Paula Abdul - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow—OFFICIAL VIDEO

New Paula Abdul Song!

OK, I Admit It!

We don't watch much tv, but we love to watch American Idol! We watch every week and we have our favorites. My hubbys favorite lost last week. Mine are still on and I am betting they will be the final 3!

We did not see the first season, but have watched every year since. I think Ryan is so cool, Randy is very real, Simon, not very nice, blunt and truthful, people follow what he says, I think people vote according to what he says and Paula, she is just lovely. (that is my new word) I loved her songs, yes, back in the 80's and she has a new one out I like it too.

My favorites are David Cook, Brooke White and David Archuletta. David Cook is the underdog, (in my eyes) I did not like him at first, but have loved him probably for the past 8 weeks at least. If you watch, who are your favorites?

Yesterday, when Paula was coming to our house, my little Rosie Ballerina said "Paula!! From American Idol?" She says she was kidding, but it was pretty funny at the time!

Simply Lovely Windows

Paula is hosting this lovely fair and I am joining in, because I was kind of challenged by her and I cannot skip a challenge! I am not very creative in the writing department, so I hope this is acceptable!

I chose this window because literally every time I walk by or sit here and look outside, I am amazed by God's goodness. He found us this amazing home that fits our family perfect. I love the country, but my dear hubby loves the city. We recently moved from a more country setting (I thought) back into town. We needed a bigger home, we had around 1300 square feet in our older home and all 4 children were in the same small bedroom, we had wall to wall furniture and toys and there was no place for the clutter to go. No closet space, no storage and not many cupboards.

We looked into adding on, but it was just too costly and not worth the hastle, since it was a buyers market, we decided (my husband) to move. I knew we had to, I agreed to, but was sad about it. I liked our neighbors, I liked our country view in the front. (we had a section of woods across the street from us, so our front view was woods!) The lots were all pretty close to 1 acre lots, but the housing development was a couple miles out of a small town. I don't know, I just loved it there.

We found this house, made an offer, and listed our home and sold it in 8 days!! (at the end of our St Joseph novena, of course) Our new house is much bigger. (at 3300 square feet)

My city boy husband informed me after driving by a home I picked out in the country with 4 acres, that "We will NEVER live in the country." So...sad as I was, we moved here and how wrong I was!!

We have this neighborhood looking home in the front, but the back windows and yard are all country! We have huge hills behind our home great for sledding in the winter, climbing all year round and hopefully great for picnics in the Summer. With a view that is breathtaking. (I will post a picture of that another time) Kiddie corner from our land there is a beautiful graveyard buffered by a patch of woods. We love to take walks around the graveyard and pray for the souls there. The oldest grave we found was 1865. The graves closest to our land are mostly babies. (so sad)

We have seen deer many times within 10-15 feet from this window. We have seen squirrels, (of course)red squirrels, chipmunks, foxes and many kinds of birds. We love to watch birds. One neighbor said they have seen an oposum, so we are looking for that now.

That is why every time I walk by this beautiful window in this "city home" I am amazed by God's goodness and blessings. I actually think to myself every time I walk by or sit there "thank you God for this beautiful home!" "We are SO blessed." Maybe this should be called my "Thanksgiving Window." It's where I count my blessings. Blessings of faith, a wonderful husband, children, wonderful neighbors, (who pray rosaries with me) and blessings of God's wonderful, beautiful nature for us to watch through this window. When we did decide to move here, I trusted in God to put us in the right place and am amazed at what happens when we just trust. Trust as He asks us to do.

Jesus, I trust in You. I place all my worries, thoughts and actions in Your hands. I trust You to take over. Thank You, Lord, for my lovely windows! Thank you Paula for hosting this fair of Simply Lovely Windows!

This dumb thing will not let me post paragraphs, it always just runs it all together, sorry to all who read, it's annoying, I know!

New IRL Friend!

Today Christine and I met Paula IRL (In Real Life)!

I never knew what that meant until starting this blog! I feel like a teenager text mailing or something! Paula was so nice and down to earth. I really enjoyed talking with her. She's one of those women you feel like you've known all your life. Her children were wonderful, my kids loved them! Thank you Paula for a wonderful day! Next time, I promise I will not make chicken salad, or probably EVER! And Christine, I will not make anything with nuts EVER again for you. After almost 3 years knowing eachother, she informs me today that she does not like things with nuts!!!!!!!!! How many times have I made things with nuts? Wild rice soup, my ravioli balsamic brown butter dish, salads and chicken salad!!! I DO wish she would have told me sooner!! Poor thing, she probably has hated coming over for meals knowing it probably would have nuts! I promise no more nuts!

7 Random Things Meme

Melissa from Bountiful Blessings tagged me for this. It's hard to think of 7 random non-important things, habits or quirks. I am like her, and would love my husband to come up with them...but that might start an argument and cause me to be defensive and that just is not good. So I will have to do it on my own.

Rules for this meme:

1. When tagged, place the name and URL on your blog.
2. Post rules on your blog.
3. Write 7 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

Here goes!

1. When I get in the van, I always get a piece of gum. (unless I'm going to Mass) I usually chew Extra Spearmint of peppermint. (1/2 piece only) I always chew sugar-free. I'm always worried about bad breath, always have been.

2. I always brush my teeth after each meal. If I can't, I chew sugar-free gum! (I am positive I don't have cavities because of this gum problem I have) I don't like how my teeth feel after eating and it will bug me until I can brush them.

3. I cannot eat things with a spongy texture, like mushrooms, marshmallows, egg whites & angel food cake. It gives me shivers just typing it.

4. I cry very easily. I cry during every episode of Little House on the Prairie. I even start to choke up in the beginning when they play the music! The kids always look at me to see if I'm crying.

5. I met my husband on a blind date. (I guess that's not "not important" but it's random?)

6. I read a lot of books at once. Currently I am reading Managers of their Homes, My Spirit Rejoices & Honey for a Childs Heart. I do finish them, I just pick up whatever I feel like reading at the time.

7. Once I start a movie, I cannot stop it in the middle. I do not fall asleep, I have to finish it. My hubby is not like this AT ALL. This, I do not understand. If I don't finish it, it will bug me until I finish it. I don't like things undone I guess. The problem is I will almost always say I will stop it half way through, but never can.

Ok, I think every one of my favorite blogs have been tagged, but here's a couple I'm not sure of, Christine you are it! Paula, you are it too! I had lunch with these lovely ladies and some of their children and it was a wonderful day!! I will post pictures later. Paula was teasing me because I'm not sure how to edit the pictures. I always just post them the way they are. I actually don't even know how to attach pictures to an email. I do, however know how to cut and paste now! So...I'm going to mess around with that and try to figure it out! If you are reading this and you have a blog and have not been tagged, haha, you are it too!

Feast of St Mark Muffins!

I forgot the recipe actually called for caramel corn instead of popcorn, oh, well...the kids loved them anyway! Thank you Jessica for the great coloring sheet link!
They don't really look like lions, but they are cute, whatever they are!
We made cinnamon muffins and used our leftover frosting from the dragon cake!

I Know God Wants Me to Organize My Time!

I've started reading this book and so far, I love it. I haven't gotten very far yet, but just past the part where it explains that God DOES want us to be orderly, to have a schedule. I get that, I believe that. I have a hard time doing it though, on my own. In the book though, they do say it is not going to be easy getting up early, but that it will be worth it. It is written for homeschoolers, but so far, what I've read, could be applied to any state in life. We all could use a schedule. (does that help Nerm?)

I am also reading My Spirit Rejoices the diary of Elisabeth Leseur. Wow, I love this book!!! She is right up there with St Josemaria Escriva, St Francis De Sales and Bishop Sheen. Last night hers is the book I brought with me for inspiration, I guess. (to the chapel) This is the quote that stuck out for me:

"To Bring organization of one's life a strict method, and to deviate from one's rule, once it is established, only for serious reasons of family or charity. To do as well as possible whatever one is doing, not abandoning it for something else without a real need." -Elisabeth Leseur

Now, was that meant for me or what? "To do as well as possible..." Wow! Without a schedule to follow, am I doing as well as possible? Probably not.

We are almost done for the school year. So, I can see how we will need a summer schedule and a school year schedule. Which by the way...in the summer, we love to be outside and not inside on the computer, my blogging might have to slow down a bit. With snow in our MN forecast tonight, (4 inches by morning) not sure I should be worrying about summer yet!

Today we went to noon Mass at our Cathedral in town after music class. It was wonderful and Jedi is planning on counting all his Communions, 1st Communion, 2nd Communion....The priest who usually says the noon Mass, is retired Fr Patrick Riley. He loves children and blesses them and always comments about how he loves their noises...we have lots of that! I thought he was around 70, turns out today is his birthday and he is 90!!! He is very active and think about that, he's probably been a priest for over 60 years!! Amazing! He always gives information on the saint of the day and today was of course, St Mark. We sang the blessing song over him and happy birthday and yes, I cried...I'm such a tearjerker. (thank you Lisa for helping me with the littles, you are the greatest!)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, God bless you all!