My four children and I headed to the grocery store first thing yesterday morning to let my oldest daughter pick out her dream breakfast for her special feast day. As we were walking in, I paused for a few moments to organize my bag and get out my short shopping list. I heard my children ask “Mommy, why is she doing that?”, and I looked over to see my 6 year old daughter and my 5 year old son fixating... Read more
My husband got a call yesterday asking whether our family would be willing to be interviewed at home by ABC News for a report on large families and happiness. Our toddler refuses to wear pants when he is at home, so I am thinking that it was prudent of us to decline. However, just thinking about it has left me pondering two important questions: First, am I happy? Second, how does my understanding of happiness compare to what an ABC... Read more
It is important however that what we propose, with the help of God, should be profoundly rooted in contemplation and prayer. Ours is a time of continual movement which often leads to restlessness, with the risk of “doing for the sake of doing.” We must resist this temptation by trying “to be” before trying “to do.” In this regard we should recall how Jesus reproved Martha: “You are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful”. Excerpted from... Read more
Good Monday morning, dear readers! With Advent beginning so soon after Thanksgiving, and with a wonderful family trip over the holiday weekend, I have found myself a bit behind this year in my Advent preparations. However, this weekend our home began to look and feel much more “Advent-y” – we have begun saying our Advent prayer at mealtimes, we are lighting the Advent candles on our wreath, and the kids are opening the windows on their Advent calendars. I’ve also... Read more
I was joking with my son today that if he didn’t behave during schooltime he may find coal in his shoe from St. Nicholas tonight. To which our avid rock collector replied, “Great! I don’t have any real coal. Oh! And we can see how it burns and if it is hard and if it writes….” Anyone know where I can find coal on the eve of St. Nicholas? Read more
I’m a little behind in my posting for the week, but I think I have a pretty good excuse–jet lag. You see, I’ve been to the Motherland. Our Motherland… Rome, Italy… for a celebration of the last ten years of our marriage. To say we are still reeling from the overwhelming grandiosity of our time in Rome and especially our Mother Church, St. Peter’s, is a complete understatement. It was my first time there, my husband’s second, and we... Read more
This is a fun post from the GeekDad blog. Top 5 toys ever. All free. All time tested. All in high demand in our household. Read more
I receive periodic emails from the Love and Logic Institute, and yesterday’s was a keeper. The title is “The Power of Positive Feelings,” and the author begins by saying that he loves the smells of burnt toast and burnt coffee because he associates these smells with being at his grandmother’s house as a child. Even though the smells may be unpleasant to others, his positive association of these smells with visits to his grandmother’s house has continued into adulthood. The... Read more
By two o’clock yesterday, I had helped my daughter sew five pairs of pajama bottoms and helped my son make two batches of gingerbread. I had not — made my bed, switched the laundry or had anything to eat. Now my kids have to watch TV for several hours so that I can recover. This is the stuff that Christmas burn out is made of, and I don’t quite know how I let it happen. Fly lady would NOT approve.... Read more
Thanksgiving is over, and Santa is about. We tend to be very realist; I have never been able to tell my kids with a straight face that Santa or the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny exists, even in fun. We celebrate St. Nicholas’ feast day with great devotion and excitement. The CCC St. Nicholas movie is our second favorite saint movie of all (his quote “Even if I’m the only Christian left, I will always love you” makes me... Read more
Building Cathedrals
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