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Catching Up

March 31, 2014 by Minnesota Mom Filed Under: Minnesota Me, My Boys, My Girls, Special Events, Sports Stuff, The Hu'band 13 Comments

Yesterday was Laetare Sunday. Do you got your joy on for the rest of Lent?

My family does. 

family photo 2

From left to Right: John, me, Joe (holding Francis), 
Felicity (holding George), Angela, Jem, (standing behind Felicity), and Cate
Photo Credit: Mark Brown

See?

(Okay, I admit that we were having a photo taken for Family Foundations and our joy in this photo is conditional. Still, an entire family that’s all smiling at once? I’ll take it.)

After seeing this photo (it will be in the May/June issue, I’m told) I realized that it’s been awhile since I’ve done an update on the family. As such, I thought that I would joyfully share with you all the goings-on.

(As opposed to, say, miserably complaining about all the challenges.) 

“Joe” is a high school Junior attending a private school just up the road. He is discerning colleges (though perhaps not as fervently as we should like) and is on the track team. Do you have kids who compete in track? My word, those meets go on forever. 

“Jem” is a freshman at that same school. He receives the sacrament of confirmation THIS SATURDAY (!) so your prayers are greatly appreciated.

“Cate” is a seventh grader and is doing well in school, despite being “hungry, cold and tired” all the time. She said that she is willing to return for 8th grade or be homeschooled again, “whatever you would like, Momma!”

Can you see why this gal has a hold on my heart?

“Felicity” is a 5th grader and has done an amazing job as the Oldest Available Berns kid. Being the OAB is a privilege in our home school–a privilege and a challenge, as you shall see.

“Angela” is in 3rd grade. She is one of the brightest little constellations I’ve ever seen, though definitely one of my more challenging students. For example, she likes to re-write their Spelling City sentences to say things like:

  • “Felicity failed the quiz 15 out of 15. Fail boat!”
  • “Felicity, I know you’re impatient for Lent to end, but stop beating up the poor clock.”
  • “Why does Felicity require junk food, TV, shakes, toys, computer and playmates who do whatever she wants to be happy?”  

“George” is four and a half. He spends his day doing Pre-K stuff and fighting with his big sister Angela.

(Woops! I said that I wasn’t going to complain.)

“Francis” is 15 mos old. He spends his day clinging to my legs, climbing onto the kitchen table, requiring multiple diaper changes and writing on the furniture (and his siblings) with marker. What’s more, he does it all with joy. 

Finally, last but never least, my husband John. (That’s his real name so I left out the quotation marks.) John’s been working hard to establish his new at-home business; the going was slow at first but he now has work from several clients. Praise God! Does this mean we can finally afford a new couch? One that isn’t covered with marker?!

John will be sharing his story in the May/June issue of Family Foundations, which you can read (along with seeing all the kids’ real names) by subscribing to the magazine here.

And that’s all, folks!

At least until, like, Wednesday.

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Comments

  1. Unknown says:
    March 31, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    GREAT picture!

    Reply
  2. Kerry says:
    March 31, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    Lovely lovely loveliness!!

    Reply
  3. sarah says:
    March 31, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    Wonderful picture. I am so joyful that your husband is succeeding with his home business and that things are looking up for you.

    Reply
  4. bearing says:
    March 31, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    Oops. I threw away the magazine without reading it.

    (hangs head in shame)

    What? I'm in lactational amenorrhea here.

    Reply
    • minnesotamom says:
      March 31, 2014 at 10:51 pm

      Ha! You're in luck, tho. It's the NEXT issue, not the current one.

      Reply
    • bearing says:
      April 1, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Woohoo!

      Reply
  5. Beth (A Mom's Life) says:
    March 31, 2014 at 11:18 pm

    What a great family picture!! How many takes to get everyone looking at the camera AND smiling?

    Reply
  6. Sarah says:
    March 31, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    Great family photo and updates! They brought me JOY.

    Reply
  7. Jamie Jo says:
    April 1, 2014 at 1:03 am

    Love the update!! It brought me JOY too!!

    Lots of thankfuls!!

    Reply
  8. Christine says:
    April 1, 2014 at 1:10 am

    Great looking bunch!

    Reply
  9. Melanie Bettinelli says:
    April 1, 2014 at 3:27 am

    Lucia and Francis are in the exact same stage. If I'm trying to teach big kids she needs to be up at the table where she can see what I'm doing. And she needs to see what I'm doing when cooking too. How dare I not be holding her! And the markers and pencils. And eating crayons. All very joyfully. Some day I'll be able to get through a fifteen minute math lesson without having to take a break to change a diaper. Some day.

    That is a beautiful picture of a beautiful family.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    April 2, 2014 at 3:54 pm

    I'm an NFP teacher through CCL, so will definitely look forward to the article in Family Foundations!

    Reply
  11. Julie says:
    April 2, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    Beautiful family! I'm a regular reader of your blog and a very rare commenter, but I have to say I might have to subscribe to the magazine just so I can learn the kids real names. There is something about me that really wants to know things like that!

    Reply

Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I always try to tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

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Hi there!

I’m Margaret in Minnesota, and this is my mom's-eye perspective of a kid-heavy life. I love the Lord; I take lots of photos; and I try to always tell it like it is, from sex to depression and everything in between! I hope you enjoy your time here. ♥

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