Good Morning!

Profound Thought for the Day

"Sometimes I get bagels up my nose."-Rose Marie

This has a sort of, "Life is like a box of chocolates," ring to it, don't you think?

Masterful Marketing

There is something about this logo on the side of those brown paper bags that is just comforting...I don't even shop there!!! Perhaps it is the wonderful goodies that people occasionally bring over in said brown paper bags. I mean, with that logo on them, chocolate pastries and apple pies have to be nourishing to the soul and the body, right?

What Do You Say When...

1) "I can do it by myself," means not only using the potty by herself, but also dumping the little potty into the big one and the proceeding to "wash" it out in the sink. What do you say as she comes proudly downstairs, shirt soaked with what you can only hope (or dream) is water and announces that she is a big girl?

2) Samuel seems unimpressed by getting his hair curled by his big sister. She gets exasperated because he doesn't seem to want to look pretty. She was just trying to help him with his image.

3) She shows you the empty DIRTY laundry basket and happily shows you how she put the clothes away. She even put the dirty socks nicely in with all the clean ones, because that is where socks go...we just won't talk about where the underwear ended up.

I guess just smile, bask in her pride and glory, and hold her close. Then...grab the Lysol when she is sleeping and get to work. :)

"Helping" bathe baby Sam:

Only Catholics

I do not like going to confession. I love the fact that we have this as a sacrament, but I always get a little nervous and it is just something I do ENJOY doing. It is, as it should be, a humbling experience. This time, as I stood there in line, I was aware of how far I had been feeling from grace lately. It had been awhile since my last confession and I was feeling this fact. I stood there actually anxious and excited to get back to grace and becoming myself once again. I looked down the line and saw all of the other people who were trying to make their way back again, expressing their need for God's help in their lives and wanting to be who He had created them to be.

Then, out of the confessional walked a man from the parish for whom I have the utmost respect. He came towards me smiling. He took my two hands in his big strong ones and said, "It is so good to see you here and to see your friendly smile." And with that, he was gone to thank His Savior for the grace he had just received through the sacrament. I then, took my turn to seek God's forgiveness.

Only Catholics can have this sort of solidarity. We see each other lined up, each acknowledging that we are fallen creatures and that we are weak. And we can smile at one another standing in that line. We know what the other is feeling and we know why we are all there. We support each other and understand that we are all trying to get back to the Father. I truly felt that today. I felt like that kind gentleman was saying, "It is good that you are here...that we are here." We belong to a Church that is full of sinful members, but they know they are sinful and that is why we line up. We are grace-seekers. I am so grateful to be surrounded by people who understand and who smile at me with encouragement as I struggle towards becoming who God wants me to be.

On this Solemenity

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, Protector of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus. I realize that to some, this post is going to be overwhelmingly sappy, so if you would like to avoid said sappiness, please do not read on. :)

This Feast Day has given me pause to think about the role that St. Joseph played in the life of the Holy Family. St. Joseph was chosen by God to be the companion and helpmate to Our Lady as she shouldered the beautiful, but possibly taunting task, of protecting, loving and raising His Son. He was the one who went from inn to inn, looking for a suitable place for Our Lord to make His entrance into our world as a man. Can you imagine his disappointment when the only place he was able to find was a stable? Did he accept this as God's will, or did he struggle with feelings of inadequacy at his inability to offer a better place? Then, he lovingly escorts Our Lady to the Temple, to fulfill the Law in presenting Our Lord to the Father. What must have been his reaction to Simeon's harsh words towards Our Lady? We now understand what Simeon meant, when he told her about the sword that would pierce her Immaculate Heart, but did St. Joseph? Did he want to defend her, to spare her from this prophecy? On the Flight to Egypt, again he was tasked with making a home for the Holy Family in a foreign land. Or, consider the comfort he must have been to Our Lady, as she frantically looked for Our Lord when He was only twelve years old and lost in the city of Jerusalem. He must have been the one she turned to in her worry and fear. St. Joseph was that silent, but strong member of the Holy Family, whose mission it was to guard and protect the two most important people that mankind will ever know. He is an amazing example of a man who gave his life for his family through his work, protection, guardianship, love and companionship. This is why he is held as a model for all men.

Pondering his role, has made me think of the strong man in my own life and the way he so lovingly follows St. Joseph's example. These past few weeks, we as a family have been displaced and separated. My husband has spent this time seeing countless homes, searching for a place that would meet our needs. His search was so often met with disappointment and frustration, but he did not give up (even though I would have a long time ago!) :) He has worked long hours trying to provide for our needs. Somehow, he has managed to make a two hour drive several times a week, simply to be here to put his children down to sleep. He wants them to know that Daddy is here and that they can feel comforted and protected in his presence. He comes so that he can comfort his wife and let her know that she is never alone. I am so blest to have married someone so wonderful! Thank you, Jacob for being the selfless, strong, giving, loving and devoted man that you are! I love you with my whole heart and I cannot wait to be together again!

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH!

Pictures from Marmie's House

1) Dangling at the park on a nice day. (This is much better than dangling on the end of the dinning room table!)

2) Sparkling conversation with Aunt Kate.

3) Playing in the tree house!

4) Being a family when we are all together on the weekends :)

They Must Be Related…

Rose Marie at 3 months:

Samuel at 3 months:

Sweet Moment

A few nights ago as I was getting Rose Marie ready for bed, she placed her head on my shoulder and pleaded, "Mama, sleep with me?" I pulled back the blankets, crawled in next to her and Bud-Bud, and pulled her close to me. We stayed there in the dark for a long time and we whispered and giggled for a while. I stroked her hair and felt her breathing steady and slow. Then I looked around and realized the beautiful place I found myself in. We are still living with my family for now and so, Rose Marie is sleeping in the room that used to be mine. So there I was, in my girlhood room, curled up beside my sleeping daughter, while my slumbering son was in the room across the hall. This room used to bring peace and comfort, and it still does. Now it embraces not only myself in love and warmth, but my own children as well. Thank you Lord, for giving us this place to still call home (or at least, a home away from home.)