Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!!


Won't be able to post tomorrow, so Happy New Year in advance!
(If your time zone is behind like ours is anyway! If not, have an awesome day)
:-D


Have a wonderful and blessed New Year!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Before I forget again...

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the birds!!!


Someone plays with their new kite...

...while Sunny sings with his mike.




Doesn't Lilo look sweet in her ribbon?



Show off Stitch


...But he makes up for it. Lilo get a rose from him.







And just for the Jedi Master and Otakuboy, Stitch wields his new lightsaber!

Where do presents come from?

Jenny's parents were desperate for a gift. Being a craftsman and knitter for small business, there wasn't much of an income, yet they held on. Meanwhile a Christmas party was being organized for the town. Decorations, food, music, and of course a Nativity scene, it was Christmas after all. It was planned, that towards the end of the celebration, parents would give their children a gift. Jenny's parents sighed at the announcement, but resolved to gather what they had left for Jenny.
The celebration came, the townspeople came, even Father Brown came. It was celebrated with joy and friendship. Songs sung from the crowds heightened in volume while musicians accompanied in harmony. Growls from hungry stomachs were heard above the din, and Father Brown said the blessing. The food was warm and delicious. Many declared it the best party the town had held and wanted it to become annual.
The time passed. Jenny and her friends sang, danced, and laughed along with their games. She was a tiny girl, Jenny, but her laugh was the happiest of all.
At its near end, the presents were given out at that wonderful party. Gamecubes, remote control cars, dolls, ipods, CDs, sketeboards and much more were given out. Jenny opened hers with all the glee of a seven year old, for the sculpted animals and the child her parents made were simple, yet beautiful.
Jenny's friend's stared with pity, and her parents bit their clutched their hands. Jenny took no notice of these, and ran to hug her parents. Her friends looked with puzzlement, and asked, "Doesn't it bother you that your present isn't as nice?"
Jenny cocked her head. "Oh, no. It doesn't matter if a gift comes from the store, as long as it comes from the heart."




It's been such a busy week, I almost forgot to post this. Can't remember where this was from, though. :-(

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Even though we stayed up until 2 in the morning because we attended the Midnight Mass, I still can't stop saying it!!!! :-D
I hope everyon e has a very blessed and merry merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Christmas Eve

The most exciting day during Advent for little ones. What though, are we thinking about all day?
At the end of their journey, Mary and Joseph found no where to stay at Bethlehem. Everywere, inns were full.
Are we so full of thoughts of presents, lights, dinners, and having fun, that we no longer have room in the inn of our hearts for Him?

Last


Love



What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.
-Saint Augustine

Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul. -Saint Teresa

All that we do is a means to an end, but love is an end in itself, because God is love.
-Saint Edith Stein

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.
-Saint Therese

Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love.
-Saint Francis of Assisi

It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found - not hidden away in corners but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

Love is not to be purchased, and affection has no price.
-Saint Jerome

Saturday, December 22, 2007



Thanks Mom, for the blessing! :-D



I have been "blessed" by Mom and now in turn
I bless the following 3 bloggers:
Kaila, Ms. Micki and GrandmaK.


"The idea… it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for one blog friend. By participating in this endeavour we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to. To read more about the bloggin’ blessing please click HERE."

I bless Kaila, Mrs. Micki, and Grandmak! Kaila because she is always posting wonderful blessings on her blog as well as music. Mrs. Micki because she shares her holy cards and posts along with them words of inspiration. Grandmak because she is always leaving joyful comments! :-)




May the blessing of almighty God, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever.
Amen!



Now, it's your turn to bless 3 bloggers. :-D
Total Blessings sent so far: 7 (? sorry, I don't quite understand that part)
So, all Kaila, Mrs. Micki and Grandmak have to do to is:
a) bless 3 blog buddies each.
b) Include the ‘God Bless you’ image in their post.
c) Explain briefly why you selected the people you are blessing.
d) Pray/include in the post the prayer for the recipients of the blessing.
e) Then type in the com box of Deb's Bloggin Blessin' that a blessing
has been sent to the three you have chosen to bless so we can keep track of how many blessings are being given.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Description

Another description of humility is accepting the crosses God gives you. They are given for a reason.



No more videos after this, I promise. :-D

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Books and random things

Tagged by CT :-)


#1 Book meme (my fav!)


One book that changed your life:
My Life With the Saints by James Martin S.J.
I kind of read a bit of it when CT wasn't looking, thinking I wasn't going to bother with it after that. It turned out to be so good, that she just let me read the rest of it. Thenceforth, saint's books have never been the same; in fact I appreciate them more!



One book that you’ve read more than once:
Lord of the Rings by (you know :-D ) J. R. R. Tolkien.
Almost once a year since I was nine.



One book you’d want on a desert island:
Ummm...I don't think I'd ever be on a desert island...
...but the same as everyone, The Holy Bible.



One book that made you laugh:
The Story of a Soul by Saint Therese.
She and her family remind me of ours sometimes.



One book that made you cry:
Um....well, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee almost did.


One book that you wish had been written:
The ones me and my friends haven't yet written.



One book that you wish had never been written:
Whichever one is the worst



One book you’re currently reading:
Just one? Ok, The Story of a Soul.
That's terrible, I'm still not done reading it. (The book isn't not the one terrible, me not being done with it is)
I guess, though, it's better to read some books more slowly than others. :-)



One book you’ve been meaning to read:
The rest of the good books yet to be explored!...oh wait, just one?
Ok, The Interior Castle by Saint Teresa





#2 Eight Random Facts meme



List 8 random facts about yourself, then tag 8 others.



1. I've actually met (in person) 8 other bloggers.



2. I can cross stitch without getting cross eyed.



3. CT and I once made a parody of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" It was about dreaming of a big pizza. :-D We couldn't help it....we were hungry...and it happened to be Christmastime...



4. I (and the Mom and Dad and CT) used to live a block away from Disneyland.



5. Puzzles are fun, especially the 1000 piece ones.



6. I wanted to call Lilo and Stitch the names Mango and Blueberry. It would've fit too. :-)



7. I don't find classical music boring.



8. To practice writing Latin sentences, I make a storyboard out of stick people saying stuff in Latin.



ummmmm.....

8 people who want to do either one, go right ahead. :-D

(i know...that's cheating, but everyone else has done this already.)

Third

Thanks Aunty Esther for the really neat animated wreaths! :-D

Humility


Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.
-Saint Augustine

However great the work that God may achieve by an individual, he must not indulge in self-satisfaction. He ought rather to be all the more humbled, seeing himself merely as a tool which God has made use of.
- St Vincent de Paul

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.
-Saint Therese of Lisieux

Don't permit your misery or defeats to depress you. Rather let them be steps by which you descend the deep mine where we find the precious gem of holy humility.
- Saint Paola Frassinetti

We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self.
-Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne


We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me.
-Saint Patrick

Friday, December 14, 2007

Nother movie...

I know in the last meme posted I put "tv isn't really popular here" and it isn't, but I forgot about the Nativity Story.



Wish I could play that song on the piano!
Words to the song can be found Here
Another song just right for Advent. :-D

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Our Lady's Day

Hurray for Aunty Esther who made the video! :-D

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Second of Advent


Abandonment


In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing. Nothing wearies it by elation, and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the center of its own humility. -St. John of the Cross

Believe me, the writing of pious books, the composing of the most sublime poetry; all that does not equal the smallest act of self-denial.
-St. Therese of Lisieux

Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.
-Saint Francis of Assisi

Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty.
-Saint Augustine

Be gentle to all and stern with yourself.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

Thanks to Aunty Esther for the wreath! :-D
Quotes again, found here here and here.

I guess to repent and change our ways as Saint John said this morn, we have give up much.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Christmas Meme


Jedi Master Stitch Bluetail ready for the cold weather here!


Hurray! Tagged by Aunty Esther!!!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. We wrap it ever so nicely carefully...then shred it to bits! Course, with a house full of us kids (I count too!) it's always more fun.


2. Real tree or artificial?
The real ones are always nice, but we don't usually get one. We just have a simple kid decorated hobbit size tree with piles of presents around.


3. When do you put up the tree?
Dec. 22-24th...somewhere around there.


4. When do you take the tree down?
The next year! :-D
Sometimes it even stays till the end Jan.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, but not a lot of it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
(I'm still a kid, so it's not over yet)
But so far, tickets to Disneyland.


7. Do you have a Nativity scene?
Yes, except it's probably still in a box...somewhere.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
CT! We're Christmas shopping buddies, so it's really hard to get her something without her knowing.

9. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
None...

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
There's really no one to mail letters to, we (kids) just hand them out to everyone.

11. Favorite Christmas Movie?
None, TV's not that popular here at the homeschool house. ;-)


12. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
As early as the end of Nov. if we remember, but usually in the middle of Dec.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Ummm, do colored pencils used for a homemade gift count?

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Mashed PoTaToes!

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored!

16. Favorite Christmas song?
Too many to list

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Home, aunts come here from the mainland.

18. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?

I think so!
Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Blitzen, um, Rudolph...
um, nevermind...

19. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Early early Christmas morn!

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
People missing the real point.

22. Best thing about this time of year?
Family gathering to celebrate the best birthday that ever occurred!


Now I tag....ALL the teenagers!

mwahaha.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Writer's discovery


I cannot write novels, it's too hard.
I will try chapters instead, yes, that would work!
Oh, chapters hurt. They evade me like fish!
Oh, I know! Paragraphs! Yes, lovely!
No, paragraphs leave me in a vertigo.
Yes, yes! Sentences, now that's surely to work!
Sniff...sentences are too long.
Words! Now just words ought to work!
Yes, words are easy!

With God's help, they'll prosper into sentences!
Oh, don't sentences make paragraphs?
Paragraphs make up chapters!
Chapter create novels!
Maybe it's not as hard as I thought....
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -Saint Francis

Monday, December 3, 2007

May it Be

I really really like this song
I had borrowed it from the library, then a visit to Kaila's blog reminded me of it. (thanks)





I know LOTR is old...but here are the words to the song as found on the Song track case:

May it Be
By Enya

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadows call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now


We probably will never have to travel to a place as dark as Mordor to save the world. Sometimes, though, we become discouraged with the entire world, or just trying get through the day's problems. That's where confidence arouses. We are confident that God will lead us through our troubles, however many. We trust Him to lead the way through the dark.
Darkness is longer this time of ending year, but the light of Christmas drives it away. We must prepare ourselves for the coming of light during the Advent.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Advent


Happy New Liturgical Year!


There are four main parts of Saint Therese's Little Way and four weeks (well, mostly) of Advent. Hopefully the posts match the readings of the Sunday...but here goes...


Confidence


It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.
-Saint. Francis of Assisi

If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me.
-Saint Patrick

My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help. I can do all in Him who strengthens me. His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is infinite, and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.
-Pope Saint Pius X

For one pain endured with joy, we shall love the good God more forever.
-Saint Therese

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.
-Saint Dominic Savio

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.
-Saint Teresa of Avila

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best.
-Saint. Jerome



Quotes found here

and here

...and here too

Thanks to Aunty Esther for the picture!