Tag: Catholic

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Bullet list

We went to mass this morning for a holy day of obligation – it was 1 adult vs. 2 boys.  The end result teetered close to disaster, but I somehow maintained my sanity.  I don’t care to repeat the solo event any time soon.  Man to man defense is definitely the way to go when it comes to church.

The 1st decent snowstorm of the season hit us today.  We will have to check out the end result tomorrow – if it is anywhere near warm enough.  Speaking of warm, here’s hoping I can find Nolan’s boots in time for me to take him to preschool tomorrow…oh the things I think about late at night.

I’m currently working on the 2010 family calendars for both sets of grandparents.  Good times.  As a result, I’m still not getting to bed before midnight.  Guess who will be needing caffeine in the morning?

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Randomness in life

In the car today Nolan asked, “Mom, can we go to Sara’s house again and play Hungry Hippos?”  I would love to spend just a few minutes inside my son’s head to know what triggers random statements like this.  Sara is Jake’s youngest cousin.  She is now getting the chance to play “older cousin” to the great-grandkids in the family.  She is such a delight (I wish we were able to see her more often,) and she loves all of the little boys in the family.  She has the makings of a great babysitter 🙂

It rained again today.  I think the weather encourages creativity in my kids.  Nolan helped unpack the groceries when we got home and proceeded to assemble a tower.  The construction materials of choice were cans of creamed corn & spaghetti.  Oh, and the 2nd attempt contained a random water bottle he was toting around.  (Make sure you click on the picture of the cans to see the tower in all its glory.)

Since random is the theme of the day, I also feel the need to include a link to a speech by the Archbishop of Denver that a college friend of mine posted on Facebook tonight.  Archbishop Cahput recently addressed a group of physicians in Phoenix.  I found what he said to be extremely powerful – specifically, two statements:

“The Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once wrote that, “A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life which he is able to assist, and shrinks from injuring anything that lives.” Every child with Down syndrome, every adult with special needs; in fact, every unwanted unborn child, every person who is poor, weak, abandoned or homeless – each one of these persons is an icon of God’s face and a vessel of his love.  How we treat these persons – whether we revere them and welcome them, or throw them away in distaste – shows what we really believe about human dignity, both as individuals and as a nation.”

“It’s one of God’s ironies that the suffering imperfection brings, can perfect us in the vocation of love.”  (Emphasis Archbishop Chaput)

It seems I’ve just added to my list of things to reflect on during the quiet moments I’m granted during the day.

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Melt my heart

This morning did not start off well. I woke up at 4:30 with a migraine, which proceeded to last about 12 hours. Yuck 🙁

Jake worked from home today and took care of the boys so I could rest.  (I sure have a wonderful husband!)  At one point during the morning, Jake brought me something for my migraine along with my water bottle, leaving the boys downstairs.  When he went back down to the living room he saw this:

The boys were saying a prayer for their mommy to get better. Talk about making my heart melt!  Jake said Shecklet #1 was leading Shecklet #2 in a combination prayer of the Our Father and Angel of God (which Shecklet #1 has recently been singing with his classmates at preschool.)  Their prayers must have been heard; I’m feeling much better this evening.  The plan for the week is that we have no plans.  Our calendar has been cleared and the goal is to rest up and hopefully recover by week’s end.

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Sunday Funday

We started the day off with mass at St. John’s.  Nana & Papa (my parents) showed up and surprised us.  I love seeing the boys’ expressions when they see any of their grandparents.  It’s always pure joy.  Since we had more adults than kids, we kept Shecklet #2 with us instead of having him play in the nursery.  The boys did really well.  I wonder if they were on extra-good behavior for their grandparents…

Our house was full of lovely women and super cute kids this afternoon.  We figured out that today’s group was a mix of 1st, 2nd & 3rd cousins from my mom’s side of the family.  It was really nice to be able to spend time with all of them today.  Shecklet #1 and Shecklet #2 enjoyed showing off for the group.  It’s so funny what the two of them will do to entertain others when they’re in the spotlight.

While Shecklet #2 was napping this afternoon (after our guests departed,) Shecklet #1 helped me put together brownies for an impromptu dinner at our friends’ house.  He cracked the eggs (with just a little help :)), stirred the batter, and scooped it from the bowl to the pan.  He is really big into helping lately.  I wish I could bottle some of his enthusiasm and have it on hand for when he gets older.

The day ended the way it normally does, but with a small, sweet little twist.  We said bedtime prayers with the boys like we always do and I picked up Shecklet #2 and held him while Jake rocked a little while with Nolan.  Nolan asked me to sing a song for him.  (This has become part of the nighttime routine along with having his back scratched.)  So I sang “Jesus Loves Me,” and he joined me like he usually does.  Next, he asked me to sing the song he calls “Daisy” or “bicycle built for two.”  Well tonight, instead of waiting for me to start the song and join me, he sang the song himself – and remembered most of the lyrics, too!  It was so sweet to hear his little voice.  He sure loves music!

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Graced & Gifted

Today I had the chance to attend a Catholic Women’s Day at St. John the Baptist Church in Savage.  My friends, Sarah and Michelle accompanied me; we really enjoyed the day.  I can’t say I had an “ah-ha!” moment, but did came away with a lot to process.  I have been given 3 opportunities to think about and discuss “grace” this week – two on this past Wednesday and then throughout the day today.  I’m assuming at this point that God has something He wants to tell/show/teach me involving this subject…

There are several points from today’s talks that I’ll be working through over the next few days & weeks:

From Liz Kelly’s talk:

  • When Jesus entered human history, He extended a dignity to women that had never existed before.
  • Jesus is an intimate friend to us.
  • Loneliness reminds us that our hearts have not become so bitter that they cannot break.

From Ann Osendorf’s talk:
Prayer based on Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius:

  • G – Gratitude & Praise: praising God opens our heart for Him.  It enables us to appreciate His gifts for us.  Gifts are sometimes in the gift of what we have not received.
  • R – Request for Light & Strength: part of God’s grace is asking for the willingness to do what is difficult.
  • A – Attention & Awareness: grace builds on nature.  We need to recognize the areas in our life that need fixing so that God can give us more grace.
  • C – Charting the Course to Holiness (Contrition & Confession): God’s divine grace is all about love.  We’re either moving toward God or away from Him.  We need to ask Him to not let go of us.
  • E – Entrustment: surrendering the piece of our heart that needs healing.

From Christina Smith’s talk:

  • For what do you hunger?
  • “Nowhere does the Gospel say: ‘Go away,’ but always ‘come to me.’ ” – Mother Teresa
  • “God is with us.  This is our joy.” – Mother Teresa

From Kimberly Hahn’s keynote talk:

  • We all have a place of service.
  • Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.  – Proverbs 3:27