April 16, 2008
American Idol Newbie
This is my first year of tasting the American Idol phenomenon. I knew the basics but this is the first year I actually got into it. (I was surprised to discover that Ryan bugs more than Simon.)
I was shocked when Michael John’s was voted off last week and was eager to see how my favorites performed tonight. My AI fave David Cook rocked! My fave out of the girls (Brooke) was a little weak. I am worried she may be off next. We’ll find out tonight!
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August 2, 2007
It's Been Awhile
We haven't been around for a long time since life at home has been really busy with the birth of our little Andrew. But we've finally updated RoL and will be around a bit more frequently! You can check out the updates here: http://www.revolutionoflove.com/index.html.
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May 25, 2006
Corn Salsa
The other day my in-laws were coming to dinner for a BBQ and I wanted to make a corn salsa. However, they don't like spicy food so I was looking for something without chilis. I found this recipe on the Food Network website and it is delicious. Try it for your Memorial Day BBQ! (For 6 people I multiplied everything by 4, except for the tomatoes; I only doubled those. I wanted mostly corn w/touch of tomato.)
Corn Salsa:12 cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning
1/2 cup cooked fresh corn or thawed frozen corn kernels
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons olive oil
Additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperTo make the salsa: Toss the tomatoes with the salt and drain in a colander for 15 minutes. Combine the tomatoes, corn, lime juice, garlic, cilantro, and olive oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss well.
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December 31, 2005
Goodbye, My Little One
A friend was sharing with me her experience of miscarrying her child. She was troubled that even Catholic friends couldn't understand her desire to see her unborn child as part of the family, but residing with Our Lord in Heaven. I assured her that she was not wrong in loving and grieving over her little one, no matter how short his/her life was.
Keeping that in mind I went ahead and added my latest baby journal to the list of Baby Stories at RoL. We weren't able to celebrate a birth but we were able to celebrate a new life. Blessed Be God. -- Good bye, My Little One: The Story of a Miscarriage.
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3/11/05 - Update
Thanks for the prayers and well wishes for Brian. His sprained back is doing better and he is off all the heavy drugs. Now it will just take time. Unfortunately that means at least another week off work, especially since he still can't sit, but he is able to get out of bed and walk around to stretch his muscles. Thank God it's nothing more serious. But I am worn out by the end of the day. I never realized how much Brian did around here until he was no longer able to do it! Although, in bed, I'm just happy to have him around. :)
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3/9/05 - Please Pray for Brian
The Lord has really been testing us this Lent! Just as Brian and I felt pretty much recovered from the miscarriage another cross arrived. On Friday, Brian hurt his back at work. He couldn't move and had to be taken to the emergency by ambulance. He took some tests and although his spine seems okay, he still has acute lower back pain. The doctor said it will be about six weeks (!) until he is back to normal. He was heavily medicated and able to come home for now but has to return for more tests. Currently he is stuck in bed and relatively okay unless he tries to move - otherwise the pain overtakes him. So your prayers would be very much appreciated - for Brian�s recovery and my patience. Thank you!
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2/23/05 - Home in One Piece
Well we returned from our trip to So. Calif in the nick of time. The weather has been crazy and the drive out of CA left my nerves frazzled. We left early in the morning before the strongest part of the storm was to hit, taking it slow on the freeway. (As slow as possible in So Cal.)
I knew we were in for it when not ten minutes had passed and I saw a car spin out, hit a semi in the next lane and jump up in the air. (I was driving and Brian was in the back seat with Bella.) Brian noticed that I slowed down and he looked up to see flashing lights. He thought it was thunder and lightening. Actually it was the headlights of the flying car. My mind raced as I worried about the driver and our own safety if we became a part of the accident. Then the car twisted in the air a few times until it landed upright at the side of the road. I was going to stop but a number or truckers and other cars stopped to help the driver. We passed the car and saw inside a woman. She was looking down but I couldn't tell if she was knocked out or reaching for something.
We pulled out the rosary and prayed for her and the safety of all the other drivers on the road. Later the radio announced that it was an injury accident and we were just thankful that she had on her seatbelt and hadn't died. We continued our route listening to the traffic news hearing of numerous accidents that took place just after we passed the cities. Thank God for getting us home safely!
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2/17/05 - Comment about a comment.
I only have a few minutes before I have to go but I wanted to make a quick post. There was a comment from Shy One regarding my last Mama Diaries post. It reads:
I feel very badly for your loss, but another part of me sees it quite differently. Perhaps these babies that were never destined to walk the earth are in fact destined to become intercessors for their families from heaven. We won't know this until we reach heaven ourselves and all is revealed, but in God's economy of grace, there may be more than meets the eye. I shall remember you and your family in my prayers, and wish you His peace in your heart.
I think Shy One hit the nail on the head. When I wrote that last post I was blowing off steam because I was upset. But as as the smoke settled and I got it off my chest one thing still remained the same - my heart still believes in God's goodness and that all things happen for a reason. We can only see one small moment in time but God sees the grand scheme of things. He knows precisely why things happen the way they do. When our trust and love is placed in God, we will find that all our sufferings can be transformed into blessings. There will still be moments when we are down but God�s peace is ready to comfort us and give us strength.
I must also say that Lent is the perfect time to truly ponder the mystery of the passion and our union with Christ on the cross. It is such a comfort to know that there is no suffering or pain we go through that Christ has not already endured for us. We are never alone. Christ dries our tears and lifts us up; his love and mercy washes over us and renews our hearts so we can carry on and live out our vocation to the fullest.
With that thought, I�ve got to go! Have a blessed weekend.
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2/16/05 - Mama Diaries cont.
Yesterday was a difficult day for me. People at the market or post office would smile at me and say, "Good Morning." I'd smile back but inside I'd be remarking, "What the heck do you know?!" I was feeling particularly down since yesterday I was supposed to have my first prenatal and my first glimpse of our little baby. It was the day we were to share the news with our family and friends. Instead I had to take tests to see if our baby has completely left my body. I had a blood test a few days ago but my pregnancy levels were still too high and there was fear of an ectopic pregnancy. However, it seems that everything's been clearing out the last few days and my new results came in today showing that everything looks fine. Thank God for one less worry.
Last night I told Brian that we need to name our little child. We both felt strongly that our baby was a boy and I had already been calling him a junior - "Baby Brian" - in my mind. Brian, however, liked the name "Victor" which is his middle name (and a name with a history in his family.) So we compromised and named our little saint Victor Brian.
I was thinking last night about my baby Brian and out of habit I was praying for him during my night prayers. Then it hit me that I do not need to pray for him anymore. Now I can ask him to pray for me. A rather strange idea to think of our baby watching over us and praying for his mama and daddy and sister. It's still hard to get used to but it brings comfort to my heart. I never thought a miscarriage could take such a toll on my body and my heart but I'm slowly feeling back to normal. And I'm happy to say that today when someone wished me a good morning I was genuinely able to offer the greetings back.
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2/13/05 - B&B Update
Hey there. Thanks to all who've sent prayers and kind words. We're doing better although right now I just feel emotionally and physically exhausted but I guess that can be expected. It's been so nice having Brian home with me these last few days, I'm going to hate seeing him leave for work tomorrow. I will say that this has brought our little family closer together and our love of God stronger and that is a blessing in itself. Anyway, thanks again. Take care.
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2/11/05 - Mama Diaries - Good bye, my little one.
Your Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, we have been praying for a long time that God would bless us with another child. Our prayers were finally answered and a new life was granted to our family. For a number of weeks we were overjoyed with the prospect of a new baby.
However, this past week we suspected that God may be calling our baby to Himself. Yesterday, it was finalized. Our baby left my body and is now with God in heaven. It has been an unbelievably difficult time, particularly since Tuesday was to be our first prenatal appointment, followed by our plans to surprise the perspective grandparents with the news.
Although our hearts are heavy with grief, I must say that this burden has been incredibly lighter through your prayers and the grace of God. I would often read of saints or holy people speak of suffering as a great blessing but I could not understand how such a thing could be possible. I am far from holy but I think I have gotten a tiny taste of what that means.
The other night I could not sleep and I lay in bed thinking and praying. I pondered over my life and how many graces and blessing God has poured out on me. I thought of trials I have endured in the past and during those times I often thought of Jesus in the Garden asking, �Lord, if it be your will let this cup pass over me.� I, too, prayed that I would be spared. More often than not, I was. I felt like Abraham ready of sacrifice his Isaac but at the last minute it was revealed that the mere offering was enough. I need not actually make the sacrifice. Yesterday, however, God asked for the sacrifice of our child to become a reality.
Perhaps I should be angry with God, at least temporarily, but I am not. God has been so good to me. I have been granted tremendous mercy and numerous graces in my life. And now God has finally given me the chance to truly make an offering of love to Him. Placing our child back into God�s hands is my way of being able to show God that I appreciate all his blessings and I trust in his goodness in both the good and sorrowful times.
But before you even think of making any comments on my �strength� know that it is not me. Left to my own devices I�d be a wailing drama queen. (As those who really know me well could attest.) I know firmly within my heart that it is the grace of God, particularly those received through your prayers. And I must say that Brian has been a pillar of strength and trust in God, even through his own grief and pain. Even little Bella, not quite understanding what�s going on, will place her little arms around my neck, kissing me telling me, �It�s okay, Mama.� God is present and comforting me everywhere I turn.
I also can�t help but remember that in the end our children are not our own. They are given to us with the responsibility that we raise them as holy children as best we can so that one day they may be united with God in heaven. Now we know that we have at least one little saint in heaven who is praying and waiting for us to join him in heaven. That is a great blessing. There will always be an emptiness on our hearts that misses our little baby and we still have a great deal of sorrow but at the same time there is also a great deal of peace. Our Lady, on this beautiful feast day, has wrapped her mantle around us and has given us great comfort and strength.
We thank you once again for your prayers and love. Our prayers remain with you as well.
With love and trust in Our Lord and Lady,
Bobbi & Brian (& Bella)
�We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him who are called according to his purpose.� - Romans 8:28
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us!
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May 13, 2005
Small World
Hmmm, that's a lot of posts in one day for me. It's nice luxury when I actually have a full 30 minutes to myself to read the news and check out a few blogs. I was running late this morning (that's a shocker) and debated whether I should skip 7AM Mass and go to 12PM instead. I decided to hussle it to 7AM so I could start off this beautiful Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima with Mass. Now, for another reason, I'm glad I did. Sitting in front of me was an old friend I haven't seen in nine years! She still lives in So Cal but was in Carmel visiting a friend and stopped at the Mission for Mass. It's strange, too, since I was just thinking about her the other day and wondering how she was doing. Funny how those things work!
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December 31, 2004
11/19/04 - My Morning Prayer
I first read this prayer years ago but it has since become a favorite. :)
Dear God,So far today, I've done all right! I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper,
I haven't cheated, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or
overindulgent. I am thankful for that. But, in a few minutes Lord, I'm going to
get out of bed...and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot more help!Amen.
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9/6/04 - Our New Home
Hello! It's been a long time! Thanks for being so patient with us and for the emails of well wishes! We are finally in our new home and getting settled. I forgot just how much work it is to move! Packing is not so bad compared to unpacking and finding a place for everything! All I know is that we have a huge pile of things going to the local charity center. It's amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in a few short years! Anyway, we hope to soon be back online posting and updating the website. (And I have weeks of unread st. blogs to peruse!) Thanks for being so patient! Love, b.
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8/4/04 - House Update
This whole house ordeal has been pretty stressful the last few weeks but things are finally falling into place! As you may know, we are moving into the home of Brian�s grandma (who passed away a few years ago.) Currently his aunt (�AL�) lives there but she has been trying to move into a local senior citizen community. However, the waiting list is incredibly long and the wait takes years. Last month we finally thought there was an opening but it fell through at the last minute. Things didn�t look good and AL was really bummed.
Two weeks ago Brian and I made a novena to Saints Ann and Joachim to end on their feast day (July 26). We had two intentions in mind � namely that we�d be blessed with another child and as a secondary prayer, that everything with the house would work out as God wills. The last day of the novena we received the call that there was a surprise vacancy and AL was next on the list but she had to move in immediately. Thank you, Ann & Joachim! (Now we�re just waiting for our bambino!)
This week I�ve been packing/reducing 30+ years worth of AL�s stuff and we�ll have her moved incompletely by Saturday. I must say that I checked out her new place the other day and it is so beautiful. And there are so many activities for them on the site there�s no chance of AL being bored or lonely! She is really happy � something I was worried about. I wouldn�t have felt comfortable in our new place unless I knew AL was happy in her new home. So hopefully we will have her settled in by the end of this week then we can work on making repairs on the house before we move in. Needless to say, this will keep us very busy so I may be more absent than usual! I�ll pop in when I get tired of boxes and cleaning and need a quick break! Take care and have a blessed week. b.
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December 31, 2003
12/3/03 - I just unpacked the last suitcase!
Man, I love visiting my family for these week trips but I hate all the packing and unpacking. Brian can always manage to put all his stuff in one small suitcase and Bella and I have loads of bags of things we "need" to take with us! I tell you if God answers our prayers for another child soon we'd better add "and a mini-van" to the prayer because I don't know how I'm going to fit another human being in our car on these 400 miles long trips! But I guess that's another story.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, really touching. (Except for the fact that my sister Elena was missing - sniff, sniff. But we'll ALL be together during our Christmas visit. :)
Oh, my gosh, then the day after thanksgiving we girls hit the malls for all those insane bargains you'll get if you arrive at 3am and stand on your head while reciting "Twas the Night before Christmas" in Spanish. I refused to stand on my head but I did manage to get $100 worth of savings before making morning Mass. But that's not the story I'm meaning to tell...
At the end of the day my two sisters and I were tired and hungry. We stopped at a fast food place to grab a quick bite for the drive home (which would take an hour). We're sitting in the parking lot passing out the food and straws when a cop circles around us. My sister jokingly says, hey that cop thinks we're suspicious; he's checking us out. I told my other sister to hold up her pepsi so he can see we're just eating. They laugh until the cop parks behind us and gets out of the car. He walks slowly over to us and shines his flashlight into the backseat where I was sitting (it was not yet dusk but the windows are tinted) and asks where we're headed. My sister tells him and he just looks suspiciously at us. He also looked a little nervous so I told him, "We're just eatting our dinner, officer." Obviously he has nothing to worry about unless we decide to attack him with the pair of pajamas and slippers we just got on sale.
Well in the meantime, we hadn't noticed that there was a whole gang of policemen driving up and surrounding our car. We were blocked in making it impossible for us to "escape". Finally the cop realized that we were not dangerous (I should have offered him one of our tacos). He apologized and explained that someone just called in that there was a silver truck (same as ours) with some guys and a girl (so now I look like a guy?) and they had a gun. (okay, no wonder he looked a little freaked.) My sister then let him know that we had just seen the truck and kids he was talking about. They took off when we entered the parking lot a few minutes ago. The cop thanked us and he and all his buddies removed their cars so we could leave in peace. (Thanks be to God. )
When we got home and told our family the story my mom just shook her head and half-jokingly said, "You see what happens when you take Bobbi with you. She always has a way of being invloved in some kind of shinanigan!"
Hmmm, I prefer to think of it as more like adding a little spice to life. haha!
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7/23/03 - Tracing My Hobbit Heritage
I always wondered how Pansy and Peony of Two Sleepy Mommies blog got their Hobbit names and today I finally found out. Not only that, I'm happy to see that I am of Hobbit heritage myself! My full hobbit name is Rosie Sackville-Baggins, my husband is Todo Sackville- Baggins and our daughter is Belladonna. Too cool!
Well, my Belladonna wants lunch so I better go! Have a beautiful day! Love, b. (AKA. Rosie!)
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5/22/03 - Bon Voyage
Hey guys. I feel like such a slacker because I haven't been making regular posts but darn it there's just not enough hours in the day! Plus I think you'll agree that some priorities are more important than my rambling here! ha! Well, I have 10 free minutes to ramble before I start packing, so here it goes.
Veggies Anyone?
Someone suggested to me that since Bella likes the Wiggles songs I check out some Veggie tales. That sounds like a great idea. I vaguely remember watching them with my younger brother before I was married but that's about it. If your kids like Veggie Tales please let me know which is the best "intro" one. There's so many of them I don't know where to start. Thanks!
Bon Voyage!
Brian, Bella and I are packing up for a trip tomorrow to Southern California to visit mi familia. (Don't ask me questions in spanish...that's all I know - besides "tacos" and "enchilladas". Yes I'm ashamed.) I can't wait!! Although I am not too keen on leaving the beautiful weather and beaches of Carmel for the dry hot desert (where most of my family currently lives) it is worth it just to be near them again. I am so close to all of them and it hurts quite a bit not to see them more frequently. But it is a small cross I must bear in exchange for my wonderful husband and daughter whom I couldn't live without. BUT one week I get the best of both worlds since we'll all be together. Woohoo!
But I have to say good bye now since I haven't started packing and we leave in 24 hours. (What? I'm late? Shocking, I know! haha) Packing is always fun. Isn't it? Do you remember that I Love Lucy episode when the Ricardos where going to California? While Ricky and Fred was trying to fit a few suitcases in the trunk, Lucy was piling tons of stuff on the sidewalk to bring as well. That's me, baby! I always have to bring everything but the kitchen sink "just in case". When Brian looks at the pile of suitcases and things piled by the frontdoor he says, "Sweetie, we'll never get all that in the car." I tell him not to worry and let "Fred" take care of it. I'll get it in there! (Although it usually means me sitting in a space tighter than an economy flight on Budget Airlines.) But who cares, we're going! And if on the way we are in need of a rain coat, bath mat or a years supply of fishy crackers, don't worry - I've got you covered!
Say a prayer that we have a safe trip. Talk to you soon. Love, b.
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4/28/03 - St. Louis de Montfort, Pray for Us!
Hello All. It�s been a busy morning so I haven�t been able to post until now. Today�s saint is St. Louis de Montford. Whenever I hear his name I think of my old parish priest and spiritual director Fr. Louis Marx. I met Fr. Marx in my early 20�s after my conversion and he was immensely instrumental in my deepening faith and spirituality. I vividly remember on one New Year�s Eve service, I took his advice and made a general confession of all my sins (and there were plenty from when I was far from God.) I was so ashamed I could barely get the words out in the confessional but he was kind, understanding and gave me the hope I needed to live my life anew. His deep faith and incredible reverence during the Mass spoke volumes without saying a word. I recall his counsel when I considered a religious vocation and just as he thought, it was not my vocation. Later he gave private classes to Brian and me as we prepared for our marriage. It has been a few years since I�ve talked to Fr. Marx, having moved after I was married, yet he is still so close to my heart. I owe him so much. He has been a true spiritual father to me and I love him like a spiritual daughter. It make me wonder if he knows how much he�s touched my life� I think this afternoon I will write him and tell him just that. Let�s all say a prayer of thanksgiving for the wonderful priests in our lives that have made our lives richer and faith more alive! That�s it for now. Love, b.
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