straight talk

(Hello friends!)

This morning the younger kids and I sped off to the New Knoxville Airport to watch Daddy board a small corporate plane, and fly off to Kinston, NC for the day.
It's his first travel experience for work, and we were so darned excited for him...and nervous...we couldn't help but see him off. 
We were able to park the van and walk right up to the gate, just a few yards from the plane.  Of course, he spotted us (surprised? VERY!) just before boarding.

As the plane taxi'd toward the runway, the kids and I made the sign of the cross and shared a little prayer for safe travels.  Of course, I led and tried to eloquently ask God to keep the pilot and passengers safe...yada, yada.  Rose impatiently interrupted with her own simple words..."But mostly make it so they don't DIE!"  Amen. 

After take-off the plane service technician greeted us, and offered us a quick tour of the hangar and one of the other planes...just like the one John was traveling on.   We saw the cockpit, and the very luxurious passenger area...complete with a kitchenette and restroom...we saw it all!  What an awesome surprise...so nice of him to take the time in his busy day.  Especially since our visit was unplanned, and he didn't know us from Adam.  Guess he figured a disheveled lady with 5 young kids at 7:45am, must have legitimite reason to be there.  Why else would we be out that early, 'cept to see Daddy off.

We're excited to greet John back safely home for supper, and hear about his adventures.

Anyways, as we drove the 15 minute trip back home, I couldn't help but think of Rosie's prayer again...and how simple and to the point it was.  Sometimes words are my friend.  Other times, I get so caught up in trying to get them right, I fail to say what I really mean.  Or worse, I say nothing at all.

Hence the silence here.

Oh, life is traveling at lightning speed.  And I've had so many new experiences/stories to share as I try to roll with life and it's changes.  I'm gonna try to quit perfecting the words in my head, and just "spit it out" for you here.  Attempt to say what I mean...so we can all grow/learn/love from it.

Miss you all. 

Thank you God.  For Rosie, and words, and safe travels.  and everything.  Amen.

still turning cards

I continue to make my way through the deck of "Daily Reflections" cards I received last month.

Today...

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
~Collosians 3:15


Seriously...I should have flipped/read this before the kids left for school. Oh my, was it one of those mornings. I'll take full blame...shoulda never let them stay up till 9:30 to finish that movie they were watching. But it was a cute one...and they seemed "settled." Perfectly good idea at the time.
Anyhow...lots of "unpeacefulness" going on this morning...arguing, tears, even some boys getting physical with the nudges and knocks they like to torment each other with. Good grief.

Peace. Yes, please. Hope their day at school goes better. The younger kids here are just waking up, much better rested than the big siblings that passed through the kitchen before them...the day is already brighter here. Could be that my coffee is kicking in too...or perhaps... the reminder of God's peace, the kind of peace that is lasting and true, is settling in.

Praise God. Prince of Peace.

Make me a channel...

Carrot cake and a deviled egg for breakfast...somehow I can justify this as my veggie and protein for the day.

Throw in a few malted milk balls, and I've got a well balanced meal.

Alleluia Easter!!

I've neglected

Several family members asked over Easter, "How's the renovation going?" It made me think how neglectful I've been in sharing the final outcome with you. Fact is, I've wanted to share pics a few times now, but didn't want to dwell on the "things" of life. You know...didn't want to seem all caught up in what we've got.

Truth is though, God is good! And years (and years) of scraping, and sacrificing and saving, and working hard to provide the basics for our family, has led us to an opportunity to provide a little more. And now we can proceed to continue to scrape and save. (insert smiley face here, if I knew how.)

Anyhow. We are finished with the apartment renovation (have been for a couple weeks), and now can just enjoy hanging a picture here and there, or adding a "finishing detail" as it comes along.

When we purchased this home, it included an attached 2-bedroom apartment. The tenant knew better than we did how we'd want to use the space, and moved out even before we had a chance to meet/ask her.
That left us with a seperate (but accessible) living space, just waiting to blossom into our extended kitchen and new great family room space. In demo-ing the apartment space, we tore out EV.RY.THING including it's old bathroom and moved it to a better suited place in the room.

Here are some pics...before's and afters...

standing at our kitchen island, this is the wall that we had taken down...beyond is the apartment space that was. There's a hallway to the right in picture. The doorway lead to a pass-thru closet that was our only entrance to the apartment.

And here the girls pose once again, this time no wall. And the apartment space is now completely ours to enjoy...all one great open floor plan. You can tell by the transition in the hardwood floor where the old wall used to be. The hallway isn't there anymore, but the doorway to the coat-closet is the same, and still provides a back entrance to the mudroom/garage. Beyond the new orange wall is the new bathroom with the toilet/sink a seperate space from the shower area. Very practical!!

This was our "life in plastic" for about 3 weeks. Boy are we grateful that the dust has finally settled. That's not to say I've got it completely dusted away yet, but at least it's settled.

Once the demo was done, and the walls down. We had this amazing space off the kitchen. YES...Emma was rip-sticking in the apartment!!!
Inside the old apartement. I took this picture standing on the backside of our kitchen wall, looking towards the front door/window. Still lots of demo to do in this picture, but a few of the apartment walls were down, and half the carpet gone.
And here, in the new...I'm standing in nearly the same spot, looking at the new front window/entry way. And enjoying all the view has to offer. Yes, we (I) got a little bold with color...but it is a fun family space for a wild and crazy family!
And the opposite view from our front entry way, looking back. Lots of bare wall space...decorating will come. What I love even more is all the bare floor space. I can't tell you how awesome it's been having dance parties, even family camp-ins with room for sleeping bags everywhere! And how 'bout that table with 14 chairs!!! John giggles often that there's always room for one more.

Thank you for humoring me as I go on and on...and for sharing with me in these blessings our Lord has provided.

Somewhere through this process I came across a bible story that in some ways reminded me this year of blessings we're experiencing. It was Leviticus 25, I think and had to do with God's rewarding the Israelites for their years of faithfulness.

I'm not saying I've been completely good. Always full of questions, and wonder for what God's plan is in our lives. But I also think that the last 10 years have had their share of blurry challenges and struggles, and perhaps, just maybe, God's smiling for all the times we've said "yes" to his will, even when it was with hesitation, or fear.

May this time of goodness be the courage and motivation to continue to say yes to his will, especially as we enter into the new phases of life...teenagers, and all that has to bring. Oh my.

For now, I'll just enjoy the blessings....and praise GOd!

Easter Blessings!

Hope you all had a blessed Easter, surrounded by those you love and filled with memories of loved ones we are sure to meet again one day thanks to the beautiful gift of new life Easter brings. Praises to our Lord for his ultimate gift of love and sacrifice.

We had a full family weekend thanks to extra time off work and school, and collectively participating in various Easter Triduum services.

Thought I'd take a moment to share some lighter memories of our Easter weekend...

Alice and Emma played a double header against Parkway girls on Saturday...a full day at their lovely park in Rockford. We enjoyed the beautiful weather, their playground, a picnic lunch between games, and even a visit with Easter Bunny thanks to the Egg Hunt they had going on in the park that day. (We obviously were not dressed for an official visit with the King of Easter Candy, but hey when life hands us free colored eggs...we roll.)

That same evening, we finally had an opportunity to color eggs...all of us. Boy is it getting trickier all the time to spend quality family time together. And to be able to keep the mess outdoors...woohoo! Gorgeous weather!

Frank took this business very seiously...though its hard to take him seriously with that dirt-stained face....one only a mother could love.
Seriously. PINK. and all that.

The perfect Easter manicure...

He found us!!! There are always worries about being forgotten with a move to a new home.

Easter Cheeeeeeese!!!!!! All cleaned up (and squinty and silly) after Mass at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Candy?! What candy?! I don't know anything about any candy...

Peace to you and yours...and Happy Easter!!!

just knowing

There are amazing people in this world who have a special gift of knowing what needs to be done, and they just do it...or assign someone else to do it. Or both.
Really. It's a gift.
I spend most of my days oblivious to the happenings in the community/world around me. Busy with my own concerns for the day like...well you know...laundry, and meals, and cleaning, and sorting, and making sure everyone is to school/practices/games/lessons/clubs on time, and that the rest of us are watching, waiting, or transporting as needed. Yesterday was a particularly brutal day as far as scheduling goes. And yet, other people...even people I know well and love, are facing their own life challenges...accidents, injuries, deaths even, grieving for loved ones, having babies, needing help...any sort of help. And where am I? Worrying about whether someone has clean baseball socks, or whether someone else needs a peanut butter sandwich before they run out the door.
I suck at looking beyond my own business sometimes. I fail miserably at being a good neighbor.

A lady in our neighborhood past away last weekend. Suddenly, unexpectedly. And while we're new to the neighborhood...we've been in this town all our lives, and we all know each other. And we know her husband who grieves, and her children, some of whom also live in our neighborhood. Oh, it's sad. And yet, what do we do in times like these but pray, and offer sympathies. And then (this is where I screw up) we get back to busy with our own business.
Not some people though. Nope. They know just what's needed. They know the business that needs to be taken care of. Like which neighbors should bring food, and which neighbors will be assigned to baking desserts for the funeral luncheon. And who will collect for flowers or whatever. It's beautiful, and humbling, and inspiring. And I was so incredibly grateful to get the call to bake a couple desserts. It's exactly what I would LOVE to do. Seriously. Something tangible to take the burden away from the family even if some miniscule way. I'm inspired by the people who still call on neighbors, encouraging us...even if assigning us...to do our part. I prayed as I baked late into the night last night that I would learn from this...to be a better neighbor, to recognize others needs ahead of my own. (I prayed a little love into each bite too...that those who eat it would be comforted a bit.) It is in fact, why we're here right? To lend a hand, to serve each other. To love and be loved. To be the living Christ for others when they can, in any given moment share only in his suffering.

Thank you Lord for people who just know...and do...and encourage us to live more like you.

sisters

Little Anne had a rough patch these last few days. Low grade fever, restless nights, a bit of a cough...fussy, clingy, needing mom-time. I'm so grateful to be the one she needs...I really am. It's tough and frustrating, depending on more coffee and more prayers to get through a day, but it's incredibly humbling to be THE ONE, the only one who can soothe whimpers and dry teary eyes and snuggle just right.

Until big sister Alice comes home, and suddenly...there's one more who can fill that bill. And it's an incredible relief to share that burden/blessing, and a little bittersweet too. Suddenly there's another little mama in the house. Big sister...better snuggler...momentary respite for mom. Just enough time to put supper on for the table for the other babes, and Daddy who works hard to provide.

Ahhh. God is good. I am constantly in awe, just amazed at how quickly time flies, and how they grow up in just the blink of an eye.

God bless Alice, my oldest and Anne my wee littlest (11 years between them)...and the special bond they share.

reflection and reconciliation

I don't always get it. Seriously. I just don't.
Sometimes (often times) I read a scripture passage, or nice reflection and when I'm thru, all I've got is "blah blah blah...blah blah...somethin' somethin'...blah blah blah."

That was the case this morning, when I flipped to the next card in my daily reflections. I read it, and seriously thought..."pass." Can I draw the next card? It just didn't click. No "aha, yes. Exactly" feelings today. Not gonna blog about that.

And then I went to confession tonight. The 6 oldest kids and myself...only slight moaning and wailing when I asked them to sit at the kitchen table for a few minutes and think about what's keeping them from Jesus. "What have you done that NEEDS forgiving?"
"Quick! You have just 2 minutes, we're running late!" (typical...no pressure.)

Anyhow.

As we sat in church listening to the Gospel, and Fr. Rick's homily reflection, and sang together such beautiful songs as "Hosea (Come Back to Me)" and "Turn to the Living God," the verse I'd read earlier today suddenly seemed clear...made perfect sense.

"His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
~Lamentations 3:22-23


Great is His mercy and kindness to me, a sinner. I am humbled by his love and faithfulness. Reconciliation offers me the gift of newness. The opportunity to cleanse my soul...recognizing all along that the price of my sins has already been paid by His death on the cross. His suffering...my salvation.
Thank you God! All praise and glory to you.

pray & listen.

"My sheep hear my voice...I give them eternal life, and they will never parish."
~John 10:27-28



I was talking with my second grade class the other day as we were preparing for our special liturgy. Each of the kids had special jobs...readings, general intercessions, responsorial psalms, bringing up offertory, etc. There are 17 kids in my class, and making sure each person had a part was critical, and challenging to say the least. I had planned to have 2 of the kids carry in a banner during the procession, but ran short on time and ideas for what it should say and how we would make it. Anyways...long story short...I was telling the kids how I prayed about it, and "God told me to use a poster we'd created earlier in the year instead." (very cool puzzle-piece poster that shows how we're all connected/one in the Eucharist).
One little girl seemed amazed and spoke out, "God talked to you?! He never talks to me!"
It was a great little opportunity to share how God talks with each of us, we just have to practice listening.
That's how conversation works...we talk, and then we take a break to listen. All the kids promised to try it sometime. (lol.)

Anyhow. Today's reflection verse made me think of that conversation again. Sometimes I need to practice better listening too. Cause God is reminding me that I (and you, all of us) can hear his voice. He wants good things for us, and can help us to make right decisions in our life...decisions and choices that will lead us toward that promise of eternal life. We just have to breathe, take a break from doing all the talking, and listen.

lamb days.

This March has "lamb days" unlike any other March I can remember...gorgeous 70 and 80 degrees weather this past week. Crazy! Kids are eating popsicles, playing outside in the water, picnicing in the backyard...we're lovin' this March Madness!


Look carefully...Frank didn't want to be in this next picture...but he's there. (Like a "Where's Waldo" puzzle, see if you can find him)

more reflecting

Today's reminder (from my daily reflection cards)...

"You shall be my people, and I will be your God."
~Jeremiah 30:22


I needed this reminder today. Boy, did I ever.
I mean, as good Christians...it's easy to know that obviously, we don't worship any other gods, right?! I'm sure there's only one. And I know he's kind and merciful and steadfast...and all that good stuff. Got it.
Buuuuuut... (there's always a but,) how is it that I should worry and be anxious about so many things of this world then? Why am I so wrapped up in things and stuff and perceptions? What am I giving most of my attention to these days?
I am his...you are his. We are his people. His peeps. Chosen, created, recipients of his mercy and love.
He is my God...your God. No other thing, or person, or activity, or superhero of our time, or any time for that matter can fill the God-shaped hole in each of our hearts. No other thing. Nothing. (Forget the things Jamie.)
I hear Him whispering, "Turn your focus Jamie, to Me. I'm where it's at. The rest...well it's not really yours to worry about, is it. Fah-get about it!"

reflection

The generous spirits over at Holy Rosary left me with a lovely deck of "reflection" cards...have them in my window sill, and I change them out daily.
Thought I'd share with you as well. (Who am I to be hog-ish?)


Be still, and know that I am God.
~psalm 46:10



I'm reading this as..."just cool it Jamie! Stop talking/asking questions/blabbing...and just listen. And trust. God's got my back."

How's it striking you?

last of the season.

I joked with the kids Saturday evening that I hoped they were enjoying the warm evening, and campfire in the backyard, and running-in-the-dark games...it would be there "last of the season."

"Huh?" They all looked at me like I was nuttier than usual. Baffled.

"True." I said. "Last campfire of the winter season." They all sighed in relief and kept on running and carrying on.

Seriously! Can you believe it's still winter?! At least through today. And they're calling for temperatures in the 80's here for the first day of spring. Seriously?!

Oh, what an amazing treat in the middle of March...flowers blooming, trees budding, playing and picnicing outdoors...wearing shorts. Just wonderful!

We really did make the most of the weekend warm weather...
On Friday evening, I had the opportunity to speak to a women's group over at Holy Rosary in St. Marys...lovely group of women...all of them! We shared an evening retreat and reflection. Very good for the soul. While I was out, John and the kids visited the Tastee...for the season's first ice cream cones and slushies. Everyone happy.
Saturday was a day spent working outdoors doing odd jobs around the yard/house, and kids playing. We capped off the day with a campfire in the back yard...of course we had 'smores! And the kids played tag, and German Spotlight, and all sorts of running/hiding/noisey games in the dark. FUN!
Sunday Mass, a nice lunch and then the kids and I took off for the St. Patty's parade in St. Henry. We brought home green beads, and tons of candy, and t-shirts, and cups...and kazoos! Yes, kazoos...lots of them!
What could be better?! (Funny you should ask...)
Our renovation of the apartment is complete! WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
Contractors are gone. Painting, and trimwork, and carpeting are complete. The rooms are furnished...all except for blinds and curtains...which should be in place by the end of the week.

Ahhhh....we are all indeed feeling very blessed to have this new, incredible family space...open so that we can all be together, without being on top of each other. Truly amazing. Truly we are blessed.

Pictures to come in the next post...

bating the trap

The kids were on a mission to capture some leprechauns last night. With a box, and sticks, and all sorts of sparkly things to intrigue the sneaky petes. It was fun to watch them work together to build such an elaborate trap. Where do they think of this stuff?!

Actually, I think their teachers may have put them up to it...talking about all the pranks Leprechauns like to play. So our kids were out to capture a few before they pranked us!

Turns out the last laugh was still on us...as they seemed to party in the box all night long...leaving behind sparkly green beads, and party hats, and tiaras, and "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" pins. And they did manage a few pranks even...turning kitchen chairs upside down, and leaving the family room in disarray. Drats! They got away.

(and fortunately for me, no one was any the wiser that these are the exact same party things those darn leprechauns left behind last year. Hee. Hee.)

St. Patrick pray for us!

life is just a bowl of onions.

I wasn't going to share, for fear of sounding like a nutcake...but my secret is out. Several people have asked why I have onions sitting around the house lately...so I'll explain.

(and I'm knocking on 3 kinds of wood as I type...tricky, I know.)

We've had a pretty healthy winter here. (gulp.) Yes, I just typed that. (more knocking.)

We had our usual hit of stomach virus, followed by a devastating round of high fevers and coughs...nearly a whole month of illness back in November though. And in a depserate willingness to try anything from getting sick again, I took mom's advice...and filled our house with white onions. And we haven't been sick since. Seriously. Last week, a few of the kids had runny noses...but that's it.

I don't know if it's just good luck, or the fact that we had everything early, and our immunity is stronger...I don't know. There's been a TON of illness this season, and we've so far managed to avoid it. (still knocking.)

Mom read in an e-mail from her cousin (who's used this method for years, and swears by it) that if you keep whole white onions in your rooms, they help to absorb/or somehow rid your home of germs. ?? I don't know, really?? Well, after our month of yuckiness in November, she promptly brought over a bag of onions, and dispersed them throughout the house...one in each of the bedrooms, and one in the kitchen...placed in a bowl on a shelf...out in the open, but out of plain sight. And voila. I noticed in January some of them were starting to get soft spots, so I replaced all of them with fresh. For the cost of a bag of onions...it seems worth a try.
Mom placed onions throughout her house as well, and it's the first winter she and dad have made it through without illness in awhile as well...although, we're usually the ones to pass it to them, so I don't know?

Anyhow. Have any of you ever heard of such nonsense? Or do you have some other nutty remedy you've been holding out on us? I've never googled it to see if there's any medical truth to it...but so far (still knocking) it's working for us, and I'll certainly give it a try again next fall (especially near Thankgiving, which seems to be when we're most vulnerable!)

Let me hear back from you on this...

Edited to add: my brother/sister-in-law just e-mailed me to "debunk" this myth. Snopes says it's just not true. Well darnit, anyhow. And I thought it was workin' for us;)

to recap

All little girls have freshly painted nails...fingers and toes. And thanks to the amazing weather, and some serious outdoor play, are already in need of new mani's and pedi's tomorrow.

I managed to get all 9 beds completely stripped and washed, and hung out on the lines. The breeze (gusts rather) dried them in no time flat. Gave the old clothes lines here a real breaking in...that is to say we broke 2 lines thanks to the heavy damp comforters hanging on for dear life.

I am seriously considering sewing name labels on my sheets for another day like today...nearly had to chase them into the neighbors yard a handful of times.

Oh, they smell so wonderful and fresh as all the kids trekked up to bed tonight. Nothing better than a whole room filled with the smell of fresh-air/clean sheets...makes the fact that I'm a day behind on my usual laundry a little less frustrating...and certainly worth it.

With school out today, we had friends coming and going. Bike rides, walks to the park, scootering and roller-blading galore. A handful of the kids and friends tried their hands at making home-made slushies (like making homemade icecream with ice and rock-salt.) It worked pretty slick, and they had fun tossing the ziploc bag concoctions back and forth in the yard to keep them shaking/freezing.

Workers were here installing flooring in our new bathroom which means, we are nearing the end of this reno project. Tomorrow we expect cabinets/sink to be set, doors and trim to go up, and by next week, we should be complete. DONE. I can't believe it!

I was ready to fall into my fresh sheets early tonight, till young John reminded me it's his turn for school snacks tomorrow. Darnit, I need to check the calendar more frequently. So here I sit, typing as I wait for the next sheet of cookies to come out of the oven. I look across the kitchen island at dear husband, keeping me company as he attempts to read the day's paper (head bobbing, and eyes closed).

Ahhh. Life is wonderfully full, and good, and exhausting for us all here.

Prayers to the angels...that they just may have to help me finish my prayers, afraid I'll be fast asleep before I'm thru...

g'night all.

waiver day.

I have no clue what exactly "waiver day" is. Our school seems to be the only one around with a day off. Like all good things though, I won't question...I'll just enjoy.

My kitchen smells like oatmeal and brown sugar, mixed with nail polish and remover. There's some serious make-over business happening. (I should get in line.)

Boys are busy with cardboard boxes in the family room thanks to a delivery of light fixtures.

First set of sheets on the line, and they haven't blown across the neighborhood...yet.

It looks to be shaping into a beautiful day.

movin' on.

Sometimes I don't even realize how all-full-of-myself I get.
God knows. And he lets me off fairly easy.

Recently I was struggling with a matter of forgiveness. I prayed about it for many months, talked with my husband about how to handle things...did all the right stuff to try to forgive someone their business. I wanted to be able to love this person in spite of/in light of their wrong choices...to forgive them, and still remain friends. Even though their wrong choices had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with me. I just knew the wrongness was there in the past, and I wanted to be "bigger" than all that. More "Christ-like."

This is where God laughed, (and proceeded to thump me over my thick skull with the flashlight I was holding up for everyone to believe it was really a Christ-light.)

You see God sat me down, and said this...

Thus says the LORD:
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!

You see, what our merciful Lord helped me to realize, was that I just needed to get over myself. That in fact, His love won. His forgiveness was given. He showed me that while I was so busy focusing on things of the past, I failed to recognize how incredibly hard this person had worked to move beyond it. She had made right with Him, and came out beautifully and rightfully cleansed in His love. And while I was thinking I needed to extend my hand...to help...to forgive...I totally missed the fact that she was there, hand extended pulling me out of my "hole" of sinful pride. God placed her in my life because I needed her help, not necessarily the other way around. Get over yourself already Jamie Catherine. Learn from the love and strength and courage of others...and know that we are all sinful. Find peace in the knowledge that through his suffering and death, I am forgiven too.
We are indeed in this together...we are the body of Christ. We are His hands, pulling each other out, raising each other up.
Thank you Lord for your gift of forgiveness, and for allowing me to see through your eyes...that we are all beautifully, perfectly made in your likeness.

silly me

"...I've been so lonely on my saddle since my horse died."
~something silly and random my goofy hubby used to sing...just for a laugh.


I'm feeling quite silly about things here on the blog. It seemed, well lonely...I was missing your feedback, and thinking that you all gave up on me....even after I posted about needing you all!
(poooor me.....)

And then I forgot to remember, that a few weeks back I turned on something called "comment moderation" to help cut out the spam and advertisements in the comment box. And in my forgetfulness and anti-spam angst, I didn't realize that you were there, leaving messages, and I didn't know I was supposed to check for them somewhere...to moderate all those comments. ALL 43 of them waiting for me patiently in blog-space somewhere. Just waiting on me...and whistling...and waiting.
And today, my mom tried to leave a comment and called me up and said..."Jamie, somethin's not right with your blog...you better check it out!" And so I did (cause I'm obedient that way.) And there you were...hands all reached out, commenting your little hearts out.
And I was oblivious.

And now I read all 43 of them, and I'm so not alone...just feeling silly for feeling that way.

Love you all!
And thank you for your patience with me as I continue to muddle through this computery stuff.

I turned comment moderation off. It's easier and more enjoyable to delete spam, than to feel like you're not out there.

Comment away...

Warmer weather means our kids spend as much time outside as possible...dragging every toy and plaything out of the garage with them. Seriously...EV.RY.THING! They'll dump out buckets and bins, tie jump-ropes to anything that sits still long enough, and arrange all sorts of garagey items out on the patio and picnic table playing all sorts of heaven-knows-what. I love it...LOVE that they're using their noggins for a little imaginative play.

I had to laugh outloud though when I peared out the kitchen window to check up on them, and found this...our blessed Mother was apparently in on their shananigans.

HA! (Yes, that's a spiderman rod-n-reel she's toting.)

Only during Lent...
Our Lady of the Fish-Fry, pray for us.

more of Frank's genius

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
~unknown

Teach a man to squeegie the shower doors, and you've got one happy mama.
(You can quote me on that.)

Mama loves you Frankie-boy!

diaper bags.

I always felt that carrying a diaper bag on my shoulder made me feel...well, younger. Despite the fact that I'm pushing 40 this year, somehow a diaper bag helped me relate to those new mommas...first-timer, 20 somethings. Never mind that I have 10 others out of diapers by now. Still. Diaper bag in my mind helps me feel well, younger.
Younger that is, until I'm toting it (and all 11 kids) to my 12 year old's rockin girl-band concert ("Chatterbox" LIVE on stage at the New Bremen bowling alley!)

It felt wrong to walk out the door with all the kids in tow and say "Alice, don't forget your guitar. John, I've got the diaper bag."

My first "rock concert" with a diaper bag. Seriously. Crazy. And feelin well, old.

This is NOT how we geared up for Van Halen in the early 90's.


Here's Alice and her band-mates prior to taking the stage...
And the girls rockin' the house...

Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

(a little post-Ashes humor.)

Today little Annie broke thru the plastic barrier that is separating our kitchen from the drywall mud/dust renovation beyond. She delighted in the fact that I hollared out her name, and giggled over her shoulder at me as I proceeded to make chase. I caught her seconds too late...just after she dove into the piles of dust and proceeded to make dust-angels on her belly. She laughed outloud then as she rolled over onto her back with a toe-point and an arched back...quite pleased with her efforts. I couldn't help but laugh out loud too...until she started licking the dust off the floor making a paste on her tongue. Ewwww....

I should have just taken her to mass with us for ashes on her forehead.

Seriously Anne.

date night.

John and I managed to sneak out of the house unattended last evening. What a rare treat. Times are changing, and kids are growing so that we're able to get out for brief intervals for things that require the both of us. (We rarely go on "dates," these brief outings are usually matters of practicality.)
This time was no different. The school kids had all attended mass in the morning with their classmates, leaving John and I the only ones needing to get to church yet. We left a few minutes early and stopped by our local decorating store to choose flooring for the "apartment" as well. (*Side note: we're not sure if/when we'll ever stop calling that new space "the apartment." Hopefully someday it will be "family room"...but not yet...it doesn't sound right, yet.)
Anyhow, in just 20 minutes we had linoleum and carpeting chosen, thanks to a really great saleslady who showed us just the right stuff...durable, stain-resistant, and in the perfect shade of "dirt." Oh, and budget-friendly. Sweet. Sign us up.

We made it to mass just in time to find a seat...the place was packed. Awesome!

What a gift it is to attend mass as a couple. Truly a gift. Don't get me wrong...I love when our entire family sits together, over-filling an entire pew...all of us present for the Lord. But sitting with John, just the two of us...well, it's a beautiful reminder of how it all started. I couldn't help but think of our early years when we were dating, and first married, and had all sorts of dreams and plans and hopes mapped out for our future. And we'd bring them to God in prayer. And here we were, holding hands at mass again...just the two of us...no eye-rolling, or pinching or flicking or asking "how many more songs?" or climbing over pews (Johns's so well behaved when the kids aren't around.) This time with the knowledge and understanding of God's total love, and mercy, and providence. And how when we make room for him as the center of our marriage covenant, at the center of our families, first in our hearts...everything else falls into line. Maybe not as we'd mapped out...but certainly far greater than anything we could have hoped for. All is good and right.
It was a perfect way to start Lent I think. With that reminder to keep Christ at the center. To take time to look away for a moment at what we think we want/need, and reflect and listen to what Christ may be calling us to...first and foremost a closer relationship with Him.

A perfect date-night indeed.

Oh, and I'm pretty stoked about the new flooring too. It could be installed as early as next week already!! Woohooo! God is gooooood.

Ashes, Ashes.

We all fall down...this time, in prayer.
I was pleasantly surprised when some of the kids asked if we could restart family rosary times for Lent. Awesome! (and here, I thought they HATED family rosary...what with the occasional eye-rolling and moaning, it was hard to tell.)

But they asked, and so they shall recieve. Wednesdays and Sundays-family rosary. Fridays-Way of the Cross.


Anyways, as always, my kids never cease to amaze/inspire me. When I just stop for a minute thinking I got it all figured out, and listen to their little-God-like voices.
Just get over yourself Jamie.

It's a new day...

I've posted this before, but I still love it's simple reminder of self-transformation at Lent...and always...

Fast from judging others; feast on Christ in them.
Fast from wanting
more; feast on being thankful.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on enjoyment.
Fast from negatives; feast on postitives.
Fast from stress; feast on
prayer.
Fast from anger; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from fear; feast on truth
Fast from
discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from gossip; feast on silence.
Fast
from fighting; feast on peace.
Amen
~Adapted from a Lenten prayer by
William Arthur Ward in Take Out, Family Faith on the Go

Fat Tuesday

We're contemplating the journey called Lent, here.

That is, we're eating cake, and watching tv, and sucking up all the things we plan to do without for the next 40 days. It's like a last-minute "fix" before the long haul.

Tomorrow over breakfast we'll pen a list of final Lenten promises. Not so much to dwell in it, but so that I can keep track...of who can eat today's leftover chocolate cake, and who can have computer time, etc. Far be it for me to tempt anyone into failure. Heaven's no.

The kids asked me this evening what I'm "giving up." I'm still not sure. God seems to be telling me to give up "holding in." I've been a bottled up mess of thoughts and stories and ideas...revelations and opportunities, and all sorts of just "stuff" filling up my head. I've been very restless lately, and feeling too busy to do any sort of writing. But these last days, it's as if I can't hold it in anymore, and God seems to be telling me just to let it go.
So one of my Lenten commitments is to quit holding back. To write every day, even if it seems trivial. I feel a physical~spiritual connectedness to each one of you...we need each other...that is, I need you all. God knows it, and he's encouraging me to reach out...to accept each of you, individually and as a whole, and the outstretched hand you offer each time you check in to read about my little corner of the world. He reminds me that none of us are in this alone. None of us are perfect. None of us are meant to be super-woman, super-mom, super-anything. Just meant to be faithful. And to hold each other up.
So to start these 40 days, I commit to be faithful. To continue to write. To share and to know that you're out there, lifting me up.
God is so good.
Prayers being offered that we may all have a transformative Lent...one that brings each of us closer to Jesus and the supreme love He has for each one of us.


And God was speaking outloud through little John tonight. We were discussing ways he could earn money to donate to the kids' Parish Lenten Mission project. Monies are being collected to help some Precious Blood Priests in Chicago who have set up a safe house for kids there. They're trying to raise money for a van to help transport kids safely through the bad neighborhoods.
Anyhow, John mumbled..."Mom, I"m gonna find ways to surprise you over these next 40 days...to earn the money. It would just be awesome to get enough so they could buy 2 vans!"

Yes, John. It would be awesome. And that's exactly how God must think...full of surprises, and better than we could expect/imagine.

Blessings to you all this Lenten season.

What the world needs now...

is love, sweet love.


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Happy Valentines Day!

you can imagine their surprise

Scissors and Sharpie markers...two things that are pretty much under lock and key here. Or at least require a signed permission slip and 2 forms of i.d.

There have been too many near misses...haircuts, marked furniture, injury, etc.

You can imagine their surprise then, when I handed over a whole box of Sharpies and crayons and told them to "have at it."

The kitchen wall was a free-for-all.

And they handled it beautifully.

Couldn't be prouder of their team work to pull this off...






Two more days till this wall disappears forever...

I love Dory.

"just keep swimmin, just keep swimmin, swimmin, swimmin."

It's my montra these days.

In this crazy sea of every-day-life, where the rivers of home renovations and prior commitments converge...I'll just keep swimmin.
Today I find myself wearing yoga pants that I slept in last night. Splash of deoderant, a clean shirt and some water to tame the bed-head and I'm good. It's the best I can muster this morning...day three of work-crews here by 7:30 am. Seriously 7:30. I'm usually in pj's well past 10. I need to focus my energy to answer such daunting questions as "Mom, where's my Ninjago-Lego dude?" and "Mom, can I have gum?" (before breakfast?!) Those are the easy ones...the questions my brain has been fielding for a dozen years now. There are new questions these days though...stumpers...questions that have me scratching my head in wonder...like, "How many recessed lights would you like in the family room?" and "Where would you like the switches for those?" or "What color vanity top would you like in your bathroom?" Seriouly...I went through a whole box of marble chip samples only to learn that NONE of them have mint green flecks?! How is this progress?! Nobody's thought to create a bathroom vanity that camoflauges toothpaste spittings?! Oi. Guess we'll go with beige. Whatever. As for switches...a single master switch near my bed would be fine...ON in the morning, OFF at night. Really...nobody else bothers with turning lights off in this house anyway...it looks like a party in every room at least 10 hours of every day.
These questions should not be difficult. Really. But they are. Just more wonderful things to think about at night as I lie in bed trying to solve the problems of my little world. Not really problems at all when I remember to thank God for these blessings, and realize just how truly good he's been to us here. No room for complaints, or concerns. It will all come together in the end, I know.
Truth is, it's quite exciting...VERY exciting to see the progress at the end of each day. Also exciting to realize I likely won't clean house for several weeks...it's just not worth trying to keep up with all that dust. No house-cleaning=more play time, more reading time, more puzzle time, more time to find that darn Ninjago-Lego dude, and fold that crazy laundry. Yes. Life goes on.
And I'll just keep swimmin.

sweat equity

Even the kids found ways to contribute to this project.

Our (former apartment) new family room remodel:

Phase 1: Demo. (check.)

We spent this past weekend readying the space by clearing it of everything. No more carpet, no more cabinets, or appliances, or plumbing fixtures. Shoot...no more walls, no more ceiling tiles. Even the electrical wires were pulled to make way for a completely new open floor plan...an extension of our kitchen, an added bathroom, and a family great room.

My dad and brother along with John did the largest part of the labor, but the older kids sure did their share as well. Alice, Emma and Sam helped with hammers, and hauling, and even hours on step ladders pulling the staples left overhead after the ceiling tiles were stripped away. I was never more proud of their hard work.

In another week or so, contracters will be coming in to remove a couple walls between our kitchen and this unused space...and the room will blossom from there.

I've not decided if I'll post pictures as the work progresses or just tease you with a couple "before" shots, and a final "after"...and then backtrack. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Here are Lucy, Mary & Grace showing the kitchen wall "before." That wooden door down the hallway on the right is currently our only access to the apartment space. For now.
Here Alice and Grace are dodging dust and debris in the completely gutted apartment space. In this photo, I'm standing on the backside of the wall I just showed looking across the space, toward the street. Things will look different very soon. (and I couldn't be more tickled.)

random acts of kindness

The weekend brought snow to these parts. Unfortunately, the rain that came through last night washed it all away just as quickly. While it was here though, we made the most of it. The kids spent a large part of Saturday outdoors building forts, clearing sidewalks, engaging in snowball battles, and the best...building a snow family in our front yard for all the passers-by to see. It took them the whole day, in shifts, to develop the ideas and finally build each member...dad, mom, a child playing in a pile of snowballs, even a snow-puppy whose tail wags in the breeze. Very cute indeed. All the while, those "on break" warming indoors to hot cocoa (coffee for me) would supervise from the snuggly comfort of the couch in the front window. It was great. A real team effort. Well, except for me and Anne. We just kept hot cocoa on the stove, and enjoyed the mostly quiet afternoon. (Laundry kept me plenty busy during her nap time.)

Dark came too soon, and I had to beg them all inside, assuring them there would be snow left on Sunday for another day of play.
Just as the last ones stripped off their snow clothes and settled inside, waiting out supper...the doorbell rang. None of us recognized the kind stranger at the door (I apologize if I should have...I'm terrible that way.)
Turns out, someone driving by saw the kids hard at work finishing the snow-family, and enjoyed the view. Enjoyed it enough in fact to be moved to stop by the grocery and pick us up a little treat. This kind lady on our front stoop, thanked the kiddos for their hard work, and handed over a grocery bag of 'smores fixins. Just like that. Random kindness.

I thanked her as she walked away, with a "thank you" that seemed way to insignificant for the trouble she'd just gone to. Sometimes I get so caught up in myself, and my little world to forget how simple, and powerful a little kindness can be. AWESOME! And the coolest is that the kids really got it...they couldn't say enough about the "cool" lady that stopped by.

In fact at dinner later (the one none of the kids ate much of, cause they were too full of 'smores and hot cocoa...and I was cool with that) we went around the table sharing the day's "Best" (an opportunity for everyone to speak about the best thing that happened that day) They were all in agreement that the BEST thing was that a total stranger would do something so nice. Me too. That is the BEST. And such a simple lesson for us all (especially me) about doing little things with love...and how it leaves us better for it...the giver and the reciever. So cool.

That kind lady with 'smores...she was God's hand in that moment.
And God is good (and apparently enjoys snowfamilies, and teamwork too.)
Thank you for reaching out to us in such a fun unexpected way.

Here's our snow family reaching out their hands in a friendly hello, and "thank you!"

ancient chinese secrets...debunked

A few of us ordered Chinese take-out Sunday night. (Yummm. HUGE treat.) Only a few of the older ones care for it, so it's a relatively inexpensive meal, while the younger ones nibble on baked chicken nuggets or some other "favorite" from home.

Anyhow, Rose opened one of the fortune cookies and asked me to read...

"Ignorance never settles a question."

Charlie was quick with a "What the heck does that mean?" and before I could muster some nonsense response (cause I really had no clue,) Rose saved me.

"It means, that's a DUMB fortune."

There. Settled.
Confusious might say that's one genious 5 year old. I'd agree.

obedience

It's my word.

Pam over at Roamin Catholic Mom challenged her blog readers to find their "word" for the New Year...a montra, or theme, or thought to ponder/consider. Sort of resolution word.

Mine's easy. Obedience. And already being challenged. Big time.

You see, I've been praying since early December for some clarity in the New Year. Clarity to hear God's call, to recognize it, and more importantly to answer with a resounding "Yes." His joy being my strength and all, I want to please Him. And in doing so, recognize that if He's happy, I'm happy and back and forth. Sounds simple enough, right?

Till he comes calling...

And then I want to say..."is that really you, Lord? Or just a wrong-number? Cause, this doesn't sound like something you really want me to say yes to. Does it? Or does it. Oh Lord, how bout Maybe. Are you okay with maybe? Or how bout Next time. Or Not this thing, but the next thing, I'll for sure say yes then. I promise. Seriously. This doesn't seem like my thing...

Obedience. Ugggh. I stink at that.

The readings all last week weren't much help, either. (Thanks a lot God! You know how to nudge my heart just so, don't ya. Darnit.)

This song at mass on Sunday put me over the edge...oh, He's gooooood.


The Summons

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

So after a lot of ignoring, and him-hawing, and procrastinating, I gave a reluctant Yes. And now, giggling a little bit, cause hubby's involved in this too. We were asked to speak as a couple at an upcoming marriage retreat. He's reluctant too, but we both commented after mass Sunday that God's pretty clear about what he wants.
Somehow it seems easier to speak about the whole mom and chaos and kids topic, but sharing about our marriage, well...that's a whole 'nother ballgame.
One that's sure to inspire some good conversation and reflection as a couple as we prepare.
Shoot. Maybe that's okay.
Maybe, well maybe the Good Lord knows what he's up to afterall.

Speak Lord, I'm listening. I want to do your will...not? Yes, Jamie. Yes you do.

and his droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

Droll...d-r-o-l-e...(ding) That is incorrect.

The book she's had memorized word for word since the age of three ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)...and it was a simple, strange word that caught her up in the fifth round of the school spelling bee.

Darnit.

What the heck does "droll" mean, anyway?! It means she won't be going on the the county bee.

Still incredibly proud Emma! Way to represent!

Frank-the story teller.

I'd be a lying fool to tell you that our kids don't fight and bicker and argue and annoy the heck out of each other...often. They are brothers and sisters after all. One of my biggest pet peaves right now is the way any two of them can go on forever with Nuh-uh, yuh-huh, Nuh-uh, Yuh-huh business. Seriously! Someone just end it already!

But a weeks' worth of those drive-me-nuts--God-grant-me-patience--we-can-get-thru-this-together--Mom's-gonna-lose-it! moments, can be cancelled out with a single moment like this...
Frank barreled down the stairs the other morning, just as the older kids were gearing up for their walk to school. He was all fired up and excited about the dream he'd just awoken from, and wanted to share the good news that he'd "won first prize in a contest for a brand new Nerf Stampede ECS" (the coolest in Nerf's arsenal). He's been wanting one for awhile, and was so ecstatic by his dream, that even though he seemed aware it was only a dream, the joy it gave him was enough to last the whole day. And the big kids recognized this, and dropped everything while they gathered around to hear his story. It was awesome. I couldn't have begged them to do something this kind...but sometimes they just get it. They get the joy, and the need for attention, and know how to pull together when they should. Totally awesome. All eyes on Frank as he recalled his First Prize dream.
Made my little heart all warm and fuzzy and full again...seriously...yuh-huh!

Thank you God for these moments...to get me thru the others.

Christmas Wrap

--of birthday bashes, christmas chaos, and seasons smooching. Yes, I mean mistletoe!
I love Christmas! I enjoy advent, and the waiting & anticipating, and surprise planning, and sneaky-wrapping, and all that comes with the prep-work. But I LOVE Christmas! The big show. I love the family time, and the laughter, and the letting loose after weeks of well, hard-work, and the food, and the family time, and the laughter, and the music, and silliness, and even whiney kids all hopped up on too much chocolate and sugar, and even POP! Yes, Christmas means the older kids get soda. Wooohoooo!
I love that at our house Christmas lasts a full 12 days...and sometimes longer. Seriously. It's just that good. And by the time that first day of school rolls back around, it's darn hard to crawl out of bed. But being back in some sort of routine is good for us too. Sort of. Okay, yes it's good.
Anyways, since I've really slacked at telling you all about our 12 days of Christmas I thought I'd summarize with a few pics and thoughts.

Of course there are birthdays to celebrate. (Jesus...obviously.)

But then we've got a few here too.

Like Lucy... (okay, she's before Christmas, but I need to give her equal time)


And Sam, who turned 11 on the 28th. (that's 3 11-year-olds in the house now)
And me. 29 on the 29th! (my lucky year) Of course no cake or pictures. But Emma did make brownies, and I got the best birthday party EVER. Even my kids would agree.

Oh, and January 6th...baby Grace turned NINE! Oh my. Not baby Grace anymore.
Yes that's an ice-cream cake...cause by this time of year, I'm over birthday-cake-baking.

Next week (the 16th) my oldest pair, Alice and Emma will turn 12. And then we've got a break from birthdays until February 11...when we clebrate the gifts of John and Mary. Whew!

Okay...so moving on. As if Christ isn't enough reason to celebrate.

We also spent a few days hanging out with cousins over the Christmas break. Moms and dads visiting, and laughing, and eating, and story-telling (occasionally sitting in on a random card game or tiny tea-party, or joining in an impromtu karaoke show in the "quiet" room. Ha!) All the while kids doing what kids do best...playing hard...making memories with cousins...playing hide-n-seek, and games, and Nerf wars, and dance/karaoke parties, and even a sleep-over. (That was on my birthday!) Yes, we had 23 people sleeping under this roof for my birthday...only 3 adults and the other 20 ranging from ages 1-14. It was totally AWESOME!!! And, I should mention, that when I woke up the next morning to a quiet house, and sipped my coffee in the sitting room, no one ever would have guessed there were that many people sleeping in! I felt so incredibly blessed in those moments. For our family, immediate & extended, and for our home, and for all the goodness God brings into our lives. My heart was full. (and luckily so was my fridge!) They all woke up hungry, and I was tickled to death welcome them all around the table.

My niece and her long-time beau got engaged for Christmas! More celebrating! They live in Knoxville, TN. Although he is a native Canadian..."french Canadian!" my kids are quick to tell everyone. They spent Christmas with his family in Montreal, and then joined us after the first of the year for a couple days to visit, and what else? celebrate! More card-games, and laughter, and family times, and of course good food! We could listen to J.F. talk all night with his french accent...we're simple that way. I think he could be telling us that we have bad breath, and stinky feet and it would still sound beautiful. The kids love asking him to translate everything into french. Pretty sure he was ready to hit the road after a couple days...though they've visited before, and they've managed to stay together. Our family is a test for relationships that way...he still seems anxious to get married, and wants kids. We think he's a keeper! Conratulations Jenna!

Anne was a treasure this Christmas...at that stage where real joy comes in the paper and boxes. And most of her time at parties was spent doing just that. Running through the paper and squealing with delight. (or mooching for treats at the food table...she was on a 12 day sugar buzz I'm sure!) I tried desperately to pin her down for photos...I stink at that...here's what I got...

Yep. Dear Santa...next year I'd love a camera that doesn't have a 9 minute delay...I'm just sayin'
I'll try to be good.

Well...mostly good.

Can't be good all the time...not with this around...

Merry Kiss-mas! (I mean...Merry Christmas everyone!)

Ozzy.

Not this one...

But this one...



A few Christmas' back, I spotted this adorable little Elf on the clearance sales at our local Hallmark store. I fell in love instantly. Not because I read the box, and understood that this was a "magical" scout elf from the North Pole. No. Definitely NO! If I'd read the box, I might have put it back on the shelf. I fell in love for purely nostalgic reasons...my grandparents had one exactly like him that they hung over the doorway to their kitchen every Christmas. Yes...Christmas at Grandma's...and Bing Crosby, and dancing, and card games, and hard tack candy and chocolates of every possible kind all spread out on colorful plastic trays on the coffee table...within kids reach. This elf brought the memories flooding back in...so I bought it immediately.
And then I got home and read the book...and the "strings attached." And at first it sounded fun. He arrives at our house each season with St. Nicholas (Dec. 6th) and leaves again with Santa on Christmas eve. In the meantime his job is to keep an eye on the kiddos and report back to Santa each night. (He's a flying, spying magical elf, you know.) After a night of flying north and back, he lands at the house, in a different location each morning for the kids to find him, and be mindful. (right.) Sometimes he plays pranks thru the night. Sometimes he likes where he's at and doesn't move for several nights (if mom forgets.)
Truly, some nights it's fun and silly, and makes me feel like a kid dreaming/scheming up little pranks or places for the kids to find him in the morning. But mostly, it's become one more thing that demands energy from me at the holidays...not good energy...not focused on Jesus-energy. And I forget sometimes to remember about Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's when I see him, cause I'm forcing myself to remember to just move the darn thing somewhere else before I go to bed.
Alice and Emma helped me with the scheming this year...and on his last night with us...before catching the sleighride with Santa...he threw us one wing-dinger of an Elf-surprise. He "elfed" our family room. Paper chains, tacky gold tinsel that we found in a bag of stuff from a house-warming prank years back, colored lights and paper snowflakes...a kids christmas wonderland. It was a fun farewell...

And it's more fun now that the older kids can help in the surprise and fun for the younger ones. But I have to say (scrooge that I am) I'm really looking forward to the year I can just pull him out of the box and set him in the doorway to my kitchen, and let my grandkids "remember" songs and dancing, and cardplaying, and christmas treats within easy reach...a silly elf bringing smiles and happy christmas memories of grandma and grandpa's house.

“These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky.”
~lyrics, "These are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

I borrowed these lyrics to paste into my Christmas letter this year. Simple words that manage to sum up my feelings for where we're at in life right now. One of my favorite songs from---shoot---many years ago, that somehow made their way back into my head recently.

We kicked off our days of Christmas on the Eve. We all (minus little Anne, who preferred to nap at Grandma & Grandpa's) attended 4:00 Children's Mass at our parish. Eight of our kids had "jobs" to do, ranging from singing in the choir (3 oldest girls) to dressing up in the Nativity play...4 Angels and a Dove to be exact. Sam and Lucy were the only ones in the pew with us, which somehow made me feel older, and lonelier...it was a strange mix of feelings at the realization that the day will come when there will be no little climbing toddlers or crying babies at Mass with us anymore. I didn't know whether to cheer or cry. I kinda missed the climbing babble...kinda.

Anyhow, it was a beautiful Mass, and I particulary enjoyed visiting the Manger scene afterwards with the kids and pointing out the various "players" (statues) in the real story of Christmas.

Afterwards we celebrated at my parents for their traditional Christmas Eve get-together. My brother and family from Tennessee weren't able to make it, but we talked on the phone briefly, and celebrated both Christmas, and his 40th birthday in his absence. We whooped it up good.
Dad likes to come up with Trivia games for the kids...their answers are sometimes priceless. I can't recall them now, but I know we giggled more than a couple times at their simple words of wisdom. Too cute.
We exchanged gifts, and played games, and ate good foods, and just enjoyed spending happy times together; adults grateful for each others' presence, kids grateful for well, presents.

~Our traditional pose in front of the tree...just after mass before sweaters and "stuffy church clothes" are ripped off, and just before diving into the food goodies. Say CHEESE!

on the 10th day of christmas...

Wow! Has it been nearly 2 weeks again, since I've posted?!

I hate that.

I mean, I love that our days have been so full...good full. Each day blessed, like a new gift to unwrap. Truly these have been the richest days of Christmas I've ever experienced. Maybe it comes with age...or wisdom...an increased understanding of God's great love...maybe I just have my eyes (and heart) open. Who knows. It's been a wonderful Christmas season thus far, with more treasures to come. It's gonna take me several posts to unravel exactly how we've spent our time since I've last written (Christmas Adam, I believe.)

I'll start with something from this morning though...very random...and completely unrelated to Christmas at all. Can't help it, that's how my mind works...randomly.

As I was wiping down the windows and glass doors in the kitchen this morning...God laughed. And sent me a "helper."

Ewwww....gross boogies, and drool mixed with tears. Had to set down the windex and towels to clean her up, and just love on her for a bit. 'Tis the season for runny noses, and babies needing extra snuggly time.