Hogwarts made from matchsticks photos here.  All I can say is WOW! 

I spent a lot of time this weekend doing Harry Potter party stuff – I can’t believe it’s only a month away!   Some how I’m sure it will all get done – but there are moments when I do panic, just a little.  At this point we have 23 kids coming, and about 20 adult volunteers.   Not all the parents have gotten back to me yet, so it is possible there will be more adults then kids at my daughter’s 11th HUGE Harry Potter Birthday Party.    LOL   

I had my one year anniversary weigh in, total lost for the past year 75.5 lbs.  (only 78 more to go).   It’s exciting, and yet a little stressful too — cause I know it will take at least two years to lose the next 75 (metabolism only gets slower).  But I’m keeping positive, sticking to my healthy plans, and after all this is a lifetime total lifestyle change – so it’s not like after I lose the rest of it I will ever go back to eating the way I used to.

I have been busy doing all kinds of stuff over my other blog the Diet Pulpit  (it’s a fun way to keep busy and stay focused on the diet at the same time)– and with the party stuff to do also my time as been a bit overbooked.   Hopefully, once the party is done I’ll be better able to get back to blogging here more too.   

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:harry potter, hogwarts

Things here in Mama Kelly’s hearth are about the same as they have been.  My eldest is holding her own I guess.  We take each day as it comes and try and support her as best we can during the darker moments.  My youngest is, for the most part, her happy self though she is fighting off some kind of viral something-or-other that has her running just a tad of a fever and complaining of a sore throat.

The weekend wasn’t all that thrilling.  We were going to go to the park on Friday when I got home from work but my eldest received a last minute invitation to go to the Mall with a friend for a birthday outing.  By the time we got her “ready” and out the door (and $50 later – $20 in a card for the birthday girl and $30 from the Bank of Mommy for her) the day was changing from bright and warm to cool and damp and the outing no longer had much appeal.  The younger wound up grumpy and disappointed but the elder had a great time and came home with a collection of new fashion accessories that I am unlikely to let her wear outside of the house.

GameDude worked with the girls on getting their bikes ready for the summer.  The eldest inherited a blue 10-speed racing style bike that was her late Nana’s.  The younger, Princess Nibbles, inherited her sister’s old bike.  The three of them even took a brief bike ride together up and down our street.  I am the lone member of our family that does not have a bike and I’m not sure I want one, not being the most athletically inclined person on the planet.  I did however find a bike that I would choose if I were willing to part with $250.  It is a “retro” bike in that it has a back-pedal braking style; in others words it is a child-style bike big enough for a grown-up to ride.  It was purple with some stylized flowers on it in shades of pink and green that reminded me of knotwork, a white seat and green pedals.  It was very pretty (in a make me go Squee! kind of way) but odds are (knowing my lazy nature) that it would be money wasted if I were to buy it.

We went to the eye doctor on Saturday when I came home from work.  My eldest chose a pair of really cute reading glasses – think punk-librarian – and I picked out what are probably the happiest glasses I’ve ever worn.  They are a pale (almost flesh toned) pink and the sides are an open knotwork style reminiscent of hearts with little gems. I paid extra (read through the nose) for the latest thinnest lenses as I wear a pretty substantial script (20/550) and GamerDude convinced me that I deserve to wear literally feather-weight glasses.

The elder child came to work with me for about 4 hours Sunday, something which is becomming a habit.  She printed out some stuff related to Salvador Dali for her art class. She played on GaiaOnline.  She did some sketching.  She came home with her father and did a little work on a book report, “helped” prepare dinner and spent the rest of her evening watching Anime and drawing.  The younger spent most of the day on the couch and still had a slight temperature at bedtime so we will see if she goes to school today.

This coming weekend will find us trying to do something in celebration of Beltane.  It is too early in our neck of the woods to go berry picking but we are almost out of incense so I am thinking that a road trip to either New Hope, PA or Red Bank, NJ will allow us to have a Pagan kind of day as well as replenish our stockpile.

That’s it in the proverbial nutshell.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Another of the lovely prayers/poems that I come across in my weekly perusal of worldprayers.org.  It seems to capture the essence of each of our Sunday Blessing bloggings in that it sings praise to the small blessings of daily life.  It is something that I strive to do each week.  I look for the blessings that are there for me each day in spite of hardship trials and worry.

Today I am grateful for having vision insurance for the first time in years.  It allowed me to spend about $150 total and get eye exams for myself and both girls, new reading glasses for my Eldest, and new glasses for myself as well.  We should have our “new eyes” in 7-10 days.

Today I am grateful for my father holding on to my late mother’s bicycle.  It is a 10-speed and was quite expensive 25 years ago (or so) when my dad bought it for my mom for Xmas.  She rode it perhaps 5 times so it is like new.  It cost us a total of $30 to get it up to snuff in that we had to replace one of the inner-tubes and buy a seat cover.  She is thrilled with it and I am hoping that it will encourage her to spend time this summer out in nature and perhaps get Hubby using HIS bike more often.

Today I am grateful for making plans with friends.  For Lady Rose’s next visit sometime in May and our grand adventure to Womongathering in June.  For M2 and I planning to go to Atlantic City in 2 weeks to play penny machines.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:poetry

Today I am grateful that my husband has been helping more on Saturdays when I cook ahead for the week.  I am grateful that I have the food to cook.

Today I am grateful that Princess Nibbles will be coming to work with me for a few hours.  I am grateful that she wants to spend time with me, though sad that she has to come to work with me to make it happen.

Today I am grateful that Miss Artistic seems to recognizing me as a person outside of my role as her mom.  I am grateful that her ire and angst are for the most part directed at the men in our household and that I am “the good guy” even if I am strict and over-protective.

Today I am grateful for having found gift cards in all the rest of my paper sorting.  One gift card, combined with a sale and coupons, allowed me to purchase over $400 worth of clothes, etc. at Lane Bryant for only $50 out of pocket.  I am grateful for being able to go to the Mall with my girls and, for the most part, have a fun evening.

Today I am grateful that my body is allowing me to keep up with my crazy schedule.  Granted my pain flares (both joint and abdominal) are occuring with more frequency and intensity, granted my ability to sleep soundly and deeply all night long seems to be forever lost, but I am doing it.  I am grateful for the health that I do have.

Today I am grateful that I am almost done with my taxes for 2007.  I have also pretty much gathered up all the paperwork for 2006 and 2005 so I can bring them to an accountant and get them done.  This is a huge first step in our getting our finances back on some kind of track! I am grateful that we will be getting money back.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:prayer

I hope everyone gets to spend some time outside to enjoy the fresh air and celebrate Earth Day. I’m stuck in my cubicle for another hour, but looking forward to a nice walk before dinner.

Just because today is the “official” day, doesn’t mean we have to only celebrate today. We can celebrate Earth Day every day by making small changes to conserve our resources and lessen our impact on the planet.

Here are two awesome blogs that are filled with ideas and definitely worth checking out:

– Treasure Nature (nurture nature for our future), with posts on topics such as Earth day for children, true facts about global warming, better cars for the environment, and much more.

– Environmentastic, focuses on the good happening in the environmental movement without ignoring the bad. Find out how to support the Earth and be green without being granola.

Here are a few related posts I have over on the Diet Pulpit:
New Year’s Resolution for Planet Earth (take the pledge to reduce bottle water waste).
10 Reasons to Eat Local (fresh, healthy and helps the local farmers and the planet).
Local Organic Farmers (they are closer then you think!)

Bright blessings, Lady Rose
(cross posted on Diet Pulpit).

Written by Lady RoseTags:earth day

Lord, we know what peace is.

Peace is a mother tenderly holding her child.
Peace is a firm handshake of trust between friends.
Peace is complete emotional security.
Peace is living unencumbered with a full sense of joy.
Peace is expressing Thanksgiving for concrete blessings.

For the peace gained from the love and memory
of spouses and children, we thank you ..

For the peace gained from the love and memory
of parents and grandparents, we thank you ..

For the peace gained from the kindness and
support of friends, we thank you ..

For the peace gained when the music of the
Gods is sung, we thank you ..

Peace is elusive.
There are raging storms in every life.
Tragedy, grief, and pain will visit everyone.
Yet, each person’s life is graced
by moments and periods of real happiness.

For these episodes of peace and joy ..
past, present, & future,
we offer our deepest gratitude.

Help us to understand that peace must be waged.
We must resist the gun, the bomb,
“realistic politics,” unkind words,
personal betrayals, anger, depression,
despair, and rage.

advent peace prayer – john devries

Another Christian prayer, and yet it speaks to me.

Peace is indeed elusive. It is all too easy to let the hardships of life drown out the moments of joy. Somehow it is easier to remember bitterness than sweetness.

I am trying though.

I am trying to be more present in my daily life.
I am trying to get my house in order and my head screwed on straight.

I am trying to not only create an environment that will allow my eldest daughter to heal but one that will allow all of us to grow and heal and be blessed.

I am spending time cleaning out drawers, shelves, and so on. I am clearing out the old and making way for the new. I am trying to not let the hateful nature of my job come home with me at the end of each day.

In other words I am trying to grow and to transform my life so that I, and those I love, can find a sense of Peace in our daily lives.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:prayer

written last night, Tuesday, 4/15/08

Written by Mama Kelly

I have managed to continue working 7 days a week though the week ending today will see me working closer to 46 hours than the 53 or so I’ve been averaging of late.

I have managed to take every piece of clothing out of the girls’ closet, out of their armoire, and out of every last drawer. Every piece of clothing that has been outgrown has been put into a large black lawn and leaf bag for donation. Every piece of clothing that was not obviously still clean has been put on a mountain of laundry in our upstairs hallway. Slowly we are making our way through reorganizing the entire room.

My goal is to have the clothing all put away and organized, and the carpet stain treated and vaccuumed by Tuesday night.

The next thing to attack is the desk (and drawers), the TV armoire (and drawers), toy boxes, and bookshelves. But, one thing at a time.

I have managed to complete my 2007 taxes, all that’s left is to hook up a printer and print and file.

I have nearly managed to lose enough weight to drop me down into the 180s instead of the 190s. This has not been by intent or design, but instead a responce to a bowel issue from last week and the stress of this week.

This upcoming week will again find my overtime hours cut short. But as I am getting money back from the federal government I am much less panicky about it. Especially knowing that we’re getting the stimulus money as well.

Things have been crazy since my last post. A family crisis has required all of my free time and attention. I am hoping and praying that this time next week will find us all doing much better and I can try to take some time to recharge my physical and spiritual batteries.

My prayer is for my daughter to find her way
My prayer is for me to find within myself, again, hope

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Hope is the thing with feathers
by Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I ’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Written by Mama Kelly

Without going into any undue detail which would violate my daughter’s privacy, she is in a dark place right now.  I cannot imagine my world without her in it.  Life before her is just a memory.  She seems to always consider herself in her sister’s shadow, she seems to worry about who is my favorite.  I do not have a favorite ….

She seems to be envious of her sister’s “special” birth in that we nearly lost her.

But my eldest always seems to forget that she is my first child.  She is the one who transformed me from a woman into a mother.  There is nothing her sister can ever do to outshine that.

I love her beyond words and wish more than anything that I could take her pain away.

So today, my prayer is for one of the greatest blessings in my life to find her way back to the light.

So Mote It Be

Kelly

Everybody Hurts

“When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don’t let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it’s time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don’t throw your hand. Oh, no. Don’t throw your hand.
If you feel like you’re alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you’re on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you’ve had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)

Written by Mama KellyTags:songs

Miss Artistic is having a particularly rough time right now.  That is taking all of my spare time and energy and the result so far is that I am having to cut back my hours (and losing the money that goes along with it) and eliminating the possibility of resuming my college classes this summer.

This is rather serious.  In fact she (and our family as a whole) could use any stray good thoughts, prayers, white light, and positive energies you can spare to send her way.

My updates here will be sporadic at best, though I do intend to still through a few small things up a couple of times a week.

Bear with me, stay with us, soon this too shall pass and I will, hopefully, back to blogging with my usual frequency.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly