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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Quiet

..."prayer was irreplaceable for her.  Besides Gianna was very attentive and did not do things by halves.  She committed herself to her duties completely.  She had also been formed by loving sacrifice and demonstrated that she knew how to sacrifice herself for love.  Gianna was a woman of few words who avoided gossip and silliness on principle.  This is a family virtue -- her brothers and sisters don't like to talk a lot.  However, when there was something to do, a service to perform, a hand to lend, then Gianna was always ready, available."
--From Saint Gianna Molla (emphasis in bold is mine)


How I long to be this sort of woman.  
For my family, for my soul.
Would it be an oversimplification for me to suggest that this one virtue would change the world?  
How lost we are, as daughters, mothers, friends, and sisters, when we can't recognize the value of disciplined, respectful quiet.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Happy Birthday Peyton!

 the birthday boy, the brothers, and a last-minute friend guest


 the light saber cake



the decorations (by Blake and Owen), me mopping in my apron at the last minute, grandpa,
and proof that I need to double check the result when I ask that someone get a picture of the decorations.

Happy 8th Birthday, Sweet Peyton!!

Friday, January 27, 2012

(my first!) 7 Quick Takes Friday

 


one.

I've been wanting to give 7 Quick Takes a try for a while now.  Here goes!




 two.

I told my husband recently that I'm going to call his grandma and ask her to teach me how to cook.  It's not what you're thinking.  His grandma always worked while they were raising their 9 children, and I think because of the  lack of time this created, she's famous for serving convenience foods.  Mr. Smith spent a lot of time over there growing up, and he remembers $1 frozen pizzas and salisbury steak t.v. dinners quite well.  I've set a different standard for my family and, for better or worse, now they expect it.  My exhaustedly-pregnant self told him that one of these nights I'm going to throw some tater tots on a pan, boil a package of hot dogs, and call it dinner.  He looked pretty appalled.



three.

I bought some new clothes.  This is a pretty rare occurrence around here, but I was starting to feel uncomfortable in my regular clothes.  I wasn't quite ready to break out the maternity yet, so I was trying to bridge the gap with a couple of shirts from the "regular" department that are cut a bit more generously.  I found a blouse I liked that was not like anything I have already, but I thought I could pull it off.  It's more of a trendy style, with multi-colored stripes.  I took the plunge and brought it home.  I got dressed for Mass on Sunday and put it on for the first time.  Blake (you know, 12 year old boy, wears the same jeans with a rotation of 3 t-shirts continuously, has never once noticed clothing of any kind, much less given an opinion on it) walks into the kitchen, takes one look at me, and says, "WHAT are you WEARING?!".  
Are you kidding me?  Really helpful for the self-confidence.



four.

I was able to hear this little peanut's heartbeat at a regular OB appointment this week.  It took the doc a minute to find it, but there it was!  So exciting.  I'm not repulsed by most foods anymore, and my energy is coming back slowly but surely.  Second trimester, here I come!



five.

Do you realize that January is almost over already?!  WHERE does the time go?  I can practically smell Spring.  Practically.



six.

 

 Have y'all seen this?  Hilarious.  That's exactly what I look like when I remember.
I'd love to give credit for it, but I just copied it off of facebook, no idea whose it is originally.



seven.

Speaking of ...(sigh)... facebook, I absolutely hate it.  I really do.  The minute I start to think I like it and I might start using it more, I get offended/annoyed by ten things in a row on there and I want to delete my account immediately.  I actually just kind of ruined my good mood just going on there for that picture.  The first "story" by a family member seriously hurt my feelings!  I never would have known anything about it if it weren't for facebook, and I would have been better off.  I have lots more thoughts on this, for another day.  I think me and facebook are going to part ways soon.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!


Go visit the fabulous Jennifer Fulwiler for more Quick Takes!