Dinner for 8

A Beautiful lady from our church felt she did not

know a lot of people that she sat by each Sunday.

sooo.......

She came up with the perfect idea....

a dinner for 8, 

We each take a month and prepare 1 meal

for each other and have them into our home.

It can be fancy....

or simple....

( Our hostess found these flowers in her field and herb garden, 

and the small vases at target,  $4.50 for 4... cool deal)

 

One hostess says she may have all of us meet at Donatos...

and another may have a bonfire with hot dogs...

But at this home we....

we created our own kabobs and the men grilled them....

Our hostess fixed

Corn on the cob, pasta salad and a dish of fruit....

 but the most important ingredient of Dinner's for 8...

laughter,  camaraderie,  new found knowledge..

 relaxation and new found friends....

Our turn is next month,  and I can't wait

I am thinking about grilled cubed chicken,

baked potatoes, and something else

(I haven't figure it out yet, but would love your ideas)......

(a ice breaker game,  my question was:  where did I meet my spouse?)



Think outside the box ...

Go outside your shell.....

Meet new people.....

Make new friends.......

And truly enjoy your summer......



Love,

Catrina

To Dream... The Impossible Dream

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To run ... where the brave dare not go ...
To right ... the unrightable wrong ...
To love ... pure and chaste from afar ...
To try ... when your arms are too weary ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

This is my quest...

In 1980,  when I was a young college kid,

I did not have a lot of dreams,  or a lot of courage.

I really didn't think I could accomplish much,  so therefore I didn't.

I had the opportunity to study in Europe,

yet the unknown caused me to pass it by.

I knew when I graduated  (1984)  with a Bachelor's degree

in Behavioral Science, I needed to further my education.

but I didn't, because I didn't 'feel' smart enough...

Then along came children and the opportunity to home school them.

My first thought was "I cannot teach them how to read".

"I don't know what I am doing".

yet..  I did it.....

I then had a burden on my heart to reach

stay at home moms, so thought about writing a newsletter

called Priscilla's Pen.

Someone approached me and told me this was already

done and that I didn't need to do it, and even gave me a subscription.

This still burned in my heart, but I felt like I could not do it....

( Now writing Priscilla's Pen and getting my Master's degree)

As life progressed... somewhere along the way...

I began to realize I can do much more than I though I could.

What before seemed an impossibility began becoming

a possibility even though it still remained an unknown.

(Playing my very first singles tennis match at 51)

Home schooled for 20 years, graduated 2 from homeschooling, 

learned how to ski at age 35, went back to school at 50,

adopted 2 children at age 48,  beginning to play tennis at 50.....

Began writing Priscilla's pen at age 51

This is to say to you all.... Dream the impossible and work to fulfill it...

Do not let the unknown, the impossible,  the naysayers,  your own self esteem,

your age,  your education,  your status in life......

and the list goes on......

stop you from dreaming and succeeding

Let this be your quest.....

Love,

Catrina



Picture this.....

The Lord Bless you and keep you.....

The Lord Make His Face Shine on You...

And Be gracious to You...

And Give you Peace...

Numbers 6:24-26

This is a set of verses that my best friend shared

with the people of our church...

to encourage them to share this with others around them.

A precious lady from our church

gave my husband this picture (initial one) with an

accrostic of the first phrase.....

The Lord Bless You And Keep You.

I had first seen this done about eight years ago..

It was done with a person's last name.

I thought is was an amazing art form and had a desire to do this for my family.

 

Well, it is eight years later, and I have never gotten it done....

But when Steve received this picture,

 it lit another fire under me to accomplish this...

So you will see in the four pictures, my beginner's try....

Can you see what I have attempted to spell?

It is a word that is very dear to my heart and overused in our society.....

Something I speak about in everyone of my posts.....

Yes!!!  You are correct.....

It is the word LOVE......

You truly can find it everywhere when you are looking....

But now, as I drive,  I am searching for letters everywhere....

I am also getting better at carrying my camera with me...

I don't want to miss a thing in life...

including letters that make pictures...

and also speak volumes...

Have you ever done this??  Do you have any tips or ideas??

Please share.....

Love,

Catrina

May God Give You Wings

When my second child,

my daughter Cheryse Nichole, 

(her junior prom picture)

When she graduated from High School,  I sang to her the song...

"May You Find Your Wings."

(Truly,  I cried through most of the song)


(She went to Word of Life in Argentina after she graduated)
(Yes,  she is totally fluent in Spanish)

The words of the song are as follows:

"I want you to know, as I watch you grow.....

I pray that God will fill your heart with dreams...

(The way we traveled in Argentina)
(and the hair???  well, mom and I blew the fuse, so we couldn't fix our hair)

And that faith (that you were taught) gives you the courage...

to dare to do great things....

(cheryse and her two younger sisters)

I am here for you, whatever life brings...

So let my love give you roots, and help you find your wings....

It's not living if you don't reach for the skies...

I'll have tears as you take off,  but I will cheer you as you fly..."

(both of my babies that are getting ready to fly)

She is now an assistant manager for Rooster's restaurant

and she graduates with a degree in Communications this December...


They are only ours for a moment....

Cheer,
encourage,
love,
discipline,
cry with them,
laugh with them,

But most importantly....

Love them through it all.....

Love,

Catrina

I want to begin by introducing my children one at a time.

Honestly,  I believe this is why I am starting this blog

My life is getting ready to take a new turn,

a turn I have been anticipating with tears in my eyes

My oldest has taken spread his wings and flew.

He feels he is following his calling and joining with others

to protect our freedoms and honor his country.

(My second baby in the back)

(Isn't she pretty?)

well anyways......

he began the process to start clearing out...

begin the process of making the changes needed to start his new life.

Steve,  Cheryse, and Shelby (Caleb's Fiance)

and my Caleb.

Because of the changes,  I have been reminded

that we should never waste a moment.

Time is too short to waste and time is going far too fast.

Work to find things to do together

of Course, this isn't what I like doing.....

But he and his daddy do.....

This is Caleb running and Steve riding a bike for 8 miles

This has come full circle for them,

because Steve used to run and Caleb would ride his bike.....

Don't waste moments.....

They don't come easy.....

You have to find them.....

Focus today to find time to spend with each of your family members, seperately...

And enjoy....

Love,

Catrina

A Day for Mother's

My Grandmother always held the day of Mother's Day

as the most important in her year.

(A candy bar brought by a friend,
 to help this mother survive the first day of her child at bootcamp)

It wasn't her birthday,  but it was the day that

was recognized by the whole country,

as a day set aside to honor mothers.

You could forget her birthday, but don't you dare forget Mother's Day.

(these are what two of my babies made for me years ago).

Now my Grandma did not require a Rolex,

or a new car,  she just wanted to be remembered on "her"day.

(A bundle of flowers my youngest daughter brought to me).

This is my encouragement to you and to myself. 

Remember your mother...

You may not have had the most perfect childhood....

or your mother may not have always been there for you.....

but she is still your mother.

(a ring, two of my babies went together to get me.  $9.99)

When you remember her,  don't look for appreciation or a positive response,

Honor her, because it is the right thing for you to do, for you.

( a gift my daughter gave me)

 

If you can buy her a gift,  do it!

 

If you can't, don't let the day go by...

 

weed her flower bed...  plant her some flowers...

 

 

 

do her laundry..... wash her windows.....

find her love language,  focus on what she likes,

and honor her with all your heart.

Love,

Catrina

Make sure you wear clean underwear.....

My Day did not begin as any other...

My day began by being one child short in my home

this is my baby boy  he left my home on monday night

for the airforce....  he flew out yesterday

for Lackland Air Force Base.

(We are not always serious!! )

Yesterday,  my heart swelled with pride as I listen to him repeat

his desire and promise to serve our country

and maintain our freedoms.

That's my boy!

a closer look to make sure you weren't confused as to who was mine...

So, I knew this mama needed something...

my first desire was to curl up in a ball under a warm blanket

and read a book......

but....  I am now working and that wouldn't have worked...

so,  I did what all good people do!

I got dressed up... at first I wanted to just get dressed but

knew I was fighting mind games...

so dress up I did.  It is proven to help you feel better.

(Don't look at the toenails)

Our mamas warned us about putting on clean underwear...

but I think we also need to work on the outside also.....

The outside is what others see,  but it is also what we glimpse in a glass

or in the bathroom mirror.....

so dress up,  dress to show the world you are okay...

Alot of people think that if you dress for comfort

it will help you feel better.  But what it does, is help you feel comfortable...

to feel better, you need to dress better.....

(don't look at the agespots)

In so many ways we play mind games with ourselves,

so we might as well use good mindgames.

I may have needed heels, but at least the shoes matched the top.

(my special occasion soap)

so when life knocks the breath out of you,

or drops you to your knees,

or just hurts your heart.

Fight it from the outside in.....

Dress up,  add the bling,  put on the spritz,

and feel better.

Love,

Catrina

Light the Way

Years ago I heard during the civil war and the

era of the underground railroad,  a lamp 

was placed in the window of the welcoming home.

This was to light the way for the desperate seeker...

when they saw the light,  they knew they may be safe

and harbored for a little while.

Whether it be a day,  a few minutes

or more,  they knew the care givers

were sacrificing their own safety to be the desperately needed haven.

This has been buried in my heart.....

until the day my children began rebelling.

this may not have happened with your children....

but it did with mine.... and is still going on.

I want them to know....

whatever choices and decisions made...

no matter how much they hurt themselves or have hurt others

Our home was their haven.....

It was their place of being loved unconditionally...



(an outside lamp)

the lights would always welcome them home.....

they would never come home to a dark house.....

The lights would always be on....

Just as the love of this mother is always on

a light in my home will always be on.

Love,

Catrina