CONGRATS - We Love You

We are so excited today because it was Mom Hartsell's LAST DAY OF CHEMO!! Many of you have been praying for Mary Hartsell for awhile now with her battle against breast cancer...thank you and please don't stop. She had her last day of chemo treatment today and has done so incredibly well.

(looking fabulous and beautiful in her wig which I love the style!!)

She is such a strong lady and has handled the highs and the lows and emotions of this whole experience with such composure and faith. I want to thank everyone who has supported her on this journey. Those family members and friends that were close by and took her to appointments, provided meal, cleaning and emotional support. Ever since her Chemo Day One, I decided to send her a daily envelope marked with the Date, Chemo Day # and inside included a note card with the same info and a daily quote to reflect upon. There was also a picture of the day to enjoy looking at (a lot were mostly of the girls to make her smile!) and then a gift or note or card from someone to open. So many of you sent such beautiful things and words or prayer and support....so thank you so much for all of that....it meant a lot to her and got her through some rough times...and we completely managed to fill 139 Chemo Daily Envelopes of Love!! I made her a chemo binder and photo album so she has been keeping all the things she has received and loves looking back through them. SO THANK YOU!!! We sent her a big congratulations basket of goodies for her to open today...Mom...hoped you enjoyed it!!! (hope to talk to you tomorrow).

Please continue the prayers and support...she has March mostly off except for still receiving the Herceptin treatment which I believe she will be getting through December. Then starting in April she will have radiation five times a week for twelve weeks. Hoping she has minimal side effects from that as well!! For those that still wanted to send something, feel free and I will pass on!! Mom - we love you, are so proud of you, are here to support you and pray for you...and CONGRATS on kissing chemo goodbye!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Celebrating my birthday tonight since it falls on Ash Wednesday this year, so my mom is cooking my yearly favorite meal of Lumpia with Sweet & Sour Sauce, Rice, Coffee Angel Food Cake
Shrove Tuesday: Pancakes, Fresh Fruit, Whip Cream, Syrup and Bacon
Ash Wednesday: Homemade Pretzels & Black Beans over Brown Rice
Thursday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Peas
Friday: Tortilla Soup and Roasted Garlic Bread
Saturday: Grilled Pork Chops, Asparagus, Carrots and Orzo
Sunday: Dinner with Family, TBD

Lenten & Liturgical Year Resources

I mentioned that I would post some of my favorite books I am using to celebrate the liturgical year in our home....so far these are ones I own and enjoy:

• The Catholic Home: Celebrations and Traditions for Holidays, Feast Days, and Every Day, by Meredith Gould
• The Year & Our Children: Catholic Family Celebrations for Every Season, by Mary Reed Newland
• The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions for Children's Faith Formation, by Beth Branigan McNamara with Sue Robinson and Anne E. Neuberger
• Catholic Mosaic: Living the Liturgical Year with Children, by Cay Gibson (I can't wait to get the Christmas One)

Then there are the resources online as well, many of the blogs and sites which I list on my sidebar and enjoy. I especially enjoy incorporating special meal ideas and Catholic Cuisine gives lots of good recipes and ideas, plus I like my cookbook: Building the Family Cookbook, by Suzanne Fowler (it goes through the year and gives foods tied in with stories of the saints)

I would love to hear if you have found and enjoy any resources that you couldn't live without. Also we are slowly building our children's library...so any good Lent/Easter book recommendations would be fabulous!! Still trying to nail down what we will be doing for Lent...might be more of a planning year for me and implementing next year when Angel is a bit older. I did order the Jesus Tree (similar to Jesse Tree) for Lent (thanks Jessica for the info) from Scripture Trees...and will make all the symbols this year and have ready to use next!! The Catholic Lapbooks look fun and so faith-filled as well so keeping those on my list too! We are also signed up to get the daily prayers and ideas from Holy Heroes (we enjoyed the Advent ones and coloring books we got as well!). Will keep you posted!