A Litany of Praise and Thanks

Wow, the past 2 weeks have simply been overflowing with blessings, and I can't help but think that much of that is due to the prayers of my readers, friends, and family.  So THANK YOU, again!!!

Here is a litany of things that I am praising God for this week:

Isaiah is finally sleeping through the night and the "sleep training" process was miraculously easy with him.  We started laying him in his crib awake when it was time for him to nap, and he only fussed for about 5 minutes the first couple of times, and now when we lay him down, he doesn't fuss a bit.  He just rolls onto his side to snuggle with is blanket and happily goes to sleep---all...night...long!  I can hardly believe it.  I am so thankful for my husband who not only insisted that we do the sleep training, but he also did most of the work (especially in the middle of the night those first few days).

Isaiah also has become fully weaned this past week.  This was a bit earlier than I had intended to wean, but in my heart I knew it was the right time for my own personal health--physically and emotionally I was exhausted from waking up every hour at night to feed him.  I am so thankful that the weaning process was a breeze.  This little guy just loves his bottle and loves being held for feedings by his daddy and his adoring brothers.  I think he is getting way more milk from the bottle than he was getting from me, which is probably part of the reason he is now sleeping through the night. 

I can already feel the difference in my hormones and moods now that I am getting adequate sleep and not nursing anymore.  My cycle this month is also showing a good change...my ovulation occurred a week earlier than the previous 3 months, which is closer to my normal cycles again, and my luteal phase lengthened considerably!  Translation:  I am starting to feel more like my happy self again!!!

I also started making notes in my "thankful journal" again, so here are some more little things that I am praising and thanking God for lately...

1. being asked to sponsor a beautiful young lady named Nichole for a Cursillo retreat (please pray for her November 14-17...she has a deep wound in her heart that needs healing)
2. the Eucharist, the Lover of my soul, always there...always
3. "Trinity-Taco-Tuesdays":  our new tradition of going to pray at the Trinity chapel after school and then going out for tacos afterwards
4. my new (even shorter!!!) hairstyle
5. Isaiah's peach-fuzzy hair
6. Michael's contagious smile when he caught a rainbow trout
7. date night at home with Chile's chips and salsa
8. Isaiah's gummy grins and pointy chin
9. wearing warm fall clothes again
10. girl time with friends
11. pretty scarves and hats
12. my always-happy-2-year-old, my sunshine in the rain
13. hearing Joseph tell stories of his 6th grade teacher, the former Army "drill-sergeant"
14. watching Michael run and catch balls in the back yard all by himself
15. taking pictures
16. phone calls from my sensitive brother
17. family rosary time with a candle burning
18. quiet time
19. watching the World Series with my boys while sipping a wine cooler
20. catching up on my photo albums
21. my husband surprising me with lattes that I don't deserve
22. a date by myself at a crepe shop
23. hugs from Dominic, my big boy who still loves to hug his mommy
24. a glimpse of sunshine and hope peeking through the clouds in my soul

 

 

"We should not accept in silence the benefactions of God,

but return thanks for them."

St. Basil

 

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted

or take them with gratitude."

G.K. Chesterton

I Love Padre Pio...BOTH of them!

Last week at our boys' school, the Kindergarten through 3rd grade classes were given the assignment of dressing up as a favorite saint and giving a report about their holy saint to a large group of proud parents and grandparents.  The kids were adorable.  Some of them were so nervous and quiet that you couldn't hear a word that they said into the microphone...but they were still darn cute!  Over 75% of the girls chose St. Therese the Little Flower, which I'm sure made sweet Therese smile from heaven and shower extra graces upon our little Catholic school.  :o)

Our Dominic chose St. Padre Pio, who is a favorite in our household.  Dominic did an amazing job--he is such a carefree, pure, and confident kid that he had no problem sharing his report to a gym full of people.  He shared some very interesting facts about St. Pio, and I thought some of you might enjoy reading it...  But mostly, I just wanted to share these adorable pictures of our little Pio; complete with the beard, the robe, and even the stigmata! 

 

 

All the little saints singing a praise and worship song

and doing the sign language with the words

(Dominic is right in the middle of the group looking at the camera) :o)

St. Pio was a holy man who was born in 1887.  He was born as Francesco Forgione, and was given the name Pio, which means “pious” in Italian, when he joined the Capuchin Order, a branch of the Franciscans.  St. Pio was ordained a priest in 1910, but soon after, he became ill, experiencing loss of appetite, fainting spells, and terrible migraines.  His fellow brothers and followers believe that he experienced severe spiritual suffering and even battled physically with the devil.

He heard confessions several hours a day, and he had the ability to read souls; therefore, he could talk with people about the sins they had forgotten to confess.  He also had the ability to bilocate and levitate.  It is said that during World War II, some pilots were trying to bomb his town.  When they approached the town, they saw Padre Pio floating in front of their airplane!  When they tried to bomb the town, the bombs would not leave the plane. 

Perhaps the most famous and well known fact about Padre Pio is that he bore the stigmata, which are the wounds that Christ received on the cross.  The bleeding was so severe that he constantly needed them to be wrapped in bandages.  He said that he also experienced the pain from the crown of thorns and the scourging.  Miraculously, he did not die of blood loss, which is amazing since he was constantly losing blood.  Padre Pio’s health continued to worsen until 1960, when it reached a climax.  On September 1968, he offered his last Mass.  He died at 2:30 AM September 23, 1968, at the age of 81.  He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002.  His feast day is September 23, and he is the patron saint of civil defense volunteers and Catholic adolescents.  January 22 is identified as “Don’t Worry Be Happy Day” in honor hos one of St. Pio’s well-known sayings:  “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”

St. Padre Pio, pray for us and help us love Jesus as you did!

Celebrating the Saints

Every year we love to celebrate the saints rather than the secular Halloween holiday.  I certainly don't fault any families who go trick-or-treating on Halloween night; it's just that our family has found it to be way more fun to be crazy Catholics who dress up as saints and play games that keep our minds focused on our faith. 

A few nights before our party, we always have fun carving "Saint-O-Lanterns" and roasting the seeds for a tasty snack...

 

 

 

And then we have fun thinking of our favorite saints to dress up as, recalling their heroic faith and praying that we can become more like them every year until we meet them in person someday in heaven.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of the costumes from this year...



 





Isaiah dressed as brave St. George, the dragon-slayer!

Paul and I dressed up as Blessed Louis and Zellie Martin, the parents of St. Therese, who are the only married couple to be beatified together.  I pray that Paul and I can glorify God through our marriage like they did.  (Sorry, there's no picture of me this year...apparently, I was a camera hog).

 



Nathanael was St. Gabriel the archangel, but I was worried he would become a "fallen angel" as he tried to climb up to the top bunk right before the party!  Thank goodness for guardian angels!

 

 

 

Dominic was St. Juan Diego, and he sure loves the Blessed Mother just like Juan did!

 

 

 

Here is one of the sweetest guests at the party, little Agnes, dressed as pious St. Clare.

 

 

 

And here are all the little saints who came to our party this year!

5 girls plus 5 boys...they could make some saintly couples in years to come... ;}

 

 

 

We had a small gathering this year because I was a bit too overwhelmed to organize a big shin-dig.  So we invited some of our dearest friends who are the most faith-filled Catholics we know,

and they creamed us in a Catholic Trivia game!  Even Joseph and Michael were old enough to play the trivia game with us this year and they almost beat the adults!  It's good to know how well they are being catechized at their Catholic school.

 

 

 

The party always ends with smashing a pinata full of candy.  That way the kids won't miss out on the Halloween sugar-high that all their trick-or-treating friends experience!

 

 

Once again, fun was had by all, both young and old.

And hopefully God was glorified by our crazy-Catholic celebration!!!

 

HAPPY ALL SAINT'S DAY!!!

 

Still searching...

My appointment this week was a disappointment.  The midwife that I went to see pretty much dismissed my concerns about my low progesterone, didn't even send me to the lab to check my progesterone levels, and simply thought I should take an anti-depressant.  It's not that I'm close-minded about the possibility of needing to take anti-depressants.  I truly feel like there is no shame in taking them.   It's just that my instincts tell me that my low progesterone is the root cause of my mood-swings, so why would I take a drug to hide my symptoms rather than finding a way to fix the source of the problem? 

So I left the appointment with more questions than answers. 

But thankfully, I have some wonderful friends who have been leading me towards some possible solutions.  My NFP instructor is referring me to an NFP physician from the Tri-cities area who truly understands the fragile ecosystem of a woman's hormones and might be able to help me get my progesterone levels back to normal.   Other friends have suggested some natural remedies like taking extra D and B vitamins, getting more exercise, and spending time with the Lover of my soul in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  My husband has been extremely helpful too and has offered to take care of baby Isaiah at night so that I can start getting some sleep and begin the weaning process which might help stabilize my hormones.   And many friends (and even strangers!) have reached out and shared their personal journeys through depression and hormone imbalances which has consoled my heart more than they will ever know and made me feel like I'm not alone.

So THANK YOU, all of you, who have been walking beside me on this road that I never thought I'd be on. Your outpouring of tips, words of encouragement, and prayers are helping me to have hope and giving me the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other as I continue to search and to find.

P.S.  If there are others out there who would like to share their wisdom or experiences with me but don't want to leave a public response in the "comment" box, you are welcome to email me at:  pmhurlbert@gmail.com

Searching for my Happy Place

Perhaps you've noticed that I often blog about "joy" and "thankfulness."  Well, to be honest, that's because those two things are often very hard for me to find, especially this past year.  Perhaps this may surprise some people.  I mean look at our family picture...I have 6 great reasons sitting beside me to make my heart filled with joy to overflowing!  But for some reason I just can't hang onto the joy for very long.  It's like trying to catch autumn leaves falling from the trees.  The leaves are beautiful, in every shade of joy you can imagine, but they just keep slipping through my grasping fingers.  If I was to be totally honest with myself and my readers, I would say that I am probably going through one of the following:

1)  depression
2)  a vitamin or hormone deficiency
3)  a dark night of the soul
4)  or perhaps all of the above

Aside from my tears and moodiness, another indicator that something is askew is that my cycles have been very abnormal since their post-partum return about 4 months ago.  For those of you who are NFP savvy, I would explain my cycles as having a crazy-short luteal phase (only 2 or 3 days long!), which my NFP instructor tells me could indicate that I am very low in progesterone.  This wouldn't be the first time I have been told that.  After my 3 miscarriages, I found out that I have extremely low progesterone and I have to take supplements to sustain my pregnancies.  So perhaps my body is low in progesterone all the time?  I finally decided it's time to find out.  I've been searching for my "happy place" for so long, in so many different ways, but, for the most part, by myself.  I've wanted to win this battle for joy by my faith alone, but perhaps like a good Catholic it requires faith AND works...(hee hee--poor theology humor--sorry).  Seriously, though, I think I can finally admit that I need some extra help.  So, I made an appointment to see my OBGyn on Monday to get some testing done and to see what wisdom she might impart.  I'm hopeful, but also apprehensive.  What if she tells me something I don't want to hear?  Am I humble enough to accept her advice and to take medication if need be?   Or perhaps there is nothing clinically wrong and God is just calling me to carry this cross for the good of my soul for a season?  If you could spare a prayer or two, please send some my way...that I can figure out what is causing these clouds in my sky (or for the grace to simply accept them).  I'm ready to see some sunshine again.

In the meantime, I'll just keep walking in faith through this difficult season, counting my blessings as I go, and continue to search for my happy place. 

Perhaps it's just around the bend, or perhaps it's been beside me, in front of me, within me, and all around me all along.

 

A Special Visit

Last week was a special treat!  Not only did my parents come to visit, but also my sweet brother Jon, his beautiful wife, Debbie, and their adorable son, Evan.  The original intent for their visit was to be here to lend a hand while Paul was gone for a week of work training in Dallas.  However, due to the government shut-down, my husband's trip was cancelled, so it was an extra blessing to have ALL of us together!  The visit was way too short, but very, very sweet!  Here are some of the highlights:


Family photo shoot:
I was able to get a very sweet family shot of Jon, Debbie, and Evan!  Their little guy is often very serious, so they were delighted to get a picture of him smiling for the camera.  And I was delighted that Debbie was willing to take a family photo of our family while my brother and my parents worked hard behind the camera trying to make our boys smile.  With a family of 7, it's very rare to get everyone looking at the camera and smiling, so I was pleased (well, mostly).  But I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the lighting in the picture (it was too bright and sunny when we took the shot, so we all look a bit washed-out...oh well...just another great opportunity for me to let go of my perfectionism, right?)  :o)  The picture turned out way better than it would have if I had used the timer button on my camera, which is how we normally get a family photo, so I am happy.

 

 

The Fish and Wildlife Museum:

This place was a big hit for both the young and the old!  It had lots on neat wildlife to look at; plus, it was filled with hands-on stuff for the little ones to play with.  It was not quite as cool as a big zoo, but I think it gave Jon's family a genuine Montana experience.

 



 

 

 

 

 

Lots of playing around:

Jon loved challenging the older boys to a few games of soccer; our boys were delighted to have an adult around who acted like a big kid!  The 1 and 2 year olds (Evan and Nathanael) loved having playmates their own age, and they were constantly playing with cars, trains, or airplanes---genuine boys, for sure.  Dominic was in heaven with plenty of people around willing to play cards or boardgames with him, which is his favorite thing in the world to do!  And Grandma was glowing just watching all of the fun had by all and being able to hold baby Isaiah at every opportunity!

 

 

 

 

Salmon Snagging:
Our boys were delighted that Grandpa Pat arrived at the perfect time of the year for salmon snagging, which only happens once a year when the mature salmon gather to spawn.  This was the first time our boys ever experienced this event, and they are hooked for life! 

 

 

 

Just Being Together:

It was such a joy just to be together no matter what we were doing.  Meal times were very special, and it was even more special because we could fit EVERYONE around our NEW table that we had custom build by the Amish.  The table arrived at the same time our company did, so the timing was perfect.  I love the table, and I loved it even more when it was surrounded by the people I love the most.  I sure wish all my family lived a few hours closer so we could gather around this table more often!

 



 

 

The Carousel:

Of course, the carousel is always a big hit for the littlest ones.  But even the big kids had a great time eating ice cream and trying to reach the brass ring to earn a free ride!

 



 

 

 

 

Thanks, Mom, Dad, and Jon for filling our week with treasured memories!

COME BACK SOON!

:o)

 

Pope Francis consecrates the world to Our Lady of Fatima

The National Catholic Register reported that tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world gathered under unseasonably warm and sunny weather in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 13th, to witness Pope Francis consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The Holy Father performed the consecration before the image of Our Lady of Fatima which was brought from its shrine in Portugal, asking Mary’s help to “revive and grow faith” so that they may look after those who suffer. Oct. 13 marked the 96th anniversary since the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to shepherd children Jacinta Marto, her younger brother Francisco and Lúcia dos Santos at Fatima. In front of an estimated 150,000 pilgrims, the Pope asked Mary to welcome the consecration “with the benevolence of a mother.”

To read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-consecrating-the-world-to-mary-culminates-fatima-celebration/#ixzz2i0ioZt3u

Below is the beautiful prayer of consecration the Pope shared with the world on Sunday.  I was blessed to pray this with a group of faith-filled Christians on the sidewalk of Planned Parenthood on Sunday as we consecrated our hearts to the Blessed Mother and asked her powerful intercession to help convert the hearts of all pro-choice people in the the world, especially the employees of our local Planned Parenthood clinic.  If you feel called to do so, please take a moment to pray this beautiful prayer, asking Our Lady to increase your faith, drawing you ever nearer to her Son so that you can faithfully do God's will in your life.

Holy Mary Virgin of Fatima,
with renewed gratitude for your maternal presence
we join our voice to that of all the generations
who call you blessed.

We celebrate in you the works of God,
who never tires of looking down with mercy
upon humanity, afflicted with the wound of sin,
to heal it and save it.

Accept with the benevolence of a Mother
the act of consecration that we perform today with confidence,
before this image of you that is so dear to us.

We are certain that each of us is precious in your eyes
and that nothing of all that lives in our hearts is unknown to you.
We let ourselves be touched by your most sweet regard
and we welcome the consoling caress of your smile.

Hold our life in your arms:
bless and strengthen every desire for good;
revive and nourish faith;
sustain and enlighten hope;
awaken and animate charity;
guide all of us along the path of holiness.

Teach us your own preferential love
for the little and the poor,
for the excluded and the suffering,
for sinners and the downhearted:
bring everyone under your protection
and entrust everyone to your beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus.
Amen.