I will call this the first day of summer!

Memorial day weekend!

There are some days of the year that everytime they come around I think "weren't we just here?" or "how did we get here?". Memorial Day, Labor Day, Christmas and Easter are you usually those days (plus birthdays and snow storms). I start to think of how far we have come, how big the boys are and ways we spent these days in the past.  So here we are on the edge of summer (not real summer but more or less summer) Jack is a real solid 3 and Nicholas is 4, we have been married for 5 years and in this house for 6. How did we get here?

Anyway with it being a holiday weekend we started it out with a bang and knocked off one of my summer resolutions to go to the zoo. We went with our SHS buddies and had a really great time. I love my SHS girls. I am so proud of them.

Nicholas and Jack were good for the most part.

We fed goats and saw monkeys and turtles, giraffes and elephants. We ate lunch at a picnic table with our friends and played on the playground.

We rode the train with the Faircloths and Grandma. We stayed for a whole 4 hours. I think that is a record for us.

Now we are home taking naps. Dad is cutting the grass and mommy is considering a nap for herself.

Go tell John, it is summer again!

Todays Gospel

John 15: 18 - 21
18	"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19	If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20	Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
21	But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.

"No one knows about that day or hour..."

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36

I think this whole rapture thing is making me want to take another look at revelations.

Although the world was predicted to end by very few it caught the attention of a bunch of people. We were able to celebrate a very happy birthday for Jackie. We went to Walk Now for Autism at Coney Island, then took some naps. We finished it up with dinner and ice cream over Nonna's house.  Not a bad day. The world didn't end for us. I don't think anyone knows when it actually will.

So we are spending this Sunday morning watching cartoons (Mickey Mouse Club House), playing with pirates, and wearing Santa Hats (we do this year round).

Go tell John, we are still here.

Today's GR

Luke 12: 22 - 31
22	And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.
23	For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24	Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
25	And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?
26	If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
27	Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28	But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!
29	And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.
30	For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.
31	Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

Today's Gospel Reading

John 10: 1 - 10
1	"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
2	but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3	To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4	When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5	A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
6	This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7	So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8	All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them.
9	I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10	The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

There is no greater love...

I am reading a book right now called Beloved and Blessed by Kimberly Hahn. You might know her by her husband Scott Hahn he is also an author.  Anyway, I would recommend that any women newly married or engaged read this book.  If I had meditated on some of the scripture and Church's teachings in this book 4 or 5 years ago I think I would be much more content in my life right now and I know I would have made some different choices.

Anyway, so I am about half way through this book and I have been reflecting on some of the topics she reviews and one of them is that of today's gospel reading.  "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend" and later in the reading he says "be fruitful and multiply" what a great reminder of who we are as mothers. Our lives are a sacrifice to God we lay down our lives for our Children, not only in childbirth. Our children and our household are the greatest gift we can give the Church.

I love when the Gospel Readings speak directly to me and are relevant in my life right now.

So, go tell John. I am ready to live the Joy of Christ through these beautiful children.

Today's Gospel Reading

John 15: 9 - 17
9	As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
10	If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11	These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12	"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13	Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14	You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15	No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16	You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17	This I command you, to love one another.

My Summer Resolution!

This late spring vacation has me dreaming about summer. So I have decided to make a Summer Resolution. There are 99 days of summer (from Memorial Day to Labor Day) and in between there are 30 weekend days (counting Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day). So here is a list of 30 things to do with my kids this summer.

1. Make Popsicles at home.
2. Go Camping, in a tent (or Cabin).
3. Eat Breakfast Outside.
4. Catch Lightning Bugs.
5. Go Fishing.
6. Go to a drive through Movie.
7. Ride on a boat (any boat)
8. Go for a family walk.
9. Plant Flowers
10. Go to a Farmer's Market
11. Make a bird house (and watch the birds)
12. Watch Fireworks
13. Blow Bubbles
14. Run through the sprinkler
15. Make Tie-Died Shirts
16. Get Family Pictures
17. Go to a Reds Game
18. Go Swimming.
19. Go on a hike.
20. Feed Ducks.
21. Go to the Zoo.
22. Play in a Fountain.
23. Listen to a band.
24. Make a story book.
25. Swing on Swings.
26. Pick Flowers.
27. Make Smores
28. Watch the sunrise.
29. Go to Kings Island.
30. Lie on a blanket and look at the stars.

Of course there are plenty of other things we will do this summer, this will just get us started....

Go tell John, I am ready for the summer. Too bad we are going back to Ohio, weather tomorrow.

Todays Gospel

John 6: 52 - 59
52	The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53	So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54	he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55	For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56	He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57	As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
58	This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
59	This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper'na-um.

Vacation!

So I kept telling myself all vacation that I was going to Blog, then I just never did. I am terrible.

So here is a quick vacation run down:

Saturday we drove for 15 hours to get down here. The boys were so good in the car we were very lucky. Nick drove the whole way which made it even better.

Sunday was Mother's Day. I got some very nice cards from my Mom, the boys and Nick and we went to Mass at a Church down here called St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (it was so beautiful) Then we spent the day at the pool.

Monday and Tuesday we went to Disney.

Nicholas wanted this hat/hair so he could look like Jack Sparrow. We fought him on it because we thought he would regret it.  Well, he has been wearing it everywhere we have gone since.

We rode just about everyride we could: Peter Pan, Dumbo, Winnie-the-Pooh, Pirates of the Caribbean and Buzz Light Year to name a few.  Jack really liked the tea cups and Nick and I had so much fun riding those with him. Nicholas was all about the adventure his favorites were Splash Mountain and Pirates.

We napped in between rides, Lol

Posing with Buzz Light Year. Jack was sleeping and I said "Jack do you want to meet Buzz" he hopped right up and was ready to go.

We watched this show 4 different times. It was about  how  "Dreams Come True" seriously choked me up. I was so happy to be at Disney and spending time with my boys and Mom.

The line for the Pirates of the Caribbean was a "spooky adventure"

We had so much fun!

Wednesday we went to the beach and Thursday we went to St. Augustine. Today we are staying by the pool. Jack is sleeping and the Nicks are swimming.  What a great week. I am so blessed.

Go tell John, I am not ready to go back to work next week!