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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

My Blessed Journey

I have thought long and hard about sharing this with you, but I know you will all be encouraging and supportive. That's what I love the most about you ladies! I even created a blog about it...but it only lasted one day. I took it down out of fear, I guess.

I have finally started the journey to try and get pregnant. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I have some medical issues to deal with, but it's nothing God can't help me get through. I ask for your prayers and any tips you can share.

This week starts all the work. Hopefully, I can share this blessed journey with you. I hope there will more be joy than disappointment. I know there will be a lot of prayer...more than now.

The thought of bringing a precious life into this world is an honor.

The nerves are getting the best of me...God is my strength. Faith is my fuel.

Love and Blessings,

Monique

Friday, March 5, 2010

God is leading us...


I am two seconds away from my lunch...a tuna sandwich if you're wondering. And I can't stop thinking about something.

Are we paying attention as God leads us in life?

Today, I had a conversation with someone about how God is opening all these doors for her. She's very attentive to the signs God is giving her. She accepts it and follows the way the Lord is leading her. She knows that if she doesn't follow Him, then that is her own doing. And when things go astray, she knows that she has no one to blame but herself.

I also had a chat with my dad, who is battling gout. It's not a fun disease, in fact he is very much a "man's man" and this is kicking his butt! He also loves to drink and eat all the bad things that cause his gout to flare-up. Personally, I believe he drinks too much beer, but he already knows that. He called me today, to tell me that he is going to give up drinking for a while until this subsides.

It's like...OK? How many gout flare-ups did he have to have, to know that God is telling him to slow down on his drinking. This last flare-up must have been a painful one for him to stop drinking. Of course, I offered my help and I made sure to point out to him that this is a sign from our Lord to calm down on his drinking. He didn't take the help, but he did chuckle and I know he knows this is the Lord's doing.

Sometimes we go into our daily lives with our eyes closed, but for just a second stop and pay attention to the way God is leading you. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Love & Blessings,

Monique

P.S. Yes, I have changed the look to the blog...again! I know, I know. I can't help it. I know it's the content that counts and not appearance. I just get bored quickly and I love finding new blog templates to spice things up! Lol. Tell me what you think about this one.

P.P.S. Don't forget to enter the "All Things Guy" Giveaway. If you have boys then you'll want this book! Tell your friends about it too!

Response to a Diatribe: Guest Blogger Kiaya

Recently, I was reading article on a popular Catholic website. The article was discussing the shocking behavior of American Olympians and how the sports culture in professional sports and now bleeding into the college sport arena is tainted with narcissism, animal like behavior, and lack of self control. The author of the article did acknowledge that to obtain a spot on the Olympic team you need dedication, but dismisses this by going on and on about “lewd acts.”

While I agree that some athletes can be narcissistic and grow to believe they do not have self control, this is not the Norm. I believe in recent years our Athletes on the college, professional and international stages have really made an effort to turn around their attitudes. Now more than ever, we are seeing young people take steps in the right direction. I ask the author of this article to look for the good in sports which may take longer to find because the bad is so easy to see. The newspapers, television programs, and reporters everywhere love to cover a scandal, a mishap, and bad behavior yet conveniently forget about the good.

Just this morning a member of the American Men’s Bobsledding Team who won Gold, adopted a beautiful golden retriever on the air. He is a bachelor and trying to set an example for people everywhere. He has had quite a year; went to the Olympics and won Gold, now launched into public eye and media circus, and all the while being a stand up guy.

Maybe, what today’s young people need more than ever is encouragement! I can say as a member of the under 20 club, that I am tired of hearing, “Your generation is so screwed up!” Just as any generation, there are members that seem to ruin the reputation for us all. But, let’s also remember that we are not perfect. We are human. We should pray for our brothers and sisters; who unfortunately are in the public’s eye. I am sure that this increased pressure does not help with the personal battles they are fighting.

Perhaps, what the younger generation needs also is compassion from older generations. Being jaded by the message of, “you generation is a mess” I tend to turn a deaf ear. However, if young people like me were shown compassion, I think it would stop them dead in their tracks. The younger generation is making an effort to clean up our acts, at least some of us anyway. Maybe, the older generations should take the same attempts to be less judgmental and more compassionate.

-Heated Young Person!

Kiaya
Blog: kayakmango.blogspot.com

Meatless Fridays: Vegetable Lo Mein



This recipe comes to us courtesy of the Renegade Lunch Lady Chef Ann Cooper and her book Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed our Children. Pasta is always a hit with kids and lomein is no different. Teaching children to eat with chopsticks is great fun and opens the door to discussion of other cultures. For protein, tofu, chicken, or pork make good additions to this dish.

Ingredients

3/4 pound lo mein noodles or whole wheat spaghetti
Sesame oil (start with a small amount)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
4 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
1/3 cup sliced scallions (green onions)
1 cup julienne carrot (2 large)
1 cup thinly sliced celery (1-2 stalks)
1 cup thinly sliced red onion (1 medium)
3/4 cup fresh bean sprouts
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Method

Cook the lo mein noodles in boiling salted water until al dente. Cool. Toss lightly with sesame oil to prevent sticking.

Combine the hoisin and soy sauces in a small bowl and mix well.

In a wok or a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon canola oil and quickly sauté the ginger, garlic and scallions until they release aroma, then add the carrots, celery and red onions and briefly sauté before adding the bean sprouts, about 2 minutes.

In a separate medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil and sauté the noodles. When they are hot and look pan-fried or lightly browned, add them to the other sautéed ingredients in the large pan. Add the soy-hoisin mixture and stir to coat. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Fashion Spotlight: Tabeez




Who: Tabeez
What: Trend Setting Modest Apparel
Where: www.Tabeez.com

**They have an amazing sale going on right now!!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

God speaks...I listen.

Today, I was listening to the daily mass on EWTN (in the car) and the Father's homily spoke about not judging others. I believe it was in regards to Matthew 7: 1-2.

I always believe God is speaking to me, when the Gospel references something that is going on in my life. On Sunday, my husband and I served at mass. One of the lectors was a young woman, who in my opinion wasn't dressed appropriately. She wore a dress that showed her cleavage, bare shoulders, and the slit up the back was too high. I immediately judge her.

I know I'm not supposed to do this. I get so upset with myself when I realize that I am judging my fellow brother or sister. Then I start to wonder if any of the parishioners have done that to me as I stand up there. I don't want them to do that. I don't know why that young woman wore that dress. And I've realized it's not my place to judge her clothing. I just need to go to mass and open my mind and heart to the word of the Lord. That's it.

I know I am only human, but I can't use that as an excuse. I will pray and ask God for help to stop judging others. It's who I want to be.

Lent Update: 12 days of Lent...and yes I am still alive. It's funny, because I never thought staying off of sites like Facebook and Twitter was going to be this hard. Seriously, it might sound funny to a lot of you out there, but I love the internet. Some would say I'm addicted. Lol. I think it's one of the best inventions ever created. Ok, well next to the airplane. On a serious note, I would like to tell all the Catholic Chicks to stay strong and keep looking to Jesus as inspiration for whatever you have given up this Lenten season.

Love & Blessings,

Monique

Music Buzz: Meredith Andrews


Who: Meredith Andrews
What: A contemporary Christian artist and worship leader."As Long as it Takes" to be released March 2nd.
Where: www.MeredithAndrews.com
When: Upcoming tour dates here.