CMO Featured Mom: Martianne from Training Happy Hearts

Today’s Featured Mom is Martianne from Training Happy Hearts.

Martianne – can you share some information about yourself and your family.

After many single years wishing for marriage and kids, I was blessed to find my M&M (meet and marry) Mike. A wrinkle in the dream happened, though, when health issues brought me to a physician who said she might not be able to have children. Together with Mike, I decided to simply pray and let God’s will be done. His will became clear quickly. Less than a year after our wedding, our first blessing arrived. Since then, two more beautiful children have rounded out the family.

Now, Mike, me and our three children live out the blessing of family (and breathe through the challenges of it!) daily as a Catholic, homeschooling family committed to one another and a mission to S.M.I.L.E.

Tell us about your blog, Training Happy Hearts.

Training Happy Hearts began as a place for Mike and I to share the joys and challenges of our homeschooling endeavors, somewhere to journal about the family’s learning – both the kids’ and the adults’ – as we more fully embraced the adventure of following God’s call in each of ourlives. Since then, it has stopped and started through many computer issues and life challenges and morphed into something that is between a true family journal and a place to share on topics of interest, which currently include homeschooling, healthy GFCF eating, sensory smart living and learning and, of course, faith.

Through Training Happy Hearts, I (and occasionally Mike) not only share, but also welcome comments, questions, ideas and inspirations from fellow travelers. For a moment, for a mile, for more… we appreciate your company along the way and invite you to keep the cycle of sharing going.

What is your Confirmation name? Why did you pick it?

Catherine, for a number of reasons, including that she is the patron saint of the arts and I wanted to be an actress when I was young. (I actually have a BFA in Acting, but never pursued it beyond doing local theater and teaching Drama Kids.)

If you could have anything for dessert tonight, what would it be?

Berries and Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream!

What are some of your favorite things about being Catholic?

Hope, grace, love and tradition are the first things that come to mind! Learning more about all of these things as we live our faith with our children does, too.

This year, we are focusing on the Liturgical Year, and, in particular, learning more about the saints. Mike and I never did much of that growing up and are finding it both fun and enlightening to do it along with our children. Through liturgical teas, liturgical table displays, play dates and readings based on the saints, we discover so many examples of beautiful Catholic mentors. The rich heritage of our faith excites me as much as the amazing promise of it does.

We are truly blessed to know and love God and to, daily, accept the love, grace and guidance He offers.

If you suddenly had $100 that you had to spend on yourself (not give away or spend on your family), what would you buy?

Most definitely the services of a home organizer or awesome babysitter . I struggle so much in the area of decluttering and organizing while distracted by children and homeschooling.

If you have an iPod or MP3 player, go put it on shuffle. What are the first five songs that come up?

I am not that technologically savvy. I still do CD’s, and, those usually in the car with the kids, with a selection similar to the one described here.

Share a tip with our readers that makes your life easier.

Take time to enjoy and be fortified by the Power of Pause.

Share five of your favorite blogs

Oh my, just five! It is too difficult to decide on five actual favorites, so I will instead share five of the last blogs I have gone to:

http://livingmontessorinow.com – where I find so much Montessori inspiration

http://fimby.tougas.net – who writes with such honesty and helpfulness

http://special-ism.com – where I contribute monthly and read almost daily because it is such a rich resource for special needs parents, teachers and professionals

http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun_and_candlelight/ – a wonderful place for on and Catholic family inspiration

http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/ – another top notch place for Catholic homeschooling and family life inspiration

What are some of your favorite activities to do with your family?

Spending time together outside, especially hiking and picnicking… snuggling up to read together… learning together… Pausing to count blessings!