This blog post has been on my heart since the funeral. Many of you are or will be going through this process with your parents. With that in mind, I'd like to share ten funeral tips to hopefully help you along the way. * * * We buried our beautiful mother on May Day, four short weeks ago. We laid her to rest on the Feast of St. Joseph the … [Read more...]
My Good Enough
Here's how I know that it's Holy Week. This morning I made myself a second cup of coffee because I'd left the first cup upstairs and was too exhausted to go get it. I needed coffee for my coffee, is what I'm saying, and that's how I know that the Triduum is here. Holy Week is always a seat-of-my-pants affair. What gets done gets done and what … [Read more...]
Jesus, take the wheel!
An Early Lenten Check-In I think that the theme of this season is being decided for me. It's "Death to Self", or, "I'm OCD to the Nth Degree and have NO Control over my Surroundings." (Take your pick. The first phrasing's probably more succinct.) Which means... I'm being called to be meek more often than not, and am being asked to smile when … [Read more...]
Don’t blink!
'Cause when you do... They grow up. Photo Credit: his sobbing mom ; ) Where are you going, my little one, little one? Where are you going, my baby, my own? Turn around and you’re two Turn around and you’re four Turn around and you’re a young [boy] Going out the door. Nanci Griffith ("Turn Around") … [Read more...]
Roots & Wings & Other Things
It's started already so go ahead and be warned. Last night, as the kids were doing their various kitchen clean-up chores... Our dry erase board's a mess but it works. Note that we cycle the chores based on the day of the week, and that my kids are extremely fond of butter. The high school senior starting fighting with the 4th grader. He … [Read more...]
Three Weeks In
Has it really been three whole weeks? Three whole weeks since we shipped these kids off to school... ...and three whole weeks since the rest of us began our TWELFTH year of homeschooling? Note that the terrorist toddler is eating his apple for the teacher. Three whole weeks since I've {gulp} written a blog post? (Yeah, well, … [Read more...]
Weigh-In {Easter} Wednesday
You know what? I've decided I'm fine with being fat. So what if I'm ten (or fifteen) pounds overweight? So what if the online assessments agree with me? I'm tired; I'm stressed; I need my escapes. At least, that's how I'm feeling this week. * * * We went home to North Dakota on Easter Sunday. I didn't take any pictures with my camera … [Read more...]
On Seeing my Son in a Surgical Gown
Warning: This post is Lenten in theme. On Monday morning, St. Patrick's Day, I took my oldest son Joe to have a cyst removed. We were due at the surgical center at 6:00 a.m., which meant getting up before dawn and navigating an unfamiliar neighborhood in the dark. I got lost, naturally, and grew increasingly flustered. I got lost AND the “no … [Read more...]
Love is Everything
Early this morning I dropped my boys off at school. “Only one week to go!” 15-year-old Joe remarked. “And then I start my driver’s training.” As we pulled up to the entrance, my eyes were drawn to a girl on the sidewalk. In most every way, she looked like the other female students—standard white polo, navy skirt—but in one distinct way, she was … [Read more...]
This Wintry Spring’s Eternal
A Study in Contrasts Today we’re taking a look at two sets of contrasts. First, the weather in Minnesota at the end of April: The view from our deck when I got up yesterday I’m sorry. That whole global warning thing? Pretty, yes, but welcome? No! Just. Not. Feeling. It. I’m reminded of that scene in Frog and Toad Are Friends where Frog … [Read more...]
