Weekend of Prayer

Well, I'm off to my parish's women's retreat—Be Filled—with Fr. James Livingston. Please keep me in prayer, as I certainly will pray for you.

This retreat could not have come at a more perfect time. Isn't that the way with God? His timing is perfect.

You see, this week has been heavy for me. Very heavy. My step-father is very sick with cancer. In the past two weeks, he has gotten worse and worse—rather quickly. He is off his chemotherapy, because he is too weak. Steroids aren't giving him energy. He is breathing with the help of oxygen. Why? What is happening? Up until today, there haven't been any answers to questions, and this has caused frustration, fear, doubt and sadness—trying to grasp any bit of understanding of this situation.

Today. Today, my step-dad and mom met with the doctor to get the results of some recent tests. Today, they (we) found out that there is a lot of cancer in his lung, which is sort of like a liquidy-pneumonia-filled tumor, which is causing the breathing difficulties. Today, we found out he only has 1-2 months to live.

It is a very emotional and shocking piece of news to receive, and I think I am still numb. At the same time, I am grateful that we finally know what we're facing. I am grateful that my step-dad has time to prepare to meet His Maker, and to be with my mom and other family members.

Please keep him in your prayers. Also, my mom, who is taking care of him, mostly on her own. And me, that I may have the grace and insight to know how to serve them, even though I'm thousands of miles away.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. — Galations 2:20

(This is the scripture passage for my retreat, but how it means so much more to me under these circumstances.)

If you have a specific prayer request you would like me to pray for over my retreat weekend, please leave a comment. (I will check just before I leave.) Otherwise, know that I will pray for you in general whatever the intentions may be in your heart.

Have a blessed weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

How long does it take 15-month-old twins to empty the entire Tupperware cabinet?

The Simple Woman's Daybook—February 16

For today ... Monday, February 16, 2009

Outside my window ... overcast, windy, cold

I am thinking ... about our plans for the upcoming Lenten season

I am thankful for ... my daughter's school—it's a small Catholic immersion school that we just love. The Faith is central to everything that is taught and done. It's an amazing place.

From the kitchen ... chocolate chip Vita-Muffins for Mom and BBQ beef soft tacos (a new recipe) for dinner

I am wearing ... jeans, green hoodie, black long-sleeved T-shirt, knee-high socks

I am reading ... my new magazine, Faith and Family

I am hoping ... that folks will visit me at my new blog. I like it here; I hope they do, too!

I am creating ... the same pink scarf

I am hearing ... my 3-year-old talking to me

Around the house ... laundry, laundry, laundry! I am in a laundry rut! Any tips out there? Also, I am starting to think about spring cleaning ...

One of my favorite things ... a family-filled weekend

A few plans for the rest of the week ... go to New in Town with a friend tonight; watch Lost with hubby Wednesday night; conference with preschool teacher Thursday; get ready for my retreat this weekend

Here is a picture-thought I am sharing with you ...

This is our art gallery. The place where school and home projects get displayed. It changes monthly. Note: our Lady of Lourdes grottos, which are now up in the girls' room, per their request.

For more daybooks, visit this blog.

From Our House to Yours ...

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Getting ready for the day ...

Special Valentines from a special kindergartner ...

My favorite: a spiritual bouquet for Mom of 4 Hail Marys!

Around our house, touches of love ...

On Valentine's morning, some sweet surprises ...

One flower each from Dad to his 3 oldest girls ... A favorite fairy tale, too.

Later on, a hunt for Valentine treat buckets, and what's inside?

Pencils, an eraser, a holy card and a coupon booklet.

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."

Wishing you and yours a lovely day!

Stained-Glass Crayons

A week ago, my preschool daughter came home from school with a heart-shaped crayon. She told me she made it in class with broken crayon pieces. She thought it was the best thing ever and asked if we could make some at home. I had seen this idea in The Preschooler's Busy Book and had actually been saving broken crayons for years. But not being the craftiest mom on the block, I never did anything with them. Of course, she didn't know that I had been saving broken crayons, so without me knowing, she started peeling and breaking our perfectly-good crayons. Whoa! She was really serious about doing this project, and doing it NOW.

So, I searched and searched for those broken crayons, but do you think I could find them when I needed them? No ... So, we dumped out our crayon bucket and sifted through to find any broken crayons. And this started the process of making our very own stained-glass crayons.

Here is our pile of crayons.

We peeled off all of the paper on the crayons and broke them into even smaller pieces.

Here are our broken crayons.

Then, we put them into a mini-muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray. (I didn't have a cute heart-shaped one like the preschool teacher, but it would be cute to make them into valentine crayons to pass out. Next year, maybe?) We put like-colors together, but you could mix and match, too.

We put the muffin tin into a preheated 400-degree oven for a few minutes. (It doesn't take long for them to melt.) This is what they looked like, as they came out of the oven.

We placed them on the counter on a cooling rack until they cooled completely. Here is the master-mind behind this project waiting for her crayons to cool.

Here is the final result. The girls have been enjoying using these "new" crayons for all their coloring pages.

I always get a bit nervous when we start a craft project, because I never know what's going to happen. Will someone not be interested? Will it be too hard, thus three girls demanding a lot of help from me all at the same time? Ahhh! What about the littler ones; what will they be doing while we are crafting? We are finally getting into the ages where crafts are more fun for all (and less work for mom), and I am excited about that. Hopefully, this will help me relax a bit more when it comes to crafts.

This one, I would say, was a success. (Yeah! A boost of confidence for Mom =) It was easy—even my 3-year-old could help peel the paper, sort the colors and then color a picture herself with her new crayons. And it was a little lesson in reusing what we have, too, which is always a good thing.

About My Companion Saints

Some of you probably know how I obtained the companion saints—St. Dismas and St. Veronica—pictured to the right of this post. Some of you may not.

On a post in January, +JMJ+ at Totus Tuus offered to prayerfully handpick a patron saint for those who stopped by her blog. When I saw this, how could I not ask her to pick a saint for me?

Even though I did not know her at all, I trusted that she would pick someone through prayer. For me, she picked St. Dismas and St. Veronica.

First, about St. Dismas ...

To be perfectly honest, I never knew that the good thief's name was Dismas. And I was a bit curious why I was being called to join him in praying for the conversion of prisoners. But I trusted that this was to be part of my faith journey this year.

Then, a few days after this happened, I shared it with my mom, and she got all excited at the mention of St. Dismas' name. She went on to tell me that when she was in grade school, every Lent her parish had a mission that her family attended. In about 4th or 5th grade, she remembers the mission making a particularly deep impression on her. The Jesuit priests who were giving the mission talked about how the good thief entered the Kingdom that very day, because with a sincere heart he asked Jesus for forgiveness. Like him, we also can experience that same forgiveness each time we go to confession. Since then, she has always loved St. Dismas.

Then, she told me about a retreat she had just attended. One of the women who was on the retreat with her has a nephew in prison. He knew his aunt was going to be making this retreat, so he and some of his inmates wrote a letter to all the retreat participants telling them that they would be praying for them over the weekend. My mom said that the letter was very powerful, knowing that these men are going through great conversion—experiencing that forgiveness—while they are serving their prison sentence.

I was just in awe of this little connection to my 2009 companion saint!

I have thought about that young man and his fellow inmates quite a bit since my mom shared that story with me. God really can work in ALL, if we are open to Him. I will continue to ask St. Dismas to work in their hearts, and in the hearts of so many who are in need of God's mercy and forgiveness.

And now for St. Veronica ...

+JMJ+ blessed me with two saints, as she said, one to hold each of my hands. St. Veronica has a special place in my heart for one very obvious reason. One of my daughters shares her name.

But with this saint also came an invitation ... to comfort Jesus through adoration.

I love Eucharistic adoration. In fact, I just attended a beautiful hour of adoration with my children. It was led by a priest and it was specifically for children and it was amazing! To witness these little kids reverently bowing before Jesus was breath-taking. They were so quiet, so attentive, so prayerful, so beautiful. I can only imagine how pleasing their prayers were to the Lord!

Our parish even has perpetual adoration, so it is quite convenient to slip into the chapel whenever I can.

But I do not have a regular holy hour. And so this has been my prayer-challenge. How do I unite with St. Veronica and encounter Jesus face-to-face? As I prepare for the upcoming Lenten season, this is what I am hoping to figure out.

Thank you, +JMJ+, for this beautiful gift you have given to so many. I already feel more united with my saints, and it has only been a few weeks since I met them.

If you would like a companion saint for 2009, +JMJ+ told me that she is still picking saints for people. Just visit her here.

Feast of St. Scholastica

(Thanks, Janette, for e-mailing this to me today!)

Scholastica was the first abbess of the order of nuns founded in Monte Cassino by her twin, St. Benedict. Sr. Scholastica was a devout and dutiful religious. She spent many hours daily in prayer before Jesus Eucharistic. Scholastica was very close to her brother, Benedict. When she died, St. Benedict saw her soul rise to heaven in the form of a dove!

According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, the brother and sister spent their last day together in prayer and conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was close at hand, and she begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day.

He refused her request, because he did not want to spend a night outside the monastery, thus breaking his own Rule. Scholastica asked God to let her brother remain, and a severe thunderstorm broke out, preventing Benedict and his monks from returning to the abbey.

Benedict cried out, "God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?" Scholastica replied, "I asked a favor of you, and you refused. I asked it of God, and He granted it."

Brother and sister parted the next morning after their long discussion. Three days later, Benedict was praying in his monastery and saw the soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form of a white dove. Benedict then announced the death of his sister to the monks and later buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.

I like the feast day of St. Scholastica (and that of St. Benedict, of course), because she was a twin, and now I am the mother of twins. Suddenly, this pair is very dear to me. When my twins are a bit older, I think it would be cute for them to dress up as these holy twins for our annual All-Saints Eve party. In the meantime, we will celebrate today by reading Tomie dePaola's book called The Holy Twins.

St. Scholastica, pray for us!

Sense and Sensibility

I watched Sense and Sensibility last night (it was a re-watch but it had been a long time). It was on sale at Target last week for $4.75—cheaper than a rental in my neck of the woods. So, there I was, watching this wonderful movie by myself, folding laundry, and loving it. It was very enjoyable and relaxing, just to have some time all to myself.

I had forgotten how much I liked this movie. So beautiful. I laughed and cried out loud—at the same time!—during the last scene with Elinor and Edward. It is just a wonderful scene.

Anyway, after the movie, I decided to put Pride and Prejudice (the miniseries) in my Blockbuster Online queue, and then I took a little quiz that tells you which Jane Austen heroine you are most like. I have seen it on the Internet before, but now I decided to do it. I guess I am most like Elizabeth Bennett. Who knew? Even when I was torn between a couple of possible answers, and I went back and put the other one in (is that cheating?), I still turned up as Elizabeth Bennett. So, now I really have to re-watch Pride and Prejudice soon! Oh, I hope my husband doesn't mind, maybe as long as I follow it up with a bunch of action, sci-fi films. LOL

If you're interested in taking the quiz, too, you can click on the icon at the right of my posts.

The Simple Woman's Daybook—February 9

For today ... Monday, February 9, 2009

Outside my window ... Cloudy, drizzly, about 37 degrees

I am thinking ... about relaxing for the rest of the day; it was a hectic morning

I am thankful for ... my husband helping me clean; healthy children

From the kitchen ... a lighter chicken pot pie for dinner

I am wearing ... jeans, blue cable-knit turtleneck sweater, brown vest, brown polka-dot socks

I am reading ... Chesterton, Country Living magazine; and with the kids Kit Saves the Day and Meet Felicity

I am hoping ... for new snow; a lot of it has melted and we still have awhile before spring; so, for me, white snow is much prettier than the bare, gray ground

I am creating ... Valentine's with the kids

I am hearing ... the hum of the computer; everyone is napping, so it's nice and quiet 

Around the house ... it is really clean (yeah!) but I have to catch up on laundry

One of my favorite things ... eating ice cream sundaes with two of my daughters last night (in our pajamas)

A few plans for the rest of the week ... Watch Sense and Sensibility (again) tonight (it was on sale at Target last week, so now I own it!); celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes with blueberry muffins and a simple grotto craft using this coloring page; get haircut Wednesday; help kids get Valentines ready for school parties; celebrate Valentine's Day with the whole family Saturday

Here is a picture-thought I am sharing ...

Father-Daughter Dance—February 8, 2009

For more daybooks, visit this blog.

Celebrating the Everyday Blessings

I haven't always been good at keeping record of the things my kids say or do. Yes, they each have a scrapbook and mementos, but I'm talking about the little things, the cute things, the daily things.

One of my goals of this new year is to get a little better at that. I am trying to be more present to the day-to-day things that happen at home—taking the camera or journal out to capture the ordinary moments that really are extraordinary because they are our life, our real life. It's great to capture the celebration of Christmas or a birthday, but I also want to remember to capture the celebration of the everyday, too. Writing this blog is actually helping me, I think ...

Since this goal of mine was revealed to me through prayer, I think the Lord has given me an extra dose of awareness. Lately, I have just been so much more in tune with things that are going on around me, particularly with my family. Up until this point, I don't know that I had the capacity to have this gift, because I really was just surviving. That first year of twins was a blurry whirlwind! And before that, well, let's just say I felt like I was constantly in transition. But now, I find that I have been given new lenses with which to view my little corner of the world. And it's like seeing clearly almost for the first time.

Two moments of the past month really stand out to me ... I think I would have noticed these things in the past, but I wouldn't have looked at them in the same way that I do now. I see these things as sort of "wow moments" not only for my children but also for me as a mom, as if they are little messages from God assuring me that I am doing a good job.

***

The sidewalks were particularly slippery this one winter morning. As we walked into Good Shepherd, my little girls slipped, and my four-year-old even fell. Tears came quickly after that. But she was brave and went into class without any problems. (Whew! I sighed.)

The girls were outside waiting for me when I pulled up after class. They were walking carefully back down the slippery sidewalk. Then, as if by protective insight or by example, my four-year-old reached out and took her little sister by the hand. To help her. To take care of her. I saw another little girl slip a little. Maybe my daughter saw this, too. Whatever made her reach out to help, it was good. And I delighted in my daughter's act of love.

Then, last week, my trio was playing exceptionally well together. Often, since there are three of them, one gets left out, or if they are tired, playing can turn to fighting. But no. This afternoon, it was bliss. They were sharing beautifully and even giving each other special toys—for keeps. I noticed this amazing generosity happening over and over again. I was taken back, and I finally complimented them.

"My you girls are playing nicely together," I said.

I inquired about whether this giving was really for good or just in the borrowing sense. And they clarified that it was for good.

"Wow! You are being very generous with each other," I said, wanting to praise this virtuous behavior I was witnessing. "That is so nice to see!"

Then, my six-year-old daughter replied, "Maybe some day we'll all be Little Sisters of the Poor."

"All three of you?" I joyfully asked.

"No, all four of us," she answered, including her smallest sister (one of the twins) in this plan.

I just beamed at what she said. The mere thought—that it was even an idea in her mind—made me so joyful.

"Oh, that would be wonderful," I said smiling.

***

I am grateful for these moments. They took place within a regular day—amid the regular playing, whining, fighting, eating, cleaning, reading and sleeping. They are everyday blessings. They make me stand in awe of my children. They also give me hope when so often I worry about whether I am doing enough as a mother for the sanctity of their souls. They are cause for celebration! Thanks be to God!

Toothless Thursday

My oldest girl lost her first TOP tooth last night. A total of three have been handed over to the tooth fairy in exchange for some special coins and a budding appearance of growing up. She certainly looks like a big girl to me! And she looks beautiful ... Even with a huge gap in her mouth and bottom teeth that are growing in unevenly, she glows with happiness that such a big-girl thing is happening to her. She is so proud of herself, and well, so am I!

Isn't she sweet in her Catholic school uniform?

This tooth-fairy pillow was made by my dear aunt, who made one of these for me when I was little. I saved it all these years to hand down to my daughters, and then when the time came to pass it on, I couldn't find it! I was beside myself! It was so cute ... It was pink with a pocket made out of the fabric of a dress she had made for me. Well, when I told her that I couldn't find it, she simply said, "Don't feel bad about not remembering where you placed it! I don't even remember making it for you!" So, she whipped up another one and shipped it to us in less than a week! Now, if only those sewing skills would rub off on me ...

Looking for ...

... a Rosary recording on CD or one that is a downloadable MP3 file ...

Can anyone recommend to me a good-quality recording of the Rosary? I would like to have one in my iPod, so that I can listen/pray the Rosary while I practice knitting. Since I'm such a newbie at this craft, I think it would be helpful to listen/pray along with something, so that I don't have to worry about counting my prayers and counting my stitches!

There are so many Rosary recordings out there, when I looked online and on iTunes, and I didn't know which ones were good and enjoyable to listen to.

If you have one that you like, please let me know! Thank you!

Happy {Engagement} Anniversary!

Today is an anniversary of sorts ... It was eight years ago today that my husband asked me to marry him, and I said, "Yes." It also is the anniversary of our first, official date.

Yes, that's right. That would mean we were engaged on our first date.

But there's more to the story than that ... Allow me to explain.

For six months prior to our engagement, Greg and I shared a Christian friendship. As we were getting to know one another, God began revealing—to each of us—His plan for us to marry.

Two weeks before Greg proposed, we met for coffee. Our conversation led us to a discussion about what we thought were the four pillars of a Christ-centered relationship/marriage: prayer, community, service and formation. By the end of our conversation, it was clear that we were talking about us. I wondered to myself, "When we were going to start courting?"

On Feb. 3, 2001, Greg picked me up for our first date. I knew it was an official date, because he picked me up and he wouldn't tell me what we were doing. (Up until then, we had always met places, usually during the day, or we spent time with mutual friends.)

After enjoying exhibits at a science museum, we went out for dinner. Then, we drove to the church where we first met and where we both attended Mass. The church was closed for the night, but Father was there to let us in.

We went into the chapel and knelt in front of the crucifix. Greg prayed in thanksgiving for our relationship. Then, he turned to me and said, "I want to walk with you to heaven." He promised to be a good husband and father to our children.

At this point, I thought he was going to ask me to be his girlfriend. But no. He went right past that, got on one knee, pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him.

I was shocked indeed! But, knowing this was ultimately God's will for us, I knelt next to Greg, hugged him and said yes. Father then came in and gave us the engaged-couple's blessing.

I always remember this date with fondness, because I love thinking about our crazy story! It makes me laugh with joy! But I also reflect on what a big milestone that was on our journey together. It was just the beginning ... We put a lot of faith and trust in the Lord, jumping into our vocation, and He has indeed blessed us and given us abundant grace to embrace everything that has come our way.

Eight years. Five kids. A few job transfers. A couple moves. In a way, it is still the beginning, especially when I think of couples married for 20, 30 ... 50 years. The Lord only knows what the future holds. I am just grateful that we are in this together, and that the Lord is guiding us every step of the way.

The Simple Woman's Daybook—February 2

For today ... Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas

Outside my window ... bright sunshine; clear, blue skies; white snow

I am thinking ... that I need to pick up my 4-year-old from preschool soon

I am thankful for ... my husband's job

From my kitchen ... dishwasher still needs to be unloaded; candlelight dinner of chicken and rice and simple, but special dessert

I am wearing ... favorite green, cowl-neck sweatshirt, long-sleeved tee, jeans, floral socks, brown-sueded slippers

I am reading ... Common Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. Chesterton; I just checked out a bunch of other books from the library, so I have a decision to make—what to read next!

I am hoping ... for a fun evening of catch-up with my neighbors

I am creating ... a pink "scarf," a Valentine tree (idea here)

I am hearing ... my daughter's Leapster and her talking with an imaginary friend named "Ruthie"

Around the house ... laundry, laundry, laundry to do; girls' beds to be made; library books to sort

One of my favorite things ... a Sunday date with my husband

A few plans for the rest of the week ... get out Valentine decorations, watch Lost on Wednesday night, have family-friends over for dinner Saturday night (haven't seen them in about three years!)

Here are picture-thoughts I am sharing ...

 

(I like how the sun is melting the snow/ice on our deck railing. Snowflakes hang from our patio door that my six-year-old and I made on a day when she was the only one home—a rare occurrence.)

To see more daybooks, visit this blog.