So, yeah, I didn’t really get much progress on any of my sewing projects.   I tried to sew a pair of pants and I can’t get my sewing machine thread to sew anything — it just keeps breaking.   BUT I did get the towels cut to washcloth size, ready to be sewn and I finished the wall of photos above.

I bought the frames 2 Christmases ago, but the only one that ever made it up was the big one in the middle.   Early one morning, I pulled all the frames from various places and laid them all out on the floor.   Then I put them up on the wall.    I still need to make prints of photos in 5×7 and 4×6 since all of them are the stock photos that came with the frames but having them up feels like such a huge relief!

What have you gotten done this week?

This post is being linked to Tackle-It Tuesday @ 5 Minutes for Mom.

Image by CharlotteSpeaks♥{Charlotte.Morrall} via Flickr

In honor of my blogoversary coming up in August, I will be offering a giveaway during each week of the month.  Check in each week, or subscribe to find out what will be given away next!

See you then!

After reading the Apostolate of Holy Motherhood and hearing about the need for meditation and prayer, I became extremely interested in knowing more about it.   When the Catholic Company offered A Guide to Christian Meditation, I knew I had to take a look at it.

This book is very short (only 80 pages), very compact (about 4×6) and packed to the brim with great information about meditation.  John Bartunek, LC lays out a 4-step plan for meditation and describes each one so that it’s understandable.  He also addresses common problems people have while meditating as well as how to determine if it’s being fruitful.  Bartunek also includes a dialogue of how a personal meditation might look.   Best of all, he includes several prayers to use at the beginning and end.

If you are just learning how to enrich your prayer life, or like me, are easily distracted, this is a great book to have on hand during your prayer time.    I recommend it to anyone who would like a deeper relationship with God.

This review was written as part of the Catholic books reviewer program from The Catholic Company.

May Update

28. The Bible Blueprint by Joe Paprocki (4 stars – see my review here)
29. Summer of the Midnight Sun (Alaskan Quest #1) by Tracie Peterson (4 stars)
30. Land of My Heart (Heirs of Montana #1) by Tracie Peterson (3.5 stars)
31. A Dream to Call My Own (Brides of Gallatin County #3) by Tracie Peterson (3 stars)
32. Under the Northern Lights (Alaskan Quest #2) by Tracie Peterson (4 stars)

June Update
33.   Whispers of Winter (Alaskan Quest #3) by Tracie Peterson (4 stars)
34.   The Coming Storm (Heirs of Montana #2) by Tracie Peterson (3.5 stars)
35.   Touching the Clouds (Alaskan Skies #1) by Bonnie Leon (3 stars – see my review here)
36.  Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham, Jr (3.5 stars – see my review here)
37.  Scars & Stillettos by Harmony Dust (3 stars – see my review here)

July Update

38.  Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (4 stars – see my review here)
39.  To Dream Anew (Heirs of Montana #3) by Tracie Peterson (3.5 stars)
40.  A Guide to Christian Meditation by John Bartunek (3.5 stars – look for my review tomorrow!)

To see what others are reading, visit What’s On Your Nightstand @ 5 Minutes for Books!

Image by IIOC via Flickr

Yes, this is tuna noodle salad for picky eaters (i.e. me).  Believe it or not, my mom is even pickier than this!

Ingredients:

· 3 c. elbow noodles (uncooked)

· 1 lg. can of petite sweet peas (~15 oz.)

· 1 lg. can of tuna fish (~12 oz.), drained

· 4-6 eggs, hard boiled

· Miracle Whip

· Lemon Juice

Directions:

Boil water.   Cook eggs for approximately 20 minutes.   Pull eggs out and place in a bowl of water & ice to stop cooking process.

Place water back on stove and bring back to a boil.  Add noodles and cook per box directions.   Drain & place ½ in large bowl & leave other half in colander to cool.

Shell and cut eggs into small pieces. Add to (all) noodles.   Add tuna and peas.

In a measuring cup, combine 3 heaping Tablespoons of Miracle Whip with splash of lemon juice.  Mix thoroughly and add to noodles.   Repeat as necessary to coat generously.   Add enough to make it a little overkill the first day so that the leftovers aren’t dry.

Do you put tuna in your noodle salad? I thought they were all made that way until recently!

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Ever since I was a child, I LOVED to get mail.  These days, in additional to signing up for samples and coupons, I also love to participate in HSBA Post’s Homeschool Swap.   This time around my swap partner was Meghan who blogs at Strader Spiel.   Look at all the lovely things she sent!

Her care package included:

• All Natural Peppermint Spray
• a B or D homeschool game
• 2 kinds of tea
• some popcorn, and
• a little photo brag book.

Thanks, Meghan!!

If you are interested, the HSBA Post is starting another swap on August 14.   Be sure to check them out!

Image via Wikipedia

I apologize for being behind on my promised posting schedules, but well, I’ve been TRYING (poorly) to reorder my priorities.

I had planned on writing about three related devotions last month, during the month of the Sacred Heart.   Since this month is devoted to the Precious Blood, I thought it would still fit.

In the book, Apostolate of the Holy Motherhood, they recommend 3 devotions related to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

1. Practice of the Nine First Fridays, in reparation for sin
2. Wearing of the Sacred Heart Badge, and
3. Devotion to the Sacred Heart

In the book, Jesus appeared to Mariamante and said:

…Adore My Sacred Heart bruised for your iniquities.  Make recompense for your sins by this devotion and have life in the fullest through it.

My Mother’s heart will be your repose, the garden from which you adore your Heavenly Savior Who also rested there in life.  My Heart will free you from your troubles if you will abandon yourself to Me in this devotion.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart consists of consecration and reparation.   As a part of devotion to the Sacred Heart, you are expected to consecrate yourself to Him by acknowledging him as creator, repenting and resolving to serve Him.   You are also supposed to make reparations for the indifference and ingratitude given him by humanity.

Like all major devotions, there are some benefits:

• He will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
• He will establish peace in their homes.
• He will comfort them in all their afflictions.
• He will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
• He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
• Sinners will find in His Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
• Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
• Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
• He will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honored.
• He will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
• Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in His Heart.
• In the excessive mercy of His Heart that His all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in His disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. His divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

In order to receive these promises, you must receive frequent communion, observe the Nine First Fridays by going to Confession, receiving Communion and offering your prayers for the intention of the Holy Father (if public First Friday services are not available), going to Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays for an hour, and celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is Friday following the Second Sunday after Pentacost.

Some items of note regarding the devotional practices:

• Eucharistic Adoration is on Thursdays because that is the day when Jesus was in Gethsemani with the Apostles and asked them, “Couldst thou not watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37)
• You could also prepare for the Feast of the Sacred Heart by beginning a Novena on the Feast of Corpus Christi.

It’s not required as one of the practices of Devotion to the Sacred Heart, but there is also a Sacred Heart Badge that can be worn.  The full story of the history of the Sacred Heart Badge can be found here, but there is a partial indulgence offered for those who piously wear the badge and a say the Our Father, Glory Be, and Hail Mary, daily.

We may have missed the Feast of the Sacred Heart, but you can get the badge anytime and begin doing the Nine First Fridays and related devotions immediately.

Can you find time to go to confession once a month, daily mass once a month and spend an hour a week with the Lord?

My sister-in-law occasionally writes a post on Friday’s that she calls Finished Object Friday. I don’t know if she is posting it this week, but *I* am .

I have this huge stack of sewing projects that I’d love to have finished before the new baby comes.   And this doesn’t include things that I’d like to make, either, it’s just dealing with stuff I’ve started or need to repurpose into something I’d love.

Recently, I got some mending done.   Specifically, I mended a 3 inch long hole and a smaller 1 inch hole on the black skirt above; I mended a 2 inch hole in the black and brown skirt and I also sewed the button back on DH’s shorts.   Those shorts have been on my pile for almost 2 summers, I think.   I did these all by hand.   I also sewed the cover on my Christmas Binder closed because the glue doesn’t like my binder and cut out more “mommy cloth” pieces while watching Jungle Book with Lil’ Bit.

This is my list of UFO’s.   I’d like to knock or at least make substantial progress on one per week until they are finished:

• mend the hole in the baby pants and onesie.
• make washcloths from the poor quality holiday towels I bought (cut & hem)
• hem 4 pair of DH’s pants
• sew the hems on a 5th pair that is already cut & pinned
• fix the hole in my leather gloves
• make the hot pads from the cool fabric I bought this spring
• sew the 2 edges on a terry bag that I removed from a beach bag (I’ll explain when I do it).
• finish making “mommy pads”
• finish leg warmers
• finish rag rug
• sew mattress pad cover for camping
• finish placemats
• make duck cloth bag for rendezvous tent and floor.

It’s quite a list for someone who hates to sew, isn’t it?   Yeah, I think so, too.  Say a prayer for me and my sewing machine .

This post will be linked to Tackle-It Tuesday @ 5 Minutes for Mom.

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz was the most fabulous Christian historical romance I have read in a very long time.   The story begins with Morrow Little on her way back to her childhood home in Kentucky after spending time with her aunt in the city.   On her trip home, memories of the day her family was torn apart by Shawnee warriors come back to haunt her.   She is of marriageable age and because her father is ailing, she is forced to choose from several men, ranging from bad to worse.   She finds herself drawn to the most forbidden love of all.   Can she betray all she knows to marry the one she loves?

Laura Frantz did a masterful job of weaving such an intricate yet seemingly simple story that I instantly fell in love with (or hated, depending on her intentions) all the characters in the story.   I loved seeing the relationship between Morrow and her love develops, I loved how accurately she described the relationship with her friends after she returned, and most of all, I loved how she was able to put God into it without it feeling contrived or overdone.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great summer read!

Thanks to Revell for providing this book for review!

Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Image via Wikipedia

A few weeks ago, we went over the Prayer section of your household notebook.  This time, we will be looking at the Personal section of your notebook.

Anything related to your person should be in this section of the notebook.  In my personal notebook, I have my blogging schedule (because really, whose husbands or kids REALLY care about blogging) and notes.   I also have my gym class schedule, childcare hours at the gym, etc.

Here are some areas to consider when putting together the “taking care of you” section of your household notebook:

• Mom’s group schedules
• Mom’s Night Out dates
• Exercise schedules
• Spa or Salon information (hours, stylists, pricing, etc.)
• Hobby information (craft ideas, etc).

What other things would you add to this section of your household notebook that help you keep your sanity?