7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 104)

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Birthday Party Photos This past weekend the twins had their first birthday party.  Their mom made Livie a cake with pink frosting and Sophie had a cake with purple frosting.  As you can see, the frosted birthday cakes mommy made them were very well-received.

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Treasure Chest Surprises A few weeks ago, Sophie began pulling up on the treasure chest, then perching on top of it for a bit.  Over the past week, Sophie and Livie have been very interested in climbing into the Minnie Mouse treasure chest Vivi received as one of her turning 3 birthday gifts.  At first, Sophie would approach the open treasure chest filled with wooden blocks and Duplos and gingerly sit on it with one leg hanging off the side.  Mastering this trick, she decided to climb in, make herself as comfy as possible while sitting on blocks, and even cross her ankles. 

     Thursday Livie was sitting in the treasure chest facing backwards, trying to pull the lid down on herself which went about as well as you can imagine it would. 

  Earlier both of the twins managed to wedge themselves in there with the colorful assortment of blocks.  To read about more of our adventures, click here.

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Quality Toddler Time Usually I try to do something one-on-one with Vivi when her sisters are sleeping, because when all three are awake, I’m so often playing the role of waitress, interceptor, referee, busboy, block builder, diaper changer, potty monitor…that it’s easier to do something that’s just the two of us when it’s just the two of us.  Typically we do an activity of her choosing.  Lately, we’ve played Candyland, read several picture books in a row, and built towers of blocks.    

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A Multi-Media Event This scene has reminded me of a similar one I photographed of the boys I nannied for a while ago.  Basically, if it’s on a shelf that’s within reach, not behind plastic, or glass, it’s fair game for the little ones who can reach it is my philosophy about most things, especially in the main room where we spend several hours a day.  The girls have quite an extensive collection of DVDs, but not yet nearly as big as their parents’ movie and video game collections.  I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times I have put these DVDs back on their shelf, nor can I recall how many times I put the cookbooks and magazines on the shelves in the den when I was taking care of the boys. 

   

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Simultaneous Adoration Pope Francis will begin an hour of simultaneous Adoration for the Feast of Corpus Christi in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5:00 p.m. Rome time.  I've been told that's 11am Eastern time.

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Celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi Here are a few of the most impressive books (and the reviews I wrote of them) that I’ve read about the Eucharist over the past few years:

Divine Love Made Flesh

Celebrating the Holy Eucharist

                             The Amazing Sacrament

    

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Prayers for Ordination This Saturday morning at 10:30am many will be gathered at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Richmond for the ordination to the priesthood of Gino Rossi.  Please join me in praying for this young man and all who are being ordained over the next month. 

Lord, thank You for guiding the men being ordained this month to shepherd Your flock.  Draw them ever closer to You, keep them centered on Christ, open to the Holy Spirit, and committed to the vocation to which You have called them.  Amen.

                  

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

Home Tonight: Further Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son

I finished reading Home Tonight: Further Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen on Pentecost Sunday.  It gave me a great deal to think, pray, and write about as well as meditate on.  Truthfully, I read through it without stopping each and every time to do the journaling exercises, because I wanted to get the overall message of the book, as Nouwen has for many years, been one of my absolute favorite authors.  I plan to go back and do the journaling meditations over time.  Being a writer, they take me much longer than they might take other people because as long as the ideas keep coming, I keep the pen moving. 

   
As is often the case with Nouwen’s books, I am again very aware that I’m being challenged through these heartfelt personal reflections to accept the love, forgiveness, and mercy of the Lord on a deeper level than I ever have before.  This task is rather daunting because it’s really difficult for me to accept love, especially unconditional love and forgiveness when I know (to some extent) how little I deserve it.  There’s a lot in me that still believes certain lies: that my worth comes more from what I do for others, can offer them, and help them with more than it has to do with my innate value as a Beloved Daughter of God.  We are all God’s Beloved Children, and I know intellectually that favor cannot be earned and isn’t based on performance.  I really don’t understand that kind of love—especially when it comes to God and others loving me—but by golly, I’m sure going to keep trying if not to understand it, at least to absorb it.

   
Nouwen writes and reflects intimately on the love of God and the many roadblocks we put up that keep us from accepting it on the deepest level.  I highly recommend reading this book as well as one of my all-time favorites of his The Return of the Prodigal Son.

I received a free copy of Home Tonight from WaterbrookMultnomah in exchange for an honest review to share on their Blogging for Books site.  To purchase, Home Tonight, click here.  If you love free books, reading, and have a blog, you might be interested in signing up.  Check it out here.

Treasure Chest Surprises (My Nanny Diary)

A few weeks ago, Sophie began pulling up on the treasure chest, then perching on top of it for a bit.  Over the past week, Sophie and Livie have been very interested in climbing into the Minnie Mouse treasure chest Vivi received as one of her turning 3 birthday gifts. 

At first, Sophie would approach the open treasure chest filled with wooden blocks and Duplos and gingerly sit on it with one leg hanging off the side.  Mastering this trick, she decided to climb in, make herself as comfy as possible while sitting on blocks and even cross her ankles. 

    
Today Livie is sitting in the treasure chest facing backward, trying to pull the lid down on herself which goes about as well as you can imagine it would.  Earlier both of the twins managed to wedge themselves in there with the colorful assortment of blocks. 

    
Vivi is a big fan of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, which I’ve never watched on TV, though I’ve read some of the board books about them.  This fascination with the Peter Pan spin-off is why she refers to the treasure chest as the “team treasure chest.”  Her mom has let me know that on the show and movies they call it a team treasure chest, because they all put their gold doubloons in there once they’ve done a good deed.

    

Salty, Yet Satisfying

Honestly, I don’t really know what my shoelaces taste like, but the twins do.  I’m fairly certain the only day in a month or so that I didn’t find one or the other of the girls sucking on my shoelaces was this past Monday evening when I came over after their parents put them to bed (or were about to) for the night, so mom and dad could go out for a nice dinner.  I’m not quite certain what the draw is to my shoes, other than that I put them on before I go outside. 

    
They seem to take an interest in their parents’ sneakers, but they usually aren’t quite as determined to munch on their treads or chew on their laces when mine are available. Vivi’s shoes are also particularly tasty, because they’re easily the second favorite choice if they’re within reach.   

   
As a mentioned not too long ago, Vivi loves to wind my shoelaces around and loop them over and under until it takes me as long as it takes her to put her shoes on (that includes the persuasive arguments as to why she needs footwear if we're going outside along with a refresher on how I know it's best not to help her put her shoes, clothes, sunglasses, hat, underwear...on when she can do it herself).

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 103)

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Sassy Training I find it highly amusing that one of the required trainings my husband has had to take at work is referred to as SASE training.  I’ve heard plenty of funny stories about his co-workers and him, ones that have made me pretty sure that sassiness is one area in which they already excel.  

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Loveable Double Trouble I can hardly believe that the twins are turning one this weekend.  The other day when I was sorting my scrapbooking supplies, I came across a little round cut-out that says: “We made it!”  There are certainly days when that’s precisely how I feel by the time Vivi’s mom walks in the door, that despite all of the chaos that is pretty much inherently part of our day, that we made it through all having eaten, learned, played, laughed, sung, danced, and (for those under the age of 5 slept or rested for a bit, hopefully!).  I have no doubt their parents feel the same way some days and middle of the night times.  They are by far two of the cutest troublemakers on the planet! 

  Happy Birthday Livia and Sophia!!  

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Copy Cats The twins have learned all sorts of things from watching their big sister at play.  They know how to dance to the “Bop ‘Til You Drop song, play with the Boppy pillows, spread toys, blocks, and books all over the living room, smear their faces with food, make their sisters and others laugh…This week it’s been funny to watch Livie try to copy Vivi when she hears her sisters crying only Livie puts her hands up to her cheeks instead of covering her ears.  It’s quite a sight to see a little one crying with her hands on her cheeks, seemingly unaware that the noise is coming from her own mouth that makes her sister put her hands over her own ears in protest.

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Wacky Wednesday It was a looooong day for both of us. I'm most grateful for smiles, laughter, hugs, 3 cute little girls, a good book, and a husband who can make me laugh even in the midst of a crisis. I feel bad for our neighbors not only because our heating/cooling unit was leaking like a faucet, but also because Kevin had on Pirates of the Caribbean in surround-sound, which was probably making the people who live around us feel like the end of the world or a major flood is upon them. If all else fails, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming... (By the way, when Kevin asked me for a flashlight while trying to fix said leak, I got him the glow-in-the-dark pirate one we have.  He laughed.)

    

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Domestic Diva Daze I’ve been getting more stuff sorted and organized at home and am excited about making progress. If my husband and I were both as committed to getting things that need to be accomplished at our place done, we'd be so much further along. Lord, help us be united in and better about concentrating on the work that we do that is what You most want of us (which, I acknowledge, may very well not have anything to do with getting our living space in order).

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Dress Shopping with the Girls Our dear sister in Christ Michele Morris who is entering a cloistered Carmelite community on August 6 asked a small group of close friends to come with her to pick out a dress for her to wear on her entry date.  Of course, her asking me to come for this activity made me think of the first time when she went out to the monastery in Carmel, California, to meet the nuns and see if she felt called to become part of that community, and I did a special edition of What Not To Wear for Female Religious Vocation First Visit in honor of her trip.  Anyone who knows me is well aware I'm no expert on fashion, but I sure had fun coming up with this collage.

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Writing for Young Adults This undertaking can be quite challenging and rather amusing.  I'm sure I am now showing up in databases I wouldn't have before researching such things as would be appropriate to include in a book about and geared towards high school students.  There's no other reason that I would be looking up such things as: assault weapons, juvenile detention centers, the appearance of men's locker rooms in public gyms, the going price of stuff I've never used, etc.  Who knows what else I'll be looking up online as I continue writing?  Whatever it is, I'm sure that I'll likely end up in a few more databases.  

                  

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

      

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 102)

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Preserving Your Sanity I’ve learned a lot over the past 20+ years of taking care of children of all ages.  One of the most important lessons is that the sanity of the parent, caregiver, nanny, teacher…responsible for the nurturing of young bodies, minds, and spirits is absolutely essential to preserve.  It’s always better to ask for help, than to risk drowning in the deep end.  I personally would much prefer that a family member or friend call and let me know they could use a hand, someone to listen, a meal or dessert delivered to their door, help with the kids…than find out after-the-fact that they had a horrible time of it and worried about reaching out for support.  People have only so much time and energy in a day.  It's okay when you are at a point in your life when what's going on in your family and household is all you can manage to be on the receiving end of the outreach.    

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Grace on the Go I have taught the girls a slightly altered form of grace because it’s often once everyone’s chowing down on their breakfast or lunch that I remember we haven’t said a blessing.  It goes like this: “Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are ALREADY receiving from Thy bounty through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.”  Usually after that I add a hearty: “Thank You, God, for giving us food!  Thank You, God, for giving us food!”  I think it makes up for not blessing the food before we consume it.  Not sure.  The last time I heard Vivi start saying grace without being prompted, she was sitting on the toilet.    

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Princess and the Pea Retold As those of you well-versed in fairy tales and hazardous waste removal already know, the proof is in the poop.  This week one of my three favorite little princesses had some interesting incidents with accessories.  She pooped a purple bead one morning, and I caught her teething on a bright pink toddler-sized ponytail holder.  Clearly she’s into accessories (or they're into her).  Perhaps when she’s a little older, she’ll start a new line of bling and things created with “bad ass beads” and “salivating hair duds.” 

      

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Technology Throwbacks My dear husband, bless his heart, was telling me yesterday that the doctor saw him texting me and told him: “The nineties called.  They want their phone back.”  For the amount of time it takes him to text me on my only slightly more advanced phone (which still can’t be called smart), he might as well just write me a note and deliver it in person.  We had this discussion when he said that he’d ordered a smart TV.  Yes, we’re just now replacing our tube TV in honor of Kevin’s upcoming 50^th birthday this July.  We don’t have an XBOX, Wii, iPod, iPad, a Kindle, or a Smartphone.  My husband, who loves music and has a vast collection of it, does have an MP3 player, but I still play CDs (and occasionally even an audio tape) on a boombox/portable stereo as often as I play Youtube videos on my laptop computer.  I also have been known to send handwritten letters via snail mail. 

    

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower I have to say that I was very impressed by both the book and the movie, which I had checked out from the library for the past couple of weeks.  The novel is a series of letters that are really more like diary or journal entries written by a teenager just starting his freshman year of high school.  I love how honest, vulnerable, realistic, endearing, hilarious, and heart-wrenching the characters are on the page as well as on the screen.  Stephen Chbosky, the novelist was also the director of the film.  I highly recommend reading the book and watching the movie.  (Quick disclaimer for regular readers since much of what I review is Christian fiction and non-fiction: This is not for kids, and there are some adult themes, scenes, and situations that clearly go against the teachings of the Catholic Church.) 
    
Don’t miss the commentary and extras on the DVD.  The one with the director and main actors his absolutely hilarious.  The commentary by just Chbosky is really interesting, especially for those who enjoy books, movies, writing, and/or stories of hope. 
    
One of my favorite things about The Perks of Being a Wallflower is that it has so many life lessons that are timeless.  One quote that has stuck with me is: “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

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Glimpses of Grandma In some ways, I’m definitely my grandma’s girl.  She rarely tossed stuff out if it could be recycled or reused by her or by someone else.  I am absolutely certain she’s quite tickled that Kevin and I currently have hanging in our bathroom a turquoise (her favorite color) shower curtain that my grandma must have had for 30 some years.  When I found it and realized it had never been used, and was still in its original box from a department store that went out of business awhile ago, I couldn’t bring myself to toss it, knowing my grandma would have wanted someone to use it.  For more recently observed, “glimpses of grandma,” click here. 
     

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Got the Holy Spirit? This weekend we’ll be celebrating Pentecost, the birth of the Catholic Church and therefore the beginning of Christianity.  Remember to wear red to Mass.  Please pray some extra prayers for the participants of the Cursillo Women’s Weekends going on locally and around the globe this weekend.  Also, I ask that you would lift up a wonderful woman of faith who’s going through some real suffering in mind, body, and spirit. 

     Come Holy Spirit!  Descend like a dove and fill us anew with God’s redeeming love.  Amen.  

                  

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

Salt and Light: The Commandments, the Beatitudes, and a Joyful Life

I enjoyed this detailed explanation and reflection on the Ten Commandments as the foundation of the faith and the Beatitudes as the crowning moral pillars that lead us towards the love of God.  The writing is interesting as well as accessible.  As someone who has studied and read a fair amount about God’s Top Ten, I still found new, refreshing insights into these basic requirements for living in the Lord’s love.  The reasons why these guidelines are important and some specifics about how they are meant to be lived out in this day and age keep the reader engaged. 

    
Current events and modern-day examples of the Ten Commandments are given, and in most cases are ones with which the general population of practicing Catholics would be familiar.  The Fifth Commandment and the Fifth Chapter of the book are “Against Murder.”  Here’s a taste of the laying-it-on-the-line statements this man makes based on what’s in the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and various papal encyclicals: “…one who favors just war or the legitimate application of the death penalty while always opposing abortion and euthanasia is no more ipso facto a hypocrite than a surgeon who cuts into living flesh to save a patient is the moral equivalent of Jack the Ripper” (pg. 46). 

    
There are quite a few pop culture references that people will easily recognize from their widespread coverage in the mainstream media.  What not as many people might pick up on is the actual teachings of Scripture and those upheld by the Catholic Church since its inception that are built on the foundation of laws found in the Old Testament which were expounded upon when Jesus came to the disciples in the flesh.      

    
Chapter 8 which is titled “The Eighth Commandment Against Bearing False Witness” brings up some hot topics.  For example, Mark Shea claims that it is always wrong to lie, which is why he doesn’t condone the undercover sting operations that Live Action has been conducting under the leadership of pro-life advocate Lila Rose. 

    
Lying is wrong.  I can understand that using deception isn’t right, but isn’t that what people are doing when they go undercover as policemen, detectives, spies, and such?  Is it acceptable on some level if it ultimately serves a greater good or prevents a greater evil?  I agree that there are some situations we can’t really say for sure what would have happened or how someone would have handled it if the aspects of the story were true instead of fabricated for purposes of proving a point.  However, if a couple reasonable, very specific concessions are made for murder, particularly when it comes to “just war” or “legitimate application of the death penalty,” then aren’t there a select type of isolated incidents when lying is acceptable?  Hiding Jews during World War II comes to mind.  Lots of people lied to the Gestapo, but that was for a justified reason and a greater good.

   
Popular speaker and author Mark Shea illustrates how striving to live out the Ten Commandments as well as the Beatitudes leads to joy in life.  Through a look at the values espoused by these rules and how they lead to a fuller, more loving life, Shea makes clear how the basics for a morality on stone tablets given to Moses and Christ’s Sermon on the Mount link together to provide clear ethical guidelines for God’s Chosen People.  Through a close look at Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Shea lays out what it takes and what it means to be the salt and light of the earth in today’s world. 

          
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from TheCatholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Salt and Light. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.  I receive free product samples for writing reviews.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 101)

                                                                                 

                                               

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Happy Mother’s Day!  I’ll be praying extra for mothers and “other mothers” this weekend.  I’m grateful to my mother for so much and admire her quite a bit, even if I’m not as good about thanking her specifically for being present, sharing her passion for the faith, the pro-life movement, reading, but I truly appreciate who she is and how she’s loved my sisters, family, friends, and me as unconditionally as possible. 

     This will be my mom’s first Mother’s Day since her own mother passed away in January.  I’ll also be remembering friends who have recently lost their mothers and will be more aware of their absence this weekend. 

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Sooooo Big! This will be my sister’s first Mother’s Day with a big beautiful baby boy in her arms.  Ezra, at a mere 2 months old is already in the 100^th percentile for height at 25.5 in. and the 99 percentile for weight at a whopping 16.5 lbs! 

                                                                                                 

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Tangled All three girls are fascinated by shoes.  The twins enjoy chewing on them and playing with the laces.  Vivi has, of course, already graduated to putting on shoes that are much too big for her and walking around in them pretending she’s Mommy, Daddy, or me.  Lately Vivi’s made it a habit to “tie” my shoelaces when I’ve taken my shoes off.  Her “tying” has become more complicated.  It actually took me a couple minutes yesterday to undo what she did so I could put my shoes on, tie them the more traditional way, so I could go outside and take the cover off of the sandbox for her.     

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Same Silliness, Different Day Vivi and her sisters love playing with blankets, one in particular that’s in their living room is often made into a hiding place, a makeshift tent, a blanket, a beach towel, etc.  Sophie’s been putting a blanket over her head, then turning around and flailing her arms until it’s no longer covering her face.  Once she’s free, she starts the process over with as much gusto as the first time she did it.

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Context Clues "Mickey Mouse got ripped,” Vivi said.  I laughed thinking of this in terms of bodybuilding and how he’d become Mighty Mouse, though I know she was just stating a fact about the sticker she’d just put upside down on the page then tried to remove.

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Wishin’ and Hopin’ There are a number of books I read that I don’t have to write reviews for and devour in between reading and writing about other books.  One of these such reads I picked up at Goodwill when I did my spring/summer shopping a few weeks ago.  I was thoroughly amused by Wishin’ and Hopin’ a novel by Wally Lamb.  The narrator is a 10-year-old fifth grade boy at a Catholic school in 1964.  The thoughts and observations of this kid are priceless and wildly entertaining.  I’m certain that my dad and his brothers pulled some of the same tricks on the nuns who ran the grammar school they attended as students in this class do.  I was not only laughing out loud, I was reading parts of it to Kevin and telling friends about it, too
     

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Mixed Tapes  Kevin and I were watching a movie this week in which the friends and couples would exchange mixed tapes they’d made for each other.  This brought back memories of when I was in my last year of high school and college when Kevin and I would make mixed tapes for each other.  Kevin had a recording studio, high quality equipment, and a large music collection.  I had a light pink Panasonic boombox with a recording feature on it.  I did the best I could to record songs from the radio, other tapes, etc. on the tape I made for Kevin, but it came out more like a ransom tape in that the cutting, pasting, differing volumes, and styles were rather shocking.  The best part, which Kevin and I still laugh about, is the time when he was listening to the first mixed tape I made him, and he practically fell off the loveseat, because one song was so much louder than the one before. 

     This week I’ve been listening to one of the 1432 CDs Kevin made for me while we were still dating.  Good times.

                  

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

Glimpses of Grandma

Hanging in there

In an ongoing effort to clean out, organize, and clean up our apartment, I dropped several donations off at various places today.  I started by dropping a load of things off at Goodwill.  I’ve made a number of trips over there and hope to make many more in the days and weeks to come.  It helps me to sort through things and part with them knowing that something I haven’t touched in months might be exactly what someone else is looking for and would use daily. 

    
After all, in some ways, I’m definitely my grandma’s girl.  She rarely tossed stuff out if it could be recycled or reused by her or by someone else.  I am absolutely certain she’s quite tickled that Kevin and I currently have hanging in our bathroom a turquoise (her favorite color) shower curtain that my grandma must have had for 30 some years.  When I found it and realized it had never been used and was still in its original box from a department store that went out of business awhile ago, I couldn’t bring myself to toss it, knowing my grandma would have wanted someone to use it. 

Re-Gifting         

I swung by the Pastoral Center to see my mom and gave her back a couple of the framed pieces of handmade artwork I’d done for her years ago.  I have a number of things back in my possession that I originally made, wrote, and gifted to different family members over the years.  I’m not sure how many of the items would ultimately have been trashed or donated when my sister and her husband bought a house, when my dad passed away, my youngest sister went off to college, my mom moved out of her house into an apartment, then my grandma passed away, but it was easier for me to box these things up and bring them to our place rather than wonder and worry if something I’d spent so much time and energy on would just end up in the garbage.

     
I’m not sure if it’s out of plain old nostalgia, sadness, regret, or hope that I hold onto gifts from me that were left behind.  I don’t know what would have become of the letters I wrote and gifts I made for my mom, dad, sisters, and/or grandparents.  My mom assures me that many of the things I’d made for her over the years she’d had no intention of getting rid of when she moved into her apartment.  I believe her, so when I unearth such things again, I offer them to her. 

Life-long Learning

I swung by school with a bag of assorted books and arts and craft supplies well before the insanity of after-school carpool began.  I always end up using a vast hodgepodge of materials from home and from school when I teach summer camps there, so some of the things I came across I figured they would make use of at school before I’d do something with them at home.  Others were books and things that had gotten grouped in with the children’s books I have, ones my mom kept from when we were little, in addition to some French ones and favorites I’ve added so I can share them with the kids at school and when I nanny.  I got a few minutes to catch up with the program director, who’s been a good friend and supervisor for the five years since we both started working there.  Even though I came in during the post-rest story-time, I still got a couple of spontaneous hugs from kids who remembered me.      

Good Food, Nice Weather, Many Thanks

Next, I stopped by Cook-Out for a grilled chicken sandwich, fries, and a Heath Toffee milkshake too thick to drink through a straw—good thing they included a spoon.  I drove to Little Sisters of the Poor, a stop I wasn’t really looking forward to, as I hadn’t been back there since going to collect my grandmother’s things after she passed this January.  It went fine, though. 

I sat in my car and ate my lunch, remembering one beautiful day when I’d picked up a chocolate shake and fries from Cook-Out to share with my grandma.  I’d brought her outside in her wheelchair over by the swing in front of the entrance walkway to the building and angled her so she could see the garden while we visited.  I’d gotten an extra cup so I could give her some of the milkshake, which I deftly spilled spots of on the swing and my pants.  (Getting spots on clothing while eating is another trait I picked up from my grandma, truth be told.)    

    
This afternoon, while eating, I thought about what my grandma would say on a day like today if she were sitting out there with me.  She’d make mention of the lovely garden and the beautiful colors all around.  She’d comment on the trees, the landscaping, and the gentle breeze.  She’d be grateful for a visitor, for time outside, for fun foods she can’t remember having tasted before…

    
When I finished eating, I took in the body lotions, a wide assortment of handmade jewelry, plastic organizers, and a large supply of beads to make more jewelry.  I left them with the receptionist, who I am certain recognized me.

    
I still have a number of things from my grandma’s, mom's, and my dad’s I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with, yet.  They’re here with lots of memories I haven’t sorted through, but I’ll get around to them sometime, possibly soon.

Thank You, God, for a beautiful day, for the opportunity to share with others, to remember loved ones lost, to be thankful for little pleasures, and be reminded of the many ways that You are able to use what others cast aside to create a masterpiece of each of our lives.  Amen.            

Note: This post is linked to New Evangelist Blog's June Issue of Catholic Bloggers Best Posts from the month of May.

Finding Joy in Unexpected Faces and Places

     Today, for the first time in months, I went to St. Peter’s for 12:05pm Monday Mass.  I got there quite early as I was already out and saw no point in going home then leaving again.  I was surprised to find that both the side door and the front door to the church were locked.  There were a few people sitting around between the office door and the one to the basement.  They all looked like they were part of the hanging out around the church, but not going inside unless they’re serving a meal in the basement group that are often there. 

     A little girl probably around the age of 5 or 6 was with this group.  She was walking around and playing.  Her mother said that I should push the buzzer to the basement door a bunch of times and that “some old guy” would come answer it.  The young girl came over and demonstrated how many times to push the doorbell.  I stood there and waited, but no one came, so she hit it repeatedly again.  No answer. 

     I stood there for a bit longer debating whether I should leave and go to Mass somewhere else instead of waiting for most of an hour outside of a locked church.  That’s when blondie started asking me questions.  She asked my name and started talking to me about the birds, the bus, and when I said I was there to see Fr. Bob and pray, she asked me if he is my father, and I explained that he’s a priest who works for the church.  At one point, the little girl took my hand and led me over to one of the parking spaces and sat down on the wall.  She told me to sit next to her, so I did. 

     I found myself silently praying for this little girl, wondering about her life and why she, her mom, and another lady would be sitting for three hours outside the church doors on a day when there isn’t a meal being served at lunchtime.  She told me that one time they were let inside so she could go and use the bathroom in the basement. 

     Before I went inside, the girl called after me, “I hope I get to see you again later!”  How precious is that?!  I’d just met her a short time before and spent a little time with her since she was clearly wanting some attention, and she’s already hoping to see me anon. 

     What would have happened if I’d just ignored the little girl rather than talking to her?  She was so innocent and friendly.  It made me wonder how often I’m so caught up in what I’m planning on doing that I miss out on the joy right there in front of me.

     Lord, please help me to be more aware of and receptive to the joy that is right before me, often unexpected and unplanned.  If I am to be a vessel of hope and joy for others, then I know I’ve got to be better about receiving it at any time, from anyone, and any situation.  Lead me to bask in Your joy and the light of Your love!  

Does the Shoe Fit? (My Nanny Diary)

Apparently not, and I have the blisters to prove it.  I bought a pair of shoes a while ago, and I haven’t worn them but maybe once or twice.  They’re simple, rather plain flats.  Nothing exciting, flashy, or high-heeled.  I put them on last Sunday to wear to Mass and ended up regretting that decision even before we made it to church. 

    
We stopped by the grocery store to pick up some fruit on our way, and my right foot was really hurting me.  I took my shoe off and got out what I thought was a piece of rice, something white, but my foot hurt just as badly, if not more, after I did that.  I got to the car and discovered I had not one but two blisters on my right foot.  The skin had come off leaving really sore reddish spots. 

    
It had been so long since I’d even put those shoes on that it’s quite possible I wore them once and thought that I needed to break them in at some point.  Now, I’m sure that someone else needs to break them in, once they buy them from Goodwill where I dropped them off today. 

    
I try to keep these incidents in mind when kids clothing or shoes are too small or too big for them.  It can make me uncomfortable and even irritable to have ill-fitting footwear or apparel, and I am able to tell pretty quickly what it is that’s causing a problem.  Kids just get frustrated, and think something’s not working right, but they don’t really know what’s wrong. 

    
I don’t quite understand the reasoning behind purchasing footwear that’s four sizes or more too big for a kid and having them wear the far-too-roomy shoes every day.  Yes, they’ll grow into them, but first they’ll trip and fall a million times on the playground.

   
Some of the most amusing incidents have occurred with young children who have particularly small waists.  I can remember one adorable toddler in particular whose pants would often slip down below his diaper at which point, he’d step right out of them and run off when we were at home.  I’m not sure how much of his “loathing for clothing” (as I call the attitude many infants and toddlers have about getting dressed) had to do with the size of his clothes, whether too big or too small, but I do remember he was diligent about removing whatever he could as quickly as possible.    

    
This has been a common occurrence for the little ones in my care.  While out on walks, I’ve most often seen the little ones remove and toss to the sidewalk their hats, socks, and shoes.  Only once did I have to park the double stroller on the sidewalk and dodge traffic at a busy crosswalk where there’s no traffic light to retrieve a shoe. 

    
Another time when I was taking a little one for a stroll in the warmer months, she removed one of her sandals and tossed it over the side of her stroller without me noticing.  We got home before I realized she was missing a shoe.  I could not for the life of me locate the little girl’s white sandal when I retraced our steps, so I offered to go to the mall and buy a new pair since the family was leaving on a trip to London in the next couple days and wouldn’t likely have time to replace them beforehand.

    
Just keep it in mind the next time you put on something that’s a bit too snug or try and make something much too big work and are really uncomfortable.  It’ll help you be more empathetic and sensitive to the wardrobe choices for little ones in your care, especially when you’re the one who chooses what they wear.  After all, grumpy is a pretty normal reaction to clothes or shoes that don’t fit right (at least in my opinion).  

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 100)

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First Triple Digit Edition!  I’m pretty excited that I’ve finally made it to 100 weeks of doing 7 Quick Takes Friday.  John, dear brother, merci mille fois for encouraging me to participate in this blog carnival nearly two years ago.  It’s been one of the best blog ideas to keep me writing regularly (in addition to free books to read and review).   

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Book Reviews Abound I am a voracious reader and love books, as any of you who know me are well-aware. The only drawback to reading and reviewing so many books is when it means I have to go through over 50 of my blog posts and change the item links when one of my top two fave bookstores goes out of business. Sorry to see Aquinas and Moore go. If you love books about Christian living and the Catholic faith, check out my blog for reviews on hundreds ofamazing books.

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Praying & Fasting for the Bishops Check out this website!  It has a number of powerful prayers and suggestions for ways we can fast and pray for our bishops as they are called to be true and faithful teachers of the Catholic faith, remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and put Your will above everything and everyone else in their lives.

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Chocolate Therapy I am a fan of chocolate as all of my friends know well.  I was feeling kind of bummed when my friend Michele texted and asked if she could stop over and visit.  I said I probably wouldn’t be much fun to hang out with since I was feeling down, but that she was welcome to come by.  While I was outside waiting for her around the side of our building, Michele arrived and went up to our apartment.  She knocked on the door, and she and Kevin were both surprised when he answered and neither of them knew where I was. 

     Michele was on her way back down when I was coming up the steps.  She said she’d brought me something, and that she wanted to present it like she’d planned to if I’d opened the door.  (She is an actress after-all and certainly puts on a good, often amusing show.)  I shrugged and closed the door, then answered it again when she knocked.  I opened it and welcomed her as if she’d just arrived, and she handed me a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy ice cream.  There are fair weather friends, and then there are “you’re having a rough day, how about I surprise you with a pint of chocolate ice cream brought directly to your door” kind of friends.  I’m so grateful to have so many of the second kind of friends.  Though I don’t always show up with ice cream, I definitely try to be that kind of friend to others, too.

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Covenant Eyes This free e-book available to download called Your Brain on Porn includes five scientifically-proven ways porn warps your brain and three biblical ways to renew it.  Having read Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by John Paul II and related books, I have read other research and commentary involving this sensitive topic and know what effects such a rampant problem with it in our culture and world have done to others perception and treatment of women.  It’s only 15 pages long, and the knowledge within could change your life or that of someone you love.  I saw this advertisement on the National Catholic Register website.  I didn’t know such a company as Covenant Eyes dedicated to internet surveillance, purity, and accountability existed.

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Unhappy Feet Kevin's been having excruciating shooting pains in this feet yet again this week, and the earliest appointment he can get to have the out-patient procedure that will hopefully alleviate the pain is June 3.  I don't think he (or I) can make it that long with him cringing and gasping every few minutes from such severe pain.  We'd both really appreciate your prayers!  Oh, if only a pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Therapy or even a pain-reliever of some kind would help Kevin feel better!  Few things are worse than watching someone you love suffer when there's nothing you can do to help them feel better.
     

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The Ear of the Heart "Religious life is often painted as something entirely different from what it is. To be obedient and humble should be simply to stand in truth, unhampered by one's ego. If we can escape the need for recognition that is so built into human nature, we can free ourselves from our inhibiting patterns. It can be a blessed freedom—also a terrible freedom." —Mother Dolores Hart, OSB From her new book The Ear of the Heart  Here's the book trailer describing this woman's journey from Hollywood to a cloistered convent: 

                  

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