Novena to the Infant of Prague

I heard about this specific prayer on Relevant Radio (KIXL 970). It is
so beautiful, simple and powerful!

O Jesus, Who hast said,
ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened to you,
through the intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother,
I knock, I seek,
I ask that my prayer be granted.

(request)

O Jesus, Who hast said,
all that you ask of the Father in My Name,
He will grant you.
Through the intercession of Mary,
Thy most Holy Mother,
I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father
in Thy Name that my prayer be granted.

(request)

O Jesus, Who hast said,
"Heaven and earth shall pass away
but My word shall not pass",
through the intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother,
I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

(request)

Creatures of Habit?

Our pets go through phases about where they sleep. Smart Puppy always sleeps with Hubby, but I think he'd sleep in my bed if I let him. Red dog sleeps in her crate, but would probably sleep with Hubby if he let her. The cats are an entirely different story. Calico kitty prefers to sleep on Number Two Son's chest or face, but some days she is in the window, behind the computer with Hubby, in the baby bed or under the bed. Hubby's cat almost always sleeps with Hubby unless Smart Puppy gives him a hard time or the door gets closed before he gets in the room. This week, I found him on my feet and he slept next to the kids, which he hasn't done since they were babies. He's back with Hubby now, I think it has something to do with a bottle of coriander oil getting poured out in my room. It smells nice, but STRONG! Kids' cat goes between sleeping with Number One Son (a big no-no) to my room, to Hubby's room. Yesterday, all of the pets (except Red Dog) were in bed with Hubby. No one would have stayed asleep if I had let her join the slumber party, she hates cats, especially Calico kitty, Hubby says it is a girl-thing.

Getting Started Again

I am having the hardest time getting started this school year. Even though I've generally planned to start "school" the day after labor Day. We usually start when Hubby goes back to work, three weeks before our planned date. Not this year. We started our wonderful co-op yesterday, so we have started something and I finally got a replacement copy of Hooked-on-Phonics for Number One Daughter, so things are happening, but not like they have in the past. I usually spend time in the summer getting prepared. This summer, I worked more than I have since I left full-time employment 8 years ago when Number One Son was born. Also, we finally got the computer up and going and it has been monopolized by everyone but me. That just has to stop! Number One Son can do his auditory training program, but just tooling around when I need to do CEUs, plan meetings or activities, etc... Can't happen anymore. I guess I'll have to put up a sign up sheet next to the computer since 5 of us are using it now! The house is such a wreck. Hubby usually helps out in that department, but it was all he could do to keep track of our very busy, destructive kids when I was away for 6-8 hours a day for a month. We have so much to do, but we have a few more days to get some dishes done, floors cleaned, books shelved, walls scrubbed, laundry sorted... Number One Daughter and I sorted boy clothes yesterday. She was crazy-happy to help. She loves for others to hand down clothes, but has a drop-down-red-face-convulsive-FIT if I put her clothes in a bag to give away. I'll have to do it when she is sleeping or on a date with Hubby ;). We have been so blessed to have generous family and friends pass clothes to us, but I've been horrible about sorting and passing on clothes to others. I've been praying the Novena to the Infant of Prague to help us get our house organized, maybe I'm asking for the wrong thing?

Happy Feast Day St.Philomena!

Today is one of our very special saint’s feast day. I first heard about her from another home school mom that signed her email with, “St. Philomena, pray for us.” I was walking through our neighborhood Catholic book store and “It’s Time to Meet St. Philomena” by Dr. Mark Miravalle was right in front of me. My goddaughter had been struggling with learning and emotional issues and I was struck by how much the artwork on Dr. Miravalle’s book looked like my goddaughter. St. Philomena was the perfect Saint to help us. Number One Son has his St. Philomena story to tell, he wears her medal and cord, Number Two Daughter wears her cord. They know that St. Philomena prays for them.
We said this chaplet at bedtime for over two months. I guess I’ll never memorize it, if after 60 days I still had to read it. My mom-brain is not what it used to be.

St. Philomena Chaplet
The Chaplet is usually made up of red and white beads. The red beads stand for the martyrdom of the Saint, and the white beads indicate her Virginity and Purity of Heart.
The Apostles Creed is recited on the Crucifix, asking for the gift of Faith. Three Our Fathers are said on the first 3 white beads in honor of the Most Holy Trinity giving thanks for the gifts given to the Holy Virgin. Then there are 13 red beads, each one represents a year in the life of St. Philomena. On the red beads the following prayer may be said, or substituted by the Hail Mary, followed by: “Saint Philomena, pray for us.”
Hail, O Holy Saint Philomena, my dear Patroness,
as my Advocate with thy Divine Spouse,
intercede for me now, and at the hour of my death.
Saint Philomena, beloved daughter of Jesus and Mary,
pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
On the chaplet's medal you say: “Hail, O, illustrious Saint Philomena, who so courageously shed your blood for Christ. I bless the Lord for all the graces, He has bestowed upon thee, during thy life, and especially at thy death; I praise and glorify Him for the honor and power with which He has crowned thee, and I beg thee to obtain for me from God the graces I ask through thy intercession. Amen.”

Quick (Mild) Vegetable Curry

I've been working on this one for a while. Everyone, even the meat-eater Hubby, likes it. The kids don't like black pepper, so Hubby and I add it at the table.

1 pound frozen cauliflower
2-3 T. Oil (canola or olive)
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 can chickpeas/garbanzo beans
1 can sliced, unsalted carrots
1 cup frozen peas
1 can coconut milk
1 t. Salt
1 T. Cumin powder
1 t. Ginger powder
1/2 t. Garlic powder
1/2 t. Onion powder
1 t. Turmeric
dash of Allspice
dash of Nutmeg

Cook/steam the cauliflower in the microwave. I cook mine for 6 minutes on high and then let it steam for 5 more minutes.
Saute the onion in the oil until it starts to soften. Drain the chickpeas and add them to the pan with the onions. Stir until the onions are done and the chickpeas start to brown. Add the cooked cauliflower, frozen peas, drained canned carrots, spices and coconut milk. Stir well, turn down the heat to simmer and cover for 5 minutes. Uncover and reduce the liquid, if desired.
I serve this with a dollop of sour cream. I'm sure it would be tasty with rice, but I'm the only one that can eat it, so we just eat it plain or over shredded lettuce.

I Need You

Dear Lord Jesus,
I am a sinner and I need you. I know you are in charge and I surrender everything to you. I fail each time I scream at my beautiful children, if I am impatient with the people I work with, when I am not charatable and when I let sloth get the best of me. You have given me so many gifts and I am truely thankful. I know your love through suffering. You spared my husband's life, you fed us, provided for us, clothed us, gave us friends as your presence on Earth. You continue to protect the children. You gave Number One Son his creativity, Number One Daughter her intuition, Number Two Son his joy and Number Two Daughter was spared pain ans suffering on Earth and given the greatest gift of all, to be born into heaven.
I will always need you trust you. Please continue to help me. Amen.

The Perfect Chocolate Milk

1 1/2 cups Original Soy Milk
1 T. Cocoa powder
3 T. Sugar

Put everything in a Magic Bullet (or blender) and whip for 10 seconds.

Number Two Son is obsessed with chocolate milk. I rarely buy chocolate soy milk because he refuses to eat or drink anything else :)We all really like chocolate soy milk, but this tastes better than the premixed kind.