...

It's been a rough week and a half, during which I learned:

1. Benadryl and a Grandmother's love can cure a rash.

Livvy was sick with a rash and fever for about a week and a half. By the end of it I was out of my mind. We were going to take her to the hospital if it didn't improve by Monday night. Nan took care of her on Monday and she was 100% improved by Monday night. It helped that I had half the Christians in the midstate praying for her, including a very Pentecostal prayer in the store. Thanks Jeanine, Billy, Lisa, Mommi, Nan and God. :)

2. I am better at defending my faith than I was at 14.

I was so obsessed with apologetics when I was 14. I used to go on-line, run up our very limited CompuServe hours (long before the days of Yahoo!Groups and MySpace), and debate theology with other teenagers. I sucked at it, and I got downhearted from losing all the time. Then I mostly lost interested in defending my faith and kept it to myself. Well, the Lord has put me in such an interesting position now. I know part of the reason he has me chasing after Catholicism is to break me out of my comfort zone. Lee says it is my little rebellion, and even though he doesn't agree with me at all, he is proud of me for standing up for something on my own. (Thanks, chief.) Anyway, at work two friends were talking about how stupid it is that people would have their babies baptised. One friend is an ex-catholic (she's only 17 or so so her family must have left the church when she was quite young) and the other is a college-educated, ministry minded young man of my own age, give or take. The normal me (not the family me who is a loud mouth but the public me who doesn't argue at all) would have just let it go, but the slightly braver New Me actually stopped to explain the Catholic position. Not only did my friends listen politely, but they even said they understood where I was coming from - go figure. See, I always thought that if I "came out", all my friends would think differently of me, because they have such strong prejudices - instead I am changing the way that they think. WOW. GO FIGURE.

3. I want to go to Creation.

Lee and I went to see MercyMe and Audio Adrenaline in concert. It was AWESOME. It will be the last time we ever hear Audio Adrenaline live because they are retiring due to medical issues with Mark's voice. It's so sad. But the concert was awesome, a great time of praise for me. I realised that I do want to go to Creation - I want to take the kids with me, because I don't really have fun in life when they are elsewhere. An evening with Lee or two hours at a movie is one thing. But I want to camp in the dirt with them and take them to see other people praising God. That's what I want. Will I get to do it? We'll see.

Well, we are getting ready to go to the circus - we look almost presentable, don't we?

margaret wise brown

This is the book that Olivia asked me to read to her today.


This is the book that Elijah asked me to read to him today.

Both books are by Margaret Wise Brown - is she awesome or what?? There's something about the way she writes that is so poetic even when it doesn't rhyme. I really only read books to the kids that feel good to read out loud, and these books are way up there.

The First True Leaves of Spring

These are Jalapeno seedlings. I have a fantasy about making my own jalapeno poppers this year. Lee loves those :> Anyway, my Jalapeno plants are officially the first seedlings to get their true leaves.

The second set of leaves a plant gets are called its true leaves. They are a sign that the seedling is getting stronger. The first leaves on seedlings look pretty much the same, but the true leaves start to look like the real plant. Notice in the photo the long round leaves - those were the first set of leaves. The little spiky leaves are true leaves.

So my peppers are doing well, but I had to replant my tomatoes. More tomatoes germinated than I expect to, so I thinned them out, but I thinned them way too early, killed their baby root systems. I had to buy all new tomato seeds. So, lesson learned: do not thin the plants before they have their true leaves.

Life Without Jesus is Like a Donut

You can buy a $3 box of color tablets to make your bathwater pink 5 times.

Or you can buy a 50 cents box of food coloring at the discount grocery store, and make your water pink 50 times.

It's up to you.

Livvy and I call this Princess Bubbles.




It's a little snowy outside. I actually drove to church today (yes, for the first time ever). It was good, though, because I came home with a small stack of library books that would have been a real pain to carry on the walk.





There is going to be a Catholic family fest late in April, at the Lancaster Catholic High School. Why does this matter? Because it was advertised in the church bulletin, of course. It looks really cool. Rosalind Moss is going to be there, and I would love to hear her speak in real life. She is a neat Jewish lady who converted to Christianity when she was young and then to Catholicism. I love to hear her speak. And also, the Donut Man is going to be there. That threw me for the loop, because I knew the Donut Man was not a Catholic - we have always sold him at the store. Well, I found out that the Donut Man is a very recent Catholic convert. Do you know who the Donut Man is? He's a Christian singer for kids. http://www.donutman.com/ His conversion story is here.

Here are some pictures of my kitchen - my favorite room in my house. Last year Lee made sure I got a CD player for my kitchen, and I spend most of my time in there, rading, cleaning, and listening to Fr. Larry or praise music.

What A Week

On Wednesday, when I got off of work, I found out that I had left the lights on in Lee's car, completely draining the battery. It was 9:30 at night and he had to throw the kids in the other car and come give me a jump. He might not have been mad if I hadn't done the same exact thing the day before.

Sigh.

I rode my bike almost every nice day this week. The trailer is so easy to set up! It's great. The kids are loving it, too. I want to get a bike with foot pedals and no gears, but Lee insisted on me getting a "real bike". Well, he was right as always. Having the gears makes such a big difference in going up hills. I'm working my way up to longer rides. It's a real joy.

Mom - before I forget - it's about time to plant your tomatoes and peppers.

Lee did not go into work tonight because of the snow. Oh, there will be people calling for Pizza Delivery. But I am glad he will not be the one delivering it to him. His boss was not pleased. The tips would not have been worth the risk to his safety and our little car.

We went to the park. It missed us.

This coming campaign marks my one year anniversay with Avon. I'm really proud of that. I'm not the best at sticking with things that I start, but Avon has been so good for me in so many different ways. I don't wear a TON of makeup now, but I enjoy wearing a little bit just for fun. It doesn't make a difference to Lee, but it helps me feel better about myself.

Back to Work

Sunday night, Elijah said, "Mommy, please don't go back to work." -sigh- Going back to work yesterday was pretty hard initially, but by lunch time I was fine. Working is not my choice, as it interferes with my actual job, but I do love what I do. I only work part time and I should not sound so spoiled, I know. Anyway. At this second I can not remember one thing that happened at work yesterday. Hmm.

Lee and I stayed up late last night playing on the computer together. This is what we did when we were dating, and when we can actually sit down and play together, it helps us go back to that. Play seems to be the key to reconnecting for us. Our love languages are so vastly different - play is where they touch.

So we went to bed late and just as I was in a good sleep, I hear hacking coming from Elijah. Yeah, he threw up all over himself. He ran over to me, not really conscious of what he was doing. I led him into the bathroom and did the usual mom thing, cleaned him off, that wonderful mid-night load of laundry, hooked him up with a glass of water and a bowl, and we both went back to bed. Up again an hour later. Then a few hours of sleep, got up to take a shower and get the sick-smell out of my hair, and off to work for a ten hour shift.

So of course I was tired before I even got there.

It wasn't a bad day, though long. The reason I am content when at my job is because I do something different everyday. We were short a cashier in the evening, so I manned the counter by myself for awhile. It makes the time go fast.

Then I found out that I had left the lights on in Lee's car all day - so the battery was completely dead. Bryan (our assistant manager) had to jump the car for me. So embarassing.

When I got home, there was a delicious dinner waiting for me - Lee had spare ribs in the crock pot. Yummy! Thanks, chief.

Too Early, but

Ezekiel 33:11 (NAB)
As I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man's conversion, that he may live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, O house of Israel?


Fr. Weiss used this verse in his homily today. It wasn't in the readings, but he used it as part of his message. I love it. It struck me so strongly that I needed to look it up. I guess I needed to be reminded that God takes no pleasure in our downfalls. Why? It's not like I wasn't raised to believe this. I just... forgot, I guess. It's surprisingly easy to get caught up in the fact that God annihilated every stubborn idol-worshipper, and forget that he still loved them. Oh, yeah, since that includes me, I guess it's a good thing. The only thing God takes pleasure in is the conversion of our hearts.

In Catholicism, the word "conversion" has different connotations than it does in Protestantism (or baptistism or whatever the proper -ism should be). Sometimes you pray for the conversion of someone who is already a Christian or even already a Catholic. It just seems to mean the changing of ones heart, especially towards God.

I was really close to falling back asleep today instead of going to Mass. But I went, and the walk was beautiful and I was so glad I went. (I always am, which is why I keep going back.) Elijah on the other hand, no matter how tired he is, all I have to say is the magic words - "Do you want to go to church with me?" and he pops tall. I have literally never gone without him.

KMOMs Sale

Nan and I went to a sale today. It is a big second hand sale put on by Keystone Mothers of Multiples. It is held in Mechanicsburg. The doors open at 8am. We were there by 7:20 and had to wait in line. It was freezing bloody cold, and waiting outside for forty minutes is not my cup of tea, but it was worth it.

We got an entire summer wardrobe for the kids, plus books, some tapes, and a LOT of toys, including some things for Easter and Christmas. We spent $80, but I'm betting we got $500 worth of stuff, including some nice overall shorts for the kids. We spent $4 just on socks, and got about 32 pair. I also got a beautiful pair of boots for Elijah for next year.

Aunt Linda was at the sale, too. We greeted each other, but it was too packed and we were both too busy snatching bargains to actually talk!

Then I took Nan to the thrift store to get some paperbacks - Saturday is buy one get one free book day at Volunteers of America. Last time Mommi and I went to the thrift store, I saw a bunch of paperbacks Nan would like, so I wanted to take her. I also got a book for Lee (pictured below), and the most adorable tiny little Sunday Missal for myself.


All in all, Nan and I had a really nice time, and the kids are set for summer now.

I have decided that this week I am going to "red out" my old baby clothes and donate them to the thrift store. It is so wrong that I am still hoarding them.

Wild Hogs

Nan loves Tim Allen.

And there's nobody to take Nan to the movies except me and Lee.

The last Tim Allen movie that came out was the Shaggy D.A. and I took Nan to see that myself, with Boo, of course.

But am I going to take Nan to see a movie about a bunch of middle-aged men on motorcycles? No, that would be a Lee movie. So I suggested that Lee take her to see Wild Hogs.

SO

Much to my dismay, when Nan got off work last night, we loaded up the Elantra with two carseats, mom squeezed in the back between the car seats (shudder) and Nan and Lee in the front. We took Nan to Palumbos to pass time before the next showtime. Palumbos is a pizza joint in the hampden center that Pap used to take Nan to about once a month when he was alive. It was her first time to go back.

Then we stopped into Hancock Fabrics. Mom, do you know that Hancock Fabrics in the Hampden Center is going out of business? Fleece is 40% off. I didn't buy anything, but I was VERY tempted. They had Superman fleece for Boo and Care Bears fleece for Liv, at about $6 a yard.

Then it was time for the movie. The kids (meaning Lee and Boo) played in the arcade while I took Liv into the bathroom to change. Only one small problem. She got the runs between when we left the house, and I was out of diapers! AHHHHHH!!!!! What's a mom to do? I'm embarassed to admit this, but I improvised a diaper out of a changing pad liner and a lot of toilet paper. Necessity is the mother of invention. It worked great.

Then we did the Brave Thing. We took both kids and Nan into the movie, armed with too-expensive movie popcorn and our pockets lined with candy. Well, I will tell you, they were perfect, even Miss Livvy. We sat far away from anybody else and let her sip soda the whole time, and she was good as gold.

The movie? Well, there was some foul humor in it that I would rather not have had the kids see, though Elijah did like the motorcycles. Tim Allen did remind us a lot of dad. Though don't worry, Daddy, we still think you are cool.

The positive side of all of this is I think Livvy is almost ready to start going to church with Elijah and I.

Mother's Prayers

This is the prayer I pray for the babies each day. I have it memorized, and they request it. They call it "the long one"



A Mother's Morning Blessing for Her Child

This child belongs to you, O Lord - mind and body and soul.
Lay claim this day to your little one
by placing him securely in the Immaculate Heart of your mother, Mary,
in the protective arms of your guardian, Joseph,
and under the shining shield of Archangel, Michael.
Open his heart to the promptings of your Holy Spirit,
his eyes to the beauty of your creation,
his ears to the wise warnings of his guardian angel,
and his heart to every God-fearing soul you send into his life.
I ask this in the name of the Father who created him,
the Son who redeems him,
and the Spirit who sanctifies him.
Amen.

And this one I sometimes pray on the way to work:

A Working Mother's Prayer

O Lord, since I must now entrust my precious child into the arms of another so that I may go forth to earn bread for our table, accept my offering of tears and deep regret.
Take my child, Lord - and my aching heart - and lay them together in your dear Mother's lap where both may rest secure until I come again to claim my treasures.
Amen.

Prayers Before Meals

I scoured some of these on-line, Mama. :) Maybe there's one you would like for the littles.

Lord, we thank you for this meal
For all the blessings you impart
For our family, for our friends
And for living in our heart.
---
Our Heavenly Father, kind and good,
We thank You for our daily food.
We thank You for Your love and care.
Be with us Lord, and hear our prayer.
Amen.
---
Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
May this food by thee be blest,
May our souls by thee be fed,
Ever on the living Bread.
---
Jesus, stop, and sit with us,
We thank you for this food.
Bless it for our nourishment,
To make us strong and good.
---
God is great, God is good.
Let us thank him for our food.
By his hands, we are fed.
Let us thank him for our bread.
Amen.
---
Bless the bunch that munch this lunch.
---
Now I fold my hands and say
Thank you God for my supper today
---
a brief grace with hand motions, as follows:

God bless us (hands on head)
God bless the food (hands aroud plate)
Amen (hands folded)
---
And finally...
To the tune of the Batman theme song:
Thank you for the dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, Amen!

A Heart for Kenya

Sunday was a special day for me. After mass, I scrambled around to get the house looking nice for a special guest - my friend Aven. Aven is a really neat girl. She and I have been working together for almost two years. She has an awesome testimony - she came out of darkness or drugs and alchohol into God's light. Now Jesus is calling her to Kenya. She has had a heart for Africa her whole life, even before she became a Christian. Last year she went on a short term missions trip to Kenya, and it was really hard for her to come back. Now Rainbow Missions is opening up a group home, and it is the desire of her heart to be there. She is going to leave at the end of the summer, and she will be gone for a year.

Anyway, last year Lee and were able to help her just a little bit financially, but I really wanted to help her out this year. So I had an Idea. We got together and designed business cards and a webpage. Not a huge financial investment on my part, but something that can make a difference. Later this spring, I am also going to do an Avon fundraiser for her. I have never done an official fundraiser before, but I feel like its something I may be called to do later to help other people, too.

Here's her new webpage - aheartforkenya.info

The Girl Who Played the Violin

I am going to share a story that Fr. Haney used in his homily today. Now Fr. Haney likes to use a lot of stories and I'm not sure what this had to do with today's readings. But I liked the story anyway and I might even turn it into a short story for fun.


There was a very wealthy man, who had been born into luxury. He had everything his heart desired from the time he was born. But he had come into the world with a birth defect, and his face was hideous. He lived in a huge mansion on a lake. He was afraid to go out of his home, lest anyone should see his deformity, so he stayed inside all the time. When he did go out, it was to work in his garden, surround by a tall brick wall.


Well, one night he had gone out to walk beside the lake in the dark. There in the cool of the night, rang out the most beautiful music he had ever heard. Hiding himself behind a large tree, he spotted a lovely young lady playing the violin. His heart was touched. Three more nights he went out to listen, never letting the young lady know he was there.



He paid a visit to his financier, and arranged for the young lady to go to the finest music school in all of Europe. Three years later, the young lady finshed her training and was brought to meet her mysterious benefactor. She was driven past the lake, up to the mansion, through the imposing gate. The man with the hideous face was standing on the stairs in front of his home. She ran up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and said "I love you, I love you!!"

"But how could you love someone so ugly?" he asked.

"Oh, sir," she answered, "I am blind."

It made me cry.

Relief

I am so relieved that the party is over. It can reasonably called a success. We didn't have as many people as last time, but we had nearly as many, and considering all the little things that went wrong in preparation, I am satisified. I learned a lot of what "not" to do. All in all, the kiddoes had fun, and that is what really matters.

When we got home, the kids and I took the bike and the trailer out for a spin. In the words of my granny "My Grab." Oh, don't get me wrong, it feels great to be riding a bike again. But pulling that trailer up a hill really takes it out of me. I challenged myself to go just a little farther than I was physically comfortable with, and I will keep it up. I want to keep it up! By the end of this summer, I will be biking all over New Cumberland!

I went through something similar after Livvy was born. I was in bad shape, and I knew it. I decided to start walking. I literally had to force myself to walk out ten minutes, then walk the ten minutes back. I know that sounds horrible. But now I can walk for hours without feeling it at all. It's that freedom that comes on the other side of perseverance. I will get that with my bike!!

A Nice Day With Mom

I went over to Mommi's house today. We opened Boo's birthday presents, went to the thrift store, and talked a lot. We spend the most time in the books and toys of course, but especially books. It was the first time we've gotten together since I told her that I am going to a Catholic church, and it felt so good to be around each other and reconnect.

I came home with an armload of books, including a Catholic baby Bible in mint condition for Livvy. Boo already had a Bible, Liv did not. Liv's "catch" of the day was a large stuffed, talking Nemo (as in "finding Nemo"). She was delighted. Boo got a couple match box cars, but he opted to leave them at Nana's - Mom's littles have a great car track, plus I think he was pretty spoilt already from his Birthday presents - he is playing with his new Word Whammer right now. [Hey, Mama, when we got home, there were two Word Whammers in our bag. Do those things naturally multiply or do I happen to have yours? Uh-oh!]

When we got home, Lee was tinkering with his car. He put gorgeous seat covers inside it. He also fixed the busted inside door handle - good job, Chief. Lee is awesome with cars and I am glad he is so proud of this one. I think he is really going to take good care of it.

Livvy passed out when we got home - somebody needed her beauty rest. She has been asleep for two hours already. We never wake her! It is very dangerous to do so!

Boo played outside for those same two hours. It is so beautiful outside that we had the back door wide open.

P.S. Thanks, Mommi, for making me the catfish for lunch. It was actually quite delicious! I love you!!

This is how I see myself.