"God Is In The Pots And Pans"

Last night before I fell asleep I asked God to please put in my mind and my heart something that would help me do one special thing that would make each person I came in contact with happy. Too often I brush aside others, even loved ones, forgetting that life is fragile, forgetting that life is fleeting. Today while 'surfing the web' I came across this quote from St. Theresa of Avila:
"God Is in the pots and pans."
And I read how she stressed that we should remember God Is in every little situation of our lives.

I also came across some of the writings of Brother Lawrence who wrote "Practice of the Presence of God" and in this he wrote:
"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament."

I LOVE the way God works in my life! I ask, He answers!

Maybe not in the exact way I was hoping for or in the way I was expecting He might answer me.

But I loved His reminder to me that each moment, each situation, is a very special moment, and a very special situation, and maybe all we have to do to make others feel special is to remember that. It's not always about doing any one special thing, it's about a way of life.

So I will be changing my prayer from trying to do one special thing on one day to asking for His help to change my heart and change my life, and to ask that I remember that God Is in the pots and pans. He's here in everyday situations. (And He's here, helping to dress an energetic and easily side-tracked little boy each morning!) Amen.

Party Princess

Mia had a Princess theme party for her third Birthday. We missed celebrating with her on her actual Birthday because we had a virus in the house. But a few weeks later we had a little party for her at our house. Unfortunately, the Birthday Girl wasn't feeling too well, but she was a trooper, and she donned her party dress, and even though she didn't feel well, she told her Mom and Dad that she wanted to come to Grandma and Paw's house for her party:

"Turn around, Princess!"



Oh, here's our Birthday Girl!



The usual crowd was here...




...with the usual pests! Here's "The Protester", protesting having his picture taken and hiding his face behind his hand...


...and that's Rudy's leg stuck out there, with Rudy being, well, Rudy!



Here's Scott, he's very amused by Rudy's antics.
Me? Not so much!




Here's Ray's brother Donald



Ray and our nephew Adam



Here is the Birthday Girl's Mommy (Lori) with Ray's Mom (Helena)


Mia was born just two days before Helena's Birthday!



My niece Erin and my Aunt Florence.



And here is Ray's sister Susie (on the right) with her girls
Jillian, Jackie, and Erika (they are visiting the 'smoking lounge' OUTSIDE)



And here's Ray paying them a visit
(poor Jackie in the center looks like she is trying to smile through her pain!)



Jackie just recently got engaged to Scott...

...so we have another happy event to look forward to!



Okay, back into the house to join the party ~
here's our daughter Katie (Jayden's Mom) with her 'best friend' Mia!



(The rest of the party guests are camera-shy!)



I won't show you ALL the gifts Mia got, this would be a never-ending post and it's long enough already!


I'll just show you some of the highlights ~of course there were ducks!


Duck books were a hit!

"Let's read them now, Mommy."



And a duck pillow brought a smile.



This sticker book made a big hit with Jayden!



And this outfit made a big hit with Lori!



"Mommy & I
BFF
Best friends Forever"
So cute!



Mia's Dad (our son Erik) made the Birthday cake...

...but wait! It's missing something!



Of course, it has to have some party ducks!



This little Hummel candle holder belonged to my Mom and we gave it to Mia.
My daughter-in-law very sweetly includes it on Mia's birthday.




Okay, "Make a wish and blow!"




And smear your name for luck!




I think our 'little princess' did very well for not feeling so very well!

Some Fun Shots

Here's a few photos of some of the fun that's been going on around here lately:
Ray's Birthday was last month and I've been making cupcakes instead of the usual big sheet cakes for Birthdays lately. But Jayden spotted this baking set one day while shopping with his Mom and his Aunt Ellie and he suggested I make a GIANT cupcake for Paw's Birthday. So that's what I did with a little help from my little friend!






And here Jayden heard something familiar from Umma, "Jayden, DON'T YOU DARE!"




Jayden is usually in school for a full day when I watch Mia, and this particular day she was very bored and she decided that I was bored too, so she put on a show for me!
There was lots of singing and dancing...


...there were Princesses and lots of costume changes...


...and then she really went to town with a big finale!





And then she decided it was time to watch 'Peter Pan' for the umpteenth time!



Here's Jayden as Ang (from one of his favorite shows 'Avatar'):




Here he is as a robot (doing a robot dance):


And on this past rainy Sunday Jayden and Mia were playing 'Spy', and this is Jayden and Mia in their detective outfits:






And on a side note, I would like to wish one of my blogger friends and her husband a VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!


From all my farmers in Farmville (another place that is lots of fun!):

(Scarlett and Chuckie Ray) and





(Rayscarleen and Eileen)




To our fellow farmers Mike and Marcy:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARCY AND MICHAEL!