New Year’s Daybook

by | Jan 13, 2018 | Advent and Christmas, Christmas 2017, Daybook | 8 comments

Outside my window…
Happy New Year! We haven’t had any snow yet this winter, unlike the major snow storms we had last year, but on New Year’s Eve we were surprised at midnight with quite the fireworks show over at the neighbors. We had a great view from our front porch!

I am thinking…
How did I keep up with blogging when our last babies were born?! I have been slowly working on this post since New Year’s Eve and keep asking myself that question… I guess back then we didn’t have three high schoolers with all their extra activities, the babies were easier and slept better, and I wasn’t working outside the home. I miss blogging and am hoping to figure out how to make a little more time for it each week. In the meantime at least there is Instagram for sharing little snippets!

Learning all the time…
When she started pulling herself up on Christmas Day I told the other kids not to encourage her – I’m not ready for this yet – but there is no slowing this one down!

A post shared by Jessica (@showerofroses) on

Celebrating the liturgical year…
The celebrations have been extra simple this year, but still fun and memorable. Here are a couple pictures I shared over on Instagram.

Christmas Morning ❤️ 
On the Feast of St. Stephen
What kind of pizza does Good King Wenceslas prefer?
Deep pan, crisp and even! 🎶😉🍕

From the kitchen…
I went back to 100% Autoimmune Protocol on January 1st. It’s time to focus on getting my health back after a really hard year. It has been really hard, especially the first week, but so far I’ve been able to stick with it without cheating at all! I think I had started to rely on sugar for energy and that has been an adjustment. I am now tired all. the. time. but at least it’s forcing me to rest a little more!

You can’t have nuts on AIP, but I’ve been snacking on Tiger Nuts, which are actually a root vegetable. I recently purchased Tiger Nuts Flour and discovered this recipe. It is AMAZING!  I’ve been eating it as a snack with some apple slices or carrot sticks or spreading some on a Cassava tortilla and topping it with raspberries. 

Tigernut Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup tigernut flour
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup palm shortening
1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp Himalayan pink salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions:
Place ingredients in either a high powered blender (I use the Vitamix) or a food processor.
Blend or process until it looks like a creamy nut butter. You may have to stop and scrape the sides during blending/processing. Enjoy!

I am working…
It’s been hard to juggle working and home educating (and a new baby, and blogging, and, and, and…) but I’ve really enjoyed working for my Dad and brother Brian the past couple years! Sean and I (and the baby!) had so much fun at the Murphy Electric Christmas Party!

  

Our little night owl had fun too, playing Shuffleboard with her Grandpa Murf! 
  
I am creating…
My mom loves giving everyone a family photo album for Christmas, collecting photos from all my siblings and putting them together in a book with a couple pages or so for each of the kids. The only problem is she doesn’t know how to make them and is always trying to recruit one of us girls to put it together… I made the album back in 2013 and then was told volunteered to make it again for 2017. This past summer was the first time in over thirteen years that all twelve of us kids made it home at the same time so there were lots of great photos to choose from this year!

My favorite page(s) ended up being the two page spread of all of us lined up from youngest to oldest, even though I look HUGE. When mom scheduled the reunion for the weekend I hit 37 weeks I kept joking that it was “Murphy’s Law” that I (as one of the few siblings that still lives near my parents) would end up in the hospital, but I made it though the weekend… Barely!

I am going…
Last April 16th my parents celebrated their 40th Anniversary! I was born exactly nine months after their wedding which means I’ll be turning 40 on January 16th. I didn’t think it would be a big deal but all of a sudden I’m a little emotional about that…

I am hoping…
to figure out a way to get our oldest son to the Archbishop’s Discernment Retreat. Even though he’s not quite 18 yet (he will be this summer!) he was invited by the Director of Vocations to attend and would love to go. I wish it wasn’t so far away! (Update: He ended up getting a ride with friends and will even get to go to the 2018 March for Life in Portland. I can’t wait to hear all about it when he gets back home!)

I am praying…
for the repose of the soul of Joyce Sample, our dear Archbishop’s mother. She was such a sweet woman. May she rest in peace +

I am reading…
The kids all unwrapped this year’s stacks of books on Epiphany and I’ve been reading aloud some of the picture books to our little ones. So far one of the favorites has been Mr. Ferris and His Wheel.

(The hardcover is currently 46% off over at Amazon right now. Great price!) 

Pondering these words…
from St. Alphonsus:

“The past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You have only the present wherein to do good.”

Around the house…
I’m just not ready to think about taking the Christmas decorations down yet. So cozy! We will leave the nativity up until Candlemas, but the tree is starting to dry out quickly and will need to come down soon.   

One of my favorite things…
I recently got to spend a little time (all by myself, which has been very rare this year) walking around one of my favorite towns and then (finally!) visiting the day spa for the last of the three prenatal massages Sean gave me last Christmas! Here are a few more pictures I snapped while walking around this historic little town. I owned the local phone book here once upon a time.

 

 

A little peek at last year…

The year of Grace! Born on the feast of Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, just two days after the death of her grandfather, our little “Grace” has been such a blessing. She definitely stole the show (and our hearts) this year making it into all of my #2017bestnine pictures including my sibling re-enactment the weekend before she was born!

  • October 31st – Our Lady of Guadalupe 💙✨ {This favorite costume – made by her Grandma for one of her older sisters over 10 years ago- was a little big on her, but I’m pretty sure it will be too small next year so we made it work!} 
  • June 8th – Thank you all for the prayers! Our beautiful little girl is here! Everything went really well and she arrived at 1:56 AM this morning weighing in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches. God is Good! #deogratias #37weeks6days #countingthedaystojune24
  • October 31st – Happy All Saints’ Day! Can you guess who our children choose to dress up as this year? Answers are over in today’s blog post with additional pictures. 😇🙏🏻✨ 
  • December 8th – Our baby girl ❤️ #startedcrawlingtoday #sixmonthsoldtoday #feastoftheimmaculateconception
  • June 10th – I could not be more in love with this little beauty! 💕 {New post over on the blog with all the details.} #threedaysold #number8bornonthe8th #countingthedaystojune24 
  • December 6th – Happy Feast of St. Nicholas! #wideawakeat3am #saintnicholas #orapronobis
  • June 3rd – ALL of my siblings are in town this weekend for a Murphy family reunion! It’s the first time all 12 of us have been together at the same time in over 13 YEARS! I figured this would be the day I’d go into labor… #murphyslaw … but I made it and we were even able to get some family photos including a fun reenactment of one from 21 years ago! #ilovemycrazyfamily #firstbornoftwelve #sixgirlssixboys #37weekspregnant 
  • June 8th – A few more pictures ❤️ So grateful her Daddy was here for her birth. So was Grandma Murphy and Aunt Mary. I’ll share more later, after we get some sleep and introduce her to her siblings later today! 🌹#daddyshands #countingthedaystojune24
  • August 21st, watching the solar eclipse – All Eight! 💙💙💗💗💙💗💙💗
Happy New Year! 

8 Comments

  1. Penelope

    Happy birthday a couple of days early Jessica! 🙂 Wishing you all the best with your AIP eating, I sympathize!! (I have serious GI issues too, and am extremely restricted in my eating). Prayers for you.

    2018-01-14 22:47:17

    Reply
  2. Karen H

    Oh my goodness! When I see all the eventful and delightful photos of your year, I, too have to ask HOW did you do it all AND keep up blogging?! It amazes me you were able to even post once! But I'm so very glad you did. You are an inspiration and I'm sure I speak for many who look to you for ideas, inspiration and example. Please know you are in our prayers. Thank you for the creative and powerful ways you've helped build the faith in our family. God bless you, Jessica!

    2018-01-15 16:06:26

    Reply
  3. thisboymom

    Happy Birthday – a day early! The 16th is my mom's birthday also, and I turn 40 on Friday. I truly enjoy reading your posts, thank you for sharing them with us.

    2018-01-16 00:40:43

    Reply
  4. Colby

    Happy, happy birthday, Jessica!! I'm reading this on your birthday. 🙂 I remember on my 40th we were en route to Front Royal (Homecoming week-end) and I was reading aloud Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour. I was very surprised to read a part where it was the main character's (fortieth) birthday and someone asked him "How are you?" and he answered "40." I figured I might get alot of mileage out of that response later that evening. 😉

    2018-01-16 20:02:36

    Reply
  5. Marilyn

    Thank You for the lovely photos of the children on Christmas morning. I always enjoy reading your posts. Marilyn

    2018-01-16 20:58:37

    Reply
  6. Marion

    Thank You for sharing your holiday. Marion

    2018-01-16 23:02:26

    Reply
  7. Joan

    I love the photos of all the stockings and the children opening their presents. Joan

    2018-01-16 23:03:21

    Reply
  8. Debbie

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful year of 2017 filled with all of your many special BLESSINGS!!! How cute are the children's pajamas on Christmas morning! You have such a special family. Happy February to you in this New Year Jessica…I pray that you are feeling better.

    2018-02-05 19:32:21

    Reply

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Prayer of Mothers

Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-23, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-20, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-16, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-6 and Joy-4 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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