Rite of passage

Teen boy got his driver's license today! He's been walking around with a goofy smile on his face and volunteering to run all sorts of errands for me. I am very glad to have an extra driver around here! Congratulations, Isaac!

Happy Birthday, Ethan

Happy Birthday, Ethan. You are a whole decade old! No more single digits for you! It is wonderful to watch you grow and mature. I love seeing you work hard to improve your skills at basketball and soccer. You take pride in your school and artwork and that makes me so proud of you! It is our honor and privilege as your parents to witness your growth in "grace and wisdom". God bless you Ethan, today and always. We love you very much.

Eye-opener

College girl is in Austria. We took her to the airport yesterday morning, in a snowstorm. I watched her go through security with her 2 friends and traveling companions and turn and wave at us before disappearing around the corner on the way to their gate. Her face was pale and she was showing signs of stress. For some reason, I was enveloped by a heavy sadness. I was reminded--with great clarity--that things are never going to be the same again. She worked full time over Christmas vacation so we didn't see her a lot, and now she's gone. This will be the pattern for the next couple of years. Work, School, work, school. The days when all of my children will be under my roof are forever changed. I've known this, I've expected this, we have already experienced this to a degree, yet, watching her walk down that hallway to the plane that would take her so far away...I saw this new stage of our lives with her with startling clarity...and my heart broke, just a little.

I know she needs to grow up and move on and I want that for her. I miss her when she is at college, but I take comfort in the maturity, independence and wisdom she manifests when she comes home. She has developed into a truly, lovely young woman. I am so proud of her. I love her, of course, but I also really like her...the intelligent, dynamic, faith-filled young lady she has become. What a gift! Which, perhaps, makes these partings that much harder.

It is bittersweet, indeed.

Yeah, waaaaaay

From the 3yo in the backseat who tripped and fell from the stage to the gym floor this morning, and landed on her face (!): I want rollerskates for my birthday.

Me: Ummm, after your incident today, I really don't want to think about rollerskates right now.
3YO: No, when I get bigger!
6YO piping in: Yes, when you get older, then you can have rollerskates.
3YO: Yes, when I get mommy's age..
6YO, with enthusiasm: NO! Mommy's age is way high. You can't rollerskate then!

Happy Birthday, Annette

Today is my oldest niece and goddaughter's 15th birthday. May God bless you this year and always, Annette. With much love from us to you! Happy Birthday.

Quick Takes

I am finding very little time to write these days, so I am offering a series of quick peeks at what is going on in my life and my head.

1

This discussion of gentleness needs soooo much more attention from me. The gift of self-knowledge is a bittersweet gift indeed...a bit like childbirth in that much pain is involved, but beautiful fruit is born. The Holy Spirit has visited me with this gift this past week, and I have been thoroughly humbled by what I have seen, and by what I have been blind to. It all has to do with gentleness (or the lack thereof). Today He has lead me to the above mentioned discussion. God is good..all the time.

2

I hope it doesn't take long to pack for an entire semester abroad...because College girl hasn't packed one.single.thing.yet! She leaves for Austria in exactly 32 hours. No hurry:P

3

Saying goodbye doesn't get easier. Saying goodbye for 3 1/2 months will be the most difficult goodbye of all.

4

We have a lot of basketball happening around here this winter. Middle son was asked to play for the 5th grade team as well as his 3/4th grade team. So that means 3 sons on 4 teams and lots of time on hard wooden bleachers. *groan*

5

Happiness is...figuring out what is wrong with your I-pod and laptop (which both started acting up at the same time) 32 hours before they need to be packed for a semester in Austria . Boy, she was really happy!

6

I.am.really.tired...

7

We are all really going to miss her.

Totus Tuus

This is a very beautiful prayer to begin (and continue) this New Year.

Pope John Paul II's Prayer of Entrustment - Totus Tuus.

Immaculate Conception, Mary, my Mother. Live in me. Act in me. Speak in and through me. Think your thoughts in my mind. Love, through my heart. Give me your dispositions and feelings. Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus. Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior. Possess my soul. Take over my entire personality and life. Replace it with yourself. Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving. Pray in me and through me. Let me live in you and keep me in this union always.

h/t: Marilyn

I am so proud of my college girl. On Jan. 1 she made her total Consecration to Jesus through Mary using St. Louis de Montfort's book, "True Devotion to Mary". Our dear Blessed Mother is such a gift to us. I know her experiences as "Mary's slave" will enrich and strengthen her.