Happy Mother's Day - Questions and Answers

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers....whether you are a mother by birth, adoption, foster parenting, spiritual motherhood or just hoping, waiting and praying to be a mother.    

My mother is a very unique person.  She is probably the most busy, type-A, unselfish, generous person I know.  She is always doing something.....and usually someone to help someone else.   She never takes time for herself. If she comes over my house for a visit, she'll clean the bathroom, cook meals, organize the kitchen cabinets and  help Greta with her spelling.  I love it!  

She has a whole bunch of published books that you should read.

She always stands up for what is right and doesn't care what other people think.  I remember one memorable incident when I was in high school where she made the local news because she was protesting the placement of "racy" magazines at the checkout line at one particular grocery store. My parents boycotted that store for like 20 years. 

She always takes the time to talk to someone who needs help and to help those in need.  She is always super hospitable in a very humble way, always willing to host a meeting or feed someone dinner, even though our house was  very simple and humble.  She never worried if the furniture didn't match or the everything wasn't "perfect", she had people over anyway. 

And, she was/is a really good mother.   She stayed home with us.  She nursed all her kids past 2 years of age and made us eat our vegetables..way before it was the cool.    She never let us cry in the night as babies (and even not as babies, I remember one night, she slept on the floor in my room when I was in 8th grade, because I was FREAKED OUT after a CCD class about the occult.  I guess they were trying to warn kids about the dangers of it, but it freaked me out totally.  I was so freaked out, she actually stayed in my room that night, on the floor.  THAT is love and sacrifice).  She was gentle in her discipline and extended us a lot of grace.  She gave us freedom to be ourselves and encouraged us in our interests. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you!

Now, for some questions from Kendra. 

1. What's for dinner?

Bacon-wrapped chicken.  Some sort of potatoes and roasted kale and zucchini.  Plus, cheesecake and ice cream.   Yum!!

2. What's the last thing you borrowed from someone?

Something Other Than God over Kindle from Catherine!  Thanks Catherine..I'm so enjoying reading it!!

3. What is your favorite prayer?

The Memorare

4. What is the oldest thing in your house?

My wedding dress, which both my mom AND my grandmother wore.  Which means it's from the 1940's!  I don't think we have anything older than that here. 

5. What's the best concert you ever attended?

I don't think I've ever actually attended any concerts.  Sad..I know.  I'm not really into the concert scene. I might have gone to something at a church once, but I really don't remember. 

6. Do you have a nickname?

Not really.  When I was in college, a bunch of my friends from the Newman Center called me "Meals" which I kinda liked.  And, this one guy I knew in 4-H used to call me "Am-el-lee-ah"...a weird pronunciation of "Amelia" but he was the only one who did that.   

I never had any wide-spread nicknames and heaven help the person who tries to call me "Amy" or "Molly" or anything like that.  No, thank you!

And here's what I wore today. Notice the chocolate and wine....just what I wanted., thanks to my wonderful husband. 

I thought this was funny.  Although I only drink very rarely...but I didn't drink at all before I had kids. LOL

That is actually the 2nd bottle of wine.  The first one, was emptied of its contents in about 3 seconds (sadly, not because we drank it, but because it got dropped and broke...at least it broke outside and not inside). 

And that shirt is actually black an white striped...not blue.  I have no idea why it looks so blue in the picture, but whatever. 

Go visit FLAP for more Mother's Day Outfits. 

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

What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day

Well, I can't speak for all moms, but here are 5 things that *I* want for Mother's Day.

1.

For someone to come clean my house......and for it to stay clean for longer than 5.25 minutes. 

A maid would be even better.

2.

No screeching, no crying, no whining.  

Actually how about the chance NOT to be a mom.  Just for a few hours...just a few..blissful, quiet hours without any kids around...then they can come back. 

3.

Chocolate...and Wine.

I like chocolate truffles...and I like fruity wines.

4.

For someone else to cook a nice meal AND clean up after it. 

This looks yummy!  Mmm...meat!

The cleaning up part is vital.  My kids are great at cooking, but not so great at cleaning up afterwards.  Even when they clean up, it's not as clean as I would get it.  And, believe you me, I have LOW standards when it comes to cleaning. 

5.

Appreciation and Admiration

To know that someone appreciates all she does.  To know that someone loves her for who she is.  To know that someone thinks she is beautiful, no matter how many extra pounds or wrinkles or gray hairs. 

To know that someone appreciates all the dinners cooked, and floors swept and hugs given and stories read and lessons taught and miles driven. 

And to extend grace when she fails...when she yells or burns dinner or loses patience.

And, to be totally fair to my family, I do get lots of appreciation and admiration from my husband and children on a regular basis. And, they give me way more grace than I deserve.   I also occasionally get chocolate...and even less occasionally..wine.   The rest of the things....I am still waiting on.

What do YOU want for Mother's Day?

5 Favorites is Hosted at Rhodes Log Today!

All the Blog Posts I Didn't Write.

You guys.  You ever have a day or a week or a month where you just constantly feel snarky and on edge and like everyone else is wrong, wrong wrong and you must set them right, right, right?

Please tell me it's not just me. 

Please. 

Anyway, I kept thinking of all the blog posts I wanted to write...but none of them were all that charitable or helpful or good. 

So, I abstained. 

It's a good thing I didn't have a blog 8 years ago.  I've gotten a lot better at avoiding online conflict.  I still have a few slip-ups, but I've improved quite a bit.  Many years ago, a wise friend once said something along the lines of we're more likely to get into online debates/conflicts when we have another stressor in our life.  We tend to use the online conflict as a way to deflect our other stress. 

So true.  So, very, very true.   And, we'd had a lot of stress recently. Nothing major...just your everyday, typical my husband won't have a job after school ends in June, and we're planning ANOTHER out-of-state move this summer so we can be near family, and he's taking ANOTHER bar exam this summer, so he can work in that state, and oh Lord, please, please, please let him find a job in the city/state we want to move stress.  Nothing major right.  I mean, at least we're all healthy, right?

Which is what one of my blog posts that I'm not writing was going to be about..health.  As though I actually know anything about health.  As though our general good health and lack of any chronic disease/conditions is attributable to anything more than good luck and good genes. And, as though my ramblings thoughts on health is actually going to change any one's mind. 

Oh...and let's not mention the other blog post I was going to write.  The everyone should parent exactly like I do, because my way is right and everything else is wrong.  Ha...that would have been a funny one, I'm sure.   Good thing I didn't write that one!  And, I don't actually think that my way is the only right way, I was just in a snarky, grouchy mood.  I still am.  These periods of transition are so hard.   

I'm still feeling guilt over a comment I left on someone else's blog last week.  It wasn't a mean comment or anything, but it was offering advice, when they probably just wanted support.  Sigh. 

I'm trying to think of more edifying things to write about now. 

Trying.

Trying.

Trying.

Questions and Clothes: I Am Not My Mother

Answering Kendra's questions and Showing you What I Wore Sunday. 

1. Are you becoming your mother?

In some ways yes, in some ways no.  Actually, I'm probably quite a bit like how my mother was when she was my age, but not so much like how she is now, if that makes sense. And, when Ben reads this, I'm sure he is desperately hoping that I do not become more like my mother as I age. <smile>

This is my mother at my wedding. reception...doing what she does best...being in charge.  One notable way I am not like my mother.  I'm more than happy to let someone else be in charge. 

2. Coffee or tea?

I like both, but I drink tea more often. Coffee is more of a treat food for me. I especially love herbal teas. 

3. What foreign country would you like to visit?

Probably Italy or Ireland. Although I've never been to any foreign country, so I'd settle for Canada. Actually I've never been further west than Kansas City, Missouri, so I'd even settle for visiting Texas...that seems pretty foreign to me. 

4. Do you cry easily?

No, I am a rather stoic person.  And, I hate crying. 

5. How often do you wear heels?

Stilettos? Almost never.  A slight heel or a wedge heel...I'd say once or twice a week. 

6. Do you play an instrument?

No, I did take piano lessons when I was a kid, but I was never very good at it and didn't keep it up.

7. What Did You Wear Today. 

My question..not Kendra's.  But, I know you want to know.

The shirt was thrifted. The skirt and shoes were given to me.  And, you can't really tell from the pictures, but those are heels, so I guess I wore heels today.   Please ignore the wrinkled skirt..I'm allergic to ironing (One way, I am very much like my mother.  We don't iron.)

Have Wonderful Sunday. 

 

7 Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store.....Without Coupons

Everyone wants to save money, right!  I don't know about you, but grocery is shopping is my biggest variable money drainer.  It's not a fixed amount (like rent or a mortgage) and can vary quite a bit. I'm always trying to save money at the grocery store, but it's hard....because we gotta eat. And, just about 100% of our food is made at home. We rarely, rarely, rarely eat out, Ben takes a packed lunch to work every day,the kids are all homeschooled, so just about all of our food consumption is from the grocery store (or the Farmer's Market or the little bit I'm able to grow at home). 

I have a long way to go yet, but here are some tips I've learned about saving money..without using coupons.  Not that I have anything against coupons, it's just that I rarely find coupons for things that I buy and it's not worth it for me to buy the papers or hunt for coupons, when I rarely find something I can use. 

It's important to keep in mind that the amount of money you spend at the grocery store will vary a lot, it depends on your family size, where you live and what types of food you eat. 

Just to tell you a little bit about our diet...we eat a gluten-free diet with almost no processed or convenience food.  I tend to buy foods with very few ingredients, and only things I can pronounce and know what they are.  Certain foods I am fairly picky about...we only eat sausage without nitrates, jelly and bread and tomato sauce without high fructose corn syrup and yogurt without artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and preferably full-fat. We do not eat all organic, it's too expensive and may not be worth it. 

So, here are 7 ways I've found to save money while grocery shopping. 

  

1.

Cut out or limit foods that have high cost to low nutritional value and satiety value. Like bacon. No..wait....don't hit the unsubscribe button just yet.  Bear with me here...most "cheap" bacon is terrible for you, full of nitrates and other junk.  The natural bacon is more expensive, and sorry...but while bacon tastes great, it doesn't provide a lot of nutritional value, it's not a very filling food, it's basically just an extra. Which is okay in small amounts, but when you are trying to eat healthy and limit grocery costs, you can't have too many extras. We buy bacon only as a "treat" and not as regular food. 

2.  

Think about the cost/value of a food before you buy it. This is why I rarely buy things like green/red/yellow peppers or a lot of berries. They tend to be very expensive and while they are nutritious and super yummy, we just don't have a lot of room in our food budget for them, except if they go on major sale during season. So, things like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are definitely a "treat food." It's why most of our produce consists of grapes, apples, bananas, potatoes, onions, garlic, kale, mustard greens, lettuce, green beans, zucchini, collard greens...all depending on the sales. Those tend to have high nutrition, but generally are cheaper items.  And, we tend to be very seasonal in our produce purchases...I buy peaches in the summer and winter squash in the fall.

3. 

Do buy things which are more expensive, but provide high nutritional and satiety vale. Like avocados.  Avocados are super filling and super yummy. A $1 avocado is going to go a lot further than a $1 red pepper, so choose the avocado over the red pepper.  And then be sure to use it, before it goes rotten.

4. 

Sometimes paying more is better. I pay more to buy full-fat Greek yogurt. When I see it on sale, I stock up, but the full-fat Greek yogurt is way more filling and nutritious (about 3x the protein) than regular yogurt.  The extra protein is definitely worth the extra price in my opinion. I'm sure I could save even more by making my own Greek yogurt,and I've gone through periods of making my own yogurt, but I just can't get it as thick or as creamy as the store-bought kind.  And, we love our yogurt thick and creamy. It helps to think of cost/nutrition, rather than just cost/oz.  The full-fat Greek yogurt is much more filling and satisfying than the other stuff, so by paying more, we actually spend less on other things.  If we eat regular yogurt for breakfast, everyone is hungry again a little while later, but if we eat full-fat, Greek yogurt, we are satisfied until lunch time.  

5.

Stock the sales.  If you see non-perishable (or even a slightly perishable) item on sale, stock up...especially for things like peanut butter, natural jelly, tomato sauce.  Butter, eggs and cheese tend to last awhile as well, so if you have the space in your fridge, stock up when you can.  I've read that most items go on sale every 4-6 weeks.  So, if you have the space to buy enough of an item to last 4-6 weeks, you can save a lot of money. 

6.

Let the amount you spend vary. Some weeks I spend $250 at the grocery store, and other weeks I spend $50.  It really just depends on what we have and what I need and what the sales are.  If I see a lot of good sales on meat, I stock up.  If we have a full freezer and pantry, then I just buy the necessities. Usually a heavy-spending week is followed by a light-spending week, I try to balance it out over a month, but I don't worry if I spend more one week because there are tons of good sales. I know I will spend less, the next week.

7.

 Shop around.  There is no one store that is cheapest for everything.  There just isn't.  Some things are more expensive at one store and cheaper at other stores. So, the best thing to do is shop around and stock up on the cheapest items when you are at a particular store.  For example, in my area...Trader Joes is the cheapest for gluten-free pasta, so I go there about once a month and stock up. The Food Lion near us is cheapest for cheese, milk, eggs, peanut butter and frozen veggies so I tend to buy those items there.  The Kroger, a bit further away, has the cheapest and the best produce, as well as good prices on tomato sauce, natural jelly, beans and meat so I have started to do weekly shopping there, but buying things like cheese, milk and peanut butter at the Food Lion near us (which is easy enough to do, as we drive past it almost any time we go anywhere, so it's never out of the way). 

Bonus: 

Buy in Bulk...but only things you use a lot of. I buy gluten-free flour blends in bulk off the Internet, I also tend buy cheese in bulk because I use those a lot. I don't buy things like rice or beans in bulk, because we don't use those enough.  I know I should, but we just don't use those things in any great quantity.  I figure it's only worth buying something n bulk, if it's something we eat on at least a weekly basis. 

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Linking up with Jen who wrote an awesome book called Something Other Than God.   Actually I haven't read it yet, but if it's anything like her blog, I'm sure it's awesome, so you should buy it, read it (and then let me borrow it. :)). 

Dear Elsa

Dear Elsa,

You won't remember this time.

You won't remember falling asleep nursing. 

You won't remember crying out in the night and being rescued by your mommy or daddy.

You won't remember sleeping all snuggled up next to me, you chubby feet poking my stomach and your tiny hands clutching me.

You won't remember being carried around on my back or rocked to sleep in my arms. 

You won't remember endless hours sitting on my lap, eating food and dropping it all over my lap.

You won't remember all the times we carried you and held you and rocked you and nursed you.

You won't remember the times you kept me pinned to the couch because you were sleeping in my lap and I couldn't put you down, lest you wake up.

You won't remember the hours I spent nursing or slinging you to sleep. 

You won't remember, but I will.

Since, the very moment you were born, you've always wanted more.

More time, more attention, more carrying, more rocking, more nursing, more comfort, more cuddling.

Someday you will grow up.  You will wean.  You will sleep alone.  You will no longer sit on my lap.

But, you will still be the same extremely stubborn, strong-willed, affectionate, sensitive and intelligent girl that you are.

And, while you won't remember all the time we spent holding and carrying and nursing and rocking you, I hope you will remember the love we poured into you...when we picked you up in the middle of the night, when we let you sit on our laps and eat, when we carried you around, and slept next to you, same as we did with your older brother and sisters when they were young.

And, I hope that love will carry you through the hard times.  The times we butt heads, or you complain about your schoolwork or you don't want to do your chores.

Something tells me, you are going to be my difficult child.  You are already so stubborn and opinionated.  Someday those characteristics will give you strength and allow you to stand up for what is right, because you sure don't give in easily. 

But for now, you are still our baby, so we'll be happy to baby you just a bit longer.