The Nuttier Moments...

It's my Little Boo's birthday on Sunday. She will be 7. If you've been glancing at our sidebar, you will notice that we are in the midst of our Birthday Madness. 4 birthdays in 4 weeks. Little Dear and Sports Fan are the same age right now (why yes, we are masters of NFP, why do you ask?) ...and our budget? -is shot.

Buying presents for my kids is so much fun, but can be frustrating. Little Dear made out well with some much-needed shorts and cute tops, a super cute dress from Auntie, and books, a drawing pad and flowy shirts from Grandma. We also got her a Barbie Rapunzel. 9 is a hard age to buy for, but this mix of things suited her just fine.

Last year, Little Boo had this request.

And while nobody has developed the prototype for such an amazing toy, we've managed to secure a few goodies for her this year. Along with an outing which suits her personality to a T.

She, and her bosom buddy... a little lass who has just as much spirit and spunk, and therefore has knocked heads with her on more than one occasion (figuratively, and also quite literally...) will go with our entire family to Dyno Rock, an indoor climbing gym.

And when I told the mother of Little Boo's friend.. she sighed in wonderment, declaring that it would surely be heaven for her little spitfire.

Thinking of my own Little Boo, I couldn't agree more.

:)

A Deliberate Life

Father stood at the pulpit, his black beard, more grayish than I remembered, twitching with amusement... his eyes twinkling. He is almost like a Santa Claus, I thought. Like the "dark Irish" version, though. And his twitching and twinkling is always much more than childish merriment. His humor has many more hints of sarcasm than any priest I have ever known. I believe it is his way of explaining the human condition. How wonderfully, fearfully, and... ironically we are made!

Besides, Father is very German.

:)

Last month we traveled out to the remote reaches of our home diocese, a place of would-be banishment for this well-beloved priest. Community life follows him everywhere, though. And I know he is not lonely. In fact, I am convinced he will not recognize us... sure that our absence and his ensuing busy-ness has blocked all memory of our friendship. (I am very happy to report that I was wrong...)

At this one point in the mass, the homily, (my favorite part when it comes to this particular priest) Father's voice drops low and his profound humility and holiness shines through, obscuring his dry sense of humor. He is worried, he confesses. Worried. Why? Because this Sunday marks the beginning of the Year of the Priest. And he is worried that this time next year will find him wanting. That he will make no spiritual progress in this very important year... And he would hate that above all else.

So, he announces, he has a plan. If we'd turn to pages 3-6 in the bulletin? Yes, you heard me correctly. PageS. 3-6. Some things never change, I chuckle to myself, as we all dutifully turn to pages 3-6. What greets my eye is the schedule of one insanely busy man. Father has scheduled every hour of every day with Matins, Lauds, Confession, 2 Holy Hours with Exposition and Benediction, Mass and Compline. These will be a daily occurrence. And on Fridays and Saturdays, because, you know, a priest needs some time off~ he has added 3 HOURS of confession...

His schedule was a wake-up call to me.

I have no schedule, I thought to myself. Well... I corrected myself, I used to have a schedule. It was called Little Love. She dictated my days. Before her it was Little Boo, and before her, Little Dear... you get the picture. My newborns decided my every move. Nap time meant no park, feeding time meant no dishes... my whole day was planned around nursing, eating and making meals, with the occasional load of laundry thrown in. It was crazy, and hectic, and I rarely had a moment to myself.

But now?

I get my kitchen chores done and I wander... between the computer and the laundry, or the home school room and the bathrooms... no real destinations, no real plans...while the children play and run around the house, lost in their games and battle scenes.

Before I know it, it's noon and the kids need lunch.

And so I go through my days. I complete my chores, the kids play, and I putz around. It seems I have too much time for myself, too many projects I could be doing, and no real motivation for any of it. I am not living a deliberate life. My days are haphazard, unplanned and open-ended.

Yes, it is summer time. Our schedule needs to be more relaxed, I promised the kids this free time. But that in no way means that we have to move through our days like this... with no real goal or purpose. Father sees the wisdom in a deliberate life. He fears the end result of failing to live in this way.

And I am totally and utterly convicted.

Breaking into my thoughts, Father makes yet another earth-shattering announcement. He declares that he will now say the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin, ad orientem. And his eyes twinkle as he dares anyone to challenge his decision.

I looked at the floor, certain my jaw was still down there somewhere. In doing so, DH caught my eye. He was ecstatic. And we both grinned.

After mass, Father rose from his outside chair and gave us big hugs, calling us by name, and laughing like we've just shared an inside joke. Like a shepherd knows his flock, so does this man.

I think we'll be making the trek out to the country more often.

:)

*cross-posted to DFW Catholic.

Miraculous!

LUKE HAS BEEN FOUND!!

Thank you for all of your prayers!

Luke Dillier was found this afternoon, Monday July 26th. He is safe and back at home with his family. Luke was identified by a DART Police officer who had just 5 minutes before seen one of the fliers our community has been posting. The family wishes to thank the entire community and the police officers for their support, love and prayers that brought Luke home safely to them.


:)

We Are a Force

Please grab this picture, and post it on your sidebar. Preferably, with a link to this Facebook page.




















Since the police do not suspect foul play, it appears that Luke left on his own volition.

What has happened between 8:45 a.m. on Friday and now, is anyone's guess, and we still need to pray hard and keep looking.

Please post this picture. Someone may see it, they may recognize him, and maybe help him if he needs it. Most importantly, they could be instrumental in reuniting him with his family.

I hope and pray he has not left the area. But if he has, our blogs could alert thousands of people to his situation.

I hope and pray that he is safe and unharmed.

Holy angels, surround and protect him.

Prayers Needed!

**IMPORTANT NEWS**

Luke has been found. He is safe with his family at home. Thank you for all of your prayers!




~The Dilliers are a homeschooling family here in my area. The suspected abduction took place in Dallas.~

via Colleen Hammond:

***update #3-

First and foremost, the family wants to make it clear that there was NO SCREAM heard by a neighbor and “foul play” is NOT suspected at this time.

Secondly, Luke was wearing a polo shirt that is dark green and dark blue striped. His pants were a dark brown khaki and his eyes are brown.

**another update-
New details! Luke was with his mother and brother Justin at JUSTIN’S violin lesson. He asked for the car keys to go back out to the car to get something and never returned. The car was, apparently, never opened. On the way TO the violin lesson, he was asking his mom and brother how far away the new Lego store was from the violin teacher’s house. Also, the dogs trailed Luke nearly three miles to Spring Valley and Coit, so it was QUITE a distance before the trail ended. There are numerous bus lines in the area as well.

Luke is a seasoned Boy Scout. He had no provisions with him. He was wearing a striped polo shirt (still waiting to hear the colors) with khaki dockers and a beaded bracelet. More information as it becomes available.

The Dallas Morning News will be running a story about this on Sunday. I’ll post a link to the story when it becomes available.

Many questions have been asked if he ran away. The family is not ruling that out, but they have no reason to believe that he was in that frame of mind. Either way, a precious and innocent 15-year-old homeschooled lad is in trouble and missing from his family and needs our help and our prayers. Please post his picture everyone and please continue praying!

*updated info-
There were no signs of violence. Police search dogs lost the trail after a short distance; they believe he got into a car. Why or under what circumstances is unknown. The location was in North Dallas (not near their home, they were at a music lesson) and the time was early morning (around 8:30). An Amber Alert was not issued. Luke's case did not "fit the criteria."

6'4", 200 pound and 15-year-old Luke Dillier is missing and foul play is suspected. A search party is meeting at 7:30 AM on Saturday June 25 to search for him at the area he was first missing, 635/Coit. More info can be followed on the Facebook group dedicated to the purpose.

Luke went to his violin lesson on Friday July 24, 2009 around 9 AM in the area of Coit and 635. He had forgotten something in his van and left the instructor's house to go out and retrieve it. He never returned. When he was questioned, a neighbor of the violin instructor recalled hearing a scream at about the same time Luke was outside the house.

Police and family believe he might have been abducted. They had search dogs and a helicopter out looking for him but to my knowledge currently have no leads.

If anyone has any info about his whereabouts, knows of any suspicious activity in the area, or has any other information, please immediately call the police and relay the info and please keep Luke and his family in your prayers.

As of last night his family had not contacted radio or tv outlets.

Here is a link to his picture. It breaks my heart.



~DH just left to meet up with the volunteer search party. Many many prayers are needed. My heart is aching for this family.

From My Inbox...

On Page 425 of Obama's health care bill, the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier. Yes...They are going to push SUICIDE to cut medicare spending!

This is no joke, folks. The culture of death is getting desperate.

Click here.

And then click on Fred Thompson Show (the link in red).


Those in congress who are pushing this bill must have secret access to the fountain of youth. Don't they see the irony? Their own legislation will come back to haunt them. I can just picture Nancy Pelosi at the age of 80 screaming in horror when she realizes that the very bill she worked so hard for, is literally killing her.

And it will be at the hands of those who fought with her every step of the way.

Proof That My Children Live in Another Dimension:

104 today. That's right, no typo there.

Sports Fan: Mom, it's freezing in here! Can we turn on the heat or something?

(My response? ...GO! ...OUT! ...SIDE!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regarding our mailman and his habit of leaving our mailbox open:

Little Boo: I think he's insane... Seriously.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another random comment..

Little Boo: I'm so glad I'm not a boy. They are made of... pickles! (she's still busting up over that one)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the van yesterday as DH drove the boys to (ahem.. outdoor) roller hockey...

DH: 108! Whew! Gonna be scorching out there!

A few minutes later...

Action Man: Look! It's 107 now!

DH (tongue-in-cheek): I can feel the cool breezes already...

Action Man (quite sincerely): Thank God!



Roasting in Texas,
;P

The Better Tale

Most screenplay writers and novelists are wimps.

There, I said it. I, who have never so much as penned a short story have dared to criticize the millions of professionals who make their living via the written word, and the cajillions more who are certainly trying.

Remember this book we read and discussed?

I had lamented that the story I wanted to read was the author's own. Her true real-life experiences as a daughter of missionaries in Africa seemed so much more interesting than the anti-religious bent she gave to what she did write.

But what sells better, ultimately?

You guessed it.

How easy it is to pen a play or novel about a typical suburban family in an all-to-familiar backdrop and give it that anti-religious-bigot twist? Oh, and happy day! It's a money-maker, and a liberal crowd-pleaser! And maybe, I'll finally make my millions!

How much harder would it be to actually tell the true stories? To delve a little deeper into the lives of typical suburbia and pull apart the myriads of embroidered truths? The human soul is a complex entity, no two are alike. And when we take the dynamics of a family, we have then an entire household of complicated story lines and the unraveling of it would take a master hand.

A Master's hand.

No, I am not ranting about any one movie, play or novel in particular. I am merely raging against the machine. Let's hold our literary pursuits to higher standards. Let's make sure that the stories that are told and that we enjoy are more edifying than most of the crap on the bestseller's lists.


:P

Undying Love

My Grandmother has Alzheimers.

When Little Boo was about 10 months old, we made the trek up to NY for my Grandparent's 60th anniversary. It was a huge celebratory weekend. Everyone came.

My Grandmother was in high spirits, as was my Grandfather. Yes, they were getting old, but the love they had for each other was stronger than ever. They shuffled a few steps on the dance floor, they held hands, they kissed. It was beautiful.

When introducing me around to her friends, my Grandmother kept repeating herself, then she would catch it and make a joke. We all chuckled along with her, but there was an underlying fear. Alzheimers runs in the family. My Grandmother's Mom also suffered from the disease. I had heard enough Great-Grandma Faivre stories to fill a book.

This latest trip to NY for my Grandfather's funeral, my Grandmother didn't know who I was at all. I couldn't really expect her to. I haven't been around very much. My parents and brother and sister and I stayed at her house, so I had a lot of time to watch and learn about this amazing woman. Even in her dementia, she remains my Grandmother.

Read the rest here.

:)

Filed Under The "Dorky Dad Jokes" Dep't

DH to Me: (glancing down at my anklet) Ooops! Your bracelet fell.



:)

A Hot and Humid Daybook

Outside my window...

The clouds are rolling in. After weeks of endless sun and triple-digits, it looks like our reprieve will be in the clouds. Just enough to lower the temps, but the humidity will sky-rocket. <sigh> It's one or the other here in Texas, folks.


I am listening to...

The pre-dinner madness. Yes, I am blogging late. But I found myself here, inspired by Elizabeth, as usual. And I wanted to get some thoughts sorted out before the evening catches me up in her wings and deposits me via her tornadic winds into my bed tonight.


To live the liturgy...

We have been trying to get to mass more often during the week. One day at a time, I tell myself, or else I will simply give up. Also, night prayers need to be beefed up a bit.


To fit and happy...

Can't I skip this one? Ok. I can't. <double sigh> I really need to get on the bandwagon with this one. My lovely friend Lisa is letting me borrow her treadmill. So, my hopes of exercising in this Texas heat will then exponentially increase. Thank goodness for generous friends!


I am thankful for...

My husband, his job, and the freedoms we enjoy. I have never been so aware of my blessings as I am these days.


I am pondering...

The mysterious joy of having 5 children screaming at the top of their lungs in an after dinner romp in the homeschool-room-turned-playroom. Actually, I'm ignoring it and finishing this post. :)


I am wearing...

A summer top and jean shorts. One is a thrift store find, the other... just fun. I love shopping at thrift stores and supplementing with great sales elsewhere.


I am creating...

Color. And clean surfaces. That is my goal this summer. We are not selling our house, so lets get rid of the uniform paint job and make our mark already.


On my ipod...

Same old stuff. I need to get Lil Sis to put some stuff on for me when she has a moment to breathe. :)


Towards a real education...

Math is the operative word around here, much to the kids' dismay. We are all about Math facts this summer. Hoping that next year goes a bit more smoothly for us.


I am thinking...

Many things. And praying. About all of them. Lots going on here in that department at the Nut House.



In the garden...

Tomatoes! Lots and lots... in potentia, that is. We have been able to eat a few, and my- they are delish. I'm hopeful that we will be inundated shortly. Meanwhile... my lovely plot out front is barren. Completely empty. We are waiting for our generous neighbor to drop a flat of his work in our front yard. Wonder what we'll get?



I am reading...

Gearing up for That Hideous Strength. I absolutely must start it tonight, and be very strict with finishing it up by next Monday. However, my numerous tumblers of this may prohibit me from doing anything other than taking a long tub and collapsing into bed early. :)


I am hoping and praying...

For many friends, real and virtual. It's been a tough go lately, hasn't it?


On keeping home...

Color and order. Am I being repititious? It's just to convince myself that it really must happen this month. Now or never, baby.


One of my favorite things...

Watching my oldest be the oldest. It's been a long hard road, but it's coming slowly. He and I are reaching an understanding and some good common ground. It does a Mama's heart good.


A few plans for the rest of the week...

Only a shower next Sunday. This is the calm before the storm. Next week will be nuts. N-U-T-S. So, we need to make some serious headway on house projects this week.


Picture thoughts...

Our camera needs batteries. So here are two from the archives (last summer, to be exact):































Indoor games and insanely curly hair. That's summer in Texas, y'all.

:)

Wordy Wednesday

So, it's been awhile, eh?

This morning when I woke up I thought about how this week was just... dragging! But then realized with a start that June was already gone.

And what have we done?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

And it's been glorious.

:)

Well, I guess I should qualify our laziness. I mean, we haven't been sitting around on our duffs all day.

Here is a list of our accomplishments to date...

~We watched the entire LOTR trilogy yet again, but this time with Action Man. He earned the right to stay up and watch it, and we exercised the right to fast forward a few unsavory parts. It is PG-13 and Action Man is only 11, after all. He knows his own limits and actually requested that a few scenes be skipped through. Although now he claims he is old enough to watch the Mines of Moria and the Balrog of Morgoth. We'll see.

~We stayed up way too late. The kids are not hitting the sack until 9:30pm on a good night. Thus, we are sleeping in until 8am at the earliest. Wearing pj's until lunch has become the norm. It is lovely, I'll admit, but I'm thinking we need a little more discipline for the remainder of the summer.

~We've spent every day swimming. In order to be outside here in the summer, there must be at least 3 feet of water within 10 feet of you. Vigorous water fights occur on the days when a visit to the pool is not feasible. I personally cannot stand to be inside on a sunny day. I've said it before, A/C 24-7 wilts the soul, and I start to feel clammy after a day or two of being holed up inside. We are vacationing here for most of the summer, until we whisk ourselves away to the Rockies in August. So we are in this for the long haul.

~We've read lots and lots of books. Nothing as a family yet, I'm sorry to say. But that will come as the kids tire of their other indoor games. Action Man has joined a book club. They have read Adam of the Road and will read Lost in the Barrens and then Hatchet for this next one. For myself, I am thoroughly enjoying this delightful series. Although I need to get serious and grab this book from the library for my own book club in a few weeks.

~The girls took part in an informal "art camp" put on by the daughter of a dear friend. They loved it. My boys will help to host a "survival camp" in a few weeks. I think fishing and fire building, tent-raising and plant identification are on the schedule. Another family is hosting a sports camp. I'm glad my friends are so creative. It's good wholesome fun with families I trust. Doesn't get much better than that!

~We've partied. A lot. Baby showers, ladies' nights, chess nights for the boys, book clubs, and a whopping good time with pretty much everyone I know to celebrate the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and the end of the Pauline year. The 4th of July will be spent with our oldest friends here, and plans for a baby shower at our home next Sunday for a newer friend are in the works. I'm very social, can you tell? DH is so tolerant. :)

~I've kept up with you all... barely. It's been fun to just sit back, read, laugh, cry and pray. What a fantastic bunch of writers and lovely ladies you all are. I appreciate your talent and friendship!

:)