Okay, just ONE more.  There’s so much bad stuff out there that when I come across something good, I just really want to share it!

My friend Nadia gave me a book on infant/toddler massage.  (She had it memorized & didn’t need it anymore!)  It’s published by the International Association of Infant Massage.   Massaging the kids has become a favorite part of my week.  And needless to say, of theirs, too!  From what I studied in college as a bio major (particularly in neurobiology,) I’ve long believed in the power of massage to stimulate all kinds of good responses in the brain.  It releases endorphins, teaches the kiddos to relax, could theoretically reduce growing pains, help them fall into deeper sleep, and lots of other great things.  Back rub, anyone?

Well, I’ve got gram & pop helping with the tots this week, so I’m “on vacation”!  Hence, the numerous posts.  Yesterday I had the joy of painting a large statue of St. Francis.  I lack artistic talent, but I’ve found painting sculptures to be right up my average-ability alley.  For starters, when you put statues in your flower garden or on your front porch, they are mostly seen from the road, not up close.  So details aren’t that big of a deal.  Plus, you can touch-up your mistakes as often as needed.  I like that!  So if you’ve got any statues out there that need painted or re-painted, send ‘em my way.

Also I wanted to share this helpful website on the carbohydrate Glycemic Index.   Helpful for meal planning.  Some weeks I spend so much time meal planning that I don’t have time to grocery shop or fix food… ha ha ha, but one of these years I plan to have it all together.

Well, if you really want to read a piece of bad news (it all but made me cry,) then read how enormous Russia’s orphan problem is. Their orphanages are so full, that thousands of babies are simply left (uncared for) in the hospitals.

I have wanted to adopt for years, and ironically, the more children of my own I have, the stronger this feeling gets. I think it’s because I’ve seen how my capacity for love has grown with each new child, plus with each passing year we gain confidence in our parenting ability. Also, I see how much my kids enjoy playing together. A while back my husband took my oldest son with him to visit his grandma over-night. My middle child barely knew what to do without him. The kids also love playing with other kids. As far as they’re concerned,the more the merrier!

But the bottom line is that I just feel so blessed to live in this country, to be able to stay home with my kids (even though that entails some financial sacrifice), and compared to the life these orphans are living right now, our home would just be heaven. I don’t think they need much. New clothes? No. New toys? No. Just a place to call “home”, some good home made grub, and a family who loves them unconditionally. Let’s all pray for the orphans of this world!
A few websites I’ve seen with adoption info:

Until All Have Homes

Rainbow Kids

Adopt.org

Catholic adoption

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This book, offered by the Mayo Clinic, looks like it’d be a good gift for a lot of people I know.  It’s called

‘The Mayo Clinic Plan: 10 Essential Steps to a Better Body & Healthier Life’

Also, I’ve found this Mayo website helpful for self-diagnosing. Check it out if you’ve got any nagging health issues!

I’m adding to the blogroll this website for Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.  Click on “getting started” and enjoy the feast!

There are several versions of the bible in print today.  Here’s a description of several.  When it comes to interpreting Scripture, a good place to start for guidance is with the document Dei Verbum [Word of God].  The bible commentary I personally enjoy the most is that which is part of the Navarre bible, offered by Scepter Publishers.  The best (in my opinion, of course!) introduction to the Old Testament is a book written by the Rev. Michael Duggan called The Consuming Fire.  It was the textbook used when I took Old Testament at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.  Finally, I highly recommend the program called Catholic Scripture Study if you are interested in starting a bible study group.  It is awesome.  I’m no prophet, but I would not be surprised if some day these studies are found in every diocese around the world.  They are that good.

Those who know me know that I love homeschooling and Montessori education, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in particular.  (It is a Catholic Montessori program.)   I intend to post helpful links, ideas, and suggested reading on these topics and put them under the category “education”.

 For anyone with children/grandchildren in the 3-6 age group, there are a lot of free catalogs that you can order to start to get familiar with Montessori materials.  A good one to start with is Nienhuis.  A secular book that has been indispensible to me is called Basic Montessori, by David Gettman.  Another favorite website for homeschooling in general is Catholic Heritage Curricula.  They sell the book Natural Structure, by Edward and Nancy Walsh, which is a good introduction to Montessori activity within the home setting.