Spotlight Saturday

This week I wanted to spotlight one of my favorite blogs to visit. Moderate Means.

She is a frugal blogger, mother of two children, a dieter, and exerciser, and a parent of a juvenile diabetic. She is also going to classes with her husband to be foster parents. She owns a business, and she is funny. Every post has a bit of humor, which always makes me smile. Drop by and visit. Tell her Lily sent you :). You will be glad you stopped by, and have another blog to add to your list of favorites!!

fearless friday

Today I am praying for all students everywhere. These first few weeks of the new school year are always a time of adjustment.

Praying for Sweet Mary, and my friend Jen, and all others with health concerns.

Praying for the G family as they start to settle back into a life without their baby Mary Katherine.

Praying for the jobless, and for Angie's family.

Praying for the government officials who could do so much if they put their priorities in the right place.

Thanking God for my husband's job, I do not ever think I will take employment for granted again.

Thanking God for the health of my family.

Thanking God for my home, that we could keep it.

Praising God for this beautiful day.

Praising God for my friends.

Praising God for my beautiful children who bring me joy every single day of my life.

Please join in the prayers. This post is linked to Fearless Friday and Sweet Peas

Another Olive Fan!

A little while back I reviewed Olive Kitteridge, a book I loved. Here is another fan, from The Betty and Boo Chronicles. Thanks for the mention, Melissa! I thought I would take the opportunity to recommend the book a second time, go read this book! Right now! Go on! What are you waiting for?

Earring giveaway at Sweet Mary's blog

Sweet Mary has her first giveaway!! A pair of diamond (esque) earrings!!

Go check it out, and tell her Lily sent you :)

The Good Thief Review

I just finished this book on Friday last. I'm very slowed down in my reading due to life and homeschooling at the moment. I'm not a real Gothic reader, but fans of the genre would enjoy this book.



This is the story of Ren, an orphan boy who is missing a hand. He was raised in a Catholic orphanage and has a good moral foundation. He knows right from wrong, but has some bad habits, such as his talent for theivery, which is the result of growing up an orphan.



When he is adopted by Benjamin, who claims to be his brother, Ren is hoping for home-cooked meals and a mother's love. He instead finds a con man who gets him involved in things like grave robbing and conning people leaving churches, gathering their sympathy for the one-handed orphan boy.



The story takes an unexpected and jolting (for me, not a huge fan of the genre) twist in the second half of the book. There was a snippet of foreshadowing which had me wondering early on, but there were enough turns to throw me off the scent until I was sucker punched for my distraction!



I think gothic fans, even YA gothic fans will love this book. I enjoyed it and could not put it down despite my distaste for some of it. It is not for everyone. The descriptions of the grave robbing were rather graphic, as well as a few other passages describing someone's breath, appearances, smells, and a factory accident. What kept me reading? I thought it was really well written. I may not have enjoyed the descriptions, but Tinti brought me there. I could smell that breath, and I was in the room for the accident. Well done in that respect.



If gothic is your thing, give it a go. It is worth a read. This book (for those of you who are interested) is one chosen by my husband, because another reviewer compared the writing to Dickens! Again, not a book I would have chosen, but enjoyed it while reading. And, thusfar, there is no sequel ;0)



Currently reading:


All I will say about this one, until it is finished, is you cannot judge a book by its cover! This is not a bodice-ripper romance as the cover seems to bring to mind. It is a newly-released book that I asked the librarian to get for me. She is anxiously waiting for me to return it so she can read it herself. And we are both self-proclaimed loathers of the bodice-ripper storyline.

This post has been linked to "It is Monday, What Are You Reading" at Book Journey.

Hop hop hop

This week we are supposed to highlight blogs we love. Well there are just so many! I recently spotlighted Indigo Impression a sweet blogger who really ought to post more often, and MaryBennett who is a favorite for her writing and reviews. I often mention Happy Hearts at Home who is a favorite for all her useful links and information, especially about homeschooling on a budget. Other favorites, far from a complete list and in no particular order:
Moderate Means: Budget tips, frugal living, living with diabetes, etc.
Catholic Mothers Online: A blog where you can meet other Catholic Mothers who blog. I write for this blog, my first post will be appearing at the end of the month.
The House on Lavender Hill: Someone I know in real life, who has a beautiful family, can always make me laugh, and who has a lovely home which is highlighted on her blog.
Pen and Paper: A very funny Brit, who has a witty blog, and never ceases to entertain, amuse and surprise.
Living It Up in Bankrupt California:A very talented artist and blogger, married to another very talented artist, with a couple of beautiful girls!
Free Spirit Haven: A real prayer warrior who is a bargain hunter as well!
Crochet Me Crazy: Someone who is talented in all areas of her life. I really admire this blogger!
Brocante Home: A blog I have followed for years for everything housekeeping and lovely!

Fearless Friday: Hope

Thanks be to God this week has been full of hope for us.

1. My husband started his job this week, after 14 months and 2 days of unemployment. And it is just in the nick of time. And his job is only 30 miles from home. Before his unemployment, his commute was over 90 miles each way. He needed to refill his gas tank every two days. Now he will be able to go all week on a tank of gas! And the job has state benefits. He is thrilled because he has never worked anywhere that the benefits were nearly so good.

2. Also on Monday I met with an attorney and figured out how to save our home from the foreclosure auction which was scheduled for today. It will not be easy, but it can be done. It is being done, we are able to stay in our home and I am so grateful for that blessing. I love this home, my children love it here. We live in a beautiful place with caring and wonderful neighbors. I am so glad we can stay. Did I say "Thanks be to God for my husband's job" yet? Well, thanks be to God for my husband's job!!!

3. We started home school this week. While it was not without its glitches, it went well. I am pleased.

Petitions:

1. Please remember all of the unemployed still out there looking for jobs, and in a special way remember our hostess' husband, who has suffered through an extended period of unemployment, only to get a job that was downsized, and he is now unemployed yet again.

2. Please remember those who are sick, suffering with long-term illness, and those who care for them.

3. Please remember Sweet Mary, the G family, my auntie, and all others who need extra prayers for illness and suffering this week.

We ask for these things in faith, through Christ our Lord.

Amen

This post is linked to Fearless Friday and Sweet P's Prayer

Please visit their postings and pray for all the intentions in the blogosphere! Also, if you have any intentions to add you can send me an email or add it into the comments below. May God bless you all, I pray for my readers and their intentions every day.

Dinner, Routines, and a New School Year!

I should have taken a picture!!

I made tilapia tonight! So what is the big deal you say? Well, since hubbins has been laid off, I have not really cooked. I was on vacation from domestic duties because I was working several part-time jobs and taking classes. Therefore, my husband took over the cooking and cleaning. I appreciated it, but I am glad to have the jobs back (I'm much fussier and more regimented). That being said, I'm still in vacation mode, lol. It has been a tough week getting back into the swing of things.

I already posted about Monday. Now, the rest of the week has been recovering from hubbins running things for the last 14 months. Plus, I've been doing a huge reorganization of our school supplies, and I debuted a new organizational system for our homeschool this year. We needed a fresh approach!

It has been tough. I have insisted that the children start maintaining their chores up to MY standards! We started with their rooms, and inspections were supposed to have started already, but I gave them an extra week to get into form. All those months of Daddy-standards are making meeting Mommy's a bit rough. But I have faith that we can overcome this, they are excited Daddy is back to work and our future is brighter.

Monday being scratched from the list, Tuesday and Wednesday we had left-overs. Today I had to cook. I made Garlic Alfredo Tilapia, served over rice, with farm-fresh-picked-by-my-children green beans. It was delicious, and even the non-fish eater (self-proclaimed) and the one who has not quite decided about fish loved it! Since it was such a hit, I thought I would share, and I'm sorry, I should have taken pictures.

Garlic Alfredo Tilapia

4 tilapia fillets

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. Creole seasoning

3 Tbsp butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup Alfredo sauce

Preheat oven to 425º. Brush tilapia with oil, season with Creole seasoning to taste, place in 9x13 baking dish. Bake until no longer translucent and fish flakes easily with a fork (about 10 minutes). Melt butter, stir in garlic until it mellows, stir in Alfredo sauce and simmer. Keep warm until fish is ready. Pour over fish to serve.

MY variation:

I made my own Alfredo sauce, adding extra garlic to the recipe. I also made brown rice. I removed the fish from the baking dish, put the rice into that dish, placed the fish atop the rice, and poured the sauce over it. Served with long, steamed, fresh green beans, the plates looked nice, and everyone gobbled it up! It was also rather inexpensive, and they want me to make it again!! A winner on all fronts!

On the menu for tomorrow: Yellow Squash Patties (maybe) and Chicken with Thyme and Garlic Sauce. Both are new recipes as Daddy liked to make the same things over and over and we need a bit of a change. Note: That is not a complaint, we are grateful for his efforts around here and loved EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of the time he was home. We are just having fun breaking out of the routines we've had for a while now! Ever want to break out like that?

Super-dee-duper-dee-busy

Image Credit

I have had a super-dee-duper-dee-busy week already, and it is what? Tuesday? Yes, it is only Tuesday! Well, it is only going to get busier, I fear.

First: Updates!

Yesterday's funeral Mass was beautiful, awe-inspiring, sad and joyful all rolled into one. I've never been to a newborn's funeral before, and it was a whole other level of sadness with incredible joy also in the mix. You see, this is where my Catholic faith just seems to blow me away. Through all the sadness and tears, the priest managed to bring joy and hope to all present. This sweet baby, Mary Katherine, was born on Our Blessed Mother's birthday last week. The priest talked about how perfect that was, as Mary carried Our Savior knowing he would be sacrificed to God. My friend carried her baby knowing she would have to give her back immediately. Yet, she gave that child the only life she could. That baby survived in her womb, lived in God's grace, fulfilled God's plan for her life, because her family was willing to make that painful sacrifice, and give her back to the Lord on the day she was born. The priest talked about having an advocate in Heaven now. What a comforting thought. That baby is still part of our Church, just not the Church Militant.

But for all that hope and joy through the tears, when the lone pall bearer, the baby's father, carried that tiny casket out of the church, I was never so filled with admiration and such complete grief simultaneously. It was a beautiful, poignant, and tear-filled memory that will stay with me always, and brings me to tears just to remember. Please pray for Mary-Katherine, and her family.

#2: Husband's job went well the first day. Praying the second, third, and all the rest go as well.

#3: My meeting yesterday went very well, and though I cried through the beginning part (it was immediately following the funeral) we managed to bring some hope for the future to our family. Thanks be to God for this tremendous gift.

What lies ahead:

Today is the first day of school here. It is a bit off kilter. I'm not fully prepared, but prepared enough to begin. By week's end I hope to have hit my stride, therefore all things blogger must be second, third, or perhaps even 4th priority.

I have a blog award I am thrilled to have received, last week, and I have not had the chance to do the post and accept yet. To Cheryl, who awarded me, I thank you and the post is coming, though maybe not until next week at this point.

Off to wake the troops who were scheduled to be up 30 minutes ago! So much for the first day running on schedule...

All Sorts of Emotional

This picture was taken by The Oldest when we went with friends to the Bridge of Flowers.

Today is the day my husband starts his full-time job, after 14 weeks and 2 days of unemployment. And he found a very good job which should be secure and stable for a long time to come. Thanks be to God for that.





Today is also the day that we go to a funeral for a newborn baby, the one I have been mentioning in my Fearless Friday posts. Mary Catherine was born last week, and as the family had been told by the doctors, she could not survive. Please pray for her sweet soul and for her family. We will be heading out to Mass in a few hours.





Lastly, today is the day I will explore legal options for dealing with the ramifications of long-term unemployment in a large family. I will do this alone because my husband starts his job, and I'm more than a little nervous about my meeting today.





All sorts of emotional today.