Mass this morning reminded us that Lent is a time to EMPTY ourselves -
not as some pious act of trying to redeem ourselves or to "get straight" with God,
but so that there is ROOM for God to come in, purify, and LIVE.
What's in the way, Lord?
Apparently you want me to empty myself of IMPATIENCE - so that You can fill me with patience.
Maybe? I hope so. Because I need it. I'm asking.
After communion I told my littlest one that he should blow Jesus a kiss.
He said, "HUG."
I said, "Ok."
He then proceeded to hug ME.
Now I'm not claiming to be Jesus, but my heart melted and I could hear the Lord whispering to ME,
"Brittany, when you hug your child, you are hugging ME."
I instantly had visions of the every day "little things" with my children and almost cried.
"YOU are in those moments, Lord?"
Sometimes I stand around pouting over not having the kind of time or attention
with God that I USE to have... before kids and all.
But I realized this morning that He comes to me in the form of my children...
in the form of the craziness. In the form of creamy corn and roasted red pepper soup
marks all over my rocking chair and flying tortilla chips.
Yes, that is happening as I write. DEEP BREATHS.
I'm working on emptying myself so that Christ can fill me up.
Four years ago, on a cold February day,
I was headed to my job at the university I was attending.
I didn't make it to work that day.
My braked car was rear-ended by a non-attentive driver coming downhill.
He crashed into me somewhere between 35 and 45 miles per hour.
I blacked out for a moment.
I stumbled from my car and wandered into the road.
A man, I believe the one who hit me, grabbed my disoriented body
and asked me to sit down.
When the paramedics arrived they began the drill.
Question after question... I responded, but very slowly.
I couldn't remember the date. What was the date?!
The EMT held my head and told his partner that my forehead was seriously bruised.
I began to cry.
The fellow EMT smiled and said, "That's not bruising! She's a fish eater!"
As I finished wiping my tears I touched my forehead and began to laugh too...
It was ASH WEDNESDAY.
It is moments like these that remind us that we are temporal, and
that this life is passing more quickly than we'd like to admit.
I was shaken that day and reawakened to a deeper faith and trust in my God.
HE knows how many days I will be given.
It is up to ME to be READY when that time runs out.
With that, HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!!! Wooohoo! Party!!! Show me the cookies!
We are celebrating with PANCAKES! It is an old world tradition to make hearty
pastries, pies, doughnuts, etc. in order to purge the house of all the sugar,
dairy, coffee, meat, and other goodies that tempt.
>>> these shots are from a little "mardi gras" breakfast we had over the weekend! <<<
our favorite pancake recipe
How will you be preparing your heart to remember
the passion and death of our Lord this Easter?
How will you be purging and purifying your life?
How will you be meeting Jesus in the desert this Lent? Matthew 4:1-11
___________________________________________________ "Lent is like a long 'retreat' during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen
to the voice of God, in order to defeat the temptations of the Evil One.
It is a period of spiritual 'combat' which we must experience alongside Jesus,
not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith:
prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate
Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism."
- Pope Benedict XVI
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We've been gearing up with {hearts} and {x's & o's} over at our place
to give homage to the day we remember OUR VALENTINES!
Here are some fun, easy, kid-friendly ideas
you can use to add some :::PARTY::: to this week of LOVE!
::: coffee filter hearts / color with washable markers /
use a paintbrush dipped in water to create the tie-dye effect / dry and display :::
::: "I LOVE YOU" art / use paint tape to create shapes that you want to remain WHITE /
use coloring utensils on the space exposed / peel and frame / $4.00 white frames from Target :::
::: treats for my sweets / homemade-allergy friendly puppy chow with DIY labels :::
::: this is what happens when you don't give them a snack BEFORE the photo shoot begins!
bribery. it works. :::
::: heart shaped lunch / use a peeler & paring knife to create a lunch of "hearts" /
cucumbers + carrots + apples + strawberries + almond butter-cinnamon raisin bread (Udi's) /
$0.78 cookie cutter from Hobby Lobby :::
::: X's & O's / slate gray cardboard cut-outs / leftover from a $7.99 sheet I bought at Hobby Lobby :::
{ok, don't you want to smooch them?! they were killing me with the cuteness!}
The celebration of LOVE continues all week - right here at The Lily Field!
