Where to Begin?

Well, hello again!  It's good to be back! 

It's weird to look at the computer screen again after six weeks of....not looking.  But lent is over and Easter has come, ALLELUIA! 

The Lord has risen, he is risen indeed!

Where to begin...so much has happened, yet really not, when I think about it.  We're all still here, doing the same things we always do.  There have been a few big events however which have spiced up the ordinary days....Evelyn turning two, Annie turning seven, Thomas making his First Holy Communion,  Annie starting soccer and Thomas starting flag football, planting a garden, and of course celebrating Easter.

Thomas received his First Holy Communion on April 16.  It truly was a beautiful day.  I can't believe that we are already here...where our oldest is old enough to receive Jesus.  It feels just like yesterday that I was taking this chubby little thing to daily mass at St. Joseph's and having him fall asleep in my arms....

Evelyn turned TWO on April 6th.  TWO.

And Annie turned SEVEN on April 18th.

The Mustangs....Thomas' flag football team.

The Flames...Annie's soccer team.

Easter.  What a beautiful, most welcomed day Easter Sunday was.  It was a good, long, lent that made Easter truly a day to celebrate!  And we get to celebrate for 50 days!!!!

It's Time.

It's time for me to leave, for a while.  Leave the world of posts, crafty blogs, online shopping, creative idea gathering, emails, and momentary escape from my real world.  I'm giving up the computer for Lent. Lent begins tomorrow and lasts for the next forty-six days. Forty-six days of finding OTHER things to do with my time instead of spending it sitting in my black chair in front of the computer screen, which sadly takes up a lot of my time.  Lent is a time to deny ourselves.  Deny ourselves of the pleasures we too often take for granted.  I realize that I live a pretty cushy life.  I am not required to do many hard things in my day.  Get up out of my nice warm bed, pour myself  a cup of coffee, husband takes children to school, little ones play while I sit at the computer, get to spend fun time with the little ones, take a nap, drive a reliable vehicle to our wonderful school to pick up the older ones, pour a glass of wine while making a delicious meal, live in a beautiful home.....and the list can go on and on....and on.  In denying ourselves, we can grow closer to Christ.  Bottom line.  That's it.  That's all I want.  I want to know Christ again.  For Him to be my best friend.  To turn to Him with my anxiety, troubles, and joys.  I need to remember what silence is like.  To not have the TV on, or music from my blog on.  To go to bed earlier. To read the pile of books that have been waiting for me on my night stand.  To pray again.  Not just an Act of Contrition before falling into bed, but to spend time with Christ in prayer.  Listen to Him, He may just have something to tell me.  I want to truly rejoice on Easter Sunday knowing that I stuck with something that was hard, not for me, but for the glory of God. 

This and That

Someone has been sneaking tickets into his jar......

I love how George bakes.  He gets right in there to help

I wish I could explain how squeezy she was that day.  She was wearing super tight leggings which showed every roll she has to offer, and a tight t-shirt.  I had to hold myself back from squeezing her to death.

Asparagus man...

This fabulous meal was sweet and salty salmon on top of edamme succotash.  Say that five times.

Uh, gross.  I don't know which is worse, the picking of the nose or the green eggs and ham.....

sisters

We have been getting farm eggs again from the Andreasens.  We sure missed these beauties.

Don't disturb her, she's......stirring.

                                               Someone is taking dental hygiene too seriously.

Your Big Day

Dear Thomas, Today was a big day for you.  Life changing.  Today you were privileged to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.  The last sacrament you received was baptism, eight years ago.  I will never be able to put the words together to describe just how proud of you I am.  I was watching you get ready, all spiffed up in the new suit that you and pop went out to buy together, and my heart just welled up with such emotion.  For some reason, my mind jumped to years from now, watching you put your tux on before your wedding, or watching you put on your vestments before saying your first mass, should God call you to the priesthood.  And I got really sad.  Sad knowing that truly before I know it, that day will be here.  Then I practically shouted to myself out loud reminding me to savor the present moment.  You dress yourself exactly like pop does.  It amazes me to watch you.  You like to put on his cologne, you gel your hair exactly like he does (when you have hair), you even fixed your tie just like him and your hands look the same. 

 



I've had many friends tell me that I should be ready with my camera to take a picture of you when you come out of the Confessional.  They told me the pictures are some of their most treasured ones.  To see your face the moment after your first confession....You can bet I didn't want to miss that.  So, here you are.  After your confession, you went straight to the altar, knelt down and prayed your penance.  I was in the pews right behind you and just watched you, tears welling up in my eyes for you.  I was so happy.  I was so proud.  I couldn't believe how fast we got here.  To you being eight years old and making your first Confession.  Then, instead of going straight over to the table to get your clay heart, you came and knelt with me.  You gave me the one arm hug and the smile on your face was absolutely priceless.  You were so happy.  The first words from your mouth were, That was awesome!  Can I go again tomorrow?  Why do we lose that excitement as grown ups?  I want to learn from you. 

You chose to go out to Panera for lunch afterwards.  Good choice.  We were all so excited to celebrate with you!

Luke 2: 19  But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

I often think of this passage.  I think of it as I am carrying around my camera and my video camera, trying to record and capture every moment of life.  Mary had no camera, no video camera, no phone with a camera in it.  NOTHING.  She kept everything in her heart and pondered it.  Often, I 'm sure.  How could she not?  She was raising the son of God.  Surly His life was worth documenting with pictures, blog posts, and videos.  But no, instead Mary watched Him, raised Him and was present with Him.....thinking and pondering all things in her heart.

But I am grateful for capturing this day for you in pictures, in hopes that you will remember what a special day it was!  I will try to imitate Mary and ponder all these beautiful moments I get with you, in my heart.

Congratulations Thomas! 

Oh Dear...Look What We Found This Morning

Dear Evelyn, aka Bev

Come on.  Why are you not sleeping anymore?  Why do you think it's a good idea to scream in your crib during nap time instead of sleeping?  Don't you want to sleep?  Why are you thinking that getting up at 5 am is for you?  Yes, it was fun to go to the grocery store last Friday with you all bundled up and seeing your feet jammied legs dangle from the cart, but let's not make a habit of grocery shopping together at 5 am.  Please go back to your lovely predicted sleeping schedule of waking up at 8:00 in the morning, napping from 12:00-2:00 and then going to bed at 7:30.  It was good and it worked.