7 Quick Takes Friday: Otherwise known as the Push to Blog

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I have blogged.  I have so many pictures and events that I need to blog about, especially as the  school year is crawling, um coming to a close. 

7QT:

1. All the children are in the last quarter of school.  Officially.  We are in the final stretch, and will have a Kindergarten (whaaaa?) screening for James in the next week.  The kids are really having a great year, and I am very proud of their grades and hard work. 

2. My Patrick did a project on Saint Faustina and the Divine Mercy.  His teacher told my sister that he was a "genius" when he did his presentation.  This project has launched a beautiful devotion to this prayer and he has eaten up all the books and cd's he can find.  He even discovered an organization that has the mission to spread the message of Divine Mercy and he has made his plans to be part of them someday.  God willing, maybe as a priest.  But wow!  Grace is abounding in my young man.

3. William has just reached his next rank in scouts, officially.  He is now a Wolf scout. 

Next step for him is First Communion on Mother's Day weekend.  We will do it with his cousin, so the family will all be able to do all of it together.  Now, if I could just take care of his gifts to be sure they come in time. 

4. My days are very busy chasing Lucy, who has decided to climb on everything.  All chairs, tables, and couches are fair game.  She climbs and says, "Gee down!"  As she nods her head.  She is also at the take everything out, drop and keep going.  I am exhausted!  She repeats so many words, understands so much, and is just an all around stinker.  So cute.

5. I want to take a moment to draw your attention to my awesome husband in the photo above.  Notice anything?  My man has been dropping some serious weight.  He is doing incredible in his journey charting in over 50 pounds lost!  That scout shirt used to be much tighter.  He has been working out with my same trainer, and loves it.  It originally began with the 21 day fix, and he has just continued with that lifestyle of salads, fruits and veggies.  Lots of them!  (not to mention the money saved from packing his lunch every day)  To see the difference, at least from badge to badge, take a look at Tommy last March.

This is TRX and it is so much harder than it looks!  Look at that pike!  Lucy loves to join us when go, even though I go in the morning and Tommy goes at night, she is so good.  I don't usually let her roam around, but Tommy did and she loved being part of it all!  Um, but she will go back in her johnny jumper when I am at class. 

6. On a more personal note, April has not been an easy month.  Our family (my own, and my siblings) have had our share of some big crosses to handle.  Some health, financial, emotional, and some maybe they haven't even shared.  At Mass today, I felt the Gospel was aimed directly at me, from John 14: 1-6.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
"Master.....how can we know the way?"
"I am the way, the truth and the life."
I need to stop worrying.  I have to trust.  Even when I am going through a darker time when I feel alone, or "put upon" by my family, or overwhelmed in worry, I need to remember who is in charge and who has prepared a place for me in Heaven.  God has given me this life, with 5 children.  He will provide and take care of each one.  His Way.  The Way.

7. Last Saturday, I got the decorating bug.  Now, hold your horses, it wasn't a BIG bug, especially because this lady doesn't like bugs of ANY kind, but the big ones, **shudder**.  I decided to do some picture hanging, changing, and going through some boxes in the basement.  You know, boxes that have artwork in them from the last house that just haven't come out since we moved in, oh,  2 1/2 years ago. 

This is a wall sticker that I found at Target, and thought it was about time I put this up SOMEplace where we would have a good reminder.  The kitchen area above the light switch looked like one of the best places, as we are always there.  It's not super eloquent, but it is a great reminder for me each day.  I moved some other items to different walls, and hung a quote that I was SURE was by Saint Francis of Assisi.  Darn it all if I hung it, and my sister said it is NOT one of his.  Bummer though it is, I still like the quote.  "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words."  I found an article about this and I wasn't too keen on the writers take on the quote, even though we don't know who said it.  That's another post, not for a "quick take."

Linking up with Kelly for more SQT.