Who's Listening?

I love podcasts (it's my new thing). They keep me company while I make my bed, do the dishes, take out the trash...

You moms with little kids are probably wondering what that means, "keep me company".  You have constant company, usually wrapped around your legs, if I remember correctly!

But my babies are not babies any more. They have better things to do than follow me around the house. They actually try to keep out of earshot having realized that if I am working, I will likely find something useful for them to do as well.

Anyway, I love to listen to "The Busy Mom" podcast with Heidi St. John. One that I listened to recently is titled "What Are We Like... when no one else is watching?" It made me think a lot about my self. Am I "set apart"? Can others see that I have Christ's love in me? It gave me a lot of food for thought over the last few weeks. Which is ironic...

Let me set the scene:

We have a young friend of the family (he's 18) bunking at our house many nights. He comes and goes mostly unseen. Sleeps, showers, shaves, and off to work. Usually he is gone by the time anything of any real significance happens around the house. But not this morning.

I was trying to get out of the house by 9:30 for a pedicure birthday date for one of my married daughters. Our friend was, to the best of my knowledge, sound asleep in bed. Paul, my oldest, had gone to work with his dad. Mark was on the couch with his swollen foot propped up (bee sting). So that left James.

In an effort to expedite things, I start barking orders (at James)- "pick up the figs, pick the ripe oranges off the tree, take out the tortoises, clean up the dog doo, start the laundry"!

Twelve year old James was hopping.

Add to that, all this needed to get done so that we could do at least a little school before I leave!

Can you just hear me escalating?

Then. Oh, then. I walk toward our school room to grab our books and park myself near to invalid Mark to do some Spanish review with the boys. I swing open the door and James is.... sitting. Yes, just sitting. Did not ask if he was done, did not check with me to see if there was anything else, just sitting with his iPad in his hand AND the dirty laundry hamper next to the definitely NOT started wash machine.

Oh, my. I let loose.

I quickly gave voice to my indignation and anger with a lengthy diatribe.

I was only stopped mid rant upon realizing that the bathroom fan right next to where I was standing was running.

In a flash, I hear my words through the very real possibility that our guest was on the other side of that very close door. I was embarrassed, mortified, yet mostly convicted.

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

I really don't remember the exact words that had been flying so freely out of my mouth, but ugliness became immediately apparent.

I started with back peddling- I told James that I did not mean to snap at him. Then had to change that to "actually, I did mean to, but it is wrong and I am sorry!"

I'm not sure that I have ever experienced the ugliness of my own words in such a profound way. How much more does the idea of what are we like when no one is looking apply to what are we like to our children when no one is looking? Are my kids going to see me as set apart? As walking with God?

I honestly don't know if our house guest did hear me. I don't think it matters. What matters is I did. Thank God I did.


My very forgiving helper from this morning being the awesome uncle that he always is:

Seen at Mass...

I have, on a few occasions, shared a snippet or two what from what I heard at mass in the morning.

Today, I am sharing a "Seen at Mass"...

Here's the backstory: 

I got up to go to mass today and realized that I was in desperate need of clean laundry. Nonetheless, I managed to scrape together something to wear, drove to mass, and then hid in the very last row off to the side (you know, hoping no one would notice my bedraggled state).

Once there, my mind wandered off on a train of thought. I had noticed a young lady genuflect when she came in and shyly touch the corner of the tabernacle (that is situated in small alcove to the side) before scooting off to her seat. It got me thinking about how often I have almost reached my hand out but did not... I am not even sure why. Just awkward, I guess. And how on particularly tough days, I have knelt slightly outside the alcove looking at the few rows of padded chairs and thought I'd love to just curl up and go to sleep right there next to Jesus. It seems so comforting. At the end of these thoughts, I imagined how ridiculous I would look if someone walked in and saw me laying there! And it occurred to me how I often felt awkward publicly making a display of even the smallest kind - the sign of the cross, prayers before meals when eating out... I do them anyway, but I was well in to my adult life before doing these things, and they still feel far from habit.

On To "Seen At Mass":

Okay, so I am sitting in mass and all these thoughts have quickly come and gone from my head. Mass begins and, at some point before the consecration, a very large unkempt homeless man comes barreling in the back of the church and up the aisle straight to the front of the church stopping at the foot of the alter to fling himself prostrate on the ground. Within a few minutes he started to quietly sob.

I was a bit stunned. No one at the church seemed overly alarmed. Father continued mass and the man eventually got up and went to the opposite side of the church from me and sat down. Toward the end of mass, he moved to sit next to a woman who seemed to know him and he started to quietly cry again.

At some point during all this, I put together my previous thoughts that I had been thinking of how awkward I felt at times showing even the slightest outward display and here this man was, in front of a hundred or so people, laying it all out there. That he came to lay down in front of Jesus to seek comfort and seemed not to have a care at all that we were there.

I am not sure what troubles this man had and was glad to see that there were people who seemed to care who were comforting him after mass. But I do feel humbled by his willingness to throw himself in front of Jesus. I hope to take that lesson with me and be a bit more BOLD in my outward displays of faith!

Inquiring Minds Want To Know...

What are you doing for Lent?

It was the question at our homeschool gathering today. I know sometimes we like to (and should if we choose) keep that private. I also realize that the first years I came to understand Lent and participate in it, I was enormously inspired by a few of my Catholic mom friends who were willing to share their ideas.

In response to our conversation today, I posted a few things to our local homeschool yahoo group that I have my eye on for this year.

Here they are- plus a few that came to mind.

I really enjoyed these reflections that were recommended by a friend last year-
http://www.lentreflections.com/

As a homeschool mom, this appeals to me. There is a cost involved, but I think it my be just the thing for this tired homeschool mom's soul-
http://nurturingjoy.com/

This looks awesome!!
Dynamic Catholic Best Lent Ever

If you have little ones, this is a must. I am not sure of the format now, but we enjoyed these a few years ago. There was a video and a few crosswords or word finds that went with.
http://www.holyheroes.com/Holy-Heroes-Lenten-Adventure-s/37.htm

And, of course, Icing on the Catholic Cake-
http://www.catholicicing.com/lenten-activities-for-children/

If you are up to a little Lenten project, look here for a list to "shake off the bonds of stuff". We did this a few years ago-
http://lovemylittleflower.blogspot.com/2012/02/lenten-project.html

These posts will give you an idea of our Lent when our kids were a bit younger-
http://catholicbabysteps.blogspot.com/2010/02/lent.html 
http://catholicbabysteps.blogspot.com/2011/03/lent.html.

Fall/Halloween/All Saints

Because I am the sort to procrastinate (and because the attic ladder was broken until just a few days ago), we did not put up any decorations until Thursday, the day before Halloween. As it turns out, we had good bit of rain, so I am thankful that we had not set up any outside decorations ahead of time. But I do enjoy adding a few touches of fall/Halloween to our shelves.

Inspired by All Saints food tags from Lacy at Catholic Icing, we set a table with snacks to represent several saints. I keep thinking that I want to create a generic saints tag (cause the tags just make everything festive) and have each guest bring a treat to represent their favorite saint. 

We do have the most festive family! These are most of my wonderful children and grandchildren (one family is missing from the photo line up as they came later), some nieces and nephews, and a few dear friends. 

Oh, and Paul was missing above. We caught him with Jack Sparrow and Maleficent (who hand made her entire costume by the way!), and also carrying a tired trick-or-treater on his shoulders. 

Next Friday is our annual homeschool All Saints party, so there is more fun in store! 

I've linked these before, but here are a few articles for the season:

http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/all-hallow-s-eve.html 

This above link was going to the site and not the article- if that happens, just type "Halloween" in the search bar and then click on this article :

 All Hallow's Eve

One of the nicest surprises of living around the year with the Church is to find that Halloween is part of it.

http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/20000901/ARTICLES/all_souls.htm

Easter Blessings!

My blogging days seem to be coming to an end, but I can't help coming by to update now and then.

Life being as crazy as it is, we did not all attend all events this year for Easter.

Paul served the whole Triduum at our church, Our Lady of Peace.

Frank took the younger boys to Holy Thursday mass that Paul served at while I stayed home (I was a bit under the weather).

Friday, Frank and I took the younger two boys (Paul served at church) and one of our daughters and her three children to the Stations of the Cross at a local monastery. Frank gets bonus points for pushing the double stroller with three little ones in it up the hill.

The stations at the Carmelite Monastery are a favorite tradition.

Saturday, Paul served at the vigil mass.

Grandpa and Grandma (that's me and hubby) spent some time getting prepped for the big day.

My prep- I have not figured out what our "tradition" is going to be regarding Easter baskets for grandkids and such, but this year each basket had a saints movie or a book plus a small toy. The older kids got a bag of goldfish and a sticker book too. The babies baskets each had a bib. The "girl" toy was a small princess doll, but it is not shown in the picture.

Frank's prep was to work on pre-cooking many pounds of bacon and sausage for Easter breakfast with all the kids (7), kids' spouses (3), fiance (1), and grandkids (8). To be fair, the youngest 4 grandkids don't really eat yet.

Sunday morning, bright and early (7 a.m.) we took the two younger boys to Easter mass. Paul did not get home from the vigil until after midnight, so he was out!

It always feels like we completed a marathon when Lent ends and Easter arrives!!

On to the big day! 

I think our family gets bonus points for major cuteness around here. We had four first Easter babies.

With all that baby cuteness, lots of cameras were clicking, but I'll refrain from posting hundreds of pics!

A few moments caught-

Paul lovin' his little nephew, dad with Erin, Erin finding her basket, Paul with his sister/Godmom.

Speaking of Easter baskets, I am not sure when it started, but we hide baskets around here. And it has turned in to quite a sport.

As the kids get older, they get to be "bunny helpers". This was Mark's first year and he had a blast hiding baskets.

He actually stumped Paul. Paul is used to people putting his in crazy places like on the roof or stringing it up in a tree. Mark was much more subtle and it worked- he was very pleased with himself.

All outdoor areas are fair game for hiding- Paul's basket was in our construction yard. 

Sadly, Mark did not know the bucket he hid it under is used for potting soil that has manure in it! All the loose candy had to be tossed. Paul was a good sport about it. 

Next Up: 

Easter Egg Hunt

Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Easter!! 

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=1073