Geometry Lesson

Kolbe: Dad, why are squares so hot?

Dad: What do you mean?

Kolbe: You know, you said squares are really hot.

Dad: [Looking at Mom, puzzled] Kolbe, I really don't know what you're talking about.

Kolbe: You said they were 90 degrees.

Baby Crazy

Jozef: Mom, can we have another baby?

Mom: Yeah? Why do you want another baby?

Jozef: Well, I just made a bed for her to sleep in and I want to have a baby to put in there.

Mom: What if we have another boy?

Jozef: That's okay. It doesn't matter what we have.

Mom: You'll have to ask God about another baby.

Jozef: Why?

Mom: Well, who created you in my tummy?

Jozef: God.

Mom: That's right. So, you'll need to ask him about another baby.

Jozef: Okay! (Running off, hands folded...)

I love, love, love how pro-life and downright baby-crazy these boys are. As adults, when we think of another baby, our thoughts dwell on the difficulties we will encounter (and this is not necessarily a bad thing to think upon). However, when my boys bring up the idea of having another baby, rarely do they point out the inconveniences they may face. It is always a joyful thought for them--having another baby.

It's hard to say what God has planned for us and our family size. But I do know that whatever He will call us towards, He will also prepare us for. After all, we already have a baby bed made up.

Towards Socialism, Away from ?

I happened to be reading an article on Alexandr Solzhenitsyn in Gilbert Magazine and found this quote to be thought provoking;

"Untouched by the breath of God, unrestricted by human conscience, both capitalism and socialism are repulsive....If a nation's spiritual energies have been exhausted, it will not be saved from collapse by the most perfect government structures or by any industrial development: a tree with a rotten core cannot stand."

While we do well in this great debate over heathcare to point out the dramatic trajectory towards a socialist state structure, this line serves to remind us that there is much that is 'repulsive' about our current economic and political system, and we should be working to change that by bringing our culture back towards an understanding of the sacred, and towards redemption through Christ. Lord, have mercy on us.

A Once Courageous Man

The death of Ted Kennedy saddens my heart. It is my prayer that he reconciled with God before his last breath. It is hard to justify the position of a pro-abortion Catholic. However, God's mercy (unlike man's) has no limits.

With people in any public position I think of the phrase, "To those who have been given much, much will be expected." I think he caved under the pressure. It's easier to be heroic if your party and the media are on your side. It's much harder to stand when no one else will.

At one point in history, he stood courageously in defense of life. Then, his political future looked brighter if he changed positions.

I recommend you read a letter he wrote in opposition to legalized abortion. It is full of courage, wisdom, and conviction. Something lacking in Washington today.

May God be with all of our politicians today. My He give them the courage, wisdom and conviction to stand for life.

Theme Song

Okay this is funny, but not, at the same time.

ht: Mommy Life

Tricks

Overheard tonight as Jozef was feeding Jerzy a morsel of pizza:

Jozef: Jerzy, shake paw.

As you can see, our homeschooling regime is rigorous for school-aged children on down.

7 Quick Takes

[ 1 ]

Sometimes, when I think of all of the areas in my life where I need to improve (organization, prayer, etc) I get overwhelmed. It's so hard to wait for progress. I truly am a student of the "fast food" culture. I want it my way, and fast, please. This is not how God works. Or, for that matter, how I work. Rarely can a person make major changes overnight. So, I pray, I try and I wait.

[ 2 ]

Yesterday Nate and I decided we'd go for a walk. Kolbe on his big bike. Jozef on one with training wheels. Marcel and Jerzy in the double stroller. It started off okay, but we ended up carrying Marcel for a bit, pushing Jozef on the bike for a while, and stopping at a local gas station for potty breaks. I remember when we were young and in love, going for a walk was relaxing. It offered an opportunity to talk and reconnect. Last night's walk was...a little different than that.

[ 3 ]

One day this week we had 6 neighborhood kids over. Some were teenagers, some were young. I was surprised that they'd want to be over here as my crew is all under the age of 7. I didn't really understand why they were here until I decided that they just wanted to hang out with our family. To play with the boys, tease the toddler and coo at the baby. After a few minutes, Kolbe taught them all to play "Octopus" (a yard game that is fun for all ages). I reveled in the irony of the situation--my homeschooler orchestrating a fun-filled game for the neighbors. Social skills--check!

[ 4 ]

This week, my parents came down from Michigan. My Dad has always wanted to go to Manitowoc to visit the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. They has a WWII submarine there as well as other boats and exhibits. I wasn't sure how the boys the would do, but they were really good! I thought it would be intimidating to be in such an enclosed area, but it was fine. Although we weren't under water or at war.

Grandma Lori with Mom and her crew aboard the USS Cobia

[ 5 ]

This weekend we were camping at Otsego Lake in Gaylord Michigan--beautiful lake, great beach. The campsites were practically on top of one another. Our tent leaked on the second night. It was a bitter sweet experience. We were glad to see family and enjoy the lake. However, the soggy tent and damp clothes were not so sweet. Nate did victoriously tow the sailboat all the way there and take it on the lake a few times. For that, the trip was worth it for him.

[ 6 ]

As we drove by the bike path a few days ago, Kolbe shouted out, "Oh no!" I asked him what was going on back there and he responded, "There's a boy over there on the bike trail. He looks like he's only 4 or 5 years old. He's too young to be on the bike trail without his Mom and Dad." "Oh no," I replied. "So," he stated, "I said a prayer for him that God would keep him safe." What beautiful empathy he has.

[ 7 ]

Jerzy is crawling, climbing and cruising along chairs and furniture. I really need to get some shots of him in action. I can't believe he's about 10 months old already. Our lives are busy and full, but truly blessed. I thank God for these beautiful boys he's given Nate and me. And pray for guidance in raising them up to be holy men.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Computer

This short video left me spell bound.

Really? This is what our advertising is made up of?

No wonder we women always fall short.

Rough Day

Coning off of an 800 mile camping trip is always a little overwhelming. Today as I awoke, I faced four bins of "stuff" to unpack, sort, and put away, four wound-up boys, and one grocery shopping trip. At 10 AM, as I was quickly paying a few bills and answering emails, I heard a knock at the door. It was a young man. His mission was simple--to deliver a message.

Hi. I'm going around the neighborhood to inform everyone that the water will be shut off for the rest of the day. And at 8 AM tomorrow.

I stared in disbelief. And then mustered a "Really?" before "Okay." He's lucky I wasn't completely frazzled at that point. I had visions of grabbing onto his calf and whining, "No, no! You can't do this to me!"

Since then, there has been sibling quibbling, laundry pile overflows, dirty dish backlogs, and the floor really needs to be mopped.

For now, I'm holding and nursing my baby. My mind is racing as I calculate how to spend the next two hours because that's when our four dinner guests arrive...ready or not.

Save the Planet...

...Have More Children.

Can I get an "Amen"?

I Am Fishy

Did you know the White House wants us to report information that might be"fishy" on the web regarding healthcare reform? Essentially, those of us shouting, "No abortion coverage, please" are considered feeding misinformation.

Consider yourself informed.

Are you fishy?

Want to be able to identify other fishy folk?

Find out for yourself. Go fish.

Daddy Date

Last night Nate stayed home with the 3 big boys while baby Z and I went to a Mom's meeting (which was really nice).

This morning as I questioned Marcel about their evening he couldn't help but smile:

Mom: Where did you go last night?

Marcel: To listen to the singers (they attended an outdoor concert at our church).

Mom: Oh. And what did you eat there?

Marcel: (Thinking...then a big smile) Popcorn and Ice cream!

Daddy sure knows the way to a boy's heart!

The Heathcare Debate

The US Congressman for our district, Dr. Steve Kagen, MD offered what he termed 'listening sessions' this week in Green Bay & Appleton to discuss the upcoming heathcare bill coming before the US Congress in September. I decided I would attend the event in Appleton on Tuesday for what I assumed would be a town hall style meeting. Based on my prior limited experience with political events, I assumed the meeting would be sparsely attended.

I wanted to let the representative know about my opposition to any legislation that was going to increase the access and availability of abortion by providing federal funding for such service, which is currently prevented (by and large) by the Hyde Amendment.

The event was to begin at 10:00 AM in a senior citizen center. I arrived in the downtown area about 5 minutes before 10:00 and was shocked to find that I couldn't find a place to park closer than five blocks away. There were people milling around outside the center and when I approached the entrance, I was informed that there was no more room inside and so no one else was permitted to enter. A police officer was outside the door. There were slips of paper that an aid to the congressman was distributing. Those outside could write down their names and addresses and questions/opinions for the congressman.

I was quite amazed at the number of people there. Those outside were, by and large, opposed to the entire heathcare bill. Although I've seen news reports of people angerly shouting at their congressmen, this didn't occur while I was there. For me, attending the event showed that there are many people still interested and yes, worried, about the direction the federal government is moving in.

I am no expert on the legislation. I do know, however, that a bill for which it is apparently so important to provide 'reproductive services' which include abortion as 'heathcare' goes far beyond providing basic emergency and wellness services to the 50 million people without heathcare insurance in this country. As Father Frank Pavone has said, what disease is cured by abortion? What medical problem is solved by the abortion procedure?

Abortion coverage should be classified not as heathcare, but as deathcare.

One other note: I wish Washington would just admit that is going to cost money. We should all go into this debate with the understanding that this is a major government endeavor that will need to be paid by the American citizens at some point. This I know to be true.

Toddler Math

Since I don't have my camera this week, I will try to paint a visual picture for you, dear reader, of Marcel's math lesson for today:

1 Toddler + 1 Bag of 500 Beads + 10 x 12 Room = 1 Headache for Mommy.

Lesson learned.

Lunchtime Chaos

"Who gave the baby a Dorito?"

Family Democracy

In an effort to rouse the boy's excitement or enthusiasm for various activities these days, Nate's been taking family votes. Like when he pronounces in a sing-songy way, "Who's-ready-to-go-for-ice-creeeaaam?" Or, "Who's-going-to-be-a-good-boy-at-maaaassss?"

The response is an over-zealous group of boys trying to raise as many appendages into the air as possible (Kolbe and Jozef regularly raise both arms and legs into the air if they're buckled in the car) and shouts of "I AM!!"

The picture I'm hoping to paint is one of Daddy working to infuse joy into family life and the boys responding by going over and above their already fever pitched enthusiasm.

Last night at dinner, Nate thought the fun would translate into encouraging his lot to eat their veggies.

Him (in his most enthusiastic singing voice): "Who's ready to eat-the-dinner-Mom-made-with-out-complaaaaaiiiinnnninnngg?"

The masses: [[ silence followed by...more silence ]]

I'd say, at this point, the poll numbers aren't looking in our favor.