Just a Thought...

The Story is familiar.  The Last Supper.

But did you realize that Jesus was fully aware of Judas' betrayal?  Why have i never thought of that before?  He knew what Judas was doing like He knew about Peter's denials, and even about His own death.

They sat near each other in the upper room.  Shared bread and conversation.  Jesus even told the Apostles one of them would betray Him and Judas just sat there while the others looked around astonished wondering who...even wondering if it was them self.  Peter motioned for John to ask Jesus who it was.  John leans over like you would to your friend in the middle of any loud event,  he leans over and asks "Who?" 

Jesus tells him 'the next person to dip their bread in this bowl will be the one.'  Can you even begin to imagine the pain Judas caused Jesus?  Its not like an enemy, or some unknown person, he is one of the Apostles.  One of Jesus' good friends.  Yet Jesus repeatedly spoke to Judas about it, asking him why.  Its bad enough after the fact, but to know before hand that a friend will betray your trust and friendship must have been horrible.

Well, it finally happened...

The computer finally won.  Actually maybe i should say Dell finally won.  My hard drive died.  Not crashed.  Not infected.  Died.  The burial will be today sometime ...probably in the dark of night so our new neighbors don't think me too crazy yet.

The biggest loss?  The photos of course.  I finally got them all off the (stupid) digital camera and onto the (stupid) computer.  Don't say it, don't even ask it, cause no....i had not yet backed them all up.  There were tons!  One step at a time please.  Actually i really have very little backed up... a few things that were moved from the old computer, that's it. 

My brother-in-law said someone might be able to save some things ...maybe at a price. I am hoping one of our God Daughters' daddy (who was my go to computer guy when we were in PA/MD) can help...Please? Paul!???  (we have 3 God daughters so the s' seems right?  grammar is not my best subject!...but you should know that by now...)

I decided a while ago that Dell is NOT a good company to buy from.  My computer was doing well (still in its 1 year warranty) and we purchased a computer for my husband.  There were a few items that would commonly come with a computer (and be listed on the 'it comes with' info) that were not listed.  So i purchased one seperately.  When the computer arrived it came with one!  so I tried to return the item but because the computer was late in arriving we had already missed the return window time frame....its from the time of purchase AND they were VERY late but we are the ones to get penalized.  There were other things with that purchase that really ticked me off but i will spare the story.  Then about a month later - my computer's 1 year warranty expired.  A month after that the battery died.  No longer covered. 
Now what? the computer is a couple of years old and the hard drive dies.... We have a computer from when we were in college that still has the same hard drive!!!??
Oh...and i lost the disc from my printer (cause really, only a dell printer will work consistantly with a dell computer...) I had problems with it after we moved it from one house to another.  So i needed to figure out what was wrong.  I went online, followed THIER directions- i was eventually told to remove and download the driver again....but it didn't work.  I tried repeatedly.  Eventually i called them - i was told they could not help me (the warrenty on the printer had just expired!!!) but i could pay some obnoxiously large amount of money to have them work with me on this one problem.   I explained i followed thier directions from online but well, they are apparently not held accountable for either thier own lateness in shipping things OR thier own troubleshooting directions on thier own company website. 
I ended up paying $18 plus shipping for a new disc.... Dell is out to get me.  They have some of the worst customer service i have seen AND they do not hold themselves accountabe for thier mistakes.  PLUS the customer is always WRONG.  We will never buy from them again....and you shouldn't either.

Now i can spend $50 for a new hard drive, which may not be much to some of you...but what about the ebooks bought online, like my Catholic montessori albums, what about my extreemly complicated cross stitch patterns you can't find in stores and the company closed... what about hthe priceless things like photos and kids writing they do for fun.  All lost.  I really hate computers....technology is not always as great as it is made to be.  There are still problems.  and yes, i know nothing is perfect but heck!  it could at least be reliable.
 yuck - i am done now! I'll post better things later!

Just a quick note....

Hi! :  )

We are well into our move - it is several phases and involves many people.  We have no internet or house phone yet (hopefully tomorrow!) which has really put a damper on the blog thing as well as email. 

Hang tight!  We are almost there.  By Easter we will be all piled in, though definitely not unpacked or organized.  Say a prayer for us, if you can spare a moment, as the details never work out as planned do they.

Well i better run as kids need to eat and there is much laundry to do (we are back at my in-laws borrowing internet, washing machine and continuing to clear our stuff out!)

Have a blessed day and we'll see you back here again soon!

A Little Known Gem

Our family has enjoyed for the past 3 or so years, a newsletter published by a young, catholic homeschooler. 

Saint Cecelia and All Martyrs Press is published monthly and is very reasonably priced.  A subscription is a $1 per month payable as $5 for 5 months or $11 annually. 

Its printed simply, in black and white. 

There are stories of saints, both well known and little known.  There are recipes as well as reader submitted poems and drawings.  There is usually a coloring page and an activity as well. 

You'll find something pertaining to the month's holiday(s) and/or Holy Days or an article about a catholic hometown treasure (shrine, parish, etc.)...and so much more!

Every issue is a bit different and full of wonderful information.

We have really enjoyed having these newsletters arrive for the kids (who doesn't like mail???) And its always a pleasure to come across an older copy in a pile of papers... its like seeing an old friend - you take the time to sit down and read it all again!

Our family highly recommends the Saint Cecelia and All Martyrs Press newsletter as a wonderful addition to your children's faith formation.

Please support this truly catholic, little gem.

If you're interested in a subscription, please email me at dunphy1996 (at) gmail (dot) com and i will get you in touch with the publisher.

And, one last thing....we so enjoy this newsletter we have decided to give away a year subscription! 

Leave a comment on our give away page and we'll throw you in the hat!

Blog about the give away, and then comment on our give away page  that you did (with a link), and we'll give you another entry!

Email a copy of this post to someone and comment that you did (i'm trusting you on this one!) and you'll have another entry!

Good Luck ....and please, check out the newsletter!

A Two Year Old's Perspective

Are there more dolls in the box?  .... Any more?....How bout a bear?

As we pack up our belongings Cat has decided she needs to save the dollies!  She was packed up first, ready to go.  We had to tell her "another week...but soon." 

She had her Dora backpack filled with her books and tea set (which today i finally made her wrap up each piece of in tissue because every time she walked around with it i could hear the pieces hitting and envisioned them chipping until there was nothing left but dust in the bottom of the bag.)

Today she came into the room asking for her Winnie-the-Pooh doll which was in a box of doll clothes.  Once she found out he was not alone she began returning time and again to check .... and finally stayed until i showed her she was holding all the animals, the box was now just clothes.  Phew!  now they're safe.  If you know where they are, all is good... but can you imagine being in a moving box for a week?  When you're taken out and you're in a whole new place, how would that feel?  She was apparently worried.

Now they all reside back in the once again over flowing crate of stuffed animals and baby dolls.  I'm sure she'll be willing to walk behind and pick up any escapees as we leave the house.