7 Quick Takes Friday....I'm trying to be more Catholic-y

1.

Greta's to-do list.

Cause ya know, she wouldn't want to forget to play dollhouse...or chess.  

2. 

Just thought I would share some of my recent pictures from our first beach trip of the summer.  

P.S If you are wondering where Heidi is in this pictures...she wasn't there. I took the younger kids to the beach while she was at her Edge group. 

3. 

Since we're moving to IN, this summer, I was lamenting on Facebook that this might be my last year living near the ocean.  I've spent 27 of my 36 years living within 25 minutes of the ocean.  Everyone was quick to jump in assure me that IN borders Lake Michigan and that Lake Michigan is juuuuust like the ocean...you have even get jellyfish.  We shall see.  Nonetheless, we aren't planning to move to the Lake Michigan side, but the other side..about 100 miles away from that Great Lake.  So, probably no more 20 minute car rides to the ocean.  Oh well.  I think we'll enjoy the lower cost of living more than we'll miss proximity to the ocean. 

4. 

But, Ben still needs a job.  Praying..praying..praying (and searching-him) and (panicking-me). 

5. 

Okay...I"m sure everyone else already knows about about this..but I just discovered it, so humor me.  Sometimes when I am praying I like to pull up this Perpetual Adoration Webcam from St. Martin de Tours Church in Louisville, KY.  Other churches have them as well, but I like that one, because Heidi was baptized at that church.  Anyway, I think it's pretty cool to be able to "go to Adoration online"  Granted, it's not as good at the real deal, but going to real Adoration is not very possible for me, so I figure this is better than nothing and it helps me focus my prayer just a bit more. 

6.

This is my favorite song to listen to during those times.

7.

I also really like this song.

Is it dating myself too much to admit that I really liked Rich Mullins?  (Obviously not, because I told you how old I am in a previous take). 

Since this blog is called One Catholic Mama  I've been trying to put more "Catholic-y" things on it.

Did you know that according to Wikipedia, Rich Mullins was heavily influenced by St. Francis of Assisi.  and that he frequently attended daily Mass, although he never converted to Catholicism.   Perhaps he would have if his life wasn't cut tragically short in a fiery car crash.

 And, if Wikipedia says it, it must be true. 
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And..thanks to Catherine, who is letting me borrow, Something Other Than God on Kindle, I get to read Jen's (the host of our 7 Quick Takes) new famous book!  Yay!  #SOTG

Five Favorites....Summer Lovin'

Now, that I'm actually back in a place where summer is appreciated (as opposed to Fl where it's summer all year long), I can post some summer lovin'

1.

Fruit.

Strawberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Cherries, WATERMELON!!!

I LOVE fruit.   And the abundance of summer fruit is one of my favorite things about summer.  

2.

Evening walks after dinner!  The longer day-light and warm temperatures make evening the perfect time for walking!  I love being able to get outside and be active in the evening hours.

Especially when that walking takes place on the beach.

3.

Of course, I have to list beach visits in general!

 I like going in the evening best.

4.

And, visits from family members.

5.

And, if you're lucky enough to have access to a pool....life is good!  We don't...but I can still dream. 

Go see Hallie for more Five Favorites. 

Theme Thursday: Aqua, Water, H20

I'm very, very fortunate, in that of my 35 years of existence on this planet, I've spent 26 of them living within 10 miles of the ocean.

Beginning with the rocky shores of Rhode Island

Is it just me, or do those shoes look way too big on her...and I think they're definitely on the wrong feet?   This was taken in 2006...Heidi was 4 and Greta was 1.

Why yes, my kids do go swimming in their Sunday Best dresses...doesn't everyone?  2008...Greta was 3 yo. 

Is that a whale in the background...or just another rock?  2008...Heidi was 6

To the beautiful gulf coast of Naples, Fl

This is one of my favorite photos ever...I love the shadows and light and just the whole thing.   2013..Heidi is 11, Greta is 8 and John is 5

Notice, my kids like to go swimming in their clothes a lot.  Believe it or not...they actually do own bathing suits....I always just get overly optimistic and think "oh, we'll just walk on the beach, they won't get wet, they don't need suits"  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

I've spent plenty of time at the beach and in the ocean.  I learned how to swim  in the salty bay and grew up swimming among seaweed and seagulls.  I love the ocean...the crashing of the waves, the smell of the salty air...even the annoying seagulls have their charm.  

But, as much as I love the beach and ocean...I love the mountains too....so I just had to include this gorgeous waterfall photo from a trip to TN.  Because, as much as I love the beach and the ocean...I also really love the mountains and hiking and beautiful waterfalls.   Ben and I met on a mountain hike in KY (he was hiking barefoot) and I have fond memories of hiking through mountain streams and visiting waterfalls.   

Burgess Fall...taken 2007 (I think)

Now, go see Cari for more watery photos. 

7 Quick Takes Friday: 3-D Printable Pizzas, Guns and Sunsets at the Beach

Happy Friday!!

1.

Have you seen the news about the 3-D printers that can print a pizza?  Just put your nutrients into the cartridge, press a button and out pops a pizza.
Does anyone else think that sounds like a really nasty idea.  Call me old-fashioned, but I like my pizza made with real food...like real tomatoes that grow on real vines and real cheese that comes from real milk from a real cow that ate real grass.

Oh..and the experiment to make this is funded by NASA...ya know, just in case the astronauts who decide to go to Mars want pizza...they can just print one out.

2.

Apparently you can print a real gun that actually fires too.  

Is it just me, or does this seem like a really bad idea.

Does the thought,  just because you can, doesn't mean you should come to anyone else's mind?

3.

And, if they can invent a printer that prints a real pizza or a real gun...how come they STILL haven't invented flying cars?

4.

Or self-cleaning houses?  Why doesn't anyone invent anything really useful...like self-washing dishes or self-vacuuming floors?

5.

4 days until M-day (moving day!).   Yikes!

6.

Last night we went to the beach, one last time.  I love going to the beach in the evenings.   Does anyone else get sun migraines from being on the beach in direct sunlight during the day?  I  do...so I prefer not to go during the morning/early afternoon, but after 4:00 or 5:00, I love it.

7.

We stayed until sunset....love watching the sun set over the Gulf Coast.

See Jen for more 7QTK.

Happy 5th Birthday John..5 Years in Pictures!

Today is my little boy's 5th birthday!!! Happy 5th birthday John!!  John is very smart and loves learning.  He knows his letter sounds and basic counting, and is eager to start "school" for real.   He is all boy and loved to run around like crazy, dig in the dirt and turn every stick into a weapon.  Totally, totally typical.  He loves his sisters...but really wishes for a brother.  Maybe someday kiddo...

To celebrate..I'm posting 5 interesting facts about John and one picture for every year of his life.

•  John's full name is John de la Croix Bentrup.  It is John of the Cross in French.  Saint John of the Cross is Ben's favorite saint, and when you're pregnant you agree to crazy things, so somehow I agreed to name him John de la Croix.  Hopefully this won't cause him too much angst when he grows up and has to do grown-up things like fill out forms.

• John was born with a short umbilical cord.  The midwife said it was the shortest cord she ever saw.   You can read all about his birth here.  Ironically enough, the midwife (a different one) said the exact same thing after I had Elsa.  Apparently I grow short umbilical cords.  BTW, if you google short umbilical cord you will read all sorts of scary statistics and predictions and dire warnings about the problems that befall babies with short umbilical cords.  Thankfully, none of these have come to pass for us, so this is a perfect example of why I should (but won't) stop googling medical things. 
• John likes to play chess...by himself.  He sets the board up and then plays both sides.  Oddly enough, he always wins.  Clearly this demonstrates that he is bound for chess mastery and will be the next Josh Waitzkin.
• John has this amazing ability to fall asleep anywhere.  Laundry baskets and clothing bins are two of his favorites places.  
• John always wears his clothes backwards and inside out...and he loves it.  One would think that just by chance, he would put his pants on the right way 50% of the time..but apparently not.  He seems to get it wrong 100% of the time.  That takes talent, I'm sure. 

2008...what a sweet baby!

2009 Isn't he cute!  Hippy boy had adorable curly hair as a baby!!

 2010...The curls are gone..waaah! .  Notice that huge scratch..on his cheek.It's actually not a scratch, it is a burn.  Thankfully it healed fine, without any scarring.

 

2011...Aren't they cute together?  Greta and John have always been really good buddies!

2012!  You can't see it in this picture because his hand is covering it up, but he's holding a cross he made at homeschool coop.  He kept that cross on for weeks without taking it off.  That's because he's John de la Croix....just living up to his name!

2013..We celebrated his birthday at the beach! 

 
 Happy 5th birthday John!  We love you!