Prayers needed
My sis is now going through a divorce. She messaged me on MySpace about it and I promptly called her. I’m glad that she is leaving the scum of a husband she has had for the past 11 years. Apparently the crap I had seen/heard him do to her wasn’t even the half of it. I witnessed him emotionally abuse her. So if that wasn’t even the half of it, I’m afraid that he got physical with her too. Just pray that she has the strength to get up on her feet and remain strong. She has an apartment set up and moves in there on Wednesday. They are splitting custody with the boys. I’m doing my best not to judge here, but I don’t think he should have the boys at all. He doesn’t help them with school and he puts them down a lot. I’m hoping that maybe Mom and Doc will drag her and the boys to SC so she can get the heck away from all that.
*hugs*
~Jen
First Feast in a long time.
Appetizer
What does the color dark green make you think of?
It makes me think of my father’s old Honda Civic I helped him pick out after my sis totaled his other car.
Soup
How many cousins do you have?
I have one biological first cousin who I really don’t get along with.
Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?
9, I fib rarely.
Main Course
Name something that is truly free.
Well, when you think of it, nothing is really free. I don’t feel like being long winded here to explain it though.
Dessert
Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.
Sunny, pleasant, rainy, is now gone. (Sorry, in Germany we have had snow. More snow now than we did in the winter. Last year Spring was Summer. This year Spring is Winter.) Sunshine, where are you? I miss you.
My big boy!
I’ve been working with John on sitting up quite a bit lately. Today I got over my Mommy insecurities and started scooting myself backwards, letting him have no support. Well, this is what I got:
Needless to say, I’m elated!
*hugs*
~Jen
Photos
Here we have John eating his home made cherries. Not his favorite at all. By the last day he tolerated them fairly well.
The Jumper photo. He totally loves this thing! I like it so I can manage to clean his room, listen to music, play with him, and exercise at the same time.
*hugs*
~Jen
Jumper
Sunday John stood in our laps as usual, doing our typical lil’ games with him. Then he started pushing himself up into a jump. After a few minutes, it wears out the arms. Since we figured we didn’t want our arms falling off by the time we’re 25, we went out Monday and got him a jumper toy. I know I said I’d never get him one, but holy cow, he LOVES it to pieces. Even after his time in it is up and you try to get him out, he bounces in it to make it even harder to pull him out. Then as you carry him to another part of the house to perhaps another toy or tummy time, his legs kick out in the same jumping motion. Naturally, the kitties are afraid of John in the toy and John likes this. He tends to swing over closer to the kitties as they squeeze by him and the doorframe. It’s the best $35 we ever spent on him. I’ll have to get pics up soon. I’ve been rather lazy about that.
*hugs*
~Jen
The Easter Vigil
For months I have been preparing for last night. Studying as much as I can, taking it all in, accepting it, and growing. I have changed in these months to be a better person. It’s still a process I’m working on. It wasn’t only myself who went through this transformation. There were three other women with me.
At about 6pm last night Bry and I sat down to dinner. It was then that my nerves really hit. I only finished half of what I intended to eat. I was in pretty much constant prayer from then until I was up front and in line to get baptised. It wasn’t just for my nerves to be cured, but I was worried about a friend who was to come and be baptised as well and I was worried about John in the nursery. At about 7:30 I finally let go and told God it was in his hands, that I fully trusted him and I knew everything would be just fine. Then the friend of mine we were all worried about did come and I totally felt at peace.
I was beaming while in line to be cleaned with the holy waters of rebirth. When the water hit my head I felt so warm, so happy. It was hard keeping the tears back. Such a moving experience.
It was also neat being able to help set the altar for the Eucharist. This was of course, after confirmation. That was yet another moving experience.
First Communion was great. It felt good to take part in that sacrament. Before to me, it was a symbol of Jesus Christ. Now it is very much real to me, as it should be.
May St. Monica always be with me. I’m already feeling like a better mother, wife, and general person because of all this. I’m more calm, more patient, more at ease.
*hugs*
~Jen
6 months
Six months ago John came into this world. Last week at his appointment we had to fill out one of those developmetal surveys. I hate doing those. I know it’s a quick way for is skills to be assessed, but it’s seems so impersonal. Then the phone call that comes afterwards, it feels so critical. Apparently there are concerns because he isn’t crawling or rolling over. I give him his tummy time, always have. The closest he gets to rolling over is getting on his side. Then he just flops back onto his back. I’ve tried urging him to crawl, but when his tummy is lifted up, he just kicks his legs up and is only on his hands. Yes, this happens even with the small boppy under him. They offered to come out to help but I’m just feelin’ a tad discouraged. I even explained to them that some babies excell in other areas sooner/later than others their age and that I do my absolute best to not compare him to other kids his age.
They are also concerned with his social skills. They seem just fine to me. Maybe my husband filled some of the form out wrong, I don’t know.
I was going to get him into CYS at an FCC home so he can be around other kiddos his age, but now it’s kinda pointless. Here in a month or so only two providers will be left.
So I guess in two months time if he’s still not doing as well as everyone else thinks he should be at, I’ll have them come on by and pick at me. I know that sounded harsh, but that’s what it feels like. And I’m a rather sensitive person. I’d rather not be ridiculed when I’m the only one sticking up for me.
*hugs*
~Jen
In need of baby food jars
John had his well baby last week and it went well (I wasn’t there, Bry was. I gave blood.). At the appointment Stage 2 foods were brought up. We have to still introduce more foods individually first. Like some Stage 2 has apples (he’s had) and cherries (not had). Do they sell cherries in jars all alone, nope. So, I went out and bought frozen fruits and veggies and made my own baby food. I still have more to make but lack the jars (I have some strawberries in a ziplock baggie in the freezer 
). Whirring the blender is the best part. It let some stress go.
Well, gotta go. John gets his shots today since the people at appointments messed up.
*hugs*
~Jen
Needing to clear the air
Those of you who know me well have known that my step-mother has not really talked to my sis and I for roughly 5 years now. It’s caused me a great deal of pain. I know my father is gone, but she is still part of our family.
A few weeks ago I had the strong urge to call her. I did, got the machine, no biggie. Last night that feeling was nagging at me again so I called again. This time she answered. She sounded shocked that I called and we had rather strained chit chat for a little while before I decided to get blunt. “I know I’ve wanted and tried to get in touch with you. I know that things between Dawn, you and I have not been great the past several years and I wanted to clear that up.” I got pushed aside yet again. “Right now’s not a good time for me.” Which I understood, she’s got a dying uncle right now. But before I could ask when a good time would be, click.
I even tried to call Pops to talk to him about it afterwards, but before I could get it out to him he too felt the urge to hang up the phone. Thank God I have Bry to run to. He immediately held me in his arms to comfort me. I’m just so tired of the past just hanging there. I want it gone and the only way to do that is with clarity…something that Debs just isn’t giving me.
*hugs*
~Jen
Stations of the Cross
Last night Bry and I decided to go to Stations of the Cross. If any of you don’t know what that is, please go here .
This Friday the children hosted the event. Each station had a reader who read a bit of scripture that corrilated with the station. One particular one got to me. When Jesus fell for the first time, the reading after the scripture was, “Jesus, if we were there, we would not have let you fall. We would have held up the cross for you to give you strength. But we weren’t, we’re only here now, remembering.” Then there was a question after it, “What would we do if we saw someone get hurt? Would we go to them?” I felt such a deep passion with the whole thing. Between each station we sang, “Jesus, remember me when you go into your kingdom.” It was so beautiful and The Spirit really struck me. I am fully sure that I’m doing the right thing this Easter.
*hugs*
~Jen
