Celebrating my last day of 45

by cleaning my house, delivering more toys/clothes to the mission, spending an interesting 15 minutes in the Canonsburg post office with my crew, lunch out with DH and crew, laundry, etc., etc.

I know, it probably sounds mundane. No lights, whistles, expensive dinners, big gifts. But to me, the blessings just keep on coming...

 - Cleaning my house usually means company is coming. This company is in the form of my 4 siblings, spouses and kids. A house full of love and laughter. Memories of my childhood as one of five while watching my own five. Surreal in the best possible way.

 - Parading (really, when I said, "where is the line?" to the man behind me he said, "you are the line" LOL) with 5 kids in tow to the post office means I am ON TIME to send a dear friend her Christmas greetings. The entire exercise had her (and my other friends who spend their days surrounded by many peeps) on my mind and made me realize how blessed I am to have these women in my life. Women who know that the act of going to the post office is as much a show of my affection to them as the gift that is sent.

 - Laundry. Tons. I think I did 4 loads yesterday and I'm on load #3 today. How blessed we are to have running water, a working machine in our house and enough clothing to keep us warm. How much we should work at helping those who do not have such luxuries (like taking clothes to the mission) - ooh, double bonus on that one!

Wishing you joy and blessings in the big and small on this wonderful Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Ever perfect Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God, Pray for Us!

Ready to roll!

or jingle, I guess...


Saturday is my 46th birthday! For my big day, I asked my four siblings if they would be willing to run a 5K with me. I am thrilled (and amazed...I'm the youngest, you know! LOL) to say they all agreed. So, the six of us (my sis-in-law too!) will be racing, or at least moving in a forward direction, up and down the riverfront at the Jingle Bell Run. Thanks to all of our great sponsors!

If you are reading this before Saturday, please keep us in your prayers.

I just picked up the shirts/bibs today and guess what? It's BLUE, which works really well today, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (G was so happy he got to sing the Gloria - he misses it, truly) or any Marian feast, of which there are many.

If you haven't decided to do it this time around, please look into the Consecration to Jesus through Mary and prayerfully consider this wonderful devotion. I can't say enough about how important it is to set aside time daily for prayer and this is one of the most powerful I've found. Mary, as our Mother, is the best person to lead us to her Son. What a gift it is to hand over all of our deeds and prayers into her most capable hands. How wonderful it is to work toward becoming more like her...willing to say "yes" to God's will. Blessings to you on this most joyful day!

Immaculate Conception, Pray for Us!