Fly Guy

Ok, I just got this image in an email, and with 7 guys in this house I'm curious to see if it cuts down my cleaning:

Captioned:

 "It improves aim. If a man sees a fly, he aims at it...reducing spillage by 80%."

Would it work in this house?

Or

 (as I rethink this)

Would my nature boys get distracted and try to catch the fly to feed the fish? 

I'm just saying...

With my Blessings,

It'd probably backfire

Right onto the floor. 

Because it took too long to capture the fly from the toilet.

Just a little Yoda fun...

"Size matters not. Look at me. 

Judge me by my size do you?

 Hmm?  Hmm?

 And well, you should not!"

When nine months old you are, be as strong and hard working, will you not?  hmm?

Monday it is,

Put my best knee forward, I will. 

Crawl with me, will you?

The dog food and water I must reorganize.

And the cupboards, open and empty I will.

To de-pile clothes I am hard at work.

But be warned, strong and hard working I am, but not that strong, because remove me from work Mother will.

Get it, I do not.

St Frances of Rome

What can we learn from this married saint? Sanctify our daily duties as we love and serve the sick, most especially when they are poor patients. This hits home with me as we go through stomach flu with puking and pooping kids.


Nowadays, I find prayer: 
Standing, bucket in hand with a vomiting preschooler. 
Cleaning up carpet, floors, sinks, toilets.
Changing sheets and 'Daddy T-shirts' 
Washing blankets, pillows, clothes, kids, myself


Through simultaneous puking and a two year old taking off his diaper to poop on the carpet as I change over laundry, I am reminded, it's all about the attitude.  I have a choice go alone, impatient and overwhelmed or I can bring Christ into the battlefield, patient and diligent; knowing that we work for a Greater cause which will remain hidden until I meet my Boss face to face.


Thanking God for the opportunity to serve, yet praying that these children will be healthy soon!


“It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping” 
-St. Frances of Rome in Butler’s Lives of the Saints

Our Lady of Lourdes in the Pig-sty

What is the pigsty? The place where pigs live; a dirty, stinky dwelling.

Like any good mother, Mary wants to pick up and clean a dirty or untidy space; She wants to see things clean! She knows that the best way to get the job done is to make herself present, state what needs to be done, and then help us do it.  She is such a good Mother! She sees our messy lives and shows us the way to clean it up.  At the same time, it is never about Her, but always about Her Son, Jesus; as She tells us, "Do whatever He tells you!"

What does Jesus tells us? Repent, Pray, Love.  It's that simple!  Yet our being tends to fight such simplicity. Even when we know it's what we want, we fail.  We are poor souls needing continual work, just like our homes!  Yes, our sins usually stay the same, but the clutter of our homes is typically the same as well!  We clean our homes: sweep and mop the floors, launder the clothes, wash the dishes and try to stay on top of the mess, for when it builds up, it takes over us, it's too much to deal with and we become more complacent. The same is true for our souls: we must repent more frequently to keep our spirits tidy; so that sin doesn't take over us and make us even more complacent.

We must ask for the grace to clean: both our hearts and homes.  Look around and see what needs to be done and do it!  When we are not sure, ask Our Lady, for like any good mother, she will point us in the right direction and tell us where things belong!  She loves us, but to keep things running smoothly, we must help with the work, like any good child!

So grateful to Our Father for allowing the Mother of Jesus to come to our pigsty and help cleanse us!
"Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." -Rev 3:19

St. Bernedette pray for us who struggle with sin.

Kitchen Slime

There is always a first for everything...

This morning, as I tread through the kitchen barefoot (I did just mop last night), I slid upon an interestingly slimy substance.  At a closer glance, I called over my notoriously messy sneezer and told him if his slimy boogers should happen to fall upon the floor, it would be courteous of him to clean up the mess.

 Still trying to refine this young man...

It's Snowing!

INSIDE!

And you ask where was Mama?

Simply changing laundry over.

I think the dog is cleaning...

But I am cleaning more, ugh.

Maybe I should invest in one of these:

Any thoughts?

If I could keep the door closed to the room, it would be good; but evidently we don't do a very good job of this. Do you think the dog would leave these trash cans alone? I'm beginning to think it is worth a try...

Timing kills me...

So you know the post about offering things up when they aren't going the way you want?

Yeah, let me just say I've got a lot to work on.

I hate it when I am being tested; know I am being tested; try to stop the major temper tantrum, but can't! Have you ever been there?

We had an engaged couple come over last night. The house was a disaster of seeds, mud (partially from the pond remodeling) and clothes from a multi child wardrobe changeover that has been in the process for a year. Yes, you read correctly, a year (sigh). My husband was excited to be able to see a good portion of our bedroom floor, but half of the disaster ended up on the kitchen table, amidst the few dirty dishes.

After realizing we had about an hour before the couple would be here, Gabrielle came to the rescue and made some mac and cheese for dinner. However, her attention to detail, or lack there of, started to wear on me. I am not an expert in this detail field, but evidently I have learned a little bit since I was her age. ;) I needed to be more patient with her.

As she was making dinner, I was fixing the vacuum cleaner that wasn't working due to some helpful child (or children) vacuuming up a bobby pin, pencil, and sucker stick which clogged the rest up with a bunch of dog hair and dirt. It felt good to get all that gunk out of it! I asked for someone to help bring me the garbage. John was excited to help! I was thanking him until.....it tipped over on the carpet. I was in disbelief and commanded him to put the stuff back into the can. I continued to put the vacuum back together, and one piece was not going on. I was doing ok until I noticed I had been working on it for over a half hour (yes, I am stubborn. I knew I could fix it, just one more try!) and our guests would be arriving soon to the previously described condition of our house + a tipped over garbage can on the carpet that John was not wanting to clean up because of some slimy stuff. All I wanted to do was tidy up quick and vacuum. It didn't happen. We had a bigger mess!

They showed up. The out of control woman of the previous 10 minutes all the sudden turned nice. I hate this. Well, it was good I snapped out of it, but I should have the moment it started.

Actually, they should have come 15 minutes early! Then all would have been fine. ;)

FYI:

1. I hereby give you permission to arrive early to our home! ;)

2. The piece of the vacuum cleaner that wouldn't go on properly - I fixed it in one 20 second try after the couple left. Gotta love that...

Tanning for Summer

Well, the bathroom floor got mopped up last night before I hit the bed, but here are 2 of Gina's footprints of make-up tracking through my carpet. She was supposed to be getting her jammies on, and Michael came down to tell me she was playing with the tan stuff in a bottle. As I investigated, she had applied the "tan stuff" all over her body. I guess she is ready for summer! Onto the next mess...

St Dominic, help me in my daily duties - "All for the glory of God"

A friend shared another post with me, a tribute to St. Joseph. With his feast day coming up in 9 days, if you want, here is a Novena to him, the foster father of Jesus, and patron of the Universal church, the dying, fathers, social justice, families and work!

St Joseph, pray for us!

NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH
O glorious St. Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to thee do we raise our hearts and hands to implore thy powerful intercession in obtaining
from the benign Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special favor we now implore (state your petition).
O Guardian of the Word Incarnate, we have confidence that thy prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.
(Then say the following seven times in honor of the seven sorrows and joys of St. Joseph.)
V. O Glorious St. Joseph! Through thy love for Jesus Christ and for the glory of His Name,
R. Hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.
V. Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
R. Assist us!

Orange Juice, Anyone?

"I spiwled my orange juice, Mommy, but I'll clean it up for you!"

(yes, it IS juice!)

St. Frances of Rome:

"It is most laudable in a maried woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the alter to find Him in her housekeeping."

--Butler's Lives of the Saints

HAPPY MONDAY!