How I Use Social Media

As 2016 is drawing to a close, and 2017 is fast approaching, I have been thinking about the amount of time I spend online, specifically on social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc....). There are just so many of them, it's easy to just get lost on your phone (or computer) for...ever. 

 I personally only really use Facebook or Instagram with any real regularity.  Even those two are more than a drain on my time.  So I've been really thinking about what it is that I enjoy about each of them and how to make better, more productive use of my time online and shave off the pointless, waste of time, constant checking of social media that is so very tempting when you "only have a minute here or there anyway".  

Instagram is by far my favorite.  It's mostly pictures.  Little tidbits about someone's day or a small peek at their heart.  Mostly beautiful and encouraging.  There is a main focus on positivity, beauty, and the joy in life.  There are bits of heavy and heart-breaking, which balance the scale and make it a realistic and honest, yet still encouraging and upbeat place to be.  

Facebook is mostly a drain for me now, but I do still see it's positive attributes, so I plan to stay on there, though in a more limited capacity (meaning I won't be wasting my time there, just checking here and there to see what family and friends are up to).  I dislike the negativity that seems to prevail and the oversharing.  I enjoy being able to share and read blog posts, pictures, and quick messages, but there is a lot to wade through, so and quite frankly I need the time I'm wasting scrolling to spend with my family and friends around me. 

One thing I'm not a huge fan of about Instagram is the fact that you can link it to Facebook and then it's like a double post.  I do sometimes choose to share a photo on Facebook that I've shared on Instagram, but I try to do it infrequently because otherwise people who follow me on both have to see it twice.  All the time.  

*Note* This next section isn't meant to offend- it's meant to shed light on my personal views of Instagram and what I like and dislike.  Everyone is different and don't judge people based on these things.  I merely enjoy certain Instagram accounts more or less because of my own personal views and tastes.  

I also view Instagram as a "best of" sort of place for pictures.  I admit that it annoys me just a little when people post like 5-10 (or more!) pictures from the same place, event, photoshoot, activity, day etc.  I also get a tad bit annoyed when people share really poor quality photos.  I mean sometimes you captured a moment and it's a little dark, so I get it.  But I see Instagram as a photographic snapshot of my life and poor quality, dark pictures as a regular thing aren't my favorite.  Admittedly I'm not a photographer nor do I consider myself to have an amazing natural ability in it, but I do try to think about the moment and perhaps add a little beauty here and there (or crop the photo so that the dirty laundry isn't in every shot)....  I feel like Instagram has helped me to become a (slightly) better photographer because I see so many beautiful photos taken by many people and I think, "Hey!  I could take a good shot of my baby with a little extra work, a couple props or a cute blanket, and some decent lighting."  

On that note, this is totally a plug for Instagram for any of you who are not on there.  Even if you don't want to post very much (once a week or once a month), I find it to be a more uplifting place than Facebook for the most part and I personally share a different way there.  My Instagram posts are often a tiny little snapshot of a moment in my day.  I might share a quick Bible verse or thought that was on my mind, I might share a brief story of something that took place that day, I might share something that made me laugh, cry, or smile.  I might share a beautiful view that caught my eye.  Just little snippets that I don't often share on Facebook or even on our blog in the same way.  So, for all of you who are interested in that sort of thing, find me on Instagram at @mamalaurarose

This is just a snapshot of the pictures that I've shared there in the last month or so, but each of them does have a little description too (you just can't see it in this particular frame screenshot).  Anyway, I just thought I'd put out a little shout out for Instagram because I plan to spend less and less time on Facebook (and use it merely for networking and keeping in touch here and there).  I certainly won't be spending crazy amounts of time on Instagram either, but it's my favorite Social Media platform, so it's where I'll be most active and I'd love to connect with anyone whose on there and share little snippets of your life and be encouraged by you as well.  

God bless!

Snapshot of Memories-Spring 2016

A Snapshot of Memories--Spring 2016

I love this idea that I saw on Britt's blog --to take stock of what's going on each season and capture some of those very normal, everyday memories and moments as well as some that are more long-term and far-reaching.  So here goes...

making: plans for the summer-still all in my head

cooking: This BBQ chickpea salad and some fresh fruit for dinner.  Meatless, summery-light Friday meal.

drinking: water mostly, but I mixed it up with sparkling lime water today.  What a rebel.

reading: The Mother of the Little Flower (by Celine Martin) and You Did it to Me (by Fr. Michael Gaitley) plus renewing my Marian consecration with the 33 Days to Morning Glory book

wanting: my current online scoring session to end...it's so tiring...but this section of Mother of the Little Flower was helpful....

looking: for some hand lotion to put on my hands AGAIN because this move to Colorado has been a tough change for my susceptible-ness to dry-skin patches.

playing: Peek-a-boo (Bee-a-boo!) with Sophie all the time.  She's liked the game for awhile, but is recently into covering her own eyes much more and cracks herself up.

wasting: too much time worrying about things I can't control.  Perhaps because of my mom's influence, "Jesus, I trust in You" has been my go-to prayer for--well, pretty much forever.  And it's a constant one for me since I'm a pretty strong choleric.  :)

sewing: nothing-that's not really a talent of mine, but if we are speaking of crafting...I'm working on a few Letter Y projects to complete with the girls.

wishing: those last few boxes would unpack and organize themselves....

enjoying: this point in pregnancy when I feel the wondrous kicks from inside often throughout my day.  Sweet reminders of life, but not yet strong enough that I've had to start wondering if my uterus is suddenly going to just fall out...that time is on it's way.  For now, "Hello, sweet bouncing baby!"

liking: a quiet moment here and there to read

wondering: who our little baby inside is and what sort of perfect fit God has made for our family this time.  Each time we welcome a new little one I'm always so contented with God's choice in creating such a perfect, unique individual to add to our family dynamic.

hoping: to find my patience again.  It was gone when I woke up and I've been trying to reclaim it.

marveling: at the great blessings God has bestowed on me and trying to be humble and thankful.  "Everything is a grace" -St. Therese (and repeat)

smelling: lilacs.  Every house but ours in the neighborhood seems to have a bush.  Brings back memories from my childhood in Spokane.  I can't get enough of that scent.  So back up to wishing and wanting...a lilac bush.

needing: a few moments in the quiet of my husband's arms

wearing: one of my new dresses on Sunday--still have to decide which one!!

following:  This mama who is due anytime with a little surprise, and of course, getting a chuckle from the wit of Grace over at Camp Patton. Clearly also, keeping up with the beautiful photography and writing style of Britt, which is where I even got this idea in the first place.

noticing: how quickly my girls are growing up.  Kayla just got a new, bigger bike, so that Elise can take her former one, and now it's little Ava's turn to learn to ride!! Sophie isn't to be left out and hops on anything with wheels when she gets a chance...not always a great idea....

knowing: the truth of the words of this song- "Lord, I Need You"

thinking: about what might happen in tonight's Person of Interest episode...as well as pondering the beauty of the last episode we watched in which one life was spared even though the possibility of many harmed was at stake.  A reminder of God's mercy available for us ALL!  EACH and every ONE.

bookmarking: this Fr. Riccardo podcast that Britt recommended.

opening: the cover of a sweet book with my girls.  Most recently, Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, a sweet story recommended by my MIL.

giggling: at the sound of my girls giggling when Daddy plays with them at the playground.  He can dissolve them all in sweet giggles when he pushes them high on the swings or makes whatever that teetering-tottering contraption in the picture below is twist and shake and bump and bounce.

feeling: blessed.  Oh, so blessed.

A Romantic Valentine's Day Evening (that was anything but)

Before I begin this post, I need to make a few disclaimers:
** I am not writing to make anyone feel badly about loving and enjoying a really romantic Valentine's Day with their spouse or significant other.  If you are the type of person who loves all things Valentine's Day and doesn't feel jaded about it like I do, POWER to you!
 **I am not writing to get some kind of pat on the back or because I'm looking for sympathy or pity. (You may find that hard to believe as you read through, but once you get to the end it will all pull together, I promise).   Because I repeat, I'm NOT asking for pity.  In fact, I don't want your pity and you'll see why later.   And I repeat, I'm not trying to tell you how I'm some supermom either.  I'm sharing an experience that I learned from and that is all.

And there will be randomly placed pictures of smiling 1 year old throughout.  For no apparent reason.  She's just cute and you might need a fun picture break every so often.

Ok, so here we go.

Just for good measure we'll start off with a cute picture. 

It shouldn't be new news that Chris and I have never been huge Valentine's Day fans.  We see it as a big marketing day to make money off of things that people should be doing a whole lot more regularly than once or twice a year.  Plus everything is marked up.  Because it's a Valentine's Day bouquet, it's twice as much.  Because it's Valentine's Day chocolate, it's twice as much.  And we've always thought that going OUT to dinner on a day when all the other couples in the world are also going out sounds like a nightmare.  Totally not us.  To each his own.  But that's just not how the us in this marriage works.  

So Valentine's Day around here usually consists of some simple homemade cards (that those who can create, create) and a dinner prepared by one or the other of us adults; often we each do parts of it and thus work together.   And then we usually have a sweet treat (this year was chocolate covered cherries and almonds) together-just the two of us- after the kids are in bed.  

This year was mostly the same routine.
Until it was time to put the kids to bed.  

Elise had had a low-grade fever that we'd been keeping an eye on all day, but there weren't really other symptoms so we just had it in the back of our minds.  So we put Sophie down about half hour before the other gals and she falls right to sleep.  As we are putting the other three down, suddenly Elise is a basket case.  A complete basket case.  I had put a little lavender oil on her forehead to help with the fever and to help her sleep.  But she was worried, OH SO WORRIED, that it was getting in her eyes.  And suddenly, (of course!) her eyes feel funny.  And she's crying and the tears might get the oil in her eyes.  And on and on.  You really have to be present for an Elise-fear-meltdown to even come close to understanding what it's like.  There is NO talking her out of anything.  Just crying.  And more crying.  

And then Ava decided she didn't want to say our family decade of the Rosary, so she starts crying too.  Chris and Kayla keep praying the decade.  Ava keeps crying.  I keep quietly whispering to Elise her special Bible verse, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You," and begging for the intercession of St. Dymphna (patron Saint of anxiety), Mary, and Jesus.  And eventually Ava gives up and stops crying.  And eeee-ven-tuaaaally, Elise slows her cries to little whimpers and those pitiful little cry hiccups (you know what I'm talking about right?).

We get the girls to bed.

And they are quiet for a few minutes.

Then Elise is crying again.  I sit with her and rub her back and hold her hand and whisper a few "decades" of a Chaplet of Mercy slowly and she falls asleep.

Now Ava is making noise again.  So I sit with her and we pray the rest of the Chaplet together slowly.  She finally seems to realize it's bedtime and she is a bit tired and lays still, so I tell her I'll be back to check on her and tiptoe out.

Finally it's time for Chris and I to watch our latest show, Person of Interest, on Netflix.  Sunday is our one day to watch TV and snack since we're giving that up for Lent, so we grabbed our goodies and sat down to enjoy our little show date.

I told you there would be random photos...

Part way through, right when we're at a cliff hanger, I hear something.  Chris pauses the show and sure enough, Elise is crying again.  Up the stairs I go to see what the problem is.  She has to go potty.  The tired, frustrated part of me wants to scream (or at least berate her), "Then JUST GO!  You are 4 years old.  Open the door to your room, find the bathroom, and go potty!!!"  But she's little.  And she's tired.  And she's not feeling 100%.  And she's Elise.  Everything is a big deal.  So I hold her hand and take her to the restroom.  And when she's done, I hold her hand and bring her back to bed.  Kisses and snuggles, we say our verse again and she closes her eyes once more.

Back to the show.

Another cliff hanger (it's kind of that kind of a show...) and I hear more noises.
Elise again.  We had watched Cinderella as our family movie night earlier that evening and when I went upstairs to see what she was crying about this time, it was the movie.  She was bummed that Cinderella went away from her home in the carriage with the Prince at end of the movie.  "WHERE were they going?  I want Cinderella to come back to her house!!" she wails.  I explain a bit about that and rub her back, give her some hugs and kisses, and we repeat her verse a few times more.  She settles back down uh-again.

Back to the show which we finished and then we headed off to bed.

And just as we are laying down, I hear the sound of a door opening...

Ava.  She had to use the restroom.  This happens almost every night, and recently it has meant that she begins crying almost hysterically throughout the process until she is returned to her bed.  So there was that.  Back to bed for her.

And back to bed for me.  And then more wails.  This time it was Sophie and Elise.  Elise's ear was bothering her a little.  Chris got her some ibuprofen and I put Sophie back to bed.  She was not happy about that at all.  Apparently Elise's cries had woken her up and she is crankypants when she gets woken up in the night.  So she cried, while Elise got her medicine and I tried to soothe her (because Elise is pretty always a basket case when she wakes up in the middle of the night).  Eventually after more prayers, I finally calmed her down enough that I could convince her to go back to her bed and I took Sophie out and brought her to bed with me.  She quieted down a little, but wasn't going to sleep.  Her restless little toes kept digging into my side, so I put her in the pack n play which we still have set up in our room for naps for her some days.  She cried momentarily and then gave in to sweet sleep.  And so did I.  For a blissful little period of time.

And I honestly can't remember much of the rest of the night except that I got up again with Elise and had to calm her down again and again with Ava who was a huge basket case herself that time and wanted me to lay with her (that's her thing recently).  I give in sometimes, and this was definitely one of those nights.  Normally though, she falls back asleep quickly and I can retreat silently back to my own (now cold) side of the bed in my own room.  But that night she was all kinds of restless and squirmy and oh my goodness.

And then she was in my room whining for "bwekfas" at 7:01am and I couldn't even.   I just sent her to get the pile of books that I knew was laying somewhere on our floor from the last time that a scenario of this general nature happened and she sat semi quietly on the bed between Chris and I and looked at the huge stack of books while I lay there in my daze.  Eventually I felt I could peel my eyes open enough to walk down the stairs without tripping over and we commenced with the breakfast eating.

My friends, I am still not sure that the calm woman who handled that Valentine's Night(mare) was me.  I'm not going to lie and pretend that normally when I get up in the middle of the night with the kids that I'm patient and cuddling and nurturing mom.  I'm usually cranky, tired, deep-angry-sighing mom who gets to the nurturing once the kiddos are back in bed by remembering a kiss and a hug and a "Sleep with the angels" (because despite my tired, crankiness, I do love my kids).  But the mom from Valentine's Day night was loaded up with grace.  Jesus and the Saints must have given me a few extra helpings of grace because I was actually able to embrace my crosses of suffering and they became joyful.  I wasn't resentful of the many trips I made that night to comfort, help in the bathroom, soothe fears based in fantasy, or cuddle restless children who seemed to want anything but the sleep I so craved.  Because I craved loving them, specifically, loving them as Christ does more than I craved sleeping.
  It was incredible.

The next day, I saw this quote on Blessed Is She's Instagram page that I had somehow missed on Valentine's Day, but which spoke to me so much more deeply the following day because I had just experienced it in such a tangible way.
"Pure love knows that only one thing is needed to please God: to do even the smallest things out of great love- love, and always love. " -St. Faustina

This Valentine's Day was one in which I can definitely say that I experienced true, pure, raw love.  Love and marriage are about sacrifice.  Sure, there's lots of joy to be found in love and in marriage and in romance--I know, I've experienced that too.  But this year my Valentine's Day was spent reflecting on love in a much different way than I'm used to.  It was spent living it.  And I know without a doubt that I was given special graces to live it well this year.

Our kids are a true blessing in our lives, but it's not just because of the joy and smiles and cuddles they bring.  Kids also have needs, and they are their own stubborn little people who push your buttons and make messes and get in the way of what you want to do sometimes.  There I said it.  It's true.  But when we choose to open ourselves to God's grace and sacrifice our own wants and needs to meet theirs, it is a truly amazing and incredible experience.  Because of my husband and kids, I have daily opportunities to grow in virtue by sacrificing myself and choosing to love my family through tiny tiny acts of service.  And when I choose to embrace what many look upon as annoyances, I can see that they are truly beautiful expressions of pure love.

Do I go back and forth, fighting against the idea that losing myself is actually how I find myself in Christ?  Yes.  But I'm grateful for nights like these that remind me that God's grace is truly enough.  And that choosing joy is always an option.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day, friends.  I hope yours was filled with the love and joy of Christ, whatever that might have meant for you this year.  

Life as a Prayer

Last week, I saw this post by Haley (Carrots for Michaelmas) about moms and prayer shared on Facebook.  The following quote really stood out to me (and no, it wasn't just because it was the first line and it was in bold-hehe).  "Sometimes I make the mistake of separating my spiritual life from my vocation as a wife and mother. I see my children as distractions from prayer and spirituality, rather than an opportunity to love God. "

That same week, I finally listened to this amazing Building Bridges Podcast featuring guest Mark Hart.  I cannot stress how amazing this podcast was for me.  The title is a little deceptive because suffering is only part of the conversation.  He also chats about prioritizing, PRAYER, marriage, and so much more!  

Additionally, I have been reading a book called Breathe- Creating space for God in a Hectic Life the past several weeks.  The basic premise of this book is about prioritizing your life and allowing yourself the freedom to say no to things that don't bring you closer to Christ.  That sometimes means saying no to GOOD things.  Because sometimes, we are doing things to "maintain an image" instead of because we love Christ and want to bring Him glory.  I know if I'm being honest, there are many times that I just say yes when people ask for help because "God would want me to because it's the nice, helpful thing to do".  And sometimes that means that I am stretched really thin at home and lash out at my husband and kids.  Every choice isn't between good and evil.  Some choices are between good and good, but you have to listen to the still small voice inside and do what God is asking of you.
 

   

It shouldn't be news to most of you that I am a perfectionist.  I like to do things, and I like to do them well.  Now there's nothing wrong with that, in and of itself, but words of affirmation is also one of my primary love languages.  This means I struggle all the time with doing the right things FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.  I thrive on people's affirmations and praises.  

So when I put on a party for my daughter's birthday, if people tell me that everything looks awesome and the food was great, I'm happy.  But I sometimes, forget that the reason for the party was not for me to feel awesome, needed, or helpful--it was to celebrate my daughter's life and to put a smile on her face and have fun creating.  Sometimes I am able to throw a party that is nicely put together, but my focus stays where it should on the celebration of life and on my daughter, and I enjoy the creative aspect as a side.   BUT sometimes, I get so carried away in the details being just so that I end up missing out on really participating in the party, because I'm running around taking care of everything.  I'm really trying to pray about how I go about things these days and making choices that fall into God's plan for my life, not feed an image.  

My plan to simplify really has a lot to do with putting priorities back in place.  I do pray.  I have always prayed.  But it's often shoved to the background because, well, did you read Haley's post?  Life is hectic with kids.  Who has time for a lot of quiet, alone time and daily Mass and adoration?  But in reading Haley's post and listening to that podcast, I'm realizing it's about understanding that my life is a prayer if I make it one.  It's about my heart and my attitude.  If I'm intentional, there are so many different, exciting, unique ways to center my life on Christ each day.  

Out of curiousity, I wrote down ways that I have tried, at various times, to pray throughout my day as a mom.  I was surprised at how many different ways I do pray, and thrilled to find that I could feasibly do most of them every single day.  WOW!

Here's my list:
**Please note that these are all things I do sporadically now.  It's my hope to be more intentional and make my life more of a prayer by using things I already do here and there on a more regular basis and "pray with my feet" more (as Haley put it.) ** 

My Favorite Ways to Pray:

Prayer Journal
(the girls and I have quiet time and do our own prayer journaling for 10-15 minutes after breakfast in the morning)

Gratitude Journal 

(sometimes, I do this through a less formal medium like a post on Instagram with Blessed Is She's #projectblessed hashtag, which is a fun way to get connected with other Christ-centered women as well and be encouraged!)

daily Mass
(I aim for 1 day a week with the girls)

Reflect on Saint quotes and/or Scripture
(I like to write verses/quotes on note cards and decorate them a little and put them around the house.  I switch them out and use old notecards as bookmarks or glue them into my prayer journal.  I also use dry erase markers to write verses on the mirrors sometimes).

Rosary
(I sometimes do it decade by decade as I have a chance throughout the day.  Sometimes I use these YouTube videos and pray while I do chores or even in the middle of the night when I'm nursing)

Praise and Worship
(Chris plays guitar, and we try to set aside Friday evenings for family praise and worship.  Additionally, I play my "Matt Maher" station on Pandora during the day and jam out while I'm cleaning or while the kids eat and of course, in the car!)

Offer it Up
(I try really hard-and often fail-to offer up doing chores I hate or keeping my mouth closed when I really want to say something as little sacrifices throughout my day.  I can almost hear my mom now, "Don't waste the suffering, Laura.".....

Prayer Places
(We have certain places/times that we often end up praying.  These include, but are not limited to:  before meals, before bed, in the car, when someone gets/needs a timeout, when we pass a Catholic church, when we hear a siren, etc. Obviously our bedtime routine with the kids is more drawn out and we say several prayers together and talk about what we're thankful for and pray for others, but a quick Our Father with the kid in the timeout corner, or a Hail Mary when we hear a siren etc. all help us lift our eyes to heaven throughout our day)

Daily readings
(I follow Blessed Is She on Facebook or you can find the devotions on the BIS website and they have the daily readings plus a little reflection.  On good days, I start my day off by going there.  I also have my Magnificat that I can use.

Go outside
(Seriously, it is incredible how getting outside and taking some time to enjoy God's creation can be so, so good for one's soul.  Whether I just step outside and take a few deep breaths or whether I am able to get outside for a run or a walk with the family, it is so peaceful.)

Family Consecration
(We fell out of routine with this when we moved, but we wrote a Family Consecration which I love, love, love!)

3-minute Retreat
(This is through the Loyola Press website, but I was introduced to it by my mom's group and it's a really nice way to take a quick pause in your day and regain your perspective and your peace.)

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
(I love the Chaplet, and after listening to Mark Hart on the podcast, I think I might set a 3 O'Clock Mercy Hour alarm and try my best to stop and do a quick chaplet each day at that time.)

Serving my family
(Every little aspect of the daily grind can all be a prayer as well if I do it with love and joy and for the glory of God!)

What are ways that you like to
  "pray without ceasing"
throughout your day??? 

I'd love to hear your ideas for keeping
 Christ at the center of your thoughts each day.


Check out more amazing posts about the power of prayer here.
#BISsisterhood

Catholic + Women + Bloggers + Community = CWBNCA 2015

So....I couldn't even tell you how I found out about this wonderful event exactly.  Through Facebook somehow.   I blog mostly for my own sanity (it's sort of like talking to yourself, except people don't judge you for it).  I also blog to share ideas and my faith in a little tiny way.  

So what in the heck was I interested in a Catholic Women Blogging Network conference for?  

Community. 

Oh, you thought I was just trying to be funny about talking to myself?  

Yeah....no.  That's real. 

I'm a SAHM to 4 littles (aged 4 1/2 months-almost 6 years old).   I have an incredibly awesome and supportive husband who is my best friend, but he is also a man.  Chatting (read:about everything!) is not his thing.   I just started homeschooling this year.  I'm home with my own questions, frustrations, and thoughts for most of the day. 

So, I crave community with other like minded women.  When I saw that this conference was happening relatively near me, I signed right up (after checking to be sure I could bring a nursing baby, of course!)

And then I got more and more excited, especially after I found out that a gal I recently met through our homeschooling group was going too!  We both confessed on the drive up together that we had been like kids at Christmas, and could barely sleep the night before the big day!!  

We were greeted upon arrival by Jenna Guizar who founded Blessed Is She .  And then we just waltzed right in through THE red door that you see in many of Kendra's (from Catholicallyear.com) WIWS posts .  The following day we all squeezed in for a What I Wore Sunday picture in front of the same famous red door.  

Photo credit: Kendra and her daughter Betty (who snapped the shot) from Catholicallyear.com

Anyway, so the event took place in Kendra's home.  The hostess with the mostest, right?  Yes! She welcomed a bunch of strangers from the internet into her home.  And served us.  She made the totally adorable cookies with our names on them, as if just opening her home wasn't more than enough. 

I won't rewrite a recap because the woman behind putting this whole thing together, Micaela Darr, already did that here on her blog .  

When I arrived, I felt a little like this lone rose that I noticed on one of Kendra's bushes.  I had been feeling isolated. Rather alone. 

The long and short is that I came away with blogging tips and tricks, yes, but even more than that, I came away with a true sense of community and support.  I came home ready to say YES to the Holy Spirit in a bigger way in my life.  I came home asking God how I could serve Him better.  I came home seeking to grow more in holiness, and support these incredible women and others in their walks as well.  I came home filled to overflowing. 

Photo credit: Jiza of Olive and Cypress 's camera plus Betty who actually clicked the button. 

Aren't these ladies lovely???  I can tell you that their hearts were even more lovely, so yeah.  WOW!

For more pictures, head to Instagram and look under the hashtag #cwbnca and also check out my pretty terrible quality (BUT. I'm. just. so. excited!! and have to share them!! ) pictures below! 

Those are our hostesses Kendra and Micaela in the middle 

Totally creeping on these inspiring ladies having a conversation.  

I love, love, love the Blessed Is She community, so of course, I love Jenna for saying yes to the Spirit's call to start it.  Also, because she's super sweet.  

just one of the beautiful gals who sat at my table, Karianna

Laura held my baby for awhile because she was missing her 11 month old baby who was staying home with Daddy for the day...

terrible selfie time with Ronni and Laura

Can you live closer, Jiza and Theresa?

I actually went to school with this lovely lady, Kristin, at FUS.  It was so great to reconnect and hear all about her journey with podcasting!

I met Erica from beaheart.com .  She is amazing and talented and she is also the leader of our online Blessed Is She book club (we are reading Love Does by Bob Goff).  Shameless plug, but she has a Mother's Day sale going on right now--check out her site.  

Andrea escaped back to Arizona before I managed to ask/beg for a selfie....how did you manage that?

The day in somewhat of a nutshell: note-taking as we listened to wonderful women speak about different aspects of blogging, praying together, and sharing art and beauty.  The print on the top right was made by Erica and was a gift to each of us!  

On Sunday, many of us returned with our families and attended Mass at the San Fernando Mission. 

 

 And Kendra graciously opened her home to us all again for a lovely brunch that she and Micaela planned and cooked for, bless their hearts.  

Thank you, beautiful ladies for everything.  I am excited for (crossing my fingers) next year, as well as hoping to connect with some of you in various ways even sooner!  Thank you for your hearts and for sharing your blogs and yourselves with me this weekend.  I feel so very blessed!!

An INTENTIONAL Lent

Intentional. I keep seeing that word.  I think perhaps it's supposed to be my "word for the year" because though I am always busy and I do get a lot of things done, at the end of the day, I still feel as though I didn't do much.  Some of that is normal because--KIDS!  If you have one (or two, or ten) you know what I mean.  Literally while you are cleaning up a mess, they are somehow making another.  If I had a nickel for the number of times that someone has spilled something on the floor that I JUST mopped up, we would be rich.  Still, I think even with all the kid messes, I would feel better at the end of each day if I had been more intentional with my time, more present in each moment.  

I think for me, the best way to start and end my day intentionally is to begin and end with prayer.  I plan to begin my day by reading the daily Mass readings and writing in my Blessed Is She Lenten Journal (which just arrived in the mail as I was typing this)

I. Am. Just. So. Excited.

While I'm talking about Blessed Is She, you should know that this is a link-up; the theme is LENT.  Every Thursday during Lent there will be one hosted here on Blessed Is She's website. Check out the details and the themes for each week and join in; there are tons of ways to share (via comments, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc) just use the hashtag #BISsisterhood 

Now on to ending my day.  The hubby and I read 33 Days to Morning Glory together and did the Marian consecration last year and loved it.  Ever since, I've been wanting to read Fr. Michael Gaitley's second do-it-yourself retreat book Consoling the Heart of Jesus.  I finally got a copy (thank you, Mom and Dad, for the birthday gift!) and we'll be reading this each night together.  

image from Catholic.com

And sometime during the day, I plan to be sure a daily Rosary is said (one of the mysteries with the little ones too!) and that I participate in The Best Lent Ever with Matthew Kelly.  I signed up (you can too, just follow that link) to get short videos sent to your inbox of Matthew Kelly explaining the genius of Catholicism.  Because I'm breastfeeding a little one, it's likely that the Rosary and Matthew Kelly's videos will be viewed each day during a nursing session.  

And after reading posts like this one over at The Fike Life and this one at Muffindome(see that word again!), I plan to make much better use of my time online.  I'm only going to check social media in the morning before kids are awake and after they go to bed.  So if you see me "liking" things and it's the middle of the day, by all means be a whistleblower, and call me on.  

I picked up this book for cheap as well with birthday money.  I'd like to try to read through it as well.

And we have been reading Bringing Home Lent with Mother Theresa by Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle for several years as a family at mealtime.  

I have a Pinterest board full of fun ideas for Lent and Easter, but I'll save those for another post. 

What are your plans for Lent this year?   

I asked a few friends about their plans, and here are some of my favorites.  

• visiting a nursing home (especially with kids!)
• writing a (handwritten) letter to someone each day
• a new mommy vowing not to complain about the lack of sleep
• using the Magnificat Lenten Companion
• travel to pilgrimage sites in Europe with the family (yeah this one isn't for everyone, but they are currently living in Europe, so....AWESOME!!)

Share, share, share!

And join the link-up or just visit and gather neat ideas!

Sharing Poetry: "The Last Time"

  I'm no photographer, but I joined up with a fun Instagram photo challenge with @blessedisshe_ titled ProjectBlessed, and the photo theme yesterday was "memories".  Well that sparked a trip down memory lane.  My very favorite memories aren't anything out of the ordinary.  Meeting the love of my life.  Traveling. Marrying the love of my life.  The births of our beautiful little girls. And of course all the memories we are continuing to make together each and every day...

Well that made me start looking through scrapbooks and well, this little collage happened. 

Oh my goodness how are they all so grown up now? Well, except the one I just birthed 4 weeks ago...

So, yeah--I found the poem below on Pinterest awhile back.  The author is unknown.  What a poem though.     Beware, moms and dads out there, you will probably not be able to get through this poem with dry eyes.  I bawl every time I read it.  Go ahead, prove me wrong.  

Are you crying? You're welcome. 

I don't want to be judgmental, but heck-- yes I do. If you aren't, I'm not sure you have a heart...

I just read it again while cuddling my 4 week old baby.  

Do you know any synonyms for bawling? Because, yes, I'm doing all of them. 

What I Wore: One Month Until Baby

So I've been joining @mommainflipflops and @ellentcmom on Instagram for a November #RealMomStyleChallenge every Friday (who doesn't love a good giveaway?) which is why I've got two outfits to share this week. Each Friday they have a little "mom style theme"; The first week was "Not Your Everyday Mom Uniform", and this past week was "Diva in the Checkout Line". I actually had a lot of fun glamming it up a little.  I even visited an actual checkout line (we had some groceries to pick up that day) so that I could rock my very-pregnant mommy style and feel glamorously large rather than just large like I feel a lot of days at this point in a pregnancy.
                 
It never ceases to amaze me how just a slightly different angle can make the belly look so much bigger or smaller in pregnancy.  The photo on the right makes it look like I am perhaps back in the second trimester...do not be fooled.  It's a lie.  Check out my ever-present photo bombing 2 year old too....and then see how she just totally outdid herself in the next photo bomb picture.  But it actually made for a pretty cool picture, I thought....

I love all these various challenges I find from my friends in mommy fashion, because I am the type of person who needs motivation in the style department as well as direction in choosing outfit pairings.  This past year, participating in these sorts of challenges and link-ups, has really helped me develop a style of my own that I can feel confident about.  Moms are constantly on the go-go-go and constantly giving and giving some more, and it is such a help to feel as beautiful as our hubbies and kids think and know we are.  It's US who can't seem to see past our least favorite body part. Taking some time to care about the way I look on the outside, helps me remember that my whole self is beautiful, not just my work to love and care for my family, but every aspect of ME, because God created me and loves me. 

I loved that today's readings were such a great reminder that life is about being in communion with God and finding your peace and security in HIM, first and foremost.  It is that humility, love, and quiet inner peace that makes us beautiful from the inside out.  Let's strive to be that sort of woman.  

   

Are you seeing what I'm talking about with a slightly different camera angle?  For some reason my camera takes horrible pictures inside (notice the terrible lighting in the pic on the right), but I put that one in here so you can see how much more my belly sticks out in it.  That is so you know that I am telling the truth when I say we haven't had a kid under 8 lbs yet and I don't expect this one to be under our average.

  

See my necklace? I haven't worn it in awhile because my daughter broke a little piece, and I took a long time getting to a craft store to pick up a little loop to attach it back together nice and easy.  But it's pretty much my favorite necklace ever.  It's filled with browns, and golds, and white, so it's SUPER versatile.

What I Wore: 

Navy  and white dotted dress: (empire waist, not actually maternity though) from my sis-in-law

Brown belt: Ross

Mustard cardigan: Target

Brown slouch boots: Overstock.com

Necklace: Soleil (Premier Designs)

Join the ladies over at Finelinenandpurple.com for some beautiful and modest style inspiration. 

And head on over to the Real Mom Style link-up over at mommainflipflops.com for more fashion ideas.