The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living

The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living is a wonderfully candid, intimate, honest, and, at times, hilarious look at a Catholic couple’s efforts to live out their vocations as children of God, spouses, and parents of five in ways that uphold their faith and desire to glorify God. 

     
The foreword by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, CEO, Star Quest Production Network paints a great picture of life with the Willits starting with the scene the first time he met them in person.  I’ll give you a hint, it was on the front porch of their home and it involved lightsabers.  

     
Greg and Jennifer Willits don’t claim to have things all figured out—not in any area of their lives—but they do know that putting God first and their marriage second are the two essential ingredients to make them good parents and good people. 

     

Through their experience as a married couple raising children while keeping the faith, they are credible sources for entertaining stories and essential guidelines for growing closer to the Lord and drawing others nearer to Him.  This dynamic duo hosts the radio program The Catholics Next Door and have founded New Evangelizers, Rosary Army, and That Catholic Show, among other apostolates.   

     

It works really well in this book to have Greg and Jennifer go back and forth writing views from their own perspectives regarding everything from learning about the Catholic faith to living it out in all areas of their lives. 

     

This couple doesn’t hold back.  They are vulnerable and humble enough to share their major mishaps and current struggles in their faith journey which are likely to reassure and inspire others who are fairly certain the neighbors (and maybe even their family) think they’ve lost their minds. 

      

They even give some great suggestions and guides for using and monitoring media in your household so that parents and their children are seeing, listening to, and entertained by media that upholds the Catholic faith and wholesome values. I really love that they included this section and talked about how getting on the right track meant that Greg and Jennifer needed to go through their music, movies, and podcast collections first and clean out things that erode faith and family values. 

     

This couple does a great job discussing the trials and triumphs of committing to put God first, and how that can be done by an imperfect people still in need of growth, transformation, and most of all a heaping helping of grace.

     

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 The CatholicsNext Door. The Catholic Company is a great resource for tools to help you participate in the Year of Faith, including Year of Faith bible studies and exclusive Year of Faith personalized gifts. The Catholic Company also has all your Advent needs in stock, such as Advent calendars and Advent wreaths.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 69)

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Religious Freedom at Risk:

ActsFive29.com

We Must Obey God Rather Than Men!

The future of religious freedom in America is at risk!

Join us for 72 hours of prayer and arrests at The White House

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We’re on a roll! It’s quite amusing to watch the twins for whom I nanny interact on the blanket on the floor.  Even if they’re on opposite ends of the blanket, they always gravitate towards each other, flailing their little hands and feet in the process.  Their antics are quite hilarious.  (No one was mortally or morally wounded in the shooting of these photos.) 

 

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Cute as Can Be Big Sis One melt-your-heart precious moments this week, Vivi saw Livi sleeping on the floor uncovered, so she went over and put a blanket over her legs.  I responded with the appropriate “Awww, that was so sweet!” in hopes to encourage this sort of compassion and sisterly concern. 

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Play It Again, Sam  Thankfully, the girls’ parents and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to what I call “noisy toys.”  Some of them are actually nice to listen to (for less than an hour at a time), and others are pretty much grating after the second verse or stanza of the song.  When I told Jess that I’d put Vivi’s keyboard up when she wouldn’t stop standing on it and I’d told her it would break.  Jess said Carl would just as soon it did break.  Jess reminded me that I’m free to hide any toys I can’t stand hearing ad infinitum or remove the batteries.  I have reserved this right for quite some time as I discovered years ago that there are some toys that are sufficiently unsettling enough to jeopardize an adult’s sanity when two young children have access to them for 8+ hours at a time.  In case you might have missed it, books have always been my favorite go-to for me and for the children in my life.

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No Arms, No Legs, No Worries?  I'm currently reading inspirational speaker Nick Vujicic’s first book Life Without Limits. I’m absolutely amazed by his attitude of gratitude, faith, compassion, love, joy, and spirit. The first book of his which I'm still reading and his many Youtube videos have deeply touched my heart and soul.  I’m really looking forward to reading his second book which is coming out in late October!
  

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The Butterfly Circus I’and really loved this short film he was in along with the lead actor Eduardo Verastegui, whom you might recognize from the remarkable movie Bella.

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The Lord of all Dance I pray that You will draw my loved one who had a successful foot surgery (they fixed the problem and discovered it wasn’t a tumor like they originally thought) ever nearer to You in all areas of life.  Please give Your beloved child the wisdom to listen to You, the Divine Physician as well as her medical doctor so that her healing will happen quickly and without complications.     

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

Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy

What brings you life, fuels your passion, gives you energy?  What special talents or gifts have you been given that make the world a more beautiful, loving hopeful place in which to live?  Internationally-known author, lecturer, and Benedictine sister, Joan Chittister encourages readers to consider these questions to lead us to happiness.  “When we finally take that first step toward being honest about what we ourselves really believe, really want to do, really enjoy most, are really most committed to doing for others—and do it—we become a person who is a gift to the rest of the human race” (pg. 99).  

Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy invites us to look at our God-given talents, our innate passions, and how using our gifts in order to help others.  She explains how taking action using our talents to do something purposeful that helps others is what will lead us to having a genuinely satisfying life. 

     

Another important message conveyed is that it’s never too late.  Some people feel that they can’t possibly go in a completely new direction when it comes to their education, career, ministry, hobbies…, but Joan illustrates that simply isn’t true.  Discovering our purpose and how we can use who we are and what we have to help others is a life-long process.  We grow, learn more about ourselves, and how our strengths can be used to make life better for others.   

     

Following your call rather than falling back on what you know and can do that will most likely lead to a life that’s successful in the world’s eyes certainly goes against the grain.  It may very well baffle your family and friends, but it can bring more energy to your own life and inspire those you serve in ways only God could bring about. 

     

At times there are so many hypothetical situations and scenarios considered, I felt that the potency of the main message became watered down in a sense.  It may very well be that other readers find it helpful to have such a variety of examples of what a call is and how it can be lived out. 

     

Following the Path serves as a good overview of what a call is, how to live it out, and why that purposeful activity leads to true happiness and fulfillment regardless of what stage of life and/or type of discernment you are in at present. 

     

To read more about, Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy, click here.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  Love books and have a blog? Join their Blogging for Books program. 

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 68)

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A new kind of drinking problem? Refusal to hit the bottle.  Apparently a certain little cutie has had a couple bottle boycott days this week, when her mom had to be called in at lunch time to feed her directly from the source.  When notified of this potential problem when I arrived at work in the morning the day after the bottle strike days, it dawned on me that I have close to 24 years experience of feeding infants their bottles.  I believe I started when I was in second grade, and the babysitter we went to had an baby boy who I'd get up, dress, and feed in the morning, because I loved babies and children already.  Fortunately, sweetpea decided to suspend the boycott when I was around.    

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Cause that’s how we roll! So the twins are becoming increasingly more mobile.  One of them is already rolling far and fast enough that she’s hitting her head on things and getting caught under stuff.  This week, she made it her personal goal to attack the old-fashioned toy rotary phone with all her might.  Her twin seemed content simply to be out of range when her sister came creeping, almost crawling and rolling by. 

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Woohoo for Watercolors The big sister has enjoyed dabbling in watercolors this week.  I tried to explain and demonstrate the concept of dipping the paintbrush in water before getting another color, but I realized too late that I should have done the demo before putting water in the cup instead of after.  Ah well, it’s important for artists to understand what happens when you mix different colors, too, so before long we had some lovely brown, black, and drab green mixtures working for us.   

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Strange Goings-on Apparently, the puppy dog named Violet has needed to cool down this week.  Big sister put her purple plush toy into her Dora the Explorer kitchen set on the refrigerator side.  She’d close the door, ask me where Violet was, then tell me she was in the fridge.  When I informed her mother that I had no idea what Violet had done to deserve such treatment, she said: “I guess she was hot.  If she gets to cold, we’ll put her in the oven.” Further evidence her mother and I are kindred spirits when it comes to appreciating the nuances of kids.   

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Ever felt like giving up? Here’s one of many reasons why you shouldn’t.

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 A “fall-ish” pie Dear friends of ours, Laura and Jeff, had us over for dinner Thursday evening and asked us to bring salad greens and a “fall-ish” pie.  My husband thought he’d gotten the last pumpkin pie in the store.  We discovered that he’d made a delicious mistake by the time we reached dessert.  Our hostess who is quite the Susie Homemaker (cook, baker, decorator, seamstress…) had suspected something wasn’t right since they pie didn’t look deep enough or seem to be the right consistency.  The four of us agreed it was by far the tastiest mistake my husband made all day.  It turned out to be Lemongrass pie.  Kevin joked that it had been a rough year for crops, implying that’s why the pumpkin pie had tasted so unusual.    

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Lord of the Dance I pray that You will draw my loved one who is having foot surgery next Tuesday afternoon ever nearer to You, that the procedure may go smoothly, the healing quickly, and the recovery be complete.  Perfect Physician, Wonderful Counselor, Holy Comforter, please open our hearts and minds to the healing You know we all need most.    

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

In Name Only by Ellen Gable Hrkach

In her second novel In Name Only, author/editor Ellen Gable Hrkach creates a masterfully complex late eighteen hundreds setting ripe for drama, suspense, and intrigue.  The characters are richly described and deeply developed.  The complete conversion in thought, word, and deed of two of the main characters is very moving.  I can easily see why In Name Only won the Gold Medal in Religious Fiction in the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Awards and has been in the top ten of its category on Amazon Kindle since February 2012, usually in the top five. 

     
The leading lady, Caroline, finds herself in a number of difficult, quite distressing situations which eventually lead her to a period in her life where things are looking up.  She meets and falls in love with a respectable man and finds hope in the future of their relationship and lives together.  Tragedy strikes but the opportunity for true love, passion, marital bliss, and a more profound hope based on God isn’t lost forever.
     
One thing that really blew me away about this novel was the powerful, extremely real descriptions of the physical, emotional, and spiritual devastation of losing a loved one.  I have never experienced the particular type of loss dealt with in this novel, but it is one that I have often thought would be one of the most difficult to live through and move beyond.  This is one of the few books where this topic is treated on such an intimate level that the reader can tangibly identify the pain and suffering involved, even if she has not experienced the same tragedy. 
    
This novel proves that wild hearts can not only be broken, but also converted, and completely transformed.  The relational, psychological, and spiritual intricacies of the main characters are explored in tremendous depth, which makes this book hard to put down.  The moral struggles and questions that the characters grapple with are fascinating and some of them very unexpected. 
     
One ladies’ man goes from being completely driven by and acting out based on pleasure and pride, to learning to live out of compassion, humility, and love.  Find out what it takes to turn this reckless rake into a true gentleman. 
     
Of course, even post paradigm-shift, the main man still has some haunting memories and some sins from the past that have a major impact on his present, not a devastating, damning one, but one that becomes redemptive in nature.  Through the grace of God, the admission of truth and previous lies, and a selfless love for others, healing happens in realistically miraculous ways.
     
The messiness and confusion suggestive of real life relationships, the true transformation the Lord offers, and God’s ability to bring about good from even the most devastating circumstances are what make this novel such a compelling read.  Temptation, sin, morality, and virtue are all weighed in the balance on a spellbinding level that captures the depths of despair and the heights of hope. 
     
I highly recommend In Name Only.  To read more about this awesome novel or to purchase your own copy, click here.  Oh, and by the way, I heard today (from a very credible source) that a sequel to this novel is in the works.


Ever feel like giving up?

    I have.  Years ago, in the not-too-distant-past, and even today I’ve questioned God’s greater purpose for my life.  Here’s what I came across at precisely the right time this evening. 

    If you have ever felt lost, alone, lonely, or like giving up…

Then watch this video

 

Read the excerpt from this soon-to-be-released book (click on link below)

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action

 

Then listen to this song (click on link below)

"Something More"

 

Now, if you can find it in your heart, thank the Lord for loving you right where you are and for having a purpose for your life even when the darkness of the valley and the stream of tears have led you dangerously close to despair.  Hold on!  God’s not finished with you yet.

 

Don’t Despair: God + you= Unstoppable!

Times of Transition, Loneliness, Being Honest, Forging True Friendships

I originally wrote most of this in a letter to encourage and support a friend going through a major life transition, knowing that these are many of the lessons I’ve needed to be reminded of during each significant move or change in my own life.  

     
I know it’s hard to do, but when you’re missing aspects of the life you used to lead, it’s fine to tell someone back home that, however, it will help you get settled and can be a tremendous grace when you share what you’re thinking and feeling with someone who’s there with you.  Chances are many are feeling the same way or have other things they’re missing that they’d be more likely to share if they knew they weren’t the only ones getting used to things being so different there from what they’re used to. 
     
It’s always been hard for me to open up emotionally, but there have been people throughout my life the Lord has given me who I can be more myself with than I can with most people.  Obviously, my husband Kevin’s one of those people for me, but there have been a select group of others as well. 
     
Your getting settled and making new friends there will involve letting your guard down sometimes.  I’ve often found that if I’m willing to be honest and vulnerable that it makes others feel more comfortable doing the same.  You will need friends there you can really talk with.
      
Forging close friendships where you are will make the difference in you feeling settled and that will be an integral part of your growth and experience of God and the Body of Christ.
     
God loves you without “the mask” or suit of armor, and so do many other people. With that in mind, accept the gifts of courage and humility to be honest if someone who genuinely wants to know asks how you’re doing.  It’s okay to tell someone you trust and see yourself being friends with that you feel a bit overwhelmed, frustrated, lonely, miss your family…
     
Yet again, I know all of this is easier said than done.  Often, I still have to force myself to let people closest to me know what I’m thinking and feeling for fear that I’ll be judged, rejected, criticized or even abandoned.  It’s often a struggle in new situations, but it’s worth the effort.  We need people around us who know us well and love us anyway.  It’s a gift to be able to form relationships with others around our likes and dislikes, our strengths and weaknesses, but it’s most rewarding when we can be our true selves and let others be their true selves, especially when both people want God at the center of their lives.      
     
I know that others will come to love you dearly when they get to know who you are.  This is an important time to expand your lovelines family.  You’re not the only one missing home.  You’re not the only one who has felt they have to be “on” all the time. 
     
There are people who have come to love you so much because they know you so well.  Give others the chance to get to know you and make the effort to get to know some other people on a deeper level. 
     
Also remember that the first few weeks, even the first few months, you’re adjusting to a number of things, meeting lots of new people, and getting into a lifestyle and schedule that are vastly different from what you’re used to.  It’s normal to feel overwhelmed.  This is a huge transition.  Give yourself time to get adjusted, but in the meantime, be honest with yourself, God, and a few trusted friends when you’re not feeling comfortable or that you’ve gotten into your new groove yet. 
  
Lord, give us the courage to be vulnerable with others, especially when it will help us be better vessels of your love, compassion, comfort, encouragement, support, and peace.  Amen.

Here's a follow-up post to this one since it seemed to hit home with so many readers: Not Practically Perfect in Any Way.

Laugh your way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor

One of my favorite gifts from God is laughter, so naturally I would be interested in a book called Laugh your way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor.  The author Reverend Susan Sparks is advertised as “America’s only female stand-up comedian with a pulpit.”  This ex-lawyer turned comedian and minister takes a serious look at the significance of humor in life and, more specifically, in the spiritual journey. 

     
I firmly believe that God has a sense of humor and that life is much better if we have one as well.  Susan Sparks helps us identify places in which we may have become so solemn and fearful that we are unable to see the irony, the silliness, the joy, and therefore, the grace, in those places.  When we are open to something that is fresh, new, out-of-the-ordinary, we can find laughter in new spaces where fear, worry, and/or an overarching heaviness had formerly settled in. 
     
Reading Laughing your way to Grace helped remind me of the many times in my life when laughter has lowered my defenses, been a catalyst to see things in a new way, and has gotten me to take myself and others less seriously. 
     
I thought of a number of authors, bloggers, TV shows, movies, preachers, Youtube videos, and people who have linked faith, religion, and humor together in a ways that are quite refreshing.  Anne Lamott, Barbara Johnson, and Erma Bombeck are just of a few of the women who come to mind whose books have gotten me laughing out loud.  I would be hard-pressed to forget Bill Cosby’s bit about God telling Noah to build the ark. 
     
My husband and I love to laugh and wouldn’t have become such close friends or made it through so much as a married couple without some much-needed silliness.  One way Kevin’s been open to learning and has remembered more stories from the Bible has been through our incorporation of Veggie Tales into our entertainment and faith education.  Veggie Tales are a great source for faith-based laughter for kids and adults alike.  Anyone who can take the stories of King David and Bethsheba, Noah and the ark, Jonah and the whale…and turn them into hilarious child-friendly lessons in loyalty and morals has got to have a sense of humor.
     
In short, if your walk with the Lord has always been solemn and serious, then you’re missing one of God’s greatest gifts!  Learn how and why it’s okay and actually highly recommended that you Laugh your way to Grace.
     
For more information, or to order your own copy, click here.  I received a free copy of this book from Skylight Paths Publishing in exchange for this review.     

The Secret Life of John Paul II

I was immediately intrigued by the title of this book.  I’ve read a fair amount about Blessed Pope John Paul II and I’ve read and studied even more that was written by him.  Both what I’ve read about and by him have always served to bring me closer to the Lord and grow in appreciation of the love and mercy offered to us by God, Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Mother.  He and Blessed Mother Teresa are two of the people I’ve always enjoyed reading about and learning from, regardless of what aspect of their lives a certain book or article covered. 

     
The Secret Life of John Paul II is a powerfully moving account of how the holiness, sanctity, compassion, and warmth of this man touched many even when he was “off the record.”  You will see how John Paul II’s prayerful spirit, love of nature, sportsmanship, and friendliness pervade the moments he spent during his secret getaways to mountains in Italy to enjoy two past times from his youth: hiking and skiing. 
     
Learn how mountain guide Lino Zani and his family formed a lifelong friendship with John Paul II.  During his “clandestine trip” to go skiing, the pope was deeply moved by the family’s hospitality and very interested in the history of the Adamello area where they live. While visiting there, the man referred as the “Fatima pope” had a surprising revelation that relates to the third secret of Fatima.
    
I highly recommend this book to people who are interested in the outdoors, faith, John Paul II, Fatima, and those who enjoy learning about history and nature.  To find out more about The Secret Life of John Paul II, check out this article by National Catholic Register’s Rome correspondent, Edward Pentin.  To order a copy of this book published by St.Benedict Press, click here. 


7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 67)

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My Own Parable of O’s and Fishes I still find it hard to believe that it was eight years ago Sept. 13 that I began nannying for "my two little guys." Hank and Jack, you will always have a special place in my heart. Here's a parable I wrote way back when taking care of the "bare piggy brigade" and “toddler tagteam” called A Parable of O’s and Fishes.

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Why my husband rocks! Okay, there are a whole lot of reason why I am beyond blessed to have Kevin as my husband.  I was reminded of many of those last Saturday when Kevin helped me take care of Vivi, Livi, and Sophie so their parents could go out for a bit.  It cracked me up that he met me over there on his motorcycle in full riding gear looking hot in a badass kind of way.  Before long he was helping with babies, bottles, burping, and toddler entertaining (I changed any and all dirty diapers).  Kevin's comment later that evening: "You look at those two little ones--absolute miracles in every possible sense!" This is one of the many reasons I love my husband indubitably. He gets that each child is a miracle created and loved by the Lord.

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My Nanny Diary This week Vivi had a tea party on the deck (with no political implications whatsoever), Livi rolled across the room and won the award for most prolific pooper of the week, and Sophie kept up her Big Gulp bottle drinking tendency.  As their mom Jessica observed, it seems that Livi has gotten chunkier though Sophie’s been drinking more milk this week.  I’m sure this will cause for quite a few disagreements if the same is true in their teen years. 

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Hollins Paris Abroad Program Project One of my favorite professors, who is also a very dear friend, Jean Fallon, is undertaking an exciting project gathering information, stories and pictures from the over 1300 students who have participated in the Hollins Paris Abroad program since it began.  I’ve taken this as another sign that I’m supposed to be working on the spiritual memoir since the part I’ve reached and started writing about is my time in France.  Fortunately, I kept a regular journal, wrote lots of poetry, and kept a prayer journal while I was over there in addition to writing a number of letters and e-mails, so I’ll have lots to jog my memory and glean from for the memoir and to serve as a jumping for Jean Fallon’s awesome book project. 

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Our Beloved Brother in Christ/Seminarian Update This is John Baab's second week of classes, and he's getting into the swing of things.  Last Wednesday was his first time going to the place where he will be doing his pastoral time this year, a nursing home for retired nuns, and he said it went well.  When I went to visit my grandma today, Sister Joseph Mary was very joyful to hear that John's at seminary in Baltimore and asked me to tell him that they're praying for him.        

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Oh my goodness! This past Tuesday was a busy but good day watching the girls followed by a hectic, stressful evening dealing with my poor husband who'd had an awful day and the evening's ensuing motorcycle mayhem. I knew it wouldn't be pretty when he had to jump the battery three times before leaving the parking lot at work. Fortunately, I insisted on following him in my car, because the thing stalled out and wouldn't restart on a rather busy road. Apparently our AAA Plus membership doesn't cover motorcycles. That requires a RV policy which we added that evening on our second call to them, then found out it takes seven days before it's activated, meaning we still had to pay $75 out of pocket to have the thing towed after we added the policy rider. At least the second person Kevin spoke with transferred us to a towing company once we finished speaking. When he'd called information in between AAA calls to get the number of a very well-known local towing company, they said they didn't have the number on file. Yes, there was more to the story than that, but suffice it to say we made it through the evening together and were very grateful when we finally were able to get dinner and go home. 

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   A Perfect Picnic with my Grandma I had a nice picnic lunch outside with my grandma on Wednesday. In the event that I live several more years, I hope and pray that I will maintain the attitude of gratitude that woman has, the depth of faith, and the delight in nature that she still has in her late 80s. Read more here.

     This week's 7 Quick Takes Friday is being hosted by over at Camp Patton.  Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

A Perfect Picnic with My Grandma

     Today the weather was gorgeous so I decided to bring a few of my grandmother’s favorite foods over so we could share a picnic lunch outdoors.  When I arrived with food in hand and proposed that we go outside to eat, she was absolutely delighted.  She’s always loved being outside, and the flowers, gardens, statues, and landscaping at Little Sisters of the Poor is quite beautiful.

     After grabbing a couple plates, cups, and plasticware from the room called the Hospitality Inn on her floor, we headed outside.  I parked her wheelchair near a bench at an angle that allowed her to see the front gardens and the little fountain, in addition to those entering and exiting the building.  We began with some fresh fruits.  My grandmother, who is in her upper eighties, said that she wasn’t sure what the fruits were or where to start.  By that I could tell that this was going to be a so-so day in terms of her memory and understanding.  I encouraged her to begin with the mango and named the other fruits on her plate. 
     She found each one delicious and told me so in between exclamations about how perfect the weather was and what a grand day it was for a picnic.  As often happens in my grandmother’s presence, I marveled that this woman who has been through so  much suffering in mind, body, and spirit still finds such joy, nature, and delight in life. 
     Even on days when she asks me the same questions repeatedly or makes the same statements over and over, she’s usually asking me about how I’m doing, how my husband is, how work’s going, if I’m warm enough, and the statements she makes are often ones of gratitude, expressions of contentment over the beauty of nature and kindness of others.     
     In the event that I live several more years, I hope and pray that I will maintain the attitude of gratitude that woman has, the depth of faith, and the delight in nature that she still has in her late 80s. 
     Lord, thank You for the gift of grandmothers, the beauty of nature, and the gift of faith. 

How we love thee, let us count the ways…

This is the fancy card we received yesterday from John, our beloved brother in Christ who spent a month in Europe this summer visiting a number of beautiful and awe-inspiring pilgrimage sites. 

There are multiple translations possible for two of the French verbs and a couple of the nouns and pronouns used, but John doesn’t know French so he didn’t have a clue as to what the front said when he purchased the card for us in Lisieux, France while visiting the Basilica of St. Thérѐse. 
     
At least he’s honest.  The first sentence he wrote inside the card is: “I’m not sure what it says on the front. (I’m sure Trisha can translate.) But it looks nice.”
     
Kevin doesn’t know much French either beyond some of the basics and how to tell someone you love her from the bottom of your heart and ask her to marry you, so he couldn’t make heads or tails of what it said.  This gave me quite a bit of creative license in the translation.  The first one I think (and sincerely hope) is more in line with the sentiments John intended to express:
   

Happy Wedding

Would that the joy of this day

permeate your love
and that the reminder of it
return to you each day.

Rather than this other possible translation of the card:

Happy Wedding

Would that the joy of this day

impregnate your lover
and that his memory
would hit you every day.

     
Either way, it’s only eight years and four days late for our weddingJ. 

     
The prayers John’s prayed with and for us certainly bridge that wrinkle in time.  Plus, his is still the only card we received in any language this year that’s (most likely) intended to be a congratulations on our anniversary.
     
Truth be told, the message inside the card (after the I-don’t-know-what-it-says-on-the-front part) is quite touching, loving, and encouraging, especially coming from someone who knows us as well as John does. 
     
He’s certainly one of the people God has worked through in countless ways, prayer being the most important, to help Kevin and me grow closer to God and one another.  For God bringing him into our lives, we are beyond blessed.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 66)

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Our Eighth Anniversary Kevin and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. Wow! We've never been your typical couple, so of course our evening isn't likely to resemble that of other married couples. Read more here... 

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See where you rate. Last Sunday, Kevin was helping Carl and Jess get the girls out of the car and into a side door for Mass during a torrential downpour.  Kevin opened the van door, and Vivi greeted him with: “Hi Kevin! We're gonna see Trisha!”

 

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This Nanny’s New Groove Speaking of anniversaries, this is my eighth anniversary of being a nanny.  One week after Kevin and I got married, I began nannying for “my little guys,” and eight years later I begin my new schedule nannying three days a week for three adorable little girls (Vivi who’s 2.5 and her twin sisters Livia and Sophia who are 3 mos. old) on our eighth wedding anniversary.  I’ve helped take care of Vivi since she was a baby, and now I get to love on her and her sisters.     

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Haiti Rummage Sale On September 8, from 7:00 am - 12 noon, St. Michael Church will hold its annual rummage sale to benefit the Haiti Ministry. Donations for the sale will be accepted today Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

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Vocational discernment. This week actually has one more anniversary of sorts: the first heart-to-heart with our beloved brother John Baab over his vocational discernment took place three years ago the Saturday of the Haiti Rummage sale.  Where is he now?  At St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.  God’s timing often isn’t our timing, but it’s definitely the best timing!      

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“What does God want of us?” Kevin and I have been doing some discernment of our own, and I’ve done a four part series on our questions and prayers asking what the Lord wants of us.  To read it: click here.

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Oh my goodness!  This past Monday my youngest sister had as part of her Facebook status update: “That awkward moment when you are on a peaceful bike ride along the river and you pass a man wearing NOTHING but his sunglasses and his tennis shoes. WHY?!?!”  I had to laugh because it made me think of a similar story our cousin had told us many years ago about visiting the Berkeley campus and seeing two girls walking around holding hands and wearing nothing but socks, and as she put it "they looked as if they’d never seen a razor."  At the time we heard this, my sister was about six or seven, so it didn’t dawn on her that the two people in the story were naked except for their footwear and neither of them had shaved.  Later that afternoon when my young sister was retelling the story to someone else, she got the part right about them only wearing socks, but then she said, “and they looked like they’d never seen a raisin.”  Then after a brief moment, she added, “But I don’t know how she could tell.”  :)

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

 

Not Your Typical Wedding Anniversary

     Yesterday, Kevin and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. Wow! We've never been your typical couple, so of course our evening isn't likely to resemble that of other married couples. After work, we met at St. Benedict's for Mass. I felt another wave of awe over all that God's done in our lives—that He brought us together and has kept us together as best friends and a couple for the past fourteen years, the last eight of which we’ve been married. 

     Kevin was eager to hear about my day nannying for the Baab girls.  How fitting that my first day on the new schedule for taking care of them happens to be our eighth anniversary.  It was one week after we got married that I began nannying for “my little guys.”  Hank and Jack definitely became part of our family and among the many children we would welcome into our lives.  The Lord has again blessed us with beautiful children to love, care for, about and pray for.  This time we’re also considered part of their family and we get to be Godparents for two of them.
     After daily Mass, we came home and Kevin made a simple supper of rice and veggies for the two of us which we ate while watching (as was my husband’s suggestion) Episode 5 of Catholicism, the DVD series by Rev. Robert Barron produced by Word on Fire.  We’ve both been really impressed by the series, and it was further testimony to God’s working miracles that in addition to the man who once argued with me about not needing to go to church because “God’s everywhere so we can pray anywhere” was eager to meet for Mass and recommended we watch the next DVD in the series.  I can’t tell you how incredibly loveable (and alluring) it is to be married to my best friend who now has a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and who is open to growing in faith!  God rocks!
     We reminisced about our many years together as friends, then a couple.  We reconnected on a number of levels and had several reminders of the miracles God’s worked in our lives.  I got a renewed sense that Kevin and I are supposed to share our story, that I need to schedule time to work on the spiritual memoir, because now is the time to glorify God with the gifts He’s given us. 
     Lord, thank You for bringing the two of us together, for continuing to draw the two of us into a more intimate relationship with You and with one another, so that we may glorify You through the gift, the covenant, the Sacrament of our marriage.  Amen.

“What do You want of me?” Part IV of IV

     There’s a danger in relying blindly on the thoughts, feelings, observations, and opinions of others.  Our perceptions are just that, how we see things.  In order to know the Truth about ourselves, another person, a situation…we must go to the only always reliable source: God.  The rest of us are liable to be confused by our own lie-based thinking and beliefs, tainted by our own experiences, our sinfulness, and skewed by our own perceptions.  Sometimes we’ll see part of what’s really there, and other times we’ll miss most of it. 

     I wrote a prayer a while back keeping all of this in mind, and I’ve shared it with others and prayed it often myself as a reminder of where my most authentic and brutally honest performance evaluation comes from. 

     “Lord, so often we seek the approval of our family, our friends, our colleagues, and society and are easily swayed by their opinions.  Please help us have courage enough to turn to You when we need guidance, and put Your view of us, Your wishes for our future, and Your thoughts about our words and actions, above those of other people around us.

     You alone know our hearts completely.  You alone know what is ultimately best for us.  Inspire us to spend more time listening to You so it is easier for us to separate Your will from our own and those of the people closest to us.  Protect us from despair and disillusionment by arming us with the truth, the strength to do Your will, and the wisdom to submit everything we are and have to You.  Amen.”                 Prayer written by Trisha Niermeyer Potter March 2008

Note: This post is the last of four in a series.  Click these links to read the first three posts: "What do You want of me?" Part I, Part II, Part III.