A Little of This, A Little of That

What is it about warm weather…

The Diatribe Guy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:35:09 +0000

that makes my kids want to paint?

1 Month Old

The Diatribe Guy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:32:01 +0000

Our Newest Addition!

The Diatribe Guy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:15:26 +0000

Big Sister and her new Little Brother

A Family Welcome

We are now officially a double digit household (as my husband pointed out as he filled out our census form)! Our 6th little guy, I.X., made his way into the world March 1 at 9:45 pm – the exact time predicted by my DH approximately 6 hours earlier when I took some medication to try to get things started after my doctor’s appointment, which was 5 days past my due date. How he managed to nail the time exactly is something he is very proud to proclaim. I am so thankful for all the prayers and help from family and friends. God heard all the prayers, and He answered them by giving I.X. and I a normal and healthy delivery and recovery. I.X. weighed in at 9#, 7.5 oz. and was 21.5″ long, which falls right in with the rest of the kids. We are blessed!

Here’s to 2010

gwendyt — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:47:45 +0000

A new year, a new start – feels refreshing as long as you don’t get bogged down in the fact that most resolutions are never kept and the Christmas season has left your home with many new items to find laying around, lots of wash to catch up on, and decorations to pack away! The season officially ends on Sunday with the Baptism of Our Lord. Until then, I will continue to feel a tad bit lazy and lounge in the warm afterglow of Christmas. Monday I’ll be all about cleaning, organizing, and schooling…hopefully The latter months of pregnancy tend to find your mind wanting to accomplish a thousand things and feeling enthusiastic while your body asks whether it can just take a “little” nap! It will all work out the way it will…

It’s that Time Again – Canning Season!

The Diatribe Guy — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:52:14 +0000

The first fruits of labor are pictured above – a small batch of pickled white beets and the always reliable (and huge) red beets. And so it has begun, and so my postings will be sporadic as usual! We have been extremely busy with some home projects this summer as well as all the usual summer fare. While the outcome has been rewarding, the grueling schedule has really gotten to us. We are saved by the few visits we have been able to make to our camper up north, as well as some beautiful days working in the garden. It is so good to be eating out of the garden again – carrots, onions, peas, green beans, herbs aplenty, potatoes, beets…soon to come will be cucumbers and sweet corn. Yum! According to Joe, we will be starting our diet again Wednesday for 50 days. I’m completely unprepared for the strict menu again. Looks like tomorrow will be a day to clean the refrigerator and visit the natural foods store…more on the outcome of Diet II to follow, I’m sure.

CJ’s walking!

gwendyt — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:52:36 +0000

You’re just soooo cute! (a favorite line around here – followed by a big smooch, of course )

I’ve just been introduced to…

The Diatribe Guy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:39:07 +0000

a wonderful website. Go check it out!

It’s Been Awhile…

gwendyt — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:35:46 +0000

but we’re still alive and well! We’ve pretty much finished up our schooling for the year but will continue with math and instruments over the summer. I’m in planning for school mode, gardening mode, organize my house mode, get outside and go camping mode, tackle some home projects mode, and….well, just too many modes! Once again, I’ve probably planted too much in the garden, and you will all be hearing about it come August/September. The summer calendar is looking quite full already, as usual, no matter how hard we try to keep it free and open. Hopefully, I will be able to post about all the fun we’re having every now and then. Stay tuned…

Thursday, February 26

The Diatribe Guy — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:56:24 +0000

Lent has officially begun. I’ve got my little black book and my daily devotions calendar atop the computer. I’m going to update the Reading Basket for Lent in the next few days. Joe and I are back on the diet for Lent (since it’s fairly strict – it’s perfect for this time!), and we’ve given up eating out and ice cream as a family. Our priest is focusing on getting “back to the basics” for our parish family and that sounds good to me at home too. I want to keep plugging away at school and housework, keep up my daily Mass attendance, and try to improve my prayer life. I’d also really like us all to get healthy. Not that we’re terribly sick, but we’ve had a virus hanging on here since early February. With cabin fever and colds – well, we’ll be ready for a celebration (Easter) and spring!

Ash Wednesday

gwendyt — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:55:09 +0000

LENT.

“Fasting is the food of virtue. It inspires good thoughts and holy desires. It renovates the spiritual man. “ -St. Leo

Lent is a fast of apostolical tradition, which in all ages has been observed throughout the Church of God. It was instituted – (1) To honour and imitate our Saviour’s fast in the desert. (2) That the faithful might prepare themselves by prayer, penance, and fasting for duly celebrating the adorable mysteries of His Passion and Resurrection. (3) To consecrate to God by a penance of forty days the tenth of our lives, as an acknowledgment that our whole lives ought to be so spent.

(Excerpted from Catholic Life, p. 25)