Small Successes

Danielle Bean, from Faith and Family Live (accessible through the link in my sidebar) offers a plethora of articles that encourage, uplift, support, and humor her many readers and subscribers. Each Thursday, we join Danielle in CELEBRATING THE THINGS WE'VE DONE RIGHT THIS WEEK!

This little meme helps us remind ourselves that even in the most stressful or busy of weeks, we can always find GOOD THINGS that we have done and shared with our families.

Accentuating the POSITIVE becomes our OWN INCENTIVE to KEEP GOING in this wonderful, awesome, sometimes challenging, a little crazy, yet always a blessing -journey of ours! Why not join us today by sharing YOUR small successes for this week?


1) Cut the girls' bangs so that they can now actually SEE where they are going!!!

2) We've resisted the temptation to "jump back to the grindstone" and instead are continuing to enjoy a nice long focus on the Savior's Birth with lots of prayer, stories, treats, movies, time to enjoy our new gifts, and just BEING TOGETHER as a family.

3) Getting some planning done for school today :)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for each day! A THANKFUL heart is a JOYFUL heart...as some of my good blogging friends like to say: "We have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE"!

Use Mr. Linky to join with us today by adding a link to your blog where you'll offer a post (using the image above and a link back here for your readers) of five things for which you are truly thankful for this day!

It's so nice to join our hearts (and blogs/comments) together and "raise our praise" of THANKSGIVING TO GOD!

No blog? No worries! Just add your list of thanks to a comment underneath this post!


Lord Jesus, I thank you for coming into this world as OUR LONG AWAITED MESSIAH...so humble and pure and helpless...yet so POWERFUL and PERFECT and MIGHTY...I am completely unworthy to have walked upon the same earth as YOU...but I thank you with all of my heart.

Most Heavenly Father, I thank you for my brother and sister-in-law with whom we have shared Christmas celebrations with for more than 20 years...the love, support, encouragement and inspiration we receive from their love and friendship in our lives is truly one of our greatest blessings as a family...we are grateful to You for allowing us to know them and have them in our family.

Dear Holy Spirit, I thank you for your quiet whispers in my soul that lead me to TRUTH and help me to grow into the person you want me to be...I feel your presence so tangibly in my daily life and I am humbled and deeply moved by your patient guidance and loving, comforting Hand that carries me along this awesome journey.

I am thankful for the beauty of WINTER in the woods...the delightful red cheeks and squeals of happy children sledding, the quiet song of the falling snowflakes, the bright white light that reminds me of CHRIST'S PURITY and GRACE, and the joyful gathering 'round our table with mugs of hot chocolate and memories of winters past.

I am thankful for the coming NEW YEAR...a new opportunity to GROW CLOSER TO CHRIST, to make reparation for my sins, to amend my life, and to SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD with those I am blessed to meet each day.

Hearts for Home

HELLO FRIENDS! I am SO HAPPY to be returning to our wonderful weekly memes while still
enjoying our CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS AND FAMILY TIME here at home!

My husband is BLESSED each year in that his company shuts down for the whole week from Christmas to New Year's....so he finds himself flanked on ALL sides by wife, teens, and Littles all vying for his attention, LOL!!!

My lovely friend Gae is the hostess of this meme and you can find her by clicking this image in my sidebar...with ONE click, you will travel across the WORLD to AUSTRALIA and meet her beautiful family that SHINES with the JOY OF CHRIST!

Gae's Hearts for Home meme encourages us to commit ourselves to 4-6 small things that will help to cultivate our hearts and minds toward the better keeping of our homes and raising of our families...participants agree to keep one another in prayer throughout the week, thus giving needed support in our attempts to honor our commitments...sometimes we succeed...and sometimes we fail...but we know we are not alone and that we can try again the next week when things don't go as planned!

This week, I am trying to:

1) resist the urge to rush back into "everyday" life along with the pull of the secular world...and instead, remain focused and JOYFUL in the twelve days of CHRISTMAS...eagerly making our spiritual journey toward the GREAT EPIPHANY on January 6th!

2) pamper and joyfully serve my husband and children as they get a good rest and lots of recreation during their holiday vacation

3) take time to get prepared for our lessons that will begin again after the New Year...getting planners organized, papers graded and filed away, and a vision for the coming months of learning formed and ready!

4) instill a spirit of joyful hospitality in our children to welcome the flurry of guests that have been blessing our doorstep this Christmas! I want the children to go out of their way to make those who visit feel like ONE OF THE FAMILY!

Perhaps you'll join us in turning our HEARTS FOR HOME today!

BE BACK SOON!

May the PEACE and JOY of the INFANT CHRIST CHILD and HIS HOLY FAMILY bring you every grace and blessing this Christmas and in the New Year ahead!

I will be away from the computer for a few days and look forward to rejoining you all here on Tuesday, December 29th, in time for another Hearts at Home meme.

I thought of pre-scheduling all of my other favorite memes between now and then...but since I won't be here to link up with the hostesses, I decided just to WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS and meet you back here on Tuesday!

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WEEKEND!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Join us here each week as we share five things for which we are truly thankful...joining our hearts together in appreciation for God's MANY blessings in our lives!
A THANKFUL HEART IS A JOYFUL HEART!
Use the linky to send us to your post and it's most appreciated if you offer your readers a link back here as well!
No blog? That's ok! Take part by leaving your list of thanksgiving in a comment right underneath this post :)

THANK YOU OH LORD for the help that You have given my two good friends this week and for allowing me a special part in being able to help them bring their plans to fruition!

THANK YOU OH LORD for keeping my husband and his crew safe and healthy while they were out on the snow plows for five straight days!

THANK YOU OH LORD for reminding me (through the BEAUTIFUL post on Gae's blog) that I am blessed by seeing Christmas through the eyes of my children and clinging to its TRUE MEANING in THEE!

THANK YOU OH LORD for the JOY you have given my friend Angel in seeing her son come from a brand new UNITED STATES MARINE!

THANK YOU OH LORD for the lessons You are gently teaching me about who I am and who YOU are calling me to be.

I am blessed to be YOUR CHILD and I am THANKFUL for YOUR SHOWER OF BLESSINGS!

Hearts for Home

Each time I think of Gae, the hostess of this meme and author on Cherished Hearts at Home blog, which can be found by clicking the image above in my sidebar...I immediately think of GOD, FAMILY, BEAUTY, GRACE, HOME and all things that coincide therein.

That's the purpose of Gae's Hearts for Home meme...to unite in prayer and support for one another as we commit ourselves to 4-6 small things that will cultivate our hearts and minds toward the good keeping of our homes.

Visit Gae and join us today, won't you?

This week, I am trying very hard to:

1) Live in the moment and not stress that our Christmas preparations and plans have been greatly delayed by my husband's long absence plowing snow in Washington DC.
(I think of dear Gae whose family has been under separated roofs for so long as she and her husband try to sell one home while he has relocated to another for work)...I had to cancel some things, postpone others, and delay in shopping needs, but do not wish to taint the GLORY of the season by making it a problem, when in fact, it is ALL a blessing!

2) Keep the kettle on...literally...the kids have FEET of snow to play in outside and they come in VERY hungry and VERY cold...so I like to have the hot water ready with mugs awaiting them for refreshment and warmth!

3) Make sure that my husband will get the recuperative rest he will need when he arrives.

4) Give lots of snuggles and kisses and hugs to my kids...even the big ones...ESPECIALLY the big ones, in fact!

MUSIC MONDAY (first of TWO memes today)

Find the wonderful Shawntele by clicking her Music Monday link in my sidbebar and YOU can join us today in celebrating GOD'S gift of MUSIC in our daily lives!

I got my song today from my good friend MRS. SANTOS. You should pop over to her blog and see the wonderful things her family has been up to...they took this song and created some great homeschooling activities with it...and they are having an APPLE-TASTING festival in their very own home!!!! IS THAT COOL OR WHAT?!? They are going to the store to buy one of every kind of apple...read more about their GREAT idea my clicking MRS SANTOS above!

Enjoy this modern version of a wonderful old hymn:

Simple Woman's Daybook

Click the image in the sidebar and pay a visit to Peggy H., hostess of the popular Daybook.
Relish the simple things in life...take time to pay attention to the small moments, the sights, the sounds, the feelings...and join us in sharing them with others for a small glimpse into the simplicity of your daily life.








From Judy's Daybook on December 21st, 2009

Outside my window... two feet of SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thinking... that my dear husband must be exhausted as he has been out working the snow plows since Friday evening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully, he'll return to us today!

I am thankful for... the shelter of our warm, dry home, the smiles of children, good books to read and learn from, and sustaining food and drink.

I am wearing... jeans and a very cozy off-white knit sweater.

I am remembering... that I still have some wrapping to do!

I am going... to make some homemade peanut brittle soon.

I am currently reading... about Catherine Emmerick, World's Greatest Speeches, and lots of fun magazines that my daughter gives to me :)

I am hoping... that my husband comes home today :)

On my mind...kids and teens in the world who are YEARNING for family time, TRUTH, love, and conviction in their lives.

Noticing that... there's another snow storm due to hit the DC area during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....ah oh...can't have Christmas without Daddy, but fortunately Baby Jesus won't mind if we switch days!

Pondering these words... Silent Night......Holy Night......

From the kitchen...Some venison steak strips with green peppers and onions in the crock pot and served over rice...


Around the house... children anxious to see their Daddy!

One of my favorite things...hearing my kids say "I love you Mommy".

From my picture journal...

PRAISE!

Jennifer Hartline, lovely Army wife and wonderful writer/blogger, hosts this PRAISE meme each Sunday so that we can all happily gather on the Lord's Day and join our PRAISES together!
Thanks Jennifer!

I PRAISE Him for CREATION...awesome, wondrous, miraculous, magnificent, beautiful, and amazing!

I PRAISE Him for The Most Holy Trinity...ALL in ONE, yet EACH complete and tangible in our lives!

I PRAISE Him for the Sacraments...outward signs, instituted by Christ, in order to GIVE GRACE...God's LIFE in us!!!

I PRAISE Him for HIS ABSOLUTE TRUTH...sometimes mysterious, but always present, abiding, and VICTORIOUS over all darkness!

I PRAISE Him for HIS LOVE...unending, merciful, infinite, unsurpassed, ever-present, comforting, and UNCONDITIONAL!

Sing out your PRAISE to the LORD with us today, won't you?

Treasured Moments (first of three memes today)

Erin and her family are quite busy building a big addition on their Australian home, so I'm not sure if she's taking part in her own meme these days...however, you can check by clicking the image above in my sidebar and visiting her at Seven Little Australians Plus One.
(You'll get to see some great photos of the ongoing work project too!)

Erin's meme is about clinging to those little happenings in our every day lives that matter the most but also get overlooked very easily if we're not careful to notice them...the small pleasures of life are the greatest blessings for our families...take some time to reflect upon yours and perhaps share them with us today:)

Dudich Treasured Moments:

1) Cutting, pasting, glittering, hanging, stringing, creating...lots of gifts and decorations together

2) Christmas music playing on the radio

3) Gathering 'round the tree for singing

4) Hot chocolate with marshmallows

5) Stories...lots of stories...sitting on laps...snuggling on the couch...blankets and sweaters....

Sabbath Moments

Colleen Spiro (who has a new e-book available on her site) invites us all to ponder the moments we have shared with God this week. Whether planned or spontaneous, intentional or suddenly blessed...our little Sabbath Moments sustain and enrich our journeys. Why not share yours today? I thank Colleen for hosting this meme that helps me to focus on God's presence in my life.
Click the SM image in my sidebar and visit Colleen!

My Sabbath Moments this Week:

1) While riding in the car with my husband, I enjoyed hearing Josh Groban's "O Holy Night" on the radio...riding along, looking out the window at the beautiful winter and Christmas scenery, listening to the angelic voice sing PRAISE AND WORSHIP for THE KING...I thanked God for that Holy Night and I thanked Him for those special moments of beautiful music, glorious pictures of His Love in nature outside my window, and a simple and wonderful message contained in that first Christmas night.

2) Reading the daily readings and prayers in our Advent book instantly CONNECTS me to my Lord. With the Advent candles aglow and my family gathered near, I feel The Word Among Us (like the title of the prayer booklet suggests)...just a few moments...but OH, how very special.

Celebrate Friendship

Ruth, the hostess of this meme, is such a pure and gentle soul. You will enjoy visiting her by clicking the image above in my sidebar. She started this meme to encourage you to join her in rejoicing in the GIFT OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP with which God blesses us in our daily lives.

The rules are easy:

1) Share a bit about your friend and your relationship.

2) Offer your friend a virtual gift in your post.

3) Write a note to your friend in your post.


These little treats are for my friend Bernadette:


I haven't known Bernadette for very long and we live a few states away from one another...but I knew, as soon as I met her, that God had sent me a kindred spirit.

Bernadette and I share a very unique and special bond...in a world that is fast-becoming anti-Christian, and even more-so, anti-LIFE, we are two women who celebrate marriages
that are completely open to new life and have surrendered the size of our families to the Will of God.

Needless to say, in this modern world, our shared outlook often encounters a few nay-sayers and friction.

Bernadette is voice of JOY and HOPE in a wearisome world for me.

She understands a busy household and also wants more than anything to raise her children to walk closely with Christ, live and celebrate their Faith, and enjoy their homeschooling experience along-side her.

Though we are hundreds of miles apart in distance, Bernadette and I are CLOSE AT HEART each day. I know she is just an email away any time I need a lift to my spirits.

I also know that she truly cares about me and my family and that any time I need a shoulder to lean on some friendly support...she is there for me.

Dear Bernadette,

I thought that these little gifts would fit the bill nicely for someone who is expecting a little one!

I cherish your friendship and I thank you for all of the times that you help me to focus and stay hopeful in the Lord!

I am happy that we share in the same Faith, and happier still that we can encourage one another in our vocations.

Your beautiful smile in your family photo brings JOY to my days and I thank you for it.

I wish you the PEACE OF CHRIST and MANY BLESSINGS during this Christmas season and in the coming of the New Year ahead.

You are a blessing in my life.

Love in Christ,
Judy

LET'S BE HONEST!!! (first of four posts today!)

This is a special post to do two things:

1) WELCOME Audrinna, the newest member of A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings!

2) To say thank you to Colleen for presenting me with this award:

Okey dokey...I am supposed to be HONEST about 7 things here, and then pass this award on to 7 others...










7 HONEST THINGS TO SHARE:

1) I do not enjoy ironing...mainly because I am NOT good at it...I DO it but I don't really like it.

2) I LOVE folding laundry...I like to pray for each person as I fold
his/her clothing and I see it as a very relaxing and therapeutic activity.

3) I sometimes TRULY forget how old I am...and have to ask my kids, ha ha.

4) It took me more than a whole YEAR to read the classic: Crime and Punishment

5) I would LOVE it if God blessed us with another baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6) I have absolutely NO idea how I'd make it through 9 more months of pregnancy, ha ha.

7) I have many pet peeves and one of them is: empty ice cube trays being placed back into the freezer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alrighty...that was painless....now then...onto thinking of SEVEN others to share this HONEST SCRAP with:

I am going to try to name people that I really don't know much about...maybe I will get to know them better by reading their 7 things!!!

1) MUNCHESMOM

2) LISA

3) JUST BE REAL

4)Elizabeth Mahlou

5) John

6) AUDRINNA

7) ELISA

Thanks for the FUN Colleen and I hope the above recipients enjoy it as well!

Touch of Our Savior's Hand

Truly, I feel a Touch of His Hand every time I visit the blogs of our hostess for this meme, Karinann...click the Woman at the Well image in my sidebar and you'll see what I mean :)
Thanks Karinann, for helping us pay closer attention to the ways that we see, hear, and feel Our Lord by our side throughout the week.

I felt the Touch of Our Savior's Hand during our family prayers tonight. My son Joe, who is 7, had accidentally elbowed his baby sister, who is 4, in the eye just a few moment earlier...she was feeling REALLY poorly, was crying quietly while resting her head in my lap, and the eye was swelling.

Our activity on our Family Advent Calendar today said to sing Christmas Carols and pray for our own family together...

Therefore, we began our bedtime prayers by taking turns offering an intention that had to do with our family...when it came to Joey's turn, he prayed for Sarah's eye...this was unprompted and he had already apologized...

I felt Our Lord so closely in this kind gesture of my son's...It is the love of Jesus in his heart that allows him to really care about others...he is young...and could have just let it go after he'd said he was sorry...but with Christ in his heart...he wanted to do MORE ... like Jesus always does MORE than the bare minimum...

My husband and I try to teach our children that PRAYER for others is a powerful and worthwhile thing...(How many times do you hear people lament "Well..all we can do is pray" or "I can't do anything but pray"?)...In fact, PRAYING is the BEST thing we can do...Jesus knew that...Jesus showed that...and I felt Him very close to us as His Spirit encouraged my young son to do the same.

HI/LO

You can find out a lot about the lovely hostess for this meme, Colleen Martin, if you click the arrows in my sidebar and visit her blog today! She happens to have a post up right now that shares 7 honest things about herself....for instance, she LOVES coffee with lots of cream and splenda!!! Colleen likes to remind us that each week has a bit of good and a bit of not-so-good...sharing the highlights with each other lets us REJOICE in the good and offer a kind word of support in the not-so-good.

Here are our HI's for the week:

1) I had a MARVELOUS date with my husband...SUCH fun and SO refreshing to the soul!

2) The kids have been making so many wonderful crafts and gifts for Christmas...everything looks SO PRETTY around here!!!

3) Had a GREAT visit at my daughter Christine's house on her 25 th birthday this week!

4) Got to see my sweetie-pie grand-daughter WALKING!!!!!!!!!! YAY Jozy-Liz!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few LO's:

1) Haven't gotten Christmas cards mailed yet.

2) One of our bowls broke at dinner tonight.

3) I was really wanting some candy and we didn't have any :(

Your turn! Tell us the BEST and not-so-good parts of your week!

7 Quick Takes

You can join the fun on ConversionDiary.com each week by clicking the above image in my sidebar. Your hostess will be Jennifer and she invites you to share 7 mini-posts to wrap up your thoughts for this week of blogging!

My Takes for This Week:

1) I have been very encouraged to find that many people have expressed a true desire to focus on the most important meanings of Christmas and have been trying their best to spend more time in prayer and family activities that properly prepare their hearts for the coming holy day!
It seems a common theme this year that people want to SLOW DOWN and SPEND TIME centered in the TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS...that's a GOOD thing, don't you think?

2) Apologizing is more than merely saying "I'm sorry". I've noticed that at times, my kids tend to "rush" an apology, especially if they are a bit embarrassed or feeling guilty about their offense...they want to "get right out of Dodge" rather than offer a sincere apology. We try to rectify this by insisting that the person in need of apologizing must STOP...look the person they've offended IN THE EYE...offer a GENUINE "I'm sorry" and include THAT which they are sorry for in the apology; as well as the NAME of whom they've offended. It's not enough to toss a "sorry" in the vague direction of the offended as you RUN past them...rather, "I am really sorry that I took your favorite pencil without asking "Mary", and I won't do it again"...followed by a HUG... is MUCH better, don't you think?

3) In the same way that I have come to appreciate the MIRACLE and BLESSING of new life more and MORE with each little baby...I have also come to appreciate TIME WITH MY HUSBAND more and more with each passing year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if it's only a half hour...or...gee...10 minutes...if it's uninterrupted and we can focus on each other...share a laugh...resolve an issue...dream a new dream...or simply smile and sit together...it is SOOOOO
nice, don't you think?

4) Being super-duper-freezing COLD is much worse than being super-duper-sweltering-HOT, don't you think?

5) There's something so special when a little one reaches an age where they really enjoy crawling up upon your lap to look at picture books and hear a story...the tiny fingers pointing out the items they recognize...the curious way the keep tilting their head back and looking up at you to ask you questions (WHILE you are reading out loud, ha ha)...the fascination and accomplished feeling they have when THEY can successfully turn the page themselves...and the way they LOVE to read the SAME book over and over and over again...this is a PRECIOUS time of life, don't you think?

6) It's nice when your family enjoys your holiday meals so much that they remember what you served the year before and start requesting it weeks in advance, don't you think?

7) The fact that the ONE, TRUE, ALMIGHTY God, humbled Himself to step upon this earth and enter the world among us as an innocent, helpless, completely dependent INFANT is the most amazing and wondrous thought, don't you think?

What 7 things are you thinking about today?

3)

Small Successes and an AWARD

Before today's meme, I must offer a THANKS to my friend RUTH, from Celebrate Friendship (click image in my sidebar to visit!). She has presented me with the CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AWARD (you can see IT in my sidebar too!). I am happy to be counted among Ruth's blogging friends and in accepting the award I am to share five things about myself, so here goes:

1) I used to rock my self to sleep when I was a little girl...the rocking chair was my favorite spot and I spent so much time in it that I would doze off...there are photos to prove it!

2) I am the youngest of seven children.

3) My Confirmation name is Elizabeth.

4) A quiet seashore is one of my favorite places on earth.

5) I love to play board games and card games.

Thanks Ruth...I will cherish my award!

And now for today's meme, which is SMALL SUCCESSES:


















Danielle Bean, from Faith and Family Live, encourages us to accentuate the positive in our daily lives...the tiniest "good" is GOOD ENOUGH and reason to celebrate! So come join us! Click this link in my sidebar and visit Danielle today!

Our Small Successes for this week have been:

1) We finished our ADVENT bulletin board in our classroom! A little late, but IT'S DONE and looks LOVELY!

2) Daddy took the kids on their annual Secret Santa outing to shop for gifts. . . outside of learning that Benj should have perhaps "sat this one out" for one more year (a little too much crying) all went well and everyone came home SMILING...even Benj.

3) We found our read aloud story book that we enjoy so much but couldn't find for a whole week...yep...it was right on my desk!

HOORAY!!!!! WE DID IT!!!!!!!!! Now tell us what YOUR SUCCESSES have been this week so we can cheer for YOU too!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Hello! Welcome to my Wednesday meme! ( Wondering what a meme is? So were some others of us not so long ago, so we looked it up, lol...it is a way of instilling or sharing a common theme or idea through repetitive actions or activities)
Hence, THIS meme is hosted here by me each week so that we can gather together and celebrate GIVING THANKS TO GOD! Those who visit often, know that I believe that a THANKFUL heart is a JOYFUL heart! Come join us today! Use the linky at the bottom of the post to lead us to a post of your own...kindly display the image somewhere in your post or sidebar and offer your readers a link back here as well :) OR...you can share your list of thanks with us by including it in a comment under this post. We usually tell five things for which we are truly thankful, but we welcome your own unique twist on that when you feel inspired to do so.

You have blessed me in countless ways oh Lord, and today I give Thee thanks for:

1) My daughter, who is celebrating her 25th birthday today...my first-born child, my friend and confidant...she brings me such JOY...THANK YOU OH LORD, for Christine Marie!

2) My eyesight...allowing me to take in all of the beautiful and glorious wonders of this magnificent season...twinkling lights, red bows and tinsel, teddy bears, Nativity Scenes, silver and gold, bells, and garlands, each item lifts my spirit and excites me for the coming celebration of YOUR SON...THANK YOU OH LORD!

3) Children who grasp the true meaning of Christmas...they are pure and innocent in their LOVE of BABY JESUS and their anticipation of the Christmas Mass and celebration...they help ME to remain centered and focused...THANK YOU OH LORD, for my children!

4) Hot water...this luxury of life that brings me such comfort and warmth on a cold winter's day...soothing and refreshing...stress relieving and relaxing...THANK YOU OH LORD!

5) Time with my husband...a shared meal, just the two of us...nice conversation, uninterrupted...his beautiful eyes and undivided attention...talking plans and dreams and sharing laughs together...unrushed, so pleasant...THANK YOU OH LORD for DATES WITH MY HUSBAND!

Your turn! Share what you're most thankful for today!

Hearts for Home

Gae is my friend over on Cherished Hearts at Home blog; which you can visit by clicking this darling image in my sidebar. She is an inspiration in MANY ways...one of them being the way she encourages us through this meme, to cultivate our hearts and minds toward the keeping of HOME.
Want to join us? Just commit to 4-6 little things this week that will help you be a better wife, mother, teacher, sister, friend, etc...don't worry...you'll have prayer to back you up for all participants agree to pray for one another as the week progresses.

My Hearts for Home promises this week are:

I WILL TRY :

1) to keep a smooth rhythm of school lessons and Advent celebrations and activities...not too rushed...not too overloaded...focused, yet relaxed and centered in Christ.

2) to work on conquering my terrible fault of using sarcasm as a defense mechanism to keep from being angry.

3) to pray the Angelus daily with my children

4) to say "YES" as often as possible as the children ask to make a myriad of Christmas crafts and decorations each day

MUSIC MONDAY! (two memes today!)

::HUMMING::
Hello Dear Readers!
Can't help myself from humming as I type this post for it is MUSIC MONDAY...one of my favorite times of the week!
Click the image in my sidebar to meet my beautiful and dear blogging friend, Shawntele over on Saved by Grace blog...SHE LOVES GOD'S GIFT OF MUSIC and invites US to share in its blessings each week!

My post today has actually become one of my own personal favorite Christmas songs over the years. Two VERY different fellows, joining voices to "bridge the gap" of generations and social-cultures to share their talents and gifts in PRAISE OF THE NEWBORN KING!
I'll bet you figured it out already huh?

YEP! David and Bing...Bowie and Crosby...

ENJOY!

Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy is just a click away if you find this image in my sidebar.
She welcomes all of those who would like to pause and share a focus on
SIMPLICITY...plans, happenings, and thoughts in the simple moments of your day!

COME JOIN US!

Judy's Daybook for December 14th, 2009:

Outside my window... treacherous ICE, rain, then ice, then rain, then ice on top of all the snow leftover from last week. NOT DRIVING ANYWHERE!

I am thinking... that I hope Jacob has a wonderful birthday today and I can NOT believe that he is actually turning THIRTEEN!

I am thankful for... our beautiful Christmas Tree and the JOY we shared in decorating it.

I am wearing... comfy cozy clothes...especially my crocheted "granny's shawl" that my mother made for me...it's a dusty country blue color :)

I am remembering... our wonderful visit to historic Harpers Ferry WV this past weekend

I am going... to call the doctor's to get the misprint in Gracie's appointment straightened out...we've been given two different dates and times...doesn't work :)

I am currently reading... a few new blogs I came across, some Civil War history, and "The Word Among Us", my little Advent treasure that I got at Church.

I am hoping... that my husband has a good day at work

On my mind...trying to find quality websites that are willing to publish a link to Homeschool Faith and Family Life.

Noticing that... my kids are REALLY getting big

Pondering these words... "Do not be afraid, I am with you...I have called you each by name...come and follow me...I will bring you home...I love you and you are mine"...from one of my favorite hymns.

From the kitchen...the birthday boy's requested supper of beef, rice, -n- cheese wraps with
cake from scratch and vanilla icing and icecream...(He knows his baby sister prefers vanilla so he chose it to please her...awwwww, what a great guy!)


Around the house... all aglow and awaiting the glorious celebration of the coming of THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite things...sitting in my living room with no lights but the Christmas tree, with a glass of wine, after all of the kids are tucked into bed at night.

From my picture journal...

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!

PRAISE!

Jennifer Hartline inspires us in many ways...just click the chocolate in my sidebar and visit her to find great writings on the Catholic Faith, Political Issues, and sweet stories of her own life as an army wife and mother. Each week, you are invited to join Jennifer in offering PRAISE for the KING OF KINGS!

On this GAUDETE SUNDAY (the SUNDAY OF JOY!) ....

I PRAISE Him for JOY itself...always present in our lives by virtue of the merits and promise of HIS SON!

I PRAISE Him for QUIET...a place where HE is so easily found.

I PRAISE Him for the delight of foods, and treats, and feasting with loved ones.

I PRAISE Him for ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

I PRAISE Him for HEAVEN!

I PRAISE Him for MOTHERHOOD!

UNTO THE END OF TIME I PRAISE HIM!

Treasured Moments: three memes here today

Clicking this sweet image in my sidebar leads you to the blog of Erin, a wonderful wife and homeschooling mother from Australia who encourages us each Saturday to share the quiet times, the little times, the simple times, the sacred and everyday times that we cherish with our families. Her family is HARD AT WORK building an addition on their home right now...stop by to see some awesome photos!

OUR TREASURED MOMENTS THIS WEEK:

making paper snowflakes to hang from our kitchen ceiling

LOTS of stories read aloud

wonderful pots of soup

watching "It's a Wonderful Life"....'tis the season you know :)

putting up our Christmas tree; little late this year but still beautiful

conversations with my daughter on the phone

kisses for BENNY

building snowmen ...a whole platoon of them...and playing ARMY

Celebrate Friendship

Clicking this image in my sidebar will lead you to Ruth, the wonderful hostess of this meme.
She wishes to invite you to celebrate God's gift of true friendship in your life!

Rules are easy:

1) Offer a "graphic gift" in your post for your friend.

2) Tell us about your friend and the special relationship you share.

3) Write your friend a small note of love.

That's it! Come join us!


This is for my friend Cindy:



















I wish I could also give her the time to enjoy a nice, long, relaxing bath...but I know that she is busy with her many boys at home.
Cindy is mom to 9, with tiny number 10 to come in the spring.
God blessed my life with Cindy way back in 2001.
Cindy is the epitome of grace, loveliness, holiness, and beauty.
With Cindy, I am free to be myself...she walks in the same shoes as I.
She understands me and she can laugh with me, cry with me, and pray with me as we
travel this beautiful journey of raising our families and teaching our children at home.
Cindy is more than friend to me...she is family...given by God...a true and cherished blessing
in my life.
Cindy's known for her immaculately CLEAN house, ha ha!
How she does it, we'll never know...with 7 boys always on the go...she still manages to create
an exquisitely beautiful, yet comfortable atmosphere for her family and guests.
(We suspect that she has secret fairies who come and do her cleaning while she sleeps, ha ha)
I learn to be a better wife, mother, friend, woman, and servant of God from Cindy's example.

I can't imagine life without her...and I'm glad I don't have to.

Dear Cindy,

I have watched you grow through the years as a young wife and mother along-side me...juggling baby after baby, teaching school, living the faith, giving to others, and...like NOT so many others, having to deal the deepest pain any mother could ever be asked to bear...losing your precious and beloved son.

Words are inadequate to describe how much you mean to me.

And so I thank Ruth for offering this little way with her Celebrate Friendship Saturdays.

We've been through so much together...and God-willing, we will grow old together too...I will always be here for you and I thank you for always being there for me too.

Thank you for your friendship ... thank you for your love and prayers.

I ask Christ to bless you each and every day,
Love,
Jude

SABBATH MOMENTS

My wonderful blogging friend Colleen Spiro invites you to click this image in my sidebar and join her over on Thoughts on Grace to share the SPECIAL TIMES WITH GOD you had this week!
And you'll be able to get a brand new copy of Colleen's brand new E-book too: Blueberry Muffins,
Everyday Stories of God's Love!

My Sabbath Moments this week:

1) Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet with the kiddos for my Dad...it was an activity that one of them had placed on our family Advent Calendar...so beautiful to spend time with the Lord, praying for my Dad with his grand-kids' precious voices. Somehow I think God LOVES the DVC...I know I do.

2) Everyone was off and busy and I sneaked a few moments just sitting on my bed, paging through the magazine that came in the mail (that my daughter sends to me!) and quietly sharing my time with GOD in my heart...yep...just GOD and me reading Good Housekeeping...it was great!

Touch of Our Savior's Hand (first of three memes today)

Before I begin today's memes, I'd like to send a HUGE WELCOME to Sarah Reinhart, who has recently signed on to join us here at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings! Sarah, these flowers are FOR YOU:


I am so honored to have Sarah with us and I'm sure that you are all VERY familiar with her writings which can be found in various places throughout cyberspace! Please click her avatar (first on the left) at the top of this page and you'll find all of the links to Catholic Mom, Snoring Scholar, and other sites that regularly feature Sarah's posts!

And now, let's get to our FRIDAY MEMES:















The lovely hostess of this meme ALSO happens to be featured in the BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT this week!
Click the image in the sidebar and visit Karinann on her delightful blog, Blessings for the Day, to share where you have seen, heard, and felt the Lord's presence this week!

The Savior's Hand came to me as I opened the Christmas card from my dear friends, the Lathwell Family the other day. Many of you remember these friends as the family of Tommy, the sweet darling boy that you prayed for in his final battles with Leukemia.

As always, Mommy and Daddy Lathwell had all the kids dressed up, lined up, and looking spiffy for their Christmas photo...but of course...each of us who open it, will feel that deep-cutting sorrow of Tommy's absence...and one can not fathom the sorrow they felt while posing for this first holy day picture without their beloved son and brother.

In the center of the postcard, which was made up of three small photos, the photo was of HANDS...each family members' hands, all put together like a football huddle...and each person was wearing the bright read bracelets that are memorials for Tommy (We wore them when he was still with us as a sign to remember to PRAY and now we wear them in his memory)...

The card was dedicated in his loving memory.

As I looked upon the hands...I seemed to see an extra one there...it was the hand of THE SAVIOR...wearing HIS OWN RED BRACELET...of course, this is not literal, but in my spirit I FELT HIS TOUCH among this sweet and hurting family. It is HIS TOUCH that has enabled them to survive their pain...and HIS TOUCH that has helped them to KEEP JOY in their home...and HIS TOUCH that wipes their tears away so many days a week when memories of Tommy come flooding through and it becomes too much to bear...and most of all...it's HIS TOUCH that tells us that TOMMY SUFFERS NO MORE...TOMMY IS A SAINT AMONG HEAVEN...TOMMY IS WITH JESUS, feeling the TOUCH OF THE SAVIOR'S HAND more closely than any of us can imagine!

I lingered with that card...I THANKED HIM.

HI/LO

Click it in the sidebar...and join Colleen Martin in sharing the BESTEST and the WORSTEST (yep, I realize that those aren't actually "words") of your week!

DUDICH HI'S:

1) No ear infection for Mary Clare, YAY!

2) LOTS of shopping in our online store and people reading our e-book, (makes a great Christmas gift!) YAY, YAY, YAY!!!!

3) Family Field Trip tomorrow!

4) Found a GREAT HAT for my hubby for Christmas...with the help of my awesome brother!

LO'S:

1) Didn't have the proper ingredients for a meal we had been looking forward to this past week.

2) My cassette player is broken and so is my kitchen CD player, which is how we usually hear most of our Christmas music during the day :(

7 Quick Takes Friday (Already?!?)

THAT was a fast week wasn't it?

Jennifer would love you to join her on ConversionDiary blog...just click the image in my sidebar for this meme...her Quick Takes are a way for us to publish 7 mini posts, which give a summary
of thoughts for the blogging week.
There are plenty of other great posts to read on Jennifer's blog daily!

MY QUICK TAKES:

1) Many people are expressing to me lately, that they feel a need to spend more time with their family at home. Too much running, too much schedule, too many outside things that distract and
clutter, leaving next to no time to JUST BE together and enjoy daily life at home. I must say that I felt a similar "nudge" from the Holy Spirit several years ago and have been very blessed and happy with what has come about from our making these sorts of changes in our family life.
I believe that strengthening the FAMILY bonds is the secret to combating the enemy in this darkened world. We modern people (especially we modern AMERICANS) have grown much too
accustomed to a constant need for noise, self-instant-gratification, outside entertainment and input, and a myriad of "extras" needed for supposed contentment. We need to slow it down...bring our family indoors and shut out the world for a while. The majority of time for our precious families should be spent AT HOME WITH ONE ANOTHER. I was reminded by a friend recently that the Hidden Life of the Lord (before His public mission) was most likely spent at home...working along-side Joseph, praying, learning, and sharing life with Mary, His mother, and gathering for family festivals and celebrations and ceremonies when the occasion called for it.
So too, our family lives could benefit from being more HIDDEN...time to ourselves...working in our yard, or on the rooms of our house, cooking, playing, singing, talking, praying, or doing not much of anything but sitting quietly in the same room.Try it...you'll like it.

2) SOUP...I am thinking about SOUP.
Gotta' favorite recipe? Share it with me, please!

3) The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has named this the "year for priests". Each year is dedicated toward a particular prayer focus and honor and this year, it is the year for our shepherds...goodness knows they need the prayer! So let's not forget them...if we think it's difficult to raise godly children in this dark world...imagine what it's like to be a Catholic priest now-a-days...talk about carrying the Cross! If you know a priest...THANK HIM...invite him to your house for supper! Make a spiritual prayer card for him to let him know that your family has prayed for his intentions. There are many crucial and controversial issues facing our priests today. Let's keep them close in our spiritual care so that they would have courage, JOY, and integrity in their vocations.

4) My daughter, her husband, and my sweetie pie grand-daughters are coming home for brunch with us after Mass this Sunday! YAY!!!!!!!!

5) Weather providing, we are headed to Harpers Ferry WV this weekend. We lived there for more than 10 years...it is a hub of historical significance. My older kids are studying abolitionists, Civil War, and slavery, with a special focus on John Brown...considering the question: Was he a martyr or a criminal? Harpers Ferry was the location where he siezed the armory and began (and ended) his raid. There's a great wax museum there so my husband will take the students in while I buzz about town with the younger ones...it's a great time of year for it as there's an annual OLD TYME CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL! The final assignment for our unit will be for the kids to choose a controversial topic of the Civil War era...and write an essay which offers the various viewpoints of the topic...and concludes with their own personal opinion as to which side is correct. We are really loving our history lessons this year.

6) WHY do these coughs and colds keep coming back?!?!?!?

7) Please pray for my friend Jen P. She is expecting a baby and that little bugger has settled in to a position that is causing severe hip and back pain for Mommy...which lead to fatigue, which leads to school not getting done, which leads to..........you get the picture. Jen will appreciate your kind thoughts on her behalf.

Small Successes

Remember that old song "Accentuate the positive...eliminate the negative"?
That's the theme of this meme from Danielle, on Faith and Family Live.
Click the image in my sidebar and join us in celebrating and sharing the little things that you've done RIGHT this week!

I am celebrating:

1) the fact that I managed to get 7 kids (one was ill and stayed home) dressed, ready, and to Mass on time for a Noon celebration with the BISHOP! AND....I managed to take them to the luncheon afterward (my son having the honor of dining at the Bishop's table!) without any major catastrophe, food fight, screaming, or other action that would deem them to be creatures rather than children!

2) We have kept up (for the second week) our family Advent calendar activities!

3) When my son broke one of my treasured stocking holders (each child was given one at birth and we still have them all), I did not SCREAM "WHY DID YOU THROW THAT AND HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY BREAK SOMETHING THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME?!?!?!" but rather, I walked over and picked up the pieces (praying for strength and grace en route) and said, "It's ok...we can glue it...you know not to throw things in the house so please do not do that again"....aaaahhhhhh...that felt GOOD.

YAY! Now what are YOUR Small Successes this week? I'd like to CHEER FOR YOU TOO!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

The Lord is so kind and generous!

A thankful heart is a joyful heart!

Each week, I invite you to gather here and share five things for

which you are truly thankful!

If you blog or have a website, you can use the linky below to lead us to your post...and please offer your readers a link back here as well!

If you've no blog or website, STILL JOIN US IN THANKSGIVING by adding your list of thankfulness to a comment below this post!

We are a FAMILY in CHRIST...and it is a JOY to GIVE THANKS TOGETHER!!! Thanks for
joining me today!

Oh God, my loving and eternal Father, I am humbled and overwhelmed by Your gifts...knowing that I am not worthy, but made so through the merits of Your Son, I come to You this day and thank you for:

My marriage...blessed by YOU and centered in YOU...not perfect because of our human failings...but OURS....and TRUE...and BEAUTIFUL...and SACRED...help me never to take it for granted and always to honor it. THANK YOU OH LORD!

Christine, Tommy, Laura, Jacob, Mary Helen, Gracie, Joseph, Mary Clare, Sarah, and Benjamin...my children...each day I am made more aware of the MIRACLE and BLESSING of NEW LIFE...You have sent these 10 souls to us and entrusted them to our care on this earth...I AM SO PRIVILEGED and HONORED to be a mother to each and every one of them...Your gift of life FILLS ME TO OVERFLOWING JOY...THANK YOU OH LORD!

The Catholic Church...instituted by Christ and upheld by the power of the Holy Spirit...I am so blessed to know and participate in the beautiful FAITH of Jesus and His Apostles! A font of wisdom and a pillar of TRUTH in a darkened world...I am led ever-closer to You each day by the beauty, the teachings, the celebrations, and the Sacraments of YOUR HOLY CHURCH ON EARTH...THANK YOU OH LORD!

My warm home, blankets, candles, and hot coffee...in the soft glow of a winter evening, I am sheltered and comforted by these simple pleasures and great blessings in my life...cozy, peaceful, relaxing, lovely, and welcoming...I feel YOU here with me and I am blessed to have this place to call my own...THANK YOU OH LORD!


My blogging friends...women I would never have come into contact with, were it not for this amazing and marvelous technology...when used for Your purposes of good...it brings me SUCH blessing, joy, and enrichment in my daily life! The women whom You have placed in my path through this experience, have grown DEAR TO MY HEART...I learn from them, I laugh with them, I rejoice with them, I cry with them, I think of them in my prayers and as I go about my day...and I know them in a special way, though not face to face...I cherish each of them for their unique gifts, talents, and blessings...and I grow to love YOU more through my correspondence with them...THANK YOU OH LORD!

Rejoice with me and GIVE THANKS TO GOD!

Hearts for Home

Read Gae's thoughts on her weekly meme by clicking this image in my sidebar.
Gae encourages us to commit ourselves to 4-6 small things that will help us cultivate our hearts and minds toward the keeping of our homes.
That's a worthwhile endeavor don't you think?
As an added blessing, Gae instructs all of those who participate to PRAY for the other participants during the week so that we may all receive the graces needed to remain true to our commitments...and sometimes, when we fail...those prayers help pick us up and dust us off to try again!

This week, I am trying to:

Keep up on "nipping poor behavior" in the bud...there have been some cranky dispositions here this week due to our busy schedule...I know it is not healthy to get lazy when I hear the kids treating each other in a less than loving way...I need to go to the source immediately and do what needs done to keep peace and charity toward one another in our home.

Let me husband know how much I appreciate him by making sure he gets time to rest and time to relax.

Help my daughter Laura . She's not feeling well at all...and I want to tend to her and bring her tea and let her know that we all love her.

Spend some extra time in prayer for each of my children and my husband.

Simple Woman's Daybook (two memes today!)

Link up with Peggy on the Simple Woman blog by clicking this image in my sidebar.
You'll find lots of other entries to this weekly reflection of the small and simple moments of daily life.

Judy's Daybook for December 7th, 2009:

Outside my window... finally looking like WINTER, all dressed in WHITE!

I am thinking...that it will be such a blessing for my children to meet the Bishop today!

I am thankful for... my son-in-law's and son's new employment

I am wearing... black jeans and a black, short sleeve knit shirt...soon to be traded for Church clothes as we are going to the noon Mass.

I am remembering...that I still need to get Jacob a birthday gift in time for the 14th.

I am going... to spend some time wrapping Christmas gifts tonight.

I am reading...my free issue of SALT magazine that arrived in the mail; written by a couple who are awaiting the birth of their thirteenth child (that's last week's entry...but I'm still enjoying the magazine so I'll leave it here!)

I am hoping... that more snow comes soon!!!

On my mind... encouraging other women in their vocations, making sure the kids have enough resting and down time during these busy days, and preparing my heart for Christmas.

From the learning rooms... writing an itinerary for our upcoming field trip to Harper's Ferry, WV...visiting the John Brown Museum and the Armory which he seized...(we lived in HF for more than 10 years so we will be taking a trip down memory lane while there as well!)

Noticing that...my Littles are getting VERY VERY big!

Pondering these words... "Prevent us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ"...this is prayed by the priest during the Mass...echoing Jesus' words in Scripture telling us not to be "anxious"...

From the kitchen... delicious sausage sandwiches one day...soft taco wraps with beef, rice and cheesy sauce another...and some wonderful wine made by some friends of ours!!!

Around the house... time to get THE TREE!!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite things~ seeing my kids laughing together

From my picture journal...

(the date is incorrect on this photo...this was taken this past Saturday)

MUSIC MONDAY

OH yes yes yes! Just click that image in my sidebar and YOU TOO can join me with the lovely Shawntele in sharing the beautiful gift of MUSIC today! I look forward to this meme EVERY week and I thank her for bringing us all together in this way!

Today, I have something VERY special to share...but must preface it with a bit of a disclaimer.
The ONLY video I could find is a live performance done on the O.Winfrey show. I want to make it clear that I do not endorse, support, validate, or encourage ANYTHING that Oprah W. says or does...and if I could have found a video without her in it...I would have chosen that instead.
Now...that said, I am still posting it because this music is PHENOMENAL...I'm not sure how familiar you are with Mary J. Blige...but I'm pretty sure you'll recognize Andrea Bocelli. The former is a pop singer who was literally brought out of prostitution, drugs, and crimes of the ghetto in NY and transported to "stardom" with a singing career. When my nephew called me to say "Aunt Jude, you have GOT to hear this song" and then told me who was joining forces to sing it...I thought, "Now what would Andrea Bocelli be doing singing with the likes of Mary J. Blige?"
But...as I trust my nephew's taste in music, I gave it a listen...and had chills and tears by the end.

And so, without further ado...I hope that you too will enjoy this BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART!

Sidenote: The two singers had NEVER met in person until ONE DAY before this performance!!!

PRAISE!

Jennifer inspires us to PRAISE THE LORD each Sunday and you can join her by clicking this image of her favorite treat in my sidebar! Thanks for hosting this great meme Jennifer and thank you for writing posts that challenge, enlighten, and enrich our lives!

Oh mighty and ever-living GOD, I bow before thee in PRAISE!

I praise Him for flavors...that delight our tastebuds!

I praise Him for textures...that comfort and soothe us through touch!

I praise Him for WINTER SCENES outside my window!

I praise Him for His SUPERIOR INTELLIGENT DESIGN...so many wondrous and awesome systems working together as the world spins!

I praise Him for His forgiveness...washing over me like a shower of LOVE and MERCY!

I praise Him for music that uplifts my soul!

I praise Him for providing ALL that I need in life!

CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP (three memes today!)

CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP! Click this image in my sidebar to visit Ruth, who resides in Asia with her beautiful family. Daily Divine is her other blog, as well as a homeschool blog available to those who wish an invitation. Ruth's Saturday meme invites us to praise and thank God for His wonderful blessing of TRUE FRIENDS! Why not let someone special in YOUR life know that you are thinking of him/her today?

Here are Ruth's guidelines for this great new meme:

1. a picture of a treat for a friend (a cup of coffee, a flower bouquet, goodies you baked, etc)
2. a short description about your friend and your relationship with her/him. No need to be specific about your friend's identity.
3. and a short note addressed to her



These little wintery gifts are for my friend KATHY. Kathy and I grew up together, went to high-school together, and then, as many others do, went separate ways in life...onto our own paths, and eventually both marrying and raising families. Kathy's SMILE lights up a room and over the years, as reunions came and went (that I never attended), or visits back home would bring up names in conversation...she never left my heart and from time to time over the years, I would wonder "What ever happened to Kathy?" Sometimes she would pop into my mind for no apparent reason...I'd say a quick prayer for her...and then wonder, "Hmm, now why did I just think of Kathy...I haven't seen her in 25 years!" Well, you all know how GOD works when He has a plan...and a plan He DID have for Kathy and me....for lo and behold...one evening last summer, as my husband, kids, and I were enjoying an icecream cone at a local family parlor...some 200+ miles from where I grew up...whom should I find but KATHY...and of course...her family, whom I'd never met!!!! Something in the woman's twinkly eyes and beautiful smile across the way caught my attention...and I thought..."I KNOW THAT FACE"...I mustered up the courage to approach this lady and asked, "You wouldn't happen to be Kathy from Pittsburgh would you?"
God reunited us after all those years...and what a BLESSING SHE IS TO ME ! Turns out we live less than a half hour away from each other and our daughters have become fast friends too!!! We LAUGH at the fact that we are now 45 when our conversation falls into place as easily as it did when we were 14!!!

Dear Kath,

I am OVERJOYED to have found you again and I thank GOD for our FRIENDSHIP.
Your love of Christ and devotion to your family is an inspiration to me and I treasure each visit we have with one another.

I know that you have endured much suffering in life...and yet your JOY and COMPASSION shines forth...

Thank you for being who you are...and for adding a special glow to our lives!

Much Love and Many Prayers,
Jude