Birthday next month

His smile is so engaging!

Enjoying the moments.

The Father Day 2012 gift

I was a privileged--and surprised one--who received the flower delivery.  That meant I could deliver some other daughter's gift and rejoice in the kindness.
It was a day I was with him--a gift in itself, as it happened because I had agreed to extend my visit.
It was a day to think on God the Father from whom all fatherhood comes (Ephesians 3:15).  And how I can acknowledge what He has done and be grateful.

Working with SLK

KMK and I have been talking about different styles.  I like things streamlined and clear cut.  Beautiful, of course. SLK often asks what he can do to make his work more user friendly, better. We worked on this together.

Christmas Village

The Christmas lights have not all gone down.  I will post some later just for a feel for them.  Light in the ddarkness and colorful, at that!

KMK drawings

KMK and I were looking at blogs.  She is into the blogs that homeschooling mothers write.  And I have wanted a beautiful blog for a long time.  I had begun this.  The Mommy Things that are done Late at Night during Mommy Time!  (She said it is all unbeknownst to her, quite a surprise!)

I must say that I am surprised by all the writing and drawings that she does, so how about if I do some blogging and we both learn about each other, KMK?

Love you lots,
VMK Mommy

Confirmation for Katherine Marie Therese

Katherine was confirmed around Pentecost. I didn't do much then to put up photos.

Snowy backyard

The backyard was just white. It was too powdery to make snowballs. It wasn't until this Sunday February 6th that the sun had melted it enough so that snowballs could be formed. How the children had waited for that!

And invited their father outside after they had a stockpile of snowballs :)

The Great February 2011 Snowfall

It was right before the Superbowl that Arlington is hosting. A record for the last fifteen years.

Christmastide beginning...

Christmas Day with the children

The fire

The fireplace has gotten a lot of use!

The boys have learned how to make a good fire (getting it started takes work).

Breakfast with her mother

Katherine and I went to Magnificat breakfast over in Grapevine, TX. We were given tickets to go and hear the speaker.

This is a photo of her at the hotel lobby. This is a wall of water!

The Beginning of the Journey out at Sea

The Beginning of the Journey out at Sea

We all have needs.

And He always has answers. He is Divine Providence, the one who provides for us all.

How do we ask for what we need? Think out the need. Block out all else and turn to Him.

It is prayer.
It is trust.
And it is faith.

So, let''s read about how He helps so we can do it.
Let''s see prayers answered so we can build up our trust.

And then remember, trust is there as a bond. People break the bond, but Jesus never betrays, so you can always trust Him.

So, walk into that trust of One Who Never Betrays...

Our Lady's Birthday

She is the Mother, the one who first "offered it up" and stood at the foot of the Cross. Her feast of Mother of Sorrows is coming up in a week, and it is when we see the humanity of her--the pain she went through. She understands us.

Today the children and I sang to her "Bring Flowers of the Fairest"

I put a beautiful statuette of her with her baby Son. BDK asked why she was on the table. I mentioned that it was Her birthday! And he liked the flowers around her halo.

While I was changing him, he held onto my medal and I mentioned it was Our Lady (of Fatima) and mentioned the three children. Francisco was told to pray more Rosaries to be able to hear Our Lady, not just see her.

It is so amazing I can take the children to Mary.
And She can take us to Christ!

Growing up

My daughter is old enough for me to think of her as a young lady.

We "fell" down!

Here we are all together on May 18, 2008 before a brunch at the Gaylord Texan, a resort type place. Steve was invited by a couple from his RCIA who were so happy with becoming Catholic--and being led well in learning by Steven!

More Playmobils

Today we watched Burt Lancaster in "The Crimson Pirate."
I loved hearing so much laughter--it is funny how the Crimson Pirate outwitted the King's Men (who are the bad guys) over and over and over!

Then, of course, they played with their pirate ships!

Twenty-month-old BDK is playing more with the Playmobils, as well!
(Here he is on the table on our deck.)

He speaks volumes by acting out scenarios with the Playmobils!

Sacramental aspect to our nature

BDK has connected that we light candles at prayer time and that has led him to ask for "prayer time."

Yet, it is through the tangible that we begin to "touch" the intangible. Hence, the sacraments--outward signs of the invisible reality.

GMK and DJK with fireman holding some equipment to cut through metal of cars in accidents when people need to be rescued.
-------------------------------------------
On October 9, I took the children to our local fire department. The firemen were having an open house in honor of fire prevention. (October 10, 1871 is the Chicago Fire that was started in a barn and roared out of control.)

It was a great visit, seeing how they get ready, make meals, where they sleep, and what the fire engines have behind their panels and on the inside!

Ironically, just days before I had gotten the boy firemen hats! The firemen enjoyed seeing them in the hats and were great with questions and touring us around.

They gave us cookies so good that KMK called them "firemen" cookies,
and we would like to make some cookies for them some time soon!

We went out to the nearby park--first time DJK rides his bike on that walk. GMK was on his scooter and KMK kept BDK company in the double stroller.

This log fell in a few days ago. Steven always looks down at the creek area when he passes by and noticed it on Sunday and called me up to have the children go explore!

And this they did :-) For a moment it felt like we were out in the woods and I was back at being a child when I used to make dams in creeks!

Chiquitin has me awake!

You said it would help if I posted here. Hey, Happy Birthday!

Chiquitin is coughing badly and I'm awake and not able to get back to sleep. Well, I can be offering this for your birthday!

Looking forward to going to an Advent retreat first week of Advent this year! Even helped to get the location for it. I am so not used to being part of the planning of big things for groups :-) Prayers that I get used to using my talents. Here's to you see yours! It took me forever to realize I had some!