King Henry V, in his favorite chair...always wanting to EAT!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
New Blogroll
Finally! I've added a wonderful blogroll of strong Catholic Women Online for you all to peruse and visit at your leisure. Just look to the right of my posts and look below the
Catholic Mothers Onlinesign. There you will find a grand array of blogs to enjoy. You will, not doubt, find many of these women going through the same trials, tribulations, joys and successes as you. Have fun and enjoy! I have!
VBS Sonforce Kids Secret Agents!
There is nothing like the sheer joy and excitement of a well-done vacation bible camp experience for kids. Most of my kids attended this year (all except King Henry)in some capacity and all learned about Jesus in a interactive, and fun way. I was more than impressed when my son Nick, quoted from scripture, when Gus was caught singing the songs from the music class, and when Jack confessed that he could not wait to see what was going to happen next during the drama act that was performed each morning.
It's pure joy and sincere acceptance of what is taught with little questioning or doubt. That is what is so great about being a kid. Jesus is not so far away; kids understand very easily that Jesus is real and living among us. It's not until we grow into young adults and are taught to doubt and question that we start to slip, wander, and wonder why we ever believed in the first place. The joy goes away for some reason.
For now though, I'm enjoying the fact that my little ones know Jesus...probably better than I do, and believe what He teaches from their very core. Vacation bible camps reinforce what is already ingrained in their souls. The love of Jesus for them and their innocent love of Him. Are there vacation bible camps for adults? If so, sign me up!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Happy Birthday Nicholas
To my first born son I wish a very happy 11th birthday. Here is to your charm, faith, personality, humor, dancing ability, and smile. God surely knew what He was doing when He sent you to us on that beautiful June day in Iowa. May we always know how much He loves us by how much you make us feel blessed! Happy Birthday Nick! You totally rock, dude!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Never judge a book by its cover.
At first Gus was skeptical. He looked at the dinner set before him and scowled at the array of ground beef, veggies and pasta mixed together on his plate. Knowing full well that groaning at the food would get him promptly sent to his room without dinner, Gus picked up his fork and took a small bite of the mass in front of him. His scowl quickly turned into surprise as he explained to his brother, Jack:
Jack! It looks really nasty, but it tastes really good.
Try the recipe yourself and be pleasantly surprised like Gus. Oh, but it does look pretty gross.
Jack! It looks really nasty, but it tastes really good.
Try the recipe yourself and be pleasantly surprised like Gus. Oh, but it does look pretty gross.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Meet the parents
There are moments when everything you have scheduled for the week just cumlinates in one big blob where you either sink or swim. The last week of school can be a challenge with all the parties, graduations, teacher gifts, thank yous, snacks, goodies, mix all that up with your son's 11th birthday party and it makes one want to cower in a corner and just cry. But its amazing at what happens when you have an extra pair of hands, or mouth (as the case may be) which totally turns a crisis situation into something enjoyable and pleasant. Those extra hands were the hands of my parents who have been visiting from Texas.
Their life is much different than mine. They have quiet mornings with coffee on their front porch; I have five children begging for breakfast and backpacks. They have a slow walk; mine is fast with a purpose. They have a smile and a kind word for all they meet here in North Carolina; I have a rushed "hello" and a pathetic "How have you been?" as I walk away moving toward the next thing. They have a schedule; I have, well, scheduled chaos. But it is all so much more pleasant when they are around. They don't intrude or question my behavior. They mostly lend a listening ear and an encouraging word...and the best part is when they say, "You look like you need a nap. We'll watch the baby." They've done what I have done. They have walked in these worn shoes and smile knowingly. I know it must be hard for them to enter my home of craziness...pulled from the quiet of their world, but their presence gives me confidence that I can "swim" on the crazy days and sink when I need to. They quietly remind me that I am allowed to sink every now and then...it feels good NOT to get those brownies baked for graduation, or wrap that gift in time for the birthday party. They remind me that what is important is to make TIME for others, for family, for good food and drink, for stories, for games, for a slow walk in the neighborhood, for a kind message to a friend or child, for love and being loved.
My blessings are many in this life and my parents presence is surely one of the best!
Their life is much different than mine. They have quiet mornings with coffee on their front porch; I have five children begging for breakfast and backpacks. They have a slow walk; mine is fast with a purpose. They have a smile and a kind word for all they meet here in North Carolina; I have a rushed "hello" and a pathetic "How have you been?" as I walk away moving toward the next thing. They have a schedule; I have, well, scheduled chaos. But it is all so much more pleasant when they are around. They don't intrude or question my behavior. They mostly lend a listening ear and an encouraging word...and the best part is when they say, "You look like you need a nap. We'll watch the baby." They've done what I have done. They have walked in these worn shoes and smile knowingly. I know it must be hard for them to enter my home of craziness...pulled from the quiet of their world, but their presence gives me confidence that I can "swim" on the crazy days and sink when I need to. They quietly remind me that I am allowed to sink every now and then...it feels good NOT to get those brownies baked for graduation, or wrap that gift in time for the birthday party. They remind me that what is important is to make TIME for others, for family, for good food and drink, for stories, for games, for a slow walk in the neighborhood, for a kind message to a friend or child, for love and being loved.
My blessings are many in this life and my parents presence is surely one of the best!
Monday, June 04, 2007
frustration
Me: Gus! You need to sit with BOTH cheeks on the kitchen chair!
Gus looks up at me, smiles a devious smile, and promply puts his FACE on the seat of chair.
Me: Gus, those are NOT the cheeks I was talking about!
Gus: But you said to put both cheeks on the chair. I'm just doing as I'm told.
Gus looks up at me, smiles a devious smile, and promply puts his FACE on the seat of chair.
Me: Gus, those are NOT the cheeks I was talking about!
Gus: But you said to put both cheeks on the chair. I'm just doing as I'm told.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Laugh of the day...
A mother took her five-year-old son with her to the bank on a busy lunchtime.
They got behind a very fat woman wearing a business suit complete with
pager. As they waited patiently, the little boy said loudly, "Gee, she's fat!"
The mother bent down and whispered in the little boys' ear to be quiet.
A couple of minutes passed by and the little boy spread his hands as far as they
would go and announced; "I'll bet her butt is this wide!"
The fat woman turns around and glares at the little boy. The mother gave him a good
telling off, and told him to be quiet.
After a brief lull, the large woman reached the front of the line.
Just then her pager begins to emit a beep, beep, beep.
The little boy yells out, "Run for your life, she's backing up!"
HT: Uncle Gus
They got behind a very fat woman wearing a business suit complete with
pager. As they waited patiently, the little boy said loudly, "Gee, she's fat!"
The mother bent down and whispered in the little boys' ear to be quiet.
A couple of minutes passed by and the little boy spread his hands as far as they
would go and announced; "I'll bet her butt is this wide!"
The fat woman turns around and glares at the little boy. The mother gave him a good
telling off, and told him to be quiet.
After a brief lull, the large woman reached the front of the line.
Just then her pager begins to emit a beep, beep, beep.
The little boy yells out, "Run for your life, she's backing up!"
HT: Uncle Gus
Monday, May 28, 2007
Firsts.
Happy Birthday to the church and God's blessings to the many men and women in our armed forces.
There were many first during the three day weekend!
1. Henry had his first experience in a olympic sized pool and loved it.
2. Jack plunged (feet first) off the 20 foot diving board.
3. Gus took his first real strokes as a serious swimmer.
But the most amazing "first" of the day was having Henry sleep in a full size crib for the first time in his eight months here on this planet. Up to this point, he's been sleeping in a port-a-crib which is small in comparison. As Henry grew, the space in the port-a-crib became smaller and smaller. It became more and more evident as time wore on, that the "big baby" crib would have to come out and the other placed in storage. Bringing up the old crib, which held my other four babies, was a sight to behold. It was dusty, broken, old food crusted in the cracks, and faded. I never imagined at the time of storage, busy with four children under the age of 8, that I would even think of ever having another baby. I thought we should simply keep it in case we had company or for another family in need. Never did I dream that my family would be the family in need. And I'm so thankful that I am.
Sweet dreams, Henry. A long history of love has lived in that crib. May you always sleep peacefully.
There were many first during the three day weekend!
1. Henry had his first experience in a olympic sized pool and loved it.
2. Jack plunged (feet first) off the 20 foot diving board.
3. Gus took his first real strokes as a serious swimmer.
But the most amazing "first" of the day was having Henry sleep in a full size crib for the first time in his eight months here on this planet. Up to this point, he's been sleeping in a port-a-crib which is small in comparison. As Henry grew, the space in the port-a-crib became smaller and smaller. It became more and more evident as time wore on, that the "big baby" crib would have to come out and the other placed in storage. Bringing up the old crib, which held my other four babies, was a sight to behold. It was dusty, broken, old food crusted in the cracks, and faded. I never imagined at the time of storage, busy with four children under the age of 8, that I would even think of ever having another baby. I thought we should simply keep it in case we had company or for another family in need. Never did I dream that my family would be the family in need. And I'm so thankful that I am.
Sweet dreams, Henry. A long history of love has lived in that crib. May you always sleep peacefully.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Quote of the day.
I have many times been driven to my knees by the utter conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Henry is 8 months old!
I can crawl
I can feed myself Cheerios
I can babble
I can sit up
Time flies when you are having FUN!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Youth Convention
My daughter Rebecca and I are off to our annual Diocesan Youth Covention in Greenville, NC. The theme of the weekend is "Ascention Convention: Live, Laugh, Love". I'll be doing two talks for the youth on the topic of marriage....a good friend, Fr. Scott McCue will be speaking with me. Please pray that the over 1000 young people in attendance will sincerely learn how to Live a life with Christ, Laugh at the devil, and Love with the strength and power that Jesus loves us. See you all on Sunday!
Monday, May 14, 2007
These girls are radical!
You want to be radical? Different? Stand out in a crowd? Go Countercultural?
Good.
Put away your green hair dye, your emo-look, and your goth like persona and be really radical.
Nuns are back!!
HT:Danielle Bean
Good.
Put away your green hair dye, your emo-look, and your goth like persona and be really radical.
Nuns are back!!
HT:Danielle Bean
Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I knew it was going to be one of those days...
My husband: You can't put that on the blog.
Me: Oh, yes I can. It's real life!
Here's the story he preferred me to keep a secret:
Today I experienced a "first" in the world of childrearing. You would think something like this had happened to me before. Considering the fact that I have five children and considering the fact that I have experienced many gross incidences of diaper changes, this one took the cake.
As I changed Henry this morning, bleary eyed and tired, I discovered that not only had he "tinkled" a huge amount, but he had also inserted a large "package" of poop as well. Barely able to see what I was doing in the early morning dawn, I wiped up his massive mess and removed his diaper. I stumbled across the bedroom floor to get him a change of clothes and a new diaper but did not notice that Henry's "used up" diaper had fallen to the floor. Unbound, open and well, very stinky. As I walked back to where Henry lay, I felt something warm and gushy on my foot...(ewh, ewh ewh...yes, you all guessed right) It was, in all its glory...Henry's poo poo. In a large green mass on the arch of my foot.(This may be too much for the reader with the weak stomach, but I just had to share this perilous moment of motherhood.) Totally awake at the realization that I had indeed stepped in something totally nasty, I just stood there, foot raised high, yelling, " Oh please, NO! This is nasty, nasty, nasty!!" Problem was, the baby wipes were on the other side of the room since I had just run out of wipes cleaning up Mr. Gross! So I hopped to the wipes and hurriedly cleaned up my foot.
I was totally disgusted. Henry was totally delighted with the entertainment.
The rest of the day did not go much better....but that's a posting for another day. Still, looking on the bright side of things...it was much better than stepping in dog poo poo. Not that I've ever done that.
Me: Oh, yes I can. It's real life!
Here's the story he preferred me to keep a secret:
Today I experienced a "first" in the world of childrearing. You would think something like this had happened to me before. Considering the fact that I have five children and considering the fact that I have experienced many gross incidences of diaper changes, this one took the cake.
As I changed Henry this morning, bleary eyed and tired, I discovered that not only had he "tinkled" a huge amount, but he had also inserted a large "package" of poop as well. Barely able to see what I was doing in the early morning dawn, I wiped up his massive mess and removed his diaper. I stumbled across the bedroom floor to get him a change of clothes and a new diaper but did not notice that Henry's "used up" diaper had fallen to the floor. Unbound, open and well, very stinky. As I walked back to where Henry lay, I felt something warm and gushy on my foot...(ewh, ewh ewh...yes, you all guessed right) It was, in all its glory...Henry's poo poo. In a large green mass on the arch of my foot.(This may be too much for the reader with the weak stomach, but I just had to share this perilous moment of motherhood.) Totally awake at the realization that I had indeed stepped in something totally nasty, I just stood there, foot raised high, yelling, " Oh please, NO! This is nasty, nasty, nasty!!" Problem was, the baby wipes were on the other side of the room since I had just run out of wipes cleaning up Mr. Gross! So I hopped to the wipes and hurriedly cleaned up my foot.
I was totally disgusted. Henry was totally delighted with the entertainment.
The rest of the day did not go much better....but that's a posting for another day. Still, looking on the bright side of things...it was much better than stepping in dog poo poo. Not that I've ever done that.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
A voice of reason in the wilderness
"Selfishness and fear are at the root of (pro-abortion) legislation," he said. "We in the Church have a great struggle to defend life...life is a gift not a threat."--Pope Benedict
"The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift."--Pope Benedict
Read the whole article here.
"The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift."--Pope Benedict
Read the whole article here.
Welcome Home Dr. Beckwith
“If you're going to do a thing, you should do it thoroughly. If you're going to be a Christian, you may as well be a Catholic.”
---- Muriel Spark
Dr. Francis Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society and professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas has just converted back into the Catholic Church. You can read about his journey here and read some of the uncharitable remarks from our Protestant brothers and sisters regarding his move back to Rome. This brave man needs prayers from the entire Christian community, but could use some words of encouragement from those of us who are Catholic. Welcome this man and let him know that we are glad that he has come home. Visit his blog by clicking below:
Dr. Francis Beckwith
HT:
Edmund C.
---- Muriel Spark
Dr. Francis Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society and professor at Baylor University in Waco, Texas has just converted back into the Catholic Church. You can read about his journey here and read some of the uncharitable remarks from our Protestant brothers and sisters regarding his move back to Rome. This brave man needs prayers from the entire Christian community, but could use some words of encouragement from those of us who are Catholic. Welcome this man and let him know that we are glad that he has come home. Visit his blog by clicking below:
Dr. Francis Beckwith
HT:
Edmund C.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Corporal Works of Mercy
One benefit of having a larger family is having enough siblings to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy. It is physically impossible for me to take care of every child's need at all times, so it may be necessary for a sibling to take over. Here, Jack helps with feeding his baby brother. Feeding the hungry as we are all called to do. Even the very young can help with that.
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