So sorry for too long

Life got crazy. What else can I say. This is the busy time of year for my business and we just wrapped up our 1st quarter and preparing for a trade show in Columbus on Thursday. That should be interesting. I'm getting samples ready and finishing up the kids grades for the quarter. My homeschool office isn't real quick at responding to phone calls so grades were due today and I have nada on the tech side to file. We are busy preparing for that, Christmas, trying to stay above water with homeschool...its all a bit nuts. I don't worry about politics and the world as much because I', so stinking busy. Maybe that's good, we shall see. I will be having a blog giveaway in the next week to celebrate St. Nicks Day, which we love here in Cincinnati. It will be something cool and hopefully a few choices. I feel like I have neglected my blog. Snif. I miss it and sometimes I need an outlet when things seem to be a whirlwind.
Christmas is close. I don't like cold. I will stand the cold for baby Jesus. :)

Blog give away winner

Thank you for all who prayed and entered. Since I have...erm....a little fabric stashed(haha), I will be doing another one in the future. I promise we did it fair since both little Thorn and I just went to confession on Sunday, we scrambled all the papers, cut evenly and she pulled one from behind her back. I did not, however have my lawyer present for the drawing. I may have to do that next time.
We have had really bad weather here and normally I don't like it and suck at driving in it but having a horrible cold, that is going into my chest now, so I uber suck at driving in this. They have not touched our complex with salt or a plow. I must go out and battle this today taking the boys to therapy, picking up from school. I need to get human again quick.

More tears.

Should I continue to have children despite special needs?

Another amazing example and insight from one of my favorite bloggers. I have prayed and feel that being wholly and truly pro-life means being open to all life in all ways. I've come a long way in this journey and hope that I am not afraid of the "what's next". Whatever that next is.

An Excellent Award goes to...

Thanks to Exspectantes, I am humbled by your words.

The rules: By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you have to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. Thank you out there for having such great blogs and being such great friends! You deserve this! Feel free to award people who have already been awarded…

1. Mrs. L, At the Wellsprings of Traditional Life for always seeming to have life in a wonderful balance.
2. Karen over at Gem of the Ocean for her wit and charm that gives me a smile.
3. Fr. Kyle Schnippel from Called by Name , who is always thought provoking and positive.
4. Jackie from Catholic Mom of 10 , always cheery and such and interesting life!
5. Micki at Holy Cards for your Inspiration , because I have simply never witnessed such a beautiful collection of holy cards and her words of love that go with them.
6. Laura at laurathecrazymama , her words are full of wit and life that keeps me inspired to keep hoping for another baby!
7. Mac at Mulier Fortis for always having a delightful opinion and an honest demeanor(with a zing of wit!)
8. Lily from Never Fading Wood for having an exquisite form to her writing and meaning in her words.
9. Ma Beck at Ward Wide Web , always honest and sarcastic with a true joy in her motherhood!
10. L.R.T. at Mater Dei, Memento Mei for being both Catholic and crafty!
11. Carolina Cannonball at The Crescat, for telling it like it is and having pretty photos all at once!
12. Fr. Z at WDTPRS for his incredible knowledge and insight to the Catholic faith and all things liturgical.
13. Finally, Exspectantes for bestowing my blog with this award and for having such interesting links and refreshing items on fertility and the faith!

I read and enjoy so many more.

My blog's reading level

Get a Cash Advance

H/T to ADAM'S ALE for this fun widget.
(As a side note, it has to be "quotes from others" that warrants that rating. I'm just not that edjumahkated.)

Schrute Web Log

I needed a laugh. The Office last night was a riot. Today, I read Dwight's blog, er, web log for the first time.
Dwight's Blog
Man he makes me laugh.

A new blog to check out

I found a new "Catholic pregnancy" friend. She has a new blog and it's very nice. You can find it here:

At the Wellsprings of Traditional Life

Nice Matters Award

FloridaWife bestowed this honor on me(sometimes I get cranky so it was a surprise for sure!) In turn I would like to nominate the following:

1. Mac McLernon
2. Coffee Catholic
3. elena maria vidal
4. Laura The Crazy Mama
5. Dymphna
6. Mrs Jackie Parkes MJ
7. Lily
I would have nominated a few others but they have already been "awarded".

There are some newer bloggers(to me) I'm fond of too that have inspired me with their spirituality and kindness.
1. PandaBean
2. Lynne
3. Amy
4. Amber

It makes for a nice "world".

Photo blog

Neat find:

Veronica's Veil Photography

Great blog I found...

Via the combox over at The Walled Garden:

Latin Mass Momma

I'm readying for church but hope to read more later tonight. Stuck in the midst of the huge order from which I can't see and end to.

This is funny.

Someone found my blog(separately) searching these keywords:

gay dan schutte
nuns + reiki
feelgood church

I have had searches like "felt banners", "bad hymns", etc. I think it's funny to really get one out of nowhere.

An unfortunate casualty

As I have been meandering around, I'm finding a pattern on some blogs I frequent. Fellow traditional Catholics have had to mention "comments" or disable the "anonymous" setting lately. Oddly, in my travels, I have not noticed many liberal/cafeteria Catholic blogs(or at least any that are successful). My advice is, if you are upset that you can't get your agenda out, start your own blog to do so. Trying to convert a traditional or orthodox Catholic to your camp is fruitless. To my anonymous commentors that were respectful but challenged my opinions and choices, I apologize. To those who hid behind the anonymous feature to slam me, my family and threaten me, please find another target. I pray for you that God may send you inspiration for a hobby other than trolling traditional Catholic blogs. I wanted to post this out of respect for those that used the anonymous feature with good reason and did not mean ill will. I need to give a shout out to V is for Victory! and her post on rogue phantom comments for my inspiration. She even prominently features some of this vile in her category "Victory Endorsements". If you don't believe there are other traditional Catholics such as myself out there, check my blog roll. I don't reject the Magestarium, I don't pick and choose what to believe. I am, however, 100% a traditional Catholic. I don't accept "creative liturgies", OCP Music that was derived by folk musicians(see New Advent, Ecclesiastical Music if unclear on what constitutes sacred music as set forth in the motu proprio, Tra le Sollecitudini and other sources.), Life Teen Mass(ones not up to par with GIRM/rock bands/crowding the altar, etc), "encouraging" girls to be servers(yes, this is an abuse, they are permitted, not to be encouraged), Communion under both kinds is given in all circumstances (Prohibited- an abuse). I could go further but I have to move on. I appreciate my fellow bloggers and love being a part of a huge Catholic blog community. While I don't always agree with the comments, any comment given with kindness and taste I have published and tried to respond. Thank you for your interest in my blog and opinions. I hope to clear up any confusion from my regulars with this entry.