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Little House on the Prairie Birthday Party

Apr 27, 2016 | , , , , | 1 Comment


Last week we celebrated Chiquita’s 11th birthday! I mentioned the other day that our schedule has been pretty full lately, but we still managed to squeeze in a fun day for the birthday girl! The girls watched Little House on the Prairie (our favorite Disney version) and played with paper dolls after finishing their schoolwork while I decorated the cake. They dressed up in their prairie dresses and bonnets and played outside. During the older kids’ golf practice, we drove to town for her free birthday drink (a huge strawberry smoothie!) and to pick up pizza for dinner. She couldn’t decide between a “Little House” or “Saint Kateri” themed birthday party this year, so we combined the two! Happy birthday, beautiful girl!  


.: Paper Dolls :. 

“Mary and Laura stayed close by the fire, sewing their nine-patch quilt blocks, or cutting paper dolls from scraps of wrapping paper, and hearing the wet sound of the rain.”







Haha! I spy two teens making fun of the paper dolls, putting baby Carrie’s head on Pa’s body…



.: St. Kateri’s Ice Cream Cone Teepees :. 


These were so easy to make using sugar cones, pretzel sticks, melted chocolate, sprinkles and green coconut for grass.  The kids had so much fun decorating the teepees. 







I still have some cookie dough in the fridge for St. Kateri’s Indian Corn Cookies… 
We ran out of time to make them on her birthday. 


.: Animal Tracks :. 

“And over these tracks were tracks of rabbits and tracks of birds, and wolves’ tracks. Pa read the tracks for Mary and Laura.” 


I had so many games that I wanted to play (including kick the can and potato sack races!) but we ended up just having time for Animal Tracks Memory! I picked up Animal Tracks while we were in Yellowstone last summer and still had it tucked away in my closet. It was perfect for the “Little House on the Prairie” themed birthday!


Her older siblings turned on some fiddle tunes and set up the game in the shape of a little house!



“Outside, the night was large and full of stars. Pa sat for a long time in the doorway and played his fiddle and sang to Ma and Mary and Laura in the house and to the starry night outside.”


.: Wagon Wheels :.

“When the sun rose, they were driving on across the prairie. There was no road now. Pet and Patty waded through the grasses, and the wagon left behind it only the tracks of it’s wheels.” 


In addition to her two favorite pizzas (Pepperoni/Olive and Hawaiian) I also picked up a “Cinnamon Wheel” from Papa Murphy’s! Mmmmmmm… Smelled so good!


.: Birthday Gifts :. 


Reading the birthday card from her Grandpa and Grandma/Godparents… Miss them already! 



Sean and I were both surprised at just how excited she was when she opened her first gift from us, Little House in Brookfield (The Caroline Years, Book 1).  She has been wanting the rest of the Caroline, Charlotte, and Martha books for awhile now. I need to keep searching for the rest.


My parents gave her a fun Four Seasons Coloring Book. 

When asked before her birthday, the only gift she requested was “a new paint by number!” I ended up choosing this Goldfinches kit for her to paint. It will look lovely in her bedroom with the Chickadees and Lilacs Painting her uncle gave her to paint. 

The Puffin in Bloom Collection will be a great addition to her bookshelf, if we can make some room! 


She also received a beautiful hand-painted Saint Kateri for her bedroom wall from Audrey Eclectic!


I loved her big eyes and grin after peeking inside the wrapping paper as she started to open the last gift. She is pretty excited about her new Bow & Arrow, even though she can only use it with her Dad’s supervision and help. The rest of the time it will be safely stored in it’s case.   


.: Little House Birthday Cake :. 


“There was no door and there were no windows. There was no floor except the ground and no roof except the canvas. But that house had good stout walls, and it would stay where it was. It was not like the wagon, that every morning went on to some other place.” 


I didn’t have very much time to spend on the cake this year (inspired by this cake) and it didn’t turn out exactly as I pictured, but it was covered with the birthday girl’s favorite cookies and rock candy.  

She LOVED her cake! 

I served the cake with Rocky Road Ice Cream, recalling the rocky roads and trails traveled by the pioneers in their covered wagons.







“The whole top of the chimney was on fire. The sticks that made it were burning up. The fire was roaring in the wind and licking towards the helpless roof.” – Little House on the Prairie


Happy 11th Birthday! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Instagram Recap

Apr 26, 2016 | , | 0 Comments

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~

Between catching up from our road trip at home and at work (juggling working outside the home, even just part-time, and homeschooling is tough!), three birthday parties, the end of hockey season, high school and middle school golf for our three oldest, Catholic Digest deadlines for June/July/August and September, meeting with a new doctor to try and figure out some continuing health issues, dealing with Tax Fraud (whah!), and meeting with some other moms to discuss co-op options for our high schoolers next year, the last couple weeks flew by and I just haven’t had the time or energy to post anything here on the blog… Even though I missed the deadline for last week’s link-up, here is a {pretty, happy, funny, real} Instagram Recap of some of what we’ve been up to the past couple weeks.  I’ll try my best to find some extra time soon to share pictures from Chiquita’s 11th birthday!

{pretty}

April 10th: My brother’s backyard is pretty incredible, especially this time of year! 

April 7th: It was such a beautiful day today… Instead of driving back home, after dropping off the boys for their high-school science lab, we drove out to visit my parents, enjoy the sunshine, and hit a few golf balls in their backyard! {Their yard has sure come a long way from the original 10-acres they purchased 25+ years ago covered with trees, poison oak, and buckbrush!}
April 22nd {posted by Captain}:  #NPLTD
We were able to get four hours of range practice at our grandparents house today!!!

{happy}
April 18th: They all finished their schoolwork early today so we could come watch the older boys’ high school golf tournament this afternoon… I’m always up for a challenge, but we’ll see if I can keep the little ones quiet for at least nine holes! {Can you tell that the six year old doesn’t care much for golf? At least not yet… Maybe she will after her first golf camp this summer!}
After I snapped a picture of the kids, one of the other high school coaches told me to squeeze onto the bench too and he’d take one of all of us…

We bounced back and forth between holes so we could watch both of the boys compete! 
 

April 13th: This afternoon at practice the boys’ golf coach handed me this week’s and last week’s newspapers, saying I’d probably want to check out the sports section. Indeed! In fact, I think it might be time to get a subscription! Last week there were two different articles, one featuring my youngest brother (who is a junior in college) and the other featuring our oldest son (high school freshman). This week our second son (who skipped 8th grade and is also a freshman this year – Coach said he let the paper know that they are not twins!) was featured as “Athlete of the Week” for our local public high school where they golf! The boys have been working so hard this year. In addition to playing on the varsity team for golf, last week they both received the Varsity Award at their end-of-season party for hockey, from a different high school, since our local high school doesn’t have a team. They were also both awarded the Kiwanis “Student of the Month” (our oldest last month and our second this month) from the home-based public charter school where they are currently enrolled. I’m so proud of them and all their hard work! 

All the sports excitement (and newspaper articles) has continued this week as well!  My brother Kevin just finished second at the El Macero Classic and is heading to the Pac-12 Championships in Salt Lake City this weekend, and my youngest brother David’s golf team just won the CCC title and are headed to the NAIA National Tournament next month! I’m hoping they will have a little extra time this summer to coach their nephews! 😉

Here are three more photos that my oldest daughter shared on her (very small/private) Instagram:

April 18th: “It was so much fun watching our uncle compete in the CCC Men’s Golf Championship today! Go Owls! “
“Watching my older brothers play golf at their high school tournament earlier today!”
{funny}

April 20th: Yesterday one of my cakes was posted over at Cake Wrecks … At least it wasn’t one of the wrecks, but I might actually have one for them today! Hopefully it will come together after some time in the freezer and another coat of frosting. We have a birthday to celebrate! #notaprofessionalbaker #ihatefrostingcakes 😉 
{real}

“One, two, fwee, four, five… The mom rabbit and dad rabbit have FIVE baby bunnies!” 
{He loves to flip through his new book counting the five “rabbit children” on each page.}

Autoimmune Paleo Pizza

Apr 8, 2016 | , | 0 Comments

Last night I persevered and stuck with my diet, watching everyone else eat pizza and cake at our older boys’ end-of-season party and award ceremony (they both received the Varsity award!) for their high school hockey team, while I snacked on a bag of plantain chips… Tonight I finally took the time to try another new “pizza” recipe (from one of my new favorite cookbooks) for myself with all sorts of interesting toppings: arugula, figs, grapes and prosciutto. It turned out amazing!

.: Thin Pizza Crust :.
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup arrowroot starch
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup warm water
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425˚F.  Line a cookie sheet or pizza pan with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour in the olive oil, stirring continually as you pour. Mix in the warm water. Place the dough on the prepared cookie sheet or pizza pan. Lay another sheet of parchment paper on top of the dough and roll the dough into a 1/4 inch crust. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes, until light golden brown and crisp. Use for a pizza recipe or cool, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in refrigerator for up to 24 hours or freezer for up to 3 months. 
.: Prosciutto & Fig Bistro Pizza :. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 Thin Pre-Baked Pizza Crust
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 slices prosciutto, chopped (I used Columbus, not sure if it’s 100% AIP) 
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried Turkish figs
  • 1/2 cup halved red grapes
  • 5 ounces arugula
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped prosciutto, figs, and grapes to the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the prosciutto is crispy. Add the arugula and stir continuously until completely wilted, about 2 minutes. Top the pizza crust with the mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, until the top layer is golden and crispy.

.: Canadian Bacon & Pineapple Pizza :.
Last month I made the “ham & pineapple pizza” from The Healing Kitchen and have made it quite a few times since then as well. Perhaps it’s because I hadn’t had pizza, one of my old favorites, in nearly a year, but I love these recipes. They are so good! I’ve also made a garlic chicken pizza that turned out great too. 
Ingredients:
  • 1 Thin Pre-Baked Pizza Crust
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2/3 cup thinly sliced yellow onions
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup diced pineapple (canned or fresh – I used frozen tidbits from Trader Joe’s) 
  • 1 cup shredded spinach (I used chopped, frozen from Trader Joe’s) 
  • 6 oz uncured ham or Canadian Bacon, diced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (I used 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme) 

Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté for a few minutes until softened and fragrant. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, until the pineapple begins to release some of its juice. 
Spoon the topping onto the pizza crust using a slotted spoon, leaving as much juice in the pan as possible. Lightly press the toppings down into the pre-baked pizza crust. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes in the center of the oven, until the ham begins to turn golden brown with crisp edges. Let rest for a few minutes, then slice and serve immediately. 
Find the complete directions for baking these two pizzas, along with many more delicious recipes, in The Healing Kitchen: 175+ Quick & Easy Paleo Recipes to Help You Thrive. 
From the Archives:

Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb: Jonah and Jesus {Sponsored Review & Giveaway}

Apr 3, 2016 | , , , , , , | 0 Comments

“The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, 
and the Old is unveiled in the New.” 
– Saint Augustine (from title page of Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb)

In the same thread as the author’s first book in the “Old and New” series, which I was excited to add to our collection last Easter, comes the story of Jonah and Jesus, which I purchased for our children this Easter! This beautiful and colorfully illustrated book for children is a simple way for them to discover biblical typology.

Without having to endure a weighty lecture on this topic, children can easily flip through the pages of the “Old and New” series books and ignite a simple yet deep understanding of the Old Testament foundations prefiguring the New Testament covenant between God and man. 

It is refreshing to see an author realizes the importance of this finely woven thread in our salvation history. Absorbing this material as a child will assuredly provide them a deeper appreciation for the Faith and our place in salvation history.  As a parent my heartfelt thanks to Maura Roan McKeegan for enlightening our children’s minds to biblical typology.


.: Giveaway :.

Emmaus Road Publishing has generously offered to send THREE of my visitors a paperback edition of Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb: Jonah and Jesus!  The winners will be selected and announced in this post next Sunday. The books will be shipped to the winners directly from Emmaus Road Publishing.

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the rest of the books in Our April Book Basket and Our Lent & Easter Book Baskets in the archives. 


Visting Grandparents

Apr 2, 2016 | | 0 Comments

The purpose and highlight of our road trip over spring break and Holy Week was to visit my husband’s parents in Arizona. It had been five years and four months since our last family visit in 2010. (My husband did take the five little ones a couple years ago, so our youngest could finally meet his grandparents, but we didn’t have a vehicle that fit our whole family at the time so I stayed home with the oldest two.) Even though it was a quick trip due to the older children’s school and sports schedule, it was such a blessing to finally be able to make the trip again with our whole family and spend some time (though not nearly enough!) with our children’s grandparents! 

We arrived in my husband’s hometown just in time to meet his parents at the 12:10 daily Mass on Monday of Holy Week. After Mass we all went out for lunch and then headed back to their home. 
The kids always love seeing all the pictures of their dad when he was younger.
The girls spent one afternoon in the kitchen with Grandma making Capirotada, a traditional Mexican food similar to a bread pudding that is usually eaten during the Lenten period. My mother-in-law had translated her recipe with the corresponding meditations from Spanish. 
…the peanuts coming out of the shell remind us of His coming forth from the sepulcher… 
After Mass one day, the pastor let us go back into the offices and show the kids the model of the parish that their uncles had made years ago. 
Easter Lily for her Grandmother/Godmother
Celebrating a birthday! 
On our way back north we stopped to visit my husband’s Godparents! This was the first time the kids and I have met his uncle/Godfather, and it was so great to see his cousin/Godmother Debbie and her daughter Sarah again! Our youngest especially enjoyed playing with Sarah’s boys, and Debbie even surprised Sean with a birthday cake! 

It was such a joy to visit my husband’s parents and we hope to visit them again soon!

Pictures from Palm Sunday

Apr 2, 2016 | , , , | 0 Comments

After spending most of St. Joseph’s Day in the car, this is the beautiful view we woke up to on Palm Sunday while staying in the guest housing at Thomas Aquinas College, my husband’s sister’s alma mater. It had been over 20 years since my last visit, when I was looking into Catholic Colleges as a teen, and the campus has changed a bit since then! 
From Instagram: Walking to Mass this morning ♥ #Catholic #PalmSunday #ThomasAquinasCollege

After Mass, and before getting back on the road for the rest of the day, we joined the college students for Sunday Brunch! 
The night before, on our way back to the guest housing from the chapel, one of the college students, from Nigeria, came up to my husband and I and introduced himself.  He was the first student we had talked to and I just know it was the Holy Spirit at work again, planning out more of the details of this last minute trip for us… 
As we were talking about the school I asked if Dr. Andres was still a tutor at TAC. He was one of my favorite professors while I was at Christendom, and his wife Suzie’s brother just so happens to be the person who purchased (and still lives in!) my childhood home (built by my dad!) when I was thirteen and my parents had decided to move our family out of California. I hadn’t seen the Andres since I was a student at Christendom, but I have stayed in contact with Suzie online and had sent her an email just before we left to see if they were still in Southern California. Suzie doesn’t have internet at home so I wasn’t sure if she’d get my email in time… Anyway, the college student said that Dr. Andres is still at TAC and Suzie just so happens to be his Godmother. He’d send her a text letting her know we were in town and that we would probably see them at Mass in the morning. 
I then asked if the “girl with the long blond hair” across the room happened to be a certain girl we know… Sure enough it was and her brother is his roommate! Hahaha, of course he is! That sister and brother are the oldest children of our oldest daughter’s Godparents! It was so much fun to visit with everyone at brunch on Palm Sunday! 
Suzie Andres – Author of Homeschooling with Gentleness, A Little Way of Homeschooling and The Paradise Project
The morning ended quickly and it was time to get back on the road, but at least we had the following weekend to look forward to, seeing everyone again on our way back home from Arizona! 

Strawberry Milkshake

Apr 1, 2016 | , , , | 0 Comments

After dropping my three oldest off at golf practice, the younger kids and I decided to head outside and enjoy this gorgeous spring weather too! #strawberrymilkshakes #oldfashionedringtoss

One of these days I will hope to have a chance to share the rest of our “Anne of Green Gables” birthday party photos, including this old fashioned ring toss game…  In the meantime, here is a recipe for a yummy (autoimmune protocol approved!) strawberry milkshake! 

Strawberry Milkshake
  • 1 – 10 ounce bag organic strawberries, frozen
  • 1 – 13.5 ounce can Natural Value Coconut Milk (no added guar gum)
  • Honey, to taste (I used about 1 tablespoon) 
  • dash or two of fine sea salt  
Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender (I use my Vitamix) and puree until silky smooth. Enjoy! 

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

Apr 1, 2016 | , , , , | 0 Comments

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life with Like Mother, Like Daughter. ~
{pretty}
Happy Easter Monday! I stopped to admire the “Raindrops on Roses” before getting back in the car this morning. I’m going to miss this little slice of heaven on earth! #thomasaquinascollege
{happy}

This road trip has been filled with one blessing after the next… Beautiful Masses, touring Missions, visiting my husband’s parents, and spending time with many new and old friends! Today I got to visit with one of my dearest childhood friends (and bridesmaid!) who I hadn’t seen since her wedding nine years ago! It was so great to catch up and meet her three (soon-to-be four!) darling little boys!

One last visit with friends! Thank you for your hospitality @joyfilledfamily 
#Easter #roadtrip #homebound
{funny}
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” 
#roadtrip #thomasaquinascollege
{real}

The Easter Baskets will have to wait until after we get home from this road trip, there just wasn’t any extra room in the car, but I do have some symbolic Easter candy for the kids to wake up to in the morning! I’m finishing them up now, before the Easter Vigil begins at 11pm! 
#EasterIsASeason #Catholic #livingliturgically #CatholicCuisine

After driving 3,000+ miles over the past 11 days, it’s so good to be home! 
I will have more pictures to share from our road trip (visiting grandparents, touring missions, and celebrating Easter!) just as soon as I catch up the laundry download them from the camera! 
Additional pictures from our road trip: St. Joseph’s Day and Good Friday
Happy Easter! 

Easter Symbols Candy

Mar 26, 2016 | , , , , | 0 Comments

Oh cherished cross! Through thee my most bitter trials are replete with graces! – St. Paul of the Cross

What are the various symbols of Easter, what do they mean, and what do they have to do with the Resurrection of Our Lord? These symbolic chocolates provide a beautiful and yummy opportunity to share the meanings behind each of the following Easter symbols:

Cross
The cross is the most universal and oldest of all Christian symbols. It not only symbolizes Christ, but for Christians it is also a symbol of our religion and redemption won for us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Lamb
The lamb is also a symbol of Christ. In the Old Testament lambs were often sacrificed on an altar to expiate sins. Because Christ was sent as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, Christians refer to Him as “The Lamb of God (Latin, Agnus Dei)” (John 1:29), and “The Paschal Lamb” (Exodus 12:3-11) from whose sacrifice shelters the People of God.

Bread of Life
Bread is the universal symbol for sustaining and nourishing life. It symbolizes God’s nurture and care of His People. The Israelites in the desert were fed manna from the heavens prompting Moses to exclaim, “this is the bread which the Lord has sent for you to eat” (Exodus 16:15). Christ likened Himself to manna when after the miracle of the loaves, he spoke the words, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” Bread is also used at each mass to become the Body of Christ in keeping with the Lord’s command: “Then he took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, given for you; do this for a commemoration of me” (Luke 22:19).

Lily
The lily symbolizes purity. Its stoic structure, pure white color, and delicately sweet aroma attribute to qualities of royalty, purity, and chastity. It is the symbolic flower of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is sometimes depicted with other saints who possess these qualities. A lily among thorns represents the Immaculate Conception as the purity of the Virgin is preserved among the fallen nature of the world. Legend says that the lily originated from Eve’s tears when she and Adam were banished from the Garden of Eden. Another legend claims that lilies sprang up from the ground when drops of blood fell to the foot of the Cross. During the Easter season, many churches line their altars with Easter Lilies to signify the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life.

Egg
The egg represents the resurrection. Like the tomb of the crucified Savior, the egg encloses a self-supported life. At the appointed time, a new and glorious life within bursts forth from its enclosure.

Butterfly
The butterfly is also a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, but moreover the resurrection of man, as Christ promises us. The three stages in its life (caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly) can be attributed to the three stages of man’s existence (life, death, and resurrection).

Peacock
Christians have used the peacocks as the symbol of immortality and are an ancient symbol of the Resurrection. Legend tells that the flesh of the peacock never corrupts. The peacock is often depicted in Christian art such as in Fra Angelico’s Adoration of the Magi and other Nativity scenes.

Bells
To the Christian, bells function as a summons to worship. They are rung at the procession before Low Mass, at the Sanctus to call the Faithful to enter into the deep mystery of Holy Eucharist, and at mass they are rung again to worship the elevated Body and Blood of Christ at the altar. More recently they have been used to herald the election of a new pope. Bells from local church towers also ring as reminders of the Faithful within earshot to engage in daily prayer devotions. The Angelus Bell rung at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm calls upon the Faithful to pray the Angelus. Some areas ring a De Profundis bell to pray for the faithful departed. Bells are another aid for the Christian to converse with God. In some countries the bells are silent from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday. In the middle ages farmers would comfort their families by saying, “The bells have flown to Rome, but they’ll come back on Easter!”

Easter Symbols Candy

Supplies:

  • Easter Symbols Chocolate Coins (download my free printable here)
  • Chocolate Coins, 8 each
  • Scissors and/or Circle Punch
  • Glue Stick
  • Drawstring Pouch or Clear Treat Bag, 1 each

Directions:

Cut out Easter Symbol images using scissors or circle punch.

While explaining each of the various Easter symbols, have the children glue the images onto the chocolate coins.

Place the Easter Symbols Candy into a drawstring pouch or clear treat bag.

God’s blessing rest upon you
This happy Easter Day.
God make His joy to shine
As sunlight on your way;
God fill your heart with song
So glad it will not cease;
God bless you every day
With love and joy and peace.
~ Easter Prayer


Good Friday

Mar 26, 2016 | , , , , , | 0 Comments

O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death, but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die, embracing Thy feet and burning with love of Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands. I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-24, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-21, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-17, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-7 and Joy-5 (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.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

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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-24, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-21, Chiquita-19, Snuggles-17, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-7 and Joy-5 (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.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

Please Visit My Sponsors…

This Week's Popular Posts

Shower of Roses Affiliate Links

All About Spelling
All About Reading
All About Reading Pre-reading
All About Reading Giveaways
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Advent & Christmas Books

Shower of Roses Christmas Gift Guides

Looking for Something?

looking-back

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Shower of Roses Easter Gift Guides



All Saints Party Printables

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