by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Mar 24, 2018 | Marriage and Family
This past week was just crazy. I live in a Co-Op, and this week was our turn to remove old tiles from hallway. Since this building is old, they are removing asbestos from the floors as well—so that means we must leave. Now, they didn’t mention that during the shareholder meeting, we found out when they put a notice on our door the day before. Normally, that would have been okay if life was kind. But life seems to always throw a cruel monkey wrench into things, and things were anything but calm. Tuesday was the first day for the scheduled work. So we left the home by 8am (as instructed) and headed out with this kids. In the cold, we had to find somewhere to go. About 8 hours later, we find that they didn’t do anything and there was a miscommunication. They meant to say they will start on Wednesday (?!!). If they knew this Tuesday, they should have said something—but nope. Nada. Wednesday rolls around and we end up having a Nor’Easter that dropped a huge amount of snow on us. Luckily, we didn’t have to head out, but the weather already did its damage outside and in. My son has asthmatic symptoms when things get cold, so we do our best to keep the air moist and not dry. However, during the storm, the wind was howling and in our apartment the temperature dropped—the air became colder. By the very early hours of Thursday, my husband and I woke up to my son coughing and trying to breathe. Mind you, Thursday we had to leave. So...
![How to [not] Handle Emergencies](https://i1.wp.com/www.bloggingwhilenursing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/no-emergencies.jpg?resize=640%2C427)
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Sep 21, 2016 | Marriage and Family
{This post was originally published on Aug 31, 2011. Picture updated, with minor edits.} Since my family came over to stay with me and my husband for a day in our very small one bedroom apartment; I’ve been able to reflect on a few things that I have learned. (That and I seriously need to decompress from this weekend.) 1. Some people can handle emergencies really well…others not so well. 2. Those who can’t handle it, have no idea what they are doing. 3. Sometimes, it’s just better to stay out of their way. Here are my lessons from my observations: DO – Pack clothes for at least three days. DON’T – Pack every article of clothing you own. Like your second grade student of the month outfit…just an example of course… DO – Pack food for consumption DON’T – Pack food that requires special treatment like your 3 liter can of olive oil. Really. Do we really need that much oil? Who’s cooking? DO – Bring something to entertain yourself. DON’T – Try to be the entertainment. Especially if you’re not good at it (note to self). DO – Entertain the toddler. DON’T – Compete with the toddler. Believe me, no one will thank you for it. Does any one really want to hear a 30-year-old bang on a set of pots during the “concert”….I don’t think so. DO – Enjoy being a guest in someone’s home. DON’T – Over stay your welcome. Like screaming in the hall, or having a bad day and showing it, or complaining why there’s no junk food in my home…again, just an example....
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Jul 7, 2016 | Marriage and Family
Praying with little ones around is hard work.Here are four simple and easy ways to include your children while you keep a prayer life.
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Jul 27, 2015 | Marriage and Family
The past several weeks, I have been quiet. We recently moved into what would be our “forever” place. More like: “we pray that the kids will grow up to adulthood here” place. We have been thankful, regardless of all the bumps we’ve come across, so good or bad days, we are thankful. However, lately, I’ve felt that I’m not doing enough. Let me backtrack–since the Supreme Court ruling, there has been a sadness through the Catholic community. As if the battle is lost, and there is nothing we can do. Odd, I don’t have that feeling. I have the feeling that now is the time for us to live our faith. So many evils in the world has happened because we have become lethargic, and apathetic about our faith. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. (Rev 3:15-16) A long time ago, I had wished to spend my life in prayer. I hoped to be a nun but found out that was not my calling. Now with my motherhood vocation and being my children’s teacher, somehow I feel like it’s not enough. A part of me wants to go out and do more, be a part of more, but it took time to realize that’s because I am not appreciating what I have been given. Not everyone can be a Saint Thomas Aquinas or Saint Teresa of Calcutta. We all have different gifts to share with the world. How can I want...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | May 11, 2015 | Marriage and Family, Saints
Do you remember the parable of the man who had a guest that came at midnight but he didn’t have any bread or drink to give him. So he went to another friend’s door and asked for loaves of bread for his traveling friend. The friend who woke up was irritated and turned him away, but the man was not discouraged (Luke 11:5). Our prayers are like that. Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). He was very persistent. He knew how to persevere, especially when things didn’t look so great. This reminds me of Saint Monica. She was a mother, and a wife, and she had such faith in God that He moved mountains for her. She prayed for her husband without stopping Monica was not in the happiest of marriages. Her husband was a non-believer. He had been unfaithful and unfortunately, she was usually the victim of his rage. When Augustine was gravely ill, she wanted to have him baptized, and her husband had agreed. However, when Augustine showed signs of getting better he quickly removed his consent. Yet, even though she married a non-believer, she prayed for 30 years for the conversion of her husband. 30 years! Her prayers were answered, and before he died, he converted. Take away: 30 years is a long time to wait for anything. These days, we want things now. If we need an answer, we Google it. Need a medical answer, we find and contact our doctor at our next visit, or make a visit...
by KalleyC (@KalleyC) | Apr 14, 2015 | Marriage and Family, Saints
We all have a favorite Saint. Some we connect with more with than another, and there are Saints that just touches our hearts. While I have a favorite Saint, I’ve noticed that my daughter has gravitated towards to Saint Terese of Lisieux, “The Little Flower.” Now I have to admit that I know of her story but I have not read deep into it. However, my daughter’s interest in her, and Father Robert’s Barron mention of her in his Catholicism series has me really interested. While I’m sort of behind on my spiritual reading, I have yet to read her story, The Story of a Soul her story touches me and I can really see why my little girl adores her. Sacrifice to Self Saint Terese life teaches us so much. She loved God with all her heart and really wanted to become a saint. But she knew she couldn’t do it in a huge way. Finding inspiration through scripture she received her answer. Remain little. It was not through huge leaps and bounds that was going to carry her to heaven, it was remaining little. Everyday she performed little sacrifices that was between he and God. She didn’t complain. Sacrifice of self. One of the biggest sacrifices she made that went unnoticed was her agreeing to stay a novice. That means that she would always have to ask permission to do anything. Her sisters were in the same order as her, so the other nuns feared that the Martin family would take over. Offering up suffering. Even though she had dry spells through prayer and suffered greatly do to her...
