Things do happen

Addie has been having an exciting week with all her playgroups. One playgroup visited a naval museum and had lots of kid-friendly activities about boats. The picture above is of her doing "ceramics" at the library with our homeschooling group. And we played musical chairs at our parish playgroup.

We've also tried to counterbalance these activities and other million projects I get into my head with downtime at home. The first picture is of Sunday reading time with my mom who was visiting. We've also done some cuddling on the couch. Some days I feel really tired and the worst is having to chase Addie around outside, pull her this way and that... and even carry her. She's a terrible walker. She walks a little and then has to inspect a rock or go a different direction or just lay down on the floor and yell "uuuupaaaa", which means pick me up. We're trying to work on this walking deal before baby arrives in June.

I keep on trying to remind myself that God really answers prayers and really has my lifeplan covered. I get really frustrated with our life conditions some days, but when I remember to simply ask God for things, give Him all my worries, even though I sound like a whiner, He really does take care of things. It just takes a year sometimes. Or three. But things happen! It's so hard to remember.

Birthday picnic

Today is sweet Addie's second birthday, but we celebrated last Saturday while my mom was still here. We were late to the party we were hosting, and then we started getting rained on and had to move the party home, but it was still fun. Especially for Addie, who was super happy.

I made chocolate chip cookies with m&ms, banana cake with sprinkles and Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Strawberry Nutella cake. As with all of Pioneer Woman's dessert recipes, it turned out amazing. I only used half of the whipped cream and strawberries she called for. It is not an ideal cake to take anywhere, especially to a picnic, because of the whipped cream, but it's delicous.

We were able to do an Easter egg hunt, which I wasn't able to do on Easter day, and that was the highlight of the party for the kids. Addie has to say about her birthday, "Happy birfday choco" and "choco in Easter eggs".

Food for thought for stay-at-home moms (and all moms)

"Part of this daily heroism is also the silent but effective and eloquent witness of all those 'brave mothers who devote themselves to their own family without reserve, who suffer in giving birth to their children and who are ready to make any effort, to face any sacrifice, in order to pass on to them the best of themselves'. In living out their mission 'these heroic women do not always find support in the world around them. On the contrary, the cultural models frequently promoted and broadcast by the media do not encourage motherhood. In the name of progress and modernity the values of fidelity, chastity, sacrifice, to which a host of Christian wives and mothers have borne and continue to bear outstanding witness, are presented as obsolete ... We thank you, heroic mothers, for your invincible love! We thank you for your intrepid trust in God and in his love. We thank you for the sacrifice of your life ... In the Paschal Mystery, Christ restores to you the gift you gave him. Indeed, he has the power to give you back the life you gave him as an offering'.

-Evangelium Vitae, n. 86, St. John Paul II

For Christian families

"Pelas famílias cristãs, para que o Cordeiro pascal, que é a nossa vida, as alimente com o seu Corpo e o seu Sangue, oremos."

For Christian families, that the Paschal lamb, who is our life, may feed them with His Body and Blood, we pray to the Lord."

- from the Prayer of the Faithful at Easter Mass, here in Portugal

This prayer was very touching for me during mass. I am realizing how much the family is the nuclear unit of society, as St. John Paul II says in so many documents. And how much the family needs to be supported and helped. We are a young family, setting building blocks and taking our first steps, and we are so thankful for all the guidance we have had through Christ and his real, personal Church.

So it is touching to think of the Israelites organizing themselves by families on the night of the Exodus and the Passover lamb being their sustenance.

We too were strengthened and supported this Easter vacation with our trip to the country with another family. We hiked, painted and played games, but also prayed together, shared life together and went together on this journey filled with trials and tribulation, on our way from slavery to freedom, like in Exodus, with Christ as our Lamb.

Article at IgnitumToday

    

The Key to Happiness: Relationships

A while back a friend sent me a TED talk about a study on happiness. The results did not surprise me, but confirmed exactly what I’ve been pondering on for the past few years: relationships are what make us happy, their quality and quantity. I would add even more to that: relationships are what we are here on this Earth for.



Keep reading at http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2016/03/31/the-key-to-happiness-relationships/