September 2008 Archives

Happy birthday to my precious Bella who turns seven years old today. It's hard to believe. It seems like such an incredibly short time ago we were celebrating her first bday. (As seen in the first pic.) I love you, Sweetie Girl! Happy birthday!

7 Sons Lay Hero Dad to Rest by TIM DRAKE

The story of a Catholic father dying to save his son started being told in a small town in Virginia. Then on the front page of the The Washington Post. Then it began to be repeated on blogs and in online discussions from coast to coast.

But those who know him say they always knew Thomas Vander Woude was special. Whether it was installing a gymnasium floor, training altar boys or coaching sports, when the daily communicant father of seven saw a need, he stepped in.

That trait led to the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 8, when he dove into a septic tank to save the life of his son.

Anne Carroll, director of Seton High School, in Manassas, where Vander Woude coached, served on the board and volunteered, said Vander Woulde sacrificed for others "on a daily basis."

"He died as he lived," Carroll said. (Continued...)

Ok, I have a 5-minute computer break while Andrew is still napping. So time for the Friday Fill-In.

1. Visiting my family in So Cal, going to Disneyland, and enjoying the autumn season are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I just can't figure it out.

3. I am happily married and that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, my family says, "When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

5. Chasing Andrew around the house is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for unplugging the phone and computer and curling up with your sweetie on the couch with a good movie and cup of cocoa.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking Bella to her Little Flowers Girls Club, tomorrow my plans include wrapping birthday presents and Sunday, I want to attend the Carmel Mission Fiesta!

Have a blessed weekend! And stop by the Carmel Fiesta and say hi. (I'll be working the BBQ in the late morn/early afternoon!)

I was laughing this morn when I read on a friend's blog that her son likes to play "food network" in the kitchen. Lately I've been trying to involve Bella in the kitchen more and she loves it! However, we always have to act out our recipe with me being Rachael Ray and she being Rachael's daughter. I asked her what she'd like to bake with me on the weekend and she said, "How about Zabaione?" She doesn't actually know what that is but she loved the way Lisa from Next Food Network Star kept saying the word. So we skipped the zabaione and decided to make the recipe we received from Auntie EML instead. We'll let you know how it comes out!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas
1 egg
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, combine bananas, egg, melted butter and milk.
4. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until blended. Be careful not to over mix.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Pour batter into 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. (It will have some melted chocolate, but no crumbs.)

Man, I can't believe it is Friday already! (And I just realized that the Cure's "Friday I'm In Love" is playing. How appropriate is that?)

I feel like more has happened in these last three weeks than the whole summer - Bella started first grade (my baby is growing up!)... then my sister had a baby (she is so stinking cute!)... then Brian injured his back (but is recovering nicely)... then my other sisters came for a visit (loved it!)... then we all were sick with colds (more of a minor nuisance)... then my little brother had a bad car accident (his car was totaled but thank God no one was hurt)... then we had numerous workmen at the house replacing windows (we had to stay out of the house during those days)... then my other bro called and told me he was engaged to be married (to a girl I love! yeah!)

Well, those are the highlights but I just feel like so much is going on. Thankfully, most of it is great and the serious stuff could have been a lot worse but I have been feeling emotionally and physically drained. I laid down on the couch with Andrew this afternoon and we both knocked out for over an hour. It felt so good to just sleep! Anyway, it's too late to do any real posts but I just wanted to check in. Take care and hopefully by Monday I'll be a bit more regular about posting again. Have a blessed weekend! Love, b

This morning I came upon a new book called Catholic, Reluctant. It is the first book of the new Catholic teen fiction series John Paul 2 High. The author "Christian M.Frank" is actually a team of young Catholics writing the books together. How cool is that? Check out the website johnpaul2high.com and then order your copy at amazon!

The next time we fuss about getting to Mass (whether Sunday or daily,) let's remember this story!

Young African woman crawls 2.5 miles to attend Sunday Mass

The Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly in Chissano (Mozambique) took into their home this week a 25 year-old African young girl named Olivia, who despite not being baptized at the time and not having any legs, crawled 2.5 miles every Sunday to attend Mass.

According to the AVAN news agency, the nuns said that one day, they saw "something moving on the ground far away," and when they drew near they saw, "to our surprise, that it was a young woman."

"We were able to talk to her through a lady who was walking by and who translated into Portuguese what she was saying to us" in her dialect, they said.

The sisters said that although "the sand from the road burned the palms of her hands during the hottest times of the year," the young woman crawled to Mass, "giving witness of perseverance and heroic faith." The young woman received baptismal preparation from a catechist, who periodically visited her at home. After she was recently baptized, one of the benefactors of the sisters donated a wheel chair for Olivia.

Hey guys. Brian has been doing much better and his recovery is going well. My sisters B & J are visiting for a few days and it has been wonderful to have them here! I have a few spare moments so I thought I'd get back on track with the Friday Fill-In. Have a blessed weekend!

1. I enjoy being with family.

2. How T is doing is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew she was right.

4. Take a couple friends, add some laughter and you end up with a great time.

5. Life has gifted me with many blessings.

6. Time for myself is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing after such a busy week, tomorrow my plans include laughing with my sisters so hard that I cry and Sunday, I want to spend some time just with my Sweetie!

Hey, guys. Just a quick note to those who have emailed asking, "Where are you?" I am still here. Last week Brian hurt his back and he has been out of work this week. This is not the first time this has happened and but thankfully his back is much stronger than the first time he did this and it is not as bad. However, he is home out of work so that means I've had to do more at home (I never realized how much he helped me out!!) and it has consumed all my time! So computer time has been non-existent. However, right now everyone in the house is asleep so I had a few minutes to post. I hope you are enjoying your September and are enjoying back-to-school mode! Thanks for the prayers for Brian. You are daily in ours! Take care. Love, b

It's been a busy day in the RoL house! We got an early morning text announcing that I am an aunt for the first time and Bella and Andrew have their first cousin! Congrats to my sister EL who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Maybe when she gets back on her feet, she'll write the story of the birth since it was pretty amazing!

Secondly, today was Bella's first day of first grade. She was thoroughly excited and no butterflies! Congrats, my big girl! (Andrew decided he wanted to have school fun too - let's just hope that by the time he does go to school, he is bigger than the back pack!)

Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese, will be beatified on October 19.