First Sunday of Lent

I don't know about you, but I look forward to Sundays. Even though it is my weekend to work, we run to early Mass and have the rest of the day to shape into any form we please. Right now, I am snuggled up in my room, working, and decided to take a moment to clear my head.

So in the days since Lent started, I have not started any spiritual reading nor have I worked on praying the rosary or chaplet of Divine Mercy, but I have managed the other items on my list. On Friday, I believe I wrote that the fast from Facebook was not too hard. Oh how pride goeth before a fall. Last night, as we were watching a movie as a family (The Croods - not my favorite), I was on my laptop. I decided to balance the budget. When I finished, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to be surfing Facebook as well as playing games. I did not go on FB, but I did hop on Google+ (boring! does anyone even use it anymore?). I played 1 round of Candy Crush Soda-totally dissatisfying. After that, I shut down the laptop, and snuggled in for the rest of the movie.

This morning at Mass, the gospel was the temptation of Jesus. I chuckled to myself and thought how appropriate. I know we use this reading every Lent, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Father's homily (as usual) hit the nail on the head. He started talking about this commercial from the Super Bowl:

I love how he tied this to spiritual hunger, and how fasting makes us hungry. Think about Ash Wednesday-we fast. On any given day, to not snack, to eat smaller meals is not a big deal. Then, because I have to, I am downright HANGRY. Father also took the opportunity to relate this hunger to forms of addiction. We are so hungering for something that we have to have it. Instead, he encouraged us to take that hunger and use it to be closer to Jesus. That is my goal this Lent. That is my prayer. 

Hoping you are having a blessed Lent!

Day 3: First Friday of Lent

Lent is off to a good start. I have stayed off of Facebook and all games. My hubby has made sure that I see any pictures of our beautiful great nieces and nephews. I truly don't feel disconnected. I mean, I've reached for my phone out of habit, but the apps are gone. I don't even feel sad. I am like, oh, that's right and I move on.

One the flip side, I am renewing my love of reading! It has been so long! I started with something light- The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani. It's the third book in a trilogy that I started years ago. The family is very Italian culturally so I can totally relate. I started it 2 nights ago and I am already 60% complete (kindle).

I also have some less fluffy type reading planned. I started The Root Cause a while ago, but put it down. I have been diagnosed with Hashi's and I am trying to come to terms with what I need to do to feel better. I will be picking that one up soon.

Also on tap will be some spiritual reading. For those that know me in real life, I tend to get really sleepy when I read something heavy. I will persevere.

Other than that, just keeping on. With the job I started last October, I work every other weekend. Right now, I am on day 2 of 6 in a row. By Tuesday night, I will be mush. I am used to it, but it is hard as I spend the weekend not so connected to my family. I am attempting to settle on a Mass. I work Saturdays from 8-5 and Sundays from 9-6. There are options but they aren't my parish. Sigh...need to get this figured out.

What are you up to this weekend? Comment so I can live vicariously through someone who is not working! :)

Remember me?

Pardon me while I dust things off a bit...So it's been 5 years since I posted here. I started a couple of other blogs and it just never felt right. This Lent, I am taking a Facebook fast, and I need a place to write. I am trying to focus on my spiritual life, as well as overall well being. When I stopped writing here, it became too easy to just post a quick update over there. I had some issues going on with former friends, so I needed the break. It feels good to be back, and I hope that some of you who remember me will come a long for the ride. More to come, but for now, know that I am trying to get my groove back. There's going to be a lot of musing going on...hope you're ready! 

Musings, Thoughts and Possible Changes

So some of you know I have been a tad overwhelmed and stressed lately. part of it is work, part of it is the return to school, and part of it is that I am prone to anxiety. I tried taking a blogging break, and it helped. I have also been praying about my priorities and trying to sort out what I should do.

This morning, the thought occurred that maybe I should give up blogging. I've been in a rut for a while. I am also a bit I don't know...I can't think of the word for what I am trying to say. I have had some discussions about blogging of late. I have never had aspirations of being one of the big bloggers. Quite honestly, I am not that talented nor do I have the background to market myself in that way. I think that I am a bit jaded though about some of the big bloggers. Some of them have gotten their status because of a tragedy in their lives. If it happened that way, I am sorry for that. Others have done it by latching on to a group of big bloggers. That's OK, too. I think it is just there are so many "experts" out there who aren't experts at all. Some people just hitch a ride hoping they can take part in bloggy fame.

Then there are the conventions. Quite honestly, I could never afford to go to one if I wanted, but I also think that these conventions prey on the average blogger making them believe that if they follow x,y,z then they too can be a big blogger and make money and do great things. For most of us, that will never be the reality. Again, it is not why I started blogging, nor why I currently want to blog or not blog. I hope I don't offend anyone who might have gone to one of these things, just my opinion.

Anyway, so where does that leave me? Like I said, I have been doing a lot of thought and praying and the truth is that I don't know. I had a revelation today that I am a bit worried that I might be putting too much out there in regards to my children. This blog started as a way for me to muse when I was home alone without another adult to talk to. I don't know. I think I may be worrying about Internet safety and such things.

Then I think about the friends I have made. If I stop blogging, will the friendships go away? Some of them might, and that makes me very sad. Then again, I have connected with some of you on facebook, and if I invest time in those friendships, then I don't need to worry.

Tonight, I had the idea of locking down this blog (for my family's safety), but then start another one where I blog more about my musings and less about my family. The question is would you follow me?

Friday Flashback-Portraits!

Here is one of my sons at the same age
as Alex is now.

Any guesses which one?

What are you flashing back to? Please grab the button from the bottom of my blog for your post and then link up your post. Make sure you link back to me. Failure to do so will result in your link being deleted. Happy Weekend, Everyone!

Veggie Dip

1 16 oz. sour cream

1 packet dry veggie soup mix

1 4 oz. container crumbled feta

Mix ingredients and refrigerate until ingredients meld. Serve with veggies, crackers, or bread. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite munchies! I love feta in just about anything!

Now it is your turn! Grab the button from the bottom of my blog for your post. Then come back to link your recipe up with this post! (Please link your recipe post, not your entire blog!)

Almost Wordless Wednesday-Better Late than Never!

We took the kids for pictures today.

There will be many more to follow, but I wanted share

the beginning:

And THE END (at least for Alex!).