Revolution of Love.com Blog

Hello?? Anyone home??

Yeah, I'm still here. I just never get around to having free time on the computer. It also doesn't help that with my iphone, I have everything at my fingertips and rarely use my desk top anymore, which is where I used to do my blogging. Anyway, I thought I would check in while I had the urge and the spare 10 minutes. (The fact that I am avoiding a huge mound of dirty laundry is irrelevant.)

Well, we have two more days left for our summer vacation. Two more days to train our bodies to get up early again. I'm going to miss those lazy mornings on September 1. By the way, are we the only people who aren't back in school yet?? All the local schools are back as early as Aug 10th but Bella's doesn't start until Sept 1. Seems too early to return in early Aug!

Speaking of iphones... (Remember? Back in #1.) I have to admit that I am changing my position on ebooks. I hated the idea of giving up the physical feel of a book in your hand and getting lost in the pages. An electronic device just seemed so impersonal...until I started using ibooks and other book apps. I used to never have time to read but now I fit it in often. I love having a library of books in my pocket!

I'm not a huge macaroni and cheese fan but I've always wanted to try and make it myself, rather than the salty boxed kind. I while back I was watching Food Network's What Would Brian Boitano Make? (Stop laughing. I actually like his show. And not just because I had a crush on him 20 years ago.) His mac and cheese looked so easy and tasty that I decided to give it a try. How did it turn out? One word - yum!! It is a bit on the "fancier" side as he uses asiago, fontina and gouda but the family loved it. It's too fattening for us to eat all the time (unlike some skinny people I know who never gain wait. Ugh.) but it is a nice occasional treat. The recipe is here: Cheese Cart Mac & Cheese.

This month John-Paul (and I) celebrated birthdays! My little JP is now a year old and I am now...well, let's not get into that. Here is a pic of the bday boy on his big day. He's been walking for a couple months now so he is quite mobile!

Here's another pic of our clan.

I'm running out of time and things to say so I am going to stop here. Heck, I didn't even do it on the right day so who cares if I don't do the right amount. Have a great afternoon!

What originally got me to thinking about Stephanie's article (as I mentioned in the last post) was a link from another blog La Chica Loca's Life. (btw, love the name, chica.)

She was talking about her struggle with her deep desire to marry but not finding the right guy. Then I received an email this morning from a friend about her struggle with her deep desire for a child but now being able to conceive.

Thinking back to when I was still single, I could totally relate to the frustration of wanting something that you desire so much, it leaves your heart aching. I felt like that when I was looking for my spouse. I always thought that when I did find him, that hole in my heart would finally be filled.

In a sense, it is true because Brian is such a part of me but I found one heartache replaced with another when we both struggled with infertility and miscarriage. Thankfully these desires were eventually fulfilled and left us joyous but as I get older I realize that there is often always a heartaching longing - whether it is for something or someone yet found or for something or someone lost.

I think that is simply part of being a lover of God. As St. Augustine says, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord." Sometimes our prayers are answered right away and sometimes we are left waiting...and waiting. Those desires are in our hearts because they drives us to return our eyes to God. They cause us to constantly die to ourselves and surrender to Him.

There is tremendous joy and love to be found on this earth, giving us a little taste of heaven, but there is also a great deal of heartache and injustice that reminds us that this is only a temporary situation. Ultimately our eyes should be on the goal of our eternal home. It's hard to remember that in the day-to-day tasks of living but in the quiet of our hearts we can still feel the longing. It will always be there until it is completely quenched and united in the fullness of God's love.

I was updating RoL today, specifically looking at an article we posted back in 2004. It was written by Stephanie Woods and is titled "Waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Right." I just reread it and still find it very appropriate for single Catholics with an unanswered prayer on their lips.

As a follow-up note, (which should be a hopeful reminder to my single friends to hang in there!) I want to send our congratulations to Stephanie and her husband Peter on their first year of marriage! May God continue to bless you both!! (You can read Stephanie's beautiful story "My Turn" here.)

I love this blog post from Faith & Family Live! It was just what I needed to hear. (Thanks, Rachel!)

Encouraging Women

Several years ago, when my boys were very, very little, a friend with older children told me to enjoy these years--because they were "easy." Compared to what she was going through with teenagers, I guess it seemed like my life with four boys under aged five was a cinch.

She told me to enjoy these grand years and I proceeded to hyperventilate--things certainly didn't seem all that easy from where I stood!

Now that I have some older children (but no real teens just yet) I see what she meant in a sense --things are a bit simpler when the children are younger. But I will tell you right now that life with little children is challenging in a very unique way, and I have found it to be the most challenging.

I still remember how very discouraged I felt after that comment. I didn't need to hear that things were going to get harder because I felt like I was barely treading water as it is. Comparing myself to others didn't give me any extra grace to move through my day.

Likewise, I think it can be very easy for mothers to look at a family with more children and wonder "how they do it" (I certainly do this from time to time). It is tempting to compare family size and then wonder why we struggle to get through the day when another woman with more children seems to do just fine. But this gets us nowhere!

As women, as nurturers, as mothers-to-be or mothers of many or a few, we need to encourage each other. None of us should ever feel like we are doing less (or made to feel that way) because our family size is smaller or our children are at an "easier" stage--we are all operating on the grace given to us to live our own life, the one God has given us. There is not grace for me to have nine children because God has given me six. Likewise, the mother of three children has the grace for that--she doesn't need grace for anything else.

Be encouraged! Whether you have one baby or six babies, whether your children are tiny or teens or somewhere in-between--keep up the good work. And don't compare--don't think for a minute things *should* be easier because you have fewer children or older children--embrace where you are at right now and know the grace God sends will be exactly what you need, to help you through your day.

A friend of my sister on the east coast is moving to the San Francisco and they were asking me if I knew of any solid Catholic churches there. I had no idea but thanks to Lisa in San Fran I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of great churches. (I'll have to plan a trip soon to check some of these out!)

So in case you are traveling to San Francisco and want to find a church to attend Mass or make a visit, here's Lisa's recommendations.

San Francisco is blessed with many beautiful and good churches. Here are a couple of suggestions.

St. Dominic's Catholic Church (Dominican Friars)
2390 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 567-7824
www.stdominics.org

I've been a long-time parishioner here and it's one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese. It's one of the most beautiful churches in SF; good homilies and holy priests; reverent Masses; a solid parish with various devotions and activities throughout the year; excellent choir; vibrant young adult group. They've been very supportive of the Walk for Life West Coast since we first started it in 2005, and youth groups camp out there during that weekend each January.

SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (Salesian Priests and Sisters)
666 Filbert Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 421-0809
http://www.stspeterpaul.san-francisco.ca.us/

Very beautiful church in the North Beach section of SF. Much smaller parish, but very solid and orthodox, and reverent Masses. Has a young adult group also. They've been most supportive of the Walk for Life West Coast since we first started it in 2005. They let hundreds of young adults camp out that weekend each year who travel from all over to attend the WFL.

Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey (Carmelite Nuns across the street from St. Ignatius Church at USF)
721 Parker Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-2640

Daily Mass: 7:00 a.m. each day

The Nuns here are great - have known them half my life.

Monastery of Perpetual Adoration
771 Ashbury Street (between Waller St. & Frederick St.)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 566-2743

Haight/Ashbury section of SF

Daily Mass: 7:00 a.m. each day (The Chaplain is solid and orthodox)

Cathedral of St. Mary
1111 Gough Street
San Francisco, Ca
(415) 567-2020
http://www.stmarycathedralsf.org/

I rarely go here myself, but they have good and solid priests, the homilies are good and the Masses are reverent, and they have a good choir. The Cathedral is in the modern style.

There are many other churches worth visiting/seeing like Mission Dolores .

There are also other special places that I can recommend in the Bay Area that are worth a weekend visit -- like Our Lady of Peace Shrine in Santa Clara, and St. Albert's Priory in Oakland.

Bobbi's note: Brian and I have visited the Our Lady of Peace Shrine in Santa Clara. It is a beautiful church and worth a visit!

Thanks to The Wine Dark Sea (a blog I recently discovered and am thoroughly enjoying) I found this fun handwriting meme. Back in the day, I was a huge letter writer ("novels" as my friends would call them) and at times I'll still forgo the email or text and send an old fashioned hand written note. (I practically collect cute note cards and writing paper!)

Here's how the project works:

Write down the following, snap a picture (or scan the document), post it, and tag others.

1. Name/Blog Name
2. Right handed, left handed or both
3. Favorite letters to write
4. Least favorite letters to write
5. Write: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
6. Write in caps:
CRAB
HUMOR
KALEIDOSCOPE
PAJAMAS
GAZILLION
7. Favorite song lyrics
8. Tag 7 people
9. Any special note or drawing

The only thing is that I have three different types of handwriting, depending on what I am doing. There is the traditional handwriting (see #1-5) when I am writing a letter or note to someone or signing my name. Then there is the all cap printing (see #6) when I need to keep something very clear and legible. Lastly, there is my informal writing that is a hybrid of messy handwriting and printing (see # 7-9). It is what I use most often when I am jotting things down. Okay, here's the first page.

#3 - B A and S. Funny I didn't realize until after that they are actually my initials. :-)

#4 - I hate the cursive Q. Looks like the number two.

#6 - I had no idea that was how you spelled "kaleidoscope."

I used the last sheet of that tablet so I grabbed a different tablet on my desk to finish.

#7 - It's hard to choose just one song so I wrote what I was listening to at the moment. Closer to Love by Mat Kearney. It actually has some beautiful lyrics.

#8 - I tag my sis Elena at , Maria at Hail Mary, Full of Grace, Eileen at Our Happy Clan, Teresa at The Kramer Family, Trish at A Wonderful Life and Katherine at Having Left the Altar. Granted they are all busy ladies whom I doubt have time for this but I'll tag anyway! My last tag is an open call to anyone reading this who wants to join the fun. Just leave your name in the comment box so I can take a peak at your blog. :-)

#9 - I don't know why but for years I have not written the word "and" when I am writing. I always use my version of the "&" sign. Also, I don't usually sign my name to letters of people I know well. It's just "B" and a smiley face. :-)

Well, that was a fun little diversion but now it's back to work. Laundry and dishes call before the baby wakes up! Enjoy your day!

We have many June birthdays in our family and here are two of my favorite guys celebrating together. Happy Birthday to Andrew (last week) and Brian (today.) Love you both!!

A couple weeks ago Brian and I were watching EWTN's World Over and William Peter Blatty (who wrote The Exorcist) was on talking about his new book Dimiter. It sounded like a great mystery read so I ordered it for Brian's birthday. (His "wish list" was books and Mystic Monk coffee. There's a shocker!) It arrived today and I was thumbing through it. Looks good! I'll let you know what he thinks after he reads it and passes it on to me.

Also, here's the clip of Blatty's interview.

I saw this lemon pasta dish at Faith & Family this afternoon and made it for lunch. I added some roasted chicken breast I had leftover and together it was perfect. Everyone loved it. Yum!

Disclaimer: The following post pertains to TV entertainment. If you do not feel that is a suitable subject for a Catholic blog, please skip this post. Thank you.

Okay, so last night Brian and I finally got to watch the season premiere of The Next Food Network Star. We enjoy calling out our favorite chefs after only watching the first five minutes of contestant introductions. Then we watch as the weeks go by to see if our favorites rise to the occasion or make a sad exit.

After the intro my three fave guys were Brad (cute kid with hat), Herb (former chubby guy with muscles) and Das (Dr. Smoooooth.) My fave girls were Aria (teary eyed mom with 3 yr old) and Aarti (perky flower-haired girl. Brian's fave guys were Tom (big guy with hair like Andrew when it's not cut), Brad and Das. His fave girls were Aria and Dzintra (off-the-wall blonde - that pick caught me by surprise since she annoyed me right off).

By the end of the show I was loving Aria and hoping sweet boy Brad gets a bit more confidence. Herb and Das can still do well if they channel their energy and let their cooking do all the big talking. By the end of the show Brian still liked Tom (who reminds him of his fave last year, Adam Gertler) and he was bummed that Dzintra's "quirkiness" was getting a little bizarre. (I told you, honey!) Looks like an interesting season! :-) So who were your faves??

Wow, it has literally been two months since I posted here! Life has just been extra busy, especially with the remodel, and I just haven't had any free time. However, the bulk of the construction is over and the boys are asleep so I have a few minutes to catch up here. So let the Quick Take Friday begin!

Thanks to the generosity of my father-in-law, we were able to convert our garage into a third bedroom, fix up the kids' rooms and spruce of the bathrooms. We had a wonderful contractor who got the job done on time and within budget. (Hats off to you, Alex!) I must say that I always thought shopping at Home Depot was boring but now I love the place! Although, the only problem with fixing up the house is that your eye is now trained to see all the other defects that need fixing. Unless you have an endless supply of money, you have to work with what you have and just save for the big stuff! Here is a peak at the kids' new rooms.

Earlier today I was getting some laundry done and watching last year's The Next Food Network Star. I can't believe the new season starts up on Sunday already! I'm looking forward to it. :-)

The books on my nightstand at the moment: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman and Jane Austen's Persuasion. (Time to revisit a favorite classic.)

Congratulations to Bella who made her First Communion last month. It is so beautiful to see her innocent soul excited to receive Our Lord for the first time. May God be the center of her life always!

Andrew is approaching his third birthday and it is so cute to watch his little personality bloom. He has been especially good at playing loving big brother to JP, rubbing his hand on his back or giving him a kiss on the head. He still comes by and discreetly knocks him over once in awhile but for the most part, they get along well.

Lastly, our little John-Paul (JP) is not so little anymore. He is nine months now and can crawl at remarkable speed considering that his knees never touch the ground! (It is hilarious!) And he is standing and cruising along the furniture so walking will be here before you know it!

That's it for now. Have a great weekend!!

Happy Easter to you all!! Here is an Easter post from Brian.

Two men in dazzling garments, said: "Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, He has been raised!" (Lk. 24:5-6).

Like the crucifixion, several of the stories surrounding the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, communicate to all believers the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. These three pillars are the foundation of the spiritual life. According to the CCC, paragraph (#1812) the theological virtues "dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive and object."

Faith: The resurrection story which communicates the theological virtue of faith is that of the Apostle Thomas. Thomas did not believe that Christ rose from the dead - "Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side I will not believe." (Jn. 20) And when the risen Christ appears to him, his attitude is completely changed, "My Lord and my God!" We must remember what St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in his second letter, "We walk by faith and not by sight." (2Cor.5:7).

"Lord Jesus, I believe in You, help my unbelief."

Hope: The second theological virtue, hope, can be found in the resurrection story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Downcast and confused the two disciples encounter a "stranger" along the road who asks them what they are discussing. They respond by telling this stranger about Jesus and how there have been reports about the tomb being empty. This stranger proceeds to talk to them about the Scriptures. It was later on at the breaking of bread that the disciples eyes are opened and they recognize that the "stranger" was the risen Christ. The disciples said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" St. Paul again reminds us in his letter to Timothy, "We have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men." (1Tim4:10)

"Lord Jesus, I hope in You, dispel my doubts, fears and anxieties."

Charity: The last theological virtue, and according to St. Paul, "the greatest," is that of charity which can be found in the resurrection story of Mary Magdalene, visiting the tomb. Mary wept because the body of Jesus had disappeared. She turned away from the tomb and saw a man standing there. After asking him if he knew where they had taken Jesus, the man said, "Mary!" Mary immediately knew the man was Jesus. Mary sought Christ, wept for Him and reached out and held onto Him. Mary loved Jesus and by this love her life was transformed. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." (Jn. 15)

"Jesus, I love You, help me to love you more and more each day and to love my neighbor as myself."

God bless!

A blessed Good Friday to you!

Don't forget to start your Divine Mercy Novena today!

There is a great post on the Laodicea blog about the Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb. What a beautiful witness of God's love for all his precious creatures.

The Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb are a contemplative community that enables girls with Down's syndrome to respond to a religious vocation. (continue reading...)

Wow, Brian has been really good about posting every day about his Lenten journey over at his blog Beggar for Heaven. I should take a lesson!

Courtesy of The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY...March 17, 2010

Outside my window... the weather is gorgeous!

I am thinking... it's been a really long time since I've posted anything on the blog!

I am thankful ... that God is working miracles in X's life.

I am wearing... tan shorts, black top and socks.

I am remembering... that I should have worn something green for St. Patrick's day.

I am going... to stay home and clean! (After I get off the computer...)

I am reading... furniture details from an Ikea catalog.

I am hoping... to find a Laura Ingalls costume for Bella's school project.

I am hearing... lots of hammering and sawing as the construction guys are busy with the add-on.

On my mind... there don't seem to be enough hours in the day.

From the kitchen... chicken tacos and fresh guacamole. Yum!

Around the house... bags of stuff for charity.

One of my favorite things... a perfectly timed hug from my favorite guy.

Pondering these words... Bella's joke to me the other day: What do you call cheese that doesn't belong to you? "Nacho cheese." LOL! I thought that was hilarious.

From my picture journal... The three amigos.

Here is a great article for Lent from Catholic Exchange. (Note: It does not have any "Biggest Loser" tips!)

A Lenten "Weight" Loss Program

CatholicMom.com has posted its next online book entitled Through the Open Window by Anne Faye. Here is the intro and beginning paragraph.

About the Book: Lucy Lyons is a woman trying to escape her past. Content to work as a librarian and live alone with her dog, all she wants is a simple life with no complications. When she decides to take the plunge and begins to write a novel during National Novel Writing Month, she gets much more than she bargained for. Her writing will not only force her to face her own secrets, but will also put her in the path of a handsome artist who shares her love of the written word. "Through the Open Window" is an engaging novel about second chances and the secrets we all keep.

About Anne Faye: Anne Faye is a homeschooling Catholic mom who writes from her home in Western Massachusetts. In her free time, she loves painting, quilting, and going for long walks with her dog. This is her first novel. Visit her blog at http://annefaye.blogspot.com

Chapter 1

I sat in the back of the room surveying my surroundings, clutching my notebook, desperately trying to fade into the woodwork. These people were writers! Conversations about plot concepts and writing techniques were going on all around me. What was I doing here? My boss Rachel had convinced me to come after I had casually mentioned seeing the flyer. I was in way over my head. I stood up to attempt a quick escape, but then the meeting leader came in and closed the door behind him. I was trapped. I slunk back into my seat and hoped no one noticed.

Continue Reading...

Brian has revived his Beggar for Heaven blog with a 40 Day Lenten Reflection. Go check it out!

I'm an auntie again! Yay! Congrats to my sis, EL who gave birth to a healthy baby boy yesterday. Baby Frank has the distinction of being my first nephew. :-) God's blessings on you both!

Here's a great story to read in between watching the Olympic games.

Here's a timely story for this Olympic weekend: An Olympic speed-skater, from a family of Olympians, is now a Sister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal and working among the poor in England...

It seems that I hardly ever post anymore. Family life consumes all my time, which is good I guess. I just don't know how those super Catholic moms do it all - raise 10 kids, homeschool, write books, run the household...I get stressed just thinking about it! LOL! Right now if I can get through the day and care for the kids and get dinner on the table and maybe even get some laundry done and still keep a relative smile on my face, then I call that a heck of a day!

My sister EL (who sometimes contributes to RoL) is expecting Baby #2. She's in VA and we were worried that the baby would arrive during the blizzard but it's past her due date and still no bambino. Say a prayer that all goes well!

Tonight Bella and I will attend her Little Flowers Catholic Girls' club. We haven't been in a couple months because there was so much going at home with the new baby and the holidays etc. Things are still busy but JP is much easier to care for and Bella misses her friends. I have to admit I am just as excited to go because I miss talking with the other Catholic moms. It's easy for a busy mom to fall into a duties-only rut and forget the importance of some female companionship!

And for the LF Valentine's party we needed to make a home-made item to share. I saw these Double Chocolate Cookies on Barefoot Contessa this week so Bella and I tried out the recipe. They are sooo yum! Make a quick batch before lent starts!

Okay, what other random thing can I talk about? Oh wait. Big news. We're adding on! No not to the family (give the body some time to heal!) but to the house. We're going to convert the garage into another bedroom. (Right now we only have two.) It took months to get through all the red tape and now we were given the go sign. The contractor told me that as soon as we clear out all the STUFF from our garage and the storage cabinets, they can start building. So guess what I'll be doing this weekend?? I think I better sign up for Danielle's 40 bags in 40 days for Lent!!

Lastly, here's a recent pic of John-Paul, now 5 ½ months.

Did you catch the Dominican Sisters of Mary on Oprah? I was hesitant to watch it since I wasn't sure what kind of spin it would have. However, I am happy to say that it was a great piece. The Sisters answered their questions and explained their way of life with such joy and honesty that you could not help being impressed with them, whatever your religious background. I hope this opens up the doors for many women questioning the meaning and purpose of their life.

And here is a video with general information about the Sisters.

I don't watch Oprah but I may tune in to see the Sisters. Thanks to CatholicVoteAction.org for the heads up.

The Dominican Sisters Appearing on Oprah Tomorrow (2/9/10)