Oh I Need To Mention This...

If you click on this picture of me and my friend Jen, you will notice there is something green in my teeth... Just to clarify.. (this was brought to my attention in my Orlando post, thank you my friend, lol).. that is GUM, nothing else... nothing icky.. lol! Bleck.. I had to clarify that.. Note to self: Please remove the gum before snapping photos! Eeeketh! :-0

I Found It!!!

OK, some of you know that I've been on the quest for The Perfect Mascara for quite some time. I am pleased to say that I *think* that I have found it. I think. I'm not quite positive, but I have given it a few days, and I am quite happy with it, so I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge and say it outloud, err, type it outloud, oh, you get my meaning!

OK, this has been going on along time. In fact some of you were with me on a certain midnight run to WalGreens to find a mascara that one said sister promised us that we would looooove, but NO. That one was sadly, not meant for these lashes.

The one that I have discovered to be a very good product for me is... drumroll please??????

Maybelline NY Intense Volume XXL .. it's kinda fun, it comes with two wands, one on each side, a white wand and a black wand, Step 1 and Step 2. Sounds like a whole lot of work for putting on mascara eh? Well, trust me, when you've been on the lookout for something to fatten up your lashes as long as I have, you'll go the extra mile. ;) One is for volume and one is for length. I bought mine in "Very Black" and I will post a picture of my eyes as soon as I get them done up today for the day. You tell me if my eyes don't look fabulous!! ;) lol

Hugs and there is my find of the day.. Let me know what mascara you use!
~Cath

Fun at the Pumpkin Farm!

We took the kids to the pumpkin farm yesterday! They had fun playing on the playground and wandering around playing on the hay bales.. it was a fun time for all of us to be outside enjoying a beautiful autumn day, actually. Here are a few pictures from our day together:

~Music~

I love music.. it speaks to me in so many ways.. To those of you that know me this comes as no big surprise. If you have your sound on when you visit this blog, you always hear my playlist. I recently changed up the order of the songs on my list, so right now you will hear Matt Redmond singing Blessed Be Your Name first singing.. followed by two songs that I have on my list specifically for my friend Dennise.. she loves these songs, but I have to be honest and say that since I have heard them (I had heard the Mercy Me song but hadn't really known the other).. I have fallen in love with them as well. I had to give that little disclaimer, though. Those songs are specifically hers, I just had to move them up the list so other people are hearing them as well.. they are too beautiful to not be heard!

Oh, and FYI.. this is the weekend we're traveling to meet each other at a huge outlet mall .. and to stay overnight.. I can't wait. (this weekend is sans kids as well!) I'm so excited! :)

Next post I'll have pictures of our get together!

Brian and Jonathan went camping last weekend too and Brian got some beautiful pictures of the beach. I'll get those up as well soon.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful beginning of October.. God bless!

Hugs all around,
Cath

PS: To those of you who read here but never leave me a comment (you know you who are ;)... leave me a little lovin'!! hehee)

Home From Orlando!!!!!!!!!

What a blast we had... Matt Redmond led the worship.. it was incredible.. I can't put into words what the worship experience was like. It was awe-inspiring, moving, amazing! Also Sara Groves was there, she was great too, and the group Salvador (ehh), and the kids group Go Fish.. who are amazing. I bought 2 CD's for Jonathan and he's been rocking out (well, truthfully, so have we) to them ever since.



How do I describe this event? Well, for one thing, any last doubt that I'm doing what God wants for me is completely gone. I am serving in a capacity with amazing women.. godly, loving, encouraging ladies with whom I'm building friendships that will last a lifetime I am sure. The convention itself was full of speaker after speaker that just spoke volumes to us, as moms, as women, that met us individually right where we are. They spoke of ways we can minister to other moms, yes.. that was the whole point of why we went, learning how to improve our own MOPS groups.. but also they spoke of ways for us personally to be refreshed within our own spirits, as moms, wives, friends.. as women.



There were testimonies of other MOPS women who have been involved in groups, and have had different struggles.. one struggled with a drug/alcohol addiction, one was gripped by severe depression, one dealt with the pressures of trying to parent her children alone... all of them had one thing in common.. they were hurting and felt alone, and their MOPS groups were the hands and feet of JESUS to them. Many of the speakers focused on contentment... of unpacking your suitcase right where you are in life.. whether you're struggling with infertility (one of the girls in my group that went is), or facing a scary job change and the possibility of relocating (another girl in our group), or just facing a tough time with whatever situation you're in everyday.. at work, at home, with your child, your husband, any of it... just unpacking your bag right here, stop carrying it around, just unpack, be content and live now with God's provisions and love surrounding you. Contentment was a word we heard a lot of this weekend.



It definitely wasn't all seminars and sessions... we had a blast doing other things too.. like shopping, eating at some fun places, laying by the pool in the hot Florida sun (hello sunburn!), and laughing and talking about... well, I won't say here, but you can imagine 5 girls together.... our conversations were crazy at times, hahaha! We also went to Downtown Disney one night and walked around.. and guess what??? Shopped some more.. (shocker I know!)



Here are a few pictures of us from our fun weekend... (it was 4 whole days away from our families... we all missed them so much! It was great to get home and get loved on by them!)

L-R Jen, Brandy, Tami, Janice, and Me :)

Back Row: Me, Tami,

Front: Jen, Brandy, Janice

Me and Jen! Love her!

These alligators were actually in our hotel.. yeahh, we thought so too.. crazy Florida people! ;)

www.mops.org

Our Little Man

September 11th

We Will Never Forget..

September 11th, 2001...

Back To Routine / Some fun things to look forward to

Well, with Jonathan going back to school this past week, we are getting back into the swing of life and routine. Brian also started back to his classes, and I started a new job (babysitting 3 afternoons a week for a friend of mine -- I'm able to take Katie with me so it works out great)...

Jonathan is also starting a new kids club at church one weeknight and for me, MOPS is starting back up! (yay! my favorite!) So things are getting busier and I'm getting back to my *happy place* once again.. This summer was long and hard and.. well, let's face it.. it wasn't just the summer. It's been a long and hard season overall, starting with last winter, but by God's grace, I do believe it's becoming a new season and things are starting to look up!

Next week I'm going to Florida for the MOPS convention and while I'm nervous, I'm more excited then anything else to go. It will be fun to go and be refreshed in my spirit as a mom, and also as a woman. We're planning to take a little time off while we're there to go to Disney, which I'm looking forward to (I haven't been since I was 8!)

The other exciting thing is that I'm going to meet a friend in October for a girls weekend... it's a new girlfriend that God has blessed me with and I'm so thankful for her! We are meeting halfway between our homes in the great state of PA and will be shopping, drinking coffee (of course!) and staying overnight. I'm blessed to have a husband who is willing to let me go not only to Orlando for 4 days, but also do this with my girlfriend, sans kids, and is willing to pick up the slack. (Not to mention my beloved parents and sister who are helping out as well both weekends)...

I love the fall.... it's my favorite time of year, and things are starting to look up for me, thanks be to God, for His provisions, and for His new mercies everyday, and for unexpected blessings and friendships, new and old.

Hugs all around. I hope this entry finds you all well and content. xoxo

JDP, First Grader!!

Our boy is now an official first grader. He had his first full day of school today. He came home and said, "Well, Mom. It's not Kindergarten, that's for sure!" Ahh, our grown up boy.

It's amazing to watch this boy grow. He's matured so much this past year.. in so many ways, right before my eyes in some instances. He takes care of his baby sister so well. Gosh, he even tries to take care of me at times (although I try to reassure him that's not his job)...I can already tell by his heart that he is a boy who will grow into a man who will take good care of others.

He is a good good boy, and our true gift from God, our Jonathan David.

My Sister

This weekend was my sister's birthday.. We always tease her because she calls us up on the beginning of the month and says "OK! It's 30 Shopping Days till Becky's Birthday!" She cracks us up.


My sister is a fun loving, generous, loyal, and family dedicated person. She loves my kids as if they were her own. I am forever saying "Everybody should have an Aunt Becky" and I really do mean it.. She is so good to them. They love her so much and couldn't imagine their lives without her I'm sure... she is as much a part of their lives as Brian and I are.

We hope you had a wonderful birthday month, Aunt Becky! We love you!

Sisters are different. They heard the sobbing in the darkness.
They lived through all your triumphs, all your favorites,
all your loves and losses. They have no delusions.
They lived with you too long.
And so, when you achieve some victory, friends are delighted -
but sisters hold your hands in silence and shine with happiness.
For they know the cost.

Pam Brown

Fun With Photos (mommy and daddy)

So we got the camera out tonight and instead of taking pictures of the kids, for once we were taking silly pictures of ourselves... thought I'd share some of the results of our silliness here.....

yes, we're dorks, but we like it! hehee

What A Party It Was!

It was a blast! The princess had a wonderful time.. it was quieter then we're used to around here, but it was a good time anyway..She was thrilled with her new kitchen.. went right to work cooking and serving us coffee and corn on the cob, hehee... What a joy it is to watch her right now.. She is a blessing for sure. Terrible twos here we come!!! ;)

Our Birthday Girl

Our Katie Grace is turning 2 this week! It's unbelievable to me that our baby could be this age already... Thinking about the day we first laid eyes on her, how tiny she was when they laid her in my arms at the hospital, how fragile she seemed -- when in reality she was a fighter from the start! (Thank you, God!!)

We turned around and she was 1! And then we blinked and she is turning 2! And she's full of mischief and sparkling eyes and loving on her big brother, making her Mommy crazy, all the while having Daddy wrapped completely around her little finger.

We've never been more in love with you, Katie Grace. And yet somehow I think that tomorrow we will wake up and love you a little bit more...Funny how that works!

I thought I'd share a few pictures (a few, haha) of her from the past 2 years, leading up to her big day. Enjoy our beautiful princess! God is so good to us!