Here's a link to the front-page write up in our local paper!
More pictures will be on the way in the days ahead. Put for now, a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Kickin' for a Cure!
What an awesome weekend we had! An amazing weekend of good memories with our friends and family, raising nearly $10,000 towards a cure for cystic fibrosis. And so much fun we had!
Here's a link to the front-page write up in our local paper!
More pictures will be on the way in the days ahead. Put for now, a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible.
Here's a link to the front-page write up in our local paper!
More pictures will be on the way in the days ahead. Put for now, a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Increase Chest PT
I shouldn't have blogged about fall and cooler temps. Cayden's coughing (and so much that it's been waking him in the night), I have a cold starting, and Cooper has a cough. Our family motto at times such as this is: "if there's a cough, increase Chest PT"!
Last night Nana (my mom) surprised the kids with pizza from Rocky's. She came to help with laundry (if I could hire someone to fold it all, I totally would!) while I worked on last minute kickball details. We taped the kids doing treatments (phew: there's no way I could do it by myself) so we can hopefully run some footage during the tournament on a projector screen. It was so sweet, Colin even wanted a "turn" on the vest. Of course we let him because he thinks its normal (poor kid!).
2 more days until kickball. Prayers for great weather and good times!
A picture of my CF sweetie pies. This will definitely make my black and white collage wall...
Last night Nana (my mom) surprised the kids with pizza from Rocky's. She came to help with laundry (if I could hire someone to fold it all, I totally would!) while I worked on last minute kickball details. We taped the kids doing treatments (phew: there's no way I could do it by myself) so we can hopefully run some footage during the tournament on a projector screen. It was so sweet, Colin even wanted a "turn" on the vest. Of course we let him because he thinks its normal (poor kid!).
2 more days until kickball. Prayers for great weather and good times!
A picture of my CF sweetie pies. This will definitely make my black and white collage wall...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Letters
This post is for all my fellow CF mama's out there. In my recent search for books that explain CF in kid-friendly terms I found a gem:
This is what the book's all about: Cadberry's mom is very forgetful. Every time they visit his doctor together she talks about C & F. She never remembers the other letters. When Cadberry draws a set of letters to help his mother remember them all, he discovers what C & F really mean and how those two tiny letters affect so much of his life.
Such a sweet and simple story about a little bunny with CF.
This week will be a busy one. Our kickball tournament for CF "Kickin' for a Cure" is next Saturday! We have 15 teams registered, 23 diamond level sponsors ($100 value), and TONS of great stuff to silent and live auction. If you are in driving distance of Jefferson/Fort Atkinson come join us for a fun-filled day. It's a truly inspiring day for our family.
What else have we been keeping busy with...
+Cooper is loving on his "johnny jump-up"
+Cayden took his training wheels off after I picked him up from a friends and he had been riding all day long (he told Debbie he had ridden with 2 wheels before. Not!)
+Colin's training wheels came off a day later! It's hard work keeping up with your big brother.
+Both the boys are loving school. I love eating lunch with them each day. :) Colin enjoys having his "own" classroom where Cayden does not go!
+Trinity is talking sooo much more clearer. She's growing into a beautiful young lady. We got our nails done for Ashley's wedding. My new guilty pleasure! I'm so glad I have one lady in the house to get pampered with!
+Most of all, everyone is staying healthy. I love fall, it's my FAVORITE season. But secretly despise it. The drastic change in temperature can be a bit detrimental to the kids' "baseline-no cough".
I want to end this post with a quote I read during prayer time from Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman:
The Mission of My Life
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.
Have a restful weekend!
With Love,
Tiffany
This is what the book's all about: Cadberry's mom is very forgetful. Every time they visit his doctor together she talks about C & F. She never remembers the other letters. When Cadberry draws a set of letters to help his mother remember them all, he discovers what C & F really mean and how those two tiny letters affect so much of his life.
Such a sweet and simple story about a little bunny with CF.
This week will be a busy one. Our kickball tournament for CF "Kickin' for a Cure" is next Saturday! We have 15 teams registered, 23 diamond level sponsors ($100 value), and TONS of great stuff to silent and live auction. If you are in driving distance of Jefferson/Fort Atkinson come join us for a fun-filled day. It's a truly inspiring day for our family.
What else have we been keeping busy with...
+Cooper is loving on his "johnny jump-up"
+Cayden took his training wheels off after I picked him up from a friends and he had been riding all day long (he told Debbie he had ridden with 2 wheels before. Not!)
+Colin's training wheels came off a day later! It's hard work keeping up with your big brother.
+Both the boys are loving school. I love eating lunch with them each day. :) Colin enjoys having his "own" classroom where Cayden does not go!
+Trinity is talking sooo much more clearer. She's growing into a beautiful young lady. We got our nails done for Ashley's wedding. My new guilty pleasure! I'm so glad I have one lady in the house to get pampered with!
+Most of all, everyone is staying healthy. I love fall, it's my FAVORITE season. But secretly despise it. The drastic change in temperature can be a bit detrimental to the kids' "baseline-no cough".
I want to end this post with a quote I read during prayer time from Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman:
The Mission of My Life
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.
Have a restful weekend!
With Love,
Tiffany
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
To move you...
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/102521464.html
Treyton's mom giving the eulogy at his funeral Mass. What an amazing, unbelievably amazing mother.
Treyton's mom giving the eulogy at his funeral Mass. What an amazing, unbelievably amazing mother.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Life's Hard Lessons
It's been a while since I blogged and for those that do not know, our family has been deeply saddened by the lose of our dear friend's son Treyton. A six year old taken from earth on the night of his second day of 1st grade from a senseless tragedy: drunk driving.
A picture of Treyton and his family at our Great Strides walk 2 years ago this past May. He is the little boy in yellow on the right.
It has been undoubtedly one of the hardest weeks of my life both as a wife, mother, and friend. There have been many discussions at the breakfast table about death and heaven with our kids, but mostly Cayden. He asked me "Mommy, where is heaven?" I replied, "I'm not sure Cayden, I've never been there before." And then he asked, "Well, how do you know how to get there?" I replied again, "I'm not sure." As I looked over he was weeping and with tears in his eyes he explained that he was afraid to die, that he would miss me too much because I didn't know how to get to heaven. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk with him about our belief in God, in heaven and eternal life. But things are so simple to little children and I'm beginning to understand quite quickly that my explanations make no sense to him.
Every day he talks about dying and when I think he will die. I don't know the answer and to tell reassure him that I know for certain he will live to be old is not the truth. Because only God knows what we were created for. He is our Father and we, his children.
It has been a week and 2 days since the accident and Treyton's passing. And I can't help to think that just hours before the accident I sat next to his mom, the principal of our school, as we waited for our kindergartners to finish their first day of school. She held Cooper. And now, looking back I wish I could tell her to go and hold her son.
This past Saturday we were able to celebrate though. My little sister got married. She's the luckiest girl in the world and we are so happy for her! I am so proud of my beautiful family!
A picture of Treyton and his family at our Great Strides walk 2 years ago this past May. He is the little boy in yellow on the right.
It has been undoubtedly one of the hardest weeks of my life both as a wife, mother, and friend. There have been many discussions at the breakfast table about death and heaven with our kids, but mostly Cayden. He asked me "Mommy, where is heaven?" I replied, "I'm not sure Cayden, I've never been there before." And then he asked, "Well, how do you know how to get there?" I replied again, "I'm not sure." As I looked over he was weeping and with tears in his eyes he explained that he was afraid to die, that he would miss me too much because I didn't know how to get to heaven. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk with him about our belief in God, in heaven and eternal life. But things are so simple to little children and I'm beginning to understand quite quickly that my explanations make no sense to him.
Every day he talks about dying and when I think he will die. I don't know the answer and to tell reassure him that I know for certain he will live to be old is not the truth. Because only God knows what we were created for. He is our Father and we, his children.
It has been a week and 2 days since the accident and Treyton's passing. And I can't help to think that just hours before the accident I sat next to his mom, the principal of our school, as we waited for our kindergartners to finish their first day of school. She held Cooper. And now, looking back I wish I could tell her to go and hold her son.
This past Saturday we were able to celebrate though. My little sister got married. She's the luckiest girl in the world and we are so happy for her! I am so proud of my beautiful family!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
New Year, New Beginnings
The graphic above was designed by one of our graduating seniors after our high school trip to Steubenville OH. I love it!
The beginning of another youth ministry year is so exciting. Back to school bashes, fresh ideas, creative posters, fun events, all the great planning right at the peak of perfection!
A few things I've compiled over the years that I try to keep in mind as I plan events for my youth:
1) Keep it consistent. Teens are so busy. Between work, sports, school, drama club, band, etc. the last thing they are looking for is another "thing" to keep up with. For middle school that means having youth group every single Monday. Same time, same place, a variety of activities.
2) Mix it up. Variety. In my ministry to young people, I've got to keep their interest. My goal is to offer at least 1 prayer experience, 1 just for fun/community building activity, and 1 family night a month. Sometimes this happens more than not. But the intention is to have balance.
The USCCB outlines this concept in Renewing the Vision: Components of a Comprehensive Ministry which breaks youth ministry into 8 categories.
The Ministry of Advocacy
The Ministry of Catechesis
The Ministry of Community Life
The Ministry of Evangelization
The Ministry of Justice and Service
The Ministry of Leadership Development
The Ministry of Pastoral Care
The Ministry of Prayer and Worship
2) The crazier, the better. Last year I took a group to a "lock-out" (the reverse of a lock-in) Lazer tagging from 1-3 AM! One mom asked me, "Why the odd time?" I thought the exact same thing when I sent out the postcards. But really, that's the beauty of it. We had 50 high schoolers come (which is always my challenge). This year we did it again, complete with a school bus, pizza and 20 high school students. Bad planning on my part. There was an away football game and soccer the next morning. Sometimes I don't always follow my own rules. Refer back to #1. Middle School's tradition started last year with celebrating youth group's "birthday". This year Powerhouse (as we call it) is turning FouRRRRR! So we're celebrating with a Pirate party, cake and ice cream. A parish member makes us a homemade cake, we sing and blow out the candles. The night is complete with the teens bringing fun gifts for youth group to use in the upcoming year. The challenge is that they can not spend more than $10 on their items.
Here's more of what I have in store for our high school and middle school programs:
PowerHouse youth Group
Grades 6-8 are welcome!
This Is What We’ll Do in September.
20- Mini-Golf @ Vitenese in Madison from 5 pm-9 pm
*You’ll need a permission slip for this event and some money. Please meet in the back parking lot, leaving @ 5 pm. More details coming soon!
27- Family Dinner & a Movie Night
“The Blindside” from 6-8 pm (8th Grade Room)
High School
Sept. 19th: Mass on State Street
Sept. 26th: Youth Mass @ 7 pm
Oct. 2nd: Fire on the Hill @ Holy Hill
Oct. 24th: Youth Mass @ 7 pm
Nov. 5th-7th; Youth 2000 Retreat in Madison
Nov. 14th: Theology of the Body Night
Nov. 21st: Youth Mass @ 7 pm
I’m looking forward to another awesome year to grow in my Catholic faith along with some pretty amazing teens!
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