Pro Life Prints

This week we have the privilege to work with the Culture of Life Studies newest activity called Pro Life Prints.  If you are looking for a fantastic activity to do with your young children that includes art plus compassionate faith based learning look no further.  This is a perfect activity to come together as a family to learn about pre-born babies and what our role is in protecting them.  Last year we used the Culture of Life's fantastic program called Life is Precious and loved it so I knew we would enjoy Pro Life Prints as well.  Life is Precious is a 4 week literature based study learning about fetal development and the respect for life.  Read about our experience with each week below:

Week One: Angel in the Water 

Week Two:  On the Night You Were Born

Week Three:  Horton Hears a Who

Teaching the Culture of Life

We started Pro Life Prints by making "baby feet" and focusing on the Bible verse Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

Next, we made a heart with handprints and discussed that a baby's heart starts beating when you are about 24 days old and the size of a grain of rice.  We took out rice to see how TINY you are when your heart is already beating.  

We then continued the discussion of fetal development and how a baby grows by making a handprint strawberry.  We discussed how when you are only 11 weeks old inside of your mother you are the size of a strawberry but how many amazing things you can do like suck your thumb, smile, frown and scratch your nose!

Finally, we made thumbprint pineapples as we discussed how a baby continues to grow and continues to need our protection as a pre-born baby!  Our little ones liked this thumbprint page the best, especially adding the pineapple leaves on top.

We ended with a prayer and wrapped up a great little morning activity.  There are three more days to this booklet that we plan to finish over the next few weeks. Thank you to Culture of Life Studies for continuing to provide schools and families with such fantastic activities to teach our children about development and being Pro-Life!

Sneaking Away to Refresh - A Silent Retreat

I was so blessed to be able to sneak away from our home this weekend to go on a silent retreat with fellow homeschooling mothers in our town.  I have gotten much better at taking an hour here or there for myself to get things done this past year and have even hired a mothers helper to come once a week for 2 hours to help me catch up or run out to get a few things done.  Yet, this was a rare occurrence to leave our house without any children for 7 whole hours!  Even better it was for an entire day of spiritual rejuvenation.  

Our homeschool group put on a wonderful retreat including Mass, Benediction/Adoration, as well as time for Confession, Spiritual Direction and then alone time for prayer and reflection.  It was exactly what I needed to refresh, reconnect with God and be re inspired to focus on my vocations in my home and community.

The Simple Moments

I am usually the one behind the camera.  I love to take pictures and to capture some of the beautiful moments of our everyday life.  As time has gone on our oldest son has seen my passion in photography and has developed his own interest.  He will take our digital camera and take a handful of photos, usually of house plants, our dogs, army men, or things that interest a seven year old.  Well one day I was looking through our camera and saw all of these images of myself with our other children.  I often see him having the camera out but never know what he is really taking pictures of, and would NEVER assume that I would be interesting enough to be his subject.  I love that it is a simple day that he snuck in and captured images.  I was in my workout clothes, with no make up, and nothing fancy, yet our children do not notice that at all.

I confronted him to ask when and why he took this pictures and his response simply warmed my heart. 

"Mom, you looked so happy. I just want you to remember how much we love spending time with you." 

I was beyond honored and humbled.  It is those simple moments, the ones of pure joy and comfort that remind me that I am truly blessed.  I am so blessed to be their mother and have these little days and little moments with each and every one of them.  

Seeing the images of my interactions with our children that I do not usually "see" throughout the day made me think of what image God sees of me everyday.  Does he see frustration and pain or does he see patience and joy?  Let me remember that it is in those simple moments that the love of God is truly flowing through us all.  

I also had to share the adorable cards I received this month for my birthday!  There is no better gift and these boys surely know how to make me feel loved.

Two Years

It's been two years since our little baby went to Heaven.  People ask me if it "gets easier".  I would not say that it gets easier, I just think that in time I learn to trust in God's plan more.  Sure there are many days where I think of how old he would be, what he would be doing, and how he would fit into our family.  Yet, I also know that there is a reason that he is in Heaven and a reason that soon after his passing that God sent us our son Peter.  There is a reason for it all.  I do not necessarily understand it all yet, but one day I will.  Right now, I just pray and try to trust in God's plan.

Samuel 1:24-28: I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request.  Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord."

My Career and Where They Were Born

When I was entering college, now 15 years ago thought I wanted to be a doctor.  I started my freshman year declaring that I was "pre-med" and thinking I would either get degree in Biology or Psychology.  By the second semester of my freshman year I knew that being a doctor was not what I wanted to do.  I loved medicine, but I really felt called to the vocation of being a wife and mother and knew that I would want to dedicate time to being home if at all possible.  I started looking at other ways to fulfill both dreams and looked into the idea of being a physical or occupational therapist or nurse.  I was not set on anything and kept praying and discerning what would be best.

During the first semester of my sophomore year my future husband and I had met each other.  We were not dating and had no idea what our future held, but he was was always a fantastic support to help me discern what I wanted to do for my education and future career.  At the time he was getting a degree in Emergency Medical Services to be a paramedic and also strongly dedicated in pre-medicine.  He was and is amazing with how dedicated he has been over the past 15 years to learn how to help others through being a physician.

Anyway, it was during my Junior year of college that I figured out that I was being called to be a Nurse.  I was on tract to get a Psychology degree by this point, and although they had a traditional four year Nursing degree at Creighton University where I was attending, due to my late start toward that degree it would have taken me a total of 6 years to achieve.  My great Academic Advisor directed me to consider Creighton University's Accelerated Nursing Program.  It is a 12 month program where someone who already has a 4 year Bachelor's Degree can receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in a mere 12 months.  It is intense, but after a lot of thought I knew it would be best for me.  (I'm laughing now, that in the middle of this SUPER INTENSE program was when my husband and I decided to get married!) Even better, the hospital associated with our school had a fantastic program that if you signed a work commitment for once you graduated that they would pay for your Nursing School!  YEAH!

So, I finished Nursing School and as a newlywed with my husband in his second year of medical school I started my career as a Nurse.  I started working in the Postpartum (Mother/Baby) Unit working nights.  It was a fantastic and gentle way to learn all about the field of nursing.  After about a year I transferred to the Labor and Delivery Unit and fell in love.  I adored being a part of a families most important days of their lives!  Even with the sad occasions when a baby would die or have a very bad outcome, somehow there became  a beautiful opportunity to really connect with people and have an impact on their lives.  The people that I worked with were fantastic and taught me so much more than how to be a Nurse but also how to be a good mother and friend.  I worked there for four wonderful years before my husband and I decided it was time for a change.

By this time we had two young children 2 years old and under and working 12 hour shifts was really hard on all of us.  My husband was still in Medical School so we knew that I needed to continue working to financially support our family.  I was really blessed to find an amazing job as a Maternal / Child community health nurse where I worked for another 2 1/2 years only 32 hours a week until we moved for my husband's fellowship program and I made the transition to staying at home full time.

The other really special place about the hospital where I first worked, is not only is it where I started my career but it is also where our first three children were born.  Some people thought it would be strange to deliver your child where you work but I loved it.  It was so comforting and special to be surrounded by friends (who felt truly like family) on those significant days in our families life (especially for our first born who's delivery ended up with an Emergency C-section!).

Well, fast forward 10 years now and this hospital that holds so many memories for me is now closing.    The nurses (past and present) had a great big farewell party and I was so glad to be able to attend with the kids.  It was great to see a lot of wonderful people and even more special to be able to show our oldest children the places and rooms where we first met!  This place will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Ryan - December 28, 2009

Laboring in Room 4426, and Born in the Operating Room

Connor - October 11, 2011

Labored and Delivered in Room 4426

Luke - June 8, 2013

Labored and Delivered in Room 4417

Us all in front of the Nursery Window where you could look in unto all of the babies

The view of Creighton University from the Hospital

Boys and Their Dogs

Some people thing we are a little crazy having four kids seven and under and then choosing to have three dogs.  Maybe we are a bit crazy, but all I know is all the moments of craziness are totally worth it with all of the moments of love.  These boys adore their dogs so much.  They teach them a lot of responsibility and during these winter days running around the house together they all get out there energy.  Plus, they are simply adorable and cuddly.

Happy Baptism Anniversary Peter

Happy Baptism Anniversary our dear Peter!  What a glorious day to remember and celebrate, when you were washed from original sin and brought into the family of the Catholic Church!  May you always know God's love for you.

Although you are only learning 14 months old I can already see how our Catholic Faith is something special in your life.  You do such a great job coming to daily mass with us, and already walk up to the holy water font to dip (or dunk) in your hand.  During every meal you touch your head and your chest as we perform the Sign of the Cross as a family.  Hopefully, the love of God is something that you will see throughout your life in the relationships that you have with you dad and I as well as your siblings.  You truly are special, today and always!