Almost 1

How is it possible that my little, sweet, Alexander is almost a year old?  Where did the time go?  I think I must have slept or something (well, that's unlikely) so maybe someone stole some time from me somewhere along the way.

Alexander John Paul Kreps will turn 1 this Saturday, September 6.  He's a precious little guy, with a super fun personality.  He loves (more like adores) his siblings, never wanting to be left out of anything.  He's walking...nearly running...most places now. 

I praise God every day for the blessing of my boy #5!

Happy (early) 1st Birthday!

Wit and Wisdom with the Saints

In celebration of the Memorial of Pope St. Gregory the Great, here is a fantastic bit of wisdom on "riches."

"The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of angels."

Our go-to Catholic Resources

Over the years, we've gained an appreciation for certain businesses, websites, books, etc. that help us grow in our faith.  As our children get older, we keep adding to the repertoire.  There are a lot of great resources out there, from great Catholic movies to Catholic blogs to solid Catholic books.  Here's a compilation of what the Kreps family finds useful:

• CCC Saint Movies (www.cccofamerica.com - at the time of posting this website was down but definitely go check out their movie collection.)
• Friendly Defender Flashcards (great for helping kids learn to answer questions about their faith) made by Ascension Press
• Holy Heroes (Glory Stories are fantastic for learning about saints - our family favorite is the Pope St John Paul II. You can download to your ipod! They also offer the Lenten Adventure, Advent Adventure, and Summer Adventure - great resources for bringing the liturgical season to life all year round.)
• Cat Chat CDs (Great for car rides between activities or on road trips.  We have 3 volumes and love all of them. They use talking and music to teaching about Mary, the Saints, Mass, Advent, etc.)
• The Dogma Dogs CD (Love these catchy tunes that teach the 10 Commandments, Order of the Mass, Vatican Councils, etc.)
• Some of my very favorite Catholic blogs include Catholic All Year, Smart Martha, and Catholic Icing
• The 2 Volume Collection entitled The Illustrated Lives of the Saints (found online and many Catholic retailers) These books are nteresting because they include many, many saints not found on the regular liturgical calendar.
• Ethel Pochokie's Once Upon a Time Saints
• Ignatius Press movies
• Bethlehem Press books (especially The Cottage at Bantry Bay Series and The Mitchells - so say my daughters!)
• Faith and Life Catechism Series for religious education (in the home, classroom, or Church setting)
• We and Our Children: How to Make a Catholic Home by Mary Reed Newland (got my copy here and I love it!)
• Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers by USCCB (can purchase here)

Don't You Want to Know?

I think it's fun to learn what makes people tick.  You know, what makes them happy besides the obvious faith, family, career, etc. 

Some people really like NASCAR.  Others enjoy scotch on the rocks.  I even know folks who get a kick out of collecting tractors!

Well, I can't fairly ask what makes you tick if I don't divulge some of my own secrets or lesser known personal tidbits!

My Personal Indulgences (include but aren't limited to):

• Watching The Deadliest Catch on Netflix
• Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly book series
• Eating ice cream
• Jergen's Original scent lotion
• Old Spice aftershave (on my hubby)
• Chocolate Dipper Cookies (from Aldi)
• Long-sleeve tshirts
• Asics running shoes
• Target shooting with a .22
• Paper towels
• Filling out paperwork (I actually enjoy doing this)

What makes you tick?  Are you a closet sci-fi novel reader?  Do you indulge in a glass of wine in the afternoon?  Must you use a specific brand of toilet paper?

Ninja dancing, replacement parts, being pushed, and nectarines!

--- 1 ---

Rain. We've had a lot of rain this week or so it seems.  I really wouldn't have to know the actual weather conditions to know that it's raining because I can see the energy oozing from eyeballs, arms, legs, etc. all over my house!!!  The hard part - not necessarily rain that lasts all day, but the aftermath of rain - MUD.  I can't change it, so we're just plodding along with creative outlets for lots of boy energy.  Like, ninja dancing to Veggie Tale's Christmas music - such an obvious rainy day activity!  Or making a recliner into a jeep with an empty toy tote attached to the back of the recliner as the trailer! 

--- 2 ---

Cucumbers. Tomatoes. Sweet corn. Green beans. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. Green peppers. Broccoli.  Nature's bounty is blessing us over and over with an amazing harvest.  Between our own garden and several who have shared their abundance, we are putting up a ton of goodies to get through winter.  Who doesn't love a good ol' pot of Illinois sweet corn in the middle of January?  And, this year's sweet corn - AMAZING - it tastes like candy! We've put up strawberry freezer jam, homemade spaghetti sauce, bread'n'butter pickles, refridgerator pickles, freezer pickles, sweet relish, and tons of sweet corn.  Praise God for His provision!

--- 3 ---

Back to school week was a success! I never doubted we would survive, but I was unsure if we would thrive!  I am pleased to say that all my students are moving right along, adjusting to a newish schedule, and being fairly patient with their teacher :)

--- 4 ---

Can I send my 36-year-old body back for a replacement model?  Or maybe just some replacement parts? Yikes, I feel old this week. Between my hip, knee, and elbow you would think I am 3 times as old as I actually am.  I'm hoping for some relief as I hash out what is actually going on in my tired body!

--- 5 ---

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been an interesting phenomenon.  My husband was nominated by a colleague and before jumping into his own challenge, he did some research.  I think a lot of folks have done their research, and while I stand very solidly on the pro-life/anti-embryonic stem cell side of it all, I am pleased that so many folks are not just passively participating.  ALS is a real disease, effecting real people and it needs a cure.

--- 6 ---

God is pushing me hard right now.  He's pushing me to trust Him, to rely on Him, and to put Him first.  I need the push. I need out of my rut.  I'm so grateful for a merciful Father, who also loves me enough to pick me up by the seat of my pants and push me forward.

--- 7 ---

I love nectarines.  Yep, now you know my favorite fruit.  Nothing like random trivia to send you off on your weekend adventures!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!