7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 99)

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Fun with Watercolors I’ve had fun painting with watercolors, one of Vivi’s favorite past-times as well.  Occasionally, I have an opportunity to paint with her.  Over the weekend, I felt like painting with watercolors.  Once the little pictures dried, I enhanced them with details drawn with colored pencils.    

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Uploaded Wednesday Kevin brought pizza over to Carl and Jess’s for dinner, and we hung out with Jess and the girls while Carl was at an interest meeting for volunteers.  I finally remembered that I have about 600 some photos on my computer of the girls that I’ve been meeting to put on a flash drive or something for them.  I uploaded the photos and videos onto a flash drive, so their parents can enjoy them and pass them along to other members of the girls’ fan club.   

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Overheard It always makes me smile and sometimes laugh right out loud when I hear Vivi singing a song or quoting a phrase from a favorite book, especially when it’s a little off from what the actual lyrics are.  The quotes from books, of course her faves by Dr. Seuss, are completely accurate. 

     Thursday, as she ran around in a little circle in the living room she randomly came up with the following lyrics to the tune of Jingle Bells: “Thank you wish, thank you wish, thank you, Santa Claus.”  I have no idea what made her think of Santa or jingle bells, but the fact that thank you is in the lyrics makes me very happy.  I’m also excited that she remembers to say: “May I please…”  Also this week, she's been singing: Where is pumpkin? Where is pumpkin? to tune of  “Where Is Thumpkin?”

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Conversation for the Soul My friend Michele just found out that she'll be entering the Sisters by the Sea cloistered community in Carmel, California, August 6, 2013. She came over Tuesday afternoon so we could catch up.  Five hours later, we'd covered quite a bit.  We both enjoyed sharing our God-incidents and experiences from our recent trips—neither of which went the way we envisioned.  As usual, Michele had some amusing stories to share about her retreat, which didn’t end up being much of a retreat.  It was uplifting to hear the many instances in which God orchestrated things in ways Michele couldn’t have planned or even thought to ask for that made for quite memorable blessings.  One example, she was asked to perform her play "Teresita" for the cloistered sisters in the community where she staying at a hermitage in Pennsylvania for her "retreat," and when she finished, they sang to her the poem “In the Hands of God” on which her piece was largely inspired.  They’d set the poem to music for a special occasion the week before, a novice making her final vows.    

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Now what?! One of my favorite quotes from our soul-spilling epic conversation with my beloved sister in Christ Michele came in the form of a clarification on the role of prayer and its affect on family relations: "I don't think that if I pray enough my family's not gonna act stupid anymore.”  Nothing’s impossible with God, but it’s highly probable that members of the same family are going to rile each other up (sometimes accidentally), have differences in opinion, and varying views on pretty much everything.

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Heaven-Sent by God "We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we have to choose how, where, and with whom to live. We act as if we were simply plopped down in creation and have to decide how to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do." -Henri Nouwen  I receive daily reflections from the Henri Nouwen Society via e-mail.  You can check them out and do the same here.

     

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Kermit on Trial No, I’m not suggesting that Jim Henson’s green, lovable friend is on trial (that would actually get widespread news coverage and genuine concern about the injustices in life).  I’m talking about the Kermit who no one wants to talk about because it might look bad for the abortion industry to discuss how some abortionists have been killing babies after delivering them from the womb.  If you have any question about whether or not our media is biased, check out the media block-out of this trial.

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

Fatherless

     Frighteningly realistic and suspenseful, Fatherless is the first book in what has been perfectly labeled as “the American tragedy in trilogy.”  It immediately grabbed my attention and kept me intrigued throughout.  I know it’s good when I don’t want to get to the end of the first book before the next one is available and ready to be read.

     I can empathize with and at the same time be horrified by many of the decisions we make as Christians in the world today when it comes to our families, our friends, our workplace, our faith community.  It’s all-too-easy to get lost on that slippery slope of moral relativity rather than seeking the Gospel Truth, which doesn’t change according to modern opinion or current trends.    

      The stories powerfully illustrate and verify the authenticity of many descriptions and assessments included about the mainstream media, corporate America, the popular culture, and watered down Catholic teachings most prominent in our times.  The other main characters are mostly laity with families of their own to care for and shepherd.  The people in these novels vary quite a bit when it comes to their knowledge of Church teachings (or lack thereof), their devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, their practice of the faith, and the life choices they make as a result.    

     Some of the family struggles and situations are familiar enough to make me uncomfortable and reflective.  Having two parents who were cradle Catholics and practiced the faith throughout their lives while also knowing a number of people who have fallen away from the Church for a variety of reasons helped me identify with a number of the characters and families in Fatherless.  My father used to be a high-level sales executive for major pharmaceutical corporation, so the ethical, moral, and faith questions raised in this book through many of the situations and characters really hit home. 
     John Sweeney, one of the main characters and narrators who serves as a primary link connecting the many families in these books, is a Roman Catholic priest.  Fr. Sweeney is young, fresh out of seminary, and in many ways inexperienced in pastoral care at the start of the first book, but this adds quite a bit of interest and insight into the life of the consecrated religious, particularly priests, and the unique opportunities and challenges they face in their vocation to shepherd the flock entrusted to their care.  A major crisis of faith inspires him to take some time away to discern if the vocation he’s chosen is really where God wants and needs him to be.

     When I read that the author Brian J. Gail is a former semi-pro athlete, Madison Ave. ad man, and Fortune 500 senior executive, I was completely blown away that a man so steeped in the culture of corporate America, mainstream media, and all that comes with it has been incredibly vulnerable, honest, and even critical of the world he has been a part of for so long, even under the veil of fiction. 

     In some ways, I feel that these books tell part of my dad’s life story.  They have given me a much deeper insight into the professional and personal challenges he and countless others in his generation (and the following one) struggle with.  Brian J. Gail gives voice to the questions, concerns, and torments whirling about in the hearts of many men and women of faith.  Clearly, this author is someone who understands companies that regularly tempt people to compromise their values and/or change them under pressure.

     So much of what’s in these pages has actually happened, is happening now, and/or will take place in the not-too-distant future.  The truth pharmaceutical companies hide about the side effects of their products, the lies promoted and promulgated through advertising, the media, and government, along with the permanent scars left by a rampant culture of death that embraces everything from abortion to euthanasia as convenient, revolutionary, advanced, and scariest of all they tout these scientific discoveries and technologies as being: humane, moral, and ethical.  This skewed view of Creation and man’s manipulation of what God has made shows that the interconnectedness of people, their influence on others, and their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (or lack thereof) are of greater consequence in time and eternity than appears at first glance. 

     Reading these novels has reminded me that we have so many opportunities to do the right thing, to choose life, to bring about healing where there is great pain, possibly even suffering that we have unintentionally caused.  What seems like the end of a relationship, a calling, a career, a dream can so often be a new beginning.      

     This trilogy raises some vital questions: Who determines our worth?  Who do we trust and what does that say about who we are and what matters most to us?  Who do we turn to for answers, guidance, and advice?

     Depending on the answers to those questions and the choices made because of them we have a responsibility and accountability to others and to God.  Our choices have consequences for others as well as ourselves.  Are we true to ourselves or are we more devoted to discovering and upholding Truth=God?

     What’s worth putting everything on the line for?  No need to answer with words.  The choices we make and actions we take show clearly what or whom we value above everything and everyone else.  What example, what values, what legacy are you leaving by the way you live your life?  What impact is it having on those around you?  What impact will it have on the generations to come?
     For more information about Fatherless, to purchase a copy of this book (paperback or Kindle), or read more about the author, or "the American tragedy in Trilogy," check out this website. 
     This post is linked to the May 2013 issue of New Evangelists Monthly.  

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 98)

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Hope in the Lord! There are many times that I’m acutely aware that I'm not who anyone wants me to be, but I have a glimmer of hope because God loves me even when all those around me serve only to remind me of how much of a disappointment I am to them for a myriad of reasons. I do offer that pain up to the Lord on behalf of all who feel utterly rejected and do not know or believe in the love of God for every single one of His beloved children. 

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Beautiful in God’s Eyes Because I’m someone who tends to see myself in a very critical light, it can be really painful for me when others (especially those closest to me whose opinions’ I’m more likely to take to heart) convey a steady stream of reasons that I’m not who they want me to be, that what I say, do, how I

look, feel, my values…are wrong, ugly, stupid, delusional, quaint, ill-informed, ridiculous...  It’s not always easy for me to separate objectively what criticisms are just and accurate and which are more indicative of the insecurities or misconceptions of the other person rather than true assessments of who I am and what I’ve done, especially when judgments are being thrown at me fast and furious. 

     My tendency is to believe the bad since that’s what predominantly goes through my own thoughts about myself.  Fortunately, there is a source Truth that never lies.  So as scary as it seems when steeped in disparaging lies, I turn to God and ask how He sees me when I want the Truth.  Do you have the courage to ask: “God, how do You see me?” And, more importantly, are you willing to listen in silence and believe what He tells you?

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Spring Dance Festival I was often fondly reminded of my Hollins friends and dancers (from when I was in college way back when) during this past weekend while visiting my youngest sister at OSU. The dance Road Trip & Spring Dance Festival.

performances were great! I enjoyed getting to see my sister dance, meeting her apartment mates—all three of whom are gorgeous women and fun to spend time with like my sister is.  We ate at some of her fave restaurants and dessert places.  To read more about our visit, check out

     I got back from Ohio with Mom on Monday evening. It's been wonderful to spend time with Kevin, who knows me well and loves me lots. It's also nice to be home and be back together sleeping in our own bed.  To which Kevin says: “Yeah buddy!”

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Body Image Spending time around beautiful women who are in really great shape, always wearing fashionable clothes, make-up and jewelry can be intimidating and discouraging for me at times.  I’m no longer able to fit into the single digit sizes I wore in my twenties nor have I have really been in tip-top physical condition at any point.  (My approach to appearance most of the time these days is probably best summed up in my post Fashion Faux Pas.) Seeing and hearing other women criticizing their bodies is very difficult for me, though, because it is far easier for me to see the genuine beauty in other people than it is to see it in myself.  The grace and trouble about that is no matter what I say or think, it’s unlikely to affect on the deepest levels how someone else sees or feels about herself.  If you’re not quite ready or willing to ask how God sees you, at least watch this video clip to see how it is that women usually view themselves.     

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Undeniably Adorable! There are numerous times during the day when Vivi will say that she’s beautiful or that her lips or fingers…are beautiful.  I always confirm that fact and say to her: “You are beautiful!”  Silently, I pray that she will hold onto that truth for many years to come.  I hope that’s the statement she will always return to when she looks in the mirror and stares back at her reflection.  Who do you recognize in your own family as undeniably adorable, beautiful, gorgeous?  Have you told them recently?  How about ever?  How about now?   

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Best Books on True Beauty Here are some of the most amazing books (and their authors) I’ve read in recent years that deal with the topics of beauty, body image, seeing ourselves in God’s image.

Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II

Fierce Beauty by Kim Meeder

Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body by Kate Wicker

Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Women by Teresa Tomeo and Cheryl Dickow

Extreme Makeover by Teresa Tomeo

Becoming the Woman God Made You to Be by Tammy Evevard

  
     

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Comfort for the Heartbroken This week I have been and will continue praying for all who are mourning the loss of loved ones, that they may feel the hope of the Lord, allow His love to wash over them, and move in and through them as they grieve and hang on while God, in His time and in His way, turns their tears into dancing, their profound sorrow into a lasting joy.

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary,  This week we’re meeting up over at Camp Patton since Jen and their newborn baby are just getting home and settled in.  

When Temptation Loses Face

I couldn’t help but laugh when Carl arrived home after work and a Target run with the biggest chocolate bunny I have ever seen in real life.  I don’t think I realized before that there was such a huge bunny available. 

A number of thoughts came to my mind when this vastly discounted after Easter chocolate bunny in a box was carried through the door.  1.  Is that a real edible chocolate bunny the size of a toddler?  2. How much chocolate was used to make that? 3.  How many people will it take to polish it off? 4. How many days will they take to nibble away at it?

    
The next morning, the bunny was on the back of the living room couch in half of its plastic packaging, missing all of its face.  I have some modicum of willpower, but spending most of my day within a few feet of a large chocolate bunny and not eating any of it was more than I thought I could manage. 

Therefore, I found the other half of the packaging and moved the partially-eaten chocolate bunny into the kitchen where it was out of my sight.  Honestly, I don’t think Carl or Jess would have minded if I’d eaten some of the bunny, but it was a case of being worried that if I started eating a bit of it, I might not stop soon enough that I wouldn’t get a tummyache (refer to video clip below).

     

I don’t think I will ever see a chocolate bunny and not think of the hilarious Veggie Tales song/video which I’m pretty sure originally appeared in their adaptation of a certain Bible story which illustrates the dangers of idol worship and blindly following the crowd.   Rack, Shack, and Benny: A Lesson in Handling Peer Pressure is something you will definitely want to see in its entirety, but here’s a little taste, the video of “The New and Improved Bunny Song” which I also find highly addictive: 

Road Trip & Spring Dance Festival

Road Trip Destination: Columbus, Ohio

   This past weekend I was often fondly reminded of my college friends and the amazing dancers I saw and got to know while attending Hollins University (way back when).  My mom and I went up to Columbus, Ohio, to visit my youngest sister and be there for The Ohio State University Spring Dance Festival.

 
I’d felt bad it’d been almost three years since I’d seen my sister in a performance, especially after going to each one of her dance recitals, many of her dress rehearsals, dance competitions, musical revue’s, and such when she was growing up.  Granted, it wasn’t usually an eight hour commute to get to the other shows she was in from Pre-K through high school, but still.  Being in the audience has been one of the ways that I’ve shown her my love and support.

     
The Ohio State University Spring Dance Festival gave me the perfect opportunity to see some of the OSU campus, witness some of what the dance department’s been up to, watch my sister perform, and see a site-specific piece she directed with her friend. 

All in Good Taste

   I got a taste for the dance department and community at OSU, and I must say I’m very impressed.  I figured I would be and have been looking forward to seeing some awe-inspiring choreography and performance art. 

 
I spent time with Mom and sister, met her apartment mates, three gorgeous women who are also dance majors and fun people to hang out with (like my sister).  I finally got to see some of the OSU campus, some of her preferred stomping grounds, and hot spots in Columbus. 

             
              On Friday, Mom and I checked into our hotel, then we picked my sister up from a rehearsal on campus and headed back to their apartment for a bit.  That evening, we went to the 8pm performance made up of five pieces choreographed by the seniors in the dance department for their mixing dance and media projects.  My sister was in a piece entitled “Staring at the Sun” choreographed by Quentin Burley and Madeline Irmen. 

 
After the Friday night performance at the EMMA Lab at ACCAD, my sister, three of her close friends, Mom, and I went to Spagiō’s for dinner and dessert.  My mom and I shared a tomato basil pizza that was absolutely delectable.  The gourmet dessert with a chocolate-coated exterior, toffee, mocha pudding, and yummy squiggles of chocolate and raspberry sauces for added zest is one I do believe I’ll have to order again.   

Not a School for the Directionally Challenged (like I am!)

   I can say with absolute certainty that I would get undeniably lost trying to find my way around such a sprawling campus.  My mom’s been there a number of times, and she got turned around occasionally.  I remained perpetually in a state of not knowing where the heck I was in relation to any other building, Theresa’s apartment, or our hotel.  Fortunately, Mom did all of the driving when we were up there, so we may have taken the longest possible route back to our hotel a couple times, but we never ended up in the ghetto of another state (which is all-too-likely to happen when I’m driving). 

Being there affirmed once again that a small liberal arts college with a strong sense of community and a beautiful rural campus were the best fit for me.  I would have felt incredibly lost, lonely, and insignificant going to school on one of the biggest college campuses in the country.  Hollins was the right place for me.  My sister has thoroughly enjoyed going to OSU.  I’m grateful we both found places of higher education to fit our personalities, tastes, and to help us grow in the intellectual and artistic passions we have.   

Need a Screw or an Adjustment?

Kevin came to visit me and the girls.
Here he's holding Sophie, his Goddaughter.

My husband has a screw loose.  He admitted this openly and scoured about the floor on his hands and knees in the hallway looking for it with a large magnet.  The screw that popped out of his glasses was very small, so it wouldn’t have been easy to see, especially for someone whose spectacles had just come apart. 

This is not the first incident my husband has had with these particular glasses, and chances are better than average, it won’t be the last.  Kevin’s had all sorts of strange things happen with his prescription eyeglasses.  The lenses have popped out at random intervals.  One occurrence that was particularly exasperating happened while he was walking through the parking lot at work on a snowy day.  Fortunately, since they’re transition lenses, the lens turned black on the snow, so he was able to find it. 

Kevin and I thought it admirable that his eye doctor refuses to carry any frames made in China.  Our admiration has dwindled a bit when my husband has had to resort to removing screws from Dollar Tree reading glasses he has (which were definitely made in China) to replace the screw from his Made in Italy frames with transition lenses, a supposedly top-of-the-line pair. 

His assumption is that these glasses were made for people who don’t do anything other than sit at a desk or something equally as innocuous.  When I pointed out that walking through a parking lot that’s not under construction or in an empty hallway are not really high-danger-to-glasses activities, he made some offhand comment about how walking through a snowy parking lot or doing laundry counts doing something.

I still can’t figure out how it is that Kevin walked into the hallway outside of our place on one of the trips to the basement in our building to do laundry, and one of the screws just suddenly popped right out of his glasses.  The irony of it all is that this particular combo of frames and lenses has caused a whole lot more trouble than they're worth.  I've worn glasses and/or contacts since the summer after I was in third grade, and I've never had so many issues with a flippin' pair of glasses.  Perhaps athletes who play full-contact sports have such frequent problems with their eyewear, but this seems a bit much. 

Another thing that amuses me considerably regarding Kevin and his glasses are how often he cleans them.  I’ve worn glasses for long enough that there has to be a glob of strawberry jam or something equally noticeable on my glasses for me to bother cleaning them properly with a soft cloth and maybe even a little soap and water.  Most of the time, if there are some fingerprints, smears, or smudges detectable on my glasses while I’m wearing them, then I wipe the lenses off on the softest material handy and get on with my day.  Kevin stops whatever he’s doing, and he makes a production out of wiping his lenses thoroughly to remove the offending spots with a small cloth specifically designed for such a purpose. 

I read Kevin this piece before posting it.  His response: "Is that it?"  I said yes. To which he said:

 "I see."

For further musings on vision, glasses, and impressions (and Impressionists) when things aren’t in focus, you might enjoy reading I Can Almost See You.   

Curtain Calls and Lights Out (My Nanny Diary)

 Bop Until You Drop

Lately, Vivi has often requested I play “Bop Until You Drop” song for us to sing and dance to.  Her sisters get into it as well.  They bounce dance to the music and find it thoroughly amusing when Vivi and I dance around, then suddenly drop to the ground. 

    
I couldn’t help but smile this week when the girls were playing with two of the Boppy pillows (typically used for nursing and later for propping babies up into a sitting position) while we were listening to “Bop Until You Drop.” 

    
All three girls love music and dancing.  Sophie tilts her head from side to side when she hears even the slightest hint of a melody.  It cracks me up when she really gets into it because she looks like she’s imitating the motions of Stevie Wonder.  What’s even funnier is when she is bee-bopping around and moving her head so much she tips over.

Curtain Calls 

In the past couple weeks, I’ve had some new experiences with household items and persistent, curious kids.  Vivi had her first "curtain call" the other day during her nap/rest time.  Clearly she was opting not to nap or rest.  I often hear her making noise in her room when she’s decided she’d rather play than rest, so I wasn’t alarmed when I heard her moving around. 

    
A number of times she’s removed all of her pillows, bedding, cuddly stuffed animals, books, (basically everything but the fitted sheet on her bed) to the floor or, on a couple different occasions, into her closet.  The first time she moved everything into her closet during naptime, I opened the door and had a brief moment of panic when I didn’t see her or any of her bedding.  I then remembered she has a closet she can get into.  I opened the door and there she lay sound asleep on top of her pillows, blankets, and furry friends. 

    
When I walked into her room the other day, of course, the first thing I noticed was that the purple drapes and the rod were on the floor.  I was not pleased, but I at least had the peace of mind to ask her if she’d gotten hurt when they came down and save the “we don’t pull on the curtains” talk for later.  She said the “candy cane” (aka curtain rod) hit the top of her head.

Lights Out

Livie’s walking around quite nimbly for a little squirt who’s only 10.5 months old.  Sophie was very determined to practice freestanding the other day.  She’s working on her balance and aspiring to be careening around the living room soon and very soon.  There are plenty of things for the girls to pull up on and play with, but they naturally are most interested in getting into areas and items that aren’t suitable for them to use at all and/or bang up on.  Sophie swiftly pulled the floor lamp down on herself last week.  Fortunately, it only got her leg, and Livie was far enough back, it didn’t knock her lights out, either.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 97)

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Miss You Much I must admit, there is a part of me that has been sad to see friends move several hours away, even if they're leaving for something bigger to which God's called them.  Truth be told, no goodbye to friends (or rather see ya next time) has been nearly as painful as parting with Kevin was, especially when we didn't know the next time we'd get to see each other.  It's been really sweet hearing Kevin tell me how much he's going to miss me.  I know he means it.  I know I'll miss him, too.  It makes me think of when he made his Cursillo weekend back in September 2006.  At the end of it, he gave me a big hug and a kiss in front of everyone.  His excuse: "It's been three whole days!" was met with someone shouting "get a room!"  What Kevin meant by his comment was that it was really nice to hug and kiss me after three days of being apart with no contact of any kind.  

    

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Cloistered Carmelite or Bust! Last November our dear friend Michele Morris submitted her application for Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations after discerning God would like her to enter the Carmelite Sisters by the Sea in California.  Last July, she held her debut of the original play “Teresita” which she wrote based on the life of St. Teresa of Avila. 

     Since then she has performed her one act play up and down the East Coast as her primary fundraiser to pay off her student debt.  Early this March she received an email stating, that although she did not receive the grant, the board voted her first runner-up.  This meant that if one of the recipients backed out for whatever reason, that the grant then would go to her. 

     Divine Mercy weekend (last Saturday and Sunday) was when she got a call from Mater Ecclesiae offering her the grant.  Her response was an immediate, and no doubt enthusiastic: “I ACCEPT!”   

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Pizza Party!  Of course, we had to do something fun to celebrate the great news that Michele received the grant and will, therefore, be entering Carmel sooner than later.  I asked what she was in the mood for, and she said pizza or some type of Italian, so Kevin and I picked her up and took her to a wonderful local restaurant that makes a melt-in your mouth Sicilian pizza.  I asked my mom to come and join us for the celebration.  She's seen Michele's play and was very excited to congratulate her on the grant.  

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Can you spare a square? At this point, my main potty training goal for the three year old is to get her to pee in the potty instead of on the carpet in the living room, the bathroom floor…so I’m not quite as concerned about her toilet paper consumption provided the toilet flushes without a problem.  (She’s been doing really great using the potty and keeping her princess panties dry over the past couple weeks, but she still enjoys the woohooo! and good job! affirmations each time she takes a leak, and I’m happy to oblige.)

     I’ve often seen her take a single square of toilet paper to wipe off.  I’m not sure what has led her to believe that this will be sufficient; it could be that when she has used flushable wipes, we have her use one, but I’m not sure.  Naturally, I’m led to think of the Seinfeld episode where a woman is asked if she can “spare a square?”  Here's the infamous clip.  To read more about adventures in potty training (and nannying), click here.

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Happy Birthday!  Yesterday was John's birthday, so Kevin and I called and sang to him.  John went on vacation with his parents and his brother Matt this past week.  I'd asked him to send us pics.  I was laughing hysterically when he texted me a picture of a bear in a field with: "That's a real bear!" as the only caption and explanation for the photo.  For all I knew, he pulled the photo up on his Smartphone and sent it.  After being hassled (and once I'd e-mailed him a photo of a tiger with the message "That's a real tiger!"), he let us know that he'd actually seen the bear at Bearizona.     

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DONE! There are many days that I am for all intents and purposes spent by the time one of the girls' parents gets home.  That is most often the case when I have not had so much as 2 minutes to myself for the past 9+ hours.  No overlapping naps.  Only one meal that everyone eats the same thing at the same time.  One or more peepee-not-in-the-potty accidents to clean up while keeping two very mobile little ones out of the bathroom.  
     Thank God, I have such a wonderful husband.  Not only does he support me being a nanny because I love kids, but he's tremendously understanding those evenings when I come home and I need some silent time alone before anything else.  
     I can think of few things that express the readiness to collapse as this picture of Sophie.  She was so insistent on practicing sitting up that she eventually just stuck her thumb in her mouth, keeled over, and fell asleep just like that.
             

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Dance like you mean it! My mom and I will be halfway to Ohio by the time you read this.  We’re going to see my sister Theresa and be there for The Ohio State University Spring Dance Festival. It's been far too long since I've seen my youngest sister perform onstage (maybe as long as three years now), after having gone to basically all of her dance recitals, showcases, and musical revues when she was growing up. I was also quite spoiled when I could attend a number of truly amazing dance performances on campus or a short drive away when I was attending at Hollins University. Praying for a safe trip and a relaxing/super-fun girls weekend!

                  

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.  Also, please pray for her son, born on the Feast of the Annunciation, as well as the Fulwiler family.  Joseph Thomas has had some breathing difficulties.  Due to these complications, 7 Quick Takes Friday this week is being hosted at Camp Patton.

Once Upon a Potty Training (My Nanny Diary)

Potty Seats

    
Having children sit on the potty either directly or on a seat that’s a little smaller, perhaps padded, and maybe with some fun fictitious friends on it in primary colors, seems to make the most sense to me.  A potty chair that has to be emptied and cleaned every time which sits next to a real toilet doesn’t seem like a good solution in my book, because the kid’s going to know that the toilet can be flushed and the lid opened, so toys and books, jewelry, pets, etc. would likely end up in there, especially if that’s not where their pee and poop went directly.  Who knows?  I may very well change my mind when it comes to spending several blocks of time each day potty training two or more children at the same time. 

Lockdown

I must emphasize the importance of showing any visitors, nannies, childcare providers, babysitters from up the street how to use any and all toilet cover locks.  I was really in a state of panic one day when both toilets had been fitted with new locks I was having trouble figuring out how to operate, while eyeing the bathtub with dismay.  I did manage eventually to determine how the swing/lever contraption thing worked before I had to resort to desperate measures.

Overflow

At daycare centers and schools, they often have tiny potties which are low to the ground, have smaller seats, and well, smaller everything.  I can’t tell you how much worse it is to clean up an overflowing toddler toilet(s).  There are often two little toilets in one bathroom.  When they both are overflowing, it traditionally means one staff person will have the privilege of spending the next 20+ minutes cleaning up the bathroom (while going through one or more pairs of gloves) after the ridiculously small pipes have been plunged and the ridiculously large poop (for such a little person) is dislodged.    

Flushback

My mom tells me that the first time she brought out a potty chair and tried to explain to me how to use it, that I was a bit young.  She gave me a brief tutorial, then she went into the kitchen.  I came out before long with the bowl from the potty chair (which was still empty and dry) and asked her for “Green beans?” my favorite vegetable at that time.  She wisely discerned I wasn’t quite ready to use the toilet. 

Princess Panties 

The two funniest communications I’ve received recently from a parent regarding misplaced items have come to me via text message.  One was to ask if I knew the whereabouts of a pile of princess underwear and the other one was to inquire where I had last seen the pink kitty.  Don't get me wrong, these were both totally legit questions, I just found it amusing to get texts messages asking me about princess panties and pink kitty whereabouts.  I knew the answer to both questions, but the pile of princess panties took longer to find because someone else had moved it from where I had set it.  The pink kitty was found without my further involvement.  (I knew it had made it up into her bedroom at naptime and hadn’t come back down.) 

    
Across the 20+ years since I first began babysitting, I’ve gotten all sorts of strange urgent calls from parents seeking something essential for their child’s peace of mind (or their own).  Sometimes, a parent might call me later that evening or perhaps over the weekend to inquire about the location of a certain item.  Frantic calls around bedtime to see if I know where they can locate the one and only soft, cuddly thing a child will deign to fall asleep clutching aren’t uncommon.  Missing blankets, books, toys, bottle tops, shoes, socks, hats, Gladware containers…some or all of which have been sources of anxiety for certain mothers (and therefore causes of stress for me) who itemize everything and/or inventory a few things every single day— once in the morning and once at night.  I’m talking about some mothers doing this—not me!    

Can you spare a square?

Since things are generally pretty hectic keeping up with the twins, the times are few and far between when I can spend an extended period of time with their older sister in the bathroom without one of them getting into trouble.  They make a beeline for the bathroom whenever the door is open.  They want to crawl on the stool their sister uses, hang on her, etc.    

    
I have only had a limited number of toilet paper tutorials with her thus far, and at this point, my main goal is to get her to pee in the potty instead of on the carpet in the living room, the bathroom floor…so I’m not quite as concerned about her toilet paper consumption provided the toilet flushes without a problem.

When I’ve been present for when she’s ready to wipe off, she’s often taken a single square of toilet paper.  I’m not sure what has led her to believe that this will be sufficient; it could be that when she has used flushable wipes, we have her use one, but I’m not sure.  Naturally, I’m led to think of the Seinfeld episode where a woman is asked if she can “spare a square?”

    
I don’t want her to use half a roll or just one square.  I figure four squares are about how many would be reasonable for a little person still learning proper top-to-bottom wiping technique.  Lately, when I’ve come in to turn the water on so she can wash her hands (she’s not quite tall enough yet with her present plastic stool to reach the handles herself), I’ve noticed a trail of toilet paper on the floor.  It’s unused, which is good, I suppose, but I’m not sure if she uses the one square then pulls out some more to dump on the floor or what.  Maybe when the girls are both napping, and I’m not cleaning up from one of our three to four meals during the day, I’ll witness the whole process and provide helpful insight into the number of squares of TP to use. 

Tricks of the Trade That Have Worked for a Time:

Telling the toddler: “It’s your turn!” to use the potty right after I’ve gone can sometimes make it a smoother transition.

    
For a while during the earlier stages of potty training, she could be persuaded and encouraged that I would put a smiley face sticker on her chart for each time she sat on the potty without having a knock-down/drag-out fit.  Sitting on potty post knock-down/drag-out made me frown, and depending on the level and decibel of the drama might also cause her sisters to fuss, so there would be no sticker.

    
I once would resort to singing what can very easily become an annoying song to the tune of the of the Peanut Butter Jelly Time song, but we’ve veered out of that level of desperation at least in terms of songs to sing incessantly while on the toilet or in the bathroom. 

    
I flip on the light on in the bathroom and let her know it’s her turn and close the door so her sisters aren’t in there taking a header into the toilet, playing with the trash, etc. 

    
Tune in again to read more about potty training and other adventures in the wonderful world of nannying. 

Catholicism DVD Sets: Buy One, Give One

     Catholicism is an awe-inspiring, around the world, journey into the mysteries of the Roman Catholic faith.  Without a passport, airline tickets, or hotel accommodations, you can go on pilgrimage to some of Christianity's most sacred spots on Earth with Fr. Robert Barron of Word on Fire as your esteemed tour guide.

     To see some highlights of the Catholicism series, check out the video below:

  

     My husband and I were inspired to view the Catholicism DVDs when our beloved brother in Christ, John, purchased a set and was very impressed by what he saw.  It was really interesting to watch many of the DVDs during this past summer while John was in Europe visiting a number of the holy sites described and featured in these DVDs.  Suddenly we had a deeper understanding of the inspiration behind his pilgrimage itinerary, and we could feel a sense of connection as he journeyed to these places to witness the beauty and faithfulness they contain.  

     My mom gave me the set of Catholicism DVDs as a gift, knowing that Kevin and I really enjoyed the series.  Several parishes and prayer groups have been offering viewings of Catholicism as part of ongoing formation, education, and evangelization for parishioners, families, and those interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic faith.  

     Right now, there is a special deal being offered where for the price of one set of Catholicism DVDs, you will receive two complete sets.  One for you, and one to give to someone else.  For more information and/or to take advantage of the buy one, give one offer that's available for a limited time only, click here.        

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday! One aspect of the Lord's love that I may always struggle with in this life is His mercy.  I don't understand it, can do nothing to merit it, certainly don't deserve it, and, yet, He gives it freely, and accepting it is my only hope of salvation.  Mercy is one of the mysteries of the faith in my mind.
   
There are many Blessings of Divine Mercy which I have previously written about along with my experience of praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

How can a God who knows us more intimately than we know ourselves, who is aware of our every thought, word, and deed, love us so much that He’s willing to forgive us for our countless transgressions against Him and His children?

Contemplating the Lord’s Passion, as we have been invited to do during Lent and Holy Week, has made me even more aware of how weak I am when it comes to accepting suffering from the Lord willingly and lovingly as a way of purifying my soul and taking part in the redemptive suffering of Christ that will save souls in time and eternity. 

Reading what’s happening in our world, in our country, with our government, in our town, it is easy for me to feel very overwhelmed and depressed.  There are so many clear instances where the culture of death is running rampant and even those who were once faithful to the teachings of Christ have begun to believe the lies. 

I felt quite humbled, sometimes even a bit useless when thinking about the profound suffering our Lord Jesus Christ accepted as expiation for our sins when I know how often I try to get out of the pain given to me in mind, body, and/or spirit which is quite mild in comparison.

Truly, periods of acute awareness of how sinful I am, how desperately I need the Lord’s mercy are gifts without which I probably wouldn’t develop an even deeper yearning for His Mercy.  Unless I’m made uncomfortable and more aware of what I lack, then I don’t seek out and appreciate the forgiveness and reconciliation the Lord offers us through the sacrifice of His Son. 

    
St. Faustina Kowalska is one of my favorite saints.  Her closeness to the Lord and willingness to be shown her sinfulness and profound need for His Mercy gives me hope.  No matter how far away we wander from the Lord, He always welcomes us back with open arms and invites us to be washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb, the only one perfect sacrifice ever offered in time and eternity. 

   
Lord, please help me and each one of Your Children to accept the suffering in mind, body, and/or spirit that You give us, so that we are better vessels of love and mercy for others.  Open our hearts to accept Your Divine Mercy on a deeper level than we ever have before, so that there is a greater capacity for Your love to grow in and through us.  Amen.
     

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 96)

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Divine Mercy Clearly Christ's Passion, death, and Resurrection which we contemplate during Lent and Easter are the greatest sources of evidence that the Lord is merciful to us.  The first Sunday after Easter has been named and celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday.  To read more about what that means, how it is observed, and to learn one of the most powerful prayers around, The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, check out this website and/or this personal reflection on the devotion and associated prayers.

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Quality Time I had a nice treat around lunchtime on Tuesday when I went over to drop off a burrito bowl from Chipotle for my sister, I got to catch up with her a bit while holding my twelve lbs. one month old nephew, Ezra, who snuggled up in my arms and slept soundly for most of the time. Thanks for reminders of the many miracles in our lives, Lord!

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All Fired Up A dear friend of mine I’ve known since I was 11 has recently gotten a part-time job at a cool paint your own pottery place.  Though I painted all three of these pieces at the Carytown location with the same name, I’m looking forward to seeing the Short Pump one where she works and adding another bowl to our set of original water-themed dishware. They are all having to do with water and the lake since that's where Kevin and I first met, at his family's cottage on Lake Ontario when I was only sixteen.

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Young Sponges Soak Up Everything I’m reminded about a million times a day how infants and toddlers are such sponges.  Vivi will start singing part of a song or say a line from a book then ask me to read it, or she’ll suggest we do something that we used to do before her sisters were born (last May), or I’ll see one of the twins mimic their big sister.  Kids are listening to the songs you play, the words you say, the things you sing, everything they watch on TV, DVD, computer, XBOX, and it does affect them and stick with them much longer than you think.      

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Back to the Throne Room Knowing that young children are listening, watching, and imitating what I do makes me feel a huge sense of responsibility, especially since I can remember and am still affected by what people close to me said and did even before I was 5 years old.  I am that much more certain that I need to be grounded in prayer and fully relying on God when such precious, impressionable people are in my care.  I feel that way about everyone, but I have always been especially sensitive to how powerfully we can influence children’s self-esteem, interior monologue (which at a young age still is an external monologue), and the habits they form…

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The Theology of Marriage It’s been interesting to read what different people have to say about: what the definition of marriage is, what it has meant, and should mean in the future.  This is a reflection I wrote on marriage and the one book in addition to the Bible that explained most beautifully God’s love for us and His intentions for us.  This is the best recent article I’ve read (thus far) explaining the Roman Catholic teaching on marriage from the beginning.          

     

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The Chronicles of Narnia I have a confession to make.  Not only was it only within the past 6 months that I finally read all of The Lord of the Rings for the first time in my life, but also I am only now reading The Chronicles of Narnia.  I feel a much greater appreciation for classic Catholic literature now that I've taken greater steps to round out my very secular studies as an English (with a concentration in creative writing) and French major at a liberal arts university.  I’m also very excited to be working on something within the genre of Catholic fiction that will hopefully entertain and inspire many.

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

Blessings in the Mundane

I was alone the first time I went over to Dad’s apartment after he passed. I wasn’t sure how being there would affect me.  It felt strange unlocking the door. He always left it unlocked for me though I had a key. Things were just the way my mom and I had left them eighteen days before.

    
I snapped some photos and turned on Dad’s Eagles CD. Over the next two and a half hours, I collected a stack of letters, cards, stories, and such I had written to him. He had a few different places where he’d stashed letters and cards from family and friends. It was comforting to know how many people had reached out to him over the years, reminding him he’s loved and thought of often.
    
I searched for other things I’d made and was surprised by some of the ones I found tucked away: oddly-shaped clay pottery from elementary school, a big smooth rock with a girl’s face painted on it, a poster of pictures my mom, sisters, and I had given him one Father’s Day.
    
I had it in my mind to get the plastic plate I’d decorated with markers when I was six. For reasons I couldn’t understand even soon after I’d finished my two plates, I concentrated on holiday themes. I decorated one plate by drawing a heart for Valentine’s Day, a four-leaf clover for St. Patrick’s day, and a random sunshine (perhaps because my parents used to sing “You are my sunshine…” to us when we were little). On the top, my mom or perhaps another adult, had written Happy Mother's Day 1987, and I signed LOVE, Trisha at the bottom. My mom still has this plate and uses it regularly.
    
The second plate I decorated with two really big, bordering on oval Easter eggs sitting on a small patch of green grass. After we finished, the plates were somehow sealed and made ready to be used. It didn’t take long before it occurred to me that I should have chosen something else in my six-year-old art repertoire that would have been more appropriate to use year-round. I know for a time I was embarrassed that I’d drawn Easter eggs on the plate that we would end up using all year.
    
The Easter egg plate was at Dad’s. It was one of the things I definitely wanted to bring home with me. I didn’t see it in the cupboard. Dad usually used paper plates, so he didn’t have to use what little energy he had to do dishes. I checked in the dishwasher, and there it was. I picked it up to wash it and looked closely at the tomato sauce stuck to the Easter eggs and grass, then I remembered the Pizza Hut box I saw out on his counter the night he passed away.
    
I took comfort in something as simple as knowing he ate his last supper on the plate I had decorated years ago. Perhaps it made him think of when my sister and I were young. Maybe he thought of the tickling matches, games of tag, and books he read to us. I’m not sure, but I liked thinking that’s what came to mind.
    
I can’t think of anything more fitting than finding out the plastic Easter Egg plate I made years ago was what he’d used hours before his death. It reminded me of Christ’s promise to conquer death through His Resurrection. I never thought something so mundane could turn into a blessing. God’s just full of surprises, though, isn’t He?

Note: I originally wrote and posted this entry in August of 2009 soon after my dad passed away.  Thinking of him lately and it being Easter (and me still having and using that plate) got me thinking it was a good one to revisit.