Tag: gratitude

Joys of the Week: June 23-29

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Wow, jumping back into this has been wild! I’m going to try to post regularly, but I can’t really promise anything for now. Anyway, I’m here today and I’m ready to try! So, here are my joys of the week!

Let’s start with what’s probably most obvious to all of us: yes, restarting this blog has been one of my biggest joys this week. It is nice to spend time growing as I reflect on my faith and learn new things! The Catholic faith is just so rich that there will always be something new to learn and that in itself is such a blessing to give thanks for!

My husband had a day off this week as well as finishing work early! It is always nice to spend some extra time together, as a family. I am so grateful for these opportunities to create these precious memories, even if we only do simple things like going to the local park as a family or trying on a bunch of clothes at Walmart.

My boys!

I have also been blessed to spend some time with a good friend and her kids this week. I always feel blessed when I consider her friendship. And I love that despite the age difference, our kids get along really well!

Ms 11 and Ms 9 with Mr 2



What has brought you joy this week? It has been a long time since I have done this, and I am excited to share in your joys again, so feel free to name as many or as few things as you would like to share in the comments!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week: Jul 31-Aug 5

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Happy Sunday! What joys have blessed you over the past week? I’ll share mine below, please leave yours in the comments!

My husband surprised me with a mid-week breakfast run! He’s out and about for work and I love when he pops in – he hasn’t been able to do it in many, many months but he did this week! And what’s more, I got a real coffee! Best husband in the world – for me. Thank God!

I did a little matchmaking, as some of you may be aware. Got me feeling like a modern day Yente and I can kind of see why she did what she did! Not sure how fruitful it will be – I have hopes, but it’s ultimately in God’s hands – but it’s been fun! Please pray for all people discerning their vocation (God doesn’t just call us to marriage, if marriage should be our vocation; He calls us to marry one specific person!).

My child has given me countless, countless joys, as usual! But probably the biggest joy from baby has been a tiny bit more time just to do a full clean of the floors. Second time in two weeks, which is the most regular it’s been probably since baby arrived – so necessary, too, because we can count another biped in the ranks! I’m beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

That’s how we wrap up the week that was. Your turn!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week: July 23-29

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Happy Sunday! Let’s count our blessings. What are your joys of the week? I’ll start!

We invited a bunch of friends to come and hang out with us at our local lake on Sunday afternoon for a Christmasin July. It was so nice to just chill and enjoy the warm weather! We also had fun playing a game of dirty santa – if you’ve never played, you must try it at your next get together (it really is a case of the more the merrier) – and we ended up negotiating and trading and whatnot and everyone was happy in the end!

We made friends with a neighbor! It’s pretty densely packed in our neighbourhood, but it was lovely to be able to chat with somebody who had been through the whole motherhood thing before. I didn’t ask but I get the sense she might be Christian, too, so it might be nice to have some fellowship!

Yesterday we had some fun at a farm with one of my Mom friends. Someone who’s been through it before is good, but someone who’s in the trenches next to you is even better. And our kids got to interact a bit, too, which is always lovely to see!

Alright, your turn! Box up your joys in a little comment and send it over!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week: July 16-22

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Another week, another chance to share our joys! As usual, I’ll start, but please feel free to add your own in the comments!

Well, my baby’s growth and development never ceases to amaze, and it is a constant source of joy. More milestones, more improvement, and all in the cutest little package!

I got to go to a social dance – in the before times, I used to do a lot of swing dancing. Then there was a pandemic. And then I had a baby. So opportunities became scant. But today, I had an opportunity, and my wonderful husband volunteered to mind our baby while I enjoyed a couple of hours of afternoon dancing. It was so good to move my body and to connect with the music and other adults!

I quite unexpectedly caught up with some old friends. An old dear friend of mine, it turns out, lives not too far, and has a child close in age to mine, as well! My heart was filled with joy to reconnect.

So grateful to the Lord for these blessings and all the others He bestows on me every day. God is indeed good! What blessings have lifted you up this week? Let’s share in one another’s joys.

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the week: July 1-8

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These weekly reviews always sneak up on me… how do they come so often?! Anyway. Let me kick us off.

Our baby started walking! Still a few tumbles here and there, but it’s enough steps to stop counting. It’s so bittersweet… but if I cut myself out of the picture, I’m happy that bub is getting more independent and gradually spreading those wings! I’m so wary that I’ll blink and it’ll be time to head off to college, but that’sgoing to be another (bittersweet) joy for another day.

I bought matching summer swimwear for the whole family this week. Usually I don’t like to match (and often avoid matching with my husband!), but these outfits have a fun citrusy summer vibe, so I’m actually excited to wear them together! It was a bit tricky, as I had bought hubby’s swim trunks online and had to go to the ohysical stores to see if they had anything in my size that would work… and they did! We even got a matchy picnic blanket!

I got off the waitlist and onto the real list for a dance event! It’s not for a few months, but I have been looking for opportunities to up my dance, and I am glad to be going! I’m pleasantly surprised at the level I was put in, as well! Feeling a little rusty at present, but there are a few opportunities between now and then, where hopefully I will be able to dust off the cobwebs and get back into it.

Let me know what your joys have been this week – I’d love for us to celebrate one another’s little victories and give thanks to the Father! Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week: June 25-July 1

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Wow, how is it already July? Time seems to move faster every day! Well, time to take stock and give thanks for another week. Let me know your joys in the comments so we can rejoice with one another and praise God for His goodness!

We have had some good news on the health front for our baby, which has been a long (and stressful) time coming! Over the last several months, we’ve sought professional help and implemented the suggestions and I am so grateful for the blessings God has given us on this path. So glad we’ve finally found what works!

My parents will be visiting us soon and I managed to find them a place to stay not far from us (unfortunately we don’t have space to host). I am getting excited about it, because it’s been over a year since I last saw them.

I have been struggling spiritually the last few weeks… I didn’t realise, but I had committed to so much that I was experiencing spiritual burnout! I just fell into a hole and could not manage to pull myself out. How ironic with my recent post about self-care! But by God’s grace, and thanks to the prayers of probably a dozen people, He has empowered me to pick myself up, dust myself off, and once again continue to follow Him, perhaps with less productivity, but with no less zeal and love.

Looking forward to sharing the joys – please leave yours down below! Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week: June 11-17

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What a week it has been! You’ll have to excuse the late joys post; the little one is going through a rough patch, so this short post has literally taken me days to write up!

We started with my baby’s birthday party and that was so good on so many counts! A day of joy, despite all the stress in the lead-up and the tiredness in the aftermath.

We went on a neighborhood walk and met a baby who lives a few doors down and whose birthday is the day before our baby’s! We even had a playdate with them! We had fun and we hope to see them again soon!

Our family had a few moments after the Saturday Vigil Mass to socialise with some of the parishioners, which was lovely. We learned that the stained glass windows in our church were entirely done by local volunteers as a gift to the parish didn’t – it took ten years of planning!

So now it’s your turn. What were some of your joys (from last week!)?

Joys of the Week: June 3-11

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Well, it’s that time of the week again… time to share our joys of the week!

I’m getting a bit of clarity on something I’ve been discerning for several weeks, now. I’ve still got some discerning to do, but getting some direction on where to go next is a good feeling!

We have an exclusive conact napper since birth, but just this week, I have managed to transfer my baby to the bed – twice! I’ve only had 10-15 minutes to myself but preparing food in peace has been so appreciated!

Last night, I got to have some food I’ve been wanting to eat for a loooong time. It’s a dish I haven’t had in years… and it did not disappoint!

What about you? What brought you joy last week? Let me know in the comments! Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week – Apr 30 – May 6

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How was your week? My week was pretty rough, but there are always blessings to be counted. God is good, all the time! Let’s reflect and express gratitude.

Sunday started the week beautifully with a family jam… The little one started it by playing some rhythms on the high chair tray at the end of breakfast, so I broke out a couple of percussive instruments and we spent a little while just jamming together! Thank you God for anticipatory Masses (I’m beginning to understand why that was the timeslot of choice for my parents while I was growing up!).

Hubby and I got some spring cleaning done this week, and while the house isn’t completely spic and span (how often does that realistically happen with young children?), it definitely feels a lot more manageable. It was also nice to be able to donate some of the clothes we don’t use anymore to our parish thrift store. It is too easy to buy into (no pun intended) the materialistic consumerism that is ubiquitously in our faces. Fighting that is hard, but like GK Chesterton says, “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” We gotta keep striving to live counter-cultural lives!

A family member had some medical tests that we were waiting on results for, and they all came back clear! All things in God’s time, but that’s still a big relief for me at this point in time.

Alright, that’s enough of me-talk. What about you? What are some of your joys of the week?

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!

Joys of the Week

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This is a little something I picked up from one of my former priests. After the youth mass (wow, that was a long time ago!), a bunch of us used to go out for a bite with whomever had celebrated Mass that day. One of them used to always ask us what our joys of the week were. Come to think of it, he used to ask every so often, not just at our post-Mass gatherings.

I love the spirit of gratitude it fostered, and to be able to share in one another’s joys was a joy in itself. I also think it’s a good way to acknowledge all the little blessings God gives us. And it’s encouraging to look at all the other good things we have, when some parts of our lives may not be going too well. Yes, if we are faithful, we have assurance of salvation, however, it doesn’t mean we should neglect to think of all the other blessings God gives us and be grateful for them! God is so good!

So, with that said, I have decided to regularly share joys of the week on the blog! It’ll be another way that we can build community. I invite you to share your joys of the week in the comments below – no limit to how many or how few, just share as you feel moved to share! Here are some of mine:

For me, starting this blog has been a breath of fresh air. Even though it’s still got a focus on mothering, it isn’t that same humdrum. It’s actually a bit of a break from the baby routine of eat, play, sleep (unfortunately I still don’t get enough sleep, ya feel me, Moms?), and it’s allowed me to reconnect to one of my old passions: writing. Thanks God for the inspiration and motivation to do this! I’m also encouraged by the support I’ve received so far. It’s not a heckuva lot, but it’s a start! I hope and pray that this blog will grow to be a blessing to many families.

I’ve also had some amaaaazing food. I am so thankful God gave me my wonderful husband who, among other things, makes such tasty dinners (and a majority of our amazing food this past week) most nights while I take care of the bedtime routine. We are definitely doing life as a team, and I love it!

And of course, so many joys come from our beautiful baby! New teeth, social skills, tentative steps, so many kisses… There are always so many joys, but probably the most memorable as I write this post is the first birthday party our child was invited to just yesterday. It was so fun to watch how our baby got on in a new environment with new people. And I made some new Mom friends!

Your turn, now; I’ll see you in the comments!

Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!