Tales from Astoria: January 2013

Finding peace without wishing the days away

When I was single...I wished I was dating...

When I was dating...I wished I would be married...

When I was married...I wished I would be a mom...

Now that I'm a mom...

I don't want the days to go so quickly anymore. That's not to say I don't wish for things or situations to change. (Please God, let him sleep through the night!)

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I can't help but wonder why as a younger person I wanted to rush things especially when I know we were put in a particular place at a particular time for a particular reason.

When I was in college when I signed up for the Freshmen retreat. Not everyone was picked to go. You couldn't pick when you were going or who you were going with. I was selected for the retreat March 8, 2002. Out of the 1,000 + freshmen, my hubby was also picked for that same retreat. Coincidence? No. Divine Providence.

Divine providence (God's intervention in the world) will provide us what we need when we need it, according to His will not ours. We should pray daily that God's will is done in our lives. We will find peace in our lives when we accept that we do not necessarily know what God has planned for us.

"...Man cannot be justified, compared with God. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has resisted him, and has had peace?" Job 9: 2-4

No matter what it is, God knows what is in our hearts and on our minds and will provide according to his will. He may not provide us with the actual physical object we desire but he will provide us with the spiritual help needed to make fulfill our desires.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

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Mexican Kidney Bean Burgers

The hubby isn't eating ground beef these days so, I've been trying my hand at different meatless burgers because I don't particularly enjoy other types of burgers so, DIY veggie burger it is! I figure this is a great way to get some meatless recipes ready for LENT (coming soon to a church near you)!

During Lent, Beth Anne @ Beth Anne's Best and I will be hosting Monday Meatless Linkups. Please come join us! (It's my very first link up!)

Mexican Kidney Bean Burgers
Ingredients:
1 can kidney beans
2 tbsp salsa
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cilantro
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, mash the kidney beans using a potato masher. Add remaining ingredients. Mix together using your hands until all the ingredients are well incorporated. (If your mixture is too runny, add more bread crumbs.) Form the mixture into four patties. Grill the patties until golden brown on each side. Be careful not to flip them too often because they will fall apart.

Liz's Mid-Winter Clothing Sale

I'm excited to be linking up with the women at

Fine Linen and Purple for their Mid-Winter Clothing Sale!

If you have any questions about the items listed below feel free to e-mail me @ elizabethteixeira717 AT gmail DOT com .

When making a purchase:

Send an e-mail to the address above.

Make sure to list the item you would like to purchase in the subject line of your e-mail.

Items will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Upon receiving your e-mail, I will mark and item "Held for payment".

I will send you an invoice via PayPal once you have expressed a desire to purchase an item.

Payment is expected within 24 hours of receiving the invoice.

If you do not remit payment within 24 hours, I will re-list the item.

When an item is purchased, I will delete the description and mark the item SOLD.

All items are clean and in working order unless listed below.

All prices include shipping within the continental US.

If you aren't keen on the price but, would like the item e-mail me and make a reasonable offer.

No reasonable offer will be refused!

Black skirt: Free Size (with drawstring)

Detail on skirt is the same as the yellow one below

Hits below the knee

Yellow skirt: Free Size (with drawstring)

Hits below the knee

New with tags

LL Bean Skirt

Hits above the knee

Zipper closure

Size: 12

$12

Ankle length skirt

With drawstring

Medium

Calf length skirt

Elastic waist

(Part of the drawstring is in the waistband)

Petite Small

Ann Taylor Linen Skirt

Zipper closure

Hits just below the knee

Size: 14

$12

INC. Long Maxi Dress

$17

Note: I absolute adore this dress however, it is waaay to long for me!

So, I never wore it just took the tickets off!

Dress Barn Dress

Size 16

Back of dress has lots of give!

$12

New With Tickets

Style & Co.

White capri pants

Size:12 petite

$12

Summer Maxi Dress

(top of dress)

Size M/L

Dress Barn Dress

Sparkly bodice and bottom

Hits just below the knee

Size 16W

$17

Taking My 8 Month Old To Mass

We are very lucky to have found a parish that loves families! We are always welcomed with open arms and I am truly grateful.

We always sit in the fourth-ish pew on the left side of the center aisle. We are close to the door in case Charlie has a melt down. We are close to the altar so he can see the "action".

We've been very fortunate that until now, he's enjoyed sitting on my lap looking around quietly. When he was little-er, he used to fall asleep in my arms during the Eucharistic prayer and wake up during the processional. I miss those days.

We have entered a stage where he just doesn't want to be still or quiet. Today for the first time, despite offering a paci, a sippy cup, and three different toys, we actually had to take him to the back of the church.

He's not particularly loud but, he whines...and whines...and whines...

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He's not hungry...

He doesn't want to stand...

He doesn't want to sit...

He doesn't want to lay down...

He doesn't want to play...

He doesn't want to be held...

He just wants to whine.

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Interestingly, standing in the back of the church makes him quiet however standing next to our pew in the alcove doesn't work. I'm wondering if there is too much stimulation at the front??

Do any of you season moms have some advice?

#GoDark4Life

I never wanted to be a wrestler...

When you see the Pampers and Huggies commercials, you see these happy moms changing a smiling baby's diaper.

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I wonder how they do that.

This is what is looks like in my house.

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I never wanted to be a wrestler yet, it appears that once my precious little boy learned to roll over I quickly have become one.

Want to change a diaper?

Hold his feet. Flip him over. Slide the old diaper off (assuming he hasn't already taken it off). Flip him onto his back again because in the process of taking off the dirty diaper he is flipped over again. Pin him down. Slide the diaper under and attempt to snap while he is crawling away like a mad man.

Want to put pants on?

Don't bother. He's wearing Baby Legs because if I had to choose between pants and diaper. I choose the diaper.

I'm out of breath.

Charlie is crawling and pulling himself up.

I gotta go.

(Side note: Kudos to all those moms out there with 2 or more in diapers because I just don't know how you do it.)

40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

"What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:4-5

On September 13, 2011, I learned I was pregnant with my son. I was absolutely elated and couldn't wait to meet him. As a result, I cannot pretend to understand the difficulty that goes into the decision to abort one's baby as well as the pain and grief in the aftermath.

Therefore, I will leave it at this.

If you are a woman who has chosen abortion, please know that there are no unforgivable sins. You can still go to confession, seek FORGIVENESS, and receive ABSOLUTION from a Roman Catholic priest. In the words of Pope John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae 99, where he directly addresses those who have had an abortion:
"I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and to his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life."
There is HOPE after abortion.

There are others out there that understand your pain. There is a wonderful ministry called Rachel's Vineyard. They provide weekend retreats to help women find PEACE AND HEALING after an abortion. There are priests and trained professionals to help you process what you have experienced.

If you are on Long Island or the New York Metropolitan area, The Life Center of Long Island invites you to attend the next Rachel’s Vineyard Healing Retreat on the weekend of February 15-17, 2013. It begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday afternoon. This retreat is conducted in English. For more information contact: Deacon Frank Gariboldi at (516)523-0586 or e-mail: fgariboldi@optonline.net. To learn more about Rachel’s Vineyard look online at: www.rachelsvineyard.org or call 1-877-HOPE-4-ME.

The Project Rachel website provides endless resources for grieving women seeking peace after an abortion.

National Hotline for Abortion Recovery: 866-482-LIFE

On this day the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let us stand together in support of the lives lost as a result of abortion and the lives of those who struggle with day to day life after abortion.

Thus says the LORD:

In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning,

of bitter weeping!

Rachel mourns her children,

she refuses to be consoled

because her children are no more.

Thus says the LORD:

Cease your cries of mourning,

wipe the tears from your eyes.

The sorrow you have shown

shall have its reward,…

There is hope for your future. …

–Jeremiah 31:15-17

Meatless Monday Dinner

Meatless Monday was revived in 2003 by former ad man turned health advocate Sid Lerner, who saw the prevalence of preventable illnesses associated with excessive meat consumption and decided to introduce Meatless Monday as a public health awareness campaign. The initiative was backed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future and endorsed by 30 schools of public health.Meatless Monday has since turned into a global movement with a wide network of participating hospitals, schools, worksites and restaurants around the world. The simplicity of Meatless Monday’s message has allowed the campaign to once again become part of the American lexicon.

After much searching and a lack of desire to go to the grocery store, I decided to make polenta crusted fried shrimp and four cheese ravioli for dinner. The ravioli was simply from Butoni. I wasn't about to try to make my own ravioli. (I'm a bad blogger and didn't take pictures but, it sure was quick and yummy!)

Weeknight Tomato Sauce

1 can crushed tomatoes
Oregano, basil, thyme, and parmesan cheese to taste

Polenta Crusted Fried Shrimp

1 egg
8 jumbo precooked shrimp
3/4 cup of quick cook polenta
grated parmesan cheese, to taste

Put the shrimp in the egg and then use the polenta like breadcrumbs. Fry in a skillet with olive oil until the polenta gets crispy and turns golden brown. Let the shrimp sit on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. While they are still warm, sprinkle them with grated parmesan cheese.

7 Quick Takes

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I'm so glad Jen is feeling up to hosting 7 Quick Takes this week but, let's still keep her and her family in our prayers this week.

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I am so grateful for the tablet I received for Christmas because it has really helped me us my time more wisely. However, the only thing I can't get used to is blogging on it. I NEED a keyboard to blog.

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Baby Charlie has been sick with the icks this week. He's been throwing up a bit and had a low grade fever early in the week. We took him to the doctor but, unfortunately that was no help. So, with a little love from momma, the little guy is feeling better.

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He can now pull himself up on furniture, toys, coffee tables, etc.

WATCH OUT MOMMA!

I guess I'd better start to baby proof.

He still doesn't really crawl but, he'll get there eventually.

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As a result of the local yarn shop opening, I've been taking a few hours each week to sit, knit, and chit chat with the ladies down at the shop. This weekend I'll be going to an event called "Wine and Serpentine". It's a workshop where each participant is given a glass of wine and some Serpentine yarn to make a scarf or cowl.

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One of the best parts of my time at the yarn shop is that I get to enjoy a wonderful cup of *HOT* coffee. This is truly a rarity. Generally, I enjoy my coffee luke warm or cold only after attending to the little guy's needs.

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My youngest brother is headed to London tomorrow to begin his study abroad experience. He even has an internship with a financial company while he is over there. It should be awesome!

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On New Year's Day, I had a guest post up at CallHerHappy as part of Jenna's Celebrate Like a Catholic series. Why don't you go check it out?

Christmas/New Year's Recap

I took a little unexpected blogging break due to the fact that I felt spending time with family and cherishing every moment of Charlie's first Christmas came first.

Several weeks ago, during Lesson and Carols, one of the priests spent time with Charlie and decided he would make the perfect Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. Indeed, he was adorable. He even graced the congregation with a few of his own baby dance moves in the manger (car seat).

Christmas Eve Mass was extra special because our family friend Fr. Michael Duffy was celebrating the Mass. (It also happens to be his first Christmas as a priest.)

Of course Christmas brought lots of family and friends to visit. Charlie's Maryland grandparents graciously came to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us. My brother and his girlfriend came from DC. The youngest brother's girlfriend came from Rhode Island for New Year's Eve. We visited with wonderful friends who are in from Austin, TX. It was wonderful to celebrate with everyone.

We celebrated our first New Year's Eve as new parents.

What does this mean?

We went out to dinner with our friends from Texas early in the evening.

Then, we put Charlie to bed.

Then, we turned on the TV.

Then, the hubby fell asleep.

I tried desperately to keep my eyes open...

Finally, I fell asleep at 11:56 PM. NEW YEAR'S EVE FAIL (as my former students would say)!

2012 in 12 Photos

One of my favorite bloggers is hosting a photo link up! Go visit Dwija @ House Unseen to see what every one has been up to throughout 2012!

January - My Baby Cousin was born