For the past week, my sweet husband has been in Turkey.  The computers are having issues in the Istanbul office so they called in the Computer Guy.  (Doesn’t that make him sound like a super hero?) It was his first time out of the country, other than college trips across the border but that doesn’t count when you’re from South Texas, and my first time to have him so very far away.  While he’s been gone for a week or... Read more

Earlier this week, my neighbor told me “I could talk to you all day.  You know, you should really write a blog.” I should probably look into that. Read more

This morning I logged onto our bank account to balance the check book when I saw over $300 in charges I know we didn’t make.  In a couple hours of online shopping, according to the transaction time stamps, my check card shopped at 2 match making services, amazon, and proflowers.com. I immediately called the bank and cancelled the card, then started calling the online retails since the charges were still pending to see if the transactions could be cancelled.  I... Read more

***** #4’s assignment was to write the 10 Commandments in her own words.  Here they are: 1. There’s only one God.  You should listen to Him.2. Don’t say God’s name like it’s just a word.3. Go to church on Sunday and don’t work.4. Obey your parents.5. Don’t stab or shoot anybody.6. Love your husband. 7. Don’t take anything from anybody.8. Tell the truth and don’t say you did something when you didn’t do it.9. Your neighbor’s wife isn’t your wife.  Don’t... Read more

I’ll admit it – I had a bit of a reputation as a trouble maker at our previous parish.  I own up to it and admit that I did a bit of rabble rousing.  I made phone calls and wrote emails.  I left notes for people and called things to their attention.  I tried very hard to ignore the small stuff, but teaching the Protestant 10 Commandments in CCD or selling Native American fertility idols in the parish gift shop... Read more

When I was a young girl in Catholic school, I was terrified of Hell.  (I’m still terrified of Hell, but I was preoccupied with my fear as a young girl.)  I had countless nightmares about burning lakes of fire and coming face to face with the devil himself.  For a long time when I was young, it was the fear of burning that motivated me to be good.  It wasn’t love of God or my parents, but a desire to... Read more

Girls everywhere will agree with me (I hope) that it’s just wrong for the midwife to hand my husband the paper that says “Congratulations on getting to 31 weeks!  Starting weight XXX  Weight today XXX total weight gain so far XYZ” Handed it right to him.  Right in front of his eyes…which know how to read…thank you very much. I know that he knows I’m no longer the super thin girl he married.  He’s watched my weight go up and... Read more

****I try very hard not to complain about being pregnant.  I have been reminded too often by the people I love that this is a gift and that complaining about it is ungrateful, but sometimes saying nothing is dishonest.******* I hurt.  My hips ache.  I can feel the ball of the hip joint move in the socket and grind against the hip bones.  The larger the baby gets, the more the joint loosens.  When I walk from one place to another,... Read more

Once upon a time I was a little girl with a big mouth and lots of opinions. (I know.  Big shock, right? I’ll warn you next time before I spring one on you like that.)  I was 5 years old and wanted to be the First Woman President of the United States.  My mother laughed and asked me what I would do if someone else did it first.  I shrugged and replied, “I’d do something else because no one ever... Read more

I talked with my 90 year old grandmother last night.  At one point I told her that the children and I were researching family trees and were about to get started on her side of the family. She paused for a moment and said “My mother used to say not to go looking too high up in the family tree because you might just find someone hanging from it.” I can’t wait! Read more