Minnesota Mom

Pretty Happy Funny Real

2012-01-26T07:01:00.009-06:00

The Sacramental Edition

{Pretty}

Pretty is a little girl, preparing to make her first confession.

An about-to-be-freshly-laundered soul is very pretty, don’t you think?

{Happy}

Look at all those about-to-be-freshly-laundered souls!

She was happy...and joyful...and excited...and ~~nervous.~~

(Correction: According to Angela, she wasn’t nervous. My husband agreed, saying, “I don’t think she knows what that word means.”

{Funny}

Funny is our parish priest who, having read the Gospel and gone over the night’s agenda, joked, “I’m going into the confessional now. First I’ll turn off my microphone.”

And funny was all the happy chatter, so refreshingly different from the normal queue.

{Real}

Real are the graces, deep and lasting.

Real is my gratitude for the Church.

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to see all of today’s {PFHR} contributions!

And have a happy, sacramental day.

Weigh-In Wednesday

2012-01-25T06:12:00.005-06:00

I. The Test

I have still not gotten my cycle, though I have since burned through all three tests in that Clearblue box. Weirdness! Perhaps I should change the name of this blog to Perimenopausal Mom.

Now wouldn’t that be fun?

Still my baby! Still my blessing.

II. The Scale

Here’s a link to the photo from this morning. I’m sorry for not being much of an inspiration this week! I know what to do to lose the weight…have just been too busy/too tired/too cold to care.

I do care. It’s just that being busy and being tired and being cold sound like really good excuses right now.

Winter Sports in Minnesota: Swimming & Gymnastics

III. The Life

Yes, we’re busy. We’re really busy. We may even be Too Busy.

Homeschooling, basketball, Boy Scouts, American Heritage Girls (I’m a leader), housework, husband time (still going well), me time (not going as well) and not one but two kids preparing for new sacraments this year. In fact, Angela makes her First Confession tonight!

Will you say a prayer for her? Thank you, my friend, in advance.

My sister’s in town caring for her new baby grandson!
Seeing her & meeting him yesterday? HUGE blessing.

We are also gearing up to go home to North Dakota for my parents’ 65th Wedding Anniversary, and for reasons I have yet to reveal, that too is taking up lots of free time.

Except time isn’t free—it’s a gift and I’m grateful.

A busy life is still a blessing.

“The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God.”

The Imitation of Christ, Chap. 3

Happy Wednesday! Let me know how you’ve done.

The Big Reveal

2012-01-20T06:22:00.002-06:00

Yes, I was very disappointed.

Is Big Brother watching me?

2012-01-19T09:59:00.004-06:00

This is NiNi, otherwise known as my 2-year-old George.

Is he a big brother?

I don't know!

Maybe yes...and maybe no...and maybe I'm driving you crazy--yes?--with all this rampant speculation. I'm sorry! It's just that I've been busy--VERY busy--and haven't been able to get to the store for The Test.

Plus the plan was to get one from my friend Lynnie at church last night, where our sweet little 2nd graders had their First Confession interviews. Both Angela and her son did fine, just fine. (I know you were concerned for them.)

Alas, I wasn't able to make it.

Instead, I was visiting with my cousin Eileen, (aka Tuna), because I am doing some work on our family tree and she invited me over to share some stories. Eileen's father is my mother's brother, and Eileen's mother is my father's sister.

My Cousin Tuna with Felicity

Got that? It's a small town thing.

Anyway, I spent a delightful hour at her table listening and taking notes. So cool. For example, I found out why her nickname is Tuna. She was a very small girl growing up, just like my Felicity, and her dad used to say, "I'm going to stick you in my pocket and take you to town! You're my little Petunia!" Petunia got shortened to "Tuna" and there you go.

I just love this sort of thing, don't you? Or would you rather I just shut up? Would you rather I do other things than blog--things like driving to Target to buy The Test?

It will be six weeks tomorrow since my last cycle.

TMI? According to you, it's not enough!

Weigh-In Wednesday

2012-01-18T05:04:00.007-06:00

How are you doing? Are you meeting your wellness goals this week?

I am not.

I am decidedly not not NOT.

(You can click over to see my scale if you want. Weight is up, motivation is down.)

And part of me, too, is wondering if I am doing any good by posting these photos. Certainly there's--What would you call it?--a curiosity factor, as in, "What a curiosity that woman is, posting photos of her scale..."

In any case, I don't want to make it all about the weight, (I've said this time and time again), and I certainly don't want you to feel bad if what I'm posting looks like a good weight to you. We are all so different! So perhaps you could let me know where you want me to go with this series, or even if you want me to continue at all (emphasis mine).

Would you be willing to do a link-up? Would that be motivating and/or interesting? I thought perhaps we could use the "Weigh-In Wednesday" idea as a platform for even more than our weight. We could "weigh in" on other things--share ideas, offer encouragement.

I would like that. I'll go first.

In posting photos of my bathroom floor, I noticed my tile grout looked fairly dingy. "Huh. Is that really the color that it should be?" As it turns out, it was not.

My Very Humbling Piet Mondrian

You'll see I've been a fairly inconsistent homemaker--am, shall we say, far more interested in other pursuits than cleaning.

And yet...and yet...I love a clean home and aspire to such. Like eating right and exercising, it's all about balance and blessings and peace.

A squirt of lemon juice and a paste of baking soda...

A couple of scrubs with an old toothbrush...

That was all it took and how good it looks!

Reaching my goal weight should be so easy.

Misbehavior…or Mad Science?

2012-01-17T07:57:00.007-06:00

Well, it’s happened. My two older sons have gone back to school after a four-week break. The reason they had such a long vacation, by the way and because I know you are aching to know, is because the last week of break is “project week”.

Seven days devoted to industry. Not once did the boys stray from their assigned task—not once were they distracted by neighborhood friends or handheld gizmos. Not once, I tell you!

(80 times maybe, but not once.)

Jem made a beaver lodge…

And Joe wrote a paper:

What? It’s an action shot.

George, of course, being of sound mind and stubborn genes, was not to be outdone by his two older brothers. He did his research in the realm of food science, wondering, as it were, what would be the effect of an entire bottle of hot sauce upon a side dish of vegetables.

He’s pleased, I think, with the results. Such mass! Such density! Such color! Such smell!

Did his teacher try it? She did not.

She served it instead to the headmaster.

Ed. Note: Apropos of next to nothing, I have not taken a test yet.

Back on Track

2012-01-16T06:10:00.006-06:00

The “Got Teens?” Edition

Last Friday I updated my Facebook status with: If I could bottle my teenager’s energy, it would be 100-proof.

My favorite comment came from Theresa, who remarked, “I’ll take a case.”

(Me too! But only if you add caffeine.)

Would you believe that he and Jem are only now going back to school? Not today, mind you, today is a holiday. Tomorrow, though, my boys go back…and that makes nearly four wonderfully crazy and loud weeks of vacation.

I liken the activities of our home to a beehive. Lots of humming, buzzing, activity and noise.

(Not so much honey production, however.)

(Which is too bad. I like honey.)

So yes, it may take me awhile to get back on track. Meanwhile, I wanted to share with you these photos that I took on New Year’s Eve (see? told you it may take awhile!) and which are a good example of my two bookend boys. George loves his big brother very much and has gotten very used to having him around. Indeed, sometimes (gasp!) he prefers him to me.

Got a teen? Get a baby.

The two go really great together.

(Ed. Note: Speaking of getting a baby...I’m going to publish this in a small font so that not everyone reads it. For those of you who do read it…may I just ask…is it normal to have one’s cycle go wonky as they approach the 50-year mark? Or are we about to get another baby?)

(What to Expect When You’re 45 and Expecting)

(Now that would be a really fun blog post.)

And the winner of the No Name giveaway is...

2012-01-12T15:21:00.005-06:00

Therese!

Please email me with your address, Therese, and have some fun grilling all that meat!

No Name Premium Meat and Seafood: A Review and a Giveaway!

2012-01-09T10:55:00.003-06:00

Making an Ordinary Family Meal Extraordinary

Happy feast of the Baptism of Our Lord! I don’t about you, but I’m going through a bit of liturgical withdrawal right now. Advent and Christmas are both so rich with meaning and feast days that our family celebrations came together almost effortlessly.

Note that I said almost.

Now we are returning to Ordinary Time and I’m looking for new and improved ways to bless our family. One of them, of course, is by putting healthy and delicious meals on the table. This is one of my favorite ways to tell them I love them!

Tilapia & Wild Rice Meatballs: It’s what’s for dinner.

My husband knows this and is very supportive of my culinary endeavors. His philosophy is, “Hey, if someone’s going to go to the trouble of cooking for me, I’m not going to complain about it!” There have only been a couple of times that he has voiced a negative opinion—so few times, in fact, that I remember them!

(Like the time I made what I thought would be a delicious sauce for the chicken—a seasoned béchamel full of coarsely chopped walnuts. My husband took one look and remarked, “Who threw up on the chicken?”)

(I was laughing too hard to be angry.)

(And besides, he was right.)

Well, I’ll tell you. Having been asked to review No Name Premium Meats and Seafood, I got try several of their products. They were, every last one of them, absolutely delicious.

Thumb’s up at every meal, and I’m not kidding.

In the photo at the top, I’d made their marinated tilapia fillets and wild rice meatballs. I made both entrées on account of the size of my family and there was plenty to go around. I served a salad of simple greens tossed with almonds and a pomegranate vinaigrette and voilà—yummy goodness that was so, so easy.

That is one of the best things about No Name’s products—they are all pre-seasoned, pre-marinated and individually wrapped, which takes the guesswork out of preparing them. Because they are premium meat, they can be a bit pricey; however, they come on sale quite often and are—in my humble opinion—well worth it.

(Note: You may want to use the No Name Store Locator to see if these products are in distribution near you. They are also available online but at an additional cost.)

Okay! Now for the fun part! No Name has offered up a great giveaway package for one reader: coupons for a free package of steak and chicken as well as $5 off of any additional product—a $40 (approximately) value.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite fast-and-easy side dish. (Mine is salad, using prewashed greens, with a simple vinagrette.)

If you would like to enter a second time, stop by No Name’s page on Facebook, tell them I sent you, and “like” their page. Then come back here and leave another comment.

Oh, and one last thing: I’ll leave comments open until Wednesday at midnight. That should give you enough time to enter...unless you’re like me and get distracted, thinking, “Now what am I going to make for supper?” (Another reason to enter the giveaway!)

That’s it! Thank you! I hope you win! ☺

A Novena of Holy Communions: The Winners!

2012-01-09T10:08:00.006-06:00

I loved reading the comments on Thursday’s giveaway about spiritual communions and how/why you make them. So beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

And now, without further adieu, (that is to say, without any more adieu than you’ve already had to sit through), here are the winners of Father Lawrence Lovasik’s A Novena of Holy Communions:

Lovey Dove!

Laura!

Gail!

Marcie in Canada!

And Lori N from MN!

Congratulations, everyone! Please email me with your addresses and I will get this book in the mail ASAP: mom4life[at]comcast[dot]net.

To everyone else, do not despair. The next giveaway starts in approximately one hour!

Our Friday Night

2012-01-06T20:03:00.004-06:00

I’m standing at the computer reading.

(If I stand, I can pretend that I’m not spending time standing at the computer, reading.)

Felicity pokes a concerned head around the corner. “Mom, did you say NiNi could…”

I go charging down the hallway to investigate, firsthand, the havoc that my 2-year-old’s wrought.

I find…

“Dat?” he says.

“Oh, that,” I reply. “That’s fine.” And I leave him there, messy but safe, with his hands in the flour canister and a big grin on his face.

He could be doing much worse things on a Friday night.

For now, he’s two.

And I thank God for it.

Review & Giveaway Update

2012-01-06T15:13:00.003-06:00

I've run into a couple of unexpected time management snags today and won't be able to post the No Name Meats review & novena booklet winners until Monday.

Thanks for your patience, everyone!

Food for your Body, Food for your Soul: A Double Give-Away!

2012-01-05T08:51:00.014-06:00

Okay, so all that talk of dieting has made me hungry—hungry for good food (the kind that I can and should have) and hungry for the grace I need to be strong in spirit.

The two go hand-in-hand, do they not?

First, I was asked by a spokeswoman from No Name Premium Meat and Seafood to try their products in exchange for a review and giveaway.

Lucky for us, their food is delicious!

I have no problem at all endorsing this product and think that you will love it. Come back tomorrow for a chance to win a prize totaling $40.00.

Second, I wanted to share with you a little book that has—and is—making a big, big difference in my life. One of my resolutions this year is to be more prayerful, and with that end in mind, I gave away several spiritual bouquets at Christmas.

A spiritual bouquet is like flowers, only better. It doesn’t wilt and doesn’t go all gunky in your vase! You choose the prayers you wish to say—it could be a three Hail Marys and three Our Fathers, it could be an entire Rosary—and you offer them up for the person on your list.

My parents, for example, do not really need anything at this point in their life. So in addition to a photo book, (the standard gift), I gave them a card with a spiritual bouquet enclosed:

3 Masses,
3 Rosaries, and
One novena of Holy Communions.

(You can have Masses said for people, living and dead, by calling your parish and choosing a date. Usually you offer a small stipend for the priest.)

I have been using the book A Novena of Holy Communions
for many years and would like to give away five copies today. It’s a beautiful little book that packs a powerful punch! Just leave a comment saying…oh, I don’t know…how about whether or not you have ever heard of spiritual bouquets before? If you have, do you like to make them?

Comments will be closed tonight at midnight and I’ll announce the winners alongside tomorrow’s review & giveaway.

Good luck! May the giveaway odds be ever in your favor! ; )

Weigh-In Wednesday (Part II)

2012-01-04T11:56:00.003-06:00

The “What? It’s Christmas!” Edition

So here we go, then.

Deep breath…I can do this…

Up several pounds since the last weigh-in! You go, girl!

(Or perhaps that should that be, “You grow, girl!”)

This is disappointing but not that surprising, really, given that all bets are off over the course of the holidays. Did you not get the memo?

So this is me stepping up to the podium, acknowledging my weight gain and blaming... blaming…everybody but myself. I blame my children for making me bake all those cookies; I blame the barista for all those caramel lattes; and I blame my husband for letting me nosh on Doritos as we drove!

(It was a long trip.)

I blame this cake:

And this chocolate trifle:

(formerly known as the Bûche that fell)

Most of all, I blame my friend Gina & her husband, for giving me a bottle of this on New Year’s Eve:

Absolutely Killer Homemade Egg Nog

Seriously? This stuff is amazing. Note the size of that mason jar, consider that I am the only person in my family that partakes of the nog, and then do the math.

I have no regrets.

Okay, maybe some.

This extremely humbling photo is proof—condemning proof!—that the numbers on my scale are indeed a bit too high. These are the jeans that I wore a year ago, as you can see (more or less) in the following picture:

Hi, Lissa! When you coming back for a visit?

I weighed around 119 at the time, which I think is a healthy weight for my bone size and stature. Obviously, on a shortish person, those extra pounds do add up quickly.

And no, I’m not hiding everything under that sweater.

* * * * *

I just want my jeans to fit! Even more than that, though—way more than that—I want to feel good about the choices I’m making and (I’ve said this before) I want to set a good example for my family. Yes, I know that it’s still Christmas. STILL. Can’t it be possible to feast and still feel good about it? Lately I’ve just felt...out of sorts. Bloated. Squishy. Intemperate. Icky.

And yet...and yet...if I were to get back on track today...

I would feel slimmer, healthier and happier by sundown. That is literally all it takes for me! Getting back on track and watching what I eat—cutting back on the sugar and all the processed carbs, controlling my portions and cutting out all those snacks, and...and...

Saying “thanks but no thanks” to that last bit of nog.

Sigh.

* * * * *

Now, I’ll admit that I am tempted to jump back into Phase I of the South Beach Diet, because the restrictions are tight and the weight will come off quickly. However, given how quickly I gain the weight back, I don’t know that this is the best plan for me. Erin would agree, I think, saying “Renounce the phase diets! They set you up for failure every time!”

(Erin is my go-to guru. She is an IRL friend with a lot of experience.)

Except...it’s just hard for me to go it alone. Hard, if not impossible! It would seem that (given my nature and some very bad habits) I need strict restrictions to stay on track.

Sit-ups are even more effective when you have a little added weight.

At least I’ve got a good exercise buddy.

Any advice, encouragement, web sites? How is it going on your end? (no pun intended)

Weigh-In Wednesday

2012-01-04T05:58:00.003-06:00

Bleh.

Do you really want to know?

Several Royal Frosting-Covered Hours Later...

2012-01-03T19:17:00.002-06:00

It was a good, albeit very messy, day.

The 10th Day of Christmas

2012-01-03T09:00:00.004-06:00

Are you still celebrating?☺

We are, and it’s wonderful, but I have to admit that tomorrow’s “Weigh-In Wednesday” is hanging over my head like a fudge-covered anvil. More on that later, though, because today we are making…

These!

We have never, ever made gingerbread houses as a family. (The house that Cate’s assembling in the post below is from a kit that she received for Christmas.) I have always wanted to, because the whole process looks like a ton of fun and, well, it’s what we over-ambitious and highly-competitive homeschooling moms do, right?

(My husband tells me I need to dial back on this.)

(I agree.)

In fact, one of the reasons that we’ve never done gingerbread houses before is that I’ve always let my perfectionism get in the way. This is a big problem for a homeschooling mom, especially a mom who spends too much time on the internet, because inevitably she (read: me) compares herself unfairly to what the other moms have done (and there are, like, hundreds of moms in our Catholic/homeschooling/blogging-mom circle) and she throws in the towel before she even starts.

That’s when I turn to Fly Lady.

I take a baby-step.

I just…begin.

* * * * *

More on this never-ending saga later! Will the sides of our houses even stay together?! They may not...there’s risk of failure...and if they don’t...

We’ll make gingerbread trifle.

Have a blessed and happy 10th Day of Christmas!!! And for a great article about the meaning behind the 12 Days of Christmas, click here.

The 9th Day of Christmas

2012-01-02T06:01:00.007-06:00

Are you still celebrating?

Once, when I was a college girl, I spent my Christmas vacation out west with my cousins.

Menlo Park, California.

In December.

It was gorgeous.

I had brought my Christmas card list along with me so that I could keep checking people off my list. Come Epiphany and I was still cranking along, typing out lengthy personal notes and feeling very happy.

My cousins teased me. "You'll be sending out Christmas cards in February! You can wish them a Merry Valentine's Day!'" I accepted their ribbing with a cheerful grin, because being "on time" was not the point.

Getting in touch--staying in touch--was.

I'm still not "timely" when it comes to cards, and just finished the last of over 150 this morning. "Merry Christmas!" I wrote at the bottom. "At this writing I've still got four days to say that!" (Well, technically three since today's the 9th day...but still. I've got the whole day ahead of me.)

And so this is still Christmas. Yesterday evening at Mass (I went a 2nd time by myself to the Cathedral because I can't get enough of those decorations) the priest explained that the feast of Christmas is so meaningful that we need 12 days to unpack the meaning. There is much to consider when we look at that creche--that birth, that gift, my birth, my gift.

What can I give Him, small as I am?

It can be hard to celebrate for all 12 days--hard to be patient when you're over-sugared, (trust me, I am), and hard to be kind when all the kids are home. Sometimes I feel like the Grinch pre-conversion--oh all the noise! All the noise noise noise NOISE!

Not that my kids use their outdoor voices inside.

And so this is still Christmas and we look at Him and we look at her. Mary, His mother, is also Mary, our mom. What can we ask her, in His name? What do we need for ourselves, our family and for our friends?

Be brave. What do we need, Lord, for our enemies?

On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Fill in the blank!

All He wants is that we ask.

PS. Almost forgot to say: Happy New Year!

16 Years Ago Today

2011-12-29T08:34:00.009-06:00

Who we were...

Our first year of marriage and first ever visit to the Minnesota State Fair.

We survived both!

Who we are...

Lakeside with the family in August, 2011.
As Minnesotans, are we ever not lakeside?

Who we hope to be...

My beloved mom & dad will celebrate their 65th in January!
In a way, I owe it all to them.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!
I’m looking forward to the next 50 years!

The Christmas Chronicles (Part II)

2011-12-28T08:23:00.001-06:00

The “All I want for Christmas” Edition

Angela thought about asking for her two front teeth this Christmas, then changed her mind since she already has them.

That would be weird and just a little morbid.

Instead she asked for...and received...a visit home to see all the family! This meant three different houses in just two days.

They got to see Grandpa George & Grandma Rita…

They got to see Grandma Cathy & Grandpa Doug…

And they got to see Grandma & Grandpa Cookie!

Three different houses...three times the love...and three times the options for cookie platters!

Because I am doing photo books as gifts this year--and because I wanted to include our Christmas get-togethers in said photo books--I took (you could say) a fair share of photos.

From left to right: My sister Mary, my sister Renee, my brother Michael,
my Mom & Dad, my sister Yvonne, and me!
(My sister Linda arrived the next day.)

We got a shot of all the siblings except one. She is a labor & delivery nurse and had to work on Christmas, birthin' babies.

You can bet I cornered her when she showed up! Getting us all together is a rare & wonderful treat. We take what we can, when we can.

And that's just one of the things that makes Christmas wonderful. Here are a few more:

Sort of gets ya right “there”, doesn’t it? Now it’s back to writing out those Christmas cards!

With love & blessings in Our Infant Savior,

The Christmas Chronicles

2011-12-27T07:27:00.004-06:00

Part I

We are freshly home from two days of Christmas travel (arriving home LATE last night and doing little else than brush my teeth and read a paragraph of my current read before passing out—not literally—until this morning) and I have a fair share to do to feel “caught up”.

(Can someone tell me, please, exactly what that feels like?)

And so, in addition to these wonderful post-family feelings that I have in my heart, I also have a sense of “Where—oh, where—to even BEGIN?” And the answer to that is:

With blogging, of course.

Here is some free holiday advice should you find that you need it. The question is: What does one do with a Bûche de Noël snafu?

(Note to self: Let your yule log cool completely before adding the filling and attempting to frost.)

(And do not try to assemble it with exactly one hour to spare before leaving for Mass.)

Anyway, yes, what does one do with a Bûche de Noël snafu?

Why, she makes a Christmas trifle, of course!

And she smiles when she serves it, saying, “I meant to do that.”

(My girls, of course, know better.)

How is your Christmas going? ☺

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T22:11:00.004-06:00

~ from our family to yours ~

Photo Credit: My friend Tina

This picture was taken after the 4 p.m. Children’s Mass—a Mass that lasted 2 hours, approximately; a beautiful Mass filled with shepherds & angels & wise men & JESUS!

(Our daughter Cate was the star. Upon hearing the role that her sister had been assigned, Angela demanded excitedly, “Which star? Mary? The head angel?”)

(“No, Angela,” I told her. “She’s the star.”)

(“Which star?”)

(And like that the conversation could have gone on for hours.)

Merry Christmas again, everyone! May God bless you today & always.

More Prayers for Jamie

2011-12-22T18:54:00.002-06:00

This time, though, they are prayers of thanksgiving. ☺

Kooky for Cookies

2011-12-19T12:07:00.010-06:00

Ed. Note: Thank you, everyone, for your kind participation in the “Gift of Self” discussion below. I will continue the series with Part II soon.

This past Saturday was a day of culinary reckoning. Low-carb diet notwithstanding, I simply had to start making our Christmas goodies because—apart from the sugar cookies we baked on St. Nicholas Day—I hadn’t made a single batch.

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies: Trust me, this recipe is a MUST.

And that, my friends, will simply not do.

I started by making a list of our favorites—a list of ten that looks like this:

There! That oughta give me something to work with!

I asked my husband to cover for me as I drove, kamikaze-like, to a local Super Target. It was 8:00 p.m. and almost bedtime; good for him for letting me go.

An hour later and I had filled the cart with no end of flour, sugar, extracts and almond bark. I had peppermint kisses and buttery Ritz; I had marshmallow fluff and bleach.

(Oops. That last item was for my husband’s fish tank. I stored it underneath the cart.)

I paid for my items and made my way back to the jeep. I’ll tell you this much: my husband’s black jeep is a LOT harder to find after dark than our gargantuan white barge is. I used the “unlock” feature on the key which made the headlights flash and helped me find it. Shoot! I was on the other side of the median, which meant hoisting the heavy-laden cart up and over.

Baking with 2-year-olds: What you lose in efficiency, you gain in cuteness.

I was about to leave when I remembered…didn’t my friend Tina say that they were running a promo, where for every $50 you spent you got a $10 gift card? Trust me, I had spent fifty dollars! I went back inside to ask at the desk.

Shoot! The promo only ran ‘til noon. I thanked the woman and went back outside…

And discovered that the car was gone.

Seriously.

Someone had stolen my husband’s car.

This was taken right before he uncapped the vanilla and dumped it in.

Panicking, I clicked and re-clicked the “unlock” option (they broke the window! they hot-wired it!) but there was no black Jeep with its headlights flashing. I knew where I’d parked it—there were still tracks from the cart on the grassy median—but the car wasn’t there. It was gone. I was doomed.

And then…and then….it occurred to me. I had been driving the car when I remembered the promo—had been on my way out of the parking lot, in fact. The jeep wasn’t stolen; it was two rows over!

Two rows over, eight spaces up.

* * * * *

Tell me, please, that you all are getting loopy too! Loopy from shopping and loopy from baking, loopy as only the last week of Advent will leave us.

Soon only one thing—the best thing—will matter.

The Gift of the Magi for Modern Wives

2011-12-16T06:42:00.009-06:00

Subtitled: From Rocks in the Mattress to Flowers in your Hand

Disclaimer: This post is for healthy, married women only. If you are in your third trimester, if you are sick, if you are in Phase-Whatever-It-Is-When-You’re-Practicing-NFP-and-Can-Flirt-But-That’s-It…

If you are any of those things or, conversely, if you’re a guy…

Then this post is not for you.

For the rest of you, friends & acquaintances & casual lurkers, please have a listen and give my words some thought. I’m pretty sure that you will have heard this all before, but this is my account and my experience—one woman speaking from her heart.

The gift of self is saving my marriage.

(I could stop there, but I won’t.)

(Because my husband disagreed with that statement, saying, “Well, our marriage was never really at risk. It’s not like I was going to leave you or anything.”)

Okay, then, let me amend my words.

The gift of self is saving us.

The funny thing is, I didn’t think it mattered. I didn’t think…and yet I knew. I knew that I was ignoring him—that my cheerful goodnights were not enough. They aren’t, you know—and we can make all sorts of excuse about how we’re way too this and we’re way too that and doesn’t he know how busy I am?

In the end, NONE of that matters.

What matters is what you’re doing to him—what matters is what you’re doing to you. I speak from experience—a very real and jarring experience—that took place a couple of Fridays ago when we finally discussed the effects of my indifference. The look on his face said it all. The look on his face is what convicted me.

(In some circles it’s called a “light bulb” moment. In others, of course, it’s known as grace.)

What could I give him, poor as I am? What could I give him? I gave him my heart.

Every day I gave him my heart—every day, each and every day.

Because I knew that my husband and I would never have the closeness I want…without my giving him the closeness he needs. (I needed it too, despite my mind and satan telling me otherwise. You do know where those “I’m too busy/too tired/too embarrassed” thoughts come from, don’t you?)

It was like “Save the Date” every day for a week…

…and I’m pretty sure it saved us.

To be cont.

Prayers, Please

2011-12-15T19:07:00.002-06:00

...for Jamie and Baby.

Weigh-In Wednesday

2011-12-14T12:21:00.006-06:00

Down a pound or so. Woo hoo and yeehaw and can I have some Sun Chips now?

(Yes, but only four and a half.)

(And then you must switch to broccoli.)

So I made it to Day 13 of Phase I from South Beach. Day 14 was also Gaudete Sunday and I blame the Packers and my friend Tina and those two mudslides and that Kowalski's chocolate.

Oh, and there was also that festive pink candle.

Couldn't do it. No siree.

And so the weight loss will slow a bit now that I'm eating more carbs, but frankly I'm okay with that. (Actually, I'm not. Actually I'd rather snap my fingers and be at my goal weight and look great on the beach. But this is Minnesota and there is no beach and nothing comes cheap and so I must be strong.)

(And okay, so technically Minnesota's got 10,000 beaches...but it's December right now so they don't count.)

The good eating habits are still being established. It's still hard when the kids are eating Snyder's mustard-flavored pretzels; it's hard when I'm stressed and want to eat my way out.

Baby steps.

Baby steps.

Teensy.

Tinsy.

Baby.

Steps.

Note: On deck is that promised post about sex. I received a couple of nervous emails from moms whose daughters read my blog. Not to worry! I promise to keep the discussion chaste and wouldn't have it any other way.

(Plus my husband's an introvert and will be editing my work.)

(That, too, is as it should be.)

Happy Wednesday! Anyone else weighing in today?

Pre-Christmas Perspective

2011-12-13T11:57:00.006-06:00

Last night I was at a Christmas party for my daughters’ American Heritage Girls troop. The junior leaders chose as their theme “A Baby Shower for the King of Kings,” complete with shower-type party games and a table full of baby gifts for a local shelter.

The girls had a blast. They played baby-item bingo and did a blind baby food taste test. (“Sweet potatoes and chicken? Yuck!” “Mashed peas? Ew!”) They decorated sugar cookies, sipped hot apple cider, and played round after crazy, laughter-filled round of Train Wreck.

I should have been joyful watching all this but I wasn’t, not really. My heart felt heavy and my thoughts, centered more or less squarely on self.

(Do I need to bore you with all the details?)

(No, I really think I don’t.)

Suddenly I noticed one of the co-leaders, who was cuddling and kissing a sweet little baby. I knew it wasn’t her baby because A). her youngest child is 2 ½ and B). she has creamy white skin and the baby, dark brown.

So I asked her if she was babysitting.

“Yes,” she told me, “his mother dropped him off for the night.”

“All night?” I asked her.

“Yes,” she said.

She told me that the baby’s mother doesn’t know her at all, but heard from a friend of a friend or a cousin of a cousin that they take in children from time to time. The mother called yesterday afternoon at 5:00, saying, “I need a break. Can you take my baby?”

“I didn’t really feel like it,” my co-leader admitted.

“But I did it because of Christ’s love for me.”

* * * * *

Have a blessed feast of St. Lucy, everyone! May we be the salt (in our family’s rolls) but most of all, may we be light.

That’s so depressing!

2011-12-12T16:28:00.005-06:00

So I felt a little guilty about my post yesterday. It did, after all, have a fair share of grit, and is it good to be gritty on Gaudete Sunday?

I didn’t know.

I closed the comments on the post, as is my way (usually) when what I write is rather sad and pathetic. I didn’t want to seem all fishing-for-comments-y, nor did I want to spend my Sunday hoping for comments! (You really can’t win in this situation.)

There were a few heartening emails that came my way, however, including one from my friend Cathie that made me laugh out loud. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, “but when you said that you needed a lamp for your SAD, I thought right away that you meant this one!”

Here’s a visual so you don’t have to click over.

It’s like saying “my bad” when you screw up. When I’m feeling downhearted, I’ll refer to “my sad.” Like: I need to get me a leg lamp and that will help my sad!

Anyway, it’s hard to discern when to be rose-colored or not—and to know when being “real” is what people need. I guess I’ll just keep being me—and accept that being me means second-guessing.

Advent can be a very hard time, especially if your expectations run way way high and/or you’re feeling stressed and/or are feeling lonely and/or you aren’t getting the vitamins you need and/or you’ve recently lost a loved one. Any of these factors put you at risk for sadness; any of these things can lead to depression. (Been there; done that; see this post.)

And so that, my friend, is why I talk about my sad!

How’s your sad been? Has it been manageable?

Gaudete Joy

2011-12-11T11:22:00.004-06:00

“But when your days are happy PINK, it’s great to jump and just not think.”

--from My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

You may not be feeling the joy, I know.

Your day may be dark and your heart, heavy. Your mind might be cluttered by a thousand obligations; your perspective skewed; your home, a mess.

Look for the pink.

Look for the pink wherever you might find it; look for the joy and don’t deny it.

It might come to you in the form of a child, who despite his naughtiness is scrinchy-nosed cute…

...and who despite his demands is desperate for you.

* * * * *

It might come in the form of a “Do you need something, Mom?”

“Can I rub your shoulders?”

“What can I do?”

* * * * *

It might come in the form of an apology.

And you know you must forgive.

* * * * *

It might come in the form of this book by the Duggars, this song by George Winston, or a cup of tea.

* * * * *

Finally, it might come in the form of a loving husband, who wipes your tears and understands. Who sits with you as you work your way through it…

… and who is there when, by grace, you finally do.

Not going to deny it, my friends—there’s a wee bit of SAD going on around here! I need me I need me one of those lamps, I can tell; I need me some Jesus, and I got Him, this morning! I am grateful—so grateful—for the gift of the Eucharist...and for the colors today of purple, green and pink.

I love the colors of purple, green and pink.

For your Saturday listening pleasure...

2011-12-10T00:02:00.003-06:00

(See? I told you it was pretty.)

(But then again, I'm the mom.)

Pretty Happy Funny Real

2011-12-09T14:22:00.011-06:00

The Christmas Concert Edition

{Pretty}

We went to a Christmas concert at my son's school last night.

The music was very pretty, but ~~since my husband has yet to show me how to upload the video from his camera, you'll just have to take my word for that.~~ (Never mind, he showed me how.)

Did you spot my son in the above picture?

Here. I'll provide a little help:

{Happy}

Christmas concerts make me happy.

My son makes me happy.

Christmas concerts with my son make me UBER-happy.

{Funny}

"Mom! Stop taking pictures and let's go."

(He just wanted to go home and have cookies.)

{Real}

With Michael, a friend from class

On the way to the concert, (I had to drop Joe off an hour early), we were stopped at a light and I glanced over. He was looking out the window at the black, frozen night--not saying a word, hands clasped quietly in his lap. At that moment, his life flashed before my eyes. I saw the little boy he used be; I saw the man he was becoming.

At that moment, my heart broke just a bit...just a teensy, tiny bit.

(I think you moms know what I mean.)

With Lucy, a friend from Cross Country

And I thought, "Thank you, Lord, for my son."

Thank you for this grand adventure called parenting.

With Kendall, a friend from our carpool

Please give me the grace to do it well.

To see all of this week's entries for {Pretty Happy Funny Real}, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter... and do please have a beautiful weekend. Love up those children! Love up your spouse.

“I am the Immaculate Conception.”

2011-12-08T06:31:00.004-06:00

I am posting something on this beautiful & holy feast for two reasons: one, it is a beautiful & holy feast and two, I wanted to bump down that photo of my feet a bit.

Who blogs about dieting right before Christmas, for goodness sake? I do, apparently. Cheer up, though! Next week I’m not going to blog about diets. Next week I’m going to blog about sex.

Lucky you.

I call it “The Gift of the Magi for Modern Wives.”

And please don’t be scandalized that I should speak of such things because—Hello?!— take a good long look at those children of yours. They’re amazing, aren’t they? Well, how did they get here? Whose plan was it?

Our Mother Mary, too, was a part of that plan…long ago when she was conceived in the womb of St. Anne. I am thinking about God’s plan today—and about how Our Lady can help us where we need it the most…in our marriage, and in our beds. (Hint: Have you been too busy this Advent for your husband? Rethink your plan. Ask Mary to help you.)

God love you all! Have a blessed and beautiful feast with your families.

Image: The Immaculate Conception by Maella Mariano Salvador

Weigh-In Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:39:00.008-06:00

You know that song by James Brown?

Well, I feel better--much better, and that is making a very big difference in my world.

It is not about the weight so much.

It is about saying no to the endless gnoshing--about not being full when I sit down to supper and about strengthening that resistance muscle. (The idea for a “resistance muscle” came to me from this book--more on that later.) I made cookies yesterday without eating the dough! I made fish sticks for supper without eating several right off the pan!

(Fish sticks are a particular weakness.)

And that is all I'm going to say for now. We are getting ready today for tomorrow's great feast and I need to go track down a Phase I treat to prepare. (Don't worry--the rest of the family gets the good stuff!) I have never made it all the way through Phase I, which is a two-week period meant to jump-start the weight loss and--more importantly--nip those rabid cravings in the bud.

Today is Day 10; only four more to go.

And then...and then...I start phasing in the wheat & sugar, fingers crossed that I can still be strong.

“It is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is He whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of His power within me.” (Colossians 1:27-29)

Thank you for walking this walk with me! Feel free to share your struggles in the com-box, or email me privately if you prefer.

A Seasonal Admission

2011-12-06T17:23:00.008-06:00

Sometimes Advent wears me out.

I love this season—I truly do—but given my perfectionist tendencies, I find myself trying way too hard to drain the dregs of every feast day and squeeze every symbol like a sponge.

I realized this last night when “St. Nicholas” decided that perhaps the ornaments he’d brought for the children—made with love by those cute little Kohl’s elves—were, in fact, not good enough. He thought perhaps he’d make homemade ornaments—Sugar ornaments! Yes, that’s the ticket—because homemade is better and they would know that he cared.

Right?

In the end, though, he changed his mind. That cup of coffee was long, long gone; it was after midnight; he was spent.

This was their morning, then:

And this was mine when I crashed and burned:

Actually, this is right about the time that my day got better, because I finally realized that in order to get George to stop clicking and climbing onto everything he saw, I just needed to give him some goop and let him go.

Here’s a visual:

We did the old baking soda/vinegar trick and heck if he wasn’t transfixed for an hour.

(It’s a pouring & stirring thing.)

(The kid’s got needs.)

I do too, though, and it is NOT to do it all. I am writing a note to myself for tomorrow and the note to myself says simply, “Chill.” Our Lord will be born and God will be glorified.

Handmade or store-bought, He will come.

Random closing question: Tomorrow is Weigh-in Wednesday! Would you like a report of where I’m at?

With love & blessings & some store-bought ornaments,

On the Feast of Good St. Nicholas...

2011-12-06T06:18:00.004-06:00

...pray for an end to abortion.

Also, if you live in the area, try to attend the final prayer rally at the St. Paul mega-abortuary, otherwise known as the new Planned Parenthood building.

Here is a link to the flyer with more information: Prolife Prayer Rally

Hope to see you there!

St. Nicholas, pray for us. Pray for the unborn.

On Third Thought...

2011-12-05T06:36:00.004-06:00

Alternately Titled: A Change of Heart

This is the view from my couch this morning, the spot where I sat when I finally caved. I can't do this. I can't not talk to you for another long three weeks.

I'm sorry. I'm fickle. I'm sad. I'm lonely.

Note: I'm not as sad as I was when I decided--rashly, without the advice of my priest or my husband--not to blog throughout the whole of Advent. Here's the thing. I made that decision literally minutes after receiving the notice about the funeral...and I don't *think* it was the best one for me. And that's the problem: I don't think it was...but I don't know! I am trying to trust my heart here without the benefit of a spiritual director.

I need to get a spiritual director.

In any case, I realized that I was turning Advent into a far darker season that I wanted it to be. I have given up sweets and wheat and potatoes. (My beloved mashed potatoes!) I do not think (again, key word is "think") that I need to ignore my friends and be ignored by them.

That hurts my heart. I don't think that's God's will.

Finally, one last thought on this subject is this: if I am not blogging, I am not sharing--and my family's traditions go unrecorded. I don't want that; I want to remember and hope that, perhaps, you might find among our family traditions one or two that work for you.

Here's a tradition that we'll begin tomorrow: Since it's the feast of good St. Nicholas, the children will draw Kris Kringles out of a hat. I told them last night that "Kris Kringle" means "Christ Child", and that the sibling they pick will be their Baby Jesus. They will do little things for their Kris Kringle--making their beds, picking up after them--and they will pray daily for their Kris Kringle.

(Praying daily for their sibling is no little thing.)

And that is that. Forgive me my weakness.

Happy 2nd week of Advent.

On Second Thought…

2011-11-30T14:46:00.007-06:00

I am going to go dark for Advent. I have a feeling you were expecting this! ☺

The funeral notice for my sons’ classmate arrived in my inbox this afternoon. Johnny was the youngest of six children—his mother’s baby—and suddenly, I don’t know, I am feeling a strong inner prompting to stop talking so much.

(The idea being that perhaps by not talking I can listen better.)

That makes sense, doesn’t it? I’m not trying to go all drama-rama on you; I just wanted you to know that I’m taking a break.

Have a blessed and beautiful Advent season!

With love in Him,

Weigh-In Wednesday

2011-11-30T08:08:00.002-06:00

Ed. Note: This in an ongoing series about one 40-something woman trying to eat more healthfully and exercise more often. It is not about the numbers on the scale, though they can be indicative of a growing problem. Ha. Get it? That was a little joke. More than anything, I do not want you to feel diminished by the numbers on my scale. It may not seem like I have a weight problem, but I know—I know—the bad eating habits that my children are learning…especially my girls who are home all day with me. This is as much for them as it is for me—for them and for those skinny jeans in my dresser. ;)

So I’ve been watching my weight for the past two days and this is how I feel.

Roar! I want my sugar! I want my wheat!

(Not really.)

(In truth, I feel good. Really really good!)

(It’s an accountability thing.)

I cannot emphasize enough how good it feels to be in control of one’s eating. I know, because I haven’t been—not for the past several months anyway.

So, my friends, it’s boot camp time! I’m going back to one of my favorite programs: Dr. Agaston’s South Beach Diet. I love this plan because the limits are clear, and I need clear limits to get back on track. I need guidance and this program provides it.

For two weeks, then, I’ll be on Phase I. Lots of restrictions to cut the cravings, of which I have many many many. (Um...can you say Sun Chips? Snyder’s Pretzelz? Snickers?)

This is the face of Phase I:

Lots of veggies and lots of protein (not pictured) like lean meats, legumes & nuts.

This is not, unfortunately, the face of Phase I:

Sigh. I do love me a nice White Russian now & then, but all alcohol is forbidden throughout Phase I.

I have also, as mentioned on Monday, started doing Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred. I like this particular program a lot because she offers three different levels and the workout only takes 20 minutes.

I can handle 20 minutes! Though eventually I’d like to add some treadmill time.

(Our basement equipment misses me.)

(It’s like, hey! You there by the freezer! Put down that ice cream and come say hi!)

And there you have it. Are you ready for today’s graphic photo?

I’m down four pounds since the photo on Sunday, though granted, there’s water weight involved and the fact that I was wearing more clothes in that picture than this one. (Not to be indiscreet or anything. Just being honest here!) Still, the best part of all is that I feel really good. My body hasn’t really changed, but my habits have and that makes a difference.

Now let’s see if I last the whole two weeks. :)

All for the greater glory of God,

Please Pray

2011-11-29T06:33:00.003-06:00

Yesterday morning I received the news that a 10th grade boy from my sons’ school had died. He passed away in his sleep on Sunday night, and all classes and activities were canceled yesterday.

Please join me in praying for Johnny and his family. This is an unbearable tragedy— unbearable save for the graces of our faith. Please join me in lifting them up at this time. May this prayer and support sustain them.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

St. Joseph and St. Andrew, pray for us.

Wheat Belly

2011-11-28T09:13:00.006-06:00

I am fat and out of shape. I tell you this so that you feel sorry for me, certainly, but also so that you brace yourself in the coming weeks for talk of weight loss programs and graphic photos of my toes on a scale.

Today is Day 1 of my 30-Day Shred.

Tomorrow, allegedly, will be Day 2.

I’m thinking I might need to start my workout earlier—not that I mind the company, necessarily, but I do have a few personal space issues.

And the above photo does not even include Anthony the Interloper! (Woops, I forgot to call him by his blog name George.) I really really do need to start my workout before he gets up because he can be a bit of an attention hog.

This morning he came down the stairs just as I was getting started. “Wet,” he complained, at the same time the smell hit me. “Foofda!” I complained to Joe. “When you got George into his jammies last night, did you remember to change his diaper?”

“Woops.”

So I stripped George bare and he stood there grinning, a pint-sized Adonis in the buff. “Look at you, kid!” I said admiringly. “You don’t got a wheat belly like your momma at all.”

He shook his backside sassily.

“You know what you have?” I asked, tickling his tummy. “You have a ba-bahs belly! Ba-bahs from the momma!” (Yes, I am weaning him. Still. We’re not quite there.)

“And you know what your brother has?” I continued, thinking of the 14-year-old’s favorite food. “Your brother has a bagel belly!” Mind you, this was said for humorous effect only. My 14-year-old is slim slim slim; he has a six-pack, even, from all that running.

Not that I’m jealous.

I really did have fun naming all the “bellies” in the room…but that itself does nothing to solve my problem. I am squishy, my friends—squishy squishy squishy and out of shape and not eating the way I’m supposed to be.

See?
(Note: That says 133.8, not 1,338.)

You may not think this number’s alarming, although I’ll bet that my friend Erin gets it. Put it this way: I am short—very short. Only 5’O’’ on a good day! So really, to be healthy, I should be down around 115. Heck, seeing 119 would make me happy!

Happy and healthy, that’s my goal.

So, um, will you be my diet buddy? Are you willing to hold my largish bottom accountable and put up with a weigh-in photo every Wednesday?

I thank you, as does my wheat belly.

The Faith of a Child

2011-11-27T06:44:00.014-06:00

Once upon a time, my 14-year-old son Joe (who was 10 at the time) asked to go with me to my holy hour. It’s from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning—i.e. the dead of night if you’re a kid—and for that reason I didn’t really think I should take him. Still, he pressed his case (as is his way) and in the end, I relented.

(I wrote about the experience here.)

Since then, he and his brother have come with me a handful of times. They like that I make them an insulated mug of coffee and they love when we swing by a local Perkins afterward. We don’t always but it makes for an extra-special outing—a perk, as it were, for getting up at the crack of dawn.

Before the crack of dawn, even.

Well, being a teen and (in Jem’s case) nearly a teen, my boys haven’t asked to go along with me in awhile. Last night, however, my 9-year-old daughter did. It wasn’t the first time she has asked me, either…though I’ve been dragging my feet for the reasons already listed: she’s little, it’s early, it’s cold, etc.

Still she persisted.

She is, after all, cut from the same cloth as her brother.

“What do you think?” I asked my husband. He wasn’t really one to ask, given that he himself was dragging Jem out of bed at the same time to go deer-hunting on our land in Wisconsin.

“I think you should,” my husband replied.

“She seems ready.”

Upon hearing the verdict, Felicity happy-danced off to bed…and was up before I could even wake her. Seriously. I turned from the coffee maker and there she was—smiling, dressed, and more than ready.

She talked nonstop the entire way there.*

She talked nonstop, but when she got there she listened.

I am reminded of what Joe’s confirmation teacher told us about our kids and Eucharistic adoration. “We just need to put them in His presence,” she said, “And then get out of the way.”

She’s right, don’t you think? I wonder if too often I bring the Faith down to their level—keep it simple, keep it “cute”—and yet, I’m beginning to see that they can handle much more.

In Felicity’s case, all she needed to do was ask.

*Okay, so this is one area where my boys are different. They do not talk the entire way there; they pretty much just sit there. ☺

7 Quick Takes Friday

2011-11-25T12:30:00.008-06:00

The “No Regrets Thanksgiving!” Edition

Volume XXVII for Me

--- 1 ---

It seems fitting that I start out talking about food. No regrets! I ate what I ate and what’s done is done.

My contribution to John’s mom’s awesome meal was this:

~ Pumpkin-Chai Cheesecake ~
(photo from BettyCrocker.com)

It was de-luscious. The recipe may be found here.

Unfortunately, my husband wouldn’t touch it. He doesn’t care for pumpkin, the poor man, and yes, I knew this when we got engaged.

I married him anyway.

I’ve learned not to care too much over the years that he refuses to even try my pumpkin desserts. I’ve also learned to hold my tongue when he takes a generous slice of dark chocolate pie, not knowing it was made with tofu.

(In Grandma’s defense, it was also de-luscious.)

(It’s just that—giggle—my husband doesn’t fancy himself a tofu man.)

No regrets, Sweetie! You ate what you ate and what’s done is done!

--- 2 ---

Speaking of that pumpkin-chai cheesecake...

It’s the cardamom that makes it “chai”, I guess, and anyway, there’s nothing like fresh cardamom. I made a special trip to Penzey’s on Wednesday (and to all my Facebook friends, you may skip ahead to Quick Take #3 now) and brought home a jar, as we were out.

Holding it up to George’s nose, I instructed him to take a whiff. “Doesn’t that smell yummy?” I asked. George inhaled deeply…and then exhaled.

Everywhere.

--- 3 ---

Speaking of leftover pie in general...

Thank you, Rhymes with Orange!

I very much appreciated the go-ahead.

--- 4 ---

One of the highlights from Thanksgiving was skyping with Auntie Bella and Baby Sebastian in London. She’s my husband’s sister and it’s been too too long since we have seen her.

It’s actually been forever since we’ve seen Baby Sebastian and that’s just wrong.

Oh, and see that little rectangle at the bottom of the computer screen?

This is as close to a family photo as I got.

No regrets! We still have lots and lots of memories! (Like my husband eating tofu, for example...)

--- 5 ---

One of the reasons why I didn’t take too many photos yesterday was that my photo card got full and I was too lazy to go through it and delete the bad ones.

It’s a holiday thing. I was having too much fun to do any real “work.”

I did have Felicity take a picture of George and me, though. Here it is:

Oh well. I tried.

(I call this face his “stinker face.”)

(He makes it a lot; it’s a 2-year-old thing.)

--- 6 ---

I call this one “Being Thankful.”

When I look at my NiNi, I am very thankful.

--- 7 ---

Last but not least, here’s a photo of Grandpa carving the bird.

I regret that I didn’t take any pictures of him with Grandma but you know, I think I’ll just put that regret in a drawer and close it.

Thanksgiving is, after all, a time to be grateful for all you have.

It is not about missing the stuff that you don’t.

* * * * *

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary...

...and have the best of weekends with your family & friends. ♥

Aargh.

2011-11-25T12:04:00.005-06:00

Updated to Add: Phew, it's fixed!

I chipped away at a Thanksgiving post all morning and when I finally went to hit "publish"...

Blogger posted the rough draft that I started out with.

I feel defeated. All my hard work is gone.

(Ironically, the post was titled "No Regrets". )

Giving thanks...

2011-11-23T14:40:00.008-06:00

...for the gift of my back-to-back birthday girls, who knew Mom's been busy and agreed to share a birthday party!

They even agreed to share a cake, which, when you think about it, is asking quite a lot of them.

(I am not above asking a lot of my girls.)

(I figure it builds character.)

Giving thanks for easy cake themes--in this case, "snowflakes" and "horses."

Really giving thanks for that one.

(Please pardon the background in the above photo. I added the final touches in the laundry room so that my little hens would be surprised.)

(Now you know that we like Hefty.)

(Not to mention Reeses Puffs.)

For all you foodies, it was an angel food cake made with layers of chocolate and peppermint ice cream. It was heavenly! I found the recipe in this cookbook, a gift from a beloved friend down south who knew--who KNEW--how much I'd love this cookbook.

Cate and Felicity thank you, Charlotte!

I give thanks for the gift of good friends for my daughters...

...whose mom understands the fun (and IMPORTANCE) of sleepovers, even when they are held on school nights. Cate and Felicity thank you, Cathie!

Continuing to give thanks for easy birthday themes like "snowflakes" and "horses."

See? Easy-peasy rice & cheesy!

I then added a crepe paper "barn" overnight for the daughter who'd requested horses.

See? That's a barn, really it is. There's a cut-out horse, too, if you look hard enough. He's trying to gallop away from my crepe paper barn.

Giving thanks for cute craft kits from Target...

...and for gaggles of girls watching a sweet Hallmark film.

Giving thanks that my daughters still like party games...

...like Musical Chairs and Pin the Tail on the Horse.

Yes, I know I should put that horse on a diet.

He looks more like a doped-up pony than a valiant stallion awaiting his tail.

Oh well.

The drugs helped him combat the pain.

More than anything, I am thankful for this season of life that is spinning past so fast...

...because this innocence--their innocence--is such a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I don't know that I'll be back tomorrow but this post should be long enough to tide you over. Right? Of course, right!

And today is her birthday!

2011-11-22T08:11:00.003-06:00

Then...

And now!

Happy 9th birthday to our sweet little sparkplug, Felicity! God knew what He was doing when He put you in between your two sisters and we are so very blessed in you. Thank you for being such a peace-loving sibling. You are our spunky, determined, smart little girl and we love you lots!

Forgive us for not getting you a pony?

Today is her birthday!

2011-11-21T06:22:00.008-06:00

And I thank God for her.

For everything that you are.
For everything you have brought to our family.
I thank God.

May I always be a good example to you.
May I always strive to do what is best for you.
May you grow and develop into the woman God desires you to be.
May you always know that you are loved and appreciated.

You are my daughter and I love you so much.
I am so proud of you just for being you.
Every day of my life I thank God for creating you
And blessing me so richly with the gift of you!

From a poem entitled “To My Daughter” (Anonymous).
To read the rest of this poem and/or print your own copy, click here.

Happy 11th birthday, Cate! You’re 11 in ‘11...at least, for the next month or so. : )

We love you!

Christ the King, Christ our King

2011-11-20T08:33:00.001-06:00

Originally posted on November 21, 2010

In honor of today’s great feast…

I cry every time I see this.

Today is one of those feasts where I feel—acutely—my shortcomings as a Christian. I want to be bolder in proclaiming Our Lord’s kingship; I want to submit; I want to know. What does it mean that He’s our king? And how should that affect us?

Today I am trying yet again to give Him my heart, my mind, my life. I bow before His gentle scepter and receive the anointing He has reserved just for me.

Christ is king. King of Kings…and Lord of Lords.

And he shall reign forever and ever.

And Snow It Begins

2011-11-19T14:06:00.002-06:00

Where We (Minnesotans) Have Been

2011-11-18T19:41:00.007-06:00

Because Reader Cathy was kind enough to ask…

This is where I’ve been:

HT for the video: My friend (and fellow Vikings fan) Joel

That isn’t my daughter in the video but it could’ve been, after Monday’s night loss. Actually, this was my 12-year-old son.

(Not really.)

(He’d kill me if you really thought that.)

My apologies, Cathy, for the week-long absence! I have stories to tell—I really do—including (but not limited to) the rigors (and lunacy) of raising teenagers and the fact that my 2-year-old has learned to left-click.

Seriously.

I was upstairs folding laundry and the sound of Zoodles drifted up the stairs. George had clicked on the icon on my desktop and his little index finger was just going to town.

Kids these days.

Oh, and there is a very funny article to go along with the above video. You can read it here. Ignore the comments, however, because there are some people (it seems) that take the world entirely TOO seriously.

Or read them and come back to tell me I’m right

Happy Friday! Go Vikings! Go Packers! Go Colts! Go...

Just Because

2011-11-14T15:01:00.000-06:00

Scene from the Feast

2011-11-11T18:11:00.001-06:00

We haven’t yet gotten to the homemade lanterns but we did whip up a batch of horseshoe cookies for the feast of St. Martin.

I used this recipe, and they are very good.

“Horseshoe cookies, huh?” Cate came into the kitchen as I was getting out the mixer. “What kind of cookies are they? Chocolate chip? Shortbread? Something else?”

“A kind of shortbread,” I replied, “Though the recipe includes a cup of oats.” I turned on the mixer and started creaming the butter, remarking, “I’ve never added oats to shortbread before.”

“Well,” said Cate, “They’re for his horse!”

A Poem for the Feast of St. Martin

2011-11-11T07:26:00.012-06:00

This morning, I opened my daughter’s English 2 book at random. Opened it at “random”—ha! Didn’t I just say that with God, there is no “random”?

Here is the poem that I found on that page.

Here is the poem; I hope you like it.

St. Martin’s Cloak

Saint Martin was an officer
In the mighty ranks of Rome.
He traveled with the legions
So very far from home.

But, by and by, the Gospel
Reached this soldier’s ear.
He chose Christ for his Captain,
Then laid down his spear.

One night he met a poor man
Who was cramped up with cold.
Martin took his soldier’s tunic
And quickly made a fold.

He tore his warrior’s cloak in two,
And gave half of it away.
The poor man wrapped it ‘round him
Without a moment’s delay.

Some passers-by mocked Martin;
Others blushed for shame.
But he rejoiced to suffer
For God’s holy Name.

That night Martin had a vision
Of Jesus Christ the Lord.
He was wearing Martin’s tunic
And spoke to him this word:

“When I was cold and naked
My son Martin to Me came.
He clothed my nakedness with love,
And took away My shame.”

(Read the rest here.)

St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!

* * * * *

Today is also, as you know, Veterans’ Day. Don’t know where I’d be without the veterans in my life—don’t think that I’d be here, actually.

I love you, Daddy!
Thank you for your service.

* * * * *

Finally, I know that I’m not the only one who is disgusted with the abolishment of Google Reader’s “Share” feature. Fie on you, Google Reader! Yet, dear Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight would probably never say “Fie on you!” to anyone, which is only one of the reasons why I love her.

Here is another one: Doing a little today…to make tomorrow easier!

Happy 11/11/11, everyone! As always, make it count.

Speaking of giveaways…

2011-11-10T07:53:00.004-06:00

Alternately Titled: How God Works

Jamie is hosting a giveaway right now and I encourage you all to go over and enter. Here’s the link: A Book Review and my First Giveaway!

I smiled to see her say in the comments that she would have her children pick the two winners, as she doesn’t know how to do “that other thing.” The random number generator is easy, Jamester! Just go over to Random.org like so:

See that box at the right side of the site? That’s where you put your numbers. So, for example, I received 50 comments on Tuesday’s giveaway. I took away the repeat comments and people who said they didn’t wish to be entered—that means you, Jamie, as well as Karen Ed and Sarah from New Zealand—bringing it down to 46 entrants.

Therefore my two numbers were 1 and 46.

I got “36” when I did it just now. See how it works?

Hit “Generate” and your winner is chosen—not as personal as having the kiddos choose it, certainly, but definitely random!

Or…is it? When Ann contacted me last night, (I was sitting in on my son’s confirmation class, where this boring old guy was the speaker), I recognized her last name. She is the sister of a dear old friend, David, who used to go to our church and whose son played baseball with Joe one summer.

There really are no coincidences, are there? Which is why I pray when choosing the winner(s) of my giveaways, and which is not to say I’m not praying for the losers. It would be sad for you to go away empty-handed, wouldn’t it? You’re not. I will be praying a Hail Mary for each and every one of those 50 commenters.

Jamie, that means you get three. : )

And the winner of the Arby’s gift certificates is…

2011-11-09T16:30:00.004-06:00

Ann!

This just goes to show you the random number generator truly is random. The second commenter was chosen!

Congratulations, Ann. Please email me with your address and I’ll pop those certificates in the mail ASAP.

Umbert the Pumpkin

2011-11-09T10:05:00.001-06:00

Arby’s “Good Mood Food”: A Giveaway

2011-11-08T06:09:00.007-06:00

In October, a marketing representative from Arby’s restaurant asked if my family would like to sample their new kid’s meals.

This was the response on the part of my kids:

They had never been to an Arby’s, only because we have fallen into a nasty McHabit when it comes to eating at fast-food establishments.

(I blame those dollar cheeseburgers.)

Yet, when I read the email that Liz from Arby’s sent me, and saw that The Arby’s Foundation is contributing a minimum of $1 million to the No Kid Hungry Campaign…

…and that they are using the profits from their kids’ meals to do so…

…I decided we needed to expand our palettes.

The verdict? Arby’s goals are excellent but their kids’ meals, just so-so.

I’m sorry, Arby’s!

I like that they’ve introduced low-fat options, but my kids barely touched the turkey sandwich. They are used to the soft, squishy buns at that other place, I’m afraid, and the bun that came with the turkey sandwich was hard and cold and not that appealing.

Neither did they like the dipping sauce that came with the apple slices. Cate said that it tasted like “strawberry-yogurt-flavored medicine” and the rest of the children just avoided it.

The curly fries, though, they found acceptable...and they thought the onion rings were awesome. (One order was not enough for our family. Enough said?)

I think that it all comes down to balance...balance and good flavor, of course. I will take my family back to Arby’s, but next time I’ll get them one of those juicy roast beef sandwiches.

Mmm…the ones that come with all that sauce.

(Note to self: Get extra napkins next time.)

(Note to my readers: the sandwiches do not actually come with the sauce. You have to add it yourself at the condiment stand.)

* * * * *

Now here’s the giveaway part: Liz was generous enough to send me three $10.00 gift cards. I used two for my family and that means I have…two for you. (One $10.00 gift card does not seem like enough, and so I’m tossing in another one just to thank you for playing.)

Plus Arby’s is offering a 99-cent kid’s meal coupon with the purchase an adult meal. Details are here.

Leave a comment answering the following question: French fries or apple slices? I’ll keep the comments open until 4 p.m. Wednesday (CST), and announce the winner on Wednesday evening.

Love you, Arby’s! Thank you for giving money to kids in need!

Charlotte’s Sac

2011-11-07T15:11:00.005-06:00

This is so cool!

The girls and I were cleaning off the deck this afternoon—making ready for the Minnesota winter, dontcha know—when I flipped over a rug and saw a giant spider.

“Kids, come quick!” I was so excited. “It’s a mommy spider and her egg sac!”

The girls came over to take a look and just as quickly backed away.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” I muttered. “You are a thousand times bigger than this spider is.” I shook my head as they maintained their distance. It is one thing to be raising girls but another thing to be raising girls. If you know what I mean.

Eventually they ran off to play while I stacked the deck chairs & kept an eye on Charlotte. One hour later and she is still clinging protectively to her sac.

Not surprisingly, I am touched.

The Face of “Fall Back”

2011-11-06T15:45:00.006-06:00

(Otherwise known as “Nap Displacement”)

NiNi and Nana

2011-11-03T14:16:00.003-05:00

I thought about doing a {Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} post today because I’ve got a ton of fun photos from this past weekend in North Dakota. I thought about doing {PHFR}, and then that same line of thinking led to…

“Nah.”

Because I am busy today—busy busy BUSY, I tell you!—keeping my 2-year-old mister out of trouble. Lately George is fond of Elmer’s Glue and chewing gum—the former for his hands and the latter for his mouth—and he is also getting very adept at uncapping the toothpaste.

Ask his sister how we know this.

It was her toothpaste.

“Look!” he said, ambling into my bedroom where the girls sat on the floor folding laundry and I sat in the easy chair reading out loud from a Felicity book.

My response was something to the effect of “What? Huh? Ack!”

Anyway, yes, he’s keeping me hopping—that is to say, when I’m not sitting there reading while his sisters fold laundry. And you see where that kind of laziness gets me.

Anyway, yes. Here is the would-have-been {happy} photo from today’s not-to-be {PHFR} post.

Little George and his grandma Rita, taken this past Sunday at her 87th birthday party.

I love how his mouth is smudged with chocolate...

I love how she’s smiling down at him...

Strangely, I love the jar of candy corn in the background...

And I love how this photo’s full of people I love.

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T17:35:00.000-05:00

The Honey-I-Shrunk-My-Friend! Edition

Halloween Ready!

2011-10-31T14:31:00.008-05:00

Costume Update: Yes, Cate was a bedbug! The inspiration came via Family Fun magazine; the antennae & wings, Party City; and the bathrobe, the floor of her closet.

(Only kidding--it was wedged between her bed & the wall.)

(Still kidding! She keeps it hanging neatly on her bedpost.)

(Usually.)

Can you guess what Cate is?

Now and Then

2011-10-31T09:00:00.011-05:00

The Godparents Edition

We were in the great state of North Dakota this past weekend for my mother’s 87th birthday. In addition to spending precious time with grandmas & grandpas and aunties & uncles and not to mention all those fun cousins…

Cate got to see her much-loved godparents.

Cate and her godparents, Uncle Steve & Auntie Jan

They live in Fargo and it had been too long for Cate’s liking since they had gotten together. A special trip to that city was in order, she thought.

I agreed.

A much littler Cate and her godparents, Uncle Steve & Auntie Jan

Good godparents are a gift.

I was introduced to my friend Jan by our priest at the time, Father Courtright. (Do you know him? He’s an awesome priest.) He wanted me to give Jan some French lessons…and yet, when we got together at her home, over cup after cup of her delicious coffee, we spent far more time talking about spiritual matters than studying those French infinitives.

Jan and Cate

The lessons were forgotten but the friendship was forged.

Don’t you love how things work out sometimes?

Cate and Jan

Anyway, our lives are keeping us pretty busy these days—she’s the founder of Sacred Heart Productions and is writing a series of books on the whole of Sacred Scripture—so this makes me all the more thankful for those stolen moments.

Those cups of coffee...those cups of tea.

We take them when we can get them.

Are you close to your children’s godparents? Ours are scattered all over the globe but goodness, how we love them all.

It’s baaaaaack!

2011-10-28T16:41:00.004-05:00

Angela received a Leapster Explorer for Christmas last year. She loved it to pieces and then it heartlessly broke.

Electronic toys will do that to you, won’t they? They are fickle friends for sure.

Eventually (as in months later) our little blonde brownie received a replacement on her birthday. This was, of course, to her incredible and ecstatic joy...and was my Number 1 choice for a gift because she has countless game cartridges sitting unused in the drawer.

I can be practical like that. Practical and desperate.

I told her those cartridges were sad & lonely, just like Buzz & Woody in Toy Story 3. “Mom,” said my practical Felicity with a sigh. “They’re not real.”

Do we really know that, though? I mean, really?

Anyway, I thought I was buying her an upgrade for her birthday when I purchased her the Leapster 2. However, I was WRONG. I gave her a version that was INCOMPATIBLE with all those games, and they continued to sit sad & lonely in the drawer.

Fail boat!

Well, I am here to tell you that today the tide has turned for my daughter. Version II has been replaced…and my little Miss could not be happier.

(Don’t worry. I enforce strict time limits for how long she can play and all that.)

(Except on Fridays.)

(When I want to blog.)

The Little Things

2011-10-26T05:38:00.001-05:00

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

Robert Brault

Saints and Scholars

2011-10-23T09:35:00.002-05:00

The 2011 Edition

Poster Credit: Mary Anne & Chris
(Those two are amazing!)

Here’s the thing.

I didn’t plan on doing Saints & Scholars this year—didn’t think I had the time to write all those speeches and assemble all those costumes and practice the children’s lines ad nauseum…

From left to right: St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Josemaría Escrivá,
and Mrs. Penelope Smith and her son, Fredric

I didn’t think I had the time…but in the end, thanks be to God (as always) & Felicity (who, God bless her, pushed harder than all the other kids combined) & the last-minute sewing skills of my dear friend Cathie, (I love you, Cathie!) it all came together at the 11th hour and I am thankful and happy and oh-so-proud of my minions.

Praised be Jesus Christ! My name is Saint Bridget of Sweden.

This is not to say that the performances were, um, perfect. There were one or two lines that got forgotten—one or two gestures that went unmade. (“You forgot to beam at Father Escriva, Cate!” She sighed. “I know! I’m sorry, Mom.”)

Little George even had a line! It was “Hi.”

My beloved husband, also known as John the Sage, took me aside afterward and said, “Pookie? You gotta give them more time next year. Three days isn’t enough to learn their parts.”

Correction noted if not humbly received. (Hey, I’m working on that! Would it help if I told you my pride makes me cry?) Still, the children rose to the challenge. They really did, God bless their hearts, and what’s more and by far the best of all, they now have a set of new friends in heaven!

Praised be Jesus Christ! My name is Saint Teresa of Avila.

And really, that’s the main reason we do it.

That and the public speaking skills.

That and the fact that they look cute on stage.

Our only desire: to be a saint!

St. Josemaria Escriva, pray for us! Ss. Teresa of Avila and Bridget of Sweden, pray for us!

Related:

Saints & Scholars 2007

To Be a Saint

A Walk in the Park

2011-10-20T14:00:00.003-05:00

With my boy, George.

(Not to be confused with this Boy George.)

(My version is shorter and has much less hair.)

So with his two big brothers away at school and the three gabbling geese spending the day at Cahill, George had the momma right where he wanted.

That is to say, all to himself.

I told him that we would go to the playground and he seemed very happy with the idea.

So happy he was giddy, if you know what I mean.

I get like that myself a lot.

It was different--really different--playing one-on-one with my little man. I felt like a brand new mom all over again!

Except with more gray hair and a squishier tummy.

There is one thing I have less of, though, and that is New Mom Insecurity. Are you familiar? Oh my goodness, I had it in abundance when my oldest was two and I was so bad it was funny! (Except, I’m sure, if you were him.) I worried about letting him play in the grass, I worried about germs at the YMCA daycare, and I worried about not washing his jammies daily. (Yes, really.) I worried about that poor kid all the time, and yet now I know that these fears were unfounded.

I mean, yes I have doubts about the job I am doing and the paths that my kids might one day take...but knowing what I now do about parenting a teen—about fielding their awkward, hormonal moments and dealing with phone bills & Facebook & texting....

Well, I’ll tell you.

This little man and his little needs are just what this mother-of-teens-and-tweens needs.

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T12:36:00.003-05:00

I love that sometimes they still look newborns...
even when they're big boys.

Opening Friday: The Mighty Macs

2011-10-18T04:57:00.012-05:00

Updated to Add: By the way, have any of you already seen the movie? A friend sent me a link to this review after seeing my post this morning, and I must say that some of the reviewer’s points are worth considering. I will post a complete review after I’ve seen the film.

A 2nd Update: Charlotte continues the discussion over at her blog.

Okay, so this movie looks totally fun.

(Note: the trailer doesn’t show up in Google Reader, so you’ll have to click over if you want to watch it.)

“The Mighty Macs is an inspiring movie that teaches the values of faith without limits, as well as perseverance and teamwork in a girl’s life. I encourage our American Heritage Girls troops to support this movie on opening weekend and enjoy a film that leaves you excited about the opportunities God presents to us daily. With Him all things are possible.”

Patti Garibay, American Heritage Girls founder and executive director

Fun and faith-filled and family-friendly?

Woot! Let’s go! Meet me there?

Okay.

On the Gift that is our Avila

2011-10-16T08:29:00.010-05:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about St. Teresa of Avila.

First, because it was her feast day yesterday and, as such, a special day for our own sweet Felicity.

Second, I am thinking about St. Teresa of Avila because Felicity has asked—begged, really—to portray her patron at next week’s performance of Saints & Scholars. (Shoot. I was hoping to get out of this.)

Third, I am looking to her—to this great mystic and doctor of the Church—to help me in my faltering prayer life. Yes, she is “great” but she is also simple…not as simple, perhaps, as The Little Flower, but her approach to prayer isn’t always lofty…

….and that is what this little flower needs.

“I know an old woman who is leading an excellent life. I wish I were more like her. She is a penitent and a great servant of God. For years she has been praying the classic prayers aloud. Mental prayer is impossible. Many people are like this. This does not make them second-class citizens. Ultimately many such people think that they must be at fault. They think they are backward or handicapped.

Those God calls to an active ministry should not murmur against others who are absorbed in prayer. It is all in the same package. Whether your specialty is meditation and prayer or caring for the sick or sweeping the floors in service to Christ, what should it matter? We are to do our best at whatever we do.”

From this book that was recommended by Charlotte yesterday,
who, incidentally, is thanking God for her own little Avila.

Speaking of our Felicity, she and her sisters are at Grandma’s this weekend. You know what this means, don’t you? Besides a much, MUCH quieter house?

It means I get to do a massive cleaning!

Three Little Girls + One Smallish Bedroom = Heaps & Stacks of CPC

Not for long, hee hee hee.

Tell me I don’t need a strong prayer life for this one.

Updated to add:

Ready and waiting for my three little hens!

(And I can’t stop checking the driveway.)

Shorn Squared

2011-10-14T06:38:00.004-05:00

The Rollover Edition

Every so often I get bored with plain old blogging and decide to churn out a corny roll-over post. I did it when Angela acted up in the van and then again last Halloween.

I'm sorry. It's just...what I do.

Rollover Number I: Oh my goodness, what is that? Run your mouse over the image and you will see.

Rollover Number II: Why on earth, you ask, would I have done this to poor George?

Because whatever Big Brother has...Little Brother wants.

(Remember--you have to roll your mouse over the image to see the changes.)

(And please don't yell at me for what I did to little NiNi.)

(Do you not, um, think that he looks a bit like Curious George?)

Channeling Jack Nicholson

2011-10-13T13:02:00.008-05:00

Speaking of signs o' the times...

On Tuesday, Joe had a cross-country meet. We had signed up to drive several of the runners, which meant arriving really early and consequently hanging around a bit.

Good thing it was a beautiful day!

The three little girls took off for the playground, George snored away stapled into his car seat, and Jem and I hung out in the van. (He opted to play with my smart phone while I leafed through the AHG handbook.)

We glanced up when a boy Jem’s age biked past. His hair was neatly trimmed and his eyes were alert, and I remarked that he looked like “friend material.”

And then he did a 180 and we saw several inches of his backside, covered—thankfully—by the plaid fabric of his boxers. “Never mind,” I remarked. The boy stopped his bike in the middle of the intersection, pulled out his cell phone...and started texting!

All this with a car approaching, albeit a hundred yards away.

Being a ~~proactive~~ helicopter-type mom, I got out of the van and called, “I really don’t think that’s the best place to text!” (Back in the van, Jem hid his face in his lap.)

The boy looked over at me—coolly, as if he were considering a smart-alecky response—and called back, “Thank you.” He pedaled off away from the approaching car…and stopped in the middle of a side street to keep texting.

Now this exchange amused me, mainly because of the way my own 12-year-old nearly died of embarrassment. “Really, Mom?” Jem asked as I climbed back in. “Really?”

And then we snorted and joked about all the things I could have said, like...

“You can’t handle that cell phone!”

Really, what would you have done?

Star Spangled Splendor

2011-10-13T09:31:00.004-05:00

Felicity and Angela are earning their flag badge for American Heritage Girls, and one of the requirements is to learn the Star Spangled Banner.

We spent part of the morning discussing the history behind the song (“Francis is spelled F-R-A-N-C-I-S, Angela, not F-R-A-N-S-I-S”) and the lyrics & their meaning.

We then sat down to watch this video.

Wow. Just wow.

I told Felicity that she turns 9 next month and has one month to learn how to sing like that.

Sign o’ the Times

2011-10-13T07:55:00.000-05:00

The “Hijacking his Brother’s ‘Pod Pod’” Edition

A Little Girl, a Special Day, and the Winners!

2011-10-12T08:15:00.001-05:00

So what would you like to read about first: the little girl and her special day, or the winners of the blog giveaway?

Pancakes by Cate
(It could be the name of a business!)

Well, aren’t you sweet. Aren’t you selfless!

Because Angela’s birthday fell on a weekday this year, she had to put up with a lot of chasing around town. Between one brother’s trip to the orthodontist and another brother’s cross country meet, she spent a lot of time in that big ol’ van...

…but she did so with pluck and a fair share of bling.

(The corn dog at lunch also helped tremendously, as did the promised end-of-day visit to Chuck E. Cheese Pizza.)

In addition to all the brother stuff, she got to light a candle at a local church and prayed outside Regions Hospital as part of the Twin Cities 40 Days for Life.

It’s good to be thankful for the gift of life, especially on one’s birthday.

It seems fitting somehow.

She was also thrilled to death with all the birthday greetings and would like to thank you, especially, for your prayers and blessings. Well, I had to remind her to thank you for all the prayers and blessings...

Bling (and lots of it) for the Birthday Girl!

...but she’s only seven, after all, and that will come in time.

Now then.

Moving on (finally) to the winners of the blog giveaway!

I used Random.Org to pick the three names. The winner of Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary by Karen Edmisten is, coincidentally, another Karen!

The winner of the rosary CD is RealMom4Life...

...and the winner of the handcrafted rosary is Katie!

Please email me your addresses, ladies, and I will get you your prizes ASAP.

To the rest of you, I’m sorry that you didn’t win this time! Still, you know what they say: “If at first you don’t succeed…”

“Stay close to Mary and you will, every time.”

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar!

A Birthday, Our Blessed Mother and a Blog Giveaway

2011-10-11T04:05:00.001-05:00

Today is our Angela’s birthday.

She is now seven year’s worth of spunky!

In honor of Angela and in thanksgiving for the gift of all children, I am going to host a giveaway. Because it is October—the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary—I would like to give away three of my favorite things:

I. An autographed copy of Karen Edmisten’s book, The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary;
II. A copy of this rosary CD;
III. And a hand-crafted rosary by Barbara of Praying for Grace

Just leave a comment wishing Angela a happy birthday. She is quite the character, as you may know, and we thank God for her.

Good luck! The giveaway will be open until midnight tonight, and I’ll announce the three winners tomorrow morning.

The Fight for Life in Minnesota cont.

2011-10-09T06:54:00.005-05:00

A mega-abortuary is being built in the Twin Cities.

I wrote about our fight to stop its construction here, and would like to share with you the latest video that has been produced by Kalley Yanta.

Please take the time to watch this video and to pray for everyone involved in the abortion industry. Pray that their hearts might be softened and that they see the truth.

Thank you.

Hey Google Reader Readers!

2011-10-09T05:26:00.003-05:00

I changed my header and that is all.

Love,

Your Ever-Amicable & Always Helpful Blog Hostess

PS. You can click over and see it now.

Saturday Morning Musings

2011-10-08T08:38:00.015-05:00

I have a good news/bad news scenario for you. Which do you want first?

I’m waiting….

Okay, fine. I’ll tell you the bad news first. That’s the way my kids always want it—get the painful stuff out the way first and then end on a good note.

Or so they hope.

The bad news is: I intended to do a give-away yesterday in honor of the beautiful feast. Our Lady of the Rosary is one of my favorites—and, okay, I have like fifty favorites—but then the busy-ness of the day got away with me.

We’re talking (2) book clubs, (1) science class, and (1) candlelit rosary procession in the evening. Phew! We were home for maybe 5 seconds max.

If even.

The good news is…I’ll be hosting the giveaway next week instead! After all, the whole of October is dedicated to the rosary, right? And a giveaway’s a giveaway and I’m this blog’s host and therefore whatever I say goes! Though I mean that in the most gracious of blog host ways.

The procession itself was beautiful, even if it is was too windy to be “candle-lit.” I’m pretty sure my kids were thinking, “What are we holding these votives for?” and I had to fight the temptation to track down a light. (There was one lone nun who’d lit her candle and how I longed to go and bother her!)

We marched from the state capitol to the cathedral—a march made all the more meaningful on account the decades we said and the families we knew—and then, once we arrived at the cathedral, we dumped our sadly-unlit luminaries into a bin and filtered in for an hour-long benediction.

“You said there’d just be a couple of hymns afterwards!” This from a certain teenager, who up until then had been a pretty good sport about the whole event.

“Well, there was,” I replied to this accusation, “And a few prayers and a blessing and a sermon by the Bishop!”

(Tell me you never fudge a bit when describing religious outings. Tell me you don’t!)

And besides, the sermon was given by Bishop Lee Piché, whom we love—just love. Did you know that he is Jem’s god-uncle? Of course you didn’t, but that’s kind of cool, isn’t it? I tell Jem that he’ll give him pointers someday, when Jem’s starting out as a young priest and all.

Not to, um, be a pushy mom or anything.

*****

In other news, I received the fall issue of Faith & Family and it’s gorgeous, just gorgeous. That seems appropriate, doesn’t it? A magazine should be gorgeous in the fall. It’s also chock full of helpful hints and great, faith-filled stories...and that college guide is not-to-be-missed.

My only disappointment is that my Scouting article got bumped due to space issues. Darn! Such is the biz, though, and I forgive you, Danielle...

...but only because those 9 Autumn Recipes look great!

Off to go bake an apple pie now…or, at least, to think about it. : )

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Updated to Add: Monster cookies, it is!

And gosh, you guys are quiet today. You must all be busy...raking or something.

What’s it mean to be in AHG?

2011-10-06T13:32:00.003-05:00

AHG stand for American Heritage Girls. I’ve got three…and couldn’t be more pleased.

I love the patriotism.

Love the reverence.

And I love love LOVE the uniforms!

It’s a red, white & blue thing, I think, and plus I’m a great big fan of earning badges.

(My Boy Scouts got me trained that way.)

These pictures are from last Saturday’s “Joining Ceremony.” The girls are new to the troop and new to AHG in general, so they spent four hours learning the what’s what of the group--the oath, the creed, the history...

Four hours, you think? They must have gotten bored.

This is Abigail Henrietta Garfunkel.
Note the initials! A.H.G.

Nah.

They managed to keep it pretty interesting.

Is there anything cuter than little girls playing telephone?

I maintain that there simply isn’t.

Cuteness!

Long ~~story~~ post short: If you’re thinking your girls need a scout-type program that reflects the Christian values you hold dear...

I’ll tell ya, I think I’ve got one.

Food for Thought

2011-10-06T06:10:00.004-05:00

If you commit some fault, do not get all worked up or make a big fuss about it; having acknowledged the fact that you have done something wrong, gently humble yourself before God and try to put your soul at rest, saying to yourself, “Ah, well! I have tripped but now I must walk slowly, watching my steps.” Every time you fall, do the same and when you fall frequently, even though in minor matters, try to make as many acts of love as you can, because Our Lord says, “If you can trust a man in little things, you can also trust him in greater...”

From today’s meditation at Daily with De Sales

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T14:37:00.002-05:00

“My Mother Laughing”

Photo Credit: My Sister Yvonne

Food for Thought

2011-10-05T07:19:00.002-05:00

In this month of the Holy Rosary

“Therefore, the Rosary, with its constant rhythm of 10, 50, 100 and 200 Hail Marys, is the prayer which best expresses this union with Mary, which better than every other places one in direct communion with Her in the contemplation of the Incarnation (joyful mysteries), of Revelation (luminous mysteries), of Redemption (sorrowful mysteries), of Glorification (glorious mysteries). This direct communion with Her, aligned with the rhythms of the Hail Mary, exactly constitutes that precious work of assimilation to Her, as St. Maximilian also teaches when he says: Converse often with Her and you will be transformed into Her (SK 1367).”

Taken from the annual letter of Fr. Stefano M. Manelli, founder and Minister General, to the members of the Franciscans of the Immaculate

Sent to me via Mary Vitamin

Harvest Greta

2011-10-04T20:04:00.002-05:00

~ by Angela ~

(I so prefer this one to her Vampiretta version.)

Because you’ve got better things to do than watch the season premiere of House…

2011-10-03T18:52:00.010-05:00

I present to you “The Pinata Project.”

(Not to be confused with that Blair Witch movie or any such thing.)

(Although there is that one segment where I throw up off camera.)

(Not really.)

(I was adjusting my sweater.)

Do you remember the scene in the movie Signs where Merrill was watching TV in the closet? These videos remind me of that, only without the freaky alien.

“Vamanos, children! Vamanos!”

And obviously these home videos are really just that…though I did once want to make movies for a living. Any armchair cinematographers out there? Go ahead and direct me! (I’m too stubborn to listen, but you can try.)

B-Day Plus One

2011-10-03T07:48:00.006-05:00

First, a disclaimer: I did not drink too much at yesterday’s birthday celebration. Are you kidding? I had a glass of champagne and a half a glass of Moscato.

I may be old but I am not a lightweight.

Still. I feel hungover.

Like, it was all really fun and I’m not ready to be done.

You can relate, I think? It’s that let-down feeling that you get the day after...when the guests have all gone and the wrapping paper’s been pitched and the Facebook comments have all stopped coming...and you’re like, really? Is that all there is?

I want more.

Well, of course that’s our old human heart talking... ‘cause we are made for so much more. One day every day will be a party...and on that eternal day, the feasting won’t stop.

I’ve tons to talk & blog about after this weekend, having packed it in over the course of three days—a trip to Cahill School for the kids on Friday, an American Heritage Girl ceremony on Saturday afternoon, an awesome & AMAZING Lifeline Mass on Saturday night..

So much to talk about (!) and yet, I'm SORRY.

It’ll all just have to wait.

(I’m a homeschooling mom, you see, and these kids of mine are expecting me to teach.)

(Or maybe not. They might like it if I didn’t.)

For today though, I leave you with a complimentary theme song:

For today...and for forever.

Ripples

2011-10-02T05:43:00.007-05:00

This couple:

Had these kids:

Including her:

Who went on to marry him:

Who used to be:

And now is:

And who is much loved by:

Who is very thankful for:

...because, well, they had her...45 years ago today.

(Yep, it’s true. As of today my age gets rounded up to 50.)

(I should have titled this post “Wrinkles.” )

Thank you, God, for the gift of life! Thank you for the “yes” that my mom and dad said...and thank you for all that it led to.

Share Your Story: The St. Thérèse Edition

2011-10-01T05:31:00.008-05:00

This story was originally posted in October of 2007. I am re-posting it today in honor of our beloved Saint Thérèse, whose feast day it is and to whom we owe so much.

The name of my story is “She said yes.”

Breaking News: We got a dog.

She’s cute. She’s soft. She pees a lot.

You warned me about this in your comments. In fact, I was so thoroughly swayed, dismayed, and put off by your admonitions that I said “No, sir. I just can’t do it.”

And then I had to sit there and be this big ogre of a momma while five little innocent faces (and one slightly larger and more whiskery one) blinked back at me oh-so-sadly.

“Fine,” I said, “We’ll pray a novena. St. Thérèse had a dog and knows what work they are. If she sends us…” and here I thought to pick as arbitrary and unlikely a color as possible, “Yellow roses, we’ll know she thinks that we can handle it.”

So we prayed the novena and the surprising thing is—‘cause you already know we got our answer—was that by the middle of it, my heart had softened. I wanted a dog as much as my family did! I started reading Dogs for Dummies with gusto and even stopped by PetSmart with the kids to look at rubber balls, rawhide bones, and poop scoops.

On the ninth day of the novena, I had a meeting for my homeschool co-op and couldn’t be there for the prayers. Daddy said them with the kids, though, and they all went to bed anxious. Would they wake up with a yellow rose beneath each of their pillows? Would the FTD man start pounding on our door at midnight? They just didn’t know.

They certainly didn’t know that on my way out of the meeting, which was held in the basement of our church, I stopped in the chapel to say a prayer or two. As is my habit, I made my way to the pew right in front of Mary. I sat down. I saw the roses.

Yes, Virginia, they were yellow.

As Ogre of the Hour, I was given naming rights. I chose something French—surprise surprise—in honor our celestial intercessor, yes, but also because I liked the sound of it. “Elle a dit ‘Oui” is our puppy’s name, which is French for “She said yes.”

I call her Elody while the kids like Ellie.

When I find out what the dog prefers, I’ll let you know.

* * * * *

Postscript: Many of you know that this story has an unhappy ending. Our Ellie died unexpectedly only 2 1/2 years later. As with so much of the suffering in our lives, we won't know the why of her death in this lifetime...although we believe that God gives us each and every cross for a reason...should we embrace it. Just ask St. Therese!

And on that note, a happy note, I'd like to ask my faithful readers: Do you have a story to share about St. Thérèse? We would truly love to hear it.

Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints,

The Archangels and Us

2011-09-29T13:53:00.010-05:00

Gosh, I love this feast day, don’t you? It’s one of those feasts where I try really, really hard to get to Mass, even if it means waking the kids up at 6:30 to make it out the door by 7:00.

(I had made them waffles with blackberry jam, as per Jessica’s recommendation, and that lessened the sting considerably.)

Except that that George of mine didn’t want no waffles. It had to be ba-bahs and nothin’ else. Have you ever tried to hurriedly nurse? It doesn’t work. “George,” I said, “Don’t you want to go to Mass?” He eyed me lazily and didn’t respond. “George,” I continued. “Jesus is waiting for you! He’s saying, ‘Where oh where is that little NiNi?’”

At this George pulled away with an audible schlorp. “Home,” he said, offering an answer to Jesus, and grinning, he patted my chest with one hand. “Ba-bahs.”

* * * * *

When we got to Mass, I told Joe that he could choose our seats. He is, after all, named after one of the archangels. “Just don’t make it the last row,” I cautioned, and it wasn’t…but it was on the left side of the church and we never ever sit on the left side of the church.

I tried very hard not to let this bug me, though it did mess a bit with my “special feast day” karma.

An older gentleman (the lector) approached us and asked if we could bring up the gifts. I knew George wouldn’t tolerate my leaving the pew, so I asked my three oldest if they would do it. (I’ll admit that I felt just a wee bit prideful of my two young men in their school uniforms.) The three of them performed their task suitably, except...except...they forgot to bow to the altar when they were done.

I found myself wanting to go all James-and-John’s-Mom on the congregation. “They know to bow to the altar before returning to their seats! They know this!”

But I didn’t yell anything.

I showed restraint.

And then we dropped off the boys at their school and went home, where I planned to make tea and read them our Father Lovasik book on the angels. Of course I couldn’t find it, but rather than spend the whole day searching—been there, done that—I decided to think outside the box. I went to Seton’s website where they sell this book and clicked on the “look inside this book” option.

Together we read the five pages they previewed, and that, my friend, had to be good enough.

Now we are off to buy the fixins’ for dinner—on this cold, windy day we are heading out—and are stopping by Caribou for a pumpkin latte because—Did you hear me? It’s a feast day!

Love those angels, owe them lots. Got many an angel story in my arsenal.

Do you?

On Loving and Losing: Amy Welborn’s Wish You Were Here

2011-09-27T13:27:00.007-05:00

Today is my niece Kellee’s birthday. She would be 26 years old today...

...if she had not been killed in a car accident when she was 19.

Ironically—and yet, poignantly—she was on her way home from visiting her grandma (my mom) who was in the hospital recovering from bypass surgery.

We were thinking we might lose my mother. Instead, we lost our Kellee.

Kellee has been in my heart a lot lately—one, because I always think of Kellee in the fall, and two, because I am reading Amy Welborn’s Wish You Were Here, a memoir about the loss of her husband, author Michael Dubruiel.

(He died on February 3, 2009, after collapsing at the gym. You may read his blog here and his obituary here.)

This book is an advance copy and will be released in February of 2012. I recommend that you go to Amazon and pre-order yours now, especially if you have lost someone that is close to you or even, you know, if you think that you might.

Because it’s inevitable, isn’t it, losing someone we love? It is not a question of “What if” but “When will?” and that becomes “How can I prepare my heart?”

The answer, of course, is you can’t—not really.

But you can ~~pray~~ beg for the grace and the faith that you’ll need.

This book is a hard read and yet—I have to say this—it is so very good. If you are familiar with Amy Welborn’s writing—and she has a blog, you can see it here—you know that she is a gifted storyteller. She is able to take a loss that is so very painful…and has rendered it beautiful and full of hope.

That’s the power of the cross, isn’t it? That’s the cross and the resurrection.

Oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting? (1 Cor. 15:55)

Note: I will publish a full review when this book is available. For today, though, and in honor of my niece Kellee...I wanted to share a preview.

Pretty Happy Funny Real

2011-09-23T10:42:00.007-05:00

Post Update: I fixed the links below so that you can see Regan & Jamie's butterfly collages too. It really is a darling, darling craft.

The Overcoming-One's-Perfectionism Edition

Now, I know that the dear ladies over at Like Mother, Like Daughter host this series on Thursday, not Friday. However, I've been running a day late and a dollar short all week so...

Send me a dollar and I'll get right back on track.

I promise.

{Pretty}

My contribution to the "Pretty" category is this easy-as-pie butterfly collage:

I saw it at Regan's and I saw it over at Jamie's, too.

I saw it here on the original website, complete with shopping list & tutorial.

I came, I saw...but I did not conquer. Why? Because I'm me. I bought the supplies at Michaels and there they sat in the closet. For a month they sat; for two months they sat. Why? Because I never think "now" is the best time for a project...I never think it will be good enough.

Pity the child with a perfectionist mother!

And know that she is working on this.

Eventually I sighed and made peace the process. I rolled up my their sleeves and just...did the darn things.

They turned out cute!

Not perfect, but cute.

{Happy}

Happy is finding out in the morning that your friend from Anchorage will be in town that afternoon!

Happy! Happy! Happy! Did I mention this made me very happy?

I hadn't seen Brian for TWO YEARS, on account of his moving my best friend (his wife) and their family to Alaska. I still find this extremely unreasonable of him.

But I forgive him.

Brian opted out of the butterfly project. Instead, he sipped his Bailey's and texted his wife (my best friend) and made affirming comments to my little girls. A synergistic relationship at its best!

{Funny}

Funny is seeing your little boy in a smock.

I purchased it at IKEA in a fit of optimism, and then it hung in the closet for another six months.

Not really.

But kind of really.

{Real}

Real is the state of my home right now. We're replacing the kitchen linoleum with porcelain tile (hooray!) but that means--brace yourself--trying to coexist with the construction.

Real is your refrigerator next to your couch; real is trying to keep that bare plywood clean; and real is knowing that Do-It-Yourself means When-You-Can.

Real is making peace with this--and with every uncertainty that life can sling. Why? Because in the end these little messes don't matter...but those pretty smiles and funny faces and unexpected friends for supper do!

They really, really, really do.

* * * * *

To see all of this week's contributions to {Pretty Happy Funny Real},
click here.

And wish them a happy 4th blog birthday while you're there!

Freaky Fursday

2011-09-22T08:16:00.009-05:00

Often the girls and I will linger over breakfast while I read them a story from this book. We had read Devotional Stories for Little Folks a few years back but I’ll tell ya, it’s a decidedly different experience with an (almost) all-girl audience.

If you know what I mean.

Today we read about their new little girl Rebecca, who was adopted from foster care at the age of three and is having a rough time adjusting to life in their family. She’s being a stinker, is what it is, and in the story “Not THAT Sister” throws several good-sized temper tantrums.

We’d finished the story and were clearing the dishes when Angela said, “Mom? What’s that bad word that begins with ‘F’?”

Quick as a flash, I turned to her. “What’s that?” I stammered, stalling for time.

“Oh yeah! Freaky! Rebecca is going through her Freaky Frees!”

My heart rate slowly returned to normal as I realized what my 6-year-old was thinking. The “freaky frees” are like the terrible two’s, only in this case the speaker has a…lisp.

Which, when you think about it, is much better than the alternative.

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T04:15:00.003-05:00

The My-6-Year-Old-Knows-How-To-Melt-My-Heart Edition

Also? This is my 2000th post.

I feel like I should throw a party or something.

Prayers, Please

2011-09-20T06:12:00.009-05:00

Updated to Add: Kim is home but still needs prayers! Here is a link to her post: life - interrupted.

Would you take a minute—or two…or three—to pray for my friend Kim today?

Photo from Starry Sky Ranch Photography

Kim is a faraway friend of the internet sort. She is a beautiful, loving wife and mother whose amazing photography always encourages and inspires.

I discovered this morning that Kim has been hospitalized with a serious pancreatic infection. There are more details here at Rebecca’s blog:

Prayers, Candles and Soup;

And also An Update on Kim.

I can’t imagine how their family’s life has been upturned. I can’t imagine it…but I can pray.

Please join me in praying for Kim today.

Please keep her family in your prayers.

Georgie Porgie Jumping Rope

2011-09-16T06:00:00.008-05:00

Or rather, assisting his sister in doing so.

Note: The quality of this video is not very good but I am posting it for Cathie to make her smile.

What would we do without those two-year-olds?

(We would smile a whole lot less.)

Lemonade Stands and Gasoline Cans

2011-09-15T06:24:00.006-05:00

Alternately Titled: It’s a Small World After All

On Monday my girls set up a lemonade stand. They have been asking to do a lemonade stand since, basically, the Reagan Administration…and Monday, finally, was the big day.

(They made $7.00 and declared it a huge success.)

Felicity came in at one point and said, “Mom? There’s a car out there whose lights are flashing. I think they might even be beeping at me.”

I stuck my head out the door and sure enough, there was a car parked at the intersection. The hazard lights were blinking and—was that shouting that I heard? Feeling an awkward sense of duty, I walked hesitantly toward the car and saw a woman sitting at the wheel with—was that a little boy in her lap? There was another person in the front passenger seat—a very active person—and when I got close enough to make eye contact, I smiled and gave her an uncertain “thumb’s up.”

Are you okay?! is what I was asking.

She smiled and gave me a thumb’s up back, then leaned her head out the window and called, “We ran out of gas!”

Instant Sister-of-the-Heart! I’ve been so close to being there, more times than I really care to remember.

When I got to the car I saw all kinds of kids—twenty, at least, maybe more. Okay, actually there were five, but now I know how I look to other people. “Hey guys!” I said, and there was a chorus of hellos. “What an adventure, huh?”

The woman told me that she had phoned her husband and he was on his way. “Would you like to come over and wait at my house?” I offered. “You can have a glass of lemonade.”

As we walked, she told me that she was dropping off a little girl from her carpool when they had run out of gas. Noting that her kids were in very Catholic-school-looking uniforms, I asked what school they went to. “Well, we were at ‘this’ school,” she said, “but then it closed. Now we go to ‘this’ school.”

“No way!” I told her. “We know lots of the same people, I’m sure.”

“Probably,” she laughed. “Who do you know?”

“So & So is a friend of mine. Have you met her?”

The young woman stopped walking and turned to me. “Are you kidding?” she asked incredulously. “That’s my sister.”

We had a very nice visit on the lawn—this new ~~friend~~sister-of-a-friend and I—while her children sipped the lemonade my girls were hawking. (Their mom insisted on paying. She had lots of quarters.) I thought about how you just never knew who you might be helping and that everybody is someone’s sister—and if not someone’s sister, then someone’s child.

Eventually her husband arrived, we said goodbye, and I loaded up my own crew into the van to get Jem.

Glancing down, I saw that the gas gauge read “empty.”

Where were you?

2011-09-12T12:06:00.009-05:00

Part II

Where were you on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11?

If you weren’t with your family, I hope you were with friends.

Friends can be very much a part of our family, don’t you think?

They’re the family members that we choose. ; )

We were here on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, “here” being the Cathedral of St. Paul. We were there for a couple of reasons: one, the Mass is always beautiful and two, they held a 9/11 memorial service half an hour before Mass.

That, too, was very, very beautiful...though I’ll admit to being just a bit unnerved at the thought of being in such a large public place on such an inauspicious anniversary.

Hello. My name is Margaret and I am prone to worry.

Good thing this guy was watching over us.

This is my friend, Tina. Hi Tina! She was there because her daughter sings in the Cathedral choir, which was amazing. We’re talking cello, violin, and even a harp. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!

(Except I hadn’t died and gone to heaven.)

(Phew.)

In the photo, Tina is holding the son of my friend Cathie, who was there because her son marched in the procession with the Boy Scouts and her daughters, with the American Heritage Girls.

Got all that?

Cate, too, got to be in the procession because she had gotten her uniform on Saturday. She was thrilled!

And tried not to gloat about it to her sisters.

After the Mass, there was a reception on the front steps. There were cookies and fire trucks and lots of happy children running amok amok.

Best of all, there were bagpipes.

Is there anything more majestic than bagpipes? Is there anything more...mournful?

Photo Credit: George’s Awesome Godfather Joel

It was a beautiful end to a difficult weekend—difficult, certainly, because of the event we commemorating, but also difficult to confront the pain that this life and its losses bring.

I found myself thankful for my family;

I found myself thankful for my friends;

and I found myself very thankful for God, because without Him that day—any day, in fact—would be incredibly, unbearably, unthinkably hard.

Did you attend any special events this weekend? Or did you just hold your loved ones extra close?

Where were you?

2011-09-10T15:32:00.003-05:00

This post was originally published on September 11, 2009.

Has it really been ~~eight~~ ten years? I remember September 11, 2001 as if it were…

…well, as if it were the horribly inauspicious day that it was.

The morning dawned bright and sunny here in Minnesota. I went for a walk while the rest of my family slept, and brought home a caterpillar to show the children. Its fuzzy little body was cradled carefully in my cupped palm, and the day struck me as full of promise.

It wasn’t long before the kids woke up—tousle-headed and hungry. I had three at that time: Joe was 4, Jem was 2, and Cate was a wee bouncing babe of 10 months. I got to work scrambling eggs, pouring juice, and enjoying the hustle & bustle & noise of my busy household.

At about 9:15, the phone rang. It was my sister, Renee.

“Margie, do you have the T.V. on?” Her voice was filled with urgency.

“No, I don’t. Why?”

“We’re under attack. It’s horrible.”

And so it was. My husband was on his way to work and stopped by the television, briefcase in hand. We watched in silence as the first building collapsed.

“That can’t be good,” he said somberly, and then, “Well, I gotta go.”

(This is perhaps the one humorous recollection I have from this morning. Even in the midst of uncertainty and crisis, my husband was…my husband. He was only gone for a hour, however, as he was working in the tallest building in the Twin Cities and not surprisingly, it got shut down.)

I was left, alone and bereft, to care for my children and to wonder what was next.

~ Part 2 ~

I know that most people were glued to their television set that day, but I just couldn’t watch it. I just couldn’t. I needed to distance myself from the horror and focus instead on the three little people that needed me.

My children were a great comfort to me that day. Their sweetness, their innocence…they seemed to embody everything that was right about the world and yet, in a way, made the attacks all the more frightening. I started to watch EWTN’s live feed on the kitchen computer. They were offering a Mass for all the victims, and the comfort of that network was where I needed to be.

John came home and went directly to the office upstairs. He had Important Attorney Things to do—a deadline that he had to meet—yet still. I couldn’t believe his focus. He didn’t watch the TV either. He sat at that desk for the majority of the day, doing the work that was required of him and perhaps finding solace in its normalcy.

Later I was out on the deck with the children when my neighbor Margaret wandered over.

“I tell you,” she said, “I’m clinging to my beads today.” I nodded sympathetically. Normally Margaret was not one to discuss her spiritual life; today it seemed expected.

Then my neighbor made a surprising request. “Would you mind if I borrowed Jem for a while?” she asked. “Just for an hour or so?”

I didn’t mind.

In fact, I totally understood.

~ Part 3 ~

Eventually John made his way downstairs and set his lunch dishes in the sink. “What do you think,” he asked, turning to me, “of inviting the neighbors over for a prayer service later tonight?”

“I think that’s a great idea,” I replied, feeling a rush of love for my husband and a sudden sense of duty. “Could I make bars?”

“You can make bars,” he smiled.

John said he would watch the kids so that I could run to the store for some ingredients. (I even remember the bars that I made—they were “Caramel Layer Chocolate Squares” from a local cookbook, North Country Cabin Cooking.) As I stood in line at the grocer’s with my evaporated milk and chocolate chips, it struck me how very surreal it all was. There were TVs set up in the grocery store—they were playing right next to the check-outs—and I thought about how we were all in this together somehow, strangers and yet not.

Everyone just seemed pensive and…respectful. There’s really no other word for it. It was as if we were thinking, this could be it for us. This day could well be our last.

Because for thousands just like us, it was.

Our neighbors began arriving around 7 p.m. and by 7:30 we were ready to begin. John had left it up to me to plan the service, and because we had friends from different denominations, I thought it best to keep the prayers simple and biblical. I read a passage from Sacred Scripture and invited a neighbor to do the same; we prayed as a group; we talked and hugged.

At one point I remarked that this world was in rough shape, but my neighbor Margaret disagreed. Her optimism and faith made a strong impression on me. It was true; we could not give up.

The Berns family as we were, September 2001

The prayers, the visiting, the coffee and dessert…it was a comforting close to a very confused day. As I tucked my three children into their beds that night to the eerie silence of an empty sky, my thoughts were calm though my life seemed uncertain. Hatred and evil were out there, yes, but the faith and hope of this country were stronger.

Our love did and does see us through.

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

Letting Go of Life’s Little Imperfections

2011-09-09T16:00:00.004-05:00

The Homeschooling Edition

Not a lot of time for blogging today—thus the title of this post—but I wanted to share with you an area of my life where I could use much improvement.

Because I am just that humble.

If you ask your six-year-old to go get you the print-out, you may need to be okay
with your letter being crumpled. Are you okay with that?

It’s called “letting go” in some circles, and in others, “overcoming one’s perfectionist tendencies.”

I call it not freaking out all the time…

Note the oldest daughter trying to do her work and the second-oldest,
merely thinking about it. The six-year-old is about to fall off her stool
while the terrorist is charging.

…and it isn’t easy for a perfectionist like me.

For example, this whole business of trying to homeschool while simultaneously parenting a toddler. Do you have one of these cute little creatures invading your classroom? Then you know! It’s insane! It’s like trying not to go insane while being insanely tried.

I mean, really. You know there’s a terrorist in your midst...

…but you never know when he’s going to strike.

It’s like going on vacation in Afghanistan.

Only our terrorists are cuter.

The fact that they’re only, like, 12 inches tall makes it easy to put up with them, and it makes it easier—in theory—to let the little things go. Note, for example, in the above photo that he is using a dry erase marker to color his picture. This bugged me—really bugged me—but I decided to put up with it because he was happily preoccupied (!) while I taught Math.

Math is important.

It’s good for me to focus.

Sometimes, though, he won’t let me focus and I need to be okay with getting a lot less done. I need to be okay with letting the 5th grader do some of her work on her own and stop—gosh darn it—micromanaging everything she does. Or, conversely, I need to send him away to watch some PBS Kids so that I can focus on English with my 3rd grader.

In a perfect world, I’d have activities galore planned out for him…but (surprise!) my world’s not perfect and neither am I.

Surprise.

This revelation has been very helpful to me as a homeschooling mom.

Given the Slip

2011-09-08T06:20:00.010-05:00

Jem’s doing well at school, I’m pleased to report, though as his former teacher—for the past seven years, no less!—I wouldn’t mind if he’d complain a bit. I wouldn’t mind, for example, if he’d say something to the effect of “You know, Mom, Mr. So & So’s a good teacher and all, but he really doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

Or “Mrs. Such & Such is okay, I guess, but I really miss being home with you.”

Nope. No such luck.

He’s doing fine and doesn’t complain.

Oh wait, I take that back. He did complain the other day or rather, he told a story in which he thought about complaining. It seems several of his 7th grade colleagues have merited detention over the past couple of weeks. And so it goes! It’s good to whip those “sevvies” into shape.

(Now, for the record, the classes at Jem’s school are segregated by gender and so I’m speaking about the male representatives of the 7th grade class.)

(I’m sure the girls would never be so naughty.)

So Jem told me that he was sitting in art class one morning when the teacher began passing out pieces of paper. She went down the row handing them out to each boy...but when she got to Jem, she skipped him. “What’d I do?” he complained inwardly. “Why don’t I get one of those papers?”

It didn’t seem fair at all until he realized that those pieces of paper were detention slips, and that his neighbors were being a bit disruptive.

Well! My son had been given the slip, it seems.

Or should I say, he hadn’t been.

PS. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to post any future wrongdoings as well. I’m sure that Jem would love that.