I missed 3 calls today....

If you called me today and I didn't answer I was .....

-bathing a certain 4 1/2 month old who pooped up her back

or

-enduring a certain two year old crying herself into a tizzy in her car seat on the way to Tae Kwon Do

or

-I was holding a certain two year old over a Publix toilet seat with a 4 1/2 month old Bjorned to my chest.

See folks, I am not being rude really by not answering my phone, I just know my limitiations.

And now that it is all quiet here and I could return those calls, instead I am choosing to sit here in front of my computer and indulge myself in the first piece of quiet I've had all day.

We are still in the playoffs did I mention that yet? Yes, we won again Friday which means 1 more game for sure 2 if we win again.

On two seperate occasions, two seperate women have asked me, "And how are you doing?" My first reaction is to say "why can you tell how desperate I am to have my husband think of something other than football?!?"
But I usually smile and say, "Oh it is great, soo exciting!"

Truth be told it is exciting and I am desperate. Desperate, because sometimes football can feel like an affair that Doug is having. He watches, dreams, talks, draws, and lives football. He can't get enough there isn't enough time in the day for him when it comes to game planning and preparing. Oh and did I mention he must talk to other coaches about this constantly.
It can leave a girl out in more ways than one. I have learned to live with this and adjust my life accordingly; indulging in my friendships a little more and tinkering around in my kitchen. But I do miss him, and I am eagerly awaiting the end of this season.....

But,

it is exciting and I wouldn't change
> The way Doug searches for me after a game to smile and nod as if to say we did it.
>The way a player can rise up during the course of a season and become a heartbeat for an entire team.
>The way my son acts because he thinks he is on this team.
>And the way it feels to win!

What the Socha kids are Thankful for.....

Camryn: family, God, Jesus, brother and sisters, Mom, Dad, Home

Cade: family, the food and everybody

Monica: (as told by cade) her family, she's glad we're her family

Ana....

BANANA's and a Ministry
So we have a banana tree in our yard and it yielded all these bananas. I could not in good conscience let them all go to waste. So we cut them down and stored them in our garage until they ripened. Then we brought them in and I baked loaf after loaf of bread. I did make some pudding but it wasn't as popular as the bread. I estimate that I made about 16 loaves. I gave away most of course and we ate a fair share. Last week Cade was commissioned to be an alter server and I brought along a loaf to give to his patient and loyal instructor of this 4 week course.
Today I received a thank you letter for that loaf. He thanked me for the bread and he also thanked me for supporting his ministry. That note reminded me of something huge that I needed to be reminded of. My ministry is supporting others ministries right now. I am raising my kids and that is my vocation. But as far as the way I serve my church, my ministry is supporting others' ministries. I bake, man festival booths, attend the playgroup and bring my children to PREP. That is a ministry and it is sufficient right now.

Hello...

I was without my DSL for a week. Talk about feeling cut off! But I am back and I posted the Coconut cake recipe below. Let me know how it turns out Michele. She is making it for my Godson's birthday this Saturday.

I wasn't totally shut out from all contact last week Doug convinced his sister to stay 4 extra days! And it had nothing to do with the fact that Uncle Gary put our kids down to sleep almost everyday. (See above pictures-- anyone who can do that can stay as long as they want!!) It had nothing to do with the fact that Doug is in the playoffs and has been ignoring me for the sake of game planning and wanted me to have company. It had everything to do with the fact that his sister makes me laugh so hard that I almost pee my pants and that we just had such a good time with them!

Off to go bake. I am making pies today: 1 cherry (Doug's favorite and the recipe happens to be from my favorite cook and friend Kathleen. It beats the canned too sweet cherry pie at the store) and 1 pumpkin These are easy recipes and take less time than driving to a bakery and buying ...honestly! Taste better too!

Coconut Cake

3/4 c. Butter
1 1/2 c. Sugar
3/4 c. Sour cream
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
6 oz. coconut (optional)
4 egg whites beaten until stiff
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. cake flour sifted
3/4 tsp.baking soda
1 1/4 c. milk

Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients add to sugar mixture and slowly blend in milk. Fold egg whites and coconut into mixture. Grease 2 8 inch round pans and divide the mixture evenly into both pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Remove cakes from pans and cool completly. Frost and layer the cakes.

Frosting
1/4 c. butter
3 oz. cream cheese (because of this ingredient, store cake in refrigerator if making the night before)
4-5 c. powder sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbs. milk ( you may need more milk than this, this is just a recommendation just add it slow because you don't want it too runny)

Beat butter, cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and more or less milk until you get the consistancy you want. Add vanilla. Store in fridge until ready to frost.

Newly Baptized
(This is not a new camera trick to make pictures fuzzy and smeary..my camera lens was so dirty and we didn't notice until we downloaded them.)
Godparents and a curious big sister
The whole gang. The Deacon allowed Cade to dress even though he is a week away from being commissioned. He was so proud to assist.
It was a perfect day. The dress fit! We made it to Mass on time! Monica squealed and screamed but stopped when the holy water was poured on her head. Big brother got to assist the Deacon. Camryn wore a dress! Ana was delirious and Mom and Dad made it through another Baptism. The party was great, and the food turned out delicious (I will post recipes for the Orzo salad and Coconut cake which were the hit). We are so blessed and our God is so good!

I have to reprint this letter for Monica from her Grandma...I hope she doesn't mind. It was beautiful and I had to share it. Thank you mom!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

A Letter for Monica Antonia Socha
My Dearest Monica:Today you were baptized into the Catholic Church! Your Mommy invited me to your first sacrament, but Grandma Paz was sick and couldn't come to be with you. One day, I will tell you what I suffered two nights before your baptism and how the intercession of some small saints saved me.I want you to know that I thought of you today. Today is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, the day of your baptism! The first reading from 2Maccabees 7:1-2 and 9-14 speaks about what a person who knows God will withstand in order to remain faithful to God's law. They would be brave, noble, they would die with courage seeing their suffering as nothing compared to the hope of being raised from the dead by Him.

The Psalm for your special day is from Psalm 17 the final verse:
Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking I shall be content in your presence
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

The gospel was from Luke 20. The Sadducee who deny that there is resurrection came forward to question Jesus and proposed a scenario concerning a woman who married various brothers following the death of each; in Heaven who would bethe rightful husband? Jesus said there there was no marriage among the dead and that God was a God of the living and not the dead. For HIM all are alive.

I pray that at your baptism, Monica you lifted your heart to God. You gazed upon the beauty of the Lord, and received whatever gifts or spiritual senses He granted to you. May His glory and majesty pierce you to the core; knowing that He is preparing you for the day when you finally enter HIS kingdom in all it's splendor and beauty.
In your life my sweet baby Monica, may you be in awe of His love for you. May He reveal to you His great majesty so that you can daily become more like Him.

Sweetheart, from the beginning you must believe that you are a "Saint" in the making. That you were truly fashioned and created in His image and likeness and that you are destined to return to the Father, your Creator in Heaven.

I love you, but Jesus loves you so much that He died for you, and His Mother waits to lead you to her Son, who in turn will lead you to the throne of His Father. The Holy Spirit will fill your with every grace you will need for the journey. Trust in the Trinity always, my dearest baby!


Antonia was my Grandma. She was your Great-great grandma and you were named after her. She was a very poor woman but very rich in grace. She always told your Great-Grandma, Nana and my mother that she was so poor she had no estate, no legacy to pass on to her only daughter, my mother, Lupe. All she had was the Faith. That faith was her only legacy to her daughter. That legacy has been passed on to me, and then to your Mommy, and now to you. One day, you will pass this great gift and inheritance to your children. Everything will pass away, Sweetheart. All riches, jewels, real estate, stock, and riches will pass unto dust, but this great faith will never fade or pass away. Happy Baptism, my precious little Saint!

Amen.

Friday Night (high) Lights

Stallions 29-6

and (low) Lights

Chicks defeated 3-2

There is something about the image of a tiny 7 year old pony tailed head hung low after a loss that can make a mama want to cry. But rest assured we both kept a stiff upper lip until we got into the car and then we let the water works flow. Because it was just the two of us and because it felt good.

Today at Tae Kwon Do I was sitting in the waiting room with a sleeping baby on my shoulder and a restless 2 year old climbing up and down on a bench when my 9 year old advanced red belt barges into the waiting area and hands me his glasses because the training was getting rough and we must.not.break.the.glasses.again. The lenses were filthy as they typically are. I tried to clean them with the lower part of my shirt and clearly this simple task was becoming more difficult than if I had two free hands. Just then a man about my father's age, walked up to me, reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief and said ,"may I?" I handed him the glasses and he cleaned them up and gave them back to me and put the handkerchief back into his pocket. It made me think of my dad. He always carries handkerchiefs too. They are as important to what he put on as a belt is. And just like the man today, he always offered them to people in need. There is something chivalric about a handkerchief that is so useful in any situation. To sneeze into yes, but also to wipe away tears, wipe your hands, open a filthy door, use to wave goodbye to your love from a departing train, offer to a woman who needs to clean her son's glasses. It made me wonder is it the handkerchief itself or the type of man who carries it that makes it such an endearing accessory?

Holiday Links

My inbox has been filling up with a couple of links that I want to pass on for the holidays.

The first link is for cookie recipes. A couple people have e-mailed me this and it is great. So far the kids and I have made the M&M cookies (a good use for the extra Halloween candy) and the snickerdoodles.
It is so nice to have so many easy recipes at your fingertips.

The second link is from a Buffalo friend of ours whose brother Tony has designed a line of T-shirts all about Buffalo. They can be viewed by clicking on the "new products" tab. Laurie recommends going up a size for the women's t-shirts because they are fitted. Thanks Laurie!
*Michele we ordered 2 of these shirts for D as a belated birthday ...shh!

Here is an address to include on your Christmas Card list

A Recovering American soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001
And, if you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list.


Cathy sends along a link for 2008 calendars and stationary items all in her whimsical illustrations and loaded with simple truths from her inch by inch books. Check out her books they're a great gift idea for kids!

Only 49 days until Christmas!

Scores from this weekend

Football Shut out: Stallions 49 opponent 0
The Caringhouse Chicks won (camryn's soccer team) 7-2 *

*my little chick was responsible for one of those goals. And did I mention she is playing on a team of 10 year olds? Mama's proud!


There will be pictures next week. I forgot my camera in the rush to get all kids feddressedandoutthedoor for the game. I will be on top of it next week for sure.

3 out of 4* Socha's agree that these Pancakes are Delicious....... despite all the healthy ingredients

*Note: the 4th Socha said these are just ok and this unnamed Socha had a rough morning which I believe may have skewed the opinion just a bit.

Oatmeal Pancakes

1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. wheat germ
1 c. old fashioned oats
1/4 c. dry milk (Carnation instant milk) I have begun to use this for baking because the cost of milk is outrageous, I don't like to mess with our stash and because this works wonderfully!
1 tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
2 c. buttermilk (1/3 c. powder milk, 2 c. water and the juice of 1 lemon get you the same results)
1/4 c. vegetable oil

beat eggs and mix with other ingredients. Pour batter onto a hot griddle. Makes 16 pancakes.

To me these taste like a yummy bowl of homemade oatmeal. They were so good!

Treats from yesterday...... Saints of tomorrow