"I will go with you, I will give you rest, everything will be fine for you."
On Monday I went to Eucharistic Adoration. I love going to my church. It is so beautiful and so welcoming. I feel a lot of comfort when I am there. For EA, I usually sit, pray, and cry. It's a good cry. There was a speaker once at our church who talked about imagining Jesus sitting next to you when you pray. He had us close our eyes and picture Jesus there with us. I did. It changed the way I feel when I am praying. Instead of focusing above me, I see Jesus sitting next to me, bowing his head, and just listening.
Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. Again I went to my church. Tom went straight from work - our children and I met him there. It was crowded! I wanted to leave our home early, but my children weren't going to let that happen. On our way to church, which is right across the street, we sat in a line of cars. At first, I felt myself get a little frustrated -- then I thought, no this is good. So many people were going to mass and getting their ashes. This was a good thing. I'm sure many choose to skip. And I hoped Tom was inside saving an entire pew for us - though, that's never a fun thing to do. He was.
One thing we noticed during mass, while everyone was going up for ashes and then communion, our son E, was getting a lot of waves and smiles from girls he knows. Hmmm...We were all kind of teasing him about it. He just smiled. Sweet.
Friday night Tom and I got together with our Couples Bible Study. We took Jacob (6 months old!)while Brandon babysat the rest of our children. This was a social gathering. Lots of fun. We ate, we drank, we discussed a few issues, and then it was men vs women in Pictionary! So much fun, lots of laughing. I had a bit of a flashback. I used to go with my parents to their CFM meetings when I was a child. And here I was at my own adult church-group meeting. Who would have thought?
Today I went to church again. It was for a Womens Enrichment Day. It was really nice. I was surrounded by many friends. Great witnesses were shared. Reconciliation was offered. Yummy food was served. It was a wonderful day focused on me, my faith, and my relationship with God. My friend gave one of the witnesses. (Great job honey!) She had me design a magnet to be passed out. I put a few together and she chose one that had a photo on it that I took and the quote at the beginning of this blog. It's something I love to do and I was so touched she asked me to do it for her. I hope to do it some more for others someday.
This week my husband is taking a week off to help me take care of a few things around our home. Lots to do around here. Our back door has been waiting for trim for 1 and 1/2 years! I am also having a friend over for brunch. She is the mother of Carter that I have mentioned before. Carter's little brother is going to come over and meet me and a couple of my children, while hopefully finding comfort in my home.
I was thinking of a time when Brandon was 4 years old. We were at a preschool PTA family get-together. There was a little girl there that we didn't know. She had cancer and had no hair from the chemo. She was sitting all by herself, looking sadly at all the other kids running around playing. She got a lot of stares, but no invites to come play. Then Brandon saw her. He approached her. The first thing he did was ask her why she didn't have hair. She explained to him why and Brandon replied with "Oh. Wanna play?" She smiled and the two of them were inseparable the rest of the evening. When it was time for Brandon's newest friend to leave, he came up to me. He asked me if I would mind giving him the bracelet he had made me at the craft table back. I said ok and handed it to him. He smiled, said thanks, and ran over to give this little girl the bracelet as a gift. Brandon has always been very kind.
All of my children would love to get together with Carter. I'm sure they will someday soon, especially once the weather is nice again. They are excited to have his little brother over. I always want our family and our home to be very welcoming and comfortable to others. You know, that is how I described my relationship with church and God today. I shared that I feel very welcomed when I walk into my (our) church and I feel much comfort when I am there praying. Church feels like home.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
St. Valentines Day
"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
Been awhile since I've written.
Took a trip back home to Iowa for my friend, Kimmy's 40th birthday. Stayed one night at our other friend, Sue's home - Had fun chatting until 3:30 am. Spent the next night out to dinner, to a comedy club, then playing darts at a sports bar/grill. Got to the hotel at 3:00am. Crazy! Would love to do it all again! Some friendships are just so special. I love that we are able to still get together for special moments in our lives. (Sue, WT_?) Ha! Ha!
Watching the Olympics! Love the snowboarding and the skating!
Four day weekend for our children. Friday was spent just hanging out at home. When Tom got home from work, we did our usual Friday Family Night. Pizza and games this week. I enjoy our Friday nights. I love that our family enjoys spending the evening together. Not that every night goes smoothly, but we did start a new "punishment" with our children so we can get better. Tom and I really dislike when our children don't treat each other nicely. Now whenever they say or do something that hurts another, they need to go upstairs to the table in our loft and write an apology, then come down and read it aloud to the person they hurt. At first, they tried to get out of writing the letters - and reading them. I think reading them outloud was the hardest part. Now, they know it has to be done, and they do it. Hopefully we have fewer and fewer letters. (And if they're disrespectful to a parent, it's more of an essay! Paragraphs!)
Saturday I got up and went to a neighbor's, my friend's, home to help clean. I have written about sweet Carter before. I brought my second oldest, Ethan, with me. So there were 4 women and 3 children cleaning. I went straight to Carter's bedroom and started there. I loved being there to help. I pray for this wonderful family every day and I have been wishing there was something I can do to help them, and here was something I could do. Plus, I finally got to meet Dad. I read his beautifully written blogs and had wanted to meet him. Tomorrow it will be 1 year since they found out Carter was sick. There is a fundraiser celebration at a local restaurant. We are planning to go for dessert. (It's also Fat Tuesday!)
Sunday was Valentines Day! Jacob's first Valentines Day! (Our 18th!) It was a good day. An easy day. We went to church - I did Children's Liturgy. Then Tom and I spent the day at home playing with our children. Later that evening, Tom's mother came over and offered to watch our children so Tom and I could go out to dinner. It was nice to go out alone for a couple of hours as a couple. We enjoy being together. We're best friends.
Unfortunately my poor hubby woke up feeling miserable today. He felt so bad that he stayed home from work - that very rarely happens. I tried to just let him rest in bed all day. He did come downstairs for dinner, but is now back in bed. I made a nice dinner for everyone, so nice that our daughter Rachel forgot daddy was sick and thought that he had made dinner. Ok, I'm not a fan of cooking, but I do do it sometimes. I also went to our church for Eucharistic Adoration. I find it so powerful to be there knowing Jesus is present. I spend most of the time crying. With my husband sick and snow falling, I almost didn't go - but so glad I did. I really love going. I want to go and need to go. I feel I need to make time for God because I am always asking Him to make time for me. Lots of prayers come from me.
One funny thing that happened last week -- I went outside to get the mail. As I was walking up the driveway, I heard the front door shut. Then I heard Sarah, my 2 year old, laughing and yelling "I locked the door! I locked the door!" She sounded so happy and proud of herself. Thankfully the little Stinkerbell knew how to unlock the door too.
Everyone is off to bed except me. I have little Jakey on my lap, satisfied and asleep. He's been fighting a nasty cold, everyone in our home has. I'm pretty tired of hearing coughing and sneezing. I think we're almost through it. Poor Tommy almost got away without getting it. Hopefully he feels better in the morning.
I am off to bed with this little peanut.
Been awhile since I've written.
Took a trip back home to Iowa for my friend, Kimmy's 40th birthday. Stayed one night at our other friend, Sue's home - Had fun chatting until 3:30 am. Spent the next night out to dinner, to a comedy club, then playing darts at a sports bar/grill. Got to the hotel at 3:00am. Crazy! Would love to do it all again! Some friendships are just so special. I love that we are able to still get together for special moments in our lives. (Sue, WT_?) Ha! Ha!
Watching the Olympics! Love the snowboarding and the skating!
Four day weekend for our children. Friday was spent just hanging out at home. When Tom got home from work, we did our usual Friday Family Night. Pizza and games this week. I enjoy our Friday nights. I love that our family enjoys spending the evening together. Not that every night goes smoothly, but we did start a new "punishment" with our children so we can get better. Tom and I really dislike when our children don't treat each other nicely. Now whenever they say or do something that hurts another, they need to go upstairs to the table in our loft and write an apology, then come down and read it aloud to the person they hurt. At first, they tried to get out of writing the letters - and reading them. I think reading them outloud was the hardest part. Now, they know it has to be done, and they do it. Hopefully we have fewer and fewer letters. (And if they're disrespectful to a parent, it's more of an essay! Paragraphs!)
Saturday I got up and went to a neighbor's, my friend's, home to help clean. I have written about sweet Carter before. I brought my second oldest, Ethan, with me. So there were 4 women and 3 children cleaning. I went straight to Carter's bedroom and started there. I loved being there to help. I pray for this wonderful family every day and I have been wishing there was something I can do to help them, and here was something I could do. Plus, I finally got to meet Dad. I read his beautifully written blogs and had wanted to meet him. Tomorrow it will be 1 year since they found out Carter was sick. There is a fundraiser celebration at a local restaurant. We are planning to go for dessert. (It's also Fat Tuesday!)
Sunday was Valentines Day! Jacob's first Valentines Day! (Our 18th!) It was a good day. An easy day. We went to church - I did Children's Liturgy. Then Tom and I spent the day at home playing with our children. Later that evening, Tom's mother came over and offered to watch our children so Tom and I could go out to dinner. It was nice to go out alone for a couple of hours as a couple. We enjoy being together. We're best friends.
Unfortunately my poor hubby woke up feeling miserable today. He felt so bad that he stayed home from work - that very rarely happens. I tried to just let him rest in bed all day. He did come downstairs for dinner, but is now back in bed. I made a nice dinner for everyone, so nice that our daughter Rachel forgot daddy was sick and thought that he had made dinner. Ok, I'm not a fan of cooking, but I do do it sometimes. I also went to our church for Eucharistic Adoration. I find it so powerful to be there knowing Jesus is present. I spend most of the time crying. With my husband sick and snow falling, I almost didn't go - but so glad I did. I really love going. I want to go and need to go. I feel I need to make time for God because I am always asking Him to make time for me. Lots of prayers come from me.
One funny thing that happened last week -- I went outside to get the mail. As I was walking up the driveway, I heard the front door shut. Then I heard Sarah, my 2 year old, laughing and yelling "I locked the door! I locked the door!" She sounded so happy and proud of herself. Thankfully the little Stinkerbell knew how to unlock the door too.
Everyone is off to bed except me. I have little Jakey on my lap, satisfied and asleep. He's been fighting a nasty cold, everyone in our home has. I'm pretty tired of hearing coughing and sneezing. I think we're almost through it. Poor Tommy almost got away without getting it. Hopefully he feels better in the morning.
I am off to bed with this little peanut.
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