Dream come True Girl

In Anne of Green Gables, Marilla asks Anne to "dress a chicken for dinner" when they get an unexpected guest at Green Gables. It has long been a dream of mine to say the same to a daughter, and get the appropriate results.

That day has come!

True to my nature, I don't mean EXACTLY--on the 4th our friend Peter came over to whack the head off the "mean duck" who also happened to be a meat duck. Mary Catherine did the rest, including down for her pillow, and some lovely breasts, legs and thighs for the BBQ later that day.

Oh Happy day!

Can't wait to have chickens.

PS--she said later she could have done the whacking herself. . .

The only Shot

Thank goodness a child took this lone proof that we were all on vacation a couple of weeks ago--this is IT--the only photo. But then it rained all weekend. . .

Resisting Putting Life on Hold

There are obvious big watershed moments in all our lives. Getting a degree, a job, a marriage, a baby etc. My memories of these times include the feeling that my life will "begin" when x finally happens. Like that painful final semester before the BA, or the long last few days before a baby comes.

I did have a telling crossover between two of these event when I gave birth just at the end of first semester senior year in college. Since baby came a good 3 weeks early I didn't ever have the most painful part of the wait. If anything I was hoping that I'd get my senior paper done before she came (I didn't, and began my score of years typing at the computer with one hand while nursing).

But life really began for me in a profound way with the birth of Mary Catherine. At the same time my close friends were itching to be done. All those nursing hormones mellowed me out enough to savour the Darwin readings in the unhurried manner of one who is eager to reach a goal, but also satisfied with what life is offering in the moment. (though I've gotta say I think my senior paper would have been better had I not been so distracted. . .oh well--MC is worth it!).

In this moment right now, in the soggy northeast I feel myself making the decision that life can only get back on track when the rain stops. Does the rain really have anything to do with folding the laundry, mopping the floor, and supervising the chores? No. I must fight this! Especially since there is rain forecast for the next week. . .

Now and forever under construction

Softball the Hard Way

This has been Mary Catherine's first season playing softball. She played with our local middle school. We have both had such fun! I had a few concerns about how she would fit in with the team, being a nerdy homeschooler and all. My favorite experience with the other girls was one day when we arrived for practice just as all the other girls (who had been dropped off by the bus) were piled into the coach's pick-up for the short ride from the driveway to the field. When the team saw MC they all started shouting "common MC!! You can Make it! Climb in!"

The games have been the same. Very supportive behavior for all the team mates. Everyone shouting encouragement and condolences etc.

Last week Mary Catherine made it all the way home after hitting a single, stealing second and third, and running on a hit. I was SOOOOO proud. They won that game easily!

Today they played the same team in the playoff run-up to the championship. Win and go on. Loose and the season is over.

They lost.
Badly. 10-4

It was painful. The umpire did seem to miss a lot--really--I'm being objective.
But the girls were still cheering each other on to the last minute. NOW I have to go bake the cookies I promised Logan if she made it home--which she did!

Blessings and Curses

A blessing can look a lot like a curse. A battle can be as mundane as overcoming exhaustion to fold the laundry, and feed the children. Or even harder--speak patiently while doing so!

Today's gospel reading (John 17:12-19) reminds me that the beautiful ideal of Christ's love meets reality in the pots and pans of my life. I can imagine the joy Peter and the other Apostles felt at being among Jesus' chosen intimate friends. But to maintain that joy during their own Crucifixions and deaths. . .blessing and curse.

I have always said that I'd be a great martyr. Give me a lion, or a fire and stake, and I'd do Jesus proud! But He has asked be to grow in holiness through this every day self-denial of children, family responsibilities, and openness to life. It seems a lot harder to me than having the courage to say "I think I'm done on this side." while being roasted to death.

But the good news is I feel fortified for the fight. The laundry may not get folded today (who's idea was it to wash and dry 5 loads in one day?). the floor may not get mopped. Maybe even some of the Wednesday lessons will be held over to Thursday. But I am strengthened to do what I can, show God's love to my family, and smile through the mess, and the joy!

**Mary Catherine is missing from the photo, and Quinn is added.

Ascension Thursday

Seems like it takes a feast Day to get me to post! Happy Ascension Thursday everyone! The kids and I took the day off school (a RARE things in this house--if a Catholic took EVERY feast day off it would be hard to get a school year done in 12 months. But today is a day of Obligation after all.)

We went to Thomas Point Beach with our Homeschool group, released a red heart-shaped balloon to re-create the first ascension, talked a bit about how neat it would be if Jesus came again right now, and scooted to the 4 pm Mass at St Patrick's before trying to hit the time/space wormhole that lets a mother drop 2 children at 2 simultaneous Farm Team games 20 miles apart. Haven't found that one yet. Thalia was late, and MC and John Henry had to wait for us to pick them up.

My new knowledge for the day is that these 9 more day till Pentecost are the foundation of the Catholic tradition of praying certain prayers for particular intentions for 9 days--the Novena. The bible refers to Mary and the Apostles praying and fasting for 9 days after the ascension. Now I don't know if that began on ascension Thursday, or the day after--but on either the ninth day, or the day after the ninth day of prayer, depending, here comes the HOLY SPIRIT. I asked Mary Catherine if she knew the source of Novenas and her response was a carefree "JA MOM! The days between Ascension and Pentecost!" She even quoted the verse! Well call me the ignorant convert! Who Knew?

So tomorrow we will begin our Novena to the Holy Spirit. I don't know what our special intention will be yet. Maybe I'll get some guidance overnight.