I glanced over at 3-year-old Angela, who had pulled a stool over to the cupboard and was about to dig around in it.“What do you want, Honey?” I inquired.“Can I just have a marshmallow?”“No, Angela, you cannot have a marshmallow. It’s almost supper.”“Two, then?” she replied. … [Read more...]
Adaptation
Subtitled: We. Are. Burned. Out.For all my joking about the winter weather in Minnesota, you can be assured that it is wearing on me. I never saw the movie The Shining in its entirety—for good reason—but I do recall the scene where the writer, having been cooped up in that crazy lodge for far too long a season, sits down at the typewriter and … [Read more...]
Promises Kept
Felicity was the first one downstairs this morning and we had a nice half hour together. She watched me make a batch of scones, she practiced her “doubles” facts, she colored an octopus that I’d printed out for Angela (with my permission).When she’d finished she slid off the stool and announced, “I’m going to go now! I promised myself that I’d play … [Read more...]
Feel the Joy
It’s the 4th Sunday in Lent--Laetare Sunday, because we look with joy to the approach of Easter. Are you happy today? Feeling new resolve for the next three weeks?I cried at Mass this morning for no good reason other than the priest was just so…beautiful, if such may be said about a dignified old cleric in his seventies. Jem saw the tears rolling … [Read more...]
Today, the Littles
If you could spare a prayer today for your dear old friend in Minnesota, I’ll take it. I will be giving a talk this morning to a group of children preparing for their First Holy Communion—not my daughter’s class but a different group—and their parents.Talking to a bunch of 2nd graders—how sweet is that? Still, I’m a little bit nervous.Therefore a … [Read more...]
O Happy Fault:
The Story of My Conversion“O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for usso great a Redeemer!” Saint AugustineI have been dragging my feet about telling this story and so I am … [Read more...]
Four Things I Would Do Differently…
...If I Were the Momby Cate (age 7)If I were the mom I would let my children slip and slide when the bathtub drained. I would let them play outside as long as they wanted (but not when it got darck.) I would let them make snak’s when they wanted it. I would let them help make supper. Do you think I would be a good mom?(And I would let them have 4 … [Read more...]
Forty Hours Devotion
Reader Iowa Jen left a comment asking about the 40-Hours Devotion.The following is from an article by Fr. William P. Saunders.The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition. Of course, the focus of this devotion is on the Holy Eucharist. As Catholics, the words of our … [Read more...]
Oscar’s Ironies
Every year it’s the same old thing.I stay up way too late watching the Academy Awards, and groggily I rise the next morning, with pasty eyelids and weary steps and a slight, nauseous feeling of “Why did I do it?”I’m hung-over, is what it is. Too much TV. Too much pomp and nonsense.Yet I will do it all again next year.You may or may not know this … [Read more...]
Slightly Messy but Delightfully Fun
A box of 99-cent cornstarch bought me two very happy girls on Sunday.If you don’t mind a little mess—and which of us well-balanced & patient mothers ever does? wink wink—then here is what you do:Dump half a box of cornstarch into your bowl.Add just enough water to make it “gloopy.”Add a drop or two of food coloring. Some people might say this … [Read more...]
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