Church hop ⛪️

We went to a different parish for the 11:30 a.m. Mass today. (That’s where I took these rainy Sunday pictures, by the way—in the peaceful parish garden. 😌🌧🌻)

It’s the third church we visited within these last seven days.

We like to do what Travis and I call “church hop.” That means visit different parishes throughout the week.

(Okay, this next part might sound a bit confusing. 😄)

During the work week (Mon. – Fri.), our family attends the 7 p.m. daily Mass two to three times a week, and each evening Mass we attend is at a different parish.

Then, on the weekend, we attend either the Saturday Vigil Mass or a Sunday morning/afternoon Mass at a nearby local parish.

For the daily evening Mass, it is generally offered only once a week at select parishes. Not every Catholic Church offers an evening Mass.

The evening Mass may be at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., just depends on that particular parish’s Mass schedule.

Whereas, early morning daily Masses are offered pretty much at all parishes (there are a few exceptions, of course) four to five days out of the work week.

Morning daily Mass times range from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.. Also, each daily Mass, mornkng or evwning, is about 30 minutes long.

We’re just not able to go to a daily Mass in the morning right now. Travis has to be at work by 6 a.m., and we only have one working vehicle at the moment.

But boy, are we thankful we found a few evening Mass options at several local parishes during the work week! 😊🙏🏽

After today’s morning Mass, we went to say hello to the priest, and he said, “Don’t I know you?!” 🤔😆

We explained he probably remembered us from a different church we visited a couple of weeks ago when he was the celebrant at that Mass.

“Oh, yes!” he exclaimed remembering where he had last seen us. 😅

We do have a “home church” that we make the best effort to attend on the weekend a few times in the month.

However, Travis works a lot (six days a week), and life gets pretty busy with the kids, so having the flexibility to also attend a Saturday Vigil (at 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m. or 5 p.m.) or a Sunday Mass time (at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m., or even 5:30 p.m.!) that fits our schedule works best for us.

As you can see, living in a metropolitan means we have A LOT of options! 😂 And that’s another great blessing for us. 🙏🏽

This is just the stage of life we’re in right now, ya know. 😄 #busybigfamilylife

Honestly, I wish we would have thought to do this (church hop) when the kids were babies and toddlers instead of always being late to church. Haha 😂🫣

💜 XO


Happy Friday

Three things to reflect on in honor of September 11th.

Valentine’s Day Decorations

Today, we went to Hobby Lobby to get a few Valentine’s Day decorations. ❤️

Hobby Lobby is just like Target for me—it’s my one weakness. I think it’s the sales that get me. Lol

You go in the store planning to stick to your short list, and next thing you know, you walk out of the store with more items than you had planned! 😆

Zaya (5) really loved this pink, sequin Valentine heart. 💗

The kids were excited to decorate for Valentine’s Day and make a few crafts. They LOVE decorating for holidays and making crafts!

As soon as we got home from the store, they started digging through the shopping bags and pulled out the decor and the Valentine’s craft kits they picked out.

I also bought some more construction paper and Valentine’s color-themed pipe cleaners (Chenille stems) so we can make some homemade crafts, too. 😊

Here are a few moments from today. 💗

💜 XO


“And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.” — Colossians 3:14

One more thing…

Happy Friday!

Four fun things for Friday, including a new art exhibit I’m excited to see.

Happy Christmas Eve 2024

The first thing Zechariah (8) said to me when he woke up this morning was: “Happy Christmas Eve, Mom!”

Today has been a busy day, with running around for last-minute gift and grocery shopping. Travis tackled the first part of the day, starting at 7 a.m. And I finished up the shopping after lunchtime.

I stopped by two local businesses today: a small business bookstore and a children’s consignment shop.

I wanted to make it a point to get my last-minute gifts at a small business.

Since taking on a job in marketing for a small business owner, it has given me a greater appreciation and understanding of all of the hard work that goes into operating a small business.

I now try to shop locally and support small businesses as much as I possibly can.

A little girl wearing a red Christmas dress puts a green, felt Christmas tree in a pocket labeled "24" on an Advent calendar.
Zaya (3) moving the Christmas tree to Day 24.

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve

We truly had a foggy Christmas Eve today.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the foggy day. Maybe I can snap a picture of the fog early in the morning before it clears up.

*Update: I was able to get photos of our Christmas fog before it cleared and included them in this post.*

I didn’t make the connection of “a foggy Christmas Eve” to the holiday song until later this evening.

Foggy Christmas. Photo from my morning walk.

I was in my basement sorting the kids’ gifts to prep for wrapping, and all of a sudden, I started humming “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”

It gave me a little flashback to when I was driving through the thick fog earlier in the day, heading to a local bookstore to get last-minute gifts for my two older kids.

“Then one foggy Christmas Eve.”

I started chuckling to myself and immediately went upstairs to share the joke with Travis (my husband).

He thought it was funny. Haha

Zaya with her big sis Zhen (11). Zaya has been pretending to be Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer all weekend.
Zaya’s new Christmas dress is so beautiful. Her big sister (my oldest daughter MK) gifted her the red dress.

No White Christmas This Year

Last year on Christmas Eve it snowed.

I remember Travis going out in the snowstorm to get last-minute gifts and Christmas groceries. That certainly was an adventure!

I love snow at Christmastime (unless it’s a snowstorm, though).

This year, we’re not going to get any snow. It’s supposed to be in the 50s with scattered showers.

It will still be a lovely Christmas, even if it is a rainy one.

Happy Christmas Eve! xoxo

I can’t wait to see the kids’ faces when they open their Christmas presents! It’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas because I love seeing my children happy.

What are your Christmas plans?

I hope you have a wonderful holiday! xoxo

Christmas Eve Eve 2024

I’m tired, so today’s post will be short.

I spent all of Saturday running errands– farmers market, a little Christmas shopping, and grocery shopping.

At the farmers market today, I bought flowers for Christmas, honey, farm eggs, and tea.

I’m so glad I caught The Tea Lady before she started packing up for the day. Christmas Eve brunch with my favorite tea will be perfect now!

I still have a few gifts to get, so Christmas Eve will also be another busy day.

I was hoping to be finished with gift shopping by the 23rd, but it seems that is not possible.

Thankfully, my husband and I are going to split up the store runs and work together on the Christmas prep.

Flowers I bought at the farmers market today.

The kids are excited about Christmas.

“Just one more day!” They keep reminding me.

I love their joy and excitement for Christmas.

Pretending to be Rudolph

Tomorrow, I’m going to attempt to make my first homemade Chocolate Pecan Pie for our Christmas dessert.

Which reminds me, I need to buy a pie pan!

Just another item to add to the shopping list.

A simple Christmas tree filled with our adorable felt ornaments.
A cute felt Santa Claus holding a gingerbread cookie. I love our felt ornaments!
Mr. Raccoon

We also need to get a few more groceries for our Christmas dinner.

Despite all of the running around we have to do tomorrow, I am looking forward to baking my first Christmas pie, spending time with my family, and wrapping gifts.

And resting.

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Our felt angel tree topper

Are you finished with your holiday shopping?