Saturday, February 28, 2015

Why the idea of a mini-van makes me want to cry



I normally don't write super personal stuff here.  Cyber-space is filled with great writers who can make you laugh and cry and overall provide a really entertaining two and a half minutes. A friend told me early into my blogging (a few months ago) that I should stick with what I know.  Today,  I am writing from the heart, not the head.  Instead of writing about child development theories or getting your kids to eat veggies, I am writing about why the thought of a mini-van makes me cry.  If you get frustrated with posts about 'First World Problems' then just close the window.  Read no further. Sorry this is that kind of post. 

It is stupid right? I know.

So why is it so hard?

When I got married I wanted three kids, my husband wanted two.  After I converted to the faith we compromised and had five although we only have four to raise in this life.  Growing up it never occurred to me that I would be Catholic, practice NFP, or have more kids than I had room for in a standard car.

I learned how to drive on a 1969 Ford Longbed.  It was huge.  It was awesome.  It wasn't the least bit embarrassing because even though it was old, it was tough.  It had serious character.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Starting a Parish Ministry: 10 Practical "how to" tips


Recently quite a few people have asked me tell them about the process by which I started a ministry at our church.   After writing out my story of how it happened and where it is today, I found that although it was personal, the post lacked the practicality advice that I so desire in life!  This post is designed to provide just that - The practical How To's for starting your own ministry.  There will be a lot of questions, and a lot of individuality, because really you are needing to tap into God's actual intentions for your specific work he has designed you to complete for Him.  That is a pretty amazing thing!  I write this prayerfully with the hope that He will guide us both - me as a write and you as you read!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

A Gift of Sisterhood


I was having a Bad-Mommy-Moment.  You know, one of those times when I JUST MESSED-UP?

We were driving home from the noon-time soccer game which should have been a nice game but wasn't.  Everyone seemed whiny and it was super sunny (I know most of the country is snowed in but it was a tad bright over here in sunshine land), so the kids were jockeying for shade and spilling drinks… you get the picture.  It was one of those times where I felt we had set up the siblings to be good sideline support, but it just didn't work.

I just wanted to watch Anthony play.  I suppose I was being greedy.

At the end of the game I piled the girls into the car with the grand expectation (hope?) that they would fall asleep.  It was after all 90 minutes past nap time and they were well-feed.

They were cranky and I was cranky too.

Just as we hit the freeway they started at IT.  Doing the sibling thing.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Keeping the Doors Open: Encouraging an open heart for God's call to a vocation

My three and six year-old girls love to point anytime they sees a sister or a nun… which means anytime they see someone in public with her head covered.  It could be an observant muslim woman, a woman who just didn't want to do her hair, or someone wearing a habit.  My girls seem to be on the look out for nuns and sisters.

Clearly if they are mistaking anyone with a head covering to be a nun we aren't doing a great job of exposing them to people who have chosen a religious life!  My husband and I don't have any friends who are nuns or sisters or priests, so outside of mass, our family doesn't  have much experience with these folks. But exposing them 1:1 to individuals who are called to serve God through Holy Orders is a great way to make those vocations realistic as they think of their own future.

We had a favorite priest over one night to bless the house.  We persuaded him to stay a little by tempting him with dessert.  He played soccer with the boys, had root beer floats, and had an open Q/A with the kids.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

How to be a better daughter-in-law



A while back I wrote How to be a good mother-in-law, so it is only fair that this week I follow up with

How to be a better daughter-in-law

It has taken me a while to write this, because I don't want to come across as though I am a 'perfect' (or even close to perfect) daughter-in-law.  Especially when I am pregnant.  I am nasty then.  So I write this with great humility as I try to be a better daughter-in-law myself.   I asked my MIL to look over this since she does have two imperfect DIL's with whom she has developed great relationships.   



When two 'kids' get married, they combine (hopefully) the best of both homes, bringing together two different styles of styles of family life.  This melting of cultures is dynamic and ongoing, not static.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

14 things in 14 years: What my marriage has taught me thus far


After the cake is cut and the guest have gone, the wedding becomes a marriage.  



Better Than Eden is doing a great link up this week and gave me the idea of writing one thing I have learned for every year of marriage.  This year we will celebrate 15 years of marriage and in the last 14+ there are a few things I have noticed that are worth sharing.  I have included the obvious, but also the subtle.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Lenten Lovin': Keeping the focus for 40

Forty days is a long time.  It is a long time to go without coffee, or wine, or chocolate, or TV or Facebook.  It is also a long time to keep anyone's attention.  Here are a few things we have done in the past and are planning to do again, along with a few new things to keep the focus where it should be all to grow closer to the Lord.


Prayer

We always intend to do family prayers each night, but during the business of the week that sometimes slides away and I end up praying individually with the kids.  During Lent we will recommit to doing those prayers as and family and hopefully adding a decade of the rosary at the end too.  Anna and I occasionally go to a weekly rosary group so I am going to recommit to doing that or praying it at home during nap time once a week.  Daily mass is also something that helps me stay connected and I hope that this Lent I can figure out a way to keep Anna happy enough during daily mass that we can make that part of our routine.  Blessed is She put together another journal and I will be making another attempt at journaling.  I am not sure I am the journalizing type. My advent journal didn't work out as well as I had wanted.  This journal is beautiful however and maybe that will help inspire me to write.

Monday, February 9, 2015

How to be Your Husband's Mistress


Picture this - someone giving your husband unabashed attention, clearly being happy to see him, listening to him he speaks, sneaking around a little, and cherishing the limited time they have together.

That someone can and SHOULD be you.

In a recent survey, 48% of men rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated (Neuman, 2015).   It is not all about sex.  So here are 8 easy tips for how to be your husband's mistress (and a rockstar wife).

1.  Get pretty for him.  Not because he will leave you if you don't - do it because it shows that you care what he thinks of you.  It shows that you want to be attractive to him.  Only 12% of cheating men said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.  Putting on a shirt that is not decorated with baby spit up is a nice gesture if you want a hug when you see him.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Starting a Parish Ministry: Our Story


A few months after coming into The Church, I was approached by a parish staff remember and asked to take over one of the struggling ministries.  Our parish had sort-of started implementing an Elizabeth Ministry and it was not getting a very strong response from the community.  I raised the issue with my husband and his response was great.  He pointed out that my dissertation (I graduated the year before with my PhD in Education Psychology) was on the transition to parenting, and finding ways of supporting parents in this transition.

The Elizabeth Ministry is an international movement designed to offer hope and healing on issues related to childbearing, sexuality, and relationships (http://www.elizabethministry.com).  When he pointed out that this was an invitation to do at a parish level, precisely what I had always talked about wanting to do on a community level, there was no further discussion.  But after assessing our needs, looking at the Elizabeth Ministry curriculum and talking to their offices, I decided to take the ministry in a slightly different direction.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...