"Love one another"
I can't wait for mass tomorrow. The gospel ends with "Love one another".
I just had a drama filled visit from our neighbor. To say she has been difficult is an understatement. At least I can say that I have always held my integrity when dealing with her. WOW! I heard a sermon once that Jesus said "Love thy neighbor" because to say love your friends is easy, to love your neighbor can sometimes be more difficult then to love a stranger.

Why Jumping Jelly Beans

This was one of my first posts. Donald has been adding to our art gallery lately. I thought it was time to retell the story of the Jumping Jelly Bean.

When visitors come to my house they usually comment on our artwork. I love art. It can speak in ways that words can’t. What it says to one person, is not what it says to the next. Lately, the artwork that they comment about most, are not the paintings framed on the wall. Our guests give the most attention to the murals drawn in crayon and marker.

All three of my boys have considered “wall art” a prime medium at one time or another. I remind myself this is only a stage they go through. I try to keep it in perspective. In 10 years our problems will be bigger, and much more complicated. Unfortunately, I have a feeling most of our future problems will not be able to be fixed with a fresh coat of paint. I am going to enjoy this simple life while I can. This doesn’t mean that I keep every creative item my boys leave on the wall. I believe there must be a place in heaven for the inventor of the Magic Eraser. That white rectangle has brought a small slice of sanity to my life. Every Christmas and Easter, I go through the house, and try to create a clean slate on my walls. There has to some since of balance to this chaos.

There are a few pieces of art that last longer than others. The jumping jelly bean of course is one of those long term pieces. It has stayed with us longer than most, because it is drawn in permanent maker. Jelly Bean will be with us until we repaint the bedroom. I have mixed feelings about Jelly Bean. My middle child drew him. He must have been standing on a box when he drew him. Jelly Bean is at least 4 foot tall. He is taller than Nicholas was when he created him.

At the time Nicholas was not drawing faces, and had no interest in pencil and paper (obviously). So this was a bit of a breakthrough in his self expression. He was so proud of his creation. When I walked into the room, I held back my initial reaction. I simply asked him to tell me about his drawing. He exclaimed with a giggle and a hop, hop, bounce…”It’s a jumping jelly bean!” I stood there for a moment then replied, "Of course it is. How could I miss that?"

That has been two years now. Jelly Bean is still on my wall. I pick out colors to repaint the bedroom, but I can’t settle on anything. Maybe it’s the bean. I think I might miss him, and these memories, when we finally repaint. I have a friend who says, “Perspective is key. Perspective gives you a since of calm. Calm leads to peace. Peace leads to happiness.” May your life be full of perspective, peace, and happiness. I also hope they are full of colorful memories that are treasured.

The original jumping jelly bean has faded away. Now most of our new artwork comes from Donald, our youngest. This is a portrait he drew of the two of us. We are riding on a caterpillar. He says I am driving, and he is in his car seat.

just when I thought it was safe, part 2

A few days after the "I'm making my bed famous" episode. I notice that the house is suspiciously quiet. I start to search for my five year old. I find him again in the bed room. This time he is stamping his wall with an ink blotter. It was a mini gingerbread man stamp. There must have been 50 of them on his wall. He was pounding away more. He looks up. With pride he announced, "I am creating an army!"

Just when I thought it was safe...

I finally broke down and bought some paint. I thought it was safe to paint over the many fingerprints, scratches, and artwork on the walls of our home. I walk into a room and catch two boys, age 5 and 7, drawing on their bedroom wall. My 5 year old looks up and proudly announced, "Look Mom! I'm making my bed famous! They are star wars guys!"

More of what?

Oh the frustration of trying to learn something new. Time seems stretched these days. Here I am wasting my time, because I don't know the proper sequence of buttons to push. All of these new gadgets that are suppose to add more to my life. More time to do the things I want to do. The promise of being more organized. The idea of saving more money in the long run. The only more I feel is frustrated.

I am finally catching up to the itunes/ipod/mp3 player craze. Trying to convert our minimal CD collection into digital media. Next month my cell phone service contract expires. Wish me luck, as a shop for a new phone. Chances are that I will end up with a phone that holds more promise then I have patience to learn.

Preparing for the Pinewood Derby

The big day is a week away. We have two boys in cub scouts this year. That means two cars for the Pinewood Derby. I pulled this article from last years post. It is as true today as it was then. Things are coming together, but will probably not be finished until the last minute. (no that is not a chocolate bar, it is a carefully wrapped block of wood. :)

Anticipating the Pinewood Derby It is in mine, and my husbands nature to be last minute. Not complete procrastinators, but always up to the last minute with the finishing details. I'm afraid we are passing that trait on to our boys. Maybe they can't escape it. It's just in their geans.Last night I was pushing John to finish his history report. Tonight he was working with his Dad to finish up his Pinewood Derby car. The race is tomorrow. Just in time for the boys to go to bed, the car is finished. A big bonus, the wheels are on, and it rolls. This is Johns 4th Pinewood Derby. The first two were hard lessons in loosing. The first year was tears and frustration. Last year was just a bit of frustration. This year we took time while building the car to reinforce that the fun was in the journey. Win or Loose, we pointed out that he enjoyed the time he spent with Dad. The he had fun creating the design, and changing that block of wood into a new toy. Here's to a good nights sleep, and a fun day tomorrow. Hopefully no more tears.

Snow day

Lots of snow coming our way for the next two days. School is called off, and the boys are so excited they can't seem to go to bed.

Christmas 2010 in a blur of pics

It's not easy being an angle in a house of boys

I find this odd, but true.

I have chocolate milk on my ceiling.

The cup slipped out of my 5 year old's hand. It hit the ground. Both of us stood in amazement. Chocolate milk was everywhere including above our heads.

Advent and the little ones

Getting ready for Advent. I've been searching around for some good ideas for Advent crafts for our little ones. I came across CatholicMom.com . Lots of neat ideas under "Faith". I really like the brief child friendly explanations that coincide with Holy days and Sundays liturgy. They provide coloring pages, and word puzzles that reinforce the message of that weeks gospel. I printed a few off, and hope to give them a try starting next Sunday. November 21st we celebrate the last Sunday in Ordinary time. The priest will wear either gold or white vestments. This Sunday we will focus on the triumph of our Savior Jesus Christ. The following Sunday, November 28th will be the start of Advent, and a new calender year in the Catholic faith. I am so excited that I can share this with my children.

sunday fidgets

Sunday Oct 31
Luke 19 1-10

The lesson was not about Zacchaeus seeing Jesus. It is about Jesus seeing Zacchaeus.
Put yourself in a place for Jesus to see you.

We are all connected. What you do affects me, what I do affects you. A reminder to make good choices. We do not have to climb a sycamore tree for God to see our deeds, or the intentions of our hearts. Put yourself out there, take chances, be generous with the gifts God has given you.

Halloween joke

In St. Louis it is a Halloween tradition for the trick or treater's to exchange jokes for candy.

This year our 5 yr old was in on the action. His dad told him a joke. "where do fish go when they are sick? To the dock." So the boys go up to the first house.

John (our 10yr old) gives the first joke, "What is a ghosts favorite toy? A Boo marang."
Nicholas (our 7 yr old) was second, "Trick or treat, I like sweets, Halloween can't be beat." (I know, it's not a joke, but he thinks it is funny.)
THEN Donald steps up. "Where do fish go when they are sick? To the DECK." I couldn't help but to laugh. A dock looks just like a deck, just on water. It was close enough to get a chuckle, and score some candy.

a barb-isum

If I don't TRY it, I'll never DO it.

yoga

I have started taking a yoga class. Loving it.

WOW! Where is the time going? School is in session. The calender is filling up with activities.

Feeling better. Just so busy. It's a Good busy.

feeling under the weather. Have a cold. Ugh.

PSR

first night of PSR (parish school of religion). all seems to have gone well. celebrated the night with ice cream.

sunday fidgets

Fathers message:
Don't try... STRIVE to fit through the narrow gate.

The following was not part of the sermon, but my thoughts as they ramble sometimes. As I sat and listened to the sermon, my mind started to wonder. Earlier that day I had stopped into church to pick up something a friend had left in the vestibule. I had Nicholas with me. We paused to watch father pour two buckets of water into the baptismal fountain. This was a behind the scenes sneak peek for Nicholas (7yrs). As father finished and greeted us, Nicholas had questions. "What were you doing?" Father explained that the water was low in the fount, and he was adding holy water to it. Father gave a brief explanation of evaporation, and the need to replenish the water. Nicholas followed him around the corner to see where the buckets belonged, and asked "Is this where you get the water?" No, father explained, this is where the buckets go.

As I sat in the bench on Saturday, I replayed this little exchange. I thought about the holy spirit in the form of water, transformed (or evaporating) into the air we breath. The mystery of it all. My son, "So that's where the buckets go." The real question on his mind, the same question many of us have from time to time was, where the holy spirit might be found. Can I see it, touch it, take a little bit home? Like the air we breath, the holy spirit is always ready to touch us, fill us, and take us home.