A Good School Year

The 2017-2018 school year was sooooooo much better than last. Last year we had good teachers and a lot of fun but this year lacked things like incredibly difficult IEP meetings and open heart surgery. There were a few bumps along the way - which is life - but overall we loved 4th, 2nd, 1st, Kindergarten, and Pre-K4.

This year L loved her teacher, broke her right arm roller skating, began altar serving, and earned eight badges in American Heritage Girls.

Ben had a beloved teacher this year, made his first confession, and received his First Holy Communion. He also had a lot of fun in Boy Scouts, got braces, and impressed us with his penmanship and ability to retell Bible stories.

JF spent his mornings at our parochial school for Religion and then headed to the public school for the rest of the day. His teachers and aids were all amazing and he really made ground in speech and reading.

Resa L O V E D kindergarten. She loved her classmates, she loved her teacher, she loved learning, she loved recess. The only thing she didn't love was being hot in the air condition-less school.

Jofis got a lot out of pre-k4 but he also struggled a bit. Some of his classmates were a year older than him and the gap was obvious at times. He had a great teacher and some really good friends last year but he'll be doing pre-k4 again next year so he can really be ready for kindergarten instead of struggling and hating school.

"I am excited about learning. I want to be a Mommy and a baker when I grow up. I love to color and bake."

"My favorite part was EVERYTHING. I want to be a baker. I love all my teahcers, baking, Granma Bert and Papa, Mormor and Grandpa, reading, PBS Kids, Daddy and Mommy, Tomas, Meriam"

"I am excited about First Communion. I want to an engineer, train driver, when I grow up. I love pizza, friends, fishing, and working with Daddy."
"My favorite part was Math! I want to be a priest when I grow up! I love God, playing ball tag, and pizza."

"I am excited to play at recess. I want to be a choo choo man when I grow up. I love to play with cards, play Old 97 with Joseph, fishing and going on a walk."
"My favorite part was Math. I want to be a train engineer. I love hamburgers, sausage, inside recess, Star Wars, Grandma Bert, Mormor."

"I am excited about going to school. I want to be a Mommy and a rock star when I grow up. I love
Thomas, going to Neighbor's house, reading books, and going to Mrs. H and Bill's house."

"My favorite part was Math. I want to be a Mom. I love Jesus, strawberry pretzel salad, playing at school, Mommy and Daddy."

 

"I am excited about riding the bikes and trikes. I want to be a Dad who's not allergic when I grow up. I like to ride bikes and trikes and scooters and eat. some. bacon! And ice cream with sprinkles and oatmeal with sprinkles."

"My favorite part was playing. I want to be a train driver. I love chocolate bars, ball tag, B from school, and Jesus."

We have some fun things planned for the summer - the library reading program, a trip to a Lodge, and lots of adhering to the Summer Daily Schedule. We'll see how this goes.

A Simple Confession

Sacred Heart print from Small Gifts Great Love

Last week I called my parish office to schedule an appointment for confession.

With Father standing at her side the secretary asked, "What would work for you?"

"Well, nap time is soon but I could come now, be there in 15 minutes."

And fifteen minutes later I parked my van in one of the shaded spots in front of the church, left the kids in the van, and ran to the parish office door. A minute later I returned with our priest.

It was a beautiful day and since the kids were in the van we sat on the bench swing. "Just don't lean back, Bonnie. There's bird poop!" Father said with a laugh.

And there on a swing, in the sunshine, with the two year old occasionally setting off a dying panic button on the car keys, I made my confession. Father nodded and asked a question and gave me some direction. He gave me my penance and encouraged me to pray an act of contrition from my heart. He prayed over me, blessed me, and assured me that my sins were forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

He walked to the van to say "Hello" and "Good-bye" to the kids and then we were off - on our way home for naps and quiet time. I felt lighter, freer, closer to God.



I share this little story with you because I want to tell you that frequent confession is such a gift to me. As I have aged life has not gotten easier, but as my relationship with the Blessed Trinity has matured and strengthened it has gotten easier to get through the hard parts of life. Reconciliation has played a vital role with this. It makes me a better mom, daughter, wife, and friend. It bolsters my prayer and Scripture study. It draws me closer to the Eucharist. It helps me to love, serve, and forgive more generously and graciously. It lightens my heart and clears my mind.

I don't know what I would do without the Sacrament of Reconciliation and I'm grateful I don't have to find out. It is a gift.

Thanks be to God.

Five Favorites

This morning started out okay and I was filled with hope. "I'll be able to work on some writing," I naively thought. "Tee and MJ will be happy as clams and I can get things done."

But pretty much all Tee and MJ did was cry and snot and cry some more when I wiped their noses.

Maybe it's the barometric pressure?

This afternoon has been better - long live nap time and Thomas & Friends streaming on Amazon Prime! - but even with Jofis home I've had to do a lot more parenting and a lot less creating. Oh well. I once heard a father say that when our kids are at their worst we need to be at our best. I accept that; I think it's true, beautiful, and hard.

But I still want to chat with you so we'll just keep it lighthearted, howsaboutthat?

Remember way back in the day when Hallie Lord posted her five favorites each Wednesday? I loved that so we'll go old school and I'll share my current five faves. Here goes!


- 1 -

These gaucho pants are thin and high waisted and super comfortable.  You will basically see me in them the rest of the summer. With heels and a blouse: they're dressy! With flip flops and a t-shirt: super casual! Do I look good in them? I don't really care! I'm comfortable, my butt and belly aren't hanging out, and they're not hot!


- 2 -

Cannot get enough of this new Mat Kearney song.


- 3 -

I made some wild violet jelly from violets the kids and I picked from our backyard. It was suuuuper simple and tastes delicious on some buttery toast. Resa also likes it on her PBJs. I used this recipe.


- 4 - 

Spring has come and I can send the kids outside to play for hours. They need baths at the end of the day but the weather is beautiful, their bodies are getting stronger, and my house is staying tidier longer. Everybody wins!


- 5 -
That after tonight's recorder concert we will be done with recorders for two more years. Peace.

Mary, Mother of the Church - a new feast day to celebrate

Have you heard? There's a new feast day to celebrate.

Pope Francis has asked that we celebrate Mary, Mother of the Church the day after Pentecost, the birthday of the Church.

I love this. Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ and we are the Body of Christ, therefore Mary is our mother, too. Now I know that some of this may seem so weird and overly pious and maybe even wrong. But think about when you were little and you became friends with someone at school. Once you met their mom, went to their house, and had dinner with their family didn't you know your friend so much more? Suddenly you understood things about them that you never would have even noticed just at lunch or recess. And because of that - because of the way their mom talked about when they were a baby, or displayed pictures from their toddlerhood, or called them by a special, family nickname - you were able to love your friend in a deeper, more whole way. So it is with Christ.

This feast day also reminds us of how the Church is our mother. She feeds us with the Eucharist, takes care of us when we are ill, washes us clean with Baptism, clothes us with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, and brings healing to our brokenness through confession. She teaches us right from wrong, forms us in Scripture, and brings us closer to Christ - just like any good momma would, just like Mary does.

Do you love it now, too? Good. To celebrate this new feast my friend Katie has created the sweetest craft which you can download for free from her website, Look to Him and Be Radiant. She drew Our Lady holding her parish and when you flip it open you find Mary's Immaculate Heart and surrounded by the people of the Church. It's so sweet, so pretty, and is a great way to explain this Marian title to kids (and maybe even adults). You can find the craft here.

Other ideas to celebrate include:
- Pray for your specific parish, your diocese, and the whole Church during night prayers.
- Display a photo of your local parish or the Vatican next to a statue of Mary and a candle.
- Cook a meal for your priest or invite him over for dinner.
- Cook a meal with food from all over the world - curry, refried beans, stir fry, and rice for example
- Pray the World Mission Rosary for the Church all over the world
- Sing a Marian hymn
- Pray a Marian prayer
- Attend daily Mass
- Get ice cream
- Buy or pick flowers and bring them to Mary, placing them near a statue in your home or church
- Do something kind for someone else
- Display an image of Mary in a prominent place in your home
- Read the story of Pentecost and meditate and / or discuss how it must have been for Mary to be there

So those are some of my ideas. If you have an idea please share it with us!

And if you want to learn more about this feast day, listen to the Catholic Stuff you Should Know podcast episode about the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church here.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!


PS - Don't forget to enter to win a copy of Jennifer Fulwiler's new book, One Beautiful Dream!

One Beautiful Dream - a G I V E A W A Y

Today is the release day for Jennifer Fulwiler's new book One Beautiful Dream. (affiliate link)

Probably you have heard about it but if not let me tell you: it is SO GOOD.

Now, yes, I do know Jen, so perhaps there is a teeny tiny bit of bias. But really, guys, it is a really incredible book so even if you take away the 5% bump my friendship with Jen gives it we are still left with just an incredible book. Not too shabby, folks.

One Beautiful Dream covers the five years that Jen was building her career as a writer, having babies, and growing in her new Catholic faith. It is incredibly well written, very funny, and a powerful example of how we can pursue our passions while in the midst of family life.  Jen is relatable, telling stories about her life that are honest and funny, a sort of modern day Everyman. 

At times I was moved to tears as she recounted the lessons God was teaching her and the insights she had on things like accepting help and letting people into your life. At one point, Jen shares the story of how she let go of some great opportunities, thus making room for God to fulfill her dream in a different but more lovely way. When I read it I got goosebumps, and cried, and reflected on my own life to see if there were things I needed to let go of because God wants to do the same in my life.

It's like one part memoir, one part spiritual exercise!

I've been reading Jen's blog for years (a decade?) and so I had heard several of the anecdotes she recounts in the book but in One Beautiful Dream they take on more color, more depth, and it's like we have a behind-the-scenes look at what was happening in her home and in God's plans.

It's beautiful.

And on a far more personal level, I was so encouraged to read Jen's book. NFP is hard. Some Church teachings are hard. Growing in holiness (like true holiness that loves and cares and gets dirty for Christ's sake and the salvation of souls) is hard. Jen gets this and it's nice to find a Simon of Cyrene in a radio host / blogger / speaker / author who, with great empathy and honesty, will say, "I know, but it's worth it."

Although what she really said was, "It didn't seem like the perfect time for a baby to come along, but it never did... Yet when the child arrives, his or her life is instantly intertwined with yours in a way that feels so right that it's as if there were never a possibility of this person not existing. The minute you see that baby, the whole universe retroactively adjusts itself so that this life was meant to exist all along." Which is exactly how I would word it were I smarter.

Guys. I want you to read this book. I pre-ordered mine months ago but then Jen kindly sent me a copy to celebrate her launch week. Therefore, I get to give one away! To celebrate the launch of her new book Jen invited me to answer the question, "What's the secret to following your dreams?" in three words. Here's mine:

Enter to win a copy of One Beautiful Dream by leaving a comment answering Jen's question. What's the secret to following your dreams?

RULES:
Please leave ONE comment only answering the above question.
Must be 18 or older and a resident of the continental USA (Sorry. I know and I'm sorry.)
Comment must be linked to or include email address.
Contest closes on Friday, May 4th at 12 o'clock noon CST.
Winner has until 12 noon CST on Monday, May 7th to respond with mailing address or a new winner will be drawn.


PS - Haley and Christy did a super interesting interview with Jen on their podcast Fountains of Home. Go listen!
PPS - You can read more about Jen, listen to her radio show, see if she'll be speaking in your area and more here.
PP the PS - You can buy Jen's first book Something Other Than God and / or One Beautiful Dream with my Amazon affiliate link here.