7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 126) Birthdays, Joy, Saints, and the Blessing of Hope Edition

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Grace is…realizing again that God has been answering prayers you prayed over a decade ago in miraculous and hope-inspiring ways, offering your prayer intentions at Mass for someone who is struggling in mind, body, and/or spirit, finding out something hurtful and frustrating happened completely due to a misunderstanding and both sides feeling much better once given the chance to clear the air, having hope when it could only mean having faith in God’s plans for your future even when He hasn’t made any of them clear to you, yet, having dinner and time to visit with three adorable little girls who are way cuter than any Disney Princesses…

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All You Holy Men and Women, Pray for Us. This verse is part of the Litany of Saints that is often sung at Mass, reminding us that we are connected to all of those past, present, and future who have been open to the Lord’s love and grace moving in and through them.  I personally have found it extremely comforting to know that people throughout the ages from a very wide variety of backgrounds, time periods, socio-economic situations, abilities, skills, personalities, and passions are present each and every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist.  Not only that, but we have a number of intercessors who will pray with and for us when our own measly prayers hardly seem adequate.   

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My Sisters the Saints Can women with very different lifestyles focused on doing the Lord’s will above all else be companions, true guides, and sisters for women of today?  Absolutely!
     My Sisters the Saints illustrates the truth of the adage that you should choose your friends wisely because you will become like them in some interesting and unexpected ways. 
     The six saints most prominent in Colleen Carroll Campbell’s life and spiritual memoir are holy women also very dear to me: Teresa of Avila, Thérѐse of Lisieux, Faustina Kowalski, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Blessed Mother Teresa, and Our Mother Mary.  The concept of considering female saints as sisters is one I believe in and have embraced wholeheartedly.  For many years, I have felt a greater closeness to some of the saints and my sisters in Christ than I have sometimes shared with my two biological sisters.

     To read a complete review of this amazing book, click here.

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The Saint that Is Just Me I first heard this song when John had Kevin and me over to his apartment for dinner one evening.  As has been the case with every single one of her songs, the lyrics which Danielle Rose always writes in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament resonate with me on a very deep level.  I’ve read a great deal about and by the saints, and most of the time, I have found it inspiring and uplifting.  Other times, I have gotten extremely discouraged when I see how I am eons away from having the sort of trust, devotion, faith, and dedication to God’s Will that they had.  

The Saint that Is Just Me is a perfect reminder that every single one of us is called to be a saint, meaning we are called by God to be holy, but that our sanctification and living out what the Lord calls us to often looks different from what it looks like for other people, even the saints.  If we conform our lives to Christ, then we will become the saint that the Lord wants us to be and knows we can be.  If we imitate the saints and try to become like then, we’re liable to end up failing miserably.  God doesn’t need another Blessed Mother Teresa, but He always needs people who are willing to use all of their mind, body, and spirit to serve Him in the unique ways and with the special set of talents with which He blesses us.  He loves you for who you are, where you are, and is calling you to holiness and sainthood. 

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Birthday Blessings I tend to dread my birthday, not so much because it means I’m a year older, but more due to the fact that it makes me likely to take stock of my life and what I have or have not accomplished or done by the age that I am.  I received a beautiful, very loving card from my mom for my birthday and frequent reminders throughout the day (though she was out of town at a funeral) that having me in her life has brought her a great deal of joy.  My mother loves me, God loves me, my husband loves me, and so do many others.  That is enough to be grateful for. 

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Honoring Our Departed Loved Ones Four years ago, I went by myself to an All Soul’s Day (November 2) service our parish had.  There were a number of people I added to the list of the faithful departed loved ones that year, my dad being just one of them.  I wasn’t sure how well I’d hold up, and really wished Kevin had agreed to come with me.  Being there and offering our sorrow and sadness to the Lord and having the courage to get up in front of others and speak a few words about the loved ones we’d lost recently was quite powerful.  So many friends and family members have lost loved ones this year.  It is my hope and prayer that they will also find comfort and courage that there is indeed life after this one, and that we will again be with those we love in the next life.  My grandmother passed away this last January.  I will be praying for her this evening and for all who are mourning the loss of loved ones.  This is the reflection I wrote about the All Soul’s Day service.
    

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All that Matters is God’s Will, His timing, and His plan for our lives.  My husband continues to look for a
new job, and we are bracing ourselves as his severance package which includes our insurance coverage ends on November 12.  I have confidence that the Lord will lead Kevin to a job that is a better fit for him, more fulfilling, and incorporates more of his skills and talents, but his hope is running low the longer he waits.  He’s frustrated and angry that so many contradicting things are said and advised, and he’s not sure which to follow.  It’s easier for me to look at this situation and have faith that things will work out, because he’s a hard worker, fast-learner, awesome at customer service, great at sales, very gifted in a number of other areas, in addition to being a good, compassionate person...than it is for him to trust at this point.

     Our sometimes very different approach to things has again nudged me back to our spiritual memoir.  That and several reminders that the most fervent prayers I have prayed in years past have been those which the Lord placed on my heart.

                  

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

33 Blessings I’m Grateful for on my Birthday

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and prayers!  Here in completely random order are some blessings for which I am truly grateful.

Great books to read

 A passion for writing

·         The Sacrament of Reconciliation

·         The Eucharist

·         A child’s unbridled laughter

·         My mom

·         humor

·         Arts and crafts

·         Poetry

·         My husband

·         Prayer warriors

·         The desire to do God’s Will

·         Greeting cards & letters

·         Mass

·         Hugs

·         Kisses

·         Hope

·         Time to relax

·         Naps

·         Pens, paper, and pretty stationary

·         Photos

·         The privilege of being a nanny

·         My family

·         Friends

·         Loving text messages

·         Blogs

·         the gift of faith

·         Cursillo

·         Transformation Prayer Ministry

·         Silly sisters

·         The Step Up movies which inspire me and get me up and dancing.

·         Roller skates, even if I didn’t get to use my old school white ones with pink wheels from back in the day, yet.  No, these aren’t rollerblades. 

·         Another year to glorify God (though Kevin and I are both still waiting to hear more from Him on how He wants us to do that.)

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 122)

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Grace is…an unexpected day-off when you are well beyond the ready-to-collapse point, a friend’s successful breast cancer surgery, going to daily Mass, speaking truth with love, compassion, and understanding, listening attentively, the joy of three silly sisters laughing, your husband visiting you at work, a homemade meal, a much-needed hug, unsolicited kisses from little cuties, beautiful weather, a glimpse of how God sees others, encouraging others in tough times, receiving a card out-of-the-blue from a best friend, the support and counsel of prayer warriors focused on doing God's Will above all else…

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Happy 70^th Birthday! Kevin  and I had a blast celebrating Dick Commander's 70th birthday this past Saturday evening. He and Jeannine throw a great party! It was wonderful to see and have a chance to catch up with so many members of our Cursillo family! 

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It Takes a Village Kevin and I love the girls for whom I nanny as well as their parents very dearly. It is such a tremendous blessing to work with and for Carl & Jess, who work so hard even after long days at their jobs to do what's necessary to keep their precious daughters safe and healthy. Lord, thank You for the gift this family continues to be in our lives. Help us to be open to the ways You want us to serve them. Amen.           

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A Broadway Style Fair Trade I take full responsibility for the 3 year old who was running sprints inside the house not too long before her nap/rest time the other day while singing the two lines she recalls from a Singin’ in the Rain number I played for her sisters and her a few times on Youtube: “Good Morning” and “It’s great to stay up late!”  I texted her mother to tell her about this and added that I hoped she didn’t adopt that philosophy until she was a bit older. Her mom said she’s fine with her daughter staying up late as long as mommy gets to sleep late. 

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Too Tired to Text Wednesday evening I was having trouble texting as is evident in the following excerpt of a conversation I was attempting to have:

Friend: “…had Mass for the parish school today which was really fun…”

Me: “School Mass foes sound fun…” (realizing my mistake added)

Me: “School Mass foes sound diabolical, not fun. Another long, draining day that has left me unable to text or talk intelligibly.”

Friend: “LOL! Diabolical?? 500+ kids all singing and praising the Lord and receiving him. So much fun!”

Friend: “What are you doing this evening?”

Me: “I need to work on the Rooster Review (the Cursillo newsletter for our area), but since I can barely manage to text at this point, maybe that’s not a good idea for this evening. 

Friend: “Maybe not J”

Friend: “Now I understand your precious texts”

Me: “R my texts precious?  I’m guessing you meant previous but r still using autocorrect-which couldn’t even help me now”

Friend: “LOL”

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Childproofing 101 Children by their very nature will manage to get themselves into dangerous situations of their own concocting, so it’s best not to give them an easy way into trouble and becoming another statistic or sad story in “What to Expect When You Don’t Childproof Your House” type series of books—as it will take several volumes to document and describe all of the illnesses, injuries, accidents, including but not limited to: gaping head wounds, cuts requiring stitches, burns, poisoning, a sudden supposedly accidental loss of limb, and/or other households little shop of horrors tales from beyond the crib and the crypt.  Click here to read all of “Children Shouldn’t Be Crash Test Dummies (My Nanny Diary).”
    

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Miss U Much I’ve been pleasantly surprised a number of times this week to have the opportunity to spend time with people I don’t necessarily get to see very often.  I was quite humbled and touched that some people are so happy to see Kevin and me, that they pray for us regularly even without having any contact with us, and that they miss us when we aren’t up to or able to attend some of the Masses, prayer vigils, and/or other get-togethers like we have in the past.  I know I feel that way about many people, but it’s nice to be reminded that there are people who are grateful just because you are present.  The three girls get so excited when Kevin comes over.  It's so cute to watch him playing with them.

   

                  

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

Big Birthday Celebration Postponed

     So there wasn’t a big celebration planned, but today is a big birthday for Kevin, so he had hoped to enjoy the day.  He took off of work with the intention of getting some time out on his motorcycle, visiting me and the girls, then later having some barbecue at Famous Dave’s and chilling for a bit at the pool at my mom’s with some dessert and (as per his request) a very small gathering of family and a couple friends, but most of that didn’t even happen.  He felt sick yesterday morning, but he went to work anyway.  Mid-afternoon, he left early to come home and crawl into bed.  He wasn’t feeling well this morning, but I knew that he was awake before I left for work and shaving, because he intended to go somewhere, likely on his motorcycle. 

     I was very tempted to get him to promise me not to go anywhere on his motorcycle when he was already feeling crummy and the day was going to be really hot, but I resisted.  I gave him his birthday card.  His main gift is sitting in our living room, all 50 inches of flat-screen TV he’s wanted for years, and I finally consented to in celebration of his monumental birthday this July. 

     I know him all too well.  He did go out on his motorcycle, but he wasn’t out for very long, before he started feeling even worse.  Thankfully, he had the good sense to come home rather than push his luck and head out of town for a long ride.  Poor thing.  He’s spent most of the afternoon and evening curled up in bed.  We’re not sure if it’s a cold or what, but the timing of it has not been appreciated. 

     On one hand, I’m grateful that for months, he’s been saying that he didn’t want to make a big deal out of his birthday, so I decided not to plan a big surprise party or even a he-knows-about-it-already big party.  I respected his wishes and asked a couple people to meet us for dinner and a couple to join us for dessert.  Now, I’m very glad that he wanted to keep things on the down low, because I am certain he would be even more bummed than he already is if we had lots of people, food, and preparation invested in a big bash that he couldn’t enjoy. 

     We’re hoping he’ll feel better, so we can try a low-key celebration this weekend, and a bigger (but just as if not more) informal family/friend party in August when we’re in Rochester.  Sixteen years ago, the summer my mom, sisters, and I first met Kevin and his father, we were there over his birthday and remembered the date for the following year.  For his next birthday we were also staying at the cottage and decorated his front door. 

     Now that Kevin and I are decorating what has become “our Rochester wall,” we have the original card we gave him framed, a whole wooden box of “Shhhh” with his name on it, and a bar of soap with a tugboat in it placed on our new corner shelves.  Kevin’s kept basically all of the letters and gifts I’ve made or bought and given to him over the years, but there is at least one little one that I haven’t seen in years.  We got him a keychain and wrote “Coast Guard” and underneath put the phone number for the local Dunkin Donuts.  We all got a big kick out of that. 

     Lord, thank You for the gift of my husband, who has been an integral part of my life for the past sixteen years.  Back then, he never thought he’d make it to this birthday.  Neither of us ever thought we'd  be approaching our ninth year of marriage to each other.  I’m grateful God always knows better.  I hope and pray we will have lots more than sixteen years of birthdays to celebrate together in the future.  Lord, may Your Will be done!

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.

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. 91)

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Still Have Hope “But I always knew that the Lord is in the boat, and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, not ours, but it is His. And He will not let her sink, it is He who leads it, certainly also through the men he has chosen, because so He has willed it. This was and is a certainty, that nothing can obscure. And that is why today my heart is filled with gratitude to God because He has never left me or the Church without His consolation, His light, His love,” the Holy Father said.  To read the full article about Pope Benedict XVI's words and sentiments from a credible source (obviously NOT the mainstream media), click here. 

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Past Due Praying for my sister, who could go into labor any minute (her due date was February 26) the baby we'll soon get to see and hold, and my brother-in-law that all will go smoothly for the birth whenever it happens and that peace and joy will radiate in ways only God could bring about for all three of them.  Pray for my mom as well.  It's killing her to have to wait even longer to hold her first grandchild than she thought.  

           

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Vivi Turns Three: Sunday we celebrated Vivi’s third birthday.  “Princess Vivi” as she often calls herself had a lovely Minnie Mouse party with family (and those adopted as such Kevin and me).  Her mom helped her practice blowing out candles so she’d be ready for her big day.  Just as impressive was getting to see Vivi actually eat some of the cake (since she usually won’t touch it, too much like bread, which she has no interest in at all).    

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Birthday Balloon Hands-down one of Vivi’s favorite gifts that has continued to bring her great joy is the birthday Minnie Mouse helium balloon her mom brought home for her last Friday.  She was immediately smitten with it, and she and her sisters have had lots of fun with it ever since.  (Yes, I know balloons are major choking hazards and strings are strangling hazards.  Vivi’s not interested in eating the balloon, and I only let her sisters play with it when I’m sitting with them, watching them like a hawk.) 

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Team Treasure Chest Another of Vivi’s new prized possessions is a Minnie Mouse treasure chest which she refers to as her “Team Treasure Chest,” because she is an avid fan of Jake and the Neverland Pirates (a cartoon spin-off of Peter Pan that involves Captain Hook which I’ve never seen, but I’ve heard much about and read some of the children’s books).  She loves dragging it around the room, sitting on it, and putting her other new toys in it, then locking it so her sisters can’t get to them.  I’m just happy she hasn’t tried (at least while I’m watching) to stuff one of her sisters in it and lock it.  Though, with how adept Livie is at getting into things and out of other things, she’d probably bust out rather quickly.  Sophie we’d discover quickly from the piercing screeches issuing forth from the box.     

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No Whining There was one day in particular this week during which the tone of voice in which every word that came out of a certain someone’s mouth was to my sensitive ears like fingernails on a chalkboard, the drill at the dentist’s office, or a young, unhappy child who needs more to eat or more sleep or something but can’t tell you what it is she wants/needs only the 5,243 things she doesn’t want in a voice that makes you want to scream, but you know that won’t help, either.  I knew Kevin had a long day at work and was worn down by negativity.  He was being very quiet knowing I, too, had a long day.  I informed him after a few minutes of needed silence that I was ready to listen if he wanted to tell me about his day, even if he wanted to complain, as long as he did it in a normal voice.    
     

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Skyfall Great James Bond Flick!  One of the fringe benefits of nannying for the girls is that their parents have one of the largest modern movie collections of anyone I know.  While I only on rare occasions watch a DVD with the girls (and then it’s usually a Broadway musical or Disney classic) I get to borrow movies Kevin and I didn’t see in the theater, can’t afford to purchase, and otherwise may not get around to viewing until they are being shown on TV years after the fact.  Kevin and I both loved watching Skyfall, the latest Bond movie on Blue-ray this evening.       

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

Grandma Turns 89: A Miracle & Cause for Celebration

Spending time with my grandma, who turned 89 on October 5, 2012, is a blessing for many reasons.  It has now been over sixteen years since my grandmother was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer (specifically multiple myeloma) and given under a year to live.  This faithful prayer warrior, lover of books, volunteer, caregiver…has proven doctors wrong over and over again.  Each time they would give her a gloomy prediction, she would be that much more diligent about eating healthy, getting exercise, and enjoying life. 

     
For years after she’d moved down here from Rochester, New York, she lived in her own apartment, drove, would walk an hour a day using two canes to make sure she got exercise, and had a busier social life than most people a third of her age. 
     
Hopefully, the doctors she’s had who predicted she didn’t have long on this earth have taken note that they were wrong by a long shot.  Not only did my grandmother far outlive any estimates they made when she was first diagnosed with cancer, but she also showed them that she wasn’t going to give up even when they suggested that’s what we do. 
     
Yesterday in the evening we gathered where my grandmother lives at St. Joseph’s Little Sisters of the Poor to celebrate her 89^th birthday with her.  My mom brought Chinese food from one of Gram’s favorite restaurants, my sister and her husband, and family friends joined us in the social room for a fun birthday celebration. 
     
I could tell after being there only a few minutes that my grandma was having a very limited memory day.  When we dished the food out, she asked what everything was, though we used to get food from that restaurant all the time.  My mom patiently told her what was on her plate each time she inquired.  Gram was delighted and kept saying how delicious it was. 
     
Throughout the course of the evening, our family, friends, and some of the Little Sisters sang Gram “Happy Birthday.”  In the lobby, we sang it once in English, then in French, our friends sang it to her in Arabic, and later the eight year old among us serenaded Gram with a most amusing rendition of the song, which it’s certainly just as well she couldn’t understand. 
     
After taking out the delicious raspberry chocolate cake with candles our friend brought and singing one more traditional “Happy Birthday,” we all shared the decadent dessert.  (My husband said that the two of us would split a piece which is why the leftover cake in the fridge belongs to meJ.)  The eight-year-old girl asked to sing another birthday song, so everyone quieted down and let her have the floor.  Many of you who have children, work with them, or can remember being one yourself, probably are familiar with the lyrics to this less mainstream except with children version of birthday greetings.
     
Once she had everyone’s attention, the eight year old began: 

“Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you! 

You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too!
Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday to you! 
You look like a zebra, and you smell like one, too!”

We were all laughing hysterically that the cute little girl was so eager to share this song that she didn’t see anything wrong with.  Gram fortunately hadn’t been able to hear the words and might not have understood their implications if she had.  The girl’s poor mother put her face in her hands and shook her head, not quite sure what to say.  My mom assured her it was okay.  Clearly it wasn’t done maliciously or to hurt anyone’s feelings, which made it really funny and completely innocent. 

     
It was wonderful to see my grandmother so smitten with everything: her company, the food she thought she’d never eaten before in her life, the delicious dessert, the fresh flowers…all of it.  Yet again, she proved to be a wonderful example of contentment and appreciation, even if she couldn’t quite recognize or recall the foods on her plate or the names of all of the people gathered around her for the party.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 70)

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My Grandma Celebrates her 89th birthday: Here's one of the people through whom God has shown me that miracles really do happen.  Read more here.

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What did that say?! Kevin and I have become a pretty good team when it comes to copy editing or just reading and laughing about poorly written already published pieces.  We have a favorite publication which often provides us with plenty of comic relief, though nothing in it is really meant to be humorous. 
     Not only do we each find ways to help others improve their essays, articles, proposals, etc., but we also have lots of fun doing it.  Among the most amusing tidbits we helped refine this week involved someone claiming to have “spearheaded a blood drive.”  Kevin was doubled over laughing.  I simply made the comment that they must have gotten much higher donations than usual.  Another gem was that someone claimed they had experience “working sexual minorities.”  This must be rather confusing to employers minus the preposition “with” included.  
 

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Big Sis Removes Stumbling Blocks Vivi kindly removed the building blocks from her sisters’ rolling, creeping, wishing-to-crawl path today after being asked only once when I explained that we don’t want either of her sisters to roll onto one of her wooden blocks and get hurt.  An explanation, stated calmly, along with the suggestion of a nearby place to put them seemed to be the right combination for cooperation.  (Good reminder for future use.)    

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The Water Buffalo Song You know you must have done something right if you have children requesting books they want you to read them and songs they’d like you to sing with them.  One of my personal favorite requests is Veggie Tales Silly Songs.  “The Water Buffalo Song” has been quite high on the top 10 request list this week. 
 

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My first home Mass This past Monday, we had a lovely treat.  My Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) sister Nora invited us over for a meaningful evening of prayer, breaking bread, and fun.  Nora had us out to her place (which isn’t exactly over the river, but you do have to go through lots of woods to get there) for an in-home Mass that our pastor Fr. Dan Brady came to do.  It was really neat that it was the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, one of my favorite saints, and certainly someone I had in mind when suggesting names for my youngest sister.  We sang hymns, broke open the Word, shared the Most Holy Eucharist, and powerful prayer.  Afterwards, we caught up with each other over a delicious homemade chili dinner with all the fixings. 
  
 

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Stapleton Style Hospitality Kevin and I were invited over for dinner with our good friends Laura and Jeff.  Their place is so warm and inviting, decorated beautifully.  The food they make is absolutely delicious.  We feel really comfortable chatting, relaxing, laughing, praying, and sharing together.  It’s truly a glorious gift to have this Catholic couple in our lives who are also active in our parish, Cursillistas, Christ Renews His Parish alum, and who are also committed to loving the children God puts in their lives.

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Make New Friends, But Keep the Old This week I’ve been reminded again of how wonderful it is to have people in my life now who have known me for a long time.  My best friend from high school Holly and I have kept in touch through the years, and we’re still there to listen and support each other in good times and bad.  Laura, who I met in fifth grade at St. Mary’s School, and I have reconnected after being out of touch for a number of years, and it’s been such a delightful rekindling of an old friendship.  Kevin and I are grateful we have many old friends mixed in with the new friends we’ve made, and we also thank God for the new friends that very quickly feel like they’re old friends.  Thanks God for our bloodlines family and our lovelines family (people of our choosing who aren’t necessarily related by blood or law).     
 
Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

 

In Memory of My Dad: James Lester Niermeyer

In honor of my dad’s birthday, (he would have been 57 today), I made sure to do some of his favorite things: 

     1.      I’m currently listening to the Eagles while I’m writing this.  Actually, I think this was probably my dad’s copy of the CD. 

     2.      Earlier today I sat in a very comfy recliner, Dad’s prime spot in his apartment. 

     3.      I also did one of his all-time favorite pastimes, I rocked a baby girl to sleep on my shoulder.  (Truth be told, I rocked two of them to sleep on my shoulder in the recliner more than once today while nannying for the three Baab girls.)

     4.      I plan on having some ice cream with chocolate sauce on it before I go to bed this evening.   

I have fond memories of my dad’s final birthday, and I’ve still got the message on our answering machine that he left for us that evening three years ago.  Don’t underestimate the power of a phone call.  Reconcile, make amends, say thank you and I love you.

     
Dad, I'm grateful you're now somewhere you know that you're loved unconditionally, that you get to be with loved ones who have gone before you, and that you no longer have a heavy burden of suffering weighing you down. 

     We love you and miss you, Dad, but we know you’re watching over us from Heaven.