The Amazing Effects of Prayer

I've been searching for MONTHS to find a Catholic Mommies group in my area. Since I couldn't find anything, I decided to start one on my own. In November, I finally approached the pastor of my parish church. It took until January, but we got it started. We've already had many bumps in the road, and many trials, but I KNOW that God wants me to do this.

Anyways, the first week, we had one mom show up. I wasn't as prepared as I should have been for that meeting, and I hope that didn't deter her (the kids had just been recovering from bronchitis, croup and an ear infection). She seemed into it, but I haven't seen her since. Then, the second week, an Aunt, who babysits her nephew came. I was a little better prepared, with a bible story and a 10 Commandments project, but note to everyone...CHECK THAT YOUR GLUE STICKS ARE NOT DRIED OUT before you bring them to a function where you will be glueing!

Week 3, NO ONE else showed up. But, I was prepared and my kids and I did the activity we had planned. I didn't read them the story again, as I had read it to them earlier in the week since it was "A" week. We read Tomie dePaola's Angels, Angels Everywhere. On Little Saints group day, we did the "A" is for Angels activity from Catholic Icing. The kids went a little crazy with the stickers, but they sure do love stickers. (I had to zoom in on the actual artwork because their names were written in the corners.)

Junior's...

 Princess'



Anyways, week 4 (yesterday). Again, NO ONE shows up! Well, (so, I had this REALLY long post written and it didn't save, so I'll have to just use a shortened one!)

So, week 4. NO ONE showed up. The Feast of St. Blaise was the day before, so I read the story of St. Blaise to the kids and had them color a picture of him from Waltzing Matilda.

My New Year's Resolution was/is to go to Mass one day a week in addition to Sundays. And of course on all the Holy Days and special Feast Days. St. Blaise's Feast day was on Thursday. My kids were EXTREMELY well behaved! Anyways, as I'm packing up the diaper bag to leave, a man comes over and hands me something and says "this is for your Mommy group". I said "Thank you! Thank you so much!" I didn't have time to look at it just that second, and I don't know if I would even know the man if I saw him again. Anyways, when I got to the car, I looked and it was a $100 bill! Now, I have been praying about starting a Meetup.com group, but just haven't had the funds. God had definitely heard and answered my prayers! This man was a vessel for God. I now am able to start a meetup group (which will hopefully bring in more mommies) as well as have leftover funds for supplies, snacks, and anything else).

GOD LISTENS!

Happy New Year!

Wow! I can't believe it's already 1/1/11!! As I look back at last year, I can count all the blessings! Hubby having a steady job, Princess turned 3, Junior turned 2, the birth of Marshmallow, just to name a couple. I know that this year will be full of many more exciting things! Who knows, we may just be blessed even more this year!

We are so excited to really start getting into our home schooling now! We'll start Monday with a unit on Farms! We can't wait. I also read on my new FAVORITE blog (Shower of Roses) about a program called "Along the Alphabet Path". The program incorporates teaching letters with a fairy, a saint, plants, and art for each letter, along with TONS of activities! We're hoping to be able to get enough Swagbucks to get Amazon gift cards to help pay for some of the books. I just know that Princess will LOVE this program, and I can't wait to start it with her.

We're going to try to bake something fun at least once a week, and we're going to make personal goals as well. Princess has already decided she is determined to learn how to tie shoes. I'm going to make her a practice board with laces so she can actually practice "tying". We haven't decided on Junior's goal yet, but it will probably be something as simple as stop wetting his pants. Marshmallow's will be to start sleeping through the night, though that is more up to me than him. LOL. As for me, I am DETERMINED to try to walk at least 3 times a week, and lose these last 10 pounds to get back to being a lifetime member for Weight Watchers! It will be wonderful to be able to go for free again!

As a family, we are going to make sure that we continue going to Sunday Mass as a family, as well as start reading bedtime bible and saint stories (from their "new to them" Picture Bible, and other misc. books). I'm also going to try to get to daily Mass with the kids at least once a week. Hopefully I can work up to more than that, but once a week is a start.

Well, here's to a prosperous, joyous and blessed New Year!!

Happy 2011!