Offer it up.

Thank you, Danielle Bean, for once again telling me not what I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear.

Fr. Corapi and I

and about a thousand other people have a date tomorrow. I am SO excited and already tired. It should be a great and very full day in Seattle tomorrow. There are three talks, a Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, a Rosary AND a turkey lunch! Rock on! What more could a girl ask?

Paxton asked to say the Rosary tonight before bed. Again, thank You Lord. You are amazing. Please keep leading us as parents to do our job and to listen when opportunity calls. Help me to keep taking FULL advantage, to stop what I am doing, to listen and to teach. Help me to see teachable moments. Place a hedge of protection around my family and, specifically, my attitude as I keep trying to offer what little I can to You. Crankiness seems to come WAY too easily to me when I am pushed, stretched, and molded. I am sorry for that.

Do you see...

"Do you see God in that cloud, Mom?" asked Paxton.

That was the question my son asked me today, as we were driving home from running errands. That was quite possibly the most beautiful question I have been asked all week and also quite possibly the most difficult question to answer because of the many ways I could have answered it.

Ella replied, " I see Him!"

No answer needed from Mom. Just tears. Thank you, Lord, for showing Yourself so clearly to my children today--and me.

Lent begins.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Lord, draw us closer to You throughout these next special weeks. Help us to sacrifice and serve in ways that we aren't used to. Help us to guide our children and ignite within them a fire for Your path--the one of Mortification, True Peace, and Truth. Break us down so that You can build us up in You. We love You.

Amen.

It's official. We have a "Pat".

We had our ultrasound today. You know, the one where you get to see the baby, ooo and goo over what a perfect head and spine he or she has, find out the sex if you want to and laugh/cry about that TWO QUARTS (that's 8 cups, people. 8 cups!) of water you had to hold in your bladder so that they could take a perfect picture of your cervix? Well, it went really well.


No, we didn't find out the sex. I must admit, when we decided not to find out with Shepherd I still snuck a peek. I tried not to, but I just....well, I just did. And I was pretty sure I knew. Steve didn't know. And I didn't really know for sure. So technically, it was still very much a surprise. That was so cool.

I haven't been willing to acknowledge just how good at reading those ultrasounds I am. Steve let the tech know right away today and he maneuvered perfectly. So, this time? I have NO IDEA. I didn't even try to hide the fact that I was REALLY looking today. Hard. Still nothing. I found a perfect head, perfect and full lips, Steve's chin, and a beautifully shaped, four chambered heart. I saw my husbands long toes, some LONG legs that can only come from my Papa Mac, and a stomach that was dark and full, meaning our precious baby is swallowing fluid and digesting like a champ. The baby's hand was tucked perfectly underneath his or her chin, like Rodin's "The Thinker". Shepherd was flipping us off in his ultrasound, so this was an improvement. Yes, you read that right. We have the close up photo to prove it.

It's been such a great day. I've worked out, seriously exercised my bladder, had an ultrasound, seen our baby, had some one on one time/a mini-date with my husband, driven my brother out to look at the property we're building on, taken a wonderfully long nap with Ella sleeping right next to me, and caught up on all the news.

Tonight I think I'll make some dinner and spend some time with my beautiful family; just me, Steve, Paxton, Ella, Shepherd, and "Pat".

Chinese fire drill.

Phone: ring....ring....ring

Me: Hello?

Realtor: Um, hi, this is Susan. You know? With name 'x' realty?

Me: Oh, hi there! How are you?

Realtor: Good, good. Hey, listen, we're a little early. ( It is currently 12:00pm) I know I told you between 1:30 and 2:00. Is that going to be a problem?

Me: (beginning to perspire profusely) Oh, no. No big deal.

Realtor: Oh, good! Because we're on your road right now.

Me: (AHHHHH!!!!) Oh, really? Well, let us just load the kids up and we'll be out of your hair then. ( Trying to sound as breezy as possible)

Realtor: Great. We'll be there in about one minute then.

Me: ( RUNNING through the house to blow out candles, start the music, put away the vaccum cleaner, turn all the lights on, put the mop away, drain the sink and throw any odd or end under a sink or bed and then swinging the front door open to yell to Steve and the kids who have been playing soccer outside) Hey!!! We've got one minute to load up and get outta here! The realtor's early! Let's Move! Move! Move!

We made it out. As we were pulling out, they were pulling in. Whew. We (well, okay Steve) even managed to load our 104 pound lab into the car with the kids so we could ALL go to the park and play.

Dear Lord, thank You for this well-oiled machine into which You have molded us. Oh, and a high five to you too, Steve.

And it was another beautiful day with Grammy..

Grammy came over today to spend about 5 hours with the kids. Thank you, Grammy!!!

I ran some errands, visited one of my Parenting Program girls in the hospital (baby Grace Paige was born yesterday after an attempted version and subsequent c-section) and had a lovely lunch with my husband. All in all, it was a wonderful and much needed day out. I stopped my regular weekly shift at the pregnany center I was volunteering at, reducing my volunteer time to just an hour a week, running parenting programs with individual girls from my own town. It's been three weeks since I worked a shift and it's been a huge load off my shoulders (trying to juggle clients, urine samples, napping toddlers, and teething babies, and counseling all at the same time. What was I thinking?!), but it feels a bit sad too. I think today was just the medicine that the doctor ordered. I showered AND put deoderant on all before 9:30 am!

Anyway, back to Grammy. Thank you so much, Vivian. Really, you are a blessing in so many ways. I love the way you love my children, the energy you give them, the way you speak to them and the kindness you let them see you show to other people. All are examples I want them to learn from. Your grace is beautiful.

I walked in the door and the kids exlaimed, " Mommy! Mommy! We had candy today! And chocolate!" Then Ella said, as she mustered dramatic tears, "Oh, Grammy, don't leave!".

What a day indeed.

Happy St. Valentine's Day to you all tomorrow. Let us all take time to remember the saint after whom this special day to focus on those we love is named.

Being a team player.

Me: Paxton, how are you going to help out when the baby is born?

Paxton: Um, well, I can hold the baby when your arms get sweaty.

That's my boy.

Elizabeth Ministry.

I am thinking about starting an Elizabeth ministry in our parish. It seems that the need for something like this is just growing like crazy and yet we really have nothing to offer yet. My bible study/book club group is actually in another town and all the women except me attend the parish in that town. So, in an effort to fully embrace that fact that I live in THIS town, I think I should dive right in and start something here. In the words of Danielle Bean, "Mom to Mom, Day to Day".

Does anyone have any experience with this ministry? Is there a way to make it a little less formal (ie: not using all the manuals and videos per se, but just meeting once a month, praying together, and maybe doing a scripture study together?) I'd love some feedback.

Taken from American Catholic:

The goal of Elizabeth ministers is to emulate the example of their namesake—Elizabeth. "She's the first one in Scripture to recognize Jesus," says Hannemann. "So as Elizabeth ministers, our call is to recognize Jesus in everyone that we meet and especially the unborn child. And then our role is to encourage women—to encourage whatever God has given them at that point in their lives."

On this day...

11 years ago, a REALLY cute guy asked me if I'd go out with him. I said 'yes'.

Now, here we are, with three children, one on the way, feeling quite confident that it was God's idea all along.

Thanks, God! I couldn't be happier in a million years. Steve and I owe you BIG.