Murphy Family Reunion
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
Pregnancy Pictures & Online Baby Pool
Happy Feast of the Visitation (OF) and the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (EF)!
It has been so much easier to share little updates and pictures over on Instagram this pregnancy, but I wanted to go back and record some more of those memories here on the blog too. It’s hard to believe that our “baby” will turn six this year, it’s been nearly three years (June 13, 2014) since our last miscarriage, and that we have been blessed with another baby to love. We are so excited to meet her whenever she decides to arrive! Thank you all for the encouragement and prayers!
#icanfinallysaynextmonth #mayday #stjosephtheworker #orapronobis #32weekspregnant #butshesmeasuringover34 #countingthedaystojune24
My ultrasound and doctor’s appointments went well yesterday. Due to the issues I’m having with my hips and lower back, and the likelihood of re-breaking my tailbone during delivery, my doctor has recommended scheduling an induction for June 17th, when I am 39 weeks pregnant, rather than waiting to see if I go to my due date on June 24th. I have never made it to my due date and have only made it to 39 weeks a few times. I’m guessing it will be sooner. After seeing my chiropractor/physical therapist today, she thinks the baby has dropped since last week and is wondering if I’ll even make it to next weeks appointment. We’ll see! Sean and our oldest son started the drive home today and should be back home by tomorrow night. Hopefully I can at least make it until then.
For reference, here are the past stats:
Captain: 5 days early, 10:24 am, 7 pounds 2 ounces, 20 inches
Rascal: 7 days early, 11:19 am, 7 pounds 11 ounces, 19 inches
Twinkle Toes: 10 days early, 12:55 am, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 19 1/4 inches
Chiquita: 21 days early, 9:54 pm, 7 pounds 4 ounces, 18 1/2 inches
Snuggles: 3 days early, 10:37 pm, 8 pounds 5 ounces, 20 1/2 inches (He was also due on June 24th, 10 years ago, just after I started this blog!)
Rose: 10 days early, 11:49 pm, 8 pounds 1 ounce, 19 inches
Bud: 6 or 16 days early (depending on which due date you went with – cycle or early ultrasound), 10:02 am, 7 pounds 5 ounces, 20 inches
Update: Congratulations to the winner!
A Baby Shower in May
Our Godson’s Baptism and Pregnancy Blessings
We ended up being able to deliver that Spiritual Bouquet to JOY{filled}family in person and hold our darling (two-day old) Godson during his baptism on May 10th! I didn’t think it was going to be possible, between my husband camping over at the coast with our five older children May 7th-9th (for our older boys’ High School Regional Golf Tournament) and my own pregnancy complications and challenges, but Sean was able to take another day off work and my doctors said the long 11-12+ hour round trip drive would be ok, as long as we stopped every 1-2 hours to walk and stretch. It was such a beautiful day filled with so many blessings!
After the baptism I was able to receive the Blessing of an Expectant Mother and our baby girl and I were also blessed with a relic of St. Gerard by this faithful and holy priest.
The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland {Sponsored Giveaway}
Happy Feast of St. Dymphna!
To celebrate her feast this year I wanted to introduce you all to the brand new book that has just been written and released by author Susan Peek about this holy saint and give away a copy to one of my visitors!
During our correspondence the author shared:
“I really, really feel Saint Dymphna needs to be known in this day and age of such widespread depression and stress. She is the patron saint of so many things: mental illness, emotional disorders, depression, nervous ailments, autism, intellectually handicapped, runaways, victims of family and sexual violence, the list goes on and on. So I would love to spread devotion to her in my own little way. I timed the book to release in time for her feast day, so now I just have to get the word out there!”
Let’s help her spread the word and increase devotion to this little-known Irish princess saint!
This new addition to the God’s Forgotten Friends series recently received the following endorsement from The National Shrine of St. Dymphna in Ohio:
“I work at the Shrine of St Dymphna. The King’s Prey is great. A very good story. True to the facts, with excitement to thrill the young. I am looking forward to selling it at our gift shop.”
An insane king. His fleeing daughter. Estranged brothers, with a scarred past, risking everything to save her from a fate worse than death. Toss in a holy priest and a lovable wolfhound, and get ready for a wild race across Ireland. Will Dymphna escape her deranged father and his sinful desires?
For the first time ever, the story of Saint Dymphna is brought to life in this dramatic novel for older teens. With raw adventure, gripping action, and even humor in the midst of dark mental turmoil, Susan Peek’s newest novel will introduce you to a saint you will love forever! Teenage girls will see that Dymphna was just like them, a real girl, while young men will thrill at the heart-stopping danger and meet heroes they can easily relate to. If ever a Heavenly friend was needed in these times of widespread depression and emotional instability, this forgotten Irish saint is it!
I have really enjoyed reading some of the other titles in the series and am looking forward to reading The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland this summer, learning more about Saint Dymphna, and possibly sharing it with our teens once they are a little older and ready for the mature themes.
In addition to The King’s Prey: Saint Dymphna of Ireland, Susan Peek has also written Saint Magnus, The Last Viking (the first volume in her series God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints, which was awarded the Catholic Writers’ Guild Seal of Approval in June 2015!), A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of Saint Camillus de Lellis (recommend for ages 15 and up), and Crusader King: A Novel of Baldwin IV and the Crusades (which made it onto the list of the Top 50 Most Popular Homeschooling Books in 2013).
She has also written a number of great Catholic books for children including Animals of God Volume 1 and Volume 2 as well as the titles in her God’s Forgotten Friends: Little-known Saints for Children series: Small for the Glory of God: Saint John the Dwarf, The Man God Kept Surprising: Saint William of Bourges, and The Forgotten Christmas Saint: Saint Anastasia.
Congratulations JOY{filled} Family
Easter Baskets On Easter Sunday
I always look forward to filling our children’s Easter baskets each year with books and gifts that incorporate our beautiful Catholic faith! I also love incorporating the various Easter Symbols and filling a basket with various gifts for the whole family to enjoy. You can read more about the various Easter Symbols here and find many gift ideas here. Easter Sunday has already passed this year, but perhaps this post will give you some gift ideas for upcoming sacraments, birthdays, or even next Easter!
All of the wooden animals and figures came from The Wooden Wagon. Like all hand carved wooden toys, they aren’t cheap, but I did get a discount on them using a promo code they sent out in January. We started our children’s collection last year on their birthdays and Christmas and look forward to adding to it little by little over time. Our five year old plays with all of his wooden animals on a daily basis. Wish I would have started collecting these years ago to go along with the rest of our wooden blocks and saint dolls!
This year, in addition to their books, all of our older children were excited to receive Catholic and/or Pro-Life T-shirts which we had ordered from a couple different online websites along with new missal or bible covers from MissalCovers.com purchased with that credit I mentioned in yesterday’s post. I don’t think a day has passed when I haven’t seen at least one of the t-shirts on one of our children. The older boys had gotten a couple Catholic T-shirts last year as well, along with some fun t-shirts for Christmas, so I knew they’d love them. They are also really enjoying their subscription to the Catholic T-Shirt Club!
- Manual for Spiritual Warfare (with his name embossed on the front)
- A Man Cleansed by God: A Novel Based on the Life of Saint Patrick
- A Shepherd in Combat Boots: Chaplain Emil Kapaun of the 1st Cavalry Division
- Scripture Illuminated
- OSU Beavers themed golf ball marker Cap Clips
- Get Holy or Die Tryin’ T-Shirt from Catholic to the Max (features some of his favorite saints including St. Isaac Jogues and St. Maximilian Kolbe)
- Celtic Cross T-Shirt which was also from Catholic to the Max
- Dominican Shield Missal Cover custom made to fit his beautiful Leather Bound Catholic Bible (pictured in this post) with his initials on the back
- Chocolate Cross, Eggs, and a few other little treats
- Manual for Spiritual Warfare (with his name embossed on the front)
- A Man Born Again: A Novel Basked on the Life of Saint Thomas More (He has almost finished reading this story and has brought it up to me a number of times. Sounds really great!)
- Nice Going, Red: The Story of a Boy who “Couldn’t Take It” (also available directly from St. Augustine Academy Press)
- Windows Into Christ: A Coloring Book for Prayer and Meditation
- OSU Beavers themed golf driver cover
- Spiritual Warfare T-Shirt from Totally Catholic Tees (Seemed appropriate as he prepares for the sacrament of Confirmation and to be a Soldier of Christ!)
- I Can Do All Things T-Shirt (in Apple Green) which was also from Totally Catholic Tees
- St. John the Evangelist Symbol Custom Cover made to fit his beautiful Leather Bound Catholic Bible (pictured in this post) with his name embroidered on the back
- Chocolate Cross, Eggs, and a few other little treats
- Prayers and Heavenly Promises
- Brigid and the Butter
- The Shadow of the Bear: A Fairy Tale Retold (She had finished this book by the day after Easter!)
- Our Lady’s Garden: A Coloring Book for Prayer and Meditation
- Rain Cover for her golf bag
- Who’s your hero? “Heart” Girly T-Shirt (on sale for only $10!) from Totally Catholic Tees
- Life T-Shirt (in Deep Heather Teal) which was also from Totally Catholic Tees
- St. Rita Missal Cover (white vinyl) made to fit her copy of Jesus, Make Me Worthy with her name embroidered on the back and a pocket for a favorite holy card
- Easter Note Sheets, Immaculate Heart Note Sheets, and Our Lady of Fatima Note Cards (purchased during a clearance sale from Trademark Catholic Stationary)
- Chocolate Cross, Eggs, and a few other little treats
- The Costly Cookie Chronicles
- The Chestertons and the Golden Key
- Saint Clare of Assisi: Runaway Rich Girl
- 32 Days: A Story of Faith and Courage
- Life Girly T-Shirt (in Light Blue) from Totally Catholic Tees
- Guadalupe T-Shirt which was also from Totally Catholic Tees
- Floral Lace Mantilla in Lilac
- Custom Floral IHS Missal Cover (white vinyl with purple IHS and pink flowers) made to fit her First Holy Communion Bible with her name embroidered on the back and a pocket for a favorite holy card
- Two packages of Sts. Francis and Clare Note Sheets (one with envelopes) and Our Lady of Fatima Note Cards (purchased during a clearance sale from Trademark Catholic Stationary)
- Chocolate Cross, Eggs, and a few other little treats
Note: She loved all four of her books and had read them by the end of the week following Easter Sunday… Her comment after reading 32 Days: A Story of Faith and Courage? “It was SOOOOO good, but I wept BUCKETS!” ❤
- A Young Catholic’s Daily Missal
- Will Wilder #2: The Lost Staff of Wonders
- The Shadow of His Wings: A Graphic Biography of Fr. Gereon Goldmann
- Wind In the Willows
- St. Michael Kid’s T-Shirt from Catholic to the Max
- Custom St. Michael Archangel Missal Cover made to fit A Young Catholic’s Daily Missal with his name embroidered on the back
- Baseball Gloves
- Chocolate Cross, Eggs, and a few other little treats
- St. Therese Wooden Saint from Naturally Catholic
- King and Lady-in-Waiting Wooden Figures (to add to her Fairy Tale collection from her last birthday – I ordered a number of Ostheimer figures from The Wooden Wagon during an after Christmas sale to use as gifts this year!)
- Custom made Pearl & Rose Missal Cover for Jesus Make Me Worthy (white vinyl with her name embroidered on the back)
- Flowers for Jesus: A Story of Thérèse of Lisieux as a Young Girl (Hardcover edition)
- Mary and the Little Shepherds of Fatima
- Rapunzel: Based on the Original Story by the Brothers Grimm
- Hershey’s Chocolate Cross and See’s Sweet Surprise Chicks Chocolate Eggs
- Simon of Cyrene and the Legend of the Easter Egg
- Nikola and the Monk
- Adventures in Brambly Hedge
- Wonders of Nature
- Wooden Lion, Baby Elephant, Baby Crocodile, and Running Fox (The lion was me thinking ahead to the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia birthday party!)
- St. Florian from Catholic Folk Toys
- Hershey’s Chocolate Cross and See’s Sweet Surprise Chicks Chocolate Eggs
Last year (March 2016) I had ordered four (two sets of two) Miniature Birettas from Michele Quigley to go along with all his wooden saint dolls. I kept forgetting to give them to him but they finally made it into this year’s Easter basket! He placed on on St. Florian but then decided he needed a more appropriate saint (St. Florian was a soldier, not a priest) and so he ran over to get St. John Paul II.
Maybe someday I’ll get back around to posting pictures from the past couple years…
A First Holy Communion Gift for our Godson
One of my favorite First Holy Communion gifts to give is the Jesus, Make Me Worthy prayer book. I’ve shared many prayers from this sweet and inspiring book here on the blog over the years.
The Blessed Sacrament Gift Wrap, Holy Cards, and First Holy Communion Greeting Card all came from an amazing sale over at Trademark Catholic Stationary & Gifts last January! (I couldn’t believe the prices… The gift wrap was marked down to just 25 cents a package and I ordered four packages for just $1.00! Thanks again for letting me know, Pam! I wish I would have posted a link here on the blog so you all could have taken advantage of the sale too… I was in the midst of recovering from the flu at the time.) I stocked up and was able to give our girls some beautiful note cards and stationary in their Easter baskets!
A Spiritual Bouquet and Baby Gift for Lena
Lena over at JOY{filled} family (also on Instagram here and one of my past contributors over at Catholic Cuisine) is preparing to welcome her newest little boy (baby #8!) on May 8th! If I lived nearby I’d host a baby shower for her, but instead I’m going to try my best to shower her and our soon-to-be newest Godson with prayers!
If you’d like to be included in this spiritual bouquet, please leave me a comment here, over at Instagram, or send me an email by May 7th with the number of rosaries – or Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Be’s, if you can’t commit to one or more complete rosaries – that you will offer for her and her family and their new baby and I’ll include them in this card!
I’m also working on coordinating a group gift to have sent to her family. It’s the one new thing she’d love to purchase for this baby! You can find all the details here if you’d like to consider a small contribution towards this gift as well.
Sponsor Love :: Quarterly Update & Current Specials
I am so excited that it is finally May! I’m really looking forward to celebrating sacraments, finishing up our school year, and preparing to welcome our new baby next month!
It’s time for another quarterly update on all my amazing sponsors here at Shower of Roses. I also have some great coupon codes to share with you as well!
Please welcome my new sponsors:
Our Catholic faith is an incredible gift. It sustains us and guides us, yet at times during these years of babies and housework, it can be a struggle to FULLY ENGAGE with our faith. What is more, as Catholic Mothers we not only crave a closeness with our God, but we are charged with raising faith-filled children and creating a holy home. We take this work of living and teaching the faith very seriously, but we often forget one very important ingredient: Creativity. I believe that creativity is one of the most powerful ways we can engage with and teach our Catholic Faith. I believe that crafting can be a prayer. I believe that children learn best when given the opportunity to create–and that we should use their creativity to help them fall in love with God and his church. And finally, I believe that anyone, young or old, can create meaningful, beautiful things. Even you. On this site you will find countless ways to live out your faith by engaging your creativity.
This year we have Confirmation cards with the 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost in English and Spanish and we have also added Divine Mercy image First Holy Communion cards!
The products are great for building up your faith and evangelizing to your family through the tshirts and sacramentals that are included in each month’s box. Each month we send a brand new, exclusive Soft Style Premium Catholic Tshirt, Sacramentals of different sorts (rosaries, scapulars, and more), Holy Cards, and Holy Medals to our subscribers. The shirts are a surprise and will be revealed when you open your box each month. Each month is a new design that we create, so you are sure to receive the latest and best Catholic gear every month!
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| Our older boys received their first box {an early Confirmation gift!} last month. |
Right now you can save 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH with coupon code: MAMAMARY (Expires 5/14/17)
SaongJai
Never been such devoted sisters… Ever since we were little we liked to do creative things together and we’ve always loved to bead and make jewelry. I also wanted to help my sister who has Chronic Lyme Disease. So, making and selling rosaries, Catholic jewelry, & things, will hopefully be a way to help with the cost of her treatments that are not covered by insurance. We take custom orders for rosaries, jewelry, crucifixes, and other Catholic things. Read more here…
Prayer Pillowcases
… more than just a pretty place to lay your head! They’re a unique way to bring Catholic art and prayer into your home. And a practical way to share the Faith with your family and friends. Our distinctive line combines original art and favorite Catholic prayers that appeal to all ages and transform pillows from the ordinary to the divine! Honor a special occasion or make any occasion special with the gift of a joyful, lasting (and personalizable) Prayer Pillowcase. We’re always working on new designs and hope you’ll visit again soon to see even more ways to help your loved ones begin and each day with a prayerful heart.
“Our goal is to help you find the finest resources to help you nurture the faith of your Catholic child and strengthen him or her for the challenges of the journey ahead. Each one of the hundreds of items you find here has been chosen by us with care, reviewed for faith and quality, and has been child and parent approved. When you buy from Catholic Child Catalog you are supporting an independently owned, personally run business that remains committed to searching out products to guide, inspire and delight the young Catholics in your life.”
American Life League’s Culture of Life Studies Program (CLSP)
The Culture of Life Studies Program has several new one-class lessons on saints, including St. Damien of Molokai whose feast day is May 10. We also have a wonderful lesson on our Blessed Mother, who is honored and revered throughout the month of May. Check out our latest offerings today!
An international community of young priests known as The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, or “The Fraternity” as they have lovingly been referred to, includes some of today’s most skilled and committed singers of Gregorian chant. The community has been preparing to present ancient melodies anew, on the album Requiem, to be released on May 12, 2017 through their new international collaboration with De Montfort Music/Sony Classical…
Gail’s Designs has been creating unique, elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries since 2009. Gail has been an artist for most of her life and is grateful for her faith and being able to make elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries for people of the Catholic faith.
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| My favorite Miraculous Medal Earrings from Gail’s Designs |
“Behold Publications, LLC is more than just a publisher! Family owned and operated since its founding in 1999, we have developed great Catholic clubs like the Little Flowers Girls’ Club and Blue Knights Catholic Boys’ Clubs for Catholic girls and boys ages 5 and up.”
Regina Martyrum Productions
“Regina Martyrum Productions produces the finest works of Catholic audio theatre. With emphasis on the lives of the Saints, these products are edifying, and entertaining.”
Be sure to subscribe for emails or follow on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and Instagram for sales and updates.
The mission of Peanut Butter & Grace is to help Catholic parents raise children who know and love Christ and his Church. We do this by providing digital and print resources that assist parents in forming their children in the faith within the daily life of their family. All of our products are made for Catholic parents—either to use themselves, or to hand to their kids.
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| Brand New Release: In the Realm of Mist and Mercy with Lesson Plans |
a 45-day return policy, and secure payment via Amazon,
credit card, Paypal, or check…
Kolbe Academy
“Kolbe Academy was founded in 1980 by three families who experienced first-hand the rapid decline of the public school system and who were looking for a wholesome, academically challenging educational environment. The founders anticipated the need to form young Catholic citizens who could effectively defend their Faith through a thorough understanding of doctrine and regular reception of the Sacraments. They also foresaw the growing need for better, more individualized and intensive instruction in basic education. Kolbe Academy Home School became an outgrowth of the day school in 1993 when parents who lived too far away to commute asked for our help with home schooling their children. Recently Kolbe Academy merged with Trinity Grammar and Prep to become Kolbe Academy/Trinity Prep, which educates students from Pre K through high school. With a focus on providing an education that is Ignatian in Method, Classical in Content and Loyal to the Magisterium in a small-class size environment or at home, Kolbe Academy continues to thrive.”
“Give Him 5 Ministries is about falling in love with Jesus! Just as Jesus Christ is the center of our Catholic faith, He is also meant to be the center of our daily lives. Give Him 5 provides people with the encouragement and tools they need to ignite their prayer life and to fall deeply in love with the Lord. Give Him 5 Prayer bags make wonderful gifts.”
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| Give Him 5 Mug or Gift Set |
Specializing in high quality veils and mantillas for ladies and girls. Robin is a Catholic mother of 15 ( 7 with Our Lord ) who spends her days serving, loving, praying, and sewing. Robin started making veils for her daughters and wanted to share with others. She truly loves creating veils to serve Our Lord!
Almond Rod Toys
Almond Rod Toys makes Saint Blocks that are just the right size for little hands and can be used for imaginative play, building, stacking or collecting. The front has a print of original watercolor artwork. The back has a quote or a prayer chosen to inspire little ones and the one that cleans up behind them. The saint’s name, feast day and patronage are also listed; just enough to be a reminder and an inspiration for further learning.
Visit Almond Roy Toys at Etsy and follow the Facebook page!
“Et Corde means “open heart”. I create rosaries, bracelets and necklaces using the hand wire wrap technique with beautiful antique reproduction medals. I hope that my pieces can be an heirloom that can be passed down in your family.”
Catholic Cuisine Aprons
All of our aprons are embroidered, not screen printed, giving them a rich, elegant, look! Our durable 100% cotton-twill aprons, with soil-release finish for added stain protection, provide ultimate full length cover and comfort.
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