Five Minute Friday {Rise}

Well, it's Friday! And a three day weekend! Woot! Thankfully we have absolutely  NOTHING planned except spending time together as a family. Our kids have been going through a lot at their other parents house (co-parenting is challenging even if you get a long with your ex, which I do not), so we want to just spend the beginning of summer together with the kids, and start it off right.

So, Five Minute Friday is a weekly blogging community that I try to get on weekly. You can see more about it here.


This weeks prompt. RISE.

Ready. Set. GO.

I have always been an early riser. I am one of those people who actually enjoy being up early in the morning and get a head start on my day.
What I enjoy the most is that I can enjoy a cup of coffee in peace before the rest of the house wakes up. Then I take a few minutes on my devotional or prayers. On the weekends I will start on some quiet chores, maybe get a yummy breakfast in the oven and be well into my day by 9 a.m.
My goal is to have my errands and chores done by noon, so I can enjoy the rest of the day.

In Proverbs 31:15-16 it says " She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household, and a portion to her maidservants"
In other words, get up. Humans are the only mammals that rise after dawn. Americans are probably the worse. Yes I enjoy sleeping in just as much as anyone, but I also wake up at 3:30 to go to work, so to sleep until 5 am is blissful!

I try to give the most of my days to God, to serve HIM in all that I do. Serving the Lord is serving your family, your husband, your job, whatever God has called you to do!



And STOP

Everyone have a blessed weekend!
Thank you to all those who have given their life in defense of our country.

James' Confirmation & First Communion & Mother's Day {Weekend}

This past weekend was definitely one of the busiest weekends we have had in a LONG time. I don't think our wedding weekend was nearly this jammed packed. Oh hey-on that note, my beloved Timothy and I have been married for 6 months today! Happy Anniversary my love!!

Our weekend started on Friday, when my very handsome son, James received two of his sacraments, his confirmation and first holy communion.
As Catholics, we are sealed with the holy spirit on our confirmation. We chose a saint whom we admire or have some special connection to, to pray for us and guide us in our life. James chose Saint George, who you may recognize by him fighting the dragon. I am pretty sure he chose this saint solely for the dragon component, after all he is in third grade. None the less, I firmly believe that God was guiding him in his choice, and it works for him.

After the mass, we went home and ate pizza. How else do you get six hungry and tired kids fed fast?


The next day, we had James' party to celebrate his sacraments.  We had amazing weather for May in sunny Phoenix Arizona. It was only 79 degree's and was absolutely beautiful. My parents were here along with James' Godmother and her husband. We celebrated with our family and close friends. Being the Italian mamma that I am, I made sure we had enough food to feed an army (which, really our family is a small army) and at the request of the man of the hour I made over 100 meatballs! My husband, keeping up with his mad cooking skills made about 10 pounds of pork butt. A-MAZ-ING.

After we filled our bellies with all this good food, we headed up to Scottsdale to the Butterfly Wonderland, which I had never been, and we soon found out that our darling Zoe is the butterfly whisperer! She had about 3 on her at once, which kind of freaked her out. These butterflies are beautiful, but I have to admit are kind of freaky, and I wasn't too comfortable when one landed on me either.

We then went to dinner with my parents and finally called it a night. We were all so tired, that we passed out pretty quickly.

The next day was a little less busy. We started the day by going to mass, which was really nice to go to mass with my mom. It had been 15 years since I had been with my mom on mothers day. Crazy, huh?

We were able to take a three generation picture, which had not been done since Zoe was 2 or 3.

We then met up with my step dad and had a late lunch at the most amazing place, Fogo de Chao. They basically bring you all of these delicious meats and cut them right there for you.  Defiantly not a place for vegetarians.

After we ate our fill, we took our food coma selves home to rest.

It was definitely a blessed weekend, and I am so happy we were able to spend it with our family!