Words will have to be enough

I have been putting off posting because I cannot get my pictures to load to from my camera to my computer. It was always so simple to just put my memory stick in the computer, a little prompt popped up, and I downloaded the pictures. Now, nothing pops up when I put the memory stick in, and I cannot figure out how to download them any other way. Any suggestions? I so dislike being so computer illiterate.

So, I am sorry to say, this will have to be a words update only. Sorry if it feels like I jump around a lot.

First, Kristina and Mark had a beautiful wedding. No wedding goes off without any glitches, but despite those that arose, it was a great day. She looked stunning! The whole family looked amazing.

Gabriella has new glasses and looks adorable. Her right eye is still not as strong as the Dr would like, so we have begun patching her left eye to try to strengthen it up. She does OK with it. Wow, she is an phase and quite a handful when she is upset! She has done so much growing, and turning 6 has thrown her for a loop I think.

I also have new glasses. I went to the eye Dr because I was starting to do that pull the paper away from you thing. Man did she make me feel old. I am on the verge of needing bifocals, and I also have cataracts on both my eyes. I just got the glasses yesterday, and am trying to get used to them.

Paul turned 39 yesterday. The kids and I had a fun time planning a picnic/campfire theme. I made all the fun BBQ food he likes, made a smore cake; yes, it looked like a smore with marshmallow creme and everything, and we got him a small fire pit for the front  yard. The kids and him had a fire while I made dinner. We ate outside, had some cake, and then watched Tim Hawkins' DVD called Full Range of Motion and laughed until we almost threw up our cake. Our goal was to make him feel loved and special, which was achieved.  I know because as I kissed him goodnight, he said he felt it.

Madalena is 7 months old. What an absolute joy she is. She is crawling and getting everywhere, and her personality is something else. She loves to laugh and make everyone smile. No teeth yet which is fine by me, but I can tell they are close.

George is a little menace. He can get anywhere and get into anything with stealth speed and silence. he is constantly disappearing, and can hide with such silence, you can search the whole house and yard over without finding him; we have to say something intriguing to him before he will jump out at you and say with a smirk, "Here I am."  We have resorted to hiding our car keys because he likes to get himself and Cecilia all buckled in and start the car. This little guy is going to drive me to the loony bin single handedly. My dad says he is going to where our his guardian angel by the time he is 5.

Cecilia is George's little side kick, and between the two of them I can go from one little act of independence and curiosity to the next all day long. While I clean up one thing, they are creating a new mess somewhere else. Some days I feel like a hamster stuck in the wheel. The connive and plan together; I find stashes of things they have snuck everywhere. It is truly a blessing from God that they are all so cute!

Elizabeth and Olivia are fulling embracing adolescence. Puberty is so much fun. Just when you think you have figure out your child, puberty comes along and laughs in your face and throws everything out of whack. I can go from the best mom in the world to the worst in 5 second flat. Life can go from so amazing to "is this all there is" even quicker. All part of the journey I know, and I love them dearly. They are becoming beautiful young ladies.

Pauly continues to have his mentor and is gearing up to turn the big 10 next month. He is doing well and is so happy that he can be outside so much. He continues to be a super Lego lover and is always creating something just amazing.

The school year has ended, but of course there will be some stuff here and there throughout the summer, especially for Gabriella who is so much like Pauly when it comes to homework and anything new. She likes the idea of homework but not the work of it. It will come. Sometime I complain to the Lord asking Him why He had to give me such strong willed children. He assures me that He knows what He is doing, and I praise Him for the strong leaders they will be when they are grown.

Lastly, we have a new addition to the family to announce. Hazel, a  beautiful gray, green eyed kitten has joined our home. We said we would never be an animal home again, but she just kind of fell into our laps, and we have fallen in love with her. So far, it is NOTHING like having a dog, and we are doing very well. She is a happy kitty, and we are happy to have her.

Going to the Chapel...

... and she's gonna get married!

 My dear friend Kristina, who lost her husband Paul almost 4 years ago - may he rest in peace, is getting married to a wonderful man, Mark, tomorrow. I have the privilege to be her matron-of-honor.

Today is rehearsal day. This morning I am making the cake for the rehearsal dinner party, and then I am heading to the reception site to decorate and hopefully get as giddy as school girls that tomorrow is the big day.

Please offer up a prayer or two for them and her 5 children who will be forming a new union, a family bonded in the love of Christ. Please, if you could, also say a prayer for my kiddos who will be without their mama and daddy for a large portion of the next two days. They will be in the great and very capable hands of my niece Carmen.

Ready, Set, Train

Yup, I'm in training; sounds extra exciting right? Really, I am exercising with a plan and purpose. I am using the site www.coolrunning.com : the couch-to-5K schedule. The three oldest want to train with me, so yesterday we all biked, and this morning we did our first walk/jog workout. It went pretty smooth. I realized that although you may never forget how to ride a bike, your butt sure doesn't feel as good on it as it used to, but that could also be related to the size of my derriere now vs then.

 I was riding my old Schwinn and was feeling a little uneasy, so I finally switched with Olivia because she has the wider tires, and I was so afraid this big mama was going to tip over on such skinny wheels. That would be a site they don't need to witness. It was nice to feel the wind in my face and look around our beautiful country side; so green!

This morning, I got up early with the assistance of a certain bright eyed beauty, said my prayers and then headed out the door with Elizabeth at 6:40; Olivia was "in charge" and holding down the fort. Now, anyone who knows Elizabeth knows she doesn't like to get up early, but for the sake of saving babies- she will. We had a great time together listening to the morning sounds and talking. We returned about 7, had our breakfast,  I nursed Madalena, and then Olivia, Pauly, and I headed out the door for our 20 minute walk/jog. Again, we had such a nice time laughing and talking together. I think I am going to really enjoy our time together. I am hoping my body holds up! It felt so good to move it.

I meet with a gal tonight who is I think leader of the Twin Cities chapter for LIFE Runners. I am so glad because we can combine efforts and have a stronger, more active, and more fruitful chapter. She has a lot of ideas and more time to plan things because her children are all grown; I think our first marathon will be a 5K in August. Wow, I never thought I would type those words. Wonders never cease.

For now I feel proud and excited, and I hope this proves to be God's answer to a lot of prayers. I am really ready to be a healthy mama, and the running should definitely help me keep up better with my ever active children.

LIFE Runners

My family and I are getting involved in a GREAT pro life ministry. LIFE Runners is an group of people around the country who run/walk to raise money to save the unborn. Their motto is about redemptive running, so all the aches and pains of training and running the actual marathons is offered up as a prayer to save lives.

I am not currently a runner, but I have been praying that God would send my something outside of my own "wants" for weight loss that would motivate me to get healthy; I should have plenty of suffering to offer up. The website is www.liferunners.org. They have all the information you could want- what their mission is, how to train, etc. The three oldest kids want to train with me. I think our first race will be a 5K in August. And just so you know, I met a woman who ran/walked her first half marathon last Oct.; her six year old participated as did a 71 year old woman- impressive!

If any of you are in the Twin Cities or St. Cloud area, this chapter would love to have you join. Other than the running, we will also do other outreach activities such as praying outside Planned Parenthood locations. Please let me know if you would like to join us and our efforts to save lives.

Beauty of Mathematics