I so wish....

....I could dress like this every day and not be noticed! The only thing I would add to the picture would be my girls in the room playing on the floor and a newborn in my arms! UPDATE: Thanks to the lovely and oh-so-hip Divina at The Bean Sprout, I have a new baby girl! I love her!



This was too fun! I tag Matilda, Karen, Suzanne, Margaret, Michelle, Maria, and I was going to link to about twenty other ladies, but Madeleine is up from her nap. Please consider yourself tagged if you're reading this, and leave me a comment so I know to stop by your dream world! :)
~
H/T Nutmeg

Pint-Sized Conscience Examiners

On a typical afternoon outing running errands with the girls a few weeks ago, Gianna observed an elderly woman in the grocery-store aisle trying to grasp a can of sliced mushrooms clearly out of her reach. Busy debating between a box of bow-tie or penne pasta, I was unaware of my surroundings, until I heard a sudden crash a few yards away. I turned to the direction of the noise to discover my daughter lying belly down on the floor with a can of mushrooms in her hand. Gianna was at the foot of a beautiful, but obviously frail elderly lady with silvery-white hair pinned back in a neat bun, grocery list clutched in hand and several cans of vegetables on the floor beside her.

Thinking Gianna had caused the accident, I darted towards the two at once to apologize to the woman and scold my daughter, but before I could get a word out of my mouth I saw the old woman bend down and thank my daughter profusely. Much to my surprise, it turned out Gianna had gone over to offer the lady some assistance, and realizing the item was out of her own reach, she announced she would call to Mama for help. But in an instant, the cans came crashing down, and Gianna leaped to the floor to catch as many as she could. Later I learned from her own mouth that she didn't want one of those "berry heavy" cans to hurt the woman's feet. When I explained that she could have been hurt herself under the falling cans, she said "You would have done it."

Such scenarios are remembered with great pride in parenthood. How beautiful that children are so absorbent that a parent's good qualities can come to birth in their little souls. It is certainly with much satisfaction that I can recall the above memory whenever I wish, and feel that motherly pride all over again.

But just as our virtues are borne through our children, so are our vices. And except through the grace of God, these can birth themselves in the most hideous ways and have the potential to make a lasting mark on the souls of our little ones.

Now, forward to a more recent scenario in which my beloved daughter makes an entirely different example of her mother.

It has long been the case, at least since she's been walking, that our little Madeleine has demonstrated her independence, or rather, toddler-naivete in public. She has no fear at a park, for example, walking far, far away, until she is entirely out of my line of vision. When I finally do catch up to her, she displays that all-too-familiar mischievous smile, indicating her sharp awareness of disobedience and a definite gratification in personal autonomy. This has become habit for my little one, and I have found myself on many occasions calling to her repeatedly, "Come back, Madeleine." "Stop, Madeleine." "Don't go any further, Madeleine.", and on and on until I am running after her threatening impending punishment.

Now, somewhere in the past year I discovered just the trick to get Madeleine to come when I beckoned. In countless instances it has saved me from having to call out several times or raise my voice, and the method has become a rather complacent habit. But not a good one. When she runs off and reaches an uncomfortable point for me, I holler something like, "Madeleine, come see the bunny!" or "Madeleine, look at this bird over here!" She instantly redirects her steps and comes straightaway. By the time she reaches me her memory of the little creature she was aiming for has faded, making the trick even easier for me than it could be if her memory were a bit sharper.

This deceitful habit of mine has become quite familiar, and to my satisfaction, it always works. But to my great dismay, a young girl just two years older than Madeleine has begun to use it as well. And not just to call upon her sister. Recently Gianna wanted me to retrieve a certain something for her that I'd told her she couldn't have. Being in the same room as the desired object (and quite near it), I was not in the best place for Gianna to indulge herself. So she went skipping out into the back yard, to "play". Moments later I heard, "Mama, you better come see this!" When I went outside and quickly realized there was nothing to "see", I headed back for the kitchen only to be impeded and beckoned to stay outside for a few more minutes. As my little kitchen guard headed inside, she politely remarked that she would tell me when it was okay for me to come in.

I am not devastated that children can sometimes deceive to try to get what they want. They are fallen creatures just as the parents who love them. But when a child's very act of deception is learned through observing her own mother, and then committed.....well, it is enough to make a parent's heart sink to the ground.

My girls are often my examination of conscience. Before children I needed only account for my daily actions to God, my husband and myself. Examining my soul was a matter of brief meditation before Confession, or a few minutes of contemplation before bed. But today, my conscience is examined every day, sometimes nearly all day long, by viewing myself in my daughters. It is a true and full examination with no excuses for bad behavior, because these little ones reveal my sins more clearly through their tiny mouths and hands than any of my lengthy personal reflections. It is horrifying to see a child's clean soul tainted by none other than her own parent, and even though she may not be culpable until a certain age, knowing her formation depends on her mother's choices right now sends a good sting into a receptive conscience. How strongly we desire to prevent our children from committing our own faults!

Though viewing our own sins in the actions of our little ones is perhaps one of the ugliest displays I can think of, I must say I am grateful for being revealed in such an honest light, both to myself and at times to others, since through observing such hideousness and for the love of my children I am evermore firmly resolved to change. It is in this way among many others that children might bring us, their loving parents, just a few steps closer to heaven.

For a simple summer tart.....

.....and a whole host of perfectly scrumptious, mouthwatering strawberry creations, DO visit The Virtual Kitchen's Strawberry Festival today. Your summer simply won't be as delicious without it!

[Other than making my favorite summer tart above, I had nothing to do with the preparation of this beautiful festival. Thank you, Suzanne, for putting this together!]

Finished Headboards

Remember these mismatched headboards I picked up a few months ago? Well, here is how they turned out. I am very happy with the fabric choice, and I have you to thank. Truly. I was originally inclined towards a fabric that none of you voted for (with which I plan to upholster an old chair for the room), but after weighing options and reflecting on your comments, and now seeing the result of the dark wood with the pretty green fern fabric, I am so pleased. I hope you like them.

I eventually would like to do a green lattice rug between the two beds, but I suppose the next step should be securing a bed to go with the second headboard. Madeleine will still sleep in her crib for at least another six months, so I'm not in any hurry to get the job done.

~

Thank you again, everyone! How unappealing this room would have been had I not consulted my fellow friends of the blogosphere!

Variation on a Nursery Rhyme

Gianna, playing with Madeleine's toes before bedtime:

~~"This little piggy went to market,
~~this little piggy went to Home Depot....."

Q & A

In lieu of the recent number and repetition of questions found in the com box and through email, I thought I'd do a follow-up post to this one on storing one's belongings. I've tried to answer inquiries sufficiently below, but if I missed a question, please do leave a comment and I'll answer as best I can.

Before I begin, let me say that these are examples of how we handle certain situations in our own household. They are mere suggestions of possible approaches, but again, they will and should vary from family to family.

Q. My husband and I sometimes feel like if we never purchased another thing again our house would still be overflowing with stuff simply because of all the gifts people give our children. While we appreciate the thought, the amount of "stuff" our children have is absurd. We've tried to politely tell family that we'd prefer donations to college savings accounts but nobody's really taken the hint. We're not sure how to be more firm without being rude.

This is a very good question, and one I have dealt with in the past. You might suggest that you want to impart to your children a sense of order and cleanliness, which can be difficult if the kids are given lots and lots of things; that you want to impart in them a satisfaction in having less, and an appreciation for the special thought of each individual gift.

If your preferences don't seem to be taken into consideration after many kind reminders, smile and politely accept. The charity in relationships is much more important than having less and possibly hurting someone you love.

Q. What do you do about gifts you don't like? How do you turn them down?

This can be another sensitive issue. I would not turn down a gift unless I was asked. I'm afraid at one time I would have, to maintain at-home peace. But I realized one day that my Father in heaven would not turn down any of my gifts to Him, no matter how broken, deformed or imperfect they may be. So who am I to refuse someone's kindness?

In our situation today, family will often ask whether we want something for our girls or not, and we answer honestly.

Q. I'm curious though how your family handles Christmas and birthdays. Do you have any guidelines like a three gift limit or something?

For Christmas, our extended family knows that we prefer our daughters to have one or two meaningful presents. We don't set a strict verbal limit of a set number of gifts, but in the past we emphasized our preference for less. I must say it took a few years, but today we have no problems with holiday excess. I believe at some point we suggested to family rather than buying ten items for ten dollars each which may be strewn about the house, why not buy one meaningful item for $100 that will be well cared for and appreciated?

This past Christmas, Gianna got a bicycle and a doll, both of which she plays with often and takes excellent care. For her birthday this year, I gave her the option of receiving a present for herself, or to get each of her birthday party friends a gift. She chose her friends, and the sweet girls were so happy to go home with pretty floral wreaths for their hair! We did not buy her a birthday present, and she was perfectly content without one.

Q. Did you come about this gradually with your husband or have you always had minimalist leanings? Did one of you lead the other?

My husband and I have both always been appreciators of the few and simple. Neither one of us led the other.

Q. I was thinking about emailing you to ask how the minimalist idea plays out with children. Can you comment on their number of toys and how their rooms are set up?

My daughters do not have many toys - they share one basket-full, some building blocks, a dollhouse and a few puzzles and games. To give a specific example, they have a total of three dolls, one blond-haired, one redhead, and one handmade. The girls do not have extra clothing for the dolls other than the outfits that came with each. But they often switch the clothes between the three dolls, or, as is the case now, leave one of them naked!

I am sad to say their room is not set up as I would like, but this too is a result of my tendencies toward less. I would like to have a toy chest or bookshelf in their room to store toys, but every time I am inclined to purchase something I think, "But they already have a basket.....do they really need anything else?" Ideally I would like to have a nice shelving/storage unit for displaying and storing books, toys, games, artwork and such. Something easy for their small hands which encourages organization. Perhaps when the official homeschooling begins I can invest in a good piece of storage organization furniture.

Q. Do you have favorite types of toys? The other question I had was if you have any favorite online stores where you get clothes for your children?

I do have favorite types of toys: beautiful, creative toys which capture imagination. I do like wooden toys, but not exclusively. An example of a beautiful plastic toy? This critter house.

I have had success with eBay for children's clothing. I hit it about twice per year. The key to eBay is to search as specifically as possible. For example, instead of typing "toddler girls clothes" in the search box, type "girls 2T dress", or even better, if you saw a specific dress you liked but wouldn't pay full price, type "Baby Gap red corduroy dress 2T".

Q. Do you do the same thing with dishes? Just enough for the family, forcing you to wash and dry immediately?

Dishes are different, because one needs enough dinnerware to host guests. But even with more dishes than family members in our household, we still keep those items down to a minimum. Last year I sold all our fine china, because we had only used it twice in our entire marriage. Surely, it will be used more in its new home!

Q. How do you choose your own wardrobe and from what stores? Same materials as your daughters' clothes?

I choose my outfits with simplicity and practicality in mind. Most often I buy solid colors, but with some sort of detail like embroidery, a knotted neckline, a pleated sleeve - just something to make the item, say a t-shirt for example, a little more feminine. Right now I rotate three pairs of capris (white linen, light-khaki and light-blue cotton twill) with a few different tops including a couple of t-shirts and a blouse or two. I keep one or two sweaters for cool evenings.

I generally do my shopping here, here and here (the last being my favorite of the three). The clothes fit me well and last for years. I never purchase anything full-price. At the onset of spring this year, I purchased two tees for $9.99 each. I would have paid the same at a discount store for lesser quality. Again, buying off-season affords you the most for your money.

Q. If you buy only shirt-material clothes, aren't you forever ironing? That's the attraction of t-shirt material for me...

Good question. It does take a little extra effort to keep the girls' clothes wrinkle-free, but not much. I place items in the dryer for about three minutes to smooth and soften, and once on the hanger I give each item a few firm downward pulls/tugs to "pull" the wrinkles out. It works fabulously. But I do love to iron, so if I need to press something I'm happy to do it.

Q. Kristen, do you have a favorite source for the padded hangers?

No, I do not have a favorite source. I usually purchase them at discount stores like Marshalls, Costco or Tuesday Morning.

The way we do things in our home works for us for the most part, but certainly not always. We continually make mistakes, but hope to pick ourselves up and grow from them. Finally, "stuff" is just "stuff", whether we have a lot or a little of it. It seems to me too much attention paid to it, whether from the perspective of a minimalist or a packrat, cannot be good. In fact, I'm tired of thinking about it. I hope you don't mind if I just.....go.....to.....bed! Zzzzzz.......

Better Things To Do

The other day I had to go shopping for a new light fixture for our dining room (long story). Some time far, far away in the distant past, I would have very much enjoyed a leisurely afternoon looking at chandeliers, comparing their style and function and finding the perfect fixture for our home.

So I packed the girls in the car and headed for the shops. Once I found a parking spot, I got out of the car, retrieved the stroller from the trunk, collected my purse and keys and opened Madeleine's door to pull her from her car seat. I took one look at my daughters in the back seat and blurted,

~~"Hey, do you girls want to go to the swimming pool?"

~~Applauding, they shouted "Yay! Hooray! Let's go to the pool! Fun!"

I then put the stroller back in the trunk, placed my purse back in the passenger seat and put the keys in the ignition. (I felt like I was rewinding a video.)

Thank God for children!!

Prayers

May I kindly ask for any extra prayers you might have for a dear family member who recently discovered a disease which needs medical attention? Though the diagnosis is not life-threatening, her daily functions as she has known them could be greatly compromised. I admit I am heartbroken, and I would appreciate even one "Hail Mary" if you can spare it. And I know you will, dear friends. +++

With much appreciation,

Strawberry Festival

Yum! Don't these strawberries look scrumptious? Well, you can start feasting on them next Wednesday, June 27th at The Virtual Kitchen's first food festival inspired by the sweetness of summer strawberries!

We need recipes for your favorite strawberry fare, both your sweet and savory creations. Stop by Blessed Among Men to submit your recipes in the com box, or send a link to a post on your blog.

I've been meaning to take the girls to our local strawberry farm for weeks, and now I have a perfect reason for the journey!

Better than Fine Art

The girls painting for their dad last week for Father's Day.

The final result was a pastel, toddler-version of a Jackson Pollock.

Quite striking, but not worth fifty million dollars.

(Well, maybe to Dad!)

I had them place their little handprints

on a card for Dad. The poem was taken from

the internet. Source unknown, but I think

it was called "Handprints".

Our Dad

Dear friends of our mama,

You know a lot about our mother through this blog, but we would like to tell you a little about our dad (a very little, because to list all the good things about him would require us to write a book, which we are not old enough to do).

Daddy is an amazing man. He is very different from Mama, but in the best of ways. He does not have her optimistic, easy-going temperament, but his realistic, more serious outlook on life keeps Mother grounded. He is a lover of God, a lover of truth, and has a steadfast faith we look to and try to imitate. He is fair, honest, and disciplined. (If we grow up to be disciplined in any way it will be because of Dad!) He is a man of self-sacrifice, and courage in the face of adversity. He doesn't waste words, but like an angel who appears to men with a message, he gets right to the point and never compromises the truth to please others.

Devoted to our mother, Daddy always considers both her needs and her desires, and often does lots of little things to make her happy (she doesn't consider them "little" though). Over the ten years they have been married our dad has been a constant helpmate to Mama, often sacrificing his own desires for her happiness. He is quick to overlook her faults and loves her greatly despite her sins.

Like our mom says of her childhood with her own father (our beloved "Grandpop"), we have a lot of fun with our dad. Without him, we would not get swung around in circles or flipped in the air. We wouldn't know to say "Weeeeeeeeeeee!" every time we drive down a hill in the car. We would not be familiar with some of the very best story characters - "Rudolph Longtails" and "Chuck the Chicken"! And we wouldn't get to be an audience to the funniest living-room puppet shows that make us hysterical.

May God bless all dads today, especially the dads who read or are married to readers of our mom's blog. We will say some special prayers for you today!

Love,

Gianna and Madeleine

My Breakfast

Every once in a while my mom lets me choose my own breakfast. It is so fun. I can have whatever I want. This morning, I am delighted to say I enjoyed:

• 14 slices of salami
• 2 handfuls (mom's size) of blueberries
• a spoonful of pomegranate seeds
• a chocolate chip scone
• some soft goat cheese
• one bowl of cinnamon oatmeal
• 8 oz. of milk

I asked for raspberries and a piece of beef jerky, but my mom said I'd had enough. That's okay. I smiled all while I ate. This was a very happy morning.

Love,

Madeleine

It Doesn't Take Much

Yesterday afternoon, folding the laundry with a whiny toddler at my feet, and not in a mood highly receptive to interruption, I hear:


"Mother, "
Me: Hold on, Gianna. I can't hear you with your sister whining.

"But....Mother,"
Me, voice increasing in volume: I'll be with you in a minute, Gianna.

"I have to tell you something, Mama. It's important."
Me, in a tone unpleasantly embarrassing: What, Gianna? What is it?

"Mama, sometimes......(long pause).....Cinderella's cat, Lucifer, makes me very angry."



Gianna hadn't been watching a movie - the silliness of it all was enough to change my mood for the rest of the afternoon!

Lesson of the day? Without a sense of humor and lightness, we mothers would be doomed for failure!

Treasure In Clay

A fantastic read, and one of the best autobiographies I have encountered. As a child I grew up hearing this man's voice via audio tape in the car, but I was too immature to really listen. Now I know why my parents held him in such esteem. Intelligent, philosophical, Thomistic, dramatic (sometimes a bit too much), fire-igniting, inspirational, witty, humorous, pious and humble. Few in our modern era are capable of stirring passion for truth and holiness in one's soul the way he does.

From the back of the book:

"When the Lord comes to take us all, He will look to see if we have any marks of the Cross upon ourselves. He will look at our hands to see if they are crucified from sacrificial giving; He will look at our feet to see if they have been thorn-bruised and nail pierced searching for lost sheep; He will look at our heart to see if it has been opened to receive His Divine Heart."

Setting aside the superbly-written account of Bishop Sheen's own life, his intense love for Christ, Mary and the Church and his exhortations to holiness, the humor alone in this book is worth the price tag!

Storing Treasures for Heaven (trying to, anyway!)

In response to more reader requests, (I love to post what you really want, so feel free to ask anytime!) I thought I would reply to inquiries on my minimalist-living perspective. My husband and I both have the tendency to keep material possessions to a minimum, not out of a true love of poverty (a noble cause of which I would love to boast), but because we both have an appreciation for a clutter-free, simple home environment.

First, though keeping possessions to a minimum has its many benefits - tidiness, lack of clutter, ease of maintenance - it also has its drawbacks. With fewer clothes, for example, a mother does more loads of laundry. With only two nightgowns for Madeleine, that means one is in the hamper or the closet and she is wearing one. Seems fine, right? But when the little darling eats a handful of raspberries just before bed, scarlet juice dripping down her petticoat, a change is in order. If nightgown #2 is clean I'm in luck, at least for the night. But the following day I will have to do a load of whites, whether I had planned on it or not. If the second nightgown was in the hamper, well....let's just say my girls have on occasion worn their day clothes to bed!

Another drawback, and the one with which I am most concerned in not having much "stuff" is the lack of a rich and full educational environment for my children. I have a difficult time with enrichment materials like button blocks and shoe tying blocks, or tactile boards to teach the difference between rough, smooth, soft, etc. I cannot bring myself to purchase said items because my minimalist tendency assumes my girls can learn to tie their shoes on an actual shoe, or learn to button using their own shirt. Here I am missing out on both the "fun" of education, and the providing of a rich learning environment with lots of hands-on materials. I love the Montessori method of education, but to do it well in my own home would mean, at least to some extent, having more "stuff". So, to fulfill at least some Maria Montessori ideals, I do less than another mother, using what I already have.

As far as personal wardrobe goes, I generally rotate three outfits throughout the week and have a church dress or skirt for Sundays. I pare my clothes by an old common principle - If it hasn't been worn in a full year, give it to someone who can use it now. Of course there are a few exceptions - a dinner dress (just in case), a winter coat and pair of boots for a possible visit to see my family in Alaska, and one or two other "occasion" outfits. Looking at my closet right now, I have some work to do tomorrow!

When it comes to my girls, they have about five outfits for a given season, generally. Play clothes are dress clothes, and vice-versa. I try to purchase items out-of-season as much as possible, so as to afford nicer, better-made clothing at reasonable prices. In the photograph below, for example, you see a red velvet Christmas dress (faintly, in the back of Gianna's closet) for next year. I bought the dress at 80% off when spring hit us. I would never have paid full price for it, but in buying off-season I managed a French boutique dress at Wal-Mart prices! And the dress didn't require child slavery in China to make it.

One rule of thumb in the purchase of children's clothes: I try to stay away from t-shirt materials. The soft porous cotton absorbs stains like nothing else, they set in fast and require a substance like Oxy-Clean to get them out. They also fade and get stretched unevenly in the washer. So in general I stick to dresses or blouses made of poplin-type cotton, like the material of a man's dress shirt. They neither fade nor absorb stains like t-shirt cotton, their shape does not warp in the washer, and the hand-me downs look like brand new clothes!


Benefits and drawbacks equally weighed, in our simple home we find that in "not having", we actually have more. More peace. More freedom. More room to breathe. It is not for every family. Had I been blessed with the number of children I desired when I married, I am quite certain this post would not be written by me today. Each family has its own unique circumstances which dictate its necessary provisions. For some, more and for some, less. So long as we carefully and prayerfully consider the needs of our families, and the needs of others who might benefit from our extra "stuff", we will surely not offend Our Lord, Who gives us all we have.

Gianna's closet. Wearable outfits to the left

of the white nightgown. Two dress-up costumes

and next season's Christmas dress to the right.

A little trick: use padded hangers, if you can. They

separate the clothes nicely and prevent excess.

A Slice to Savor

A beautiful post from Mrs. Pea:

"Sitting in the darkened room, rocking my baby and singing to him. This to me is bliss. To sit and sing hymns while my mind dwells on the sweetness of being a mother and holding my child, knowing that millions of other women have done the same for thousands of years and that, while one day the rocking and singing won't be enough and the dark won't be comforting, there will always be God and He will always be enough."

Read more here.

A Walk on the Beach

By your request, here are some photographs of the Pacific. This is our favorite and most frequently visited ocean spot, as it is close to home and the water is gentle enough for little ones. It is also small and has a quaint private feel to it, which I love.

I photographed our walk down to the water in sequence, so you can stroll along with us. Grab yourself a glass of fresh lemonade, and linger awhile!

The succulents from this picture,

but here at a distance

These benches are scattered along the stroll

down to the water. Bring a bottle of wine here

in the evening and you have a romantic, inexpensive date!

The path makes a u-turn up ahead....

....and slopes down....

....to the water.

Now, if you ever come my way for a visit, you know where I'll be taking you! :) Have a glorious weekend, friends, and a blessed Feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday!

~

Divinely Inspired

I have been eyeing Kimberlee's beautiful work at Beads of Mercy for quite some time now. If you are not already familiar with her artistry, Kimberlee designs and creates the most exquisite rosaries, chaplets and bracelets I have ever seen. She puts careful, prayerful thought and attention into every detail of every piece, and the result is breathtaking! Photographs cannot do her work justice.

Kimberlee designed the above rosary for my daughter, Gianna, with her patron saint in mind. Up until now Gianna has been using either a plastic rosary or one of those large colorful wooden rosaries commonly seen for children. Now that she is a bit older, and more gentle with her belongings, I thought it a perfect time to treat her to a beautiful rosary she will treasure for years. When the package arrived today I was so thrilled and awed by the stunning piece before me that I contacted Kimberlee to place another order. Then I emailed our local Rosary Group with abundant praises and a link to Beads of Mercy.

What a beautiful, devotional service this is. Thank you, Kimberlee!

Out and About

All along the coast at our regular beach spot are rows and clusters of beautiful succulent plants. These garden jewels are an interesting species. Since they retain water in their roots, leaves and/or stems, succulents are often found in desert climates where they survive with very little rain, but also flourish quite heartily near the ocean out here on the dry west coast. Look at the rich tapestry of color in this photograph. Aren't they pretty?

The Sewing Itch

I am being attacked by this virus like you wouldn't believe! The infectious agent reproduces itself in the form of the smock bite, the oilcloth tote bite, the pincushion bite, the quilt bite, and I am completely smothered in the FABRIC BITE! Ouch!!

What should I do? Where do I start? All these ideas in my head, and no experience (well, I did make some adorable teddy bears on my mother's sewing machine a few years ago, but I can't for the life of me recall how I did it!) . I don't even own a sewing machine.

Suggestions, anyone??

One meme in a week.....

.....just isn't enough, apparently. Thanks to the ever-sweet, ever-enjoyable Karen Edmisten over at the blog she named after herself, I am supposed to list eight things about.....well....myself! Now, if Karen can do it, surely I can give it a try~

The rules:

"For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."

1. I am not a self-sensitive person. The cruelest things can be said about me in my own presence, and I will not become upset. I will either agree that the sentiments are true and then try to change, or, if I do not agree I will assume the person only meant well. On the other hand, criticize my husband or my children and I will BITE your head off!

2. I don't like fiction. There, I said it. Now let me say I wish I did. When I hear lovers of Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte speak of the beauty of their writing I want to love it as they do - I know there is something wonderful and ethereal about it. But I have never been able to enjoy such literature. I love spiritual reading, lives of the saints, theological and philosophical treatises. I just ordered the eight-volume set of Father Frederick Faber's writing, for example. Can't wait to get into it! This is fun, leisure reading for me. I'd rather sit on a chair biting my nails for two hours than read a novel. There. That took guts, folks. I don't admit this to many people.

3. I have never nagged my husband. Never. Ten years married, and not one nag from my lips. I wish I could say this is a result of my tremendous virtue, but no, he is just an amazing husband. He is such a good man, and is blessed with all the virtues I lack. How can I criticize someone I want to be?

4. In college, I had no desire for marriage. I wanted to go on to Boston College and get a doctorate in philosophy after undergrad. Then I met this really amazing man (see #3). From then on, I desired nothing more than to be a good wife and mother. And I know from experience, I made the right choice.

5. I am a terrible telephone person. I am one of the only women I know who doesn't like to talk on the phone. I love to converse face to face or by email, but I dread phone calls. I have no idea why. I often think loving thoughts of friends and wonder what they are up to, pray for them and hope for them, but pick up the phone to actually tell them so? Very difficult. But my handicap is strictly limited to telephone communication. I can quite easily convey my thoughts in person or in writing.

6. I am a minimalist. I have said this before, but I'll be more specific here. I can fit my entire wardrobe, along with my husband's, into one suitcase. I wear one skirt/top to church on Sundays during a season, and that's it. Yes, the ladies at mass see me in the same outfit every week. I have one handbag. It is small, only matches about half of my outfits, but I take it with me everywhere I go! Sometimes I consider purchasing a second purse to match the other half of my wardrobe, but I have never been able to go through with it.

7. I shop at four different grocery stores on a regular basis. Ralphs, Costco, Bristol Farms and Trader Joe's. They each offer something unique that I appreciate. If I had unlimited funds and no consideration of starving children in Africa, I would only shop at one of these grocers! And it is a happy, happy place!

8. I have a signature drink I enjoy every evening after the girls go to bed, which changes seasonally. A glass of port or sherry in the fall/winter, and a margarita in the spring/summer. My absolute favorite drink all year round is a lemon drop martini (Ketel One, please) but I reserve those only for rare occasions out.

Have a glorious week, everyone!

4 New x 2 Meme

I've been reader-tagged by the sweet Amy over at Between Daydreams for this new variation on the 8 Things About Me meme which has been going around.

The revised rules: You have to share four things that were new to you in the past four years. Four things you learned or experienced or explored for the first time in the past four years. New house, new school, new hobby, new spouse, new baby, whatever. Then you have to list four new things you want to try in the next four years. Without further adieu......

Four new things in the last four years:

1. Adopting Gianna - becoming a mother for the first time, and through motherhood, loving life and my vocation like never before.

2. Adopting Madeleine and realizing that two children are much easier than one! And another huge increase in love of vocation after her birth.

3. Moving (almost) cross country three times due to my husband's work. From Michigan to California in 2003, California to Michigan in 2004, and back to California in 2005. We're now happily settled here with no plans to move out-of-state in this lifetime. :)

4. Blogging. In fact, I just realized while posting this, that today is my six-month blogiversary! How time has flown. I think I'll go back and read my first post, just for fun. This has been a wonderful way to journal life, noting the changes in my little girls and the experiences we've shared as a family, and it is a perfect avenue for keeping family and friends informed of our happenings. But I must say, I am most grateful for the beautiful friends I've made through blogging who continually inspire and help me to grow and learn and love more than I ever thought possible through such a venue.

Four desires in the next four years:

1. Begin official homeschooling and adopt a third baby.

2. Learn to sew and quilt. I have so many designs and ideas in my head, but I need to bring them into fruition. Adopt a fourth baby.

3. Get on the insulin pump. I have used injections to keep my blood sugar level since I was diagnosed with diabetes at age six. The pump is known to provide insulin flow in a way mimicking a healthy pancreas, therefore regulating glucose levels much better than injections. Don't get me wrong, I am not in the least bothered by shots. For me they are like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. But for my girls, I would like to be in the best health possible.

4. See my best friend in the flesh again. Have our children meet and play together, and watch our husbands converse over a bottle of wine and some good food while we catch up, partaking in the same fare. It has been too long.


This was a fun one. I love to ponder future possibilities. I tag anyone who reads this and has a blog. Yes, that means YOU! :)

Roadside Observation

In the car with the girls, I drive by a church under initial construction (denomination unknown). Gianna exclaims, "Look, mother. They're building a HOLY church there!"