Out of Touch...

I have been more than a little out of touch with writing on my blog.  While being blessed to spend two weeks this past summer with my Mom, Dad, and siblings in Indiana...my Mom commented about how I've stopped writing.  My initial goal in writing this blog was for my family.  Then it turned into adding in my passion for cooking and baking.  Ultimately, I want it to reflect God in me.  So, "While I'm Waiting," I've come to the realization that I need to be more thankful for what God sends me each and every day.  I just looked at what I started writing back on June 15 of this year.  Lots of wonderful memories that I still want to share...so here it goes....

Old Draft from June 15, 2012:  The crocuses are long gone, turkey season is coming to a close this Saturday, and the trees are all filled with luscious green leaves. What does all this mean...for me it means so many memories, and much to be thankful for.  On April 23, I received a wonderful gift.  Picture it, the second Junior Hunting Day before the opening day of turkey season.  David and I are out of the rack before 4 that morning, to meet our friend/guide for a fun filled morning.  We went to at least half a dozen private land spots that John had to choose from.  At our first spot, we heard gobblers in the roost, and once they hit the ground (at approximately 5:30 am) it sounded like they were headed in our direction.  Nope, they found a hen and she took them away. That's the way it goes sometimes!  So, off we go to another spot.  At a few places, we would basically be running and gunning (ie, walking along an area we think there may be turkeys, give a couple hen calls with a mouth call, and wait...wait to see if there was an interested gobbler out there....if we don't hear anything, then we move on.) Yes, we got a workout on that early April 23 morning! As the morning progresses, we walked into a tree farm and were talking over where or it we're going to set up.  To our surprise.....all of a sudden we hear a gobbler strutting his stuff, and looking for love. Off we go, to the edge of the woods, get situated, and start calling.  Tom makes his way across the field (out of our sight), but gobbling all the while.  After a couple minutes, David whispers loudly to me, "There he is, Mom! Right over there!"  This was a very smart gobbler, for he always stayed just far enough out of range for David to take a shot. As the time got closer to 9:30 that morning, after all of our attempts at David getting a turkey (remember, it's Junior Hunting Day, which means that only hunters under 16, that have successfully passed the Conservation Education Firearms Safety program, and have a current turkey hunting license for the property type you are hunting on {private or state land}, so this is just for the kids, and us grown-ups just sit back and take it all in!) seemed to lessen.  I could tell he was getting a bit discouraged, but our friend, John, had one more trick up his sleeve. So we started heading back to his house, and came to a farm where John had received permission to hunt.  As we drove to the back of the property, he saw a gobbler running to the east.  We turned the car around, and headed about 500 yards down the road, parked the car, grabbed our stuff, and quickly walked up the hill to see if Mr. Gobbler had any interest in meeting us. {WINK!} David and John each took turns using their mouth calls.  To our surprise, there were 3 turkeys just behind where we had set up.  Each time John or David would call, they would answer but never came in.  We could tell that they were getting closer, but never close enough for us to actually see them.  We figured out why quite soon.  The gobbler we had seen running across the field was a dominate bird.  This means that younger birds will stay away, unless they want to fight for the hen.  Off in the edge of the treeline we saw Mr. Gobbler in full strut and looking for this hen that had called him all the way through the woods. Slowly he made his way toward up, came up a small hill, and puffed up making ready to fight the jake decoy. Before he got the chance, David took him out.  Here are a couple pictures of the proud hunter...

Back to present day...October 11, 2012...

How am I thankful for what God sends me each day....I'm thankful that my husband turned a 4 day visit to see my Mom, Dad, siblings, cousins, and friends in Indiana to a 2 week trip.  I'm thankful that my husband said "YES" to my going to San Antonio, Texas for an additional week to see our daughter, Beth, and to go to my first ever ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) Retreat.  I'm thankful that I got to see my Mom and Dad for two weeks.  I'm thankful for the family that my daughter Beth has adopted as her second family.  I'm thankful that Beth is in San Antonio, which I know is an answer to the many prayers that have been offered, and continue to be offered, for her.  I'm thankful we were able to go the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and the Tower of Americas.  (Although, I'm not so thankful for the feeling of fear when you're 750 feet off the ground and looking out at the city.  Can you tell I'm not a heights person?!) I'm thankful that our washer broke down for 2 weeks so that I was able to spend some great quality time with both of my daughters.  Yes, it may seem crazy saying that, but Beth was visiting us for just over a couple of weeks.  Beth, Laura, and I had to make a trip to the laundromat twice during her trip. We had some great pizza, laughter, and lots of smiles!  So, for all of that I'm truly thankful.  I'm thankful that my husband wasn't seriously hurt on his way to work yesterday when his tire went flat.  We found out that the struts were completely shot on the car, and the mechanic was amazed that the car has been driven this long without something going seriously wrong.  I'm thankful for marrying the most loyal, honest, trustworthy, faithful, hard working mad in the world.  I'm thankful for my beautiful children that God has blessed our marriage with.  I am thankful that our bills are paid, we have a roof over our heads, clean clothes on our backs, and food to eat.  Most importantly, I'm thankful for the unselfish love I receive from my children.

Thank you, God for this beautiful day....and Your many beautiful gifts!  They help to make our lives more bearable.  May God bless you and yours abundantly!



My husband sent this to me the other day.  He came across it while looking over one of his favorite websites: http://www.economicnoise.com/

This was too close to home to ignore....

Please pay special attention to Scenario #6, after Obama's announcement today with regard to amnesty to all the illegal aliens.

HIGH SCHOOL — 1958  vs. 2012 

   
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands  and end up buddies.
2012 - Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark.  They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:  
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1958 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.                 
2012 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin.  He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.  

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.                 
1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.  
2012- Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse, Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.   

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1958 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2012- The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.                  
Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2012 - Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a  requirement for graduation is racist.  ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.                   

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant  bed.  
1958 - Ants die.
2012 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism.  The FBI investigates his parents – and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.                  

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee.  He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.  
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.                 
2012 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Scenario 1:
Jack goes duck hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2012 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and  never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors  called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, I would like to share with you parts of a speech that I was honored to deliver at the Memorial Day Ceremony on May 29, 2006.....

 "I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  So help me God."

The words I just read to you are the Oath that is recited by an individual enlisting in the United States military.  Many young lives have been sacrificed to sanctify this oath.

On this special day, I wanted to share the History of Memorial Day, and what this day means to me.  Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

This day is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.  Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetary.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.  By 1890, it was recognized by all of the northern states.  The holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war after World War I.  It is now celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead.

 In 1915, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

          We cherish too, the Poppy red
          That grows on fields where valor led;
          It seems to signal to the skies
          That blood of heroes never dies.

Flag etiquette for the day is half-staff until noon.

United States Marine Corporal Stephen Bixler (from Suffield), age 20, was killed on May 4, 2006, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Araq.  His Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. James Bright said of this young Maine, "He died fearlessly leading and willingly sacrificing his own safety for those around him."  The closing words of Stephen's pastor, Rev. Michael Dolan, at graveside should be heralded from shore to shore: "Do not squander the time given to you by God or the freedom preserved by this Marine's life."

As is tradition, at Marine Corporal Stephen Bixler's interment at Arlington, a Final Roll was called.  Three times his name was called out.  Three times it was met with silence.  His final farewell was the trumpeting of "Taps," the traditional words of which I quote:

Verse 1: Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.

Verse 2: Fading light, Dims the sight, And a star, Gems the sky, Gleaming bright, From afar, Drawing nigh, Falls the night.

Verse 3: Thanks and praise, For our days, Neath the sun, Neath the stars, Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

May we take a moment in prayer today to remember those who have sacrificed unselfishly for this great country of ours, as well as their families who are left behind.  We are the land of the free, because of the brave!  Thank you.

God bless America!

Day of Thanksgiving

With the way that the country is going, the demand by the Government that Catholic employers provide for services that are contrary to Church teaching, the high price of gasoline at the pumps, or just pushing to get through another homeschooling day....today was a day that God placed into my heart many of the people, places, or incidences that make today another day of Thanksgiving.

If I were to ask Tim...he would say that we should be thankful to the Lord for everything that we have, and don't have.  The things we have "asked" for, but have not received is because that particular thing wasn't good for our souls.  God is in charge!  We have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, our beautiful children, and plenty of food to eat.  Most importantly, we know that God is in charge of it all!

I have had the blessing to see and reflect upon many things to be thankful for....

• Walking barefoot on a sun warmed sidewalk
• Hearing a gobbler echo his call in the still forest, while hunting with my husband or son
• Seeing a sunset on a cloudless summer evening

• Watching the flag of our free Nation waving in the breeze
• Hearing the symphony of springtime birds singing their melodies
• Standing with my children to admire the double rainbow in the eastern sky after a brief rainfall

• Low tide at Rocky Neck State Park with a two month old baby boy asleep in the nursing sling, holding hands with my Honey, while we watch the rest of our children splash and play in the waves
• Making homemade potato dough with Michael, that we turned into cinnamon rolls for the rest of the family

• The beauty of a turkey fan proudly mounted by my taxidermist wanna be, David
• Hearing the sweet laughter of my children

I am certainly guilty of not thanking God each and every day for the blessings of.....my wonderful husband, who tries to keep me encouraged to loose those 5 last pounds that just keep hanging on...to the beautiful Faith that He has given to me.....to the unexpected sweetness from my children at no particular time (a hug, kiss, or just 'I love you, Mom!')....to a phone call to a dear friend to catch up.  She reminds me that God is in control and that we should just be thankful for every moment.  She's right!
 

Today, I noticed that the lilacs and tulips are starting to bloom.  Beautiful purple flowers are appearing in the ground covering and all over the yard (with the dandelions!)

And the forsythia is going from that beautiful, spring yellow, color to a deep green.  The dwarf cherry trees are blossoming.  What a beautiful time of year!

Laura's flowers, for her 4H project, are starting to emerge from the potting soil.  The welcome colors from all of the flowers she planted (marigold, pansy, morning glory, and lupine) will arrive after most of the springtime colors are a mere memory.

Thank you, God for this beautiful day....and Your many beautiful gifts!  They help to make our lives more bearable.

May God bless you and yours abundantly!

So Thankful....

In the past few days, God has truly shown me that I am blessed much more than I deserve.  Opinions, given to me freely in the past has been to the contrary.  People seem to think that I deserve to have God's blessings...me, a sinner.  I disagree.

My husband, who is the hardest working man I have ever met in my life, is a truly blessing from God, as well as an answer to my prayers.  I could not hand pick a better father for my children. God did that for me!

And the children that He has blessed our marriage with, He did that for us.

Last week, my iPhone died. No explanation. It just died. After getting it sent off, a new one came in and needed to be picked up.  So, Tim and Laura headed off to Best Buy.  On their way home, the right rear sway arm on the '93 decided to break.  Laura was driving, and told Dad that he could finish the drive the rest of the way home.  They "babied" the car home, never getting above 20, to keep the car from bouncing.

 

The 'normal' 30 minute drive took them over an hour. They arrived home safely, thanks be to God! What amazes me, too...is that when you look at the picture you wonder how long this sway arm has been hanging on by a thread! I thank God that Tim was with Laura in the car, and that she was not driving on the interstate. The possibilities of what could have happened are replaced with the joy that no one was hurt when this happened!

A few hours later, I'm making my Mom's potato salad for Tim to take to work today.  Matthew thoroughly entertained Laura and me with the Lady of Fatima statue from the All Saint's Altar. Between the smelling of the cooked potatoes I was peeling, to the "Mmmmmm!", to his hugging or kissing the statue....each moment was truly precious!

Thank you Lord, for your many blessings. In closing, I would like to share something I feel that is so important as St. Stephen Harding shows by his example:

We might not think about it much, but it's important to spend some quiet time each day listening to God who speaks in our hearts.  St. Stephen knew that this is why some silence in our lives is important. We can ask him to remind us to sometimes turn off our TV's, CD players, and computers to spend time listening to and talking to God!

This is something that I certainly need to work on! May God bless you and yours abundantly.

Beautiful Saturday.....

We were truly blessed today with beautiful weather! The temperatures easily hit 70 today, and at last glance the temperature is about 66. My iPhone died earlier this week, so I borrowed Tim's phone to take pictures of the children playing in the garden.....

Watching the chickens in their yard pecking the ground, or dust bathing.....

Trying to re-attach the garden gate door....all by himself.....

Seeing the beginnings of the rhubarb.....

Or attempting to play ball with the Kipper.....

Some of our potatoes (Yukon Gold's) are planted in the garden, along with some carrots, and onions.  Please, Lord, bless our crops abundantly!

As I was going through the photos on Tim's phone, I came across several that are just a few of my favorites. These pictures remind me of how quickly each child changes, and to cherish every moment with them, for they will be grown and on their own before we know it.  Here are several of my favorites....I hope you don't mind my stroll down memory lane.............


Matthew enjoying the paddle from the mixer





(top/bottom, left to right)
David, Michael, Donald, John Paul





Beth




Matthew & Michael zonked out in the car



Sniff, sniff, sniff....MMMMM!



Matthew really likes flowers!




Laura & Matthew




Mom & Laura




(from left to right, clockwise)
John Paul, Mom, Laura, Michael, Matthew




(from top-clockwise)
David, John Paul, Matthew, Michael




Matthew & Michael




Here's some for you, Mom!



Mom & Matthew



Matthew Gerard...one day old





Matthew & Laura

Laura & Michael

Matthew up close and personal with the tree we're taking home

Mr. Fix-it!

David & Matthew

Matthew checking out an English saddle at the barn

Mr. Cutie!

Irwin 101...be the first child to ask Mom for the
paddle when you hear the mixer going

  

Play peek-a-boo with a curtain



Matthew & Laura



Grandma & Matthew




Laura & Molly







Beth & me with her Jake during a private guided turkey hunt

Picking out the Christmas Tree, December 2011

Beautiful Beth

Homeschoolers Checker Board
(Math graph paper, pencil, and Cheerios)

Your move, David!



Are you sure you want to make that move, John Paul?












May God bless you and yours abundantly!