7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 47)

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Homeless in a Sense I burst into tears on Sunday evening when Kevin and I were out to dinner (fortunately, it was just the two of us, and it wasn't crowded at the restaurant). My mom announced that she's having an estate/yard sale at the beginning of May and that we have two weeks to get our things out of her house because she's putting it on the market. It's beyond overwhelming to consider all the things we have to sort through and in such a short period of time as it is...Read more here.

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Not the Achilles Heel Kevin has had yet another setback in his recovery.  On Wednesday, Kevin had to walk quite a ways to and from where he had to park at work, since no handicapped spots were open when he arrived.  His ankle swelled up, so he was out again on Thursday.  He's back to wearing the big boot.  Please keep the prayers coming.  The strife is not o'er yet.

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Daily Practices Vivi has been all about slides lately.  She will walk over to the door in the morning soon after I arrive and announce that she wants to go down the slide.  She makes this declaration often while she is still only wearing a diaper and a Onesie. 

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Playground Practices Vivi and I had fun at the playground in her neighborhood this week.  We'd been there before, and the only equipment she can really play on are the steps and one of the slides.  THe rest of it is for older children.  We had fun drawing shapes, butterflies, flowers, and such in the sand with sticks.  We found a broken pencil and conducted the usual physics experiments by sliding it down the slide a bunch of times.  What joy children exude over such simple little things.

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"Play it again, Sam" I had an amusing discussion with Vivi's mom Jess about what I refer to as "noisy toys."  She said they are trying to figure out which toys to get rid of in order to preserve their sanity when the twins come.  It reminded me of how much my little guys used to love certain toys that made rather annoying sounds.  I requested that the parents let me know how to remove the batteries if such toys were available since 11 hours a day with two kids pressing the siren on the fire engine, for example, can start to grate your nerves. 

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A Fondness for Books One of the things I love to do with the children I have nannied for as well as those I've worked with at school is read books that my parents read to me when I was little.  Sometimes I'll read the same title and author from their library, and sometimes, I'll get the rather worn copy my parents read to us when we were little and that I remember reading to my youngest sister Theresa when she was growing up, and share that with them,  One favorite to share is Wynken, Blyken, and Nod, a book that my grandma gave me for Christmas when I was three. 

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Another rough week It's been another trying week.  I'm actually typing these Quick Takes up on our laptop whose monitor went.  Kevin hooked it up to the TV, which is old, so I can sort of see what I'm doing, considering the print is blurry, and I'm forced to wear glasses since my allergies and stress have been so bad, my eyes have become really irritated.  Lord, thank You for Your love and the compassion and concern of loved ones during tough times.  Jesus, we trust in You.

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Homeless in a Sense

     I burst into tears on Sunday evening when Kevin and I were out to dinner (fortunately, it was just the two of us, and it wasn't crowded at the restaurant).  My mom announced that she's having an estate/yard sale at the beginning of May and that we have two weeks to get our things out of her house because she's putting it on the market.  It's beyond overwhelming to consider all the things we have to sort through and in such a short period of time as it is.
     In addition to sorting through and cleaning out things at our own place, which desperately needs a great deal of work, the task seems just sort of impossible, especially when Kevin can't carry anything or move stuff right now because he's still got to wear a surgical boot and be careful of his foot. Oh yeah, and my allergies are so bad I've been ready remove my eyeballs altogether.  Our place and my mom's definitely has pockets of zones, especially where stuff has been stored for a while, that would be condemned by the allergen police.  Fortunately, it's not pink eye or or any sort of infection, but my eye doctor gave me an anti-inflammatory said not to wear contacts until it clears up.
     This would be a daunting an undertaking even if this weren't the one and only house my immediate family has ever lived in for more than five or so years, but it is.  My mom's had this house for the past fifteen years.  I know that doesn't seem like much to people who have grown up in the same house, or on the other extreme, it seems like a long time if you're used to moving frequently, like our family was.  I know that my mom's wanted to move into a little apartment for a while.  Each time she talked about selling the house, it upset me, but she hadn't done all of the renovations and things, stripped the wallpaper, and such, so the sense of loss and being overwhelmed subsided.
     Now that she's having every contractor known to man come through to give her estimates, she's stripping wallpaper, getting rid of things by the carload, I'm grieving that before long I won't have a family home to go to for sanctuary, solitude, family time, comfort or anything else.  I won't have somewhere I know I'm always welcome to sleep, eat, take or use whatever I need, have a home-cooked meal, grab some children's books my parents read to me when I was a kid, open a living room drawer or a cupboard completely filled with family photo albums and loose pictures.  There won't be a place where our family is all invited and expected to gather on holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I won't have somewhere that has so many memories and stories just hanging in the air, dancing on the windowsills, tucked into the corners.
     Yes, I know things could be much worse, and have been at other times, but right now I'm grieving and overwhelmed by how things are.  I don't need a billion and one reasons why I should be grateful or even ten reminders of how things have been worse and could be again.  I would appreciate some prayers and if you have any compassion, go ahead and send that our way, too.
     Lord, help us rest in You as my family and I deal with yet another poignant reminder that we have no permanent home on this earth.  We are travelers, pilgrims, prayer warriors on a mission, and we are called to place our trust in You alone.  You, Lord, are ALL we have, and You give us ALL we need.  Our future is in Your Hands.  Lord, we pray for Your will.      

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 46)

   

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Christ is Risen! So often the solemness of Lent is emphasized and acts of penance, prayer, and almsgiving are observed, but then we seem to forget the unbridled joy that Easter brings.  I felt bad that I didn't make it to daily Mass more often during the Easter Octave, but fortunately we have even longer to celebrate the Easter season than we did observing the fast of Lent.  "The joy of the Lord is our strength!"

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A New Wedge Shoe Kevin went back to the doctor this Monday, and after being told that the screw in his foot has moved even more and my have to be removed, he was given another special shoe to wear that puts all the weight on his ankle instead of his toes.  He's not happy about having to wear it, but so far we're still very grateful that he's remained infection-free even if he does look a bit challenging, or as we used to say at Hollins, toe-up.

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Maternal Instincts Jess (Vivi's mom) and I were working to get Vivi back on a reasonable sleep schedule now that she's sleeping in a toddler bed she can get out of on her own.  Without knowing it we both took a similar approach when we monitored her going to bed.  We each chose a position that would prevent Vivi from getting out of her bed so she couldn't take things out of the dresser, play in the drapes, put hand sanitizer in her hair...and other fun things she's discovered to do in her room.  We did the supernanny approach with a Catholic twist, we used the time waiting for her to fall asleep to pray the Rosary silently.  It's quite a blessing taking care of a little one whose mom has maternal instincts that are similar to my own!

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He brought roses! I often mention our dearly beloved brother in Christ John.  Well, since I've been behind on my writing I hadn't yet posted about a really sweet surprise he had for us when Kevin and I went to the Easter Vigil.  John was in the commons holding two bouquets of a dozen roses and a card.  He motioned us over on our way outside where the service begins, and presented us each with a beautiful bouquet.  I went from feeling down, grumpy, and all-too-aware of the emptiness between Good Friday and Christ's Resurrection to feeling loved, blessed, and cherished.

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Don't Let the Pidgeon Drive the Bus Vivi has decided this week that the book written by Mo Willems is one of her favorites.  I can't tell you how many times I've read it to her, but she has been asking for it.  I've made sure to point out buses and big trucks when we've gone on our frequent field trips, which has only increased her interest.

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There's a Wocket in my Pocket! This has been another favorite of Miss Vivi this week.  I find it absolutely precious when kids get old enough that they start requesting certain books, even if I end up reading the some one a bazillion times.  I know the repetition helps them in so many ways with learning new words, vocabulary, rhymes, and memory, so I'll just point out new things about the book each time through in addition to reading the words,

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Rest in Peace A friend got us into the habit of adding "and may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace." at the end of the prayer each time we say grace.  In recent months we have had so many friends lose loved ones that we have a number of people in mind when we add that addendum prayer.  Lord, You are close to the brokenhearted.  Help us be loving and compassionate with those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.  Amen.

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.   

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla: The Gift of Life

     “When so many in our world do not respect the value and dignity of the human person, her life story teaches us the truth: each and every human life is sacred—from the youngest unborn baby to the oldest person on earth.  Each life is a precious gift from God, and each human person is created in God’s own image” (pg. 94-95).

     
This remarkable wife, mother of four, and physician lived quite an inspiring, profoundly loving life.  Her faith in the Lord even from a very early age (She prepared for and made her First Communion even before she turned six.) is testimony to the hope and joy which radiated through her during her relatively short time on earth, though she was faced with many challenges and struggles, sorrows, the loss of loved ones, and serious setbacks along the way.
     
Her devotion to God’s Will remained very strong as did the deep Catholic faith her parents and family passed on to her.  Gianna set out to become a physician and then a pediatrician because she wanted to care for people’s bodies as well as for their souls.  She and  Pietro were very prayerful, devout people even before they married and started a family.  They sought to live their lives glorifying God.      
     
You’ll want to read this short book and share it with others who want and need to aspire to holiness in their everyday lives.  Saint Gianna Beretta Molla is a powerful intercessor for struggling mothers, unborn babies, children, and families.    
     
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Saint Gianna Beretta Molla - The Gift of Life. They are also a great source for a baptism gifts or first communion gifts.

Divine Mercy Sunday is today!

    Did you know Divine Mercy Sunday is today April 15, 2012?  It's always observed the Sunday after Easter, though many of the faithful don't know about this powerful prayer and important message from the Lord. 
     There are a number of beautiful ways to celebrate the Lord’s Divine Mercy and the messages of mercy given to the world, especially through Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. I encourage you to read up on this feast day and find a church in your area that actually celebrates it. I love The Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayers.   This sung version is one of my absolute favorites! It's a very powerful prayer to sing with others. 
     We've used it on Cursillo and Christ Renews His Parish retreats with great success!  Some have said it was the most powerful part of the weekend for them. 
     Click to see a 15 minute video explanation of how to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday here.
     Click here to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on your computer.
     "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and the Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly Beloved Son in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world...For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."  "Jesus I trust in You!" - excertps from the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
    

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 45)

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Divine Mercy Sunday is the weekend after Easter.  There are a number of beautiful ways to celebrate the Lord’s Divine Mercy and the messages of mercy given to Saint Faustina.  I encourage you to read up on this feast day and find a church in your area that actually celebrates it.  I love The Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayers.  This sung version is one of my absolute favorites!  It's a very powerful prayer to sing with others.  We've used it on Cursillo and Christ Renews His Parish retreats with great success!

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Still in the Danger Zone Kevin and I thought we were past the “if your husband gets an infection, he could lose his toe” phase of his post-surgery healing process, but apparently we’re not.  Kevin’s foot was really swollen Sunday night, so he texted a picture of it to his doctor, who called him and said he needed to come in Monday morning for an emergency appointment.  He’s back on the couch.  I never thought I’d reach the day when I would hope and pray that my husband would remain on the couch with his feet up as much as possible.  Please pray that Kevin will be a good bum over the next week he has to be recovering with his toe up.

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So Tired I’m Re-Tired Working lots of extra hours at two different locations and taking care of my homebound husband has been wearing me out.  This week, I have been exhausted, continuing busy and mostly exhausted until some much-needed rest this weekend (I hope and pray).

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Special on Aisle Six You know you're life's gotten a bit crazy when you're friend comes to meet you at Aisle 6 of the grocery store while you finish your shopping because she knows it's probably the only time in the next four or five days she'll get a chance to see you.  I’m so glad she did come to visit with me.  She had me laughing hysterically a number of times, especially over the story she told me in the parking lot.  Who wouldn’t be amused hearing about an aspiring discalced Carmelite postulant concerned about the high heel wedge shoes her mom gave her?  We decided the shoes were probably a part of the problem, and that she should indeed be seriously discalced.       

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Smartphone & Pre-occupied Parents This week I’ve been in a number of public settings and play places for kids while taking care of Vivi.  I’ve noticed that many parents/caregivers will sit or stand on the sidelines with their eyes glued to their Smartphones instead of watching their young children play.  It made me kind of sad.  I’m not saying I never check my phone or text when I’m watching little ones or talking with other people, but I do make a point to spend the majority of my time being present to the person and situation in front of me.

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My favorite play-break habit! There are many great advantages of watching and listening to children.  They are just so honest, hilarious, and precious!  My personal favorite of Vivi’s habits when we’ve been at the indoor play area at the mall has been when she suddenly looks over at me, catches my eye, then runs full-speed into my open arms for a hug.  After a hug and a kiss, she’s off ready to play again.  My heart melted when after one of her hug breaks, which at times occurred as often as every two minutes, she shouted, “I love you!” over her shoulder to me as she ran off.  

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Worst Mom…Evah!  I have fallen way behind on reading and commenting on blogs, but during this hectic week, I just had to read the latest Matthew Archbold gem on raising children.  I’m sure you’ll find it a good pick me up. 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.   

We get to choose where we spend eternity!

     I don’t like to admit it, but I have been a modern-day Judas.  Through God’s grace, I’ve been shown the error of my ways and repented, asking for help in accepting the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy which I don’t deserve, can’t earn, or do anything to merit. 

     In the past few months, God has made something abundantly clear to me that I happened to miss for many years.  For the longest time, I would spend time in prayer trying to tell God how much I don’t deserve His Mercy or Forgiveness, how I have messed up too often and will likely do it again, so that I should not be granted pardon.  Recently, the Lord helped me see how ridiculous it is for me to spend time telling Him I’m not worthy to be loved, forgiven, or saved, when He knows that better than anyone else.  (Yes, I’m slow enough that this was a major ah-ha moment for me.) 
     In prayer, the Lord made it abundantly clear to me that it isn’t my pride, anger, lust, envy, gluttony, avarice, or sloth that is most abhorrent to Him.  It’s actually when I choose to reject His Mercy and believe that His love is greater than every single one of my sins that I am in the gravest danger of being separated from Him for all of eternity.   
     My view of things has begun to change now that I know the greatest rejection of God is to believe that something I (or someone else) have done, some sin I (or someone else) have committed, some evil thought I (or someone else) has had, is too horrible that it could be forgiven by the Lord of infinite Mercy and the Source of Love.
     Lord, thank You for the beauty, love, and joy in our lives that give us a glimpse of what eternity with You will be like.  Thanks for not giving up on us when we're slow on the uptake.  Draw us closer to You in all ways.  Amen. 
     Where and with whom would you prefer to spend all of eternity?   

Very Fond Memories of Holy Week

     The Holy Triduum is the most sacred time in the Catholic Church and an anniversary of sorts for Kevin.  Back in 2000, he joined me in Roanoke, where I was attending Hollins for the Easter Triduum “plus” as he dubbed it that year.  Our lives have never been the same! 
     To read about how my then boyfriend/now husband had is eyes, heart, and mind opened by the Holy Spirit and so did I, check out these stories of transformation in our Fond Memories of Holy Week and how I got to celebrate with“the Patron Saint of Boyfriends.” 
     The above is part of the spiritual memoir I'm writing about how God brought Kevin and I together, kept us together, and drew us much closer to Him. 

Happy Easter everyone!!

Good Friday

     “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the last words Jesus speaks as he suffocates and dies on the cross are not what they seem. For quite some time, I thought when Christ cried out ‘“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”’ (Matthew27:46) that He was feeling and experiencing a separation from God because He had willingly taken on all of our sins. My mom pointed out a Psalm that suggests this was not the case. It’s completely changed the way I see the moments before Christ’s death.
     As any well-educated Jew at that time knew, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” is the beginning of Psalm 22.
     Even as he gasped for his last breaths, Christ was speaking of fulfilling the prophecies of old and bringing new hope. Psalm 22 is called “The Prayer of an Innocent Person.” It includes many allusions to the specific types of suffering Christ endured during his Passion…Read more here.

Holy Thursday

    Do you believe in a God who would humble Himself to wash the dirt and grime off of your feet? The disciples had been walking everywhere. Their feet were likely hard with calluses, bunions, caked with dirt, sand, grime, not to mention sweaty and smelly. Yet, in order to reinforce to them the meaning of being a humble servant, Jesus washed the filthy feet of His friends. 

      I have participated in Holy Thursday services for many years, and I have had the experience of washing and drying other people's feet as well as that of having my own washed. The most poignant example of servitude when this gesture really hit home for me… Read more here. 

Two Minutes Holy Week Explanation on Youtube

Many people, including many practicing Catholics, don't realize that Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are the three holiest days in the year.  These three days known as the Holy Triduum give us a wonderful opportunity to pray and reflect on Christ's Passion, death, and Resurrection.  This is a great video to explain the who, what, when, where, why, & how of Holy Week:

 

Are you a modern-day Judas?

What was the gravest error that Judas Iscariot made? 

Betraying a close friend who welcomed you into his inner circle and treated you like a brother is high on the list of his biggest blunders, especially when it leads to you being brutally tortured and murdered, but it’s not the most serious indiscretion of this well-known traitor. 

     
In the Gospel reading from John 13: 21-33, 36-38 when Jesus informs the Twelve that one of them will betray Him, they all look at Him confused.  Peter nudges John, who was reclined at Jesus’ right hand, to ask who will do this.  In response, Jesus says He will hand the morsel to the person who will betray Him, then He dips the bread and hands the piece to the disciple sitting at His left hand, the spot given to the guest of honor, Judas Iscariot. 

Guess who’s coming to dinner?

I hadn’t realized this before, but Fr. Kauffman explained in his homily on Tuesday of Holy Week that the two people sitting closest to Jesus at the last supper were John and Judas.  This really struck me.  I have a hard enough time being around people who have lied to me, betrayed me, purposely hurt me in some way, so it hit me hard that Jesus kept Judas close to Him and lavished love upon him, knowing that he was about to hand him over to the people who would torture and kill Him. 

     
This boggles my mind!  Because I have been very hurt and harshly betrayed by the people closest to me in the past, I can sometimes be weary even of people who have proven to be sincere and worthy of my trust.  I get frustrated with myself for putting up walls of protection, but I still do it.  I tend to feel really tense and uncomfortable when sharing a meal or in the same room with someone who has hurt me very badly. 
     
Jesus wasn’t like that at all.  Jesus knew well in advance that Simon Peter and Judas Iscariot were going to betray their allegiance to Him, yet He kept them close by.  Jesus didn’t start distancing Himself from the two He knew were going to give in to temptation and turn their backs on Him.  He treated them as beloved brothers before, during, and after their betrayal.

What’s the main difference between Peter and Judas, the two disciples who Jesus indicates will betray Him? 

Peter denies his connection with Christ not once, but three times when the stakes of discipleship are quite high.  When he realizes what has happened, he weeps bitterly, painfully aware of his desperate need of Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy.          
     
Judas hands Jesus over to the soldiers and the police of the chief priests and the Pharisees.  When he acknowledges that he’s made a tremendous mistake, Judas despairs, condemns himself as one whose sin is greater than God’s mercy, and takes his own life. 
     
Not only has Judas betrayed Jesus, he makes the ultimate mistake of believing that his sin, the darkness within him, something he’s done in a moment of weakness has cast him outside the bounds of the Lord’s mercy, love, and salvation.  Judas decides that he cannot, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t be forgiven by Jesus for the evil he committed, so he rejects all faith and hope in exchange for despair and eternal damnation. 
     
Peter royally screwed up, but he had faith enough to believe in Christ’s message of mercy and forgiveness, to trust in His unconditional love and promise of salvation.  He held on to hope and allowed himself to be forgiven.

Life Entwined with Lily's (Book 3 in the Lily Trilogy)

I can’t recall the last time a novel (in this case three) has impacted me so powerfully.  The Lily Trilogy is a remarkable series that explores some of the greatest joys and deepest sorrows of life.  I am still blown away by how profoundly each of these books has touched me.  Questions, conflicts, struggles, and temptations are treated with the levity and gravity that the biggest challenges, sacrifices, and decisions are given in real life. 

     
Chances are very good you will find yourself easily able to identify with the complex inner workings of these people, these families, and that you will find in one or more of the situations something that speaks so perfectly to your own suffering that tears seem like the only possible release. 

     
Life Entwined with Lily's is a very close-up look at how the love, influence, and impact of one person can transform many hearts, souls, and minds.  Without the help of a wannabe angel named Clarence or a trip to the past, author Sherry Boas creates a beautiful affirmation of life, faith, hope, and relationships that reaches even deeper than the popular Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life.  

      
These modern-day persons aren’t perfect by any means.  Their lives are not ideal.  They are messy, complicated, and at times very bleak.  The characters grapple with the major questions about: what gives life value, meaning, who or what determines who should live, how long, and why.  
     
I prefer my characters to be very full, dynamic, believable.  In these books, that’s precisely what they are.  No one’s perfect.  Not a single person has mastered unconditional love, perfect compassion, or limitless forgiveness, but they’re genuinely trying. 

     
I am quite amazed that without being preachy or having some sort of flawless character to act as perfect guide for everyone else, the author of the Lily Trilogy has covered in just three books a majority of the respect life issues from conception to natural death in realistic, thought-provoking, meaningful ways as well as touched on every single one of the Seven Sacraments in the Catholic Church.  These two accomplishments in and of themselves would be impressive, but within such readable heart-wrenching works of fiction, they raise the bar for fiction, especially Christian and Catholic, as a whole.

     
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Caritas Press to find more information on Life Entwined with Lily's. 

Once Upon an April Fool's Day

It was between St. Patrick’s Day and April Fool’s Day many years ago when my mom shared a very big surprise with her mother who was visiting my parents in Texas the Spring after they got married.  They went to one of their favorite restaurants Magoo’s for St. Patrick’s Day, and Grandma won the contest for the wearing of the green (though she was actually in her favorite color, turquoise). 

     
My mom recalls feeling elated about the news and says my dad was very, very excited since he loved babies.  The newlyweds announced that they were expecting.  My mom had purchased a little baby jumper with Snoopy on it that she took out when she told her mom that she was pregnant.         

    
A couple weeks later, mom called her dad who was back in Rochester, New York, on April Fool’s Day to share the news with him.  She had to assure him that it really wasn’t a joke they were playing on him. 

   
The next October I was born to two joy-filled parents.  I was named Patricia Ann in honor of two generations of Patricias whose lives ended much sooner than expected, my grandmother’s younger sister and my mom’s older sister.  Click here to read the poem I wrote about them.  May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

   
Thanks, Mom and Dad, rest his soul, for welcoming a very big surprise into your life many years ago, then opening your hearts and home to two more daughters down the road!