7 Quick Takes

[ 1 ]

We have over 50 tomato plants!   For some readers, that may be nothing, but I've never grown anything in my life (besides children).  My Mom gave me a few plants when we were first married.  Most were dead within 3 months.  I watered.  I sunned.  I talked to them in a soothing voice.  They died anyway.

So, my foray into gardening begins with tomato plants.  As a novice, I planted all the seeds in the packet.  Then, I counted them.  We will be canning a LOT of tomatoes this summer.

[ 2 ]

This week, Kolbe finished his reading book for the year.  We are so proud of him.  At the beginning of first grade he was not interested in learning to read.  One of the huge benefits of homeschooling is that we move along with him, rather than the other way around.  So, we were patient with him, found a good book recommended by a friend, and haven't looked back since.  To celebrate, Dad brought home a concrete cake from Culver's!  Way to go Kolbe!

[ 3 ]

Warning!  Do not put markers in your pockets.  Especially if they are without caps.  This has been a public service announcement from Marcel Marker Pants (not to be confused with that yellow, Sponge fellow).

[ 4 ]

To the McDonald's employee who packed my boys' meals with tiaras rather than trucks--you have no idea how much fun the boys had with them!  Initially, there were shouts of "take us back to the restaurant for a different toy!"  Then, they began to giggle as they placed the tiara on the baby.

And each other.

And Dad.

[ 5 ]

Jozef performed a feat this week that will go down in the family history books.  He came to me in the kitchen with big tears.  Then, he sheepishly announced that he had put a LEGO...ahem...up his nose.  I reached for the pepper to induce a sneeze, however he was able to simply "blow" it out.  Ah, the many wonders of boyhood.  What was he thinking?  Of course a call to Grandma was in order.  You see, she had to impart a little more family history on Jozef.  When his father was a lad, he put a watermelon seed in his ear.  That one was not extracted by natural means.

[ 6 ]

On Monday we are going to the circus!  I have never taken my boys to the circus.  Ever.  My sister graciously took Kolbe and Jozef a few years ago, but they haven't been back since.  I have been looking forward to this for over a month!  They're taking the news so-so.  Right now, they're thinking, "We're willing to go, Mom, but we realize you're just using us as a guise to get yourself in." They may be right, but I'm sure they'll enjoy it, too!

[ 7 ] 

We will be planning for some small home improvements this weekend.  There are a few things we'd like to do before putting the house up for sale this summer.  We plan this weekend and then, my parents are coming down to help us implement those plans next weekend.  For some reason, we've fallen into the buy a house, fix it up, sell it pattern.  Hopefully, someday we'll stay in one place longer than 2 years!!  God's will be done.  

Have a good weekend!

Morning [Black]Mail

Way back when, when my quiver only consisted of one or two boys, "running in" to get some milk or eggs from the gas station or small convenience store was no problem.  However, the thought of unbuckling, gathering, steering, negotiating (or not) for snacks, assembling and rebuckling four boys is...daunting.

After pulling into the neighborhood gas station this morning for two needed supplies:

Mom:  I'm going to run in and grab what I need.  I'll be right back.

Boy from the far recesses of the truck:  Mom?  If you go in there without me, I'm gonna cccrrrryyyy.

Mom:  [Realizing the battle was lost] Okay.  You can come in.  Is everyone else okay to wait one minute in the truck?

Another boy from way back:  I'm not!

Mommy note:  the jig is up!

Truck Bling

Catholic Style.

Get yours today!!

** The magnet won't stick to the rear door.  Must be mostly plastic??

Music for the Soul

Is there anything better than Billy Joel or some Abba music on a day when life's gotcha down?  Throw in an upbeat, with a bit of sunshine, and I can conquer the world!  Okay, maybe the dishes, dirty floor, laundry, grocery list, and, well, you get the idea.

**I love Billy Joel, but Only the Good Die Young does not make the cut.  Sorry, Billy.  Don't mess with Catholics!  

Confusion - of Galactic Proportions

Dad:  Who are the three persons that make up God?  Who can name one of them?

Jozef:  Mary!

Dad:  No, Mary is not God, she was very special, and she was Jesus' mother, but she's not one of them.

Jozef:  Oh...[thinking]...the Son? 

Dad:  Very good!  Okay, who can name another?

Kolbe:  The moon!

The prescription? More catechesis, less nursery rhymes for a bit.  ;-)

Jozef's Clone Birthday

For Jozef's 5th birthday, he had one request: Clones!  He loves those Star Wars troopers so much, it was fun to watch his excitement about each "Clone" piece of his special day.

The Clone Cake.

(Inspiration here.)

The Clone Helmet.

The Clones.

The Birthday Boy.

Happy 5th Birthday, Jozef!

Pope John Paul the Great, pray for us.

Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us.

Quick takes - Dakota Edition

The last three days were spent in a dizzying trip to South Dakota (for an update on our move, see #8).  Dear reader, I have so many things that I want to share that I thought a "Quick Takes" edition would be fitting.  Usually, the Quick Takes occur on Friday, so consider this early or late; your preference.

-- 1 --

Driving across Wisconsin and Minnesota proved to my husband that our recent Suburban purchase was entirely worth it.  Comfortable seats, good pickup, and an integrated DVD player to keep the troops happy on the road.

We did discover a few things that aren't functioning properly in the used vehicle however, that hasn't squelched our enthusiasm.  Really.  Good.  Decision.

-- 2 --

In looking for apartments in this college town, I realized that I am afraid of college students.  I mean no offense to any college readers here and must admit that I myself was a college student at one time.  Since those college days, I've realized a very troubling aspect of our culture--we allow young people between the ages of 18 and 27 to act without moral n,m     and discretion with abandon.  Whatever their actions, they can  be explained away by stating that they're "college students".  I realize this description does not fit many, many students, however I'm not sure I want to risk challenging my hypothesis by sharing a twin-home with a group of college students.  Thus my admission:  I am afraid of college students.

-- 3 --

We've told the boys many things about South Dakota including the fact that Mt. Rushmore is there.  As soon as we approached the border, our story was confirmed with signage:

As we spent the entire day Monday searching for a place to live, Jozef asked when we were going to see Mt. Rushmore.  Afterall, if Mt. Rushmore was in South Dakota and we were in South Dakota, surely we were going to see Mt. Rushmore.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that those famous faces were another 6+ hours away from where we were in the state.

Later, as he was filling Grandma in on the details of his day, he informed her, "but we didn't see Mt. Rushmore."  She was baffled until I enlightened her of his logic.  It's truly beautiful to see the world through the eyes of a 5-year old.

-- 4 --

About 40 miles from the town we're relocating to, is one of Ingall's homesteads.  Laura lived with her family there for five years before getting married.  The town has recreated the Ingall's home and barn and hosts tours and educational opportunities.  In addition, they have pageants in the summer that depict parts of the Little House books.  You can bet we're going to check those out next summer!!  After we finish reading the series.

-- 5 --

Upon our move this summer to South Dakota, this blog will have moved to three states with us--Nebraska, Wisconsin and South Dakota.  In honor of that move, maybe a subtitle to the blog would be appropriate--Little Box on the Prairie?

-- 6 --

All of this Little House talk reminds me of our own family.  Sometimes Nate and I truly question if moving around so much is "good" for the kids.  Of course we know it is, afterall, home is where we are--as family.  We certainly do have our doubts about this path in life.

However, the Ingall's certainly did their share of moving in their life time.  And, at a point in time where there were incredibly greater risks--farming, housing, illness, blazing trails across the west.  And, they lived in Wisconsin and South Dakota as well.  Now, if only Nate could play the fiddle...

-- 7  -- 

As I anticipate the packing process, I  am reminded of the reason for naming this blog.  While our lives are full of blessings (and times that are trying, too), they have also been full of boxes (and subsequent, moves).  We have indeed moved a lot.  If I'm remembering all of our moves correctly, there have been 5 total--Michigan to Wisconsin to Michigan to Nebraska to Wisconsin.  Now, we'll add another chapter.

We don't really know where we'll be in 2 years, but we do know that we'll be praying and seeking out God's will.  And, really, that's what we're all called to do.  Some do so from the same house and location all of their lives.  Others are set upon a path that takes them all over.  One is not right and the other wrong.  Rather, they are both lived out, in faith (God-willing), one step at a time.

-- 8 --

For those rabid fans that are looking for a "Countdown to South Dakota" update, continue reading.

Why the heck are you guys moving?  Again?  We really feel that, after celebrating the 1-year anniversary of our move to Wisconsin, it's time to move on.  This place is just not big enough for the 6 of us.  Okay, the honest answer is that Nate has an opportunity to gain valuable experience and make some more money.  While the pursuit of money is not one that one should make the focus of their lives, let's face it, without fire, we can't cook the soup.  So, westward, ho!

Okay, when are you going?  We don't have that date nailed down yet.  It's looking like July 1 or August 1, depending on housing availability,  internet connectivity on the job site in SD.  Which, by the way, is off a 5-mile dirt road and surrounded by prairie, farm fields, rolling hills and hundreds of wind mills.

Where are you moving to?  Brookings, South Dakota, or thereabouts.  We have a number of housing opportunities that we're exploring (sans college neighbors, hopefully).

Easter Picture

Before

After

If only all of life could be "fixed" with Photoshop. =]

Listening

Isn't it amazing how difficult it is to listen sometimes? I mean really, truly, listen? Often, we don't regard what another person has to say. Rather, we simply wait for a pause to interject our own thoughts.

Recently I've had a situation where a person questioned me, and I could just tell they weren't interested in my response. Instead they shook their head and carried on with their own thoughts and ideas.

This can be so frustrating. In the middle of the conversation, I thought to myself, "Why even go on? This person is obviously not interested in my side..."

Looking back, I do think it is important to go through the motions in a situation like this. We never know when we may say something that may truly touch someone. They may recall the conversation a day later or a year later and may finally come to see our perspective. The key is to be willing to see a conversation through and try to plant a seed.

Each of us is on a journey in life--all at different points of understanding. The world makes decisions look so clear-cut, so black and white. But working to see situations the way God sees them, requires grace.

And so, I'll pray. And act. Relying on God. And letting go of the unknowns.

Bugs, Worms and the Circle of Life

Why is it that when a boy sees a bug, worm,  or other small and helpless creature, his first thought turns to destruction?  As a girl, and having grown up with two sisters, I feel like our first thoughts were more, "Oh, let the poor helpless creature live!"  Dramatic, for sure.  But, certainly more relatable.

Today, the boys were digging in a garden area when Marcel spotted an Earthworm. In his excitement he picked it up and brought it over to me.  I excitedly reveled in his find:

Mom:  Oh!  Wow!  You found a worm!

Marcel:  Uh-huh!

Mom:  Earthworms are so great because they help our soil.  And, they help plants grow.  Aren't they amazing?

Then, in the middle of my Earth-science lecture-ette, my son gently laid the Earthworm on the deck. He slowly picked up his foot and stomped the little life out of that worm. I stared in disbelief. Didn't my lesson prove to him the value of this little worm's life? Wasn't he listening to the part about they "help our plans grow" and the "amazing-ness" of the worm?

Apparently, I forgot about "Little Boy 101":  Any small living creature is game for destruction.  It's one of those Circle of Life kind of things.

Prayers for our Pope

The recent onslaught from the media of attempting to link Benedict the XVI to a recent sexual abuse case has been frustrating--their claims are unfounded and uneducated.  However, that hasn't kept them from putting up headlines anyway.

The Cardinal Newman Society is asking for payers during this Easter Triduum--the holiest week of the year--for the father of our Church.  They are responding to a call from Archbishop Dolan of New York.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan has stated that Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is suffering "some of the same unjust accusations, shouts of the mob, and scourging at the pillar as did Jesus". 

Please visit their website and pledge some prayers for our Pope.

May you have a blessed Easter Triduum!