Rejoicing

With dear friends (and T-baby's godparents) this morning upon the arrival of their third child, baby M!! She was 8lbs. 8oz. and made her appearance around 2:30am...

Praises for this wonderful little blessing. She follows sister, Lucy, who was born last August with anencephaly and passed away during birth. We're sure Lucy's singing beautiful praises right now from heaven! What a journey this has been for them, their family, and all those close to them.

All the more reason to rejoice today!

Sweet babies, Lucy and Jude, pray for us!!

Have a blessed day... Praise God for babies!

A Not-So-Typical Afternoon

FIRE, SMOKE, BURNING TOILET PAPER, PORT-A-POTTY, POLICE REPORT, a FALSE ACCUSATION...
Clearly words used to describe an afternoon at the playground!
Oh My Goodness!!
Drama, drama. lol :)

When we decided to get together with friends at the park this afternoon, little did we know the scene we were entering! Short story--I saw two boys exit a burning port-a-potty, assumed they'd set the fire and yelled at them to put it out. When the fire continued and worsened, my friend called 911 and the firemen and police showed up! Did I say drama? :) I had to file a police description; they found the boys, who claimed innocence and seemed legitimate... Oh dear Lord! When we left, the police were still looking for the perpetrator.

Hey, but the kids had fun... and that's what matters, right?! What a hysterical afternoon!
Hope your day was less eventful and very blessed. Hugs!

A glimpse of the crazy scene!

Lost and Found

So I finally found our lost Enya CD...
Hiding place compliments of T-baby, my forever "organizer". :)

Salad Girl

I felt so good about myself last night, ordering a salad and a whole wheat baguette at a Panera dinner out...

Only to later indulge in the boys' triple cheese (triple cholesterol) Crispani pizza, loaded with grease. GG laughed, watching my dinner go downhill. We cracked up at the imititation "I'll just have the salad" and then later, "I'm so famished, I could eat a horse...". lol. :)

Such is the way of life for a woman.
My mantra: If it doesn't touch my plate, it doesn't count. :)
This especially works well for french fries.

Autumn Essence

To the pumpkin patch we went!

Though the weather was blustery and the skies ominous, we had a great time!

The boys loved the animal petting barn and M enjoyed two rides on the "cow train", an adorable tractor pull with 6 cows in a line behind. He went off into the corn fields during the trip and came back smiling... adorable! With pumpkins now in hand, we are ready for Halloween and All Saints Day!! Enjoy the photos and God bless.

Despaired Hair

I just came across an ad website for Garnier Fructis, touting the shampoo as a "best" product.

And I, too, was tempted at the grocery story to believe the same.
(Particularly being wooed by its $5 pricetag! :)

What did I get in return?
Saggy, weighted hair that became greasy within a few hours. Not my idea of "best." In fact, it was one of the worst shampoos I've used in years. (Other friends have supported my findings!)

So the next time you're at the grocery store and they're running a huge sale on Garnier Fructis, please heed my advice. Remember, the grocery people run sales because they have surplus product and why would there be surplus if everyone was flocking to the store, buying Garnier. Eh? Don't fall victim! :)

Has anyone had a different experience? Perhaps with hair other than "fine"? Please share!! Otherwise, hope you have a wonderful hair day! I'm off to have mine cut and highlighted this afternoon...
God bless!

Gasperini-Ville Times

Gasperini-Ville Headlines as of 10:00am Thursday:

1) GASPERINI-VILLE ON ICE
The furnace has conked and we are FRIGID! Yikes!! Praying the repairman gets here soon! And praise God this isn't happening in December. (Always a silver lining, right?!)

2) MOLARS MEAN BUSINESS
T-baby is getting his second molar and was up 3 times last night--GG and I are rather bleary-eyed this morning! Whew! Where's the coffee? :)

3) BLESSINGS AMIDST GRIEF
My final blood test Monday (following the miscarriage) showed my HcG hormone levels are low and back-to-normal. No more bloodwork and no DNC necessary, final word. Hallelujah! Sweet baby Jude, pray for us! We are quite hopeful for the future... God is good.

Need A Good Cry?

Here is the sweetest story, written by a 14-year-old about her 6-mos-old sister with Down's Syndrome. What a beautiful piece--I am an absolute MESS (in a good way) after reading it .

Thought you might enjoy a good cry too... :)

Fight or Flight

Pardon me if my mama instincts flare up during the writing of this post... :)

Yesterday, one of my brood became threatened and I was ready to take on the world! Mad mad!! My sister and I were happily chatting at Chick-Fil-A, watching our boys in the play area through the glass (minus T-baby, who was at home napping). M so enjoyed romping and climbing with his cousins. The playground is set as a faux rain forest with a tree to climb and slides within the plastic canopy. Very cool. M always has a great time playing there and never wants to leave...

So, my story begins with an initial altercation where M came down the slide, crying and saying that someone had hit him. I consoled his tears and he was soon up and running, playing as if nothing had happened.

Only a few minutes later, my sister and I watched as M ascended the tree (as he had done 100 times already) when out of the blue one of the children started to kick him!! My sister and I saw it at the same time--M bent over in the tree while the little child sent kick after kick into his ribs! I was appalled... We started shouting at the child through the glass, watching as the kid then went after him to bite him in the back!!!!! Okay, now my anger was palpable. How DARE this little 4-year-old threaten my sweet (and apparently innocent) M. We ran in and quickly rescued my completely unraveled, tearful boy.

The culprit--an adorable, pink-clad GIRL. What a toughie she was. In the midst of it all, her mother appeared, scolding her daughter for "hitting" (she obviously hadn't witnessed the event!) and made her give an apology. It was all I could do to prevent myself from opening up to both daughter and mother... This little girl had threatened my poor baby. And to top it off, the mother never looked me in the eye and offered a very half-hearted "sorry" over her shoulder as they walked out of the play area.

What???? I wish I could beam myself to that moment and help the woman understand what her daughter had done!! The whole scene makes me seriously reconsider many of the thoughts I've had about sending my child to school! I know that's taking things a little far, BUT having one's child in school is subjecting them to the result of other people's poor parenting. Yuck!! Definitely a thought to consider down the road...

So there's a little taste of my sympathetic nervous system to excite your day!!
I now understand why mothers, in the thick of things, can do amazing feats.

Who wants to arm wrestle? I'm ready!
Oh I know, settle down, B-mama, and have some grace! God's been after me about that since...! Pesky Lord.:)

Thanks for listening and stick up for the innocent today, okay? God Bless!

Jack-O-Cuties

Jack-O's in (precious) human form! Thanks to our dear friend, Jennifer, for decking my kids out in Halloween wear.

The pumpkin on the left was a particular blessing yesterday, helping me bring in the groceries and voluntarily picking up his toys at the end of the day! Pinch me, is this my 2-year-old? :)

Hope you have a blessed day... We are expecting a visit today from my sister and her boys and will surely be full of updates tomorrow! God bless.

Joy in my Heart

I couldn't help but lose it a little today when seeing the woman in front of us at church weep during the singing of the Psalm. It is very common for me to get emotional when others are emotional!

In her arms, she held a precious baby.
And though I could be wrong, I have every reason to believe this baby was her newly adopted child.

As I shed tears with her, I imagined the joy she felt upon finally getting to hold a baby belonging to her.
I contemplated the pain she'd overcome after years of infertility, seeing as she and her husband had no other children. I watched the apparent joy on the faces of her sister, her mother-in-law, and extended family. They would occasionally look over at her and smile, seeming to revel in the sight of her and her child.

Though these thoughts were merely my perception, I rejoiced nonetheless and shed tears right along with her. Above all, it was a beautiful image of the sweet union between mother and child.

Hallelujah, hallelujah.
A child has come home.

I hope oneday GG and I will have the opportunity to open our home and hearts to adoption.
What a blessing that would be...

May God bless your Lord's Day. Hugs :)

(As an additional aside, enjoy this article -- a mother's marveling at the blessing of children. LOVE Danielle Bean!)

Thinking back...

Only to last week, of course. Today is another beautiful gameday for the Irish... Just wish we were sharing it with our extended nearest and dearest. In the meantime, this photo is truly a keeper for the memory books! Fantastic shot of the entire G Clan minus Uncle C. Perhaps a little Photoshop cutting and pasting of him could make this Christmas card-worthy. haha :) Sorry C, wish you could have been with us...

Blessings to you this glorious Saturday.

Acorny Fact

Did you know?

An Oak tree can begin producing acorns after 20 years, but may sometimes produce as late as 50 years. Acorn production will reach the thousands by 70-80 years. -Arcytech

Our yard proves it! Gasperini-Ville is inundated with acorns... And to think that GG wants to cut down these beautiful (and not to mention, old) trees. Don't worry, the tree-hugger in me would never allow it!! :)

And to add a creative, acorny piece, M painted with acorns yesterday at preschool. We were so excited to hear he had participated in an art project (not his usual choice!) :)

Happy Autumn!

Sparky

Without tooting my horn too much, I need to proudly report that I just changed the sparkplug on our lawnmower (removing a working one from our old mower and putting it on our current one)... and now it works! Hallelujah!

Maybe my vocation should be as "mechanic"?
I think I'll stick to mothering. :)
May God bless your Thursday... almost to the weekend!

Women and The Church

Many moons ago, when GG and I were on our second date (the one in NYC to visit the Rockefeller Christmas tree), we stopped in Times Square to eat at local burger and cheesecake joint. And what did we talk about, you ask? But of course, women in the front lines of the military. Common second-date conversation. :)

Geoff was against it. I (the closet feminist) was for it. My argument: If a woman could meet a man's physical standards, she deserved to fight right alongside him. Oh how my opinion has changed... Good, old Catholic Church. :)

Our Catholic women's Bible study has been delving into Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life by Johnnette S. Benkovic and have been loving what we're learning. What a powerful study (warning--don't pick it up unless you're ready to have your world appropriately rocked! That good!) We've been discussing the *power* of women in their vocation as mother and wife. Yes, that's right--POWER as tender, loving, prayerful mothers and wives. WOW! What a difference from what the world teaches us.

Pope Paul VI and various cardinals addressed this issue in their message To Women following the Second Vatican Council in 1965:
"But the hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being achieved in its fullness, the hour in which woman acquires in the world an influence... Pass onto your sons and daughters the traditions of your fathers at the same time that you prepare them for an unsearchable future. "

So, according to the Church, it is in embracing our femininity and maternal vocation that we truly attain power and influence. [Versus the world's idea of women achieving power by making themselves like and equal to men.]

And it is in our feminine splendor that God set women apart from men: to experience childbearing, to nurture her children, to pray fervently for her family, to serve (often behind the scenes) without expectation of gratitude, to be like the Blessed Mother in her devotion to Christ.

I am so proud to be a woman.
I am so glad not to be on the front lines of the military (even if I can beat any boy in the 2-mile, anytime. ;)
I believe women serve our world best by fulfilling their natural, God-given vocation.

Though you may not agree, thanks for listening and God bless your evening.

The Best Kind of Laundry

Looking Ahead

While talking with a friend the other day, we wondered in awe at the thought of being in our new "hometowns" merely a year from now (T minus 7 months, to be exact!) Pretty crazy... We have so loved being in the university community here--ample young, Catholic families; fellow moms with whom to commune and share life and the love of Christ. I am going to miss it so!

And to think that I will go from being a born and bred "midwesterner" to living a "southerner's" life (or something close to it). We will be heading to Virginia, a Confederate state, where folks greet one another with "So nice to see you", rather than "So nice to meet you" just in case they've met you before. Where the normal dresscode at a UVa game is dressy and men wear ties (Papa commented this past weekend how refreshing it was to see ND fans wearing jeans! What a difference--a difference very unfamiliar to me!)

Boy will I be a fish out of water. Little, old Ohio rose.

Yet I know we'll love it... that we already have loved it in the past. It's a chance to officially settle after years of transitioning into and then out of the Army, into and then out of law school. It will be an opportunity to put down roots. And roots are a good thing.

Yes, yes, it will be great.
Did I mention that GG received an offer to his summer firm?
What a blessing from way back in late July.
Sorry to have missed mentioning it (it came a few days before our huge baby and Army news).
We are so grateful for all of the blessings coming in our future.

Cheers to autumn in Virginia!
We hear there are 80 degree temps on the way... Autumn?
Maybe the global warming gurus are onto something. May God bless your Tuesday.

The Best of Intentions

My word of the day today is gluttonous. Yuck.
I have uncontrollably eaten more than I ever planned. Double yuck.

I started off the day with the best of intentions... That lasted until, oh... 9am. Shux! :)

Start off with a nibble of cinnamon bread, throw in a Kit Kat (just the smaller size, come on!), add a Reeses PB Cup, a piece of pepperoni pizza, then half a (smaller) loaf of banana bread (packed with choco chips, caramel, nuts, etc.), wash it down with a Diet Coke, and what do you have?

A gluttonous B-mama.

Can I please blame this on hormones?
And why doesn't someone just come and roll me up the stairs to bed? lol

Gluttonous and ridiculous, I am. God bless. :)

Weekend Wonderful

Hope these photos speak to the wonder of our weekend (and to the lack of postings!) We've been happily busy, enjoying the excitement of a visit from Mimi and Papa... and the fun of a home ND game! GG and I were spoiled with the chance to go together--what an awesome time! Oh, the glory of the Irish! Hugs and prayers--may your week's start be blessed.

A Herd of Tiny Elephants

Lunchtime elephants, to be precise. This was just too funny not to post!
So proud of my little herd.
Enjoy our exuberant noises...
And may God bless your Friday! Prayers. :)

What Color Are You?

So as a sunshiny-type gal, this was surprisingly right on (though I'm not so sure about the genius part. lol.) :) Pretty cool... Check it out and have a great day! :)

You Are a Yellow Crayon

Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth.

What Color Crayon Are You?

I Couldn't Resist

Writing quickly to tell you of a small and rather silly joy! Last night I cooked a nothing out-of-the ordinary dinner:

*Marinated chicken breasts with melted colby jack cheese

*Steamed broccoli

*Long grain and wild rice

Only to find that my WHOLE family ate it...

and GG and I didn't have to get up once the whole meal. What a miracle! haha :) Even M (my usual vegetarian) ate the chicken breast and willingly. God bless 'im!

What a joy it was to sit through a meal and *rejoice* in providing for my family. Though I heard a "thank you" from only my dear GG, M and T thanked me by enjoying the food. Hallelujah! I'll take whatever I can get.

Cheers to you this glorious Wednesday. Bon appetit!

Health Update

I had a doc's visit today and it appears my body has done a good job of handling the miscarriage naturally. My HcG (pregnancy hormone) levels are very low (36) and hopefully continuing to drop. Other than a confirming blood test in two weeks, I have a clean bill of health and will be able to avoid surgery (DNC). Hallelujah!

And in other news, we are joyfully preparing for a visit from Mimi and Papa this weekend and enjoying the beautiful 70 degree blue-skied sunshine.

And tonight is my women's Bible study on Full of Grace and I can't wait! God bless!

Verbose

Let's just say our little T is showing his chatty Gasperini stripes already...

His newest word "hot" is showcased in the video below. [Words at 13.5mos include "bye bye", "mama", "dada", "apple", "cracker", "duck", "ball", and "baby". What has gotten into this kid lately? And of course, this is mom's list whereas dad's version would be a lot shorter! haha]

The real question is-- how could any offspring of GG and I get away without being talkative?
I was once described as having the ability to talk to a stick for hours.

Lord help my poor children! lol :) Enjoy and God bless.

3600

600 crosses
3000 small blue and pink flags

To commemorate the 3600(!) babies dying every day because of abortion.

I saw this scene yesterday while running on campus. My heart ached...

How can I so desperately long for a miscarried baby while others are making the CHOICE to end the lives of their precious children.

It just doesn't make sense.

Not one bit.

And I realize that there are special circumstances and situations...

Yet abortion is what it is.

And 3600 babies die every day.

God help us.

Motivational Speech

For anyone who lies down at the end of the day... and doesn't want to get up, this post's for you.

I'm here to say, "GET UP! You'll thank yourself in the morning!"

Last night, I laid down in our bed to indulge in some light reading and TV. Only to find later that the quagmire had sucked me in... "Leave the dirty kitchen, piled high with dishes," my devilish brain tempted, "And don't bother with the toy-strewn living room. You'll get it in the morning..." Oh to have laid in that bed for another minute (as I've done countless times before.)

But NO! I fought back.
And here's what I awoke to this morning...





The FlyLady would be so proud!
Get up, get cleaning, and then get to bed.
You'll start the following day feeling blessed...

Hope this inspires. Hugs and blessings. TGIF!

Going Green

Don't you just hate coming home from the supermarket with all of those annoying plastic bags?

And isn't it irritating that very few places recycle them? (Wal-Mart is the only one I can find!)

And how do I really know they're being recycled once I get them there?

Solution?
THE SKEEDA BAG
Isn't it cute?

You can find it here.
Glad to help.

Milestone Man

Well, our baby T has taken a "step" toward toddlerdom today.
Congrats to the world's newest walker (sort of :)...
We love you, Sweet T.

1 J Down

2 J's Still Needing Prayer

The "Julie" found out today that spots in an x-ray of her chest are not a return of the Hodgkin's Lymphoma she had (and beat) 9 years ago!! Praise God for this healthy and Godly mother-of-three. Thanks for lifting her up. What a relief...

The "Joe" has an MRI tomorrow to investigate some significant hearing loss/ear static (always scary when it's that close to the brain!) Joe is the hubby of one of my best college friends and the father of three beautiful babes. Prayers, prayers...

The "Jennifer" is a dear friend here, who has contracted a virus causing Bells Palsy/partial facial paralysis. (Not to mention she's a mother of four, amazing Christian woman, and new homeschooler! Doc's orders are to get sleep and avoid stress. Yeah right! Prayers, prayers...)

Instead of blogging

I'm going to use this time for prayer...
for three folks, inparticular. Their names are Jennifer, Joe, and Julie.
The J's could use our petitions today.

Will you join me?
Thanks and God bless.

Heartwarmth

Getting back to one's roots is a good thing.

I went running Saturday in "my woods" where autumn is in full effect and the sights and smells are anything but strange. It was really good--like the good you get when you're back in a place that feels in every way like home. So good.

Was I breathing heavily? Yes. Were my muscles aching? Yes.

But I have to say, it was GLORIOUS!

And then to return to people who are my roots...

My parents were incredible and sensitive, loving and generous (as they always are).

Dinner with "my girls" on Sunday was such a treat. They know me better than I know myself sometimes. They ask the right questions and know, in a way, how I'll respond. It was so heartwarming to see them at a time when my heart really needed warming. And seeing "my Neen" on Monday continued the blessing as we shared about life and children, taking time to delight in the joys of family and togetherness.

Heartwarmth, indeed.
Praise God for sturdy roots during seasons of pruning.

God bless. :)

Our Sunday Jaunt

Two boys + 2.5hr drive + Gramz and Pappy + a get-together with "my girls" from high school + a late-night sister chat + a 5am M wake-up + an hour drive and *blissful* time with another dear friend from high school (Neen!) + 3 hr drive home + whiny cherubs and bedtime =

one tired
(and one really blessed) B-mama.

I'll check back in tomorrow...
Love and hugs and yawny blessings to you. :)