Summer Vacation

This morning I was afforded the luxury of sleeping-in until 8:00.  It was the first, official day of summer vacation and the kids woke at their usual time, however they kept themselves occupied until I rolled out of bed.  I decided to make them a hot breakfast - a huge batch of scrambled eggs, toast and orange juice.  While we all sat around the table eating, I was struck with a bit of anxiety.  I looked at each of my children and wondered what I was going to do with them over the next 94 days. 

We do have our kids enrolled in a few activities over the summer.  Already, next week, they will be attending Vacation Bible School.  The following week, the boys will attend a 3 day football camp.  In July, the 4 oldest will be taking swimming lessons.  Finally in August, we will be camping at a Christian Music Festival, and then traveling out west for a Family Reunion.  So when I look at the summer in terms of "events" it certainly looks busy.  But the day to day happenings is what concerns me.  I do not want to see my children laying around, watching t.v. or playing video games the majority of each day.  So I am left with the challenge of finding balance for us all - a little learning, a little physical activity, and a little relaxation.

After breakfast, we rode our bikes to a nearby park.  We played for about an hour.  Then we rode our bikes back home, ate lunch on the deck, and then had quiet time.  The 3 youngest took naps and the the 3 oldest read books.  Later in the afternoon, we headed back outside and the kids played a variety of games while I mowed the lawn.  Gummi Bear helped me make supper, which I don't like to toot my own horn, but "beep, beep-beep, beep, beep" (Alvin & The Chipmunks Squeakquel reference).  I made a new hotdish recipe (diced potatoes, sausage, onion, seasoning & cheese) and rhubarb up-side down cake.  Even my pickiest eaters thought it to be o.k.  Honey Bunches said, "Mom, I think you're the best #2 cook."  Of course I had to ask, "Who is #1?"  He replied, "The waffle maker at the hotels where we eat breakfast."  In all honesty, who can really compete with a continental breakfast?

Tonight we are all gathered together watching the NBA Finals.  Sweet Pea is feeling a little under the weather and is curled up on my lap, watching my fingers type.  I was going to put my computer away, but she said she liked watching my fingers.  So I am multitasking for the time being.  Only 93 days left.  If they all go as well as today, this summer thing will be a piece of cake!

Celebration Weekend

We have had a very eventful last few days.  Since Friday, we now have a third grader, second grader, and first grader in our home.  Gummi Bear graduated from Kindergarten on Thursday and received the Young Christian Award.  Monkey Toes and I are very proud of her. All three kids received Outstanding Performance in proficiency in all areas of study.  So another successful school year comes to a close and we are ready to begin our summer vacation.

Saturday morning we had Gummi's Annual May Tea Party.  We began this tradition three years ago when there was a conflict in celebrating Gummi's birthday.  The Tea Party was a great alternative, and so we have continued this each May.  We had a table full of goodies and wonderful company (grandma, aunts, friends from school).  I look forward to this party each year.  Gummi and I work together planning, cooking, and decorating.  All the girls wear their prettiest dresses.  I hope it is a tradition that we will continue for a long time.

 

Later that evening, at the 5:00 Mass, Monkey Toes and I renewed our wedding vows.  The idea was given to us by our priest, who said that more young, married couples should receive a marriage blessing.  Since Monkey Toes was willing to do it, we took advantage of the opportunity.  It was beautiful and touching for both of us to recite the vows we made to one another and to God ten years ago.  What touched me the most was how living out these vows makes them even more prevalent to our lives.  They hold more meaning to us today.

Following Mass, we had our family and a few friends gather at our home for a birthday BBQ, celebrating Gummi and my brother-in-law.  It was such a lovely evening.  The food was delicious, the company was delightful.  By the time everyone left and I cleaned-up the kitchen, I was certainly ready for bed.  Once again, I had a smile on my face and a thankful heart.  Now, I look forward to the next day and a half, relaxing and enjoying my family.  Happy Memorial Day weekend.  Be safe and remember to give thanks for the freedoms that make our country great and the men and women who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice for us all. God Bless!

Everyday Blessings

As I was getting out of the shower this morning, Sweet Potato called out, "mom, I made your breakfast."  I walked into the kitchen and there lay two slices of cinnamon toast.  Something didn't look right about them and so I asked, "How did you make this?"  He said, "with the margarine."  I knew that could not be right because I don't have any margarine in the house.  I asked him to show me what he used and he pulled out the Crisco shortening.  Thank goodness I was awake enough to catch this!  On the way to school Sweet Potato began digging in his lunch bag.  He pulled out a fist-full of paper.  He told me he kept all the notes I gave him last year in his cold lunches.  Yep.  The tears started coming and I couldn't hold them back.  That small gesture blessed my day.

Yesterday, my neighbor, and friend, K stopped by un-announced.  She said she had been reading my blog and felt the urge to stop by and give me a hug.  I was so touched by her gesture that my heart truly felt joyful.  K blessed my day.

More than once I have been on the receiving end of someone's kindness.  Sometimes it is as simple as a smile when I'm crabby or upset, and other times it has been a lovely phone call from a friend.  I'm amazed at how often I have been blessed with exactly what I have needed at that moment.  I could share numerous stories about that!

Each day I am given the opportunity to make a small difference in someone's life.  Do I take the time to be "nice", or do I rush about my day, giving little thought to others?  Somedays, this is definitely more challenging than others.  But my whole point is that with a little effort, I too can bless someone's day, even if I think my gesture may seem insignificant.  At this point, I'm trying to come up with a really profound way of wrapping this entry up.  Monkey Toes is sitting with me and just said, "You don't have to be Oprah.  Just quit."  So I'll leave with these thoughts.  Be nice.  Take time to reverence life.  Bless others and be blessed.  Enough said.

American Idol

When I was pregnant with my first baby, my body changed almost immediately.  I started retaining water within my first trimester, forcing me to remove my wedding band and begin wearing flip flops as my feet were beginning to grow too large for any of my other shoes.  I gained a total of 37 pounds.  During my ninth month, I was so uncomfortable, that all I wanted to do was put my feet up.  While resting during this time, I began watching American Idol.  I think I had to give this introduction as a type of justification for obsessing about a piece of secular culture.  To be perfectly honest, I really do enjoy the show and look forward to Competition Wednesdays and Result Thursdays.  As a family, we sit together and cheer on our favorites.  This year, we are all pulling for Scotty McCreery.  My boys even try to sing like him - funny stuff!  So my little secret indulgence puts a smile on my face.  And now, the baby I was carrying while AI season 1 was airing, is just as big a fan as I am.  These days I put my feet up for other reasons as well.  Life really does come around full circle!

Reconciliation

For my nieces' shower, I decided to read something from scripture.  I looked in a booklet called, "Together For Life", by Joseph M. Champlin.  It was given to Monkey Toes and I during our wedding preparation from our priest at that time.  It contains scripture specifically for weddings, along with an explanation as to what the readings mean.  Monkey and I spent many hours deciding the scriptures that would be shared during our Wedding Liturgy.  We both liked what we called the 'good ol' tried and true' readings (The Creation Story, Husbands love your wives - wives be obedient to your husbands, Love is patient and kind  - etc.), but we wanted something different - something that really spoke to us and represented our relationship.  The readings we chose had the themes of Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-32), Reconciliation (Colossians 3:12-17), and Life (Matthew 7:21-29).  As I was reviewing these scriptures once again, I was really struck by the reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.  It talks about the importance of forgiving one another, just as Christ has forgiven us.  In the reflection it says, "In true reconciliation, the healing goes beyond the hurt, the reconciling is more joyous than the suffering was painful.  Couples then reach a deeper degree of acceptance, love, and understanding."  Wow!  Those are powerful and inspiring words that still move me when I read them.

This was the scripture I decided to share at the shower.  As so many people seemed quipped with marriage advice, I can only think that this is one of the most important lessons of all.  To me, marriage isn't about keeping score (50/50), just as life isn't really like that.  I believe it is recognizing and reverencing the dignity of each other.  When I fail to do that, I hurt the ones I love the most.  Learning to forgive and asking for forgiveness is ongoing.  Once we learn how to do those things, the rest seems to fall into place. 

Busy Weekend

Whew!  My goodness was this a busy past couple of days.  Saturday morning I helped to "spring clean" at church.  With a few helping hands (including my 3 oldest, my sister, my mom and two ladies from church)  we spent a few hours collecting cob webs, cleaning windows and organizing the kitchen.  Later that afternoon we went to our first graduation open house of the season.  Then today, I co-hosted a bridal shower for my niece.  I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend, but I am exhausted.  Just before bed tonight Sweet Potato saw a rainbow.  We all went to the window and stared in amazement for just a moment.  It seemed like an appropriate way to say farewell to this weekend of hard work and celebration.   

Guardian Angels

Cucumber woke up and ran into the kitchen.  "Mommy, mommy.  Look what I found in my bed."  She was holding a tiny pillow feather.  She asked, "where did it come from?"  I answered, "It must have come from your Guardian Angel when he (and of course it could be a she) visited you last night."  Cucumber delighted in this idea.  Then, when we went for a morning walk, she found a feather on the sidewalk and shouted, "What was my Guardian Angel doing out on the street?"

I grew up reciting the Guardian Angel Prayer each night before bed.

Angel of God, my guardian dear

to whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this day be at my side,

to love, to light, to rule, to guide.

Amen.

Sometime in my life I stopped praying to my Guardian Angel.  I don't like to admit it, but I think I forgot that I actually had one.  A few months ago, our priest talked about Guardian Angels in one of his homilies.  He taught us that from beginning until death, human life is surrounded by watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd.  He encouraged us to name our angels (he named his Mark) and have a relationship with them.  I thought about this and decided to name mine Mary, although I haven't done much "relating" to her since.  Now that my kids are learning about angels, I think it's time to resurrect this prayer and ask Mary for her protection, prayers and guidance.   I will delight in the collection of feathers my children are keeping - an innocent reminder to them that they never walk alone in this world.