7 Quick Takes

[ 1 ]

This week, as we were driving in the car, Jozef felt it was an appropriate time to ask one of those important questions.  "What will we do in heaven, Mom?  I mean, there's no Wii there..." "No, there is no Wii there," I said "but you won't want to play the Wii there.  Your heart will be so happy because you are with God and that's what your heart was created for."  "Yeah, Joe," Kolbe piped in, "you'll be so happy there."  What makes your heart feel really happy here on Earth?" I asked, searching for a deep answer.  "Well, I'm really happy when I play the Wii," Jozef replied.

I think I'll shelve that conversation for awhile.

[ 2 ]

There are two major areas of the house that I am painting before we put the house on the market--the kitchen/hallway and the living room.  This is no small task under normal circumstances.  With four lively boys about, the job is much more... perilous.  As I was taping around the trim work, Jozef walked up and asked what I was doing.  I explained that I was taping the wall in preparation for painting it.  "Oh," he replied, "it looks really nice."  I'm wasn't sure how to take that comment--I hadn't put paint or brush to the wall yet.  

[ 3 ]

Speaking of painting, this week, I couldn't help but feel a bit like Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life as I was busy up on my ladder with children running around.   Fans of the show will recall how she and Jimmy Stewart ended up in an old mansion after he gave all of his money to the customers of the Building and Loan to stave off closure during the beginnings of the depression.  Each night he'd come home from the office exhausted and walk in to her fixing up their house, wallpapering no less.  As I stood atop my ladder, painting the house, I had flash backs to that scene, with children playing and running amok.  

[ 4 ]

The season finale of Lost was this past week--and it was awesome!  Naturally, I am looking at the show from my Catholic world view, but the ending left the viewer with so much hope.  If you haven't watched the show, and are a Netflix subscriber, you can stream the first few seasons from their Watch Instantly section.  They may also be availabe on Hulu or ABC.com.  I highly recommend the series!  This morning, Sean Harriet and Fr. Shane Tharp had some interesting conversation regarding the finale on Relevant Radio as well.  All avid fans should check out the audio archives.  Fr. Shane gives a great Catholic perspective on the show as a whole as well as the finale.  Good stuff!  Anyone else watch Lost?

[ 5 ]

At the last minute, we decided to attended a concert by Matt Maher at a local parish with some friends.  We had not been exposed to his music before, but we all really enjoyed it.   He was full of energy and his songs were my style-more rock than pop. 

It's so hard to find music for the boys to listen to.  This week, I downloaded his recent CD and Kolbe recognized the music right away.  He enjoyed listening with me as...we painted.

[ 6 ]

A blogger that I read recommended The Safe Side as a video for children to watch regarding stranger-danger.  This is a conversation that I haven't had with the boys simply because I didn't know how to communicate the message (strangers can be dangerous) without scaring them (so they won't sleep at night...oh wait, they don't sleep well already...).   The DVD was created by Julie Clark (of Baby Einstein fame) and John Walsh (host of America's Most Wanted).

The show presents stranger safety in a goofy but informative way.  The boys were engaged and certainly not afraid.  The show also gave us the appropriate language to discuss the different levels of strangers (Kinda-Knows and Don't-Knows).  Now, we use the language when we're going to the mall or simply at home, to reinforce the rules about strangers.  I totally recommend this video for ages 4+.

[ 7 ]

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.  

Please remember to pray for all of our fallen heroes.

Bad News, Good News

Bad News:  This is the second time in one month that one of the boys accidentally left the door open on our spare freezer downstairs.  My chicken for dinner was not spared in the meltdown.  Neither was a countless number of innocent victims.  At 5:23 PM, this harried Mother is not too frustrated (thank you, Jesus!) but is in need of food for some bellies--or there may be a mutiny.

Good News:  Anyone here had Domino's pizza lately?  The new crust/sauce is amazing.  And the nearest store is just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away.  Online ordering...now!

Bad News:  Ordering dinner gets me out of one chore, however the tote of melted chicken, vegetables and applesauce needs to be taken care of.  Preferably, before Nate gets home.

Good News:  Lesson learned.  No boys in the downstairs freezer.  Ever.  Again.

Bad News:  Nate is going to be 1 hour late tonight.

Good News:  As I sift through the melt down, I can offer this up, for my husband, as he's having a rough week at work.

Really Bad News:  Someone just pooed in the bathtub.  Off to clean up and offer up even more than I had planned!  Jesus, I trust in You!

Boys Outside

Picnic-style snack time.

Squeezing through tight spots--and needing some assistance for freedom.

Exploring.

Enjoying the sun.

Climbing ledges.

Getting wet.

And generally being silly.

Kolbe finished his first year of Cub Scouts and is excited about next year--in South Dakota!

Triple Threat

Found in my bed this morning:

Thankfully, Kolbe is an excellent sleeper!

Warm Weather Distractions

The day began with a visit from a Super Hero:

Then, the setting up of the Slip 'N Slide:

Now, on to Mom's regularly scheduled housework.

Rotating Closets

Yesterday I packed away the mittens and hats--not to see them again until Fall.

Today, I'm digging out shorts and packing away jeans and sweatshirts.

Heelloooo Summer!

7 Quick Takes (late night edition)

[ 1 ]

Homeschooling is heavy on my mind.  It seems that every time I look at some curriculum or workbook, I say to myself, "Essentially, they're trying to do what Maria Montessori did, only a bit different."  Do I have "Montessori vision" or is that really true?  Either way, I feel myself being pulled back to a Montessori approach.  Boy, is that hard with 4 busy boys.  This summer, I plan to work in lots more Montessori to ease back into it.  

[ 2 ]

Last weekend, we worked to update our main floor bathroom (BIG thanks to my parents for their help--we couldn't have done it without them!).  Nate has been out of town since Tuesday, and he didn't have a chance to hook up the latrine before he left.  All week we've had to travel to the basement to use that bathroom.  For the record, that's not enjoyable at 1 AM with a toddler that really needs to go potty.

[ 3 ]

I watched The 13th Day, in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, this week.  For a movie that was made within a newly created production company, I was impressed.  It's not a Hollywood movie, but certainly, the story that was told was an important one.  Recommended for ages 8+ (due to two scary scenes of Hell).

[ 4 ]

At least 50% of the time, when I shop at Big-Box-Mart, I get the oldest, loudest and most unbalanced cart there.  Can I just say that quality carts are like music to my ears?  I love when they turn on a dime and don't announce that you're coming around the corner--even to people half-way 'round the store.  THAT would be a marketing campaign--now featuring new carts.  People would flock.

[ 5 ]

The June/July issue of First Things arrived this week.  I almost didn't notice it.  The editor has recently redesigned the entire magazine.  Not the content (that was always intellectual, challenging and great) but the feel.  Lovely fonts, color (COLOR!) photos, glossy paper.  One word came to mind--classy.  If you've looked at First Things before and given it a pass because it was sparse in graphics, I encourage you to take another look.  Well done!

[ 6 ]

Every once in a while, I go a little overboard with the health food.  Last week, when I resorted to cake at the end of a long day, I decided to try a new recipe.  Nate is always patient when I cook something wack-o,  so I decided to go ahead and try it.  I baked a carob cake.  I am here to state, I am giving "carob" as a whole,  1 out of 4 stars.  It wasn't repulsive,  but it wasn't good either.  Now, I have a container of carob, and I'm afraid to use it...

[ 7 ]

Today, I received a gift from my homeschool group.  I have really enjoyed spending the last year getting to know these women and their families.  Now, we are all sad that this wagon train is headed west-ward.  God willing, our paths will cross again someday, because I have never experienced such a great group of Catholic homeschooling families.  Today, they gave me a "Box Full of Blessings":

It was a gift that was aptly presented and contained much love, many letters and notes, and some gifts so that, the Green Bay CHEF Connections experience will always be a wonderful memory for me.  Thank you!

Dinner Planning

I think I'll make a chocolate cake for dessert tonight.  For no reason at all.

Yep.  It's been that kind of day.

Cleaning for Christ

Last evening, as I was in the Eucharist Adoration Chapel, a woman entered to clean and replenish the candles. Cleaning the chapel is an activity that we all know goes on, but I had never been in the chapel when someone actually performed this duty.

I tried to focus upon Jesus and prayer rather than her actions, however my thoughts wandered.  How wonderful to have the duty to clean "for Jesus," I thought.  To dust His alter.  To replace the candles that light the way to Him.  What a simple, beautiful, sanctifying task.

Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I have the opportunity to do that (and more) each day. As I launder, wash, scrub, cook, love, my family.

"For her job, Christ is here, in the eucharist, visibly present," I retorted back.

Then, I was reminded that Christ is also visibly present in the members of my family. Often, I forget that in the day-to-day busyness of life. Often, I overlook Christ's presence and am, instead, reminded of their faults and failings.

Then, I thought about the many days and hours I spend neglecting daily housework for "better" more "edifying" jobs.  Oh Lord, how I have failed you, so many times!

Lord, help me to be a more diligent servant as I serve You within my family today.