Fathers Have No Rights

 I met Andrew during one of my counseling sessions outside of the abortion clinic. His girlfriend was having an abortion that day and he was not in support of this. She was 10 weeks pregnant and crouched down as they drove into the parking lot which often means there is an ounce of hope. He begged, pleaded, prayed, and refused to pay for the abortion but she still pushed forward. The counselors gave him information, prayed with him, and were simply friends to him. He came out one final time and broke down into heart wrenching sobs in my arms. I have never held a sobbing man   utterly destroyed and helpless! He wasn't even allowed to see the ultra sound of the child! This woman made a victim of their child and the man and the United States government protected her. She was protected while a baby was destroyed and a man was broken. 

Pray for Andrew, pray for him whenever you can.. he was in a dark place when I spoke with him but now knows he needs to move away from someone who would be willing (and succeeded) to murder his child. 

June 2013 Update

June 2013

Book of the month

I am still working on May's book, "Soul of the Apostolate" and I have switched June's book to "Poor Folk" which is another Dosteovsky book. This is one of his earlier works. ** Still reading " Soul of the Apostolate" but I finished the second book.

Sacrifice of the Month

This is more along the lines of improving myself: not putting off my evening responsibilities. *** Except for the third week of June, I did pretty well this month.***

Corporal/Spiritual Work of Mercy

Continue pro life work and be more consistent with praying and spiritual reading.

* ** Still struggling with consistency***

Home Project

Finally catching up in the yard which will help with all my yard/ home projects.

Confrontation of the Vacuum

My vacuum confronted me. She wasn't going to let me pass (yes, my vacuum is female) until I cleaned those stairs. I tried hard to pass, but then I noticed that she was plugged in.....and ready to rumble!

After a momentary standoff, I gave in and cleaned those stairs!

Has your vacuum confronted you?

Thoughtful Thursday: Go To Outfits

Do you have a "go to" outfit for home, church, shopping, employment, or events? 

I was thinking about this as I plopped out of bed at 5:45 a.m. to get ready for work. I can have an outfit ready to go, but if the hair and make up that would go with it are just too much effort- I head to the "go to " outfit. You know, that outfit where you don't have to think- just throw it on and go.

This picture is probably my most common outfit which is a kaki skirt with a black tank and cardigan.

Wheelin' Wednesday: $19.87 = $1.87

So, I picked up a few things at CVS which equaled $47.45 and then used various coupons to bring my total to $17.25 before taxes. Everything totaled $19.87 and I received $18.00 in Extra Care Bucks!

Not everything I purchased is pictured here.

Travel Bag Tuesday: Goodies From My Mother- In- Law!

My mother in law gave me this lovely Kath Van Zealand handbag she was  no longer using. It is a nice sized bag that can really hold a number of items!

Musically Manic Monday Has A Visitor!

Check out the brown rabbit on the edge of our woods!



Work: I continue training our two new hires.

Church: Pretty low key

Yard:Finally catching up!

Home: Last week was rough, but I caught this back up this weekend.

Projects: Possible new contractor for the bathroom remodel.

The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest

I happened to run across this book (my husband knew about it, of course) and knew it was for us (see my post on 6/21 regarding impulse buys)! I know I have a specific list for the year, but we will have to do some supplementing!

Here is a part of the forward of this book:

"Truth is stranger than fiction. And nowhere in literature is it so apparent as in this classic work,The Autobiography of a Hunted Priest. This autobiography of a Jesuit priest in Elizabethan England is a most remarkable document and John Gerard, its author, a most remarkable priest in a time when to be a Catholic in England courted imprisonment and torture; to be a priest was treason by act of Parliament.
Smuggled into England after his ordination and dumped on a Norfolk beach at night, Fr. Gerard disguised himself as a country gentleman and traveled about the country saying Mass, preaching and ministering to the faithful in secret always in constant danger. The houses in which he found shelter were frequently raided by "priest hunters"; priest-holes, hide-outs and hair-breadth escapes were part of his daily life. He was finally caught and imprisoned, and later removed to the infamous Tower of London where he was brutally tortured.
The stirring account of his escape, by means of a rope thrown across the moat, is a daring and magnificent climax to a true story which, for sheer narrative power and interest, far exceeds any fiction. Here is an accurate and compelling picture of England when Catholics were denied their freedom to worship and endured vicious persecution and often martyrdom."

Saturated Saturday: Help With The Yard

Hubby and I finally broke down and purchased a riding lawn mower to help with the yard work. Hubby doesn't think I am excited, but I am! 

When You Get The Itch

I was reading one of the blogs I frequent and became interested in one of the posts. The subject matter spoke of people who are savers and those who are spenders. A statement was made that a "saver" might not understand the thrill of spending a "spender" experiences. 

My two sisters are definitely in tune with saving, but what am I? Even though I have grand dreams of being a very spendthrift person- I don't think that will ever quite fit my personality. 

Do I save? Yes. Do I spend? Yes. Do I impulse buy? Yes. As I type this right now, I have a horrible urge to purchase a new bronzer. Do I need a new bronzer? No... I have like ten to go through. Shoot, I have been working on the same one for at least a year! Here is a run down of weird things I purchased this past month...I don't know if my husband knows all this... it could get awkward.

1. Four cardigans and two blouses. Did I need these? No, probably not. Will I use them? Yes, and I have used them several times for work. As you know, I dress up at least six times a week. 

2. Faucet set for the shower. Do I need this? Yes, since we have lost all hope in the bathroom remodel project!

3. A telephone for my daddy. Did I need this? Well, it is my daddy and my mama likes it too!

4. 2 boxes of hair dye. Did I need this? No, but I did get a good deal and nobody wants to grow grey!

5. Eating out for lunch. Do I need to do this? Yes and no. I struggle with this constantly and I HAVE to get this under control.

Of course there are other things but why dig myself deeper? I want to challenge myself, but make sure it is doable... any suggestions? A "No Buy" week? Month? Year? 

SUMMER RAIN

Wheelin' Wednesday: Jessica London Flyaway Cardigan

I purchased this flyaway cardigan from Jessica London. With shipping, it cost $20.98. Let me tell you, what a great cardigan! I love that this is nice and long which is great when pairing with summer dresses. The weight  of the fabric is light so you don't feel suffocated and it just flows with the movements of your voluptuous body! 

Here is the link if interested

and the latest deal:

Bacon Makes The Difference

Do you ever feel like you just rotate meals around in circles? Does your husband grow weary of the menu? Well, all you have to do is add bacon which is what I did. Who knew broccoli with cheese could become a "Super Side" with the addition bacon! 

Woo hoo!

Work: Training two new employees!

Garden: I need to shape my shrubbery!

Church: We made a major bookstore purchase this month. I should post some pictures of some of these books.

Home: This might be part of some future posts. I am gaining confidence!

Budget: A mess

Cleaning: We are keeping it up!

Pro Life: I have cut back a little on this to ensure I was taking care of my home duties.

Dinner Making: Consistent.

Music: New choral practice starts at the end of August.

What's going on in your world?

Puzzled

Hubby has unleashed The Kracken! Okay...maybe just a couple of puzzles. We decided on his and her puzzles since we have a different way of working on these. Lets just say his way is "obsessed" and my way is more nice and slow... like a Southern afternoon on a veranda or something.

Keeping Up!

Hubby and I have been trying to keep the house up since our latest deep cleaning project. It has been a struggle for us! We tend to wait until our day off and then dive into piles of duties. I envy people that maintain the house on a daily basis and keep a neat home. I wanted to see if I could keep this up for the month of June and it has been a struggle! So, here we are at the halfway point and I know you are wondering if we have succeeded.

Here is the breakdown!

Kitchen: I have kept this up!

Laundry: On track!

Ironing: On track!

Yardwork: God bless my husband helping me with this even when not feeling well.

Bathrooms: Needs a little help.

Vacuuming: Keeping this up!

Sweeping: Husband always tackles this for me!

Floor washing: On track!

Bonus Room: Hubby has been keeping this up as well.

Bedrooms: The master bedroom is still a work in progress.

Things My Wife Says

"I'm going to hold a book near my neck so I can get a hug from you."

Rain, Rain, Here to Stay?

Today's game plan involved mowing the law which I failed to handle this past weekend. God had other plans and I woke up to blooming lilies dancing in the rain! 

I still managed to: 

Pay bills

Vacuum one room

Iron 12 shirts

Wash and put away three loads of laundry

Wash the kitchen and dining room floors

Clean out three drawers

Wipe down the bathtub

Make an appointment

and

Make dinner

I have to stay motivated!

Remodel Here We Come.....Finally?

I had one more contractor come out to give me a quote on the bathroom remodel. Like all but two before, he never called and/or sent me the quote.  At that point, I knew I should go back to the very original company. He responded to my email within four hours and we set an appointment to finalize everything and get the contract signed the very next week. 

So, the quote came and it came in high (and he hugged me a lot) and now I am just done.......do it yourself here I come?

Tasteful Tuesdays: Rice and Peas

Weird thing, but I have this thing with cooking peas and rice... yummy.

Things My Wife Says...

Wife: "Speaking of Christmas."

Husband: "Who was speaking of Christmas?"

Wife: "The people in my head."

June 2013

Book of the month

I am still working on May's book, "Soul of the Apostolate" and I have switched June's book to "Poor Folk" which is another Dosteovsky book. This is one of his earlier works.

Sacrifice of the Month

This is more along the lines of improving myself: not putting off my evening responsibilities.

Corporal/Spiritual Work of Mercy

Continue pro life work and be more consistent with praying and spiritual reading.

Home Project

I was actually able to work on the air conditioner project and will continue on this month while incorporating some kind of work on the front gardens.

Saturated Saturday: Deep Cleaning

Hubby and I plowed through two bedrooms and the bonus room (aka "Man Cave") with heavy duty cleaning machine. I was tempted to take pictures of the dirtied water, but didn't want to upset any stomachs. I must say that I prefer heavy duty cleaning versus the more mundane daily tasks. What do you prefer?

Friday's Favorites

My in-laws came for a quick visit and let us "dog sit" their lovely dog! Isn't she cute?

Thoughtful Thursday: Nail Polish Colours

Weird question, but do you think it is crazy for a woman my age to wear funky coloured nail polish?  Heck, I am sporting some teal coloured nails today and I think I look pretty snazzy, but I am old...  Am I too old for this colour?  Tell the truth and shame the devil!

Wheelin' Wednesday

Even though I prefer shopping online- I find that the best sales are located in the actual "brick and mortar" stores. I found this blouse 60% off at a local Walmart and grabbed it for the hotter months!

A Kind of Vanity....

I have been diving into the wonderful world of organizing now that I am almost completely over the poison ivy. Here is a snapshot of a makeshift vanity I put together in my dressing room (aka guest bedroom).  This table was housing all of our bills which gives me a new mess to contend with for the month!

Do you like?

Musically Manic Monday

I haven't done one of these in a while! Let's see how well I do!

Work: I have two new hires that I am training.

Yard: Mowing the lawn in increments since I can't handle the entire lawn all at once.

Landscape Project: I actually worked on this two weeks ago and now I need to decide how I am going to finalize everything. I need to also work on the front yard.

Abortion Clinic: Should be out there this week.

Church: We have First Friday Mass and Holy Hour.

Home: I want to steam clean the hallway this week and wash all of the tile floors downstairs.

Organization: Paperwork!

Floating Book....

Hubby and I handled some heavier cleaning on Saturday and found this book stuck behind a bookcase and on the wall. I had to take a picture... looks like it is floating, eh?

The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard

I was recently having a conversation with a lady in my parish concerning the pro-life movement.  She  conveyed the opinion that one should not spend time praying outside of the abortion clinic but  should stand up and protest outside of the clinics and government buildings.  While this is well and good, without prayer, there is no hope. Actions may speak louder than words, but it is the interior prayer that will win the war over all sin. Our pleadings to Our Lord soften the hearts of those wanting to end the life of their child. Without a spiritual life solely dedicated to God- we will not triumph over anything for all triumph comes through His power and not ours. Soul of the Apostolate delves into this very subject in such a way that it is truly inspiring. As I read this book-I read the story of my own spiritual life and all it's shortcomings. There was no time for despair, though, since this books gives you the recipe for moving closer to Our Blessed Saviour. If you can take the time to read one book this year- this should be at the top of your list!

Page: 113

" Listen to St. John of the Cross: ' Let the men eaten up with activity,' he says, ' and who imagine they are able to shake the world with their preaching and other outward works, stop and reflect a moment. It will not be difficult for them to understand that they would be much more useful to the Church and more pleasing to the Lord, not to mention the good example they would give to those around them, if they devoted more time to prayer and to the exercises of the interior life.' "