Friday, December 14, 2007

Holy Season of Advent


This is our Advent Wreath that the kids and I finally made just a couple days ago. I chose a wreath that was in our basement which we no longer use, bought some ornaments at Target - they were perfect! Purple and pink and red...and the last box of them! - And a little container of the small gold bulbs. The candles we got from my mom and dad who got them from their parish. They were brandnew and they are obviously on the huge side since they are intended for the church's Advent wreath.

The kids got to place the ornaments while I hot glued them on. We just love the way it turned out. Way better than I expected.

We're also reading our Advent story Bartholomew's Passage

but if you don't already have this trilogy you'll pay a pretty penny per book on such sites as Amazon and Ebay! Seems last year they were switching publishing companies [?]. Anyway, it's out of print. But I believe I read or heard that they'll be back in print soon!

Every night during Advent you read a chapter. The beginning of each chapter tells you which candles to light on your wreath. And these stories are wonderful! We're in our third and final book. Then next year we'll start all over again with Jotham!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Hey! Toofwess!

A couple nights ago, while playing with Charlie, Therese's other front tooth came out. It wasn't really even ready to come out. I mean, it was loose and all, but still firmly planted...or so I thought.









You can see the traces of blood upon her cheek. Yeah, it was a mighty bloody one! Like I said, it really wasn't ready to come out! She said something to the effect of hitting her mouth on Charlie's bottom!

I love the tooth-less smile! And just in time for Christmas!

Our Lady in Waiting!

Our Lady has been waiting for me to post about her Feast Day!

Our Lady of Guadalupe - Pray for Us!
Here's a little info - I know I'm preachin' to the choir here, but these facts after the story are incredible!!

After the conquest, the Spanish rule of the natives was so severe that a bloody revolt was imminent. Bishop Zummaraga prayed for Our Lady to intervene to prevent an uprising, to reconcile the Spanish and the natives and to bring peace. It is believed that he asked that he would receive roses native to his homeland of Castile Spain as a sign that his prayer would be answered.
On December 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego who was a recently converted Catholic. She asked him to go to the Bishop and request him to build a church for her on the barren hill of Tepeyac that is now part of Mexico City. Our Lady wanted to show her merciful love to all of her children. The prudent Bishop asked Juan to ask the Lady for a sign. Juan did so and Our Lady promised to give him the sign.
On December 12, Our Lady again appeared to Juan on Tepeyac Hill and told him to pick the Castilian roses which miraculously appeared there and bring them to the Bishop as a sign for him to believe her request. Juan gathered the roses into his tilma and brought them to the Bishop.
Juan opened the tilma to show them and, to everyone's astonishment, the Image of Our Lady appeared on it. The Bishop then built the church as Our Lady had requested and nine million natives were converted and baptized to the one, true faith within the next nine years. Human sacrifice ended in Mexico forever. Our Lady of Guadalupe, which means Crusher of the stone serpent, brought the light of the true faith, crushed the false gods of Mexico and established an era of peace.


The Image of Our Lady is actually an Aztec Pictograph which was read and understood quickly by the Aztec Indians.


1. THE LADY STOOD IN FRONT OF THE SUN She was greater than the dreaded Huitzilopochtli, their sun-god of war.
2. HER FOOT RESTED ON THE CRESCENT MOON She had clearly crushed

Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent moon-god.
3. THE STARS STREWN ACROSS THE MANTLE She was greater than the stars of heaven which they worshipped. She was a virgin and the Queen of the heavens for Virgo rests over her womb and the northern crown upon her head. She appeared on December 12, 1531 and the stars that she wore are the constellations of the stars that appeared in the sky that day!
4. THE BLUE‑GREEN HUE OF HER MANTLE She was a Queen because she wears the color of royalty.
5. THE BLACK CROSS ON THE BROOCH AT HER NECK Her God was that of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ her son who died on the cross for all mankind.
6. THE BLACK BELT She was with child because she wore the Aztec Maternity Belt.
7. THE FOUR PETAL FLOWER OVER THE WOMB She was the Mother of God because the flower was a special symbol of life, movement and deity-the center of the universe.
8. HER HANDS ARE JOINED IN PRAYER She was not God but clearly there was one greater than Her and she pointed her finger to the cross on her brooch.
9. THE DESIGN ON HER ROSE COLORED GARMENT She is the Queen of the Earth because she is wearing a contour map of Mexico telling the Indians exactly where the apparition took place.


The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Science


1. The image to this date, cannot be explained by science.

2. The image shows no sign of deterioration after 450 years! The tilma or cloak of Saint Juan Diego on which the image of Our Lady has been imprinted, is a coarse fabric made from the threads of the maguey cactus. This fiber disintegrates within 20-60 years!

3. There is no under sketch, no sizing and no protective over-varnish on the image.

4. Microscopic examination revealed that there were no brush strokes.

5. The image seems to increase in size and change colors due to an unknown property of the surface and substance of which it is made.

6. According to Kodak of Mexico, the image is smooth and feels like a modern day photograph. (Produced 300 years before the invention of photography.)

7. The image has consistently defied exact reproduction, whether by brush or camera.

8. Several images can be seen reflected in the eyes of the Virgin. It is believed to be the images of Juan Diego, Bishop Juan de Zummaraga, Juan Gonzales, the interpreter and others.

9. The distortion and place of the images are identical to what is produced in the normal eye which is impossible to obtain on a flat surface.

10. The stars on Our Lady's Mantle coincide with the constellations in the sky on December 12, 1531. All who have scientifically examined the image of Our Lady over the centuries confess that its properties are absolutely unique and so inexplicable in human terms that the image can only be supernatural!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

T'is the Season for Meme's

Okay Esther - I guess you didn't read the answers to my last meme LOL. #1 states clearly how I am not an avid reader...but here it goes!! :O)


1. One book that changed your life: A Father Who Keeps His Promises, by Scott Hahn


2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Hmmm...this could be funny...does GoodNight Moon count :O)


3. One book you’d want on a desert island: God's Own Word...The Holy Bible by God


4. One book that made you laugh: Mother Angelica by Raymond Arroyo


5. One book that made you cry: Mother Angelica by Raymond Arroyo


6. One book that you wish had been written: A New Two Year Old in Less than a Week!


7. One book that you wish had never been written: My Life, by Bill Clinton


8. One book you’re currently reading: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey


9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis



Now tag five people: Megan, Kelly, Laura , Paula, and Therese the Aussie!

A Free Blog or Not a Free Blog ~

I'm just putting this question out here for a little feedback from all of you out in the blogosphere. Why would I want to pay for a Typepad blog - which I think is over $300/yr. - when I can have a blog - like this one - for free?
I will say that I think blogger is a bit difficult to use at times. Hard to manipulate how to arrange your post and such. Not very user-friendly.
Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Rice-a-Roni!

While visiting Kimberlee's site, I came across this cool site! It's a cool vocabulary site and they donate 20 grains of rice for every word you get right. I donated over 600 grains in a few minutes! I was actually kind of excited :O)

Miserlygrump Selfishham

Gees. This Grinch name really makes me wriggle in my seat...a bit of self realization, maybe? Find out your Grinch Name! Thanks Mrs. Miserlytroll Fussypants!!!

Okay, we've also got the whole clan of Selfishham's...starting with Father Selfishham - then the kids... down to Baby Selfishham:

Crabbyurchin
Crabbygrump
Woefulfrown
Miserlyfrown - who, when she was 3ish, stated that she "didn't like church cause Jesus He takes my money"
Testygrouch
Bleakturkey
Meanfrown - you have *no* idea!!
Crabbygrump - *what an oxymoron*!!

So, there you have it folks...the entire Grinchy-named Selfishham Family!

Now, gitoutta here >:o/

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Meme Time~

I've been tagged by Kelly for this Meme.

Rules: Each tagged person must post 8 random facts or habits about themselves on their blog. At the end of the post, choose 8 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment telling them that they are tagged and to read your blog. Have fun!

This is going to be extremely difficult for me. I hate talking about myself because I'm so boring.

1. I don't like reading. I'm not one who always reads. Growing up, I never read unless it was required reading. In the past, say, 10yrs - I have bought many "Catholic" books. Sometimes I finish them. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I have my nose in many different books. But then there are the ones that I fly through. I DO LIKE books that hold my interest and aren't "over my head". Besides spiritual books - some fiction that I've recently - in the last 5yrs - read were some books by Nicholas Sparks. His memoirs and The Wedding are my favorites. The Notebook was good too. The only reason my sister and I started reading some of his stuff was because we saw him being interviewed on EWTN's The World Over, by Raymond Arroyo.

2. I have a terrible memory. I do not retain things that I read and it drives me crazy! I'll see a movie and forget some months/years later what it was about, or *if* I even saw it! Growing up *I* was the one that my family would come to to remember something which they were trying to remember. "Let's call Shelly. She'll know." I *used* to have a great memory. The kids sucked all my brain cells out when they were born :O) My husband...GREAT MEMORY!! I ask him all the time, "HOW DO YOU DO THAT??!! How can you remember THAT!" It's just not fair!

3. Things get on my nerves WAY TOO EASILY! It doesn't matter what it is - there are just too many to list. Just a few: mouth noises. toilet seats left up. crude manners. people who go *the* speed limit. cracking knuckles, backs, necks [not just Paul, anyone!]. when people tell me things over and over again. reading over my shoulder. lack of humility. lack of common sense. dreadlocks, esp. in the sporting arena. when people don't get a joke. a know-it-all. See! and that's just a few things! I wish I wasn't *in tune* to most of these things. Why wasn't I blessed with more creativity, patience, humility - instead of being so intuitive to these stupid things! Something more to work on.

4. My core personality is very organized and efficient. Though my household does not reflect that, in my opinion. Things are extremely unorganized and down-right messy around here most of the time...and it drives me *insane*.

5. I'm not a very affectionate person - no lovey dovey stuff here. I didn't grow up with that either. But I show my love for my family by doing things for them. I like to help them do their chores sometimes - I think that also teaches them to help each other out. I like to do unexpected things for my husband. Not that he picks up on them, but I do them to show my love. I also like to help him when he's in need - whether it's work related or fixing/doing things around the house.

6. I pick my feet. Hey, it's in my lineage!! My mom and brother do it too! In fact, I remember my brother saying that he had an added bonus this summer while driving down to Houston with the cruise control...he could pick his feet at will!! [this drives my kids CRAZY! "Eewwww...why do you do that!?" Sometimes I'll spot one of my younger kids watching me...closely - to see exactly what is it that I'm doing. It's gross, but a fact!

7. I get excited when my husband comes home. It's weird, to me. Internally, I feel excited. Like, "Yay". Maybe a part of that is when I was younger and got excited when my dad would come home. Even if I'm mad at him, I get that YAY feeling. But I really like feeling that way :O)

Gosh, just one more...

8. I am competitive. I don't like losing. Another awful flaw. Being competitve can be a good thing. Not for me. I don't "lose with grace" - as I teach my kids to. Who likes a sore loser? A poor sport? I DON'T! But I am! LOL! I blame this on my dad. We'd play a game like....checkers or something. He'd beat my pants off and yell, "Whew Hoo!! In your face!!". Yeah, I was 6. ::crackin' up::

Okay, I guess I need to find some to tag. Don't know if you've already been tagged, but here it goes: Katherine, Esther, Mom to 5 Minnies, Nicole, Busy Bee Mama, Christina, Angie, and Georgie!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Can Someone Explain this to Me?

Can you believe that the US bishops are being asked to fire the film critic, Forbes, who wrote "glowing" reviews on Brokeback Mountain and The Golden Compass?

Now here's my question. Why in the WORLD is this guy still in this position after Brokeback? Was the USCCB not horrified after that review "in their name"? I don't get it. Honestly.

Please, someone. Inform me.

Friday, December 7, 2007

Comedy Break!


This made me laugh out loud. I must give thanks here to Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii. Check out her great blog!
A young polar bear cub approached his mother one day and asked,
"Mom, am I a polar bear?"
"Of course you are," she replied with a smile.
"OK," said the cub, and padded off.
Later, he found his dad out by the iceberg.
"Dad, am I a polar bear?"
"Sure you are, son!" said his dad, wondering a bit at why his son would ask such a silly thing.
The next day, the cub asked the question again and again.
"Are you and Mom polar bears? You are? Well, then, does that make me a polar bear? Pure, 100% polar bear?"
Finally, his parents couldn't stand it any longer. "Son, you're driving us crazy with this question! You are a polar bear! Why do you keep asking?
The cub looked up and confessed,"Cause I'm FREEZING!"

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Toothless Therese!

Yesterday, the 4th, Therese lost one of her front teeth. Kayla tied a string around it and it fell out before she could even tug at it! The other front tooth is pretty loose. She may be singin' a certain Christmas song this season...and meaning it!

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Oh! Tannenbaum ~


Ahhh...yes! Keeping babies from the Christmas tree! I love it! :O)
On the evening of Charlie's birthday, we decorated our Christmas tree. The kids just love this tradition. Every year we get the kids new ornaments. We all have so much fun seeing all the ornaments as we pull them out of the tins [we use those big popcorn tins to store our ornaments...I think we're up to 5 popcorn containers!] - and after they're done decorating the tree, I run into our bedroom, bring out the new ones and hand them out; calling each one over by name and presenting them their ornament. They get so excited and I am equally excited...I love this little tradition.This is the girls' new ornament this year. Of course, the lighting and camera shot don't show it off very well.
Doesn't seem fair that the Birthday Boy is so sad and miserable at the close of decorating. Night night time!
UPDATE: This morning after Mass, Dani put Charlie down on the floor in the family room and I got some food for the boys. I casually asked where Charlie was...Dani said [voice getting louder as she spoke], "Um, he's playing with the tree!"...as she approached him - ornament in hand - he threw the glass snowman ornament [which happened to be Therese's] breaking his little leg - yes, normally snowmen don't have legs. This little guy has legs :O) I didn't hear the ornament hit the hardwood, I just heard Dani say, "No! Don't throw it!". Yes, we moved the breakable ones *just* a bit higher now, LOL!

Monday, December 3, 2007

Happy Birthday Chawee!

...that's what John Paul calls Charlie. So cute. So right off the bat, the rest of us called him Chawee, too!

Charles Fulton D. is now one year old today! Happy Birthday Charlie! Such is the joy which a baby brings to the family! Thank you, God, for the amazing beautiful gift you have entrusted to us.