Because I've Got Nothing Else...

...here's a video that I just "found" on our video camera.  Phil took it during the summer of the kids swimming in our little above ground pool.  The kids were 7, 5, 3, and 2 at the time.  They had a blast in this pool all summer, and I loved that they could all go in and I didn't have to!!  I wonder how long they will all be able to fit in it together?  Oh, and please excuse the burp that occures around 1:15 :)

Things I Want to Remember

It's November 8th and we've got snow!!  Not a lot, but there was definitely snow on my car at 5:30 this morning, and some of the white stuff on the ground as well :) 

The way Eamon (4) says "Mama, I love you so much" randomly throughout the day.

How excited John-Paul (7) is to be able to write in cursive.  "I can write my whole name now!"

How mature Maggie's (2) vocabulary is.  And how much she feels the need to use it ;)  Yesterday, she said "Mama, this remote doesn't blong here.  It blongs on the dry sink."

Andrew (6) had his last soccer game this weekend and scored THREE goals!  And how everything he does since his birthday he announces as being the first time he's done it since turning six.  "This is my first apple when I'm six!"

Pictures of my soccer stars:

John-Paul scored a goal at his last game too!  These pictures are from two weeks ago:

OK, I think that's enough randomness for one day :)

Get Back on the Bike

My gym just recently added spinning classes.  I am not a bike rider.  I can ride a bike, and while I would enjoy a leisurely bike ride, I never thought of it as exercise.  Sure there's this:

But I always felt doing kickboxing or running was a much harder form of exercise.  Besides, even Lance runs:

Well, was I in for a shock.  Spinning = Torture!  We spent most of the class either sprinting up hills or in a standing position, I was sweating and tired by the end.  And my hamstrings, knees and hips have been killing me since. 

But the worst part is how sore my bum feels.  I asked the instructor after class if that was normal, and she said: "Oh yeah, you'll get used to it.  I can't even feel my bottom anymore." 

Ummmm, not sure that's quite the endorsement for spinning.

I'm hoping to fit spinning into my workout schedule at least once a week.  Not because I liked it, but because I believe you should constantly switch up the way you exercise - to get a better overall fitness level, to rest muscles, and to challenge your mind.

Wordless Wednesday: We Talk the Talk so We Must Walk the Walk (or Praying at the Abortion Clinic)

Saints vs. Souls vs. Angels

One of the most common misconceptions I hear regarding the Catholic faith is the differentiation among Saints, Angels and Souls.  I have too often heard someone refer to a deceased relative as being in Heaven, or even worse, as being an Angel in Heaven.  I also know many people who get confused as to why we pray to/for people that have died.  Here's an elementary explanation (the kind my faith are built upon!) of why Catholics do what they do on All Saints Day (yesterday) and All Souls Day (today).

SAINTS:

These are real people who have lived on Earth and died, and are confirmed to be in Heaven.

Some of these people led wonderful, holy lives and served God faithfully.  Others were party animals and led sinful lives, but at some point had a great conversion and led others to do the same.  A few were even martyrs...literally giving their lives for Christ.  Saints are human.

They become saints through an incredibly long and thorough process in the Church, which you can read about here.  Although many more people could be in Heaven, these are the ones we know for sure.

ANGELS:

An angel is a Heavenly being created by God.

A human being can not become an angel as much as an orange can not become an apple.  Not possible.  If you die and go to Heaven, you're a saint, not an angel.

Just like saints, we can pray to the angels for their intercession.  We can ask them to ask God for help.  In a big company, you might not go directly to the President to ask a favor, but first ask his secretary, the Vice President, or his close co-workers.  Then let them approach the Big Guy on your behalf.  Same with God, get it?

SOULS:

Without getting too theological (because I'm not) a human is composed of a body and a soul.  Our bodies die and our souls live forever.  On All Souls Day, we pray for all the humans who have died, that they may have eternal life in Heaven.

While we would love to think that Grandma is in Heaven, God has told us not to judge.  That means we do not condemn anyone to Hell nor put them on a pedestal in Heaven.  We must continuously pray for their soul.  What an injustice it is to categorize someone as a saint in Heaven and therefore no longer pray for their soul.  They need our prayers, as one day we will need the prayers of the faithful.

So today, I will pray for the Souls...that one day they will become Saints and live with all the Angels in Heaven :)

Saintly Superstars

All Saints Day 2010

 St. Michael the Archangel

We have the pleasure of knowing the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, who were kind enough to sew these costumes for the kids.  I can't sew a button, so I was very grateful for their help, and we repaid them with cleaning supplies!  (That's what they said they needed!)

 Saint Francis of Assisi

Andrew has a strong devotion to St. Francis, as he was born on his Feast Day.  Phil and I also love St. Francis as we went to Franciscan University, and shared our first kiss in Assisi :)

 Pope John Paul II the Great

This costume was made forJohn-Paul when he was three years old, and now Eamon gets to carry on the tradition!

 Blessed Mother

Maggie was so excited to be Mary!  We tried to get her to be Mother Theresa because she loves her, but she only wanted to dress up like Mary...I think she just wanted to carry the Baby Jesus around!

 The Future Martin Saints ;)

Warning: The saints in this picture are not as holy as they appear!!

(But we're working on it!)