Day 35/365 - Did You Remember Shrimp?

Date: 2/5/11
Time: 3:38 pm
Place: Schnucks
***
Every time I leave Schnucks, I'm faced with this sign on the door that says, "STOP DID YOU REMEMBER SHRIMP?" This sign is really starting to bother me. Why does Schnucks care so much about shrimp? Why are they worried I might forget it? Is shrimp all that important that the world will stop if I forget it? Is Schnucks going to go under if they don't sell more shrimp? Did the shrimp people work out a deal with Schnucks in order to get this prominent signage? I don't know. I'll never know.
***
God, when I die and ask all of those unanswerable questions, can you answer this one also? Why does Schnucks not want me to forget the shrimp?

Day 34/365 - Parent Appreciation Mass

Date: 2/4/11

Time: 8:03 am

Place: Sts. Joachim and Ann Church

***

Everyone likes Parent Appreciation Day. Well, it was snowed out, so they rescheduled it for today. The cool thing about Parent Appreciation Day is that your kids can sit by you at the all school mass. For them this is so cool! So when I whipped out my camera before mass started, Ben said, "Can you have a camera in mass?", because he was in school mode. I told him I need my picture of the day and he immediately understood, but you could tell they felt we were breaking some major school laws! Abby was serving mass and Sam was sitting with the fourth graders. It's tradition that the last day of Catholic Schools Week the Eighth Graders take over the school and teach in each classroom.

***

Lord, thank for the chance to sit by two of my kids during the all school mass. It was so worth seeing the delight in their eyes.

Day 33/365 - CHRP Meeting

Date: 2/3/11

Time: 9:46 pm

Place: My Family Room

***

I hosted my CRHP group tonight at my house. Well not all of them. Some couldn't make it. Pictured are JoBeth, Mary Pat, Mary and Karen (mass buddy). We each take turns hosting and tonight was my night. I didn't have the best day today. I had someone put in their notice at work today and it's my job to hire people. I still have two other open positions to fill. I don't know if I'll ever catch up. I came home and had to cook dinner before preparing my house for this meeting. But the beauty of it all is, I knew just being around these women would cheer me up. We've been meeting for almost 5 years now. I love these ladies. In no time, I forgot about my bad day and enjoyed an amaretto sour and great conversation. We conclude every meeting with good news and intentions. I was able to tell them about my bad day and offer it up in prayer. That's what sisters are for.

***

Thank you, God, for my CRHP sisters. You've really blessed me by letting them be a part of my life.

Day 32/365 - Sledding With the Kids

Date: 2/2/11
Time: 5:15 pm
Place: The hills near Cottleville City Hall
***
I did something today that I haven't done in a long time...I went sledding with the kids. I had a blast. I took video, I took pictures, I sledded with Mary, I sledded by myself, and I zoomed down the hill on Sam's snowboard. I. had. a. blast. Wow. What a thrill. I felt like a kid again.

***

God, thank you for an awesome afternoon of sled riding with my kids. I'll treasure this day forever!

Day 31/365 - Snow Storm? Hardly!

Date: 2/1/11

Time: 4:18 pm

Place: Breakfast Room
***

Well, the big storm never came, but we had fun anyway. There was enough snow that the kids still managed to do a little sledding. But after the outdoor fun, my sister dug out her craft supply and the kids colored, painted, stamped pictures and when they were done with that they made puppets out of my brown lunch bags. We had four neighbor kids, four of my own, two of my sisters and two friends all having fun in my house. They had so much fun, I invited Abby's friends to spend another night. They eagerly accepted. I feel so blessed to have friends and family to enjoy my day with. I fed 13 people last night and then again tonight...and now, it's my turn to rest. I'm hunkered up in my room, playing on my laptop. I have to laugh that Ted said he felt guilty hanging out in our room while the kids fended for themselves. I laughed so hard! I've been with the kids all day and he feels guilty? Maybe HIM, NOT ME! LOL. Ted is now putting the younger kids down while I watch Cake Boss.

***

Lord, I can't thank you enough for this fun day. I'm especially blessed to have four awesome kids right across the street that are always ready to play with my kids. You really blessed me there, God. Thank you, thank you.

Day 30/365 - Ice Storm

Date: 1/31/11

Time: 2:35 pm

Place: My Family Room

***

The media was all over the big storm they predicted would come our way. It would start with a nasty ice storm and follow with 10-20 inches of snow. We left for school this morning only to have them call it off at 11:00am. I had gone to work on my day off, knowing what was coming, so I could get whatever I needed to work from home. I picked up my kids from school and offered to take our carpool friend, Erin, home with us. Confident we would be off school the next day and maybe even next two, I offered to have Erin spend the night. Abby said, "Can Alicia come, too?". So we picked up the girls' overnight bags and snow gear and headed back home. The neighbor kids came over and they all immediately started watching some of our classic home videos. So here's a picture of 9 kids watching the videos. This was not all the kids in my house. The boys were in the other room (except for Joey, of course). The girls all slept up in Abby's room and Mary slept in Ben's room. We were all excited when we confirmed the kids had a snow day the next day.

***

Lord, thank you for friends and neighbors who make our snow days fun!

Day 29/365 - Memory Lane

Date: 1/30/11

Time: 10:00pm

Place: Shelf in my bedroom

***

It was a pretty good weekend this weekend. Abby pulled out the old videos and we watched them off and on all weekend. Most of the videos were from when I stayed home full time with the kids. I had time to think of stuff like that. In fact, I would almost say I had nothing but time. I was always grabbing the video camera, capturing the moment. I'm so glad I did. The kids loved watching them. Ben and Mary were able to laugh at their crying fits caught on video. We went back to our last night in the old house (7 years ago), to the new house, to Ben and Mary as toddlers. I recorded a lot! But it also made me realize that I haven't used it much lately. Only for the major holidays...and those videos get old after a while. I like the every day kind...when you're just hanging out and capturing what you do in a regular day. We've had the camera pictured above for one year. Looks pretty new, doesn't it? I think it's underutilized. I'm working now and time seems to be flying by at a much quicker pace. But I think that's EXACTLY why I need to get this camera out more. My kids are growing up so fast and I'm going to forget all of this. It'll be over in a flash. I'm pretty good at taking pictures, now I want to step up my video taking.

***

Lord, thank you for a great weekend. Help me to treasure my time with my kids.

Day 28/365 - Cub Scout Field Trip

Date: 1/29/11

Time: 3:15 pm

Place: The Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
***

Today I went with Ben to a Cub Scout field trip to the shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. Every time Ben has anything he complains that he doesn't want to go. It's really getting old. But I treated him to McDonald's and he warmed up to me. In fact, it was a date... just me and him. And hearing about this Saint's life made me realize I have NOTHING to complain about. My complaints sound so lame when you compare them to her difficult life. I'm working on it.

***

God, thanks for my date with Ben.

Day 27/365 - Break a Leg!

Date: 1/28/11

Time: 8:36 pm

Place: Sts. Joachim and Ann Parish Center

***

This picture was taken at Sam's Eighth Grade Play. They performed Peter Pan with their little buddies in first grade and Sam was Wendy's dad. He's standing on top of something in the back and has a white shirt and tie on. Part of me is glad I don't have to keep picking him up from play practice and the other part can't believe that this is my son's Eighth Grade Play. I've seen other Eighth Grade Plays and this just means that they have one foot out the door of grade school. I don't know if I'm ready for him to graduate. He's doing all the "lasts". I hope I can make it through all of these in one piece!

***

Lord...be with him.

Day 26/365 - Cold, Hard, Icy and Grey

Date: 1/27/11

Time: 7:30 am

Place: Outside my office

***

That icycle is still hanging on. I'm really done with the snow now. I'm ready for it to melt. It's not pretty and fluffy and white anymore. It's dingy and icy. I'm ready to see green again. I want leaves, greenery, flowers and sunshine! Everything about winter is cold, hard, icy and grey. But each season makes you yearn for the relief of the next. Sometimes the unwelcoming "outside" makes me want to go "inside"....which is good because then I spend more time with my family, or more time journaling and reading. I guess there is good in each season...until you get to the end of it and you are ready for the next one!

***

God, I appreciate whatever season you have me in. But could you just bring back the sun?

Day 25/365 - My Day by the Clock

Date: 1/25/11

Time: Isn't it obvious? That dot means "am".

Place: Bedroom

***

6:19am--I'm NOT an early morning person. I sleep as late as I can, allowing JUST

enough time to get ready and drive carpool. Ted gets the kids ready for

school.

7:03am--Head out the door to pick up Erin and then take the kids to school.

7:30am--Drop off kids and head to church for the 8:00 mass.

8:52am--Breakfast at McDonald's with Karen.

10:53am--Fill up the car and car wash.

11:22am--Back home. Called new general practitioner. I need a doctor to check

out my knees that grind when I climb the stairs. I've put it off way too

long. Left a message.

11:25am--Time for major laundry, while watching recorded American Idol and

The Cake Boss. I don't know why I absolutely love The Cake Boss. I

don't watch much TV, but when I was sick, I happened to catch this

show and loved it. I don't bake much. But the way they are given a

challenge and then just BAM!! Create something with their hands.

Amazing!

2:45pm--Leave to pick up the kids from school.

3:30pm--Come back and continue with laundry and Cake Boss and watch the

kids throw their stuff everywhere.

4:50pm--Leave to pick up Sam from play practice.

5:15pm--Cook up a frozen pizza for the kids.

6:14pm--Got a call from a co-worker about a situation at work that brought me

down. I hate thinking about work at home.

6:30pm--Head out to dinner with Becky and Jerry at the Outback. No this

doesn't happen every night. In fact, we haven't been out to eat with

Becky and Jerry since they moved in with us and this was our only

free night. I was able to forget about the problem at work and enjoy

myself.

8:30pm--Get the kids ready for bed. Sit outside their doors until they are settled

in bed. While I'm sitting there, I fire off some e-mails about the situation

at work...and end up reading work e-mails (I always bring my laptop

upstairs when I sit outside their doors).

9:30pm--Come downstairs. Ted is watching Modern Family. I finish my blog.

11:00pm--This time hasn't arrived yet, but it's usually when we go to bed. Then,

we start it all over again tomorrow. Except, tomorrow I work.

***

God, thank you for a good day. Help me take care of the problem at work. And

thank you for Cake Boss. That show is awesome!

Day 24/365 - St. Clement of Rome

Date: 1/25/11

Time: 7:52 am

Place: St. Clement of Rome Church

***

I'm not one to make a spectacle out of myself. I just don't. I don't like drawing attention to myself or standing out in any obvious way. So when I need to get my "picture of the day", this can sometimes cause a problem. The minutes before mass is not most people's "photo op" moment. So, when I took this picture, I had the camera in my lap and just pointed up. Not the best photo, but let me describe this church. This church is like one big circle with a pointed dome in the middle of the ceiling. These stained glass windows surround the upper walls of the church. They were shades of blue over the altar and then start blending shades of reds and yellows. Underneath the stained glass upper area, was windows around most sides of the church (not the altar and not the entrance areas. The windows had privacy walls behind them so you aren't looking out onto the other part of the building or the street. I thought this was so cool. I'm sure on a sunny day that these windows would bring in LOTS of light, while keeping distractions of the outside world from looking in. This is what I hope my life is like. I hope to clear enough to see light and be light, but not so clear that I receive all the other junk, too. I want walls to protect me, but not so much that I don't see the light. I don't know if this makes any sense.

I went to St. Clement today with my friend, Jill, who attends daily mass there. I've seen prettier churches, but I've never seen a church like this. It was very unique...and sometimes unique is very cool in my book! I looked up the church on the web and it was built in 1965. Here is the website http://stclementcatholicchurch.org/ if you want to see the outside shape of this interesting church.

***

God, let my soul be like glass that lets every beam of your light in, but protect me from any distractions that could lead me off course.

Day 23/365 - Room With a View

Date: 1/24/11

Time: 10:02 am

Place: The view from my office window

***

You can tell I work for a non-profit. This huge icicle formed because of a hole in the soffit. I guess the water drained out there instead of through the gutters. The picture doesn't do it justice. The long icicle is almost four feet. I bet the diameter of the hole is about five inches. If I stood next to it, you could get a better perspective on it. I'd offer to do that tomorrow, but I'm off and I'm not about to go in just to improve my picture of the day. Three days from now when I go back in, I'm sure it will be melted and gone. That's ok...I'm going to enjoy my two days off. The ice may melt in two days, but it will take much longer to fix that hole in the soffit.

***

God, thank you for a room with a view. It's beautiful.

Day 22/365 - Maybe Someday

Date: 1/23/11

Time: 3:30 pm

Place: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

***

So, technically I did not take this picture. But it was taken today by my son who is in Washington D.C. for the Pro-Life March. I did take a picture of TimTam's today at Target, but I like this one a lot more. I think this little altar area is beautiful and I wish I could see the whole church. Maybe someday. Apparently it's the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world. I was trying to read what the altar says and the part on the front says "Heart of Mary Pray For Us". Does the left side say "Immaculate"? Maybe. One thing I know...I can ask Sam and he won't be able to fill me in. I tried to look it up on the internet, but I can't find this particular spot in this big, beautiful church known for it's architecture and art. Maybe someday, I'll find out for myself.

***

God, someday I would like to travel and see some of the big, beautiful churches people all over the world built in your honor. Please?

Day 21/365 - Red Robinnnn YUMMMM

Date: 1/22/11

Time: 6:34 pm

Place: Red Robin

Tonight we went to the 5:00 mass and then to Red Robin for dinner. Ok, this picture is kinda gross. I should have taken a picture of this salad before I tore into it. But it was SO good!! It was some kind of Santa Fe chicken salad. Don't remember the exact name. I should have ordered a small. It wasn't on the menu, but when I complained to the waiter that it was WAY too much, he told me you can order a smaller version of the same salad. Wish I would have known. Would you believe tomorrow we have NOTHING on the calendar? NOTHING.

Thank you, God, for a FREE day. How should we spend it? Let me know when you get a chance.

Day 20/365 - Mary Had a Little Lamb

Date: 1/21/11

Time: 9:17 am

Place: My Office Desk

Today the kids were off school because of a blown transformer. The kids were so happy to have this day off after a snow day! I was happy to have a day when I could sleep in a little before heading to work. On my way out, Mary asked if I could take this lamb to work with me and when I miss her, I can look at the lamb and it will remind me of her. I had a pretty rough day at work today. Someone took all of her anger out on me in my office. I'm wondering if, while she was yelling at me, did she see this cute lamb behind me and wonder? Maybe her anger would have been cooled if she knew my daughter cared so much to give me this cute lamb. Instead, this lady was like a lion. One other person who came in to talk to me, kept looking over my shoulder and smiling. I explained why I had a lamb on my desk. She thought it was cute. At least it worked on her.

God, help the lady who was angry today. Give her your peace. Amen.

Day 19/365 - My Snow Angel

Date: 1/20/11

Time: 4:23 pm

Place: Front Yard

I'm afraid with this Project 365 blog, I might end up with 100 pictures of Mary! I can't help it...the girl's smile just beckons my camera! She's ALWAYS ready for the photo op. We had about 9 inches of snow today. I took advantage of the kids snow day (and my closed office day) by cleaning the kids' bedrooms and rearranging Abby and Mary's room. I didn't get out in the snow until late afternoon to shovel the driveway and take some pictures like the one above. The kids had so much fun today. It helped to make my day great when everything was canceled. Everything...well except for my girl's night out with grade school friends. We managed to keep our date. I think we were all so desperate to get out after being home all day with the kids! LOL!

God, thank you for the snow that canceled school, work, play practice, and Daisies and gave this mom a much needed break from all of the running around!

Day 18/365 - Snow Day?

Date: 1/19/11

Time: 8:20 pm

Place: Looking out from my garage

After picking Abby up from a friends house, I took this picture from the edge of the garage, looking up. The outside light over my garage door lit up the snowflakes in the sky. In this picture, they almost look like stars. The school closings are pouring in already as some areas already have 2 inches. I have to work tomorrow and the kids will probably be home. For some reason, I still root for snow days. I don't know why. I guess it's the kid in me. And it's nice not to get up early to get the kids ready and off to school. Ted's out of town until Friday so he's missing out on all the fun. Night all...time to watch American Idol!

God, thank you for snow days.

Day 17/365 - Time For A Hair Cut

Date: 1/18/11

Time: 3:06 pm

Place: Master Cuts

I finally got my hair cut today. I've been wanting it cut since December...but I procrastinated... was desperate...and then couldn't get in in time for the event I wanted it cut. In December, I went with my sister to my niece's cheer competition in Columbia, MO. I ended up taking the scissors with me so I could cut my hair in the hotel. Yup. I do crazy things like that. So my last hair cut was self-cut. Not good. It was nice to get a real hair cut today. The girl cutting my hair is Ted's cousin's daughter and she and her sister used to babysit for us. So we always have fun conversations. Can you tell I'm all about the conversation? Well, I am. It's fun to explain to people why I'm taking pictures in weird places. "You see, I'm doing this blog where I have to take a picture a day and then write about it. You don't mind...do you?" (SNAP PICTURE OF SELF WHILE GETTING HAIR CUT)

God, thank you for my camera. It's really cool and I like it and I don't know what I would do without it!

Day 16/365 - Hangin With the Masek's

Date: 1/17/11

Time: 1:40 pm

Place: My Sister's Front Room

Today was a great day to hang out at my sister's house. Our husbands were both working, we were both off work, and our kids were off school. It's rare that we have days like this because she works full time and our weekends are packed. My other sister, Becky, came over, too. We sat in the adjoining room talking, while the kids all played together. The picture above is of Sam (back to the camera) playing video games with Dominic (yellow sweatshirt) and Kyle, while Leah looks on. We talked about how fast our kids are growing up, how her twins will be off to college before we know it. She thinks she'll not know what to do with herself when she just has her younger two at home (the least demanding two). She talked about the unfinished projects around her house and how she really wants to redo her pink bathroom (the tub, toilet and sink are pink). We talked about Spring Break (they're going to visit my brother in New Orleans and we're going to Orlando), summer vacations (she wants to take her family to Colorado) and about my crop weekend. It was just nice to hang out with her and chat.

Lord, thank you for my sisters. It's one of the ways you show me how much you love me.