It has been years since we've been surrounded by an abundance of love, acceptance and true fellowship. This past weekend was a gentle reminder, at least to me, of how very blessed we are here. Paul and I haven't done "couple" things with other couples in a very long time...probably at least 12 years or so. I guess I didn't realize how much I missed sharing an evening with other like minded people!!
Paul of course came home Friday night to me sitting up in bed struggling with my pregnant digestion situation....guess I am back to no eating after 4pm! Anyway, woke bright and early to pick up his brand new toy/baby, oh, wait, I mean riding lawnmower...from Sears. His brother helped him out and we enjoyed visiting for a bit before he had to return to his Saturday morning chores. Paul promptly sped read thru his owner's manual, filled the tank and proceeded to mow...enjoying every minute of it! The kids and I puttered around trying to shop, pick up, catch up and generally letting daddy have his moment in the sun ;)
Saturday night we had been invited to join our homeschool group's dinner club. Homemade German food! Yummy! We had a wonderful time and went home full and happy!!!
Sunday, I guess was Stephen's turn to be sick and so I stayed home while Paul dared Mass with four girls (I heard thru the older ladies in church that he did fine). Sunday night involved more shopping for the things that had been forgotten the day before, cooking and then getting out again for the Knights of Columbus banquet. Of course we were probably close to the youngest people in the room, but it was a lovely evening and struck up many conversations with interesting laity and religious all around us. I think I am a grown up now!
Well, I gotta run as Katherine has an orthodontist appt this morning and then our art co op with three other families this afternoon...busy, busy, busy!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Trials, temptations and Lysol
A family in our homeschool group laid to rest their beloved husband and father in the past week. It sent a shock of pain and anguish that seems to hang at the end of everyone's mind. What do you do when something so personal strikes your family...what would I do?
I'm immediately brought back to Paul's conversation with me at Easter, when we accidentally went to a Easter basket blessing...that was partly in Polish and designed for the Polish community (OK, I didn't read the fine print in the paper and thought this would be a good idea). He feeling awkward an out of place was angry with me and left (with the excuse of getting Kimberly out). The rest of the kids and I sat, participated and joyfully went along for the ride...one of them even asked if we can do it again next year. More ponderings made me realize that I've never had a "comfort zone", or at least in a long time.
Almost 20 years ago I met an air force co-pilot, and entered his world....became Catholic, threw my upbringing out the window and embraced a new life that was diametrically opposed to who my parents raised me to be (although truth be told, I think my dad was more conservative than my mom). I was thrust into the life of a Catholic military spouse, nourishing and loving any and all children and friends who came into our life...always being open to meeting new people, learning new things and learning to be stronger than I ever thought I could be. I've been awkward and out of place for nearly 20 years!!! But God's grace has always been abundant and I know that all I've ever experienced has given me a heart to reach out to friends and those who are not yet my friends, mothers, children, babies, families who are struggling financially, and really anyone who just needs arms to hug and ears to hear.
When the recent death came about, my first thought was for Debra, the mom. Not to feel sorry for her, but to feel the strain of having to carry on, despite. And the protective cloak that a mother feels for her children, to keep them from harm, evil and pain...it had been stripped from the family and laid bare. I took a few kids with me last Saturday to just be there, not to run things or take anything away from them, but just be there. I didn't know Debra well before this accident, but I pray that just our presence was a small comfort to her and the kids. Their journey will be difficult and long, but again, God's grace will guide them and form them for Heaven. Bob must have already been done ;)
Just after this, a stomach virus hit. Katherine had a choir performance in Jackson, and had been gone for a few days. Then she comes back, visits this family with me and then promptly begins throwing up at 3am on Sunday. Lauren was next and I've had an upset stomach now for, well, off and on for three days. Megan had stomach pains on Monday night, and laid in bed very still thru Tuesday. Rebecca started on Monday night as well, but at least Katie is old enough and helped nurse her younger sister back to health. Yesterday everyone was fine and it was a gorgeous day, so we aired out the house and went outside for simple yardwork...then Kimberly threw up right at bedtime and my stomach is now worse today than it has been--probably doesn't help to have a little creature in their moving around on top of the moving stomach making weird noise....Stephen is still not sick, but Paul comes home tomorrow and I am hoping he manages to benefit from my Lysoling the house like crazy. Laundry is caught up and everything is clean so hopefully all viruses and bugs are dead and gone....now if I can just get the stupid bird outside my window to be quiet at night, I just might get a good night's sleep!
I'm immediately brought back to Paul's conversation with me at Easter, when we accidentally went to a Easter basket blessing...that was partly in Polish and designed for the Polish community (OK, I didn't read the fine print in the paper and thought this would be a good idea). He feeling awkward an out of place was angry with me and left (with the excuse of getting Kimberly out). The rest of the kids and I sat, participated and joyfully went along for the ride...one of them even asked if we can do it again next year. More ponderings made me realize that I've never had a "comfort zone", or at least in a long time.
Almost 20 years ago I met an air force co-pilot, and entered his world....became Catholic, threw my upbringing out the window and embraced a new life that was diametrically opposed to who my parents raised me to be (although truth be told, I think my dad was more conservative than my mom). I was thrust into the life of a Catholic military spouse, nourishing and loving any and all children and friends who came into our life...always being open to meeting new people, learning new things and learning to be stronger than I ever thought I could be. I've been awkward and out of place for nearly 20 years!!! But God's grace has always been abundant and I know that all I've ever experienced has given me a heart to reach out to friends and those who are not yet my friends, mothers, children, babies, families who are struggling financially, and really anyone who just needs arms to hug and ears to hear.
When the recent death came about, my first thought was for Debra, the mom. Not to feel sorry for her, but to feel the strain of having to carry on, despite. And the protective cloak that a mother feels for her children, to keep them from harm, evil and pain...it had been stripped from the family and laid bare. I took a few kids with me last Saturday to just be there, not to run things or take anything away from them, but just be there. I didn't know Debra well before this accident, but I pray that just our presence was a small comfort to her and the kids. Their journey will be difficult and long, but again, God's grace will guide them and form them for Heaven. Bob must have already been done ;)
Just after this, a stomach virus hit. Katherine had a choir performance in Jackson, and had been gone for a few days. Then she comes back, visits this family with me and then promptly begins throwing up at 3am on Sunday. Lauren was next and I've had an upset stomach now for, well, off and on for three days. Megan had stomach pains on Monday night, and laid in bed very still thru Tuesday. Rebecca started on Monday night as well, but at least Katie is old enough and helped nurse her younger sister back to health. Yesterday everyone was fine and it was a gorgeous day, so we aired out the house and went outside for simple yardwork...then Kimberly threw up right at bedtime and my stomach is now worse today than it has been--probably doesn't help to have a little creature in their moving around on top of the moving stomach making weird noise....Stephen is still not sick, but Paul comes home tomorrow and I am hoping he manages to benefit from my Lysoling the house like crazy. Laundry is caught up and everything is clean so hopefully all viruses and bugs are dead and gone....now if I can just get the stupid bird outside my window to be quiet at night, I just might get a good night's sleep!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
We have had a wonderfully Holy Triduum and am resting for much of the afternoon; listening to the sounds of rain pouring outside.
Paul was gone for the week, so the kids and I celebrated Holy Week pretty much around home. I've learned much in the last 16 years...mainly peace in the home is the most important thing, not dragging kids out and being frustrated by Kimberly, whose disposition keeps me from hearing anything during Mass 9 times out of 10. Thankfully she is #6, so her behavior really doesn't bother me most of the time!
On Friday we gathered for a simple stations of the cross. I invested in some kid friendly booklets years ago for our hs group in Shreveport as we used to gather during Lent to celebrate this wonderful tradition...I still have them and now have enough kids to use almost all of them. We lit a blessed candle of the Sacred Heart and all went around the circle with each station. We prepared pretzels and each child had one piece of cheese pizza after various prayers, Bible readings and items to ponder. We then had a quiet, peaceful evening of no computer or tv. We tried no phone, but it was ringing off the hook...guess we're the only ones in the neighborhood who have a solemn Good Friday!!!
Paul came home late Friday night/early Saturday, so I finally got out to shop in preparation for Easter dinner. We had to have our feasts prepared by noon so we could take the basket up for a blessing at St. John's. It was part in Polish, so it was an experience for the kids...Paul not comfortable with the whole thing, took Kimberly out. The afternoon was spent cleaning out the garage and then shopping again with Becca for her birthday. She chose to eat out at a steak place and had a quiet evening with mom. She got an aquarium and some drawing books for her birthday. Her grandparents gave her a bit of cash and I think she plans to go out tomorrow and get some fish to put in the aquarium with her money!
Sunday we made Mass...and everyone was dressed with shoes on (double checking Lauren as usual) and then raced home for a family brunch. We'd assumed Paul's brother's family was out of town since we'd not heard from them, but only found out later that their schedule just didn't seem to include us. We invited neighbors over so the kids wouldn't be disappointed and then seemed to all have a good time. We had 11 kids and six adults over...and the house was somewhat peaceful! We also managed an Easter Egg hunt before the weather turned bad. It was a very good Easter...now I need to get off so we can open my mom's all-kid birthday present...
Love and blessings to all!
We have had a wonderfully Holy Triduum and am resting for much of the afternoon; listening to the sounds of rain pouring outside.
Paul was gone for the week, so the kids and I celebrated Holy Week pretty much around home. I've learned much in the last 16 years...mainly peace in the home is the most important thing, not dragging kids out and being frustrated by Kimberly, whose disposition keeps me from hearing anything during Mass 9 times out of 10. Thankfully she is #6, so her behavior really doesn't bother me most of the time!
On Friday we gathered for a simple stations of the cross. I invested in some kid friendly booklets years ago for our hs group in Shreveport as we used to gather during Lent to celebrate this wonderful tradition...I still have them and now have enough kids to use almost all of them. We lit a blessed candle of the Sacred Heart and all went around the circle with each station. We prepared pretzels and each child had one piece of cheese pizza after various prayers, Bible readings and items to ponder. We then had a quiet, peaceful evening of no computer or tv. We tried no phone, but it was ringing off the hook...guess we're the only ones in the neighborhood who have a solemn Good Friday!!!
Paul came home late Friday night/early Saturday, so I finally got out to shop in preparation for Easter dinner. We had to have our feasts prepared by noon so we could take the basket up for a blessing at St. John's. It was part in Polish, so it was an experience for the kids...Paul not comfortable with the whole thing, took Kimberly out. The afternoon was spent cleaning out the garage and then shopping again with Becca for her birthday. She chose to eat out at a steak place and had a quiet evening with mom. She got an aquarium and some drawing books for her birthday. Her grandparents gave her a bit of cash and I think she plans to go out tomorrow and get some fish to put in the aquarium with her money!
Sunday we made Mass...and everyone was dressed with shoes on (double checking Lauren as usual) and then raced home for a family brunch. We'd assumed Paul's brother's family was out of town since we'd not heard from them, but only found out later that their schedule just didn't seem to include us. We invited neighbors over so the kids wouldn't be disappointed and then seemed to all have a good time. We had 11 kids and six adults over...and the house was somewhat peaceful! We also managed an Easter Egg hunt before the weather turned bad. It was a very good Easter...now I need to get off so we can open my mom's all-kid birthday present...
Love and blessings to all!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Mama smiles...
Just pulled this from another blog and liked it enough to share it here:
Ever notice how beautiful a house becomes when Mama smiles? I have and I'm endeavoring to make my house so beautiful much, much more often.
Ever notice how beautiful a house becomes when Mama smiles? I have and I'm endeavoring to make my house so beautiful much, much more often.
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