In heading into this last week before our grad party... I wish I could say I was as confident as this. I wish I had the unabashed strength of a two-year-old—a strength in spirit if nothing else. I wish I felt ready to host a hundred people. I wish my garage were already clean. "Would you just trust me?" My husband is … [Read more...]
My Eagle Scout
As promised, here are some of the photos from my son's Eagle Court of Honor. It was held on Sunday, April 12th, and was a very fun and busy day, the culmination of his career as a Scout. I'm a proud mama, certainly. (Proud and tired. Thank goodness for coffee.) I was up way too late the night before, assembling his photo board and … [Read more...]
The Wings to Fly: Thoughts about Honesty, Temperance and my Son becoming an Eagle Scout
Let's start with the fun, exciting news: My son's Eagle Scout court of honor was yesterday! I have some nice photos from the day but won't be sharing them until tomorrow because our computer, annoyingly, keeps crashing when I try to access the files. This made assembling the Court of Honor slideshow quite stressful, but the coffee and Redd's … [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...]
On this Feast
16 years ago then... And now. Sixteen years ago this morning, I called my friend at 9:00 a.m. "Okay, so I'm in labor right now. Do I think I should be going to Mass?" "You nut!" she responded. "Get to the hospital!" We've loved celebrating his birthday on this great feast although logistically, yes, it can get a bit tricky. … [Read more...]
And so it begins…
The Advanced Maternal Age Edition My son Joe is working on his Eagle Scout project today. He’s installing a retaining wall at an area women’s shelter—a big job made a bit easier by the help of his father, friends, and various siblings. I have a baby, which means I’m exempt from most forms of manual labor. I baked them revel bars and called … [Read more...]
Teens & Driving: A Fret-Proof Guide
“You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and refuse to tell you where they're going.” (P.J. O'Rourke) Here is my method for dealing with teenage driving angst: 1. Find the nearest baby or toddler. 2. Hold them close and never let them go. Not very helpful, am I? Sorry. Letting go is not my strong … [Read more...]
[Almost] Wordless Wednesday
~ My Bookend Boys ~ … [Read more...]
“Take me out to the…”
Yesterday I went with my two bookend boys on a private tour of Target Field. That’s our new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Just so you know. I didn’t take a ton of photos because most of the time, my arms were full of two-year-old. Don’t let the above photo fool you—that is like one of the only times he let his brother hold him. And … [Read more...]
Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Subtitled: On Being Salt and Light in a Bland, Shadowed World Sometimes, when I am dropping my sons off at school in the morning, I will tell them “Salt and Light!” They know, by now, that I am quoting the book of Matthew—“You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world”—and that I’m reminding them to be a good example to their … [Read more...]
