Life in a Nutshell
Matt Lickona writes in "Swimming with Scapulars":
"For three months, it felt like finding and buying a house was all we were doing. Other people were getting married, having children, reading books, living life. We were buying a house."
Amen, brother. Our house has been on the market since August 19(?). It has been shown about 6 times, one of those an impromptu by me, since the guy was peering into our enormous front windows, much to the alarm of my little ones watching tv. (don't worry, he was an older man, very grandfatherly, with a lovely wife....I think I'm a pretty good judge of character) We're so desperate to sell our house that I feel like flagging down every car that drives by and giving them the grand tour!
There's a cycle with selling your house. In the initial phase, you and your husband are running around like maniacs cleaning, painting, and fixing every little broken, cracked, or chipped surface you can see. You pack all of those "unnecessary" items into boxes, and store them in the storage closet. You clean the house everyday, waiting with bated breath for the phone to ring and that "special family" to walk through your house and fall in love with it just like you did when you first saw it and decided to buy it. Of course, they will also appreciate all the work you have put into it, seeing the garage conversion as a benefit (more space for kiddos) not a detraction (no garage) from the appeal of the house. You are a nazi-mama about keeping the house clean. I remember actually gloating with a friend who lives in Atlanta about how great it is that we "have" to keep our house clean...I love a clean house!
Weeks go by.
4 showings in a month.
You continuously "slip" in your resolution of keeping the house immaculate.
The boxes you packed are slowly being unpacked as you discover that those "unnecessaries" are becoming necessary.
The chips on the walls are mysteriously re-appearing, along with all the junk you cleared off the kitchen counters and stashed in the cupboards.
You actually begin to fall in love with your house all over again, what with the new carpets and fresh paint...and wonder if maybe you could squeeze 7 people into a 1700 sq. ft. home for just one more year.
And then the call comes....."can we show your house in 2 hours?".....
Hope springs eternal.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Laundry at 1 am?
Life in a Nutshell
You betcha, especially if one has just realized that DS#1 had spilled orange jello on his other uniform (shirt and pants) just the day before, thus eliminating the "spare" that should have been hanging in his closet.
Funny how one views a 5am wake up call from DD#3 as "Divine Providence" in aiding in the switching of the load, and the assurance that DS wil have dry, as well as clean clothes to wear to school today.
The moral of the story is: I need to buy DS another set of clothes.
You betcha, especially if one has just realized that DS#1 had spilled orange jello on his other uniform (shirt and pants) just the day before, thus eliminating the "spare" that should have been hanging in his closet.
Funny how one views a 5am wake up call from DD#3 as "Divine Providence" in aiding in the switching of the load, and the assurance that DS wil have dry, as well as clean clothes to wear to school today.
The moral of the story is: I need to buy DS another set of clothes.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Recent Read
Just finished reading "Swimming with Scapulars" written by a fellow TAC alum. Great read...at times, uncomfortably so. At one point Matt writes about the familiarity one feels with actors (or rather, their characters) on-screen, and why this makes sexual scenes so uncomfortable for him...too much familiarity. This is the way I felt about the book. This is why I purposely did not read it before the reunion. I knew Matt the best freshman year, and then our friendship kind of fell to the wayside as the years went by. So, I never really knew him, and did not keep in touch with him after graduation. And now, to have his "sins" and failings laid bare for all the world to see, and then to see him in person would have been too personal for me. Btw...how unbelievably courageous of him to be so personal, just to get his points across. Very admirable. Anyway, I tend to shy away from intensely personal conversations. But, after having read his book, it seems he almost forces one to be personal about it.
Did the book affect me? Yes.
Can I relate to what he writes? Most definitely yes.
Would I care to divulge what parts? Hell no.
And so, in the interest of preserving my pride, I did not want to be brought into a conversation with him regarding my own personal lackings. I wonder if that is what he wants from his readers. If that is how we could all move closer to God and zoom along our paths to holiness. Matt ends with:
"Let's be open and clean. Let's drag this out into the light and discuss. Let's not be shocked and resentful; let's love the lonely. Perhaps, coming from a fanatic, the message of God's love will regain some of its wonderful outrageousness. 'Listen, I have a secret. I eat God, and I have His life in me. It's the best thing in the world; It leads to everlasting life. But first, you have to die to yourself.'"
So many times in my life, how I wanted to stand up in the middle of the (high school) cafeteria, or the commons (college) and just yell out, "Stop the posturing! We are all sinners! Let's help each other! Please...tell me how to live the truth! Do you have the answers I am looking for?!" But instead, I join the actors onstage and posture away...virtue starts with habitual actions, no?
Even now, as a Mama of 5, amongst virtuous women trying to live out their vocation to the fullest, there is a bit of posturing. I resist it with all of my might. I am too old, and too busy to care what people think of me, my philosophies, my approach to my vocation. Yet, I still sometimes feel the pull and want to cry out against it, and expose it. We are all struggling with our hand-picked-specially-chosen-by-God crosses. Even if it is only by this fact, that we are all the same.
The exhortation at the end of this book is intended, I think, to encourage the reader to be forthright in his/her proclamation of the Faith. To love, and in this way, to show the world what we are about. Befriend, love, support, don't judge, be upright, love, be humble, encourage, love, be generous, listen, and above all, love.
one last thing....it was wonderful to read another "story of a soul" so similar to my own experience....and I know I am not alone in this. I'm sure that many felt as I did...."wow, you too? I thought I was the only one!"
(ok, literary buffs, who said that? minus the wow)
Did the book affect me? Yes.
Can I relate to what he writes? Most definitely yes.
Would I care to divulge what parts? Hell no.
And so, in the interest of preserving my pride, I did not want to be brought into a conversation with him regarding my own personal lackings. I wonder if that is what he wants from his readers. If that is how we could all move closer to God and zoom along our paths to holiness. Matt ends with:
"Let's be open and clean. Let's drag this out into the light and discuss. Let's not be shocked and resentful; let's love the lonely. Perhaps, coming from a fanatic, the message of God's love will regain some of its wonderful outrageousness. 'Listen, I have a secret. I eat God, and I have His life in me. It's the best thing in the world; It leads to everlasting life. But first, you have to die to yourself.'"
So many times in my life, how I wanted to stand up in the middle of the (high school) cafeteria, or the commons (college) and just yell out, "Stop the posturing! We are all sinners! Let's help each other! Please...tell me how to live the truth! Do you have the answers I am looking for?!" But instead, I join the actors onstage and posture away...virtue starts with habitual actions, no?
Even now, as a Mama of 5, amongst virtuous women trying to live out their vocation to the fullest, there is a bit of posturing. I resist it with all of my might. I am too old, and too busy to care what people think of me, my philosophies, my approach to my vocation. Yet, I still sometimes feel the pull and want to cry out against it, and expose it. We are all struggling with our hand-picked-specially-chosen-by-God crosses. Even if it is only by this fact, that we are all the same.
The exhortation at the end of this book is intended, I think, to encourage the reader to be forthright in his/her proclamation of the Faith. To love, and in this way, to show the world what we are about. Befriend, love, support, don't judge, be upright, love, be humble, encourage, love, be generous, listen, and above all, love.
one last thing....it was wonderful to read another "story of a soul" so similar to my own experience....and I know I am not alone in this. I'm sure that many felt as I did...."wow, you too? I thought I was the only one!"
(ok, literary buffs, who said that? minus the wow)
Thursday, September 22, 2005
You said it!
Read this article from Danielle Bean, one of my daily "blog stops" (see link at right). She's a young Catholic mother of 7 and has written a book, "My Cup of Tea". I hope to read it someday....hint hint.
Anyway, about the article.... She's so right! (take a minute and read it, so I don't have to paraphrase it) As a mother of (only) 5, I always have younger Mom's marvel at my ability to keep my sanity and get things done, with so many kids at home. Usually, it's the "new Mom of one" that just gazes at me in amazement and awe. heh heh.
Instead of basking in her praise and awe...so tempting....I assure her that it is a lot harder to be a new parent of one, than a parent of 3 or more. The kids at least entertain each other at home and are a really big help when it comes to hauling things in and out of the car, and keeping track of the littler ones in the store. I can't count the number of times the baby has been crying and my 5 year old will come to her rescue before I can, and keep her happy while I finish whatever task I have to complete.
The lesson in the article is one of hope and trust that God will provide, and a real gratefulness for one's vocation. I wholeheartedly agree with Danielle on that point. Motherhood is very challenging and exhausting, but what a glorious path to God, full of many many joys as well.
Anyway, about the article.... She's so right! (take a minute and read it, so I don't have to paraphrase it) As a mother of (only) 5, I always have younger Mom's marvel at my ability to keep my sanity and get things done, with so many kids at home. Usually, it's the "new Mom of one" that just gazes at me in amazement and awe. heh heh.
Instead of basking in her praise and awe...so tempting....I assure her that it is a lot harder to be a new parent of one, than a parent of 3 or more. The kids at least entertain each other at home and are a really big help when it comes to hauling things in and out of the car, and keeping track of the littler ones in the store. I can't count the number of times the baby has been crying and my 5 year old will come to her rescue before I can, and keep her happy while I finish whatever task I have to complete.
The lesson in the article is one of hope and trust that God will provide, and a real gratefulness for one's vocation. I wholeheartedly agree with Danielle on that point. Motherhood is very challenging and exhausting, but what a glorious path to God, full of many many joys as well.
Mae-love
DD#3 turns 1 today! Our youngest lill'un, Mae, (named after my grandma) is already a year old! Wow. Time sure does fly!
I wish I could post a picture...sorry Grandparents and godparents and aunties and whomever else cares... :) She is such a cutie! She walks around all the time now, preferring it to crawling. She loves being around her older sisters (although sometimes the feeling is not mutual) and she loves being outside! I especially love it when she "talks".... she makes the funniest sounds, trying out all the consonants she can manage with wierd sounding vowels intermixed. Hilarious.
And so my baby is 1..... and so now I must try to get my life back in order! No more "baby" excuses.
"Oh, I have to feed the baby..."
"Oh, the baby is crying...."
"Oh, the baby needs her nap now....zzzzzz"
"I had a rough night with the baby...."
Ahhh, one of the perks of Motherhood. That early morning nursing snuggle in bed with the baby, letting DH shoo the other rough-and-tumbles out to the breakfast table and get them started on their day. Now it's me, sneaking around in the morning making pancakes, or shushing the little one with a bottle....
And so the ebb and flow of the home continues...another cycle completed.
I wish I could post a picture...sorry Grandparents and godparents and aunties and whomever else cares... :) She is such a cutie! She walks around all the time now, preferring it to crawling. She loves being around her older sisters (although sometimes the feeling is not mutual) and she loves being outside! I especially love it when she "talks".... she makes the funniest sounds, trying out all the consonants she can manage with wierd sounding vowels intermixed. Hilarious.
And so my baby is 1..... and so now I must try to get my life back in order! No more "baby" excuses.
"Oh, I have to feed the baby..."
"Oh, the baby is crying...."
"Oh, the baby needs her nap now....zzzzzz"
"I had a rough night with the baby...."
Ahhh, one of the perks of Motherhood. That early morning nursing snuggle in bed with the baby, letting DH shoo the other rough-and-tumbles out to the breakfast table and get them started on their day. Now it's me, sneaking around in the morning making pancakes, or shushing the little one with a bottle....
And so the ebb and flow of the home continues...another cycle completed.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Clarification
Lest someone thinks that all I blog about is bad news.... the previous post was meant to be humorous! Yes, it's frusterating to have everything fall around you as soon as you pick it up...but blogging about it in a humorous way is supposed to help us to lighten up and remember that this is our sancitifcation. We don't live in paradise, although we hope to obtain it someday. But the point is is that this is earth...not heaven. And that is exactly what is wrong with society today. Everyone bitches and moans about the inadequacies of [insert here: whatever organization or malady or irritation that has beset one] because they expect this life to be perfect! Well, unless you live in a dream world...it ain't. And it won't ever be.
So, what to do? Sit in bed and give up? No.....that is the beauty of the Faith. We have a reason to persevere! There is a higher purpose to the chaos of my life. The formation of my children's souls, my own path to heaven, the suffering of the faithful....many prayers needed! And of course the simple joys of living faithful to the vocation God has chosen for me...knowing that I do not carry this alone. What a comfort! And to know that there is a place where dirty laundry doesn't pile up endlessly, and the stomach flu doesn't exist..... that is a true reward.
BTW....DS#2 came down with the bug early this a.m.
We won't be eating Mexican for a loooooonnnggg time.
So, what to do? Sit in bed and give up? No.....that is the beauty of the Faith. We have a reason to persevere! There is a higher purpose to the chaos of my life. The formation of my children's souls, my own path to heaven, the suffering of the faithful....many prayers needed! And of course the simple joys of living faithful to the vocation God has chosen for me...knowing that I do not carry this alone. What a comfort! And to know that there is a place where dirty laundry doesn't pile up endlessly, and the stomach flu doesn't exist..... that is a true reward.
BTW....DS#2 came down with the bug early this a.m.
We won't be eating Mexican for a loooooonnnggg time.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Slip slidin' away...
That has been the theme of our progress this weekend. It seems the more we fix and clean the house, the worse it gets. I really don't think it has to do with the house itself, but the inhabitants....
Example.
Previous post...DD#3 is still recouperating from the stomach flu. And so the laundry is piling up as she takes aim at various and sundry parts of the house...clothes, floor, walls, beds, cat...oh, wait a minute, not the cat. That was something else....
Another example.
The cat is being very high maintenance, still getting back at us for our time in Wisconsin. I think we've successfully avoided an $80 vet bill for a bladder infection by changing his diet. But, it was close. I've had to do a few of his clean ups in the bathroom. At least he does his business in the correct room! Our cat is very emotionally needy (and therefore very susceptible to bladder infections)....perfect in house of many irrational emotionally needy beings!
Another example.
DH bought the boys a cool, remote-controlled sub that can actually go in the pool....it goes up, down, right, left, forward, and backward. They could make it dive all the way to the bottom of our 4' pool. Could, that is, for about 4 hours, until DD#2 climbed up the ladder and plunked the remote right into the water. DH grabbed it quickly, but not quick enough. The sub now acts possessed, sometimes working, sometimes not. And when it does work, all the propellers are going at once..... And so, DH and I are desperately trying to get the thing to work as the kids keep scaling the ladder, threatening a trip to the ER, or to smudge the newly painted wall...
Another example.
And so DD#1 and I head out to *shudder* Wal-mart to find another sub (sold out, of course) and do the grocery shopping. How convenient that they have a *shudder* McDonalds right as you get into the store! So, DD and I get a soft drink as a treat. Mistake. I spent the next hour racing through the aisles b/c of the sudden smallness of DD's bladder, necessitating many trips to *shudder* Wal-mart's bathroom.
Another example.
We have spent all weekend drilling it into the kids heads that we need to keep the house clean, clean, CLEAN! I come home from my shopping trip to find everyone in the pool and the house an utter disaster. Lord help us if someone calls, wanting to show the house...
The reprieve.
DH, upon my return home, sensing my aversion to preparing dinner, offered to get take out. Mexican. Yummy.
And so here I am, cleaning the house again....
Oh the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin' away.....
Example.
Previous post...DD#3 is still recouperating from the stomach flu. And so the laundry is piling up as she takes aim at various and sundry parts of the house...clothes, floor, walls, beds, cat...oh, wait a minute, not the cat. That was something else....
Another example.
The cat is being very high maintenance, still getting back at us for our time in Wisconsin. I think we've successfully avoided an $80 vet bill for a bladder infection by changing his diet. But, it was close. I've had to do a few of his clean ups in the bathroom. At least he does his business in the correct room! Our cat is very emotionally needy (and therefore very susceptible to bladder infections)....perfect in house of many irrational emotionally needy beings!
Another example.
DH bought the boys a cool, remote-controlled sub that can actually go in the pool....it goes up, down, right, left, forward, and backward. They could make it dive all the way to the bottom of our 4' pool. Could, that is, for about 4 hours, until DD#2 climbed up the ladder and plunked the remote right into the water. DH grabbed it quickly, but not quick enough. The sub now acts possessed, sometimes working, sometimes not. And when it does work, all the propellers are going at once..... And so, DH and I are desperately trying to get the thing to work as the kids keep scaling the ladder, threatening a trip to the ER, or to smudge the newly painted wall...
Another example.
And so DD#1 and I head out to *shudder* Wal-mart to find another sub (sold out, of course) and do the grocery shopping. How convenient that they have a *shudder* McDonalds right as you get into the store! So, DD and I get a soft drink as a treat. Mistake. I spent the next hour racing through the aisles b/c of the sudden smallness of DD's bladder, necessitating many trips to *shudder* Wal-mart's bathroom.
Another example.
We have spent all weekend drilling it into the kids heads that we need to keep the house clean, clean, CLEAN! I come home from my shopping trip to find everyone in the pool and the house an utter disaster. Lord help us if someone calls, wanting to show the house...
The reprieve.
DH, upon my return home, sensing my aversion to preparing dinner, offered to get take out. Mexican. Yummy.
And so here I am, cleaning the house again....
Oh the nearer your destination the more you're slip slidin' away.....
Friday, September 16, 2005
Murphy's Law
**with apologies to the Murphy's of Huntington Beach, CA who are the godparents of DD#3...of whom this post is about**
It is Murphy's Law that the stomach virus is not allowed to rear it's ugly head during waking hours, like 2pm. Instead, it may only appear 2 hours after exhausted parents fall into a blissful sleep....like at 2 AM. And it is absolutely necessary that it befall the most irrational of the irrational...the almost 1 year old...DD#3. The poor child has been tossing and turning all night, as well as tossing and turning out her dinner and a bottle (dumb move on my part) I tried to feed her in desperation at 6am.
It could be worse, I thought this morning at 7:30 while I held her and she snuggled into me. At least she just has the stomach flu...not cancer or a brain injury or anything major. At least we are home.... not travelling or evacuated in some sports complex. At least DH can work from home today...and run to the store and cart the other kids where they need to go.
And so...this is my sanctification? I'll take it. Lord knows I've got it easy.
It is Murphy's Law that the stomach virus is not allowed to rear it's ugly head during waking hours, like 2pm. Instead, it may only appear 2 hours after exhausted parents fall into a blissful sleep....like at 2 AM. And it is absolutely necessary that it befall the most irrational of the irrational...the almost 1 year old...DD#3. The poor child has been tossing and turning all night, as well as tossing and turning out her dinner and a bottle (dumb move on my part) I tried to feed her in desperation at 6am.
It could be worse, I thought this morning at 7:30 while I held her and she snuggled into me. At least she just has the stomach flu...not cancer or a brain injury or anything major. At least we are home.... not travelling or evacuated in some sports complex. At least DH can work from home today...and run to the store and cart the other kids where they need to go.
And so...this is my sanctification? I'll take it. Lord knows I've got it easy.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Friday, September 09, 2005
New link!
Life in a Nutshell
Another blog about our Wisconsin experience is here. Matt has written a book which I have not read, but plan to, and apparently it has received excellent reviews!
Anyway, just to get another perspective of our reunion, especially seen through the eyes of a "professional writer"...check out his blog. Very enjoyable.
Another blog about our Wisconsin experience is here. Matt has written a book which I have not read, but plan to, and apparently it has received excellent reviews!
Anyway, just to get another perspective of our reunion, especially seen through the eyes of a "professional writer"...check out his blog. Very enjoyable.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
"To 'sconsin, to 'sconsin, to roast a fat pig....
home again, home again, jiggity jig."
The second verse would be about a fat hog, and I think that would sum up the amount of food I consumed on a daily basis, thus tipping the scale a little further than I like. But, it was well worth it! Cecilia's cooking, Joe's gin and tonics, the variety of wines available (courtesy of Trader Joe's...a classmate manages one) and great company made for an amazing weekend.
We arrived Thurs afternoon, after enduring our usual ungodly wake-up call to get to the airport, plus a 2 hour plane ride, and a 5 hour drive to the farm. On the way, we found out that Cecilia's sister went into the hospital early that morning, severely hemorrhaging. Now she was in the same position as her older sister, also in the hospital on bedrest due to bleeding episodes, pregnant with twins! And Cecilia is left on the farm with her 6 kids, plus 2 more from each sister, totaling 10 children all in her care..... and at least 30 people expected for the weekend! Wow. I would have cried. Cecilia just laughed. And of course everything went smoothly.
I didn't realize how entertaining it is for children to be out in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but God's bounteous nature before them to explore! I think I saw my children 3 times a day....breakfast, lunch, and dinner (the latter being coupled with bedtime due to the lateness of the hour and their exhaustion!) At the end of each day, I could barely recognize them, what with all the dirt and scraggly hair flying everywhere! So off to the tub they would go, and snug in their pj's and asleep in 2 seconds, so that DH and I had ample opportunity to visit with old classmates for as long as we could hold up.
The best night for that was the actual pig roasting night, Saturday. The pig was delicious, the best roast I have ever tasted! After we had stuffed ourselves and the kids were in bed, we all gathered around one table (just like the old lunch days senior year in St. Joseph's commons when our entire class would eat lunch at one table...seems like we knew our time together was coming to a close) and started to reminisce. The stories that were told!! I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks. Examples? Well, the best was when a classmate (now a priest!) wanted to take a fellow classmate (now married!) out on a date, and asked her in a round-about way, to "see" if there was such a thing as "casual dating". Well, the night he went to her dorm, her roommate came out instead, saying that she was sick and couldn't go. So this guy took the roommate out instead, and never did get a date with the one he liked. And when we asked where this girl was, (in the farmhouse at the time) he said, "don't get her, 'so-and-so' will come out instead." Hilarious. There were many other "true confessions" type stories, but not too many to make things uncomfortable.
It was wonderful to see everyone doing so well. All are "fighting the good fight, and keeping the Faith". Very inspiring and encouraging.
And we will be returning to the farm soon. The kids made me promise.....and it's a promise I'm happy to keep!
ps. the sister that had gone in to the hospital Thurs morning came home Mon afternoon after having had a c-section Thurs. She delivered a 4lb 5oz little boy, James. He will be in the NICU for a few weeks, but is doing very well!
The second verse would be about a fat hog, and I think that would sum up the amount of food I consumed on a daily basis, thus tipping the scale a little further than I like. But, it was well worth it! Cecilia's cooking, Joe's gin and tonics, the variety of wines available (courtesy of Trader Joe's...a classmate manages one) and great company made for an amazing weekend.
We arrived Thurs afternoon, after enduring our usual ungodly wake-up call to get to the airport, plus a 2 hour plane ride, and a 5 hour drive to the farm. On the way, we found out that Cecilia's sister went into the hospital early that morning, severely hemorrhaging. Now she was in the same position as her older sister, also in the hospital on bedrest due to bleeding episodes, pregnant with twins! And Cecilia is left on the farm with her 6 kids, plus 2 more from each sister, totaling 10 children all in her care..... and at least 30 people expected for the weekend! Wow. I would have cried. Cecilia just laughed. And of course everything went smoothly.
I didn't realize how entertaining it is for children to be out in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but God's bounteous nature before them to explore! I think I saw my children 3 times a day....breakfast, lunch, and dinner (the latter being coupled with bedtime due to the lateness of the hour and their exhaustion!) At the end of each day, I could barely recognize them, what with all the dirt and scraggly hair flying everywhere! So off to the tub they would go, and snug in their pj's and asleep in 2 seconds, so that DH and I had ample opportunity to visit with old classmates for as long as we could hold up.
The best night for that was the actual pig roasting night, Saturday. The pig was delicious, the best roast I have ever tasted! After we had stuffed ourselves and the kids were in bed, we all gathered around one table (just like the old lunch days senior year in St. Joseph's commons when our entire class would eat lunch at one table...seems like we knew our time together was coming to a close) and started to reminisce. The stories that were told!! I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my cheeks. Examples? Well, the best was when a classmate (now a priest!) wanted to take a fellow classmate (now married!) out on a date, and asked her in a round-about way, to "see" if there was such a thing as "casual dating". Well, the night he went to her dorm, her roommate came out instead, saying that she was sick and couldn't go. So this guy took the roommate out instead, and never did get a date with the one he liked. And when we asked where this girl was, (in the farmhouse at the time) he said, "don't get her, 'so-and-so' will come out instead." Hilarious. There were many other "true confessions" type stories, but not too many to make things uncomfortable.
It was wonderful to see everyone doing so well. All are "fighting the good fight, and keeping the Faith". Very inspiring and encouraging.
And we will be returning to the farm soon. The kids made me promise.....and it's a promise I'm happy to keep!
ps. the sister that had gone in to the hospital Thurs morning came home Mon afternoon after having had a c-section Thurs. She delivered a 4lb 5oz little boy, James. He will be in the NICU for a few weeks, but is doing very well!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Reunions
Well....it's been 10 years since I've graduated from college. So DH and I are bringing the whole fam up to Wisconsin for our college reunion! We went to school in California, amongst the mountains and sandy beaches, the wine valleys and trendy cities. And that is why we are all tromping to the upper mid-west to rough it out on a farm and roast a pig. This didn't seem so bizarre to me until I had to explain it to some friends here at home. It's very indicative of the type of education we received and the kind of people who go to this college. None of us had given it a second thought. "Ooooh, that would be fun!" And so, we make our plans.
It will be fun, that's for sure. Our kids will love hiking through the woods and exploring around the farm. It will be great to see our classmates....some whom I haven't seen once in the past 10 years! And the wonderful family that owns the farm are like family to me. They made us feel so welcome here Texas, inviting us over for many late-night dinner parties, and Joe's gin and tonics were the perfect ending to a busy teaching week! Those days helped us make the transition between college and the real world. Joe and Cecilia had one kid and were working like crazy to make ends meet. They had their family in the nearby apartments (sisters and brother) and always had a full house for dinner! Andrew and I felt like we were "going home" when we went over there. After they moved back to the family farm, it was tough. We really missed them, and still do! Now Joe and Cecilia have 6 kids, and we have 5. But when we get together, it's like old times again. They've been making the drive down every few years, and finally we are getting up there to see them! I've never known people who are more generous or welcoming...
And so, off we go... this reunion will be a many-faceted reunion. I will see old classmates, old friends, and old old friends (like my roommate that I've known since I was 9!!) She and I went to college together and roomed together for the first 2 years. She move to DC and married this great guy and has 3 beautiful girls. It will be so good to see her again!
I guess there won't be pictures (camera still broken) but there will be many stories, I'm sure!
We leave early tomorrow....prayers appreciated!
It will be fun, that's for sure. Our kids will love hiking through the woods and exploring around the farm. It will be great to see our classmates....some whom I haven't seen once in the past 10 years! And the wonderful family that owns the farm are like family to me. They made us feel so welcome here Texas, inviting us over for many late-night dinner parties, and Joe's gin and tonics were the perfect ending to a busy teaching week! Those days helped us make the transition between college and the real world. Joe and Cecilia had one kid and were working like crazy to make ends meet. They had their family in the nearby apartments (sisters and brother) and always had a full house for dinner! Andrew and I felt like we were "going home" when we went over there. After they moved back to the family farm, it was tough. We really missed them, and still do! Now Joe and Cecilia have 6 kids, and we have 5. But when we get together, it's like old times again. They've been making the drive down every few years, and finally we are getting up there to see them! I've never known people who are more generous or welcoming...
And so, off we go... this reunion will be a many-faceted reunion. I will see old classmates, old friends, and old old friends (like my roommate that I've known since I was 9!!) She and I went to college together and roomed together for the first 2 years. She move to DC and married this great guy and has 3 beautiful girls. It will be so good to see her again!
I guess there won't be pictures (camera still broken) but there will be many stories, I'm sure!
We leave early tomorrow....prayers appreciated!
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