thankful day 4

today i’m thankful for God’s grace.  thankful for a savior who suffered the cross, so that i may have eternal life with Him. 

Easter 2011

what a full weekend, but these are the ones i love.  doing the good stuff.  hanging with family, just being with each other listening to stories of old times seriously nothing better.

we headed to independence on friday morning to spend some time with Jay's family. we have not been to independence since christmas.  i am lucky to have married into a family that i love as much as my own.  jay's grandma pete is a saint, and when i think of the type of wife and mother that i want to be like,  i think of her.  she' is 89 years old and wanted to take the kids to the easter egg hunt so us girls could go shop.  i only pray i can function like that when i'm 89.  :)

we headed back to LS last night and enjoyed a wonderful easter with my family.  i loved father's homily today...that if anything Easter reminds us all to hope....so true.

a few pics from today.

my aunt and uncle got my dad a new 'wig.'  i think he might have to fight mac for it.

how sad is it that this is the only picture i have of the boys in their easter outfits.  of course, no family pics...nice

sometimes it's a bonus to be the youngest

i loved my little centerpieces...wheat grass and peeps.  (sorry this picture is overexposed)

easter bunny arrived

funny stories

charlie wasn't overly excited about what the easter bunny brought him.  he asked if next year he could write him a note.

mac advised us last night that he could not marry a girl who didn't know anything about sports.

NCYC 2009

Last night I had the opportunity to help out at the NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference)that is being held in Kansas City this year. I walked away with an energy that I haven't felt for a long time. How could you not though, surrounded by 20,000 youth and adults, all who believe in the same thing; who love our church but more importantly love our God.

Memorable quote: There is nothing, spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, sports, hobbies, friends that will fill the hole in your heart that is meant to be filled by Jesus.

Amen.

A night in Kansas City (Power & Light, Sprint Center, Bartle Hall)
stress trying to find the parking garage that was free but couldn't due to blocked streets
stress from showing up 'late' for my scheduled volunteer shift due to parking issues
spending the evening with 20,000 + youth, adults, proclaiming Christ Reigns...PRICELESS

WOW

I receive KLOVE's encouraging word daily. Today's verse literally hit me, slapped me upside the head.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will havemany trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have ovecome the world. John 16:33

POWERFUL

Ash Wednesday

I am Catholic. Actually I'm a convert. I was raised Southern Baptist.

My family attended church pretty regularly until I was in about 6th grade. During middle school and high school our attendance was very sporadic. When I was in high school, I became intrigued with the Catholic Church. I have an uncle who is Catholic (married into the family) and friends that were Catholic and I just wanted to know more. I had a feeling that as an adult I would become Catholic but no experiences to really justify that feeling. In college, I had a roommate that was Catholic and I went with her to mass and I was amazed. I felt the presence of God, like I never had. Then I met and fell in love with a Catholic boy. Early in our courtship we started going to Church (the Catholic church). We discussed our religions and what would happen should we end up married. I told him right then and there I wanted to attend a Catholic church and agreed that we would raise our children to be Catholic. I hadn't quite commited to converting. Shortly after we were married I started the RCIA process.

Lent is one of my favorite times of year. I will admit, that I have failed in past years to identify a true sacrifice or incorporate any activity that would grow my relationship with God. Trying hard this year to incorporate some changes, so here is my list:



**No Diet Pepsi - Some people may think this is not a sacrifice, but people you don't know me. I love my Diet Pepsi...the thought of not having it kind of makes me nauseous.

**Work out 5 times a week - I was doing this before the miscarriage, but I've had a hard time getting on track. Working out is great not only for what it does for me physically, but how it empowers me mentally.

**Incorporate family activity focusing on this season. So I haven't quite figured this one out, but I'm thinking along the lines of attending Stations of the Cross or saying the rosary as a family or family prayer time.


May you experience Blessings and growth this Lent!