Behind on pictures!

I was just looking through a bunch of photos I uploaded, trying to find a couple from today, and realized I never shared the ones from Alex's first Communion! My sister managed to get a few good ones at church and I got a couple there and some fun ones at the party after.

You can barely make him out but that's Alex standing by the cross

Ethan :)

Jason, Alex and I

All the First Eucharist students with Deacon Dennis and Father Chris

Deacon Dennis, Alex and Father Chris

Jack didn't want to sit still for this one ;)

Finally a great picture of all 3 sitting together!

Alex, Jackson and Ethan

And...we're off!

My nephew Jake, reading to Jack (my dad and sister Heather are there too!)

Ethan had to sneak in to the picture, and I love the look on Jack's face here.

Jake, Jackson, Dad, Mom and soon-to-be BIL Matt

My beautiful (slightly) older sister, Heather Jean

Dad (Gale), Mom (Linda), BIL Matt, and his daughter (niece-to-be ;) ) Megan

Miss Julie!!! Matt's other daughter, another new niece-to-be, Ashleigh, and Ethan

Ethan and Miss Julie's nephew

Heather and Jake

Being silly ;)

Tired after a LONG day!

Here's some cub scout pictures too.

flag retirement in the winter

Alex at Blue and Gold

Dad and Alex

Dad H (Joe) and Alex

Getting his awards at Blue and Gold

Awards :)

More pics to come later!

Alex's First Communion

Today was a very special day for Alex! It was his First Communion. He woke up very excited.

My parents, my sister Heather, her fiance and their kids came to the house first thing this morning. Everybody except my dad went to Mass and Julie and her boys and nephew met us there. It was a wonderful Mass! Jason and I went with Alex when it was his turn to go up for Communion. He was nervous but excited. He remembered everything he was supposed to say and do. They had us get there a half hour early and the First Communicants went out and came in with the procession at the start of Mass, sat with us, then went back out for the offering - taking a loaf of bread for the food pantry - and then also went up with Father for the Our Father. Each child with their parents went one at a time before the rest of the congregation. My sister was able to snap a couple of pictures for us. :)

After Mass, we came back home and enjoyed sloppy joes, hot chicken sandwiches, veggies, chips, deviled eggs, baked beans, homemade lemonade and pop, and my sister's homemade brownies. Jackson was covered with food by the time he was done. All the big kids went outside and played for awhile and also in the basement after we cleaned up. Jason's family showed up and visited for awhile, before Jason and his dad took back the tables and chairs. It was funny, they accidentally forgot a few chairs, so Julie and I ran them up there. Jack had fallen asleep for a bit, so I made sure Jason's sister was ok with it before we left. We also had to make a quick drive to the library. Can you believe that Alex needs facts about an animal tomorrow for a research report they are writing and they didn't have any books about his animal?? Of course he did pick a stoat, or ermine. Seriously, kiddo? Don't pick anything easier, like, oh I don't know? ANYTHING! Ha!

Now that everybody's gone home, it's so quiet around here! My older boys are off playing video games for a bit and Jackson's building with his blocks, Jas is watching golf and I'm just sitting here.

Thinking about what's for dinner, and knowing I need to run to the store for dish soap and t.p. and not wanting to! I'm just a bit tired. It's almost 6:30 and I really have no desire to move from this couch tonight. I think I'll just stop at the store on the way home from school tomorrow morning. The dishes that can go in the dishwasher will get cleaned tonight, and what can't, well, they can just wait to tomorrow! :)

Thanks again to everybody who was able to make it today! We had a wonderful time sharing this day of joy with you!!

Habemus Papam ~ We have a Pope!

Pope Francis.

If you haven't been watching the news, then you may have missed this whole process. As a Catholic, I have been trying to keep up with all of this. Pope Benedict XVI was elected Pope just a year before I went through RCIA, almost to the day - and a month and a half before Alex was born. Here we are almost 8 years later, and we have a new Pope.

Some thoughts. I find it very interesting that this is all happening about a month before that child I was pregnant with last time this happened receives his First Communion. I also find if fascinating that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis. I think it is pretty neat that he chose Francis because it is also Alex's middle name!

Anyway, I look forward to learning more about our Pope and also to see how he leads the Church. It will be very interesting indeed.

I do know he is a Jesuit, and is from Argentina, both of which are a first for a Pope, I believe.

I think the next few weeks will be telling in how people react to his election and any "backlash". I am definitely curious. :)

Lenten Photo Challenge: Take 3

Day 15: Word

Today, I chose to take a picture of the Little Black Book. Today's photo was "word". How fitting to share God's Word.

"And behold, two men were conversing with Jesus, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem." Lk 9:30-31

Day 16: To be still

My caption for this photo was that it may have been the first time Jack had been still all day long. He's getting so big and is checking everything out. He really is a boundless ball of energy some days ;)

Day 17: Joy

Paying off this furniture store credit card bill was definitely a joyful experience. We used most of our federal income tax return to take care of this bill. Saving ourselves all the back interest (about $1000!) was a really big deal. We had to pay Michigan state taxes this year, so between the two our return is gone already! :( At least it went to something important.

Day 18: Kindness

Alex wasn't feeling well and was cold so Ethan decided to give him a blanket to cover up. :)

Day 19: Joy

Jackson has discovered cupboard doors, and will stand there all day opening and closing them, all the while looking up at you to see if you notice and then just giggle and smile away! Oh the joy of being one and discovering things the first time.

Day 20: Flexibility

We were going to have tacos or something else for dinner but I really didn't feel like cooking. Plus Tuesday is trash day, so we try to have leftovers Monday night. Leftover night is all about flexibility. You have a few choices and when it's gone, it's gone!

Day 21: Time

After Cub Scouts, I was not feeling so hot. I took this picture right before I headed to bed for the night. It was a very early night for this sick mama. Of course, I didn't sleep good at all and am going to bed early tonight also. I'm glad I took time to take Alex to Cub Scouts last night though. He had fun and I got to see how it goes firsthand.

Lenten Photo Challenge, week 2

Sharing my photos again from the Lenten photo challenge on Instagram.

Day 8: Gift

Gift: E's teacher (as well as Alex's teacher) has truly been a gift to our son, and our family. I'm grateful everyday for them both and the school as a whole!

Day 9: Family

Family: This only part of my family. Our nieces and nephews and our sons from my side of our family. Not everyone is here. 3 of our nephews are not in the picture. We also have a beautiful niece on my husband's side of our family. I'm thankful for all these special kids!

Day 10: Something I carry

I don't do it as often anymore in a baby carrier or wrap but he's still in my arms plenty. This is an older picture of me wearing Jack in the Moby Wrap.

Day 11: Witnessing

Ethan and Alex are always playing with and helping to take care of Jack. They truly love him and he loves them too. It's hard to snap a picture with both of these boys not in motion, LOL. Alex is always on the move and Jack is definitely following in his footsteps! I was "witnessing" brotherly love in this picture. :)

Day 12: Charity

This one took me a while, but I found this carton in the boys' room for Habitat for Humanity. They are supposed to collect money to donate.

Day 13: Humanity; Day 14: Alive

The next two days I put two photos together. One I've had for over a year, the ultrasound picture. It's the very first picture I have of Jackson. The other is from just a few days ago. Just as I wrote on Instagram, this IS humanity, and he truly was no less alive the day of that ultrasound than he is today. I really believe that. A baby is a baby, no matter how "big" or how many cells they have. Conception is the beginning of life. What you do with that truth, I suppose, is up to you. But it is the truth.

Lenten photo challenge

You may remember that I'm participating in a Lenten photo challenge. I figured I would share here for my less computer-savvy readers that may not get to enjoy my pictures on instagram, facebook or twitter but will come read the blog. (Hey, Mom!!) I will try to remember to share my pictures and thoughts once a week on here. Not only is it nice to share, but it really got me contemplating more too.

Day 1: Cross

This first picture is of a Crucifix I bought
when we lived in Ohio. A family was visiting
that was selling these beautiful hand-made
items and I fell in love with this. It's made
from olive wood. I chose this for the first day
as it's actually only on of two crosses we have
in our home. The other is a small pewter cross
that E received as a gift in celebration of his
First Communion 2 years ago. I'm sure we
have many small crosses somewhere, on the
many Rosaries we have but those are the only
"separate" crosses/crucifixes that we have.
Now that I'm thinking about it, it makes me
somewhat sad. On either side sit Angels, both bells, both gifts. They remind me of my Guardian Angel who is with Jesus!

Day 2: To Pray With

The second day we were to take a picture of something we can pray with. While I don't use it often enough, and I don't pray the Rosary nearly enough, I do carry this is my purse, along with a second one. This was a gift, and as horrible as this will sound, for the life of me, I can't recall from whom I received it! :( It is beautiful though and smells faintly of roses. The Rosary is a beautiful prayer, not to Mary but about Jesus, to Jesus, through Mary. The scriptural Rosary is a very powerful prayer, that helps you contemplate her life, Jesus' life and death, and brings you closer to God. I'm not sure why I don't pray it more, other than the fact that I just don't find time in my day to do it.

Day 3: Peace

Peace. What brings peace more than sleep? Ah, the sight of a sleeping baby. ;) This picture makes me smile, mainly because for a long time (and I very much treasure those moments!) Jackson wouldn't sleep anywhere but on my chest. Lately he's been sleeping in the crib at naptime most days, and at night for the first several hours and then co-sleeping in our bed after he wakes for that first night-time feed. Yes, he's still nursing during the night, at 13 1/2 months old. LOL. In fact, as I write this, he's napping very peacefully in our room and I am taking full advantage ;)

Day 4: Love

Love is many-splendored thing. Or something like that. It is unconditional in it's true form. This picture is of an image on a decorative plate that I found at a thrift store a few years ago. It has the Last Supper image in the center, and several images around the outer edge. It hangs in our dining room currently. This particular image, as I shared on instagram, reminds me of a mother's love for her child, the love Mary had for Jesus and the perfect Love God has for us. It is also a reminder of the love our children have for us. Jesus loves us even when we screw up, even when we sin. He knows we are not perfect, that we are "only human", after all God the Father made us this way, in His image, but not perfect or all-knowing. Yet He forgives us and loves us and encourages us to do better and "sin no more" even though tomorrow we will, and can only hope to try to do better.

Day 5: Light

I was trying to get a picture of the sanctuary lamp but as I was trying to take it, I decided it was easier to get the Tabernacle as well. It's truly fitting though, because He is in there, in the form of the Eucharist and He is the the Light of the World. The picture is blurry because I was holding a very squirmy 1 year old after Mass! Still, I think it conveys the message.

Day 6: Happiness

Happiness is bath time... (with daddy!) I only add the "with daddy" part because a.) I always just take over with the baby duties, i.e. feeding, bathing, etc, so it's a rare thing daddy gets the opportunity to do this, and last night, he just took over. LOL. He didn't even give me the chance to do it. b.) It was truly a happy moment for Jack, as he thought it was so neat that daddy was giving him a bath and was playing and giving him a mohawk with the shampoo. I love seeing my boys spending time with their dad. It really makes my day :)

Day 7: Fruit

Fruit given to us from the Earth, by God. A small harvest, truly: bananas, red grapes, strawberries, avocados, blueberries, pears, clementines, apple slices, and a mango! It's a true blessing. But what other "fruit" are we given? We will be known the fruits of our labor, our good works. This got me thinking. What fruit do I bear? Good will towards others? Surely not enough. Kindness? Nope. I argue with Jason and yell at the boys. Almsgiving? Not really, since it seems we never have anything to give. Service? The only place I volunteer is at school once in a while. Praying for others? On occasion, if I really remember to, though people I care about are always on my mind and I guess I do say a quick little prayer for them if something is going on. I'm truly grateful for all the "fruits" we have been given, the blessing from God - good, healthy food; Jason's job and paychecks; two vehicles that are safe and reliable; 3 amazing sons; all the extras that make life a little more fun; my sons' school and teachers; friends and family. But how do I give back, spread the blessings, bless others, share God's love? What can I start to do? What can I change? Food for thought...