tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48394136306238503012024-03-05T21:51:29.520-05:00Building Cathedrals:Building When No One Can SeeJuris Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717212659724234395noreply@blogger.comBlogger867125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-19638962372385080102015-04-05T21:43:00.004-04:002015-04-05T21:44:07.515-04:00Happy Easter 2015All of us here at Building Cathedrals wish you a blessed and happy Easter!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlp7ArMHcXmjH9DGtK7vdeqcoTDKAYTPhT59gIgRzjBtKRScXjjI92bfmkLdRN2fxoeG5pDn7JSJgCXzzHyDrmVC4cm9S6cn-i680xbnZAMSSrHaIS9u2VQpl9sjtp6gObXstSZHLII8/s1600/22583_10152678804411836_2442307240765156744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlp7ArMHcXmjH9DGtK7vdeqcoTDKAYTPhT59gIgRzjBtKRScXjjI92bfmkLdRN2fxoeG5pDn7JSJgCXzzHyDrmVC4cm9S6cn-i680xbnZAMSSrHaIS9u2VQpl9sjtp6gObXstSZHLII8/s1600/22583_10152678804411836_2442307240765156744_n.jpg" height="400" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My family in full Easter joy</td></tr>
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It is with great joy that we celebrate our risen Lord today with our families and those dear to us. We pray you are doing the same and finding a renewed sense of Christ in your lives. Part of me sat in Mass today and imagined this as the Catholic Church's "new year" as I felt my own rebirth in the acknowledgment of my Savior conquering death. Alleluia!!! The same part of me yearns to wake up tomorrow with renewed goals and better direction in my spiritual walk going forth from the celebration. What habits of Lent can I continue into the coming weeks? How has Lent shaped me into a more devoted follower and how can I maintain that? These questions and more will be part of my post-Easter reflection.<br />
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Another thing is for certain, I will be hitting the gym tomorrow with fresh enthusiasm due to all the Easter feasting we did today!<br />
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God bless as you begin again tomorrow! Peace to you, B-mamaB-Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889509365971309400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-21757605185174125832015-03-25T15:36:00.001-04:002015-03-25T16:15:40.067-04:00Building Cathedrals Continued...Hello friends who might be stopping by!<br />
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After 4 years with Patheos, the BC girls are making some changes and moving back to our original site. As our families expand and our responsibilities change, so will the nature of this blog. We hope to keep it as an archive of all the wonderful thoughts and discussions we've shared. We also hope to add a nugget of wisdom or two here along the way. Thanks for hanging with us and understanding our need to grow and find space...<br />
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God bless,<br />
The Building Cathedrals galsB-Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889509365971309400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-43701696267287177242010-06-21T06:00:00.005-04:002010-06-21T08:52:14.501-04:00Building Cathedrals Has Moved!!!!!!Dear Readers,<br /><br />Building Cathedrals has moved! That's right, as of today, our new site is--<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.buildingcathedrals.com/">www.buildingcathedrals.com</a><br /><br />Thank you for your loyal readership. When we started this blog 2.5 years ago, we had no idea how much our blog audience would grow, and how much we would love the fellowship of our little online community. In response to our growth, we decided we needed a website with more capabilities and a better layout. We posted about this almost 2 years ago, and the husband of one of our readers volunteered to set up our new site. <a href="http://www.jonathanfsullivan.com/">Jonathan </a>did an amazing job, and we are forever grateful for his generosity of time and his joyful spirit! B-Mama worked with Jonathan to design the new site, and it looks fabulous. B-Mama had this hard task as her one last "to do" before the arrival of her new baby. Check!!<br /><br />Thank you B-Mama and thank you Jonathan for all your hard work!<br /><br />Please visit us at our amazing new location, let us know what you think, and <a href="http://www.buildingcathedrals.com/feed/">please subscribe</a>!Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-57517040179916585392010-06-18T08:18:00.003-04:002010-06-18T08:21:53.397-04:00books for the iPad<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}">Wow, I don't know what to make of <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704009804575308982549077428.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook">this</a> yet. It never occurred to me that digital readers would change books and reading in this way. The animating seems interesting, exciting and in some cases very artistic, but at the same time, what does it do to our attention span (or the kids') if even our books make noise and have moving pictures? I would say these fall into the category of "high end screen time" rather than reading -- better than watching junk, but not really reading either? Perhaps like watching learn to read shows on PBS? Also, the "read to you" function is really just a leap pad -- though this illustrates another way that the iPad is great for a mom who only has to carry one thing with her. <br /></h6>Mary Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245101141100590754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-64316135456016774872010-06-17T13:43:00.005-04:002010-06-17T14:11:44.533-04:00Swagger WagonB-Mama and I both <a href="http://gasperiniville.blogspot.com/2008/04/hot-mama-wheels.html">love our minivans</a>. Maybe because we've never been car people? Maybe because I lack perspective? After all, my nicest set of wheels prior to owning our minivan was a 92' Honda Accord (I drove this from 1999-2007). And that Honda was a huge upgrade from the 92' Ford Taurus Station Wagon I used to drive. Below is a picture of that beautiful car. Mr. Red actually drove this baby to work for about a year. I think his boss wanted him to park it in the lot next door (notice the missing bumper?!?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvxg9RsTRH8VrwjemRt3pcA9QYtbULH60xY9vXUmuQa43yKzPPlAxr-HKAi29L1Oguzyt3oOaCnFj0pjRcM_z60ZT75mArPTw6VRFv_SKNV-4fMlWQ7frlHt3l65Dczar3n1TAqU2-_Ac/s1600/1-14-08+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvxg9RsTRH8VrwjemRt3pcA9QYtbULH60xY9vXUmuQa43yKzPPlAxr-HKAi29L1Oguzyt3oOaCnFj0pjRcM_z60ZT75mArPTw6VRFv_SKNV-4fMlWQ7frlHt3l65Dczar3n1TAqU2-_Ac/s320/1-14-08+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804008592368450" border="0" /></a><br />So when we bought our used 2005 Honda Odyssey in 2008, I felt like I was driving a BMW. I love my minivan and I am very aware that someday I may have to drive <a href="http://buildingcathedrals.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-official.html">something even bigger</a>, so for right now, I'm feeling pretty cool in my car.<br /><br />And then a fellow mom friend sent me this hilarious video. As a shout out to all those playground mamas lamenting the jump from SUV to minivan, this video is for you. Have you seen this? Hilarious. <br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ql-N3F1FhW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ql-N3F1FhW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-8477845446863078462010-06-15T14:58:00.008-04:002010-06-15T16:31:02.022-04:00Signs of SummerSigns of summer in my garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfpykI2q-GwFapu5CqWjSqqZsk1aBxeP9SLfym-wxvkjpZFo2WNqNMPmc8821kQa4gkl4GxyJo-1rR2mi0krjseyFDm_LwJcG_cIMD5N5lVWtrbnnImaEEFG8YjGRXIUVPTpJMiYIwdJ8/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYfpykI2q-GwFapu5CqWjSqqZsk1aBxeP9SLfym-wxvkjpZFo2WNqNMPmc8821kQa4gkl4GxyJo-1rR2mi0krjseyFDm_LwJcG_cIMD5N5lVWtrbnnImaEEFG8YjGRXIUVPTpJMiYIwdJ8/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483079890591417138" border="0" /></a><br />I'm hoping we will get our first squash this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD-KJ-73aPUz_YZhvjz3m7JhwXYx-vzv3ALAlJ3Wi79jD7wRjDrs-GorHOihnKn7srJIvmOLbj7eP4lqf6qzIzUkKGOW8xV_sllmWe39hcYySE9W1zAyDhmXbg-8496x_HiEEHma31j9x/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD-KJ-73aPUz_YZhvjz3m7JhwXYx-vzv3ALAlJ3Wi79jD7wRjDrs-GorHOihnKn7srJIvmOLbj7eP4lqf6qzIzUkKGOW8xV_sllmWe39hcYySE9W1zAyDhmXbg-8496x_HiEEHma31j9x/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483079695488997394" border="0" /></a><br />Eggplant<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicliabX3H90q63DwqITypIGULakylPG1RhTV9D0QzsOw76RB7NGIadtyAuPw9DfVMasVYr0zU-dWOGyTz_bFgiojuPlecBBwhdJ0D9Eb04b4Ulr8b7dWdWOrAEPEUZ-gTXIhrTG8tz93vG/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicliabX3H90q63DwqITypIGULakylPG1RhTV9D0QzsOw76RB7NGIadtyAuPw9DfVMasVYr0zU-dWOGyTz_bFgiojuPlecBBwhdJ0D9Eb04b4Ulr8b7dWdWOrAEPEUZ-gTXIhrTG8tz93vG/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483079414221287938" border="0" /></a>Cantaloupe, which I'm growing for the 1st time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4mrCO-Ovf2YmvHZ6YyGeEtWBZfC9ZCkMqPVFYUk-guSpDFOhcvCZzZ1JWrk8nIgAFVNqtCWCBNFqZ3dMQ0J_ZF-QqhXwUnwKxtnqLbUYeLb3CH4oidrhC-hedqgDBx3nHbbPfy1HsK61/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4mrCO-Ovf2YmvHZ6YyGeEtWBZfC9ZCkMqPVFYUk-guSpDFOhcvCZzZ1JWrk8nIgAFVNqtCWCBNFqZ3dMQ0J_ZF-QqhXwUnwKxtnqLbUYeLb3CH4oidrhC-hedqgDBx3nHbbPfy1HsK61/s320/IMG_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483079221881175138" border="0" /></a>Gianna's bug catcher. She used her money at a local market to buy this bug catcher. She and Charlie spend 1/2 hour before bed each night catching fireflies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0BWF9yVi881o3LmvlJ8mbiMsdimQPrKsgAKrEF1Grrawnple8nrA_mA7ifEV-aQkMqE-RuhGD5tDpqiLiVnfF9otykBgmKLMXCmI1RA1aLBuUBdzg3QRYytk-2Ssqq3PwUVlTXhIjaho/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0BWF9yVi881o3LmvlJ8mbiMsdimQPrKsgAKrEF1Grrawnple8nrA_mA7ifEV-aQkMqE-RuhGD5tDpqiLiVnfF9otykBgmKLMXCmI1RA1aLBuUBdzg3QRYytk-2Ssqq3PwUVlTXhIjaho/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483077245592177058" border="0" /></a><br />Can you tell that someone got a new camera?Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-54310191334262227442010-06-14T07:00:00.003-04:002010-06-14T07:00:02.455-04:00Six Years a Christian...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9doooQ8PrDAxw-I6HVeBhnahCrqJk3SMPjjax66r2w06jTM6tfDDKMJnUtFuMZ4GJzxZ6oxk2blTMsfZQzD6mvWSj-2o4LO0tb8pzaCYeiULAfzeodiuva_nOdsHLhbOouMw-Yvv31EA/s1600/Christopher+and+his+Godparents+II.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9doooQ8PrDAxw-I6HVeBhnahCrqJk3SMPjjax66r2w06jTM6tfDDKMJnUtFuMZ4GJzxZ6oxk2blTMsfZQzD6mvWSj-2o4LO0tb8pzaCYeiULAfzeodiuva_nOdsHLhbOouMw-Yvv31EA/s320/Christopher+and+his+Godparents+II.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482333864553669570" /></a>Yesterday marked the six-year anniversary of our first-born's Baptism, an anniversary that (I am ashamed to admit!) would have come and gone without recognition had it not been for this boy's wonderful godparents, B-Mama and GG! Thanks for keeping us on our toes, friends, and for being such great godparents to our son! <div><br /></div><div>I love the idea of celebrating Baptismal "birthdays" with great fanfare. I think that it sets a great example for our children of having our priorities straight - after all, the day of their Baptism was the day that they entered into the family of the Church and became new creations in Christ. Unfortunately, I have failed miserably in celebrating these occasions over the years, but am comforted in knowing that my children's godparents are always remembering them in their prayers and keeping up with the important anniversaries! </div><div><br /></div><div>How do you celebrate baptismal anniversaries? Cake? Gifts? A special family tradition? And if you have a special system for remembering such occasions, please do share - my family will greatly appreciate any help you can offer me!</div><div><br /></div><div>God bless all of you on this Monday morning. Let's make it a great week together!</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361232588380298159noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-33047731098728131872010-06-11T09:10:00.006-04:002010-06-11T11:55:02.105-04:00A Mom In the Little ThingsBeing a mom to three (almost four) means giving up lofty goals and settling for smaller ones, ones that give care and bring small joys to my family. They might include picking up that dustball that has sat in the corner of the hallway all week. They might mean taking extra care when wiping the hands and face of my sweet toddler. It could even possibly mean investing the time and last ounce of energy into a game of football with our oldest.<div><br /></div><div>Small things that bring great joy.</div><div><br /></div><div>So today, here's my small feat that is enough to bring a smile to my face and a spring to my mama step. It is trite and rather unimportant, but to me and my family it means I've taken the time to care in a small way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: CLEAN CARSEATS!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BhfTE1YMw5R4neTosH5UzAiQAMS8toTFhKnAK3RzQk8KMiBT1Oc4wGoRTlsTQGgAleh8KdJQhtmbohJUb97paiYEzRETgzNu2XnVTpr1wSZkoGXtUwXky8NBWtimuV76V3CiCTF9q0w/s1600/IMG_3688.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BhfTE1YMw5R4neTosH5UzAiQAMS8toTFhKnAK3RzQk8KMiBT1Oc4wGoRTlsTQGgAleh8KdJQhtmbohJUb97paiYEzRETgzNu2XnVTpr1wSZkoGXtUwXky8NBWtimuV76V3CiCTF9q0w/s320/IMG_3688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481543899108184002" /></a></div><div>Hosed, laundered, wiped, and scrubbed. (I know, I know, I'm nesting!!) </div><div>They will be clean for T minus one second. But enjoy that second, I will. Our van is feeling fresher already.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because being a mom means investing in my family and doing the little things that wind up making a big difference, at least in our little world.</div>B-Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889509365971309400noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-58960375696033706362010-06-10T04:45:00.003-04:002010-06-16T17:58:59.330-04:00Burnout Fears<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaHZAr4yQYXPg9BMaLaDBDZzF5UrqxinIATL5cb81AwN4ypw4s8ri-Doz3VzVg12hblWx0_Wv-j42pHBEdcKjmMdnoArN4QYu7VKcPrygSKWJKO7hhoAC9PHlw2FH5yCH6QAwQfwdKsI/s1600/discipline-chores.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaHZAr4yQYXPg9BMaLaDBDZzF5UrqxinIATL5cb81AwN4ypw4s8ri-Doz3VzVg12hblWx0_Wv-j42pHBEdcKjmMdnoArN4QYu7VKcPrygSKWJKO7hhoAC9PHlw2FH5yCH6QAwQfwdKsI/s200/discipline-chores.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481063725568926114" border="0" /></a><br />My husband and I met and married young and are open to life, therefore, we will most likely end up with a big family. This intimidates me. I did not come from a big family and really have had very little exposure to the inner workings of a family with any more than three children. Consequently, I am always in search of role models. Of course Maryalice is my number one (shout-out, hollar) - but we live several thousand miles apart.<br /><br />I have to search out local mothers of large families to see their approach, size it up, take pieces of it and implement them in our home. Recently I had a troubling conversation with a 36-year-old mother of eight at one of our local playgrounds. She is an Army wife like me and her husband is currently deployed to Iraq on a 12-month tour. Her eldest two children are 18 and 14 year old girls. She has homesechooled all seven children (#8 is in utero) and everyone appears well-adjusted and well put together. As we watched our children play together, I took the opportunity to shamelessly pick her brain on all topics from lunch-preparation, to curriculum design to cloth diapering. I guess my questions inferred that her two eldest daughters helped a lot around the home because the mom felt the need to clarify that a)She did most/all of the food preparation and b) she rarely asked her older children to babysit the younger ones, but took them along with her instead. She went on to explain that she knew too many adults who had grown up as children in large families and were now "burnt out" from all that had been asked of them as children. They were reluctant to have many children themselves because of how much had been asked of them growing up. By shouldering more of the chores herself, this mom believes she is protecting her children from burning out.<br /><br />Immediately this struck me as odd. I ask a lot of my eldest (5.5 yr.old girl), and she doesn't seem resentful, but rather, empowered. I have always figured that as long as they don't see me reading _Cosmo_ and painting my nails (I do that when they are sleeping, yea right) - they understand that we are all in this together and that we will have more time for fun together if we do the hard stuff together. They are already well familiar with my sing-songy "work before play" mantra. Yet, there seems to be a kernel of truth in the playground mother's fear. I cannot think of many people who have emerged from large families with the desire to be a parent in one themselves, especially girls. I want to hear from you - how do we find the balance of raising helpful, responsible children without turning them into nannies or cooks? Are any of you the products of large families -- what did your parents do to make growing up a great experience, even with siblings sandwiching you in every direction?AWOL Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06962839817661988360noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-67593990992061817332010-06-09T13:03:00.002-04:002010-06-09T13:11:36.269-04:00B-Mama's Baby's Birthday?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.extremecheese.com/phdi/p1.nsf/imgpages/ec_18_baby_stork.gif/$file/18_baby_stork.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 195px;" src="http://www.extremecheese.com/phdi/p1.nsf/imgpages/ec_18_baby_stork.gif/$file/18_baby_stork.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>That's right, our very own B-Mama bear is about to give birth to bear cub #4! We can't wait to meet her sweet gal, due around June 20th. B-Mama has had one baby very early due to pre-eclampsia, and her other two babies arrived right on time (one or two days past the due date). So when do you ladies think B-Mama's baby will arrive? Make sure to add a time on for tie-breakers!<br /><br />My guess, June 22nd at 11:30am! Go B-Mama Go!!!Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-15965952536088014892010-06-09T06:00:00.001-04:002010-06-09T06:00:08.466-04:00Summer StrategiesSince snow days are rare in Texas, we don't have the winter cabin fever like some of our friends further North. But when summer hits, it can be brutal. We are instituting some new routines and incentives around here to help us order our summer days.<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZkmx08TGav-E_JK_WBE6OTsMyxnjzKKgBsPr5FFxvjlg25paJ5Zoi3gusCkEMGweX430GR1sQGHeBJY-8E3XI7zbZmsn3xRsseX9ypQ03PG4zo5LmfYMWIEp_ADkax7IB9wDvGRIHlGb/s1600/June+2010+198+(Large).jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZkmx08TGav-E_JK_WBE6OTsMyxnjzKKgBsPr5FFxvjlg25paJ5Zoi3gusCkEMGweX430GR1sQGHeBJY-8E3XI7zbZmsn3xRsseX9ypQ03PG4zo5LmfYMWIEp_ADkax7IB9wDvGRIHlGb/s320/June+2010+198+(Large).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480583986496990498" /></a>We try to go to our neighborhood pool early (8am) to beat some of the intense sun, but by the time everyone is splashed out we still have several hours until lunch. In an effort to minimize friction between our sensory child and the others, we are using a rotation system where each boy either plays, works with me in the learning room or gets to watch a movie for 30 minutes.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_pY4-LAMYF2-LYJfbkXlagUWE2SdMpoz295T8pHr_Ue0JX39CkOuL7TJCps5FfoVtJVHaO_dVYDG-KUCTetPk55ooULJ0ZsZHXWmFjBYLVRvD-X2v_LHE6Ge41OUZSmQPbqnQK6AEqVE/s1600/June+2010+200+(Large).jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_pY4-LAMYF2-LYJfbkXlagUWE2SdMpoz295T8pHr_Ue0JX39CkOuL7TJCps5FfoVtJVHaO_dVYDG-KUCTetPk55ooULJ0ZsZHXWmFjBYLVRvD-X2v_LHE6Ge41OUZSmQPbqnQK6AEqVE/s200/June+2010+200+(Large).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480583874603719890" /></a>I remembered seeing this <a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2008/07/summertime-plan.html">summer ticket system at Shower of Roses</a>. Our boys have loved it thus far, especially counting the tickets and redeeming them.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjD0CCcR9jpiECVg-35Tjaxi1XDkjtLNdIXAebj70CK1_RHR84eUPowMir6qYHKX9xnOYsk1lPUyA_FgTSlWLlsnvuISMKbpTT7vc_J7igSdUI62vXBctcgOjgNPZMzk6T2w1ufb4gmYu/s1600/June+2010+201+(Large).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjD0CCcR9jpiECVg-35Tjaxi1XDkjtLNdIXAebj70CK1_RHR84eUPowMir6qYHKX9xnOYsk1lPUyA_FgTSlWLlsnvuISMKbpTT7vc_J7igSdUI62vXBctcgOjgNPZMzk6T2w1ufb4gmYu/s200/June+2010+201+(Large).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480583700767786898" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We usually spend the afternoon spraying the hose and splashing in the baby pools in our (shaded!) backyard. My kids now ask for sunscreen before they go outside. Any other tips for beating the heat? </div><div><br /></div><div>When all else fails to cool you off...there is ice cream!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p5Fmz3q1wTOyiGudyOFSk98TRzuHWlHei2LR0I0uZUA7zCUGtZtLTPqThsgLb48R0oKvNVgRWMYx2wz4BvNyTuMnDxxYsKUyiZ2RP5IDjTHYKI1P9xyvQ4vkX2xpEjBN2ZfsC06LEHGE/s1600/June+2010+187+(Large).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p5Fmz3q1wTOyiGudyOFSk98TRzuHWlHei2LR0I0uZUA7zCUGtZtLTPqThsgLb48R0oKvNVgRWMYx2wz4BvNyTuMnDxxYsKUyiZ2RP5IDjTHYKI1P9xyvQ4vkX2xpEjBN2ZfsC06LEHGE/s320/June+2010+187+(Large).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480586075209426514" /></a>texas mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789317984697185260noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-50981079227170207062010-06-08T14:17:00.002-04:002010-06-08T14:36:12.381-04:00Doula MeTo piggyback on Red's previous post, doulas seem to be an awesome way to achieve natural labor within a hospital setting. As a labor advocate, the doula will step in to represent your birth wishes amidst the intensity of natural labor, allowing both wife and husband to remain focused on the birth. The doula's knowledge and expertise can also provide additional options for labor positions and alternatives to medication. <div><br /></div><div>I have just found a FREE doula-in-training who is going to be present for our birth! Can you sense my enthusiasm?! We met with her last night and I believe she is going to be the perfect compliment to my husband and I in the delivery room. What an absolute blessing to find her with less than two weeks until my due date... God was listening as my husband and I pondered our options Saturday night before bed. He was expressing some apprehension about being my labor coach with so little experience and only a few chapters of <i>Husband Coached Childbirth</i> (Bradley) under his belt. I stood my ground, knowing labor is primarily my job, but also filling with worry as my #1 labor guy fell to fear. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Do you think we should look for a doula?" he said. (I had wondered this same question aloud a month before, but we overlooked it at the time.) "I don't know, honey," I replied, "They are expensive and you convinced me that if I did it last time, I can do it again." "Yeah, but Jay at the office says sometimes you can find them for free or reduced cost due to them being in training" he said. "Yeah, but where in the world are we going to find a free doula who would be willing to take us on so late in the game?!" I questioned... </div><div><br /></div><div>God answered! The <i>very next day</i> at a baby shower as I shared with a friend my desire to have a natural birth, she recommended her friend who was a doula-in-training and doing her first three labors for FREE. How great is that?! We will be birth #3. My natural labor has just become a little more achievable! I'm totally stoked.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here's where you all come in. What should I tell my doula? What specific instructions were you glad you gave to your doula or midwife before your natural delivery? What words did you appreciate hearing? Should I have the doula come over to our house before we head to the hospital? I am swimming in thoughts and would love your insight!! Thanks!</div>B-Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889509365971309400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-62797869592678074062010-06-07T11:46:00.004-04:002010-06-07T12:27:18.981-04:00Birth CentersAs some of our readers know, I have had my last two babies in a free-standing birth center. I just received their local newsletter in the mail, and, as always, I was extremely impressed with the great work they are doing for women and babies in our community. While I have a pretty negative relationship with labor and delivery, overall, I love the birth center experience, and I think the choice to birth in a birth center, as opposed to a hospital, it a great decision for many couples. It isn't for everyone--most particularly those that are high risk!--but for many women it is a great option.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thebirthcenter.org/">My birth center</a> offers several birthing suits, complete with queen size beds, jacuzzi tubs, natural lighting, relaxing music, and kitchen areas. Nurse midwives attend to all births at the center, and if an emergency arises, you are just a few steps away from the local hospital. Last year, the midwives at the birth center delivered 504 babies. Only 8% of those babies were delivered via a c-section (compared to the almost 40% rate at most hospitals!).* Their episiotomy rate was a mere 5%, AND what I find the most impressive statistic, they had a 99% rate of initiating breastfeeding, and a 90% rate of continued breastfeeding at 6 weeks. Talk about baby centered care!<br /><br />In general, birth centers are strong promoters of the health of women and babies, and they give many families a safe and wonderful option for a natural delivery in a home like setting with emergency medical care just steps away. If you desire to deliver naturally, I think it is really important to feel comfortable and relaxed at your delivery location. For some women this means a home birth, for others a hospital setting, and for me, it means a combination of the two at our local birth center.<br /><br />I first sought out the birth center after two less than stellar hospital births. Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful for the healthy delivery of my first two children, but my desire to birth my babies naturally, without unnecessary interventions, was very difficult for me in a hospital setting. For starters, I just couldn't relax in the hospital. We lost our first baby at birth back in November 2002, and as soon as I walk into a hospital labor and delivery room, with all those machines and beeps and monitors, I am immediately brought back to my labor with Therese. My stress level increases and I just desperately want to go home. Stress increases pain, and I know I will ask for pain meds as soon as labor really starts to intensify.<br /><br />Second, hospitals are set up to deal with medical situations--mainly emergencies and illnesses. In an uncomplicated birth, the process is natural. Mentally I find all the "math" of the hospital draining. The constant monitoring, measuring, timing, and statistics are stressful and prolong my labor. Sure it's my fault that I let all the numbers get to me, but I'm very vulnerable when in labor! I don't like to be put on a timetable and told that I'm taking too long!<br /><br />In addition, I am a wimp. Plain and simple, if pain medication is available, I will ask for it! If I want to go naturally, I need to move myself away from the temptation of easily available pain medication. The birth center is great because when I ask for pain meds, and believe me I do so frequently at the end of each of my labors, they simply tell me that it is unavailable and will necessitate a transfer. This line usually buys enough time to get me through the most difficult part of labor. I really admire all you natural birthing hospital women--please tell me, and B-Mama who is about to go this route, how you do it?!? A doula? A fantastic husband? Delaying your arrival at the hospital until the last minute?<br /><br />But I digress...my basic point here is that most birth centers are great places, so do check out your local options!<br /><br /><br />*I realize that hospitals will have higher c-section rates because of the self selection factor in repeat c-sections. The birth center, however, does take repeat clients attempting a v-bac, and so their numbers are higher in this area as well. My overall point is that the natural techniques of the birth center are much more likely to end in a vaginal delivery.Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-38733044134265440562010-06-04T15:41:00.006-04:002010-06-04T16:12:32.085-04:00Celebrity Weddings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVXHIgii4gMK5XEmvqgG23qHTcaA_VM7UZzJWr87xAxFSqhUliuvSlIp8ibFXzxBTWSjcrndO2Gt3x32LynShpQWygRfEWNZVivVTY1sGBubIyk1mBFeYxUJ8jmlH0MWRE9Skj-uxTfg/s1600/OBriens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVXHIgii4gMK5XEmvqgG23qHTcaA_VM7UZzJWr87xAxFSqhUliuvSlIp8ibFXzxBTWSjcrndO2Gt3x32LynShpQWygRfEWNZVivVTY1sGBubIyk1mBFeYxUJ8jmlH0MWRE9Skj-uxTfg/s320/OBriens.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479009848905771714" /></a><br /><br />Fresh off the press... a moonlit bench in Prospect Garden at Princeton, one lovely lady and one magnanimous gentleman, a family diamond from him, a sweet and certain "yes" from her, and they're headed to the altar.<br /><br />Here's to you, lovebirds, with all our love and many blessings. The best is yet to come.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf4vSemgT0El_dYloxqSmaAHrY0EEYeNsmenDQGp006C1uz2mqwwfL9Dhnrkd4QFKVx4e3UTH7vAgzREZLYqX7N_l40JFgWT9DSbMsMT92YromcrSuoxMoVENOm1lsfq7i1mG5bykbWY/s1600/champagne+toast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf4vSemgT0El_dYloxqSmaAHrY0EEYeNsmenDQGp006C1uz2mqwwfL9Dhnrkd4QFKVx4e3UTH7vAgzREZLYqX7N_l40JFgWT9DSbMsMT92YromcrSuoxMoVENOm1lsfq7i1mG5bykbWY/s200/champagne+toast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479010686307039138" /></a>Juris Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717212659724234395noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-7532670399897219652010-06-03T14:41:00.008-04:002010-06-04T03:45:22.813-04:00Dream On<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssOjXAwINgnnkYYjWIpAZi8MfmaqPkU5Zfkyy1hwH7Im0VGw-RyaK2HTTDmm26ZUBmzaTDLG4iL-NpAPDkoaaQeSn_R8c1nkHV5X0u45Xra3GYA8sruM5UoonhNjhFJctGliZk4YhFrU/s1600/guardian+angel+sleep.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssOjXAwINgnnkYYjWIpAZi8MfmaqPkU5Zfkyy1hwH7Im0VGw-RyaK2HTTDmm26ZUBmzaTDLG4iL-NpAPDkoaaQeSn_R8c1nkHV5X0u45Xra3GYA8sruM5UoonhNjhFJctGliZk4YhFrU/s200/guardian+angel+sleep.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478639587864911986" /></a><br />Joseph and Samuel of the Old Testament, St. Joseph, and other heroes of our faith received crucial, divine messages through dreams.<br /><br />So far nothing of that magnitude for this dreamer.<br /><br />However, everyday dreams can have an enormous positive or negative impact on my emotional life.<br /><br />In a recent dream of mine, my husband and I (along with all of you dear college friends) had just reached the end of junior year at Princeton and were saying goodbye for the summer. Of course none of us were married yet, but we were getting on toward that stage, and our Lord was confirming my vocation to my husband in my own heart. But my husband, respecting proper boundaries of courtship, never assumed we would get married or spoke of it as a certainty before we were engaged. The memorable part of the dream was my extreme anguish at having to say goodbye to him for the three long summer months--such a familiar feeling when I was back in that goodbye moment--and also profound longing for the certainty that one day we would be married and sharing life together. Goodbye wouldn't ache nearly so much if I could just know that one day he would be my husband.<br /><br />And then I woke up. Thank you, Lord! There he is sleeping next to me, more handsome than ever. Here's our small apartment where we share our one life. There are our three children sleeping in the living room. Two of them look mostly like me, one favors him. My dream came true times a thousand. For a few minutes right then, the emotional anguish of goodbye that was still so fresh in my mind gave way to incredible gratitude for my ordinary life. It went way beyond contentment; it was exhilaration. And it lasted for two days. And I can even return to it in my imagination right now when I need a gratitude boost.<br /><br />Then there are the dreams that can upset my emotional balance for a day or two. Dreams where feelings resurface from the times when I was younger and gave my heart away imprudently. Dreams that foster my fear of loss or fear of failure. Mischievous dreams that whisper suggestions toward vanity and pride. Then I wake up agitated, in a confused haze, starting my day coping with emotions that would have been better if left unacknowledged.<br /><br />Because of the dreams that may come and the emotions those dreams foster, sleep is a time of great emotional vulnerability. And, for better or worse, the thriving of our family depends heavily on my emotional well-being. And we're the best off when I'm not only reasonably content but positively grateful and joyful. Now... how can I assure more of those sweet dreams about my husband and children and other blissful realities?<br /><br />Well, first and foremost, by humming the right songs as I drift off to sleep? Because no discussion about romance and dreams would be complete without quoting the refrain of country/soft rock ballad "Chances Are", sung by the great troubadour Bob Seger (yes Red, the sappiness factor is skyrocketing : ))<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Chances are I'll see you somewhere in my dreams tonight.<br />You'll be smiling like the night we met.<br />Chances are I'll hold you, and I'll offer all I have.<br />You're the only one I can't forget.<br />Baby, you're the best I've ever met.</span><br /><br />On we go...<br /><br />Do you all pray specifically for good, pure and holy dreams in your night prayers? Does the Church have short prayers for dreams that you could share here? Or do you read something particular before bedtime to end the day on a lovely note? Particular patrons of dreams? I want to do a much better job entrusting my dreams to our Lord and other holy men and women in heaven, and of preparing my heart and mind for peaceful sleep. Sweet dreams, all!Juris Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717212659724234395noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-5303605218004361892010-06-02T21:46:00.002-04:002010-06-02T21:57:53.094-04:00Can't Be Outdone By B-Mama...Special Ed graduation...the hats were too cute!! And, yes, I cried, too, B-Mama!! These boys are just too sweet! <div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfM8S0xHc7PhQltpxqDHqkZawv3aIvoEZZQi3Slbw4lhlSVfIDWBoDDwGKwDtQYEZxHYhOHiyO0hZFjYIDo_gk0nqSVVF35CNUANDQliXCD2OjoBIT6z43Oeae24iTUAM-klP9WgE8CZ_/s1600/June+2010+052+(Medium).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfM8S0xHc7PhQltpxqDHqkZawv3aIvoEZZQi3Slbw4lhlSVfIDWBoDDwGKwDtQYEZxHYhOHiyO0hZFjYIDo_gk0nqSVVF35CNUANDQliXCD2OjoBIT6z43Oeae24iTUAM-klP9WgE8CZ_/s320/June+2010+052+(Medium).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478358632064824754" /></a><br /></div>texas mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789317984697185260noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-72866580334265967192010-06-02T18:31:00.003-04:002010-06-02T18:36:41.429-04:00Yummy Granola BarsLadies, I've had a few requests for the Granola Bars recipe, so I'll post it again. I posted a similar recipe a few months ago, but this one is modified from the original to be dairy-free:<div><br /></div><div>3 cups of kamut cereal</div><div>1 cup of rolled oats </div><div>1/2 cup of roasted almonds, chopped</div><div>1/2 cup of dried fruit, chopped</div><div>1/2 c. of peanut butter</div><div>1/2 c. of honey</div><div>1 tsp. of vanilla</div><div>*Ghirardelli chocolate chips to taste (optional)</div><div><br /></div><div>In a bowl, mix together the kamut, oats, almonds, and dried fruit. </div><div>Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat peanut butter, honey, and vanilla, just short of boiling. </div><div>Pour peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and stir to coat. Add in chocolate chips if desired). Pour into a greased 9x9" pan.</div><div>Press down as firmly as you can with wax paper.</div><div>I like to put the bars in the freezer for about 2 hours, and then store in the refrigerator. This makes them firmer and easier to cut into neat squares.</div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div>*If you don't need to be dairy-free, you could use any type of chocolate chips.</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361232588380298159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-46102062698307180922010-05-31T06:00:00.002-04:002010-05-31T06:00:05.259-04:00For This Momentary Light Affliction...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i></i></p><i><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…”</i><span style="font-style:normal"> 2 Corinthians 4: 17<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Anyone who has been to our house over the past couple of months can attest to the fact that life is a little bit nutty around here right now </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">J</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> We love life with three kids at home, and the big kids have been very sweet with their new baby sister, but we are definitely still working out the logistical details of our days! Mealtimes, bedtimes, and out-the-door times seem to be especially challenging for us, and there have been plenty of meltdowns, time-outs, and lost privileges between the two big kids.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I am not surprised that the addition of another child to our family has rocked the boat a little bit – this is how it’s supposed to be, right?! What I am surprised by is how easily I can become unhinged when the details of daily life seem to be conspiring against me. There’s nothing like a sink full of dirty dishes, a toddler who has just (purposely) spilled her bowl of cereal for the umpteenth time, or an inconsolable baby to make me feel desperate and alone. It is so easy to get lost in the crazy little details – the un-swept floors, the whining, the sorry condition of the kids’ bathroom – and to lose sight of the big picture. It is also very easy to start feeling sorry for myself and to notice all of the difficult parts of my day, when there are also plenty of good things that I have overlooked.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">Thankfully, the following verse was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago, and I can honestly say that it has saved me several times in moments of near insanity:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” 2 Cor 4: 17</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">When I take a step back to really think about what I am getting upset about, I realize that most of it is truly a momentary light affliction, and not something worth sacrificing my peace (or my family’s peace!) for. Yes, there are plenty of slightly traumatizing parts of being a mother. For example, a few weeks ago I took the big kids to Mass alone (Ed had been a lector the night before). Everything started out fine, but then my toddler started to scream about something and I took her to the cry room, leaving Christopher in the pew. When we came out for our second attempt in the church, the toddler started to scream again, only this time she was kicking and flailing as well. I made the “walk of shame” back to the cry room once more, flailing child in hand (the poor lady who had to get up every time we left the pew!), where my toddler proceeded to behave very, very badly. Once again, we made our way back to the pew – I couldn’t leave Christopher by himself for all of Mass! – and once again, my child began to have a fit. By the end of Mass, I had tears in my eyes and I was shaking all over. I can honestly say that being able to repeat the words “this momentary light affliction” saved me in that moment.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">Each of us has our own list of slightly traumatizing mommy moments, and we live through them every day. Our families will never be perfect, nor will our days be free from conflict, but when we take a step back, most of our hardships truly are momentary and light. The house is a mess, but it will eventually be clean again. The kids whine all the time, but there will come a day when the kids won’t want to talk to us at all and we’ll wish that they were little again. Bedtime is chaotic and exhausting, but the kids will eventually fall asleep! The point is this: Many parts of our day can be hard to bear, but we must keep our focus on the reason that we do all of these things in the first place. We have taken on the vocation of beings wives and mothers, and we are working through daily life out of love for our families. We are raising our children to be responsible, kind, generous men and women of faith, and everything that we do day-to-day must work towards this goal. If we lose sight of this, then it is easy to get lost in the web of our daily lives.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">God bless all of you as we near the end of this month of May, the month when we honor Our Blessed Mother, our perfect example of patience and humility. Mary, Mother of Hope, pray for us!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"> *Note: Many women (and some men, too!) struggle with post-partum depression, and this is very different from what I have talked about in this post. These mothers have tried everything that they know how to do to change their perspective, but it has not worked. Sometimes, medicine is necessary to restore the balance of chemicals in the brain and hormones in the body, along with counseling. Post-partum depression is a VERY serious condition, and the best thing that you can do for yourself, your baby, and your family is to seek medical attention immediately. There is no shame in seeking medical help - it is the responsible thing to do. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p></i><p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361232588380298159noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-14219048279458797252010-05-29T21:13:00.002-04:002010-05-29T21:16:41.651-04:00Dad-ismA recent dinner-time conversation:<div><br /></div><div><i>Christopher: Mommy, what age do you have to be when you can have a girlfriend?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Me: Well, C, every family has different rules. Mommy had to be 16 years old before she could have a boyfriend, but...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Christopher: Well, Mommy, I think that you should be 21.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Me: How come, C?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Christopher: Because then you're closer to the age when you can get married!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Wow, this little guy has been listening closely to what his daddy says! Good thinking, C :) </div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361232588380298159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-72531396410571452692010-05-28T16:12:00.006-04:002010-05-28T16:20:51.703-04:00Boy Phenomenon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOezbYF1bbjn56GlTjywPXvEPZnYd2aRIZ2Q43Ouwqvp30p69YSJMZ1ADmySzVE9i69L_Mfshvtp3EsaGAztGFhdPAq6ENBjTF7qnW4XQ_p9NP4nS1LVTr6S26s0YqSnFcgh4sFgrGdA/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOezbYF1bbjn56GlTjywPXvEPZnYd2aRIZ2Q43Ouwqvp30p69YSJMZ1ADmySzVE9i69L_Mfshvtp3EsaGAztGFhdPAq6ENBjTF7qnW4XQ_p9NP4nS1LVTr6S26s0YqSnFcgh4sFgrGdA/s320/IMG_3598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476418255095377826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We've gotten one through preschool... :)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Why is it that every time I sit down to write my post today, I'm smothered by the world's greatest hugs and kisses and little boy sentiments to send a mama to the moon and back with love?<div><br /></div><div>"Mommy, do you know I love you so much?!" is echoing in my ears.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry, but this is just too good to ignore. Coherent thoughts will have to be put on hold for another day. Have a wonderful holiday weekend everybody!</div></div>B-Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889509365971309400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-29112146350429472422010-05-27T06:54:00.005-04:002010-05-27T07:08:38.719-04:00Spoken like a True SanguineAny of you who share my fascination with the four temperaments will appreciate this.<br /><br />Me <span style="font-style:italic;">(hyperventilating at the sight of the pieces of five 60 piece jigsaw puzzles mixed up and strewn about the floor of our tiny living room)</span>: "I'm not interested in who did this, but I need everyone get to work cleaning it up immediately."<br /><br />Bella <span style="font-style:italic;">(age 5, whose blood runs sanguine)</span>: "OK Mom, of course, but I prefer when the room is messed exactly like this because all the colors on the floor make me cheerful."<br /><br />Lord help me to shepherd each one of my little varied personalities.Juris Materhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01717212659724234395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-42861360374062662652010-05-26T10:10:00.003-04:002010-05-26T10:14:36.369-04:00Overheard in the CarBoy 1: "I'm thinking of a number between ten thousand and 6 million."<div><i>Mom thinks, "Wow, this is going to take awhile."</i><div>Boy 2: "One hundred!"</div><div>Boy 1: "You're right!"<br /><br /></div><div>Boy 2: "I'm thinking of a letter between A and B."</div><div>Boy 1 (slightly puzzled): "A and a half?"</div></div>texas mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10789317984697185260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-28619042282479219992010-05-25T08:16:00.001-04:002010-05-25T08:17:07.764-04:00Emily Dickinson Tuesday<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="80%"><span class="TITLE">A Man may make a Remark (952)</span> </td> <td colspan="2" align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top"> </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><pre><br />A Man may make a Remark—<br />In itself—a quiet thing<br />That may furnish the Fuse unto a Spark<br />In dormant nature—lain—<br /><br />Let us deport—with skill—<br />Let us discourse—with care—<br />Powder exists in Charcoal—<br />Before it exists in Fire.</pre></td></tr></tbody></table>AWOL Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06962839817661988360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-79454808406544240902010-05-25T06:00:00.000-04:002010-05-25T06:00:04.887-04:00Milk Allergy Update: It's Yellow, Folks!Ladies, I want to thank all of you for your words of advice regarding a possible milk allergy/sensitivity in my 3 month-old daughter, Caroline. After reading your experiences and doing some research of my own, I decided to go dairy-free about 10 days ago. I'm happy to report that Caroline's diapers have gone from being green poop at every changing, to now being mostly wet, and sometimes yellow poop - no more green diapers! It took about 5 days for this to happen, but to me it is incredible that just by cutting dairy out of my diet, there could be such a dramatic change!<div><br /></div><div>Here's the brief summary of what I've done: I'm not eating any straight dairy - milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc. I'm also being careful with items that contain milk ingredients, such as pancake mixes and many snack foods. This is a pretty big change for me, and I've started taking probiotics because I have noticed that my stomach has been upset since cutting out dairy - has anyone else had a similar experience? I have supplemented my diet with Almond Milk, some yummy homemade granola bars, lots of hummus (instead of cheese), and some surprisingly tasty Tofutti mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches :) Oh, and I cannot forget to thank Karen, who told me that I could eat Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips - they have been a saving grace!</div><div><br /></div><div>As for Caroline, she is still quite fussy at certain times throughout the day, but it is impossible to know whether this is related to some dairy that is left in my system or whether it's just normal baby fussiness. Time will tell, I suppose, but I am thrilled with the diaper results!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you again for all of your thoughtful comments, and God bless you all on this Monday morning!</div>Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361232588380298159noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4839413630623850301.post-89934584778364309702010-05-23T22:24:00.001-04:002010-05-24T13:48:23.762-04:00Celiac DiseaseJust over two weeks ago I started having some terrible stomach pains. Since my life on this blog is a bit of an open book, I will confess that I have had mild digestive problems for the past 10 years of my life. These issues escalated over Mother's Day weekend, and I found myself spending my Mother's Day and most of that following week in the hospital. I was discharged with some pain-killers, some medication to coat and ease my stomach, and no clear diagnosis. My stomach has felt pretty awful ever since.<br /><br />And then on Thursday I received a call from my doctor that will forever change my life. The biopsy of my small intestine tested positive for <a href="http://www.celiacdisease.net/overview">Celiac Disease.</a><a href="http://www.celiacdisease.net/overview"> </a> I was shocked, and immediately sad because I knew what that meant. Goodbye to wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Goodbye to the comfort foods of holidays and special occasions. Goodbye to most, if not all, of my favorite recipes. I mourned, I cried, I called all my girlfriends to complain, and then I called a friend who has Celiac Disease. She assured me that my life is not over, I will find a new normal, I will stop dreaming about gluten, and in a few weeks I will start to feel a lot better.<br /><br />And so today is Day 4 of my new gluten-free life. I will admit that five minutes does not pass without me thinking of food and what I cannot eat. I'm trying not to think about how my new diet is permanent. I'm taking it one day at a time, but I am dreaming about wheat based foods, including some of my favorites--pizza, pancakes, pasta and doughnuts. From what I read, gluten does that. It is like a drug, stimulating a part of the brain that craves for more. I eat and I feel full but my brain wants something more. I was told that in two weeks my brain will start to forget about gluten, the cravings will stop, and maybe the dreams will stop too.<br /><br />I have spent most of the weekend researching gluten-free diets and food choices. I went to Whole Foods on Saturday night and spent $200 on gluten free baking flours and ingredients. I had to bake something, and I wanted it to be delicious. Baking something would be a small victory, a first step towards a new normal life.<br /><br />At one point during my trip I wandered away from my cart in search of quinoa, and when I re-approached my cart I was shocked at what was inside. The contents looked nothing like what I normally purchase. Tapioca flour? Teff flour? Xanthum gum? Are these seriously real ingredients? I felt strange and sad. I tried really hard not to think about the permanent nature of my new diet. I distracted myself by adding sushi to my cart, and placing it in a very conspicuous location, and I continued shopping.<br /><br />This morning I awoke and made gluten-free pancakes. They were good--not quite as good as my wheat based pancakes, but good enough. I smothered them with maple syrup and ate them until I felt full. And as I cleaned up the breakfast dishes I realized that I'm going to be ok. The pancakes were definitely good enough. I'll find other foods like the pancakes that are good enough. My life is going to feel normal again, and maybe sooner than I had originally thought.<br /><br />You see, I already feel better. I'm not 100% percent, FAR from it, but I'm better in ways that I never thought were related to my stomach issues. Allow me to explain--<br /><br />As we got ready for Mass this morning I realized that I forgot to make my coffee, again. I just didn't need it this morning, and I didn't need it on Saturday or Friday. I then realized I didn't have a headache on any of those days. Headaches normally motivate me to make coffee. I have not gone 3 days without a headache in at least a year. Maybe that's a coincidence, but probably not. My doctor told me that regular headaches are a symptom of Celiac Disease and I can't tell you how excited I am that mine seem to be gone!<br /><br />And my allergies seem to have disappeared. A few months ago, I resorted to taking a daily allergy medication because my sneezing and wheezing were just that bad. But my seasonal allergies are now gone, and the change has happened almost overnight. Some of my joint pain is gone too. I had pain in my neck and back almost every day prior to my diagnosis. And it's gone. Maybe this is a placebo effect, but I'm loving it!<br /><br />My gut is going to take a bit longer to heal, likely several months, but I trust it will heal in time. I'm praying the fatigue goes away too, and my doctor said it probably will.<br /><br />And so tonight, for the first time, I'm ending my day thanking God that the sacrifices of the past few days have yielded such obvious fruit. The way I feel is motivating me to keep going, and I'm really curious to see what other minor health issues might disappear. For the first time in a long while I feel full of hope about my health. Celiac Disease in a gluten-loving world stinks, but tonight I am starting to see the silver lining, and I'm loving it.Right Said Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03000769740954672341noreply@blogger.com22