Sunday Surf

The best of the previous week to start your new week off right!

• Our House of Pink wrote an entry titled "Dear Mom of the ADHD Child." Although my ADD kid has the least problems, this sounds an awful lot like my house. It's messy, cluttered and filled with Mommy guilt- but lots of love and we are doing our best!

• Recently, I've been told to get over the NICU. As Kathryn from Team Whitaker writes, you don't really get over it. It changes, it evolves and if you have these feelings, you are certainly not alone.
  
• It really steams me up when people say, "God has really blessed me with . . . " and list something like, "healthy, normal children" or "a great year in business" or "money." Phrases like "I prayed for xyz and it happened" or "I sacrificed and prayed and you'll never guess the blessing I received!" It  makes those of us who a) don't have those things or b) prayed and sacrificed for those things and got the opposite feel like we are un-blessed and that God doesn't hear our prayers. The thing is, God does hear our prayers and sometimes we don't get what we want because ... God has other plans. Read "The  one thing Christians should stop saying" for more thoughts on "God blessed me."
  
• This math teacher may have surprised his students but he made me cry happy tears. Underneth that crusty exterior is a softie!
  
• Five babies in less than a year. WHOA!

Sunday Surf: 2/24

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!
For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.
Happy Surfing!





To go along with my "But it could be worse!" post, I came across No Such Thing as an Easy Ride from "Not Even a Bag of Sugar." It was written in 2012 but is a goodie.

To The Mainstream Media Just Doesn't Get God or Catholicism, I say . . .  "Well, DUH!" But read the article anyway. It's good!

Yet another item from the "What are they thinking?" files: Am I crazy? Don't answer that. I'm not taking about the crazy old man- everyone agrees he's nuts and needs to be drawn and quartered or something nice like that. No. Scroll down. Keep scrolling. Yeah. Yeah.

How do you know you are a good parent? But what is a "good parent" anyway? Simcha Fischer has the answer, as always: Here We Are.

This kid is awesome. Enough said.

Get your hanky and be prepared to shed a tear or twelve. This local photographer will go to NICUs and take pictures of your baby. I wish we had done this when George was in the NICU! Jessica Strom: Welcome to the NICU

Sunday Surf: The Papal Lenten Edition

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!
For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.
Happy Surfing!




(Can you get more Catholic than that title? I think not!)

Did Lent sneak up on you this year? It did for the Hippie Housewife. She has Ten Ways to Observe Lent in her post "When Lent Sneaks Up on You.". Be sure to click on her link about lighting candles and read the combox. I think we need on of those candle holders!

For many children, the pope is an abstract figure. We talk about him, we pray for him, he's obviously a big deal... but they can't really grasp the concept of how important he is. With Pope Benedict's historic move Monday, however, I think it's important to talk to children about his move. Our Sunday Vistor has some tips for talking with children about his resignation.

I swear, when people ask me my opnion on things, I should just see if Simcha Fischer has written anything on the subject and then just quote her. "Goodbye, Papa" on NCR sums up my feelings nicely, especically when she talks about the misinformed and untruths about our faith that will be huirtled in the next weeks:

The next few weeks will be awful. We'll hear so many lies, so many foolish, ridiculous ideas about our Church, our faith. It's going to hurt.
I suppose this is our little via dolorosa, with the jeering crowds lining the street on both sides. These tough, ancient men can keep on walking, and so can we.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/goodbye-papa#ixzz2KkLRzOmk

You may have already heard that Pope Benedict gave some early clues that he might do this. Scott Hauhn recounts an interesting event hat happened years ago.

via Catholic Memes on FB

Okay, enough about the Pope...

On her Facebookpage, Momma Jorje shared the post I Regretted MyAmnio by the author of With a Little Moxie. It's a profound read,

I love reading Life with Jack. Jack's mother Jessi always has good insights about life with a preemie and navigating the world of special needs. This post, Finding Help and Encouragement, encourages parents of children with special needs and lists some great suppot resources for parents.

Sunday Surf: 2/10

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!
For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.
Happy Surfing!





Two of Fred Phelp's (of Westboro Baptist fame) granddaughters have left his "church." Damsel, Arise! was written by Jeff Chu. Damsel, Arise! is an interview of one of the granddaughters. While the article lets the readers draw their own conclusions about Megan, I felt it was very complentary towards her. I admire her bravery for stepping away from everything she knew an her entire family. I do not, however, think that her family acts in love, nor do they think they act in love. Anyone who carries around a sign with "hate" on it and thinks anyone is beyond redemption does not act in love.

However, this article reminds me that we need to pray for te Phelps family, especially the new generation coming up. No one is beyond saving and redemption.

What are your thoughts on this article? Remember to be kind and respectful in your comments.

Under the heading of "hell, no, they did NOT!" is this: Anne of Green Gables gets a make-over. I am not above re-doing covers of books or updating editions so they look fresh and new. But that? THAT is an aboination! I feel the urge to watch my "Anne" and "Avonlea" DVDs to purge the image from my mind.

101 Practical Fasting Ideas for Lent may not be as cool as mine (who am I kidding, it's cooler!) but they do have great ideas for Lent. I love some of their specific prayer ideas, like the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I might do that!

If you are a birth story junkie, and even if you are not, you need to read The Home Birth Ceasaran of Canon Patrick  over at Fine and Fair. It's the story of an adorable baby, a strong mother and a loving, supportive father. I love birth, all birth, no matter how the baby gets out. It's so... *sniffle.*

Valentine's Day is this week. It starts the day after Lent, boo. But, the kids have off and I'll plan a special dinner at home for all of us. Right now, they are busy making Valentine Boxes for their class parties. Camille is bringing in butterfly lollipops from Skip to My Lou. I'm doing bubbles for George's class. Joseph swears he is going to write his name on each of the 40 pieces of candy he has for his class (two pieces each). I tried to get him to do something cute but he refused. Huh. Boys!

Sunday Surf: The Best of the Best

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!
For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.
Happy Surfing!


In case you haven't heard, the president of Russia is halting adoptions form the Russia to the US. As far as I know, there is no "grandfather" clause for people who are/were in the process of adopting. This means that thousands of children, many with special needs, will be left in orphanages, possibly to die. Certainly, they do not have as bright a future as they would with a stable family unit. My heart breaks for the parents and the children.

Why should we care? Read Kirill's story from "Our Eyes Opened" and tell me how we can NOT care.

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It's cold and flu season now and the last thing most people want to do is shake hands during the Sign of Peace at Mass. "The Infusion" lists Four ways to pass peace without spreading the flu. I have two words on this subject: hand sanitizer.

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Under the category of "Things I could have told the masses but they need to hear it from an expert": Self Soothing is a Myth. No, really. Read the article. It is not a "everyone should co-sleep or you will damage your baby!!!!" article. Rather, the author delves into the "Studies" and shows how the results have been misrepresented.

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And possibly the best post ever: Five Apologies to my Wife