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

5 Favorite Pro-Life Books

Today marks the 41st anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision.

We were planning going up to D.C. for the March for Life this year, but we ended up foiled by the flu. 

Image Source

Okay, okay...the snow and the cold was  a bit of a detriment too....we're not as hardy as these folks.

This is the one time of year I write about abortion on this blog....usually I tend to shy away from REALLY controversial topics. Last year I wrote about Unplanned Joy.

This year, I'm just going to direct you a few of my favorite books that deal with the topic of abortion or life before birth or crisis pregnancy or anything remotely related to that. 

1.

Having Your Baby When Others Say No.

by Madeline Pecora Nugent

(who happens to be my mother, but nepotism played no part in the choosing of this book).

Even though this book was published almost 20 years ago, it still has relevance today.  While some of the resources in the appendix are out of date (it was written before wide-spread Internet use), the encouragement and information contained within is timeless.  Written in an easy-to-read style, it contains many short quotes and stories from countless women who have experienced crisis pregnancies.   It is written in a very compassionate and loving way towards women who are dealing with crisis and would be a great help to anyone who is dealing with a crisis pregnancy or helps women in crisis pregnancies. 

Just to give you a hint of the awesomeness contained within, I present to you my favorite quote.

M.D. does not stand for Mostly Divine. - M.P.N.

How can you NOT love a book that has a quote like that in it. 

2. 

My Child, My Gift: A Positive Response to Serious Prenatal Diagnosis

Also By Madeline Pecora Nugent

This book is written for parents who have received a serious prenatal diagnosis...perhaps they were told that their child had a genetic disorder, perhaps they were told that their child would not live long outside the womb. Most likely there were told to terminate the pregnancy. 

This much needed book contains countless stories and inspiration for mothers who desire to continue their pregnancy and allow their child to live as long as possible....no matter how short or long that might be. 

While the stories contained within are sad...they are also inspirational..  This is a book that will touch your heart and probably make you cry...but in a good way. 

3.

Angel In The Waters

by Regina Doman
Illustrated by Ben Hatke

This is a beautiful children's book...the pictures are gorgeous and it is a great view of life before birth. 

4.

Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line.

by Abby Johnson

I checked this book out of the library and devoured it rather quickly.  It is an easy read, and is both fascinating and interesting.  It gives an interesting view point from someone who has been on "both sides".  My only complaint is that I felt the book ended rather abruptly.  Maybe because Abby Johnson's story is still unfolding, but the book felt unfinished to me. 

5. 

Abortion Rites: A Social History of Abortion in America

by Marvin Olasky

To be honest, I haven't read this book, but Ben read it and he highly recommends it, so that's good enough for me to include in my five favorites.  It is a very balanced view of the history of abortion, without any bias from one side or the other.  All stories are backed by historical evidence and written within the framework of a Judeo-Christian value system which was in place in America at the time.  I don't think this is an easy read, it is a more academic book, but if you like that thing and are interested in the history of abortion in America, this it the book for you.

Linking up with Hallie for Five Favorites and Jessica for what we're reading Wednesday.

Five Favorites and What We're Reading Wednesday

Linking up with Hallie for Five Favorites and Jessica for What We're Reading Wednesday. 

1.

I just love this graphic...don't you?

I want to link up, just so I can use this....because I always sit in my easy chair with my house dress and read with legs crossed just so.

I wish.  I actually do all my reading in my bedroom, during the afternoon, nursing a baby who refuses to nap alone.  

So, yes..I am cheating and my first favorite is this graphic!

2.

Now, for what I'm actually reading.

Cleaning House  A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid her Home of Youth Entitlement. 

I picked this up at the library on a whim (it was on the end shelf) and really like it.  If anything it's a good reminder to be sure to teach our kids certain life skills....like how to do laundry, how to clean a bathroom (ahem...something my mother never actually taught me), how to throw a party, how to cook a meal, etc.   It's super easy as parents to fall into the trap of thinking oh, it's easier to just do it myself, rather than teach someone else how to do it.   But, that's not really what we need to be doing, is it?

Ms. Wyma's writing style is really fun, it's an easy read and has a lot of really good tips. 

3.

A Mother's Trial a true story.

Ben got this for me awhile ago, when it was free for kindle as a temporary promotion.  Ben's a genius as getting free kindle books.

Anyway, this is a really engaging book about a trial that happened in the 70's.  A family has two biological children, and then adopted a little girl from China that developed a mysterious illness involving lots of diarrhea and weird electrolyte imbalances that eventually killed her.  The family then adopts another little girl from China, and when this little girl starts experiencing the same symptoms, suspicion falls on the mother and this is her story.    The interesting thing, is that you never find out definitively if the mother is guilty, but I strongly suspect she was and the going theory is that she had  Munchausen syndrome by proxy  It's all very fascinating stuff. 

4.

And, on a different note...away from books.  

Here is a cute little video of Miss Elsa Rose practicing her beginning walking skills.

Just ignore, my super annoying voice. 

5.

And another one.  Sorry it's sideways...just tilt your head. 

A Bad Case of the Mondays

Warning:  This is one incredibly whiny, venting, post.  You have been warned.

This is how I feel today.

Today is one of those days.  Yes, THOSE days.  The kinda of day where your husband walks in the door, asks how everyone is, and you reply..Just be glad, we're all still alive. 

Despite doing it numerous times before, Greta completely forgot how to do subtraction with borrowing.   I even looked up a video on Khan academy and had her watch it.  Yeah..that made it even more confusing.

Heidi, for some odd reason, decided to do a history chapter that was 8 chapters ahead in her book of where we were, and didn't notice that she was suddenly learning about a whole new time period???

Everyone is suddenly completely incapable of doing any school work without me walking them through every.single.thing.

The UPS guy came and woke up Elsa.

Our schoolbooks are falling apart and missing pages because the kids just throw them on the ground..despite how many times I tell them to treat them carefully.

My patience level is incredibly low right now.

Due to allergies, food intolerance (gluten and probably dairy as well) and being poor, I've cooked every meal from scratch for the last oh..2 years...and darnit, I just want to freaking order a pizza and not have to worry about dinner for once.

I think I'm sugar crashing after a week of major Easter candy indulgence..which is NOT helping my mood.

Elsa keeps biting me...and grabbing stuff, and destroying whatever she can get her hands on and throwing a fit if you take something away from her.  Yep..my 6-month old is throwing fits.  Fun times.

Job searching is going..not so well and I'm starting to panic and freak out a bit.

Elsa has the most screwy nap schedule ever and will not nap ANYWHERE but in my lap or in the sling.  And, now she's refusing to sit in the stroller without screaming and I have to put her on my back in the sling.  Let me tell you, she's lucky she's so cute.

Hmmm...what else?  In good news...as I said...we're all still alive.   And, tomorrow is Tuesday, which means it's not Monday...which means it has to be better than today..right?

I'm linking this up with Mindful Mothering Mondays which I discovered through my friend, Amy's blog.   This post is not nearly as encouraging or happy as those are though..so go over there if you want to read something more uplifting.  I think I've only hit on the trials and struggles part.   I'm feeling more maniac than mindful at the moment.  Oh well....tomorrow is a new day..and thankfully despite this terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day...not all days are like this...not even in Australia.

Five Favorites

Linking up again with Jen who hijacked Hallie's blog for Five Favorites on a sunny, hot, Wednesday afternoon.

1.

Rapunzel Let Down: A Fairy Tale Retold

 This book.  You should totally read it!  However, despite the title..it's not a kid's book and only for mature teens and adults. 

2.

And, you should read aforementioned book on your Kindle.

Because I love, love, love ours.  There is nothing better than having an entire library at your fingertips that only weighs a few ounces.  And, Ben is a genius at finding free kindle books or books very inexpensively..so we've got a nice library going. 

3.

Nettle leaves...because nettle is a super powerhouse of nutrition and you can totally buy organic nettle cheaply and make your own nettle infusion.   Place one cup of dried nettle in a large mason jar.  Cover with boiling water and let steep over night.  Strain, store in fridge and drink one cup a day!  Tons of nutrients are are contained within that one cup of liquid.

4.

Sweet Onion Mashed potatoes.  I can't link to a recipe because I just made it up myself.  Basically, when you boil your potatoes to make mashed potatoes, add in 1 whole, sweet onion.  It gets soft and then you just mash it with the potatoes (and LOTS of butter of course and Real Salt).  It adds an awesome flavor!  Try it!

5.

Major, major sales!  I found these on sale for only 25 cents!  That's like 90% off or something. Totally stocked up...which means lots of muffin and cookie baking will be going on in Household Bentrup.

Now, go visit the others for more 5 Favorites!