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Mom and Gabriel Tariku at Dreamland.
We got good news today!
We are both homestudy and Gladney approved!
Yahoo!
So now we are waiting only on the infamous CIS amendment,
and then our dossier can zing to Addis and the Ethiopian paperwork can begin.
And now our dreams are closer, and more vivid…
Dreamland Resort, outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia>
Having a great babysitter who is like part of the family! A rare bird, indeed!
Miss Sally O, is our gal Friday! She is part babysitter, part big sis, all around helper around here. She is the one who I can always call on to hang with the kids, and not worry about them at all. She is old enough to be responsible and capable and have a good sensible head on her shoulders; but young enough to be high energy (a must!) and fun to be with!
People say, “How do you manage all those kids, and homeschool and run the house?” and so on. Well, with a little help of course!! There is no way to effectively be mom, homeschool, take kids to doctor appointments, cook, and well, just keep all those balls in the air, FOR ME, than with a little help. {I know there are so many moms who do manage this and so well. I am in awe of them. And I know my shortcomings and my limits! And so my gratitude kicked in and my pride went out the window on this issue, ages ago!} This dear girl makes me a better mom. I can focus on who needs me and what needs me as it arises, and be a better juggler with her extra set of hands for a couple of hours.
Of course, I’m not stupid and I realize the toll it takes on a gal…so I always worry a bit about her leaving for greener, quieter pastures. She is good enough to answer, today, at her own blog. {And yes, I realize it’s not gonna last forever, or long, she’s gonna graduate college, get an exciting job, find a great guy, get married…the list goes on and makes me happy for her and sad for us, but we’ll enjoy it while it lasts!}
She’s part of our family, she’s my right hand gal, she’s the biggest “sis,” she’s Sally O! And we are grateful for her here!
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Ready to get pierced ears…just a little nervous!
Whew! That wasn’t so bad!
Balloons are the best, yeah Dad!
No, not a mohawk, just a goofy pic.
Birthday girl and her Dad. Best stuff of all!>
homeschool live blogging – it’s been a crazy day don’t judge me
This afternoon, struggling with the final draft of the infamous book report:
Miss M, “Mom, can listen to Beethoven while I work?”
“Um, sure.”
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Thirteen years ago, in the dark night, just before dawn lit up behind the clouds, I remember the sky opening up with thunder and lightening and rain, to accompany your early morning birth.
And yes, you were our only baby with crazy colic, but it passed.
And that is our girl: full of passion and with a huge compassionate heart. Loving, laughing, feeling everything and wanting to see and know the whole big world.
Your family and friends mean the world to you,
Some dread the teen years. Not me.>
Fair warning: LONG post.
I have been stewing a bit lately. Maybe it was another migraine, pushing my thoughts outside their normal box. Maybe, but I don’t think so. Maybe it has been the intensive discerning process we’ve been in. Or now, the idea that we have EIGHT children (we just need CIS to verify). Very likely, that.
(This is an older picture, w/ our Korean exchange student/daughter from afar, But, clearly, I’ve been thinking, a LOT, about the large family.
Now, we, to some, are a large family. To many of the families I know, we are a smallish large family. Or maybe a largish, medium size family. Or a big small family. By some standards we are a middling family, no big deal. But, by others, the vast majority, we are a Large family. By modern American standards we are a freaky big family!
And I think, isn’t that odd?
But then again, I have to think about that a lot. Because my kids have to grow up in this family. And some people have written about how hard and bad it is for kids to have to grow up in a large family; what a disservice it does to the kids. Hmmm.
Obviously, I have a bias.
I like to think that a large family, or a largish medium size family, or even a crazy big family is on the whole: good for the kids. Kim at Starry Sky Ranch is thinking about this, living it, as well. Worth a read that.
But too often, in our modern or postmodern culture, the large family is considered not only not so good, but detrimental. Huh? Because in the modern ethos, if you are filling all the bedrooms and then some in your house then surely you are shortchanging your kids, right? They must not have all the “things” they need materially. Because modern kids are not only entitled to their own room and an education but the newest backpacks and electronics and flat screen tv’s….really? Ok, I’m not saying everybody holds to this, but oddly enough, I get asked about this sort of thing. And of course, you might guess, I disagree. Kids are not entitled to such, to our excess consumerism, nor is it best for them (and we are all too guilty, all too often, mea culpa). But this is another post topic, really…the idea of how much and of what? Kids need a certain financial stability to thrive and certainly the adoption process ensures that. But it is a much wider swath than some I meet presume.
But to take it further, people wonder, and (to my waning shock) ask outright, if we are being “good stewards” of our resources. We have been questioned, point blank, on whether we have all our kids’ college funds funded (more than once). And you know, thankfully, so far, God has provided and no we don’t have every child’s entire education funded. We are figuring that we will figure it out and we will find a way to be sure that all our children get the education they want and need. It is a priority, but not a panicked stash. This is our personal decision (so don’t flame me, I get it when you decide otherwise).
So really, it begs the question: good stewardship, how is it applied to kids and a big family? Well, I think it’s simple. The best investment, ever and always, is in the life of a child. Period. That may be easy to say, but if we can make it work, we are gonna and so we figure we can raise one more, again. It might not be easy, it’s an expensive process and prospect. But, we, in faith, figure we will figure it out as we go.
But as for stewardship and the good of the kids, there is a much bigger picture to go with…..again, the fingers get pointed at the bigger family. Because you can’t possibly be a good steward of your other resources if you have so many kids can you? Can you really give those kids all the attention they need? Really? The love, the time? Can you really focus on their needs, their individual quirks and nurture them fully?
Yes, you can.
Is it hard and challenging at times?
Um, yeah.
Is it noisy and messy and chaotic?
Oh boy, yup, it is that!
But here’s the secret that people forget. They must forget because surely they know, if they pause to consider. One of the best, the very best, reasons to have a large family is: siblings. Yeah, the rivalry thing is real and can be maddening and intense. But siblings are simply the greatest gift you can give a child, any child. Even kids who have special needs, and might need more of your attention and resources (financial or otherwise); their best gift from you is a sib. Because only a sibling will always be there for them. Siblings are the only people who will have a relationship that spans the lifetime – even if it gets broken. There is still something there. And more siblings aren’t a drain, it’s a literal expansion: of fun, silliness, madness, emotions, opportunities, support, touch, love. They may not always be happy about it, and some sibs will be closer than others. But no one else will make you fall off your chair laughing til you cry when you’re grown. I remind my boys when they fuss that no one else will be able to make fun of me, after I am dead, like his brother. OK, or even now as I am quite alive. Love ’em or hate ’em, there is nobody like a sib. Ever.
And then we come to the one that makes me feel quite the curmudgeon:
“what about you?”
“How can you, as a mom, as an adult woman, feel fulfilled and challenged when you are tied to a house full of kids?”
What about “me time”?
People have asked me this in opposition to our latest adoption.
And you know, here’s my answer:
I do not live under a rock, I am aware of this concept, I see the magazines. And yes I do get tired and burnt out too sometimes. However, I am the most selfish person I have ever met and I must say I have a remarkable knack for carving out ME time.
But my “me” time may not be yours.
And it is a huge mistake to judge how much or of what type is claimed.
And in our culture, there is such an emphasis on self that it has gotten skewed. The best sort of “me” time I can really give, is to my kid (one or all). Not that I always remember that point, or do it. But the times I DO remember and value and that restore, are the ones that are those good quiet parent moments: laying down with a cuddled up small one for a rare quiet moment or two, the discussion (happy, funny, sad, intense) where you make those connections, the sideways look of understanding each other in a crowd (even if that crowd is your own kitchen). Don’t get me wrong, I love having a hot bath, I took the time to run far slow runs, I love a good book. 
But. When someone, friend, family, or stranger, tells me that we shouldn’t have another child, love another, because it will cut into “my” time (and they have, more than once)…then I’m thinking, um, something is wacked.
And I guess that’s where I’m at. I’m a bit dismayed over the flip. The cultural flip. It’s wonky. We are the stranger now. Our family. We have gone off the grid. We are freaks. We don’t fit, anymore. Because we have been deemed freaky. We are, weirdly, “other.” We feel freaky, really.
But here’s my take on it: it’s not politically correct, but I think our culture is freaky. Our society, in postmodern America (ok it’s even beyond, look at Europe) is the freaky thing. It’s wacked. The family, no matter the size, is under attack and when you are obviously centering your life around the family instead of the golden calf of “self”…well, you are labeled as a freak or crank or a pompous poof….or well, the list could go on and on.
If you are “lucky” people will presume you are ‘strong” or “good”…but even that is not so. Nice to hear, if embarrassing. Because, in actuality I am (we are) selfish, again. Because loving this family is everything to me. These kids, this life, this family, even as it grows…..is the biggest challenge, hardest, most exhilarating, most exhausting, most worthwhile thing I can begin to imagine.
So, tell Gabriel that we are a freaky funky family, right after you pry him out of his big brother’s arms. Try it. I think he would disagree….
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Madonna and Child,Madonna. Mother to us all, no matter where we are from. I love paintings of the Madonna. The detail on this painting my husband got in Haiti is phenomenal. And, well, this is just what I need to see and gaze at today, it’s been an unsettled sad day with hard news for friends and stress afloat.
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Photo thanks to GodzdogzJust in the nick o’ time.
A reminder that it is still the month of the rosary.
Go to the ever great Godzdogz and read. Each member of the team is posting a bit on the rosary, and what it means to them. All good!
Here’s a snip:
This is a reminder to me as well. Too often, I let this practice fall away in the hustle and bustle (and my personal laziness) of life. But, it is a prayer that is a comfort each and every time, even the distracted ones. It is a prayer that transforms. These bits by the ever cool and thoughtful guys over at Godzdogz are worth reading, to remember and inspire.
Go read, pray.
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And we are all enjoying, relishing, the visit, of course.
I realized, again, yesterday that when he’s back there is just a lot of extra laughter and music through the house.
And I love this. 
Even the smallest among us finds his own way to enjoy this time….>
I am making all the children walk around like this, at all times: all fingers crossed.Our heads (and by that, I mean, mine) are spinning around here.
I feel somewhat like Lucy, Lucille Ball that is, on one of her wacky factory episodes…..just not quite ‘getting it.’ I should explain: in some ways going back for a second round of adopting internationally is much easier. However, in some ways it is harder in the sense of confusion.
As ever, the most formidable part of the whole paperchase process (for me at any rate) is the labyrinth that is commonly known as Immigration, Homeland Security, USCIS, or for those in the know (and by that, I mean “mired”): CIS.
Going back a second time would seem simple, but maybe not so much. And it is complicated (or not??) by having an approval that is still “open” and needing only an amendment. Because amending is uncommon, and CIS is a black hole. Almost impenetrable.
Allusions abound, images spinning through my mind as I wait for either a glimmer of info on where we stand, or a “Go”: Frodo’s quest, Lucy’s candy wrapping, or more, the Dreaded Fire Swamp or the Cliffs of Insanity. Maybe I need the Dread Pirate Roberts to be on our side!
It is not the kind of excruciating hard sadness that so many Gladney families have had to bear this past week. My heart still hurts for each of them. It is not the kind of unknowable ways of a foreign country, as Grace aptly puts it: TIE (this is Ethiopia – our ways are not yours, and we shouldn’t expect them to be). It is our own nation’s bureaucratic cogs a’spinning, or grinding and lurching.
So right now, I’ve been quieter on the blog as we have been spinning plates and keeping them all in the air…that delicate balance between hope and impatience. I’m trying (and commonly failing) to detach in faith and tend to real life as it continues to present itself in stubbed toes, book report drafts, grocery store runs, giggling small boys, staring contests, and listening to the house filled with music from a visiting son!
I know, dullsville. But some have asked about the chase, the paperchase, and well, this is how it goes. Probably every time, I am sure. I’m impatient. Forever. Most plates in the air, a few crashed to the ground and another then tossed back up. All fingers crossed, anyhow and hope springing eternal! Because that’s how the paperchase really plays out!
flikr photo by tpaddock>
Buddybug was supposed to come home tonight (Saturday) from college for fall break. He was catching a ride from some friends, (thank you W kids! and we’ll settle up the gas money I promise). Being college kids after midterms, they were going to have fun and socialize last night and sleep in and drive today. So, no expectations here of seeing my boy until later tonight. But that’s ok, because I was already working on the pies which needed to be made in advance to set up (graham cracker cream, his favorite) and making plans for cooking up a storm; getting ready.
He surprised us all!
So I did what any mom would do:
I fed him pie.>
We hear “Mama” “Hi” “Up” “uh-oh” “ba bye,”
possibly “shoe” “dog” and “J” for his brother.
Oh but he is coy!
Today he started saying “Uh-oh” and “Peeboo” (peekaboo, of course).
But never, never on demand.
This (above) is the face he makes when he knows you just heard him almost say a word,Great tease, this boy!
He is, of course, forgiven immediately for this game.But this afternoon’s fun has been taken up with the newest, best game of all:
On your mark.
Get set.
GO!Yeah, life just doesn’t get a whole lot better ‘n that, for a toddler, don’t ya know!
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Well, it happened. I’ve been tagged, by Rebecca at Adoption Cubed, one of the blogs I stalk, erm, follow. And I wasn’t sure if I was gonna play, because I feel like a dork doing it and can’t believe that I won’t alienate what few readers I might have left. I mean, boring, eh? But then I felt like a child who picked up her marbles and stomped home. So, I may have lost my marbles, but here goes:
Odd facts about me:
1. I used to be a vaulter. Not a pole vaulter like the Olympics (c’mon…), but rather Horse Vaulting. Though horse vaulting was in the Olympics, ever so long ago! But when I was a kid I spent every Saturday morning and many afternoons, hanging around barns and rings, and lunging horses and then running beside them and then leaping onto their back. Once up, well, it was kind of like circus riding, but not so flashy. We did mild gymnastics up there. And it was scary and thrilling and hard and great fun. A little weird, not your standard kid sport, but I loved it. Man, that was a long time ago!
2. I have held many many jobs over the years, from the standard waitress (forever), to retail, to secretary, etc. But my most despised job was as a department store display gal. You’d think I would’ve loved it; it was supposedly artsy and creative and all. But no. It was numbing and just oddly dreadful. I didn’t last long there. Maybe because I hate shopping or maybe I knew, I would’ve lost too many brain cells. But I pay attention, still, to the displays and mannequins, let me tell ya!
3. I am a morning person. Totally and utterly, while my husband is totally and utterly a night owl. I cannot stay awake at night. I am like a shark, once I stop moving after evening falls (like at 3 pm), I die…ok, fall asleep. Always. (And I used to make fun of my dad for doing the same thing…shame on me!)
4. You know I am gray, almost totally anymore. But I started my first shock of gray when I was very young, maybe around 20. It shocked me. So, I did what any college art student would do: I dyed it, myself, for years. And years. Finally, I couldn’t keep up and didn’t want to anymore. So, around ten years ago, I stopped. Now you see what happened.
5. I am a compulsive book person. I love them. Everything about them; the physicalness of them, the look, smell, feel of them. I love having them, I love reading them. I am usually reading multiple books at one time. I have them stacked all over the house so I can grab one wherever I land for a time. I love best of all the potential of them – for me to learn something or love something, to get lost in one all over again.
6. One of the jobs I did like was as a computer graphic designer. I did graphics for computer games back in the dark ages when home computer games were just being developed. So: caveman graphics. And oddly enough, I was the designer on games that were flying simulation war games. ACK! What was I thinking? Well, it was a job. And all of you know, or should, that getting a job as an artist is a tough go. So, it paid the rent. But I liked it too, oddly enough and did well enough to have my little work win an award or two, way back when. We still have a copy or two stashed away somewhere, but of course no system can use them now. Nowadays the graphics on games are phenomenal, the graphics from back then are laughable in comparison. Not too dissimilar, really, from that old toy Light Bright, with the lighted pegs. But, it was state of the art at the time. The Amiga system, remember that?? And yeah, I realize I just dated myself (twice!). I ended up leaving though because I couldn’t live the corporate lifestyle for too too long, it wasn’t me. I ended up going back to grad school. But that’s a whole ‘nother story.
7. I admit it: I love Coca Cola. I mean the real Coke. Classic Coke. I could drink it around the clock. My baby brother and I joke that it can be a monkey on our back. We have to quit it cold turkey. And so I switch to Coke Zero. But it’s just not the same. I could (and ok, have) take my morning vitamins with Coke, which just shows you what a bad example I am as a mother…..but well, I told you, it’s an issue.
Ok, so, now all that useless info that you really didn’t need to know. I get to tag people, randomly, so here goes:
I tag:
Buddybug at It’s Jordan Time
Buttercup at Our Walk by Faith
Grace at All these Reasons
Shasta at Destination: Ethiopia
Shelly at Our Journey Together
Jess at The Soucys go to Ethiopia
Andrea at Schumacher Family Adoption
Whew, I’m glad that’s done and well, now you know, eh?
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Today the pic is of Bananas.>
No, not getting much done, lots of procrastination…
We are having writer’s block here.It is the Week O’ Book Reports in our little homeschool. Some public school have teacher ‘in-service’ days. We have “teaching in-service’ days where we do intensive focus on some hard stuff. Almost always: the dreaded book report. There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth…..and the kids don’t like it much either. Ok, kidding, mostly. It’s a time of high drama and I remember how much I hated essays and reports until I learned that it is like a puzzle and let that whole perfectionist side go and realized that writing is editing (unless you’re blogging…kidding, mostly).
So we girls will hang in and keep plugging away at it; revamping those outlines and retyping those drafts, mom’s red pen at the ready. It might be a long week…
Turns out, we are not the only ones with writer’s block. Buddybug too, has writer’s block: songwriter’s block. Now, as the mama, I shouldn’t probably point out that he is in midterms and shouldn’t really be worrying about writer’s block…..ahem. But then again, as he and his roommate and pals have determined the source of his lack of lyrics:
I think I will be just grateful they are all so smart. It’s not much help for his sister’s this week, but gives me one more reason to be grateful for this great kid, erm, young man.
And I would post a link to his music, but it usually makes me tear up and also I can’t figure out how to do it and lastly, back to his writer’s block, I don’ t think I can post cover’s without copyright legal gobbledygook. So, it’s just pics. You can hum along tho’!
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Here is a picture from a few years ago, not that long, of my three girls:This picture makes me smile because this picture pretty much sums up this pack of girls.
They are kind of a force of nature, the three of them combined. Not always in the best sense, often enough in the sense of a swirling hurricane, with winds blowing here and there of moods and wildness; even leaving destruction in their wake. But when the three of them join forces for good on a project they are like a sudden rainstorm, pounding it out with noise and commotion but afterward a happy new success, clean and shiny. They can make their brother crazy; he walks through the house shaking his head in dismay. He doesn’t understand them. They are messy and loud and moody. They can make me crazy too. That whole girl-mom mood thing is a whole ‘nother deal as well – yeah we can push each others buttons.
But changes are afoot.
These girls are stretching their wings, learning new skills, having new interests.
I am getting glimpses into the future, here and there.
And it’s lovely.
So, it’s early Saturday morning. I am still waking up, a bit stiff and still quiet, moving slow. It’s just me and the girls and little boys this weekend, Coffeedoc and Booboo are out of town.
And as I walk downstairs I smell coffee. Mmmmm. Coffee? The only one up, before me or at the same time, ever, is Sbird. But sure enough. Bananas made me coffee, set to perk right now, before she came upstairs last night. What a treat!!!
Then after I putter through a couple morning chores I wander to my computer to check email. Miss M wakes up and comes downstairs (she’s so quiet coming down, she always surprises me when all of a sudden, there she is!). She asks to make a smoothie. I say ok and she and Sbird skitter into the kitchen happy and noisy about this task. As I listen to them clanging around I hear Sbird say, “Mom needs some too.” And sure enough, in a moment, I have a glass of a yummy fruit smoothie (and they make it with no milk, since I can’t have any, they think of that!) brought to me with a smile. And I smile back and say “thank you!” and drink.
It is so good.
So, this Saturday morning. I want to go on record. I want to say and remember, before another girl hurricane hits this afternoon (and they do, and will) that having these girls is so great. How lucky am I? I have three girls, soon to add another, right in there – agewise – with this bunch. I have four daughters. And I am grateful.
And so this Saturday morning. I want to remember it and savor. It is so good.
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College hunting, that is.
So Booboo and I just got home, late last night, from a whirlwind college scouting trip to Providence College.
We are exhausted. But it was a good trip, just me and my boy and we had fun. We gathered a bunch of info to start building that college search base: which ones did he like, which ones will fit best? Seeing them in person, it all gets a lot more real, real quick: easier to visualize, easier to make choices, put together pieces of the puzzle that is choosing a college.
I love the town of Providence! He liked it too, it’s a fun place. {Although he pointed out, it’s much faster, more intense up here. I laughed and said, yup.} It makes me want to go back to college and stay there: PC, Brown, RISD (oh, if only I had the talent to get in there, I never would have wanted to leave!). Great fun. We had good food and two long days.
But it was time out of time for me, and for him.
These college hunt trips are so special and with a faint tinge of bittersweet around the edges for me. It gets very real, very fast. These are waning days with my son at home. And we both know it. And it’s thrilling and daunting for both of us.
So we sit out in the sun, having an easy yummy lunch before we head back to the airport for the long trip home (and boy, was it a loongg trip home: Philly airport connection, ’nuff said!). And we talk, and we laugh, and I listen to him and look deeply at this young man beside me, handsome and funny, goofy and bright, full of ideas and dreams. And I close my eyes for a minute and lift my face to the sun and breathe deep. Life is so good and we are so blessed with this special son; now and as he ventures forth into his new adventures, all too soon.
So, yeah, we are both tired from our trip. But it was worth all the delays and travel crazies. One down (well, two officially), some more to go as we carve out the time. Now we have some good info for the journey. His big journey, coming down the pike.
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What they did last weekend:>
Madonna of the Rosary, by Lorenzo Lotto 1539Yup, another Catholic feast day. But this one devoted to our Blessed Mother and a particular and wonderful Catholic devotion and prayer: the rosary.
{I know, more Catholic stuff, I warned you: ’tis the season! And if you are thinking “hey I thought this was an Ethiopian adoption blog! What gives?” Well, it is, but read the header, it’s also about life in this family as a mom of a pile of kids, which means, Catholic, food, family, adoption, travel, Ethiopia, kids, whining, venting, opinions, links, drivel, and cool stuff…..the whole package.}
Now, the rosary can be a really confusing devotion and set of prayers, especially if you’re not Catholic or if you’ve not practiced it. It takes time to learn. It seems all complicated but it’s not.
Basically, it is a serious of meditations on the life of Christ. Yes, you’re saying “Ave Maria’s” (or the “Hail Mary” prayer) for much of it, but at the same time you are saying those words of the prayer you are invited into meditation on a ‘mystery’ of the rosary, or a particular scene or even in Christ’s life. If you make through an entire full rosary, all twenty decades, you have pretty much just walked through the gospel in your mind. How cool is that?
Now, I have to admit, my praying of the rosary is erratic. I get busy, I get tired, I get lazy. Too much so to make myself stop and take the 20 minutes it takes to pray the rosary. Sheesh. But, I love the rosary. I love the prayers, the calm that comes with praying it, the storytelling aspect of it, the results, the feel, the sound – all of it. But, as with anything regular, there is a discipline to doing it daily or regularly. And I’m not always so great at steady discipline (check out my utter lack of running of late: talk about NO discipline!). But all I can say is that when I do pray the rosary regularly and often, I see benefits. I see our family doing better, I feel myself calmer and more capable of coping with the harried life we live, the mundane irritations and feel my teeny weeny well of patience be a slight bit fuller.
The rosary is not mindless babble; it is often accused of this. Now, to someone who doesn’t understand the fullness of the rosary or what it really is or how it’s done, it could seem so. At it’s worst, it is a distracted attempt at turning our mind to Christ, through His mother and her pointing out scenes from His life. And heck, that’s not so bad: A- for even trying, right? At it’s best, it can be a transcendent prayer. It can not only change our hearts, I really believe it can change others and the world, just a bit. But every bit counts.
So, don’t short change this prayer. And of course, NEVER short change or underestimate our Blessed Mother. If she gave this prayer to the world and hears it, and I believe she does…well, great things can happen. I’ve seen them and so have many others. It’s an oldie but one of the very best prayers and devotions. It’s not a requirement as a Catholic, you don’t have to do this. But, oh, always, I am glad I did!
Happy Feast Day!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
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photo from London Telegraph
Pope Benedict XVI has begun a marathon.
And for anyone who thinks that this is a mere trivial exercise, take a look at these pics and be reminded of the world presence this Pope has. These are from World Youth Day in Cologne, a few years back. Coffeedoc took Buddybug and Booboo and it was packed, over a million youth from around the world.
Now you’re talking multicultural!
The Anchoress has a good bit of the timely balm of these words. Like her, I don’t think it’s just a coincidence of timing. I think our Holy Father is a wise man and knows how to bring out the big guns.
This marathon reading then is transformed into a seven day prayer, participated in and shared by countless, throughout the world, just when we need it most. It’s a nervous time, worldwide. And instead of being worried about hitting rock bottom, we can remember to touch the foundation, the rock and stand back up again.
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It surprises me, every time.
But when a few of the kids and Coffeedoc go on a trip….
even for just a few days….
Part of me thinks, “ok, see, some downtime..
But it always happens, I get all sluggish, mopey and lonely.
I miss them and mope until they come home again.
I only get my energy back when I get my family back.>
St. Francis, by Bartolomé Esteban MurilloI confess, for a long time I had a hard time thinking closely about St. Francis. Too much of the blessing birds, embroidered prayer samplers sort of thing, I guess. Nice, yeah, but not my thing. Then I read Kazantzakis and I realized that there is much more to this saint than I was giving him credit for. So, my view of this saint changed.
St. Francis was a radical. No wonder he has captured the imagination of so many for so long! He was raised in a family of wealth and after being quite the typical pampered party-hardy rich boy, he had a conversion experience and then found the courage to reject that life, entirely. He called for a radical conversion of heart and therefore of living. He did rejoice in the nature and wildlife, yes, but as a way of praising God’s creations rather than a sentimental sweet pause. He was called a fool after all this. But Francis called the comfortably entrenched on their hollow lives and challenged them, sometimes castigated them, to do better.
I think the reason he still captures our imagination, and that the Fransiscan Order is still so strong is that he was really a radical. (And some of our favorite priests and brothers are Franciscans!) And it is only the truly radical that can really capture our imagination and seize our stony hearts.
That’s what St. Francis does for us (ok, me), he offers us an example of radical courage. That often comes with hardship but the joy that he showed us can come alongside that very hardship is so, well, exciting that it pulls us all out of our complacent ease and whispers to our truest selves.
That is the continued allure and appeal of St. Francis. It’s not the sentimental conversations with the birds – those are great stories and my kids love them too – but it’s the challenge. Really, our hearts are always wanting a challenge I think. It’s programmed into our nature. St. Francis calls to that. He celebrated and was enthralled with the nature that God made, it overwhelmed him (“brother sun, sister moon”). But it is his ongoing call and challenge to our nature that makes him still such a compelling saint and such an ongoing fascination. It’s what makes those cool Franciscan Friars of the Renewal so compelling: the joy and the radical lives.
So let loose your inner radical today and celebrate the feast of St. Francis!
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
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These two pics are ofAnd we hold a special spot in our heart for this family, and this couple. They of the big hearts and beautiful family.
They held our sweet Tariku, when we were far from him. They cuddled him and reassured me; as I fretted and worried half a world away.
And now, with overflowing joy I get to direct you to their blog for their big announcement!
They’ve been wrestling with big decisions too. And now they have come to it! It’s a great thing and an amazing story of God’s own nudging; told oh so well by Farmboy. Go read.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be glad you did.
For me, selfishly, I am happy to have them as virtual companions on the road again! And ever grateful for their generosity and support! Exciting stuff. Go. See.
Make your day.
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Ahh, the paperchase. Yep, still in it.I forgot.
Ok, I guess it’s a little like giving birth in that you forget.
You forget the panting and puffing of getting paperwork done.
You forget the parts that are out of your control.
You forget the urge to just be able to call someone,
anyone, to help push things through;
email someone, do something!
I know, I know, it’s due diligence. It’s necessary for the process.
My head nods in comprehension.
But not my heart.
And of course – there is nothing to be done.
But wait.
So what’s a gal to do with all that frustration of goals met, papers notarized, sealed, delivered…and still nothing.
No visible progress?
So close and yet so far?
She eats! She stress snacks.
She craves all the bad stuff: chocolate, sugar, sour skittles, raspberry chantilly Peppridge Farm Cookies (and happily, they seem to be off the shelves as she can decimate a bag before getting home from the store! Best. Cookies. Ever)
And she makes killer apple pie when a wonderful patient delivers a box of apples from their own orchard. And eats it for breakfast, yum! (Hey, cut me some slack, I shared! Really!)
So yeah, I forgot. The paperchase, when you want it to be nothing but a paper RACE, is mostly a paperwait, paper-weight. So, before I have to buy a whole new wardrobe, I am hoping I can really finish and forget this once again. Sigh.
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Guardian Angel Icon by Ikonart.com
It’s another Feast day! I love Autumn!
I hesitated to blog about this today, because this is one of those Catholic beliefs that can be misconstrued, and has. There has been a fad in the popular culture about angels and it has devolved too often into the kitschy ‘Hallmark’ cherub kind of angel, complete with squishy feelings and trite sentiment (not to sound too much like a curmudgeon, but I think you know what I mean). Or angels are shown as the kind of nauseating gauzy filmy pastel drawing of a blond angel in billowing robes and flowers. On the flip side however, if you do a google search on angels, specifically, Guardian Angels…well, it can get kind of creepy! I mean, like, you are walking the edge of the dark side. No kidding. When folks start talking about ‘channeling’ angels and having conversations with them and learning their names and so on…I say, run, run fast! That is just too borderline for me.
Permit me a short rant on this: I do believe a tiny handful of us have actually known and/or spoken with angels, (specifically: Mary, Abraham, Tobit (though, unaware)). However, I think that most of those who say they do, or have, might well be either psychotic or actually have spoken with angels, or spirits, but the wrong kind. Now you are probably writing me off as a nut case. But, stay with me.
We are taught that angels are true and real. We are also taught that there are angels of God and angels who chose against God. God’s angels can and do work in this world, but usually in the background and/or through our own conscience and the people around us. I think only those who have elevated to pretty lofty heights of holiness ever are given the grace of meeting an angel and knowing it. Mary was sinless, for Pete’s sake! Deigned to be chosen as Mother of God! She was holy enough to have an angel greet her with “Hail, Mary, full of grace.” Even then, she must have been frightened and flipped out. But, I know, that I hope to never meet with an angel in a concrete, physically discernible way. I am simply not holy enough and thus it would be maybe a temptation from the wrong team, so to type; not to mention it would scare me into a gibbering idiot. {I know, you’re thinking “already there.”} Rant over.
So, after all that, what’s up with Guardian Angels?Guardian Angels are such a fantastic gift from God himself. Talk about a Creator who thought of everything! Even someone to be with us our entire lives, who knows us better than anyone else, and is there for the express purpose of our best good. Not, and this is important, our greatest want/desire, but for our greatest good. Not to mention, who are smarter than us by leaps and bounds. Whew. What a relief! We need this so much. I do. And they are so polite about it too, nudging here, pestering there, saving when needed. I can point to a few times when I am absolutely sure that but for the intervention of my Guardian Angel, I would be dead or in dire straights. Most recently, on 65S, saved from a collision beside me before I even knew it and my adrenaline shot sky high. Thank you.
[So, now I have surely lost any reader I might have had left. But well, the little boys and myself are all sick with a muzzy thick head cold. So maybe I’m ranting a bit. But still, the thoughts are there and mine on this day and this subject.]
Thank you Guardian Angels! For watching over me and saving me from harm of all stripes, most usually myself. For watching over my children when they are near and especially when they are far from me. It’s a comfort. The best friends a gal can have, in so many ways…and ones so very taken for granted. So today, phone a friend, in honor of our best friends, the Guardian Angels.
Painting by Roxanne>
So, today is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux!
The novena finishes today and it’s been a nice quiet start, often early in the morning, to my days. Thinking about her and her ‘little way’ is a nice reminder to me as I prep to start the typically hectic days around here. The Deacon’s Bench speaks well about her and the constant call to conversion, here. And that is one of the important things for me about this saint: her constant reminder to struggle against our own self-ish selves. Mine. Me. That really, it’s NOT about me at all. It’s about everyone else.
Happily, I’ve been pestering her for prayers for another (ok a few) in this novena and I am sure she is praying for them too. And that is such a comfort to me and hopefully to those others who know they are specifically in this novena too.
Years ago at the National Shrine of St. Therese, near Chicago
So today is her feast day, and I will remember her with her flower: roses. Happy Feast Day!>
Blast from the past edition, again…because Little Man isn’t feeling good today. 
Happy Birthday Banana girl!!!
Another Espresso, Please 