Entrust your Motherhood, Marriage and Family

… to Mary. She is your Mother. ~ A Wise Priest

I recently commented that I hadn't been to confession in a few months and the wise mother of 8, grandmother of 15+, snapped back - "Joanne, you are missing out on all those graces."

Yup and today proved it.

Thoughts from the weekend... Goals for the week

Sometimes it feels like I have 100 million things going around in my head so here's what I got

A. "On Sundays I lose my religion"

Okay now that I have your attention... This comment/quote is from the other deacon at our church's wife. She is a mother to 8 and a grandmother to probably twice that many... Yesterday at church she helped me - mainly holding M through a good part of Liturgy, because she wanted to and I forgot the Beco in the car. E and R were not being bad by any means but wrangling 3 kids solo in church on a good day is hard. So I was thanking the deacon's wife for helping me and talking about kids in church and handling that and she said her husband served when her kids were growing up and she told him she felt like "On Sundays I lose my religion".

Obviously she was just saying that for the effect but still Liturgy is the one time during the week I want my kids to behave the best so that I can participate/sing/pray for one hour and 15 minutes. Seriously, is that too much to ask? Well most weeks it is. I used to get super frustrated about it but now I just accept it. Liturgy means work of the people; let me tell you taking kids to church is work and it takes more than just me to get through it - in a good way. In fact I would make the case that taking kids to church is the best work; it is hard work but no one said work should be easy. Raising/training children to live a faithful life is the job of parents and the sharing the faith with children is the best gift you can give a child - at least I think. Seriously I am so glad that my parents took us to 7:30 am Mass week in and week out, year in and year out - it is the best gift I think they could possibly give me.

B. Christmas Cards

Did you see our Christmas card outtake? Not as fantastic as 2012... But considering I don't even have a good group pic to use... You can gather how well it went. R was up to bat first. She was super interested in laying on the chair rather than sitting. Then it was E, R, and M so that R could be done the fastest. M screamed. E did this insane lower jaw to the side smile thing that is just weird. R drooled. Next up E who continued the lower jaw thing. Finally solo M who was super cute and did not even spit up on her dress!

Cards ordered. Stamps not bought. Hopefully they'll be out next week.

C. Thank you notes

Done... done... done with thank you note for M. They are a pain to do but my mama ALWAYS made us do them for birthdays and Christmas and I kind of appreciate that getting drilled into my system. And done just in time for Christmas : ) 

D. Babies!!!!

Okay how about I found out in the span of 4 days... 3 friends are having babies in June! I'm feeling totally left out... Oh wait, not! Anyhow, super exciting times. Babies and growing/big families are so fun! I'll have to do a post on baby items soon because 2 of the 3 are first time mamas!!!

E . School pics

Now let's discuss how expensive school pictures are... No wait let's not. 

F. R's Christmas present

I am on the hunt for this trike at a great price. Sam's has it for $70 but not pink. Wally's has it for $80... I am still holding out for finding it at Sams... 

Our Advent-en Activity List

Advent is upon us (Eastern Catholics) so Papa and I finally decided on our six Advent-en activities for the kids.

Week 1 - Operation Christmas Child - The collection period ends this Thursday I think so the timing is perfect

Week 2 - Pray at a graveyard

Week 3 - Gather things to 'give' to St. Nicholas - He won't actually visit our house until Advent week 4, but I want to give the girls times to think about and gather their items

Week 4/ Week 5/ Week 6 - Pray outside an abortion clinic (or pray at another graveyard), Get an ornament (or two) off the tree at the church there in the Mount, Go shopping and drop off food items at the InterFaith Food Shuttle
{We'll probably figure out the order as we see how everything shakes out}

We have also been talking to the girls (more specifically E) about preparing for Christmas - and doing nice things for other people and not focusing on ourselves.

Finally we've been singing (as of yesterday) two verses of O Come Emmanuel after we pray in the morning and one verse before bed. E soaks up songs and singing so I am convinced this is the single best way to get her to learn something about Advent.

I'll be posting random Advent-en activity updates in the off chance you are interested.

Sunday Snapshot - 14 hours in St. Louis

Well we made it from the Mount to St. Louis and back to the Mount in a mere 27 hours. We were sans kids thanks to Jibbe - well we were sans our kids. Our friends have six kids so there many kids around. No problems on the flights. Everything at the church went well. Our godson was a master at going through diapers... I think his mama had one left BEFORE he had been baptized! After S screamed through a good part of the baptism, he was super tired from his sacrament filled evening and slept the rest of the Liturgy and reception. We had a great time seeing our friends, we were fortunate to be chauffeured around St. Louis, and we are glad to be back. 

S about to be baptized!

Bringing him into church

Checking out the candle

First time communicant 

Family + Priest + Godparents

Godmother + The Godfather + Priest

Kinda makes me very excited about baby number #3 coming. All of S's brothers and sisters were SO SO SO excited and I am excited to see the girls with their new sibling

Weekend Best 6.23.13 and other musings

I have a bit of a weekend recap plus I think I owe it to the girls to let the world know that church on Sunday was 1000% more manageable than normal - even though I have not seen any Sunday church behavior posts so whatever... I'm doing it anyways.

Saturday we traipsed up to Raleigh for a wedding - that's after we got on the highway and realized we forgot my dad's Fathers Day present and whipped around to get it! E waffled on whether or not she wanted to stay with Grammy and make cookies or come to the wedding and eat cake. She decided on cookies. After a brief lunch stint at my parents (my mom had sandwiches already made in case we ran out of time) Lee and I were off to the Hill for the wedding. It was so nice to see a million people from Newman (where I went to church while at UNC but also made a ton of friends). There were a million kids there too so then I felt bad that E was not there - but then I got over that pretty quick! Reception was great. Actually got to talk to people and catch up. Get the scoop on jobs, next weddings etc etc.

The point I want to make about the wedding is this. Msg. Wall in his homily said this, "In order to love, you have to be loved." How profound is that? Or maybe I'm the only one... but seriously. Think about it. Now think about all the kids/people out the who do not experience love.

Okay for some less heavy stuff. Sunday morning we woke up to egg bake and crumb cake - I wish I had the A. Energy to cook like my mom and B. the patience to learn how to cook like my mom. I can knock out the egg bake but I need to get this crumb cake figured out because it is AWESOME with a cup of coffee (yes I drink coffee while pregnant) and its not too sweet.

We made it out the door on time to church. I got eaten up by mosquitos in the parking lot getting the girls dressed. Then we rolled the dice inside.

E only went to the potty one time before Liturgy started. She sat down more than I would have liked but that's fine. She sang parts of the songs in between litanies. I think there was only one crisis before the Gospel which was manageable. She helped get the basket around with the other girls. We stood in the back for parts 2nd half of Liturgy - which was fine because then I can sort of tell her what's going on. Then she was fine. And she did not even make a mess of the blessed bread like she did last week. Significant improvement I tell you

R - now fully walking - had a fantastic time a church. First she was walking over a .5 in step up in the floor and went airborne. She sat in her chair some and threw around icon cards - still trying to figure out if they are worth bringing in. She and E traded their bible/Liturgy books. She did get taken outside by a super nice lady - I mean outside the building - it was a little hot so I think R enjoyed the fresh air. She crawled and walked around but did not go too far up to the front. She walked in circles during the Anaphora (but was pretty quiet). She did have a minor meltdown towards the end but nothing like the head banging screaming fits of weeks past. She also tried swipe a check or two from the offertory but I took care of that : ) so she was a million times better than normal. Let's hope we have a new norm.

Back to my parents house for Father's Day lunch/dinner. E had a blast with Uncle Kevin. The food was great. The girls and I took naps. E got to play in the sprinkler. We all ate blueberry pie (did I mention I need to inherit some of her baking skills?). We packed our stuff, E did not want to leave, and we all left.

Color coded bags... Makes my life just a tad bit easier. 

Seeing our normal-ish / manageable size pile of luggage made me think in the car. How is baby #3 going to effect our overnight stays? Will we get invited to stay overnight (the answer is yes we will - probably) BUT Will we want to stay overnight? Who knows... We stay at my parents house probably - on average once a month. Some months its a few nights and others it is none. What will Christmas look like? We have done Christmas morning at my parents since... hmmm... a long time. Will we do it this year? What will Christmas be like with a 2 month old? And a 22 month old? And a 3.5 yr old? What about Thanksgiving?

Before I had time to delve into the ins and outs of that holiday I hear the most fantastic noise coming from the back of the van. E and R screaming with delight.

The sisters latest game : ) 

Then I realize that A. it will all work out and B. that as long as the kids are happy and Lee and I are maintaining our sanity then it does not matter.

In other news, E has a dentist appointment today - which I seriously considered canceling. I mean if all you do is count her teeth again I'm not going back for a year.

AND we are breaking down and getting a swingset. I found a really good deal on a really nice one (and it comes installed so Lee is 1000% in favor of it). We can add on to it down the road if we want. I kind of stubbled across it because I had written it off for next year. But Lee and I have been talked about having a pig picking this fall and with the potential number of kids that may or may not come, a swingset would be crucial. So I perused the few really good places, made some phone calls and I think we are making a good decision. I'll post some pics when it goes up.

FINALLY, if you haven't stopped reading yet... I had a dream last night Lee and I were doing some crazy gender reveal party thing and the baby was a boy. I guess I could find out Thursday but even if I did, I doubt I'd tell : )

I need to remember this...

You must suffer in order to experience grace.

Not sure how much of a direct quote that was as it is from last Sunday's homily. I have been meaning to write it down because I really want to remember it. It was especially fitting to hear that at church where R has been putting me and the rest of the congregation through some pretty intense screaming fits which result in us getting (voluntarily) exiled to the Narthex. Those moments of suffering can be especially grace-filled if and only if I am in the right frame of mind. Some weeks I cheerfully sit through the screams and tears and other weeks I am STRESSED OUT of my mind and wonder how the heck wrangling three kids is going to be. But then I remember line one of this post. (and then I think about Job and realize my little screamer is nothing compared to good old Job)

Not meant to complain. I know many other people suffer in much more trying and difficult ways than I. And I have actually had a pretty darn good week. Hope you have!

Hopefully tomorrows liturgical antics will be kept to a minimum : )

It's your lucky day

R received the sacramental trifecta today will post pics from church soon but here is what the house looked like before we left.

Anyone get the My Big Fat Greek Wedding reference?

Christ is Risen!

Passed out in the swing

Favorite quote from Liturgy "Death where is your sting?"

Girls did well given the 5:45 wake up call more pics to come...

Advent.. Fasting and Abstaining

Advent starting the in the Eastern Catholic churches on Monday evening at the conclusion of St. Philip's feast day. Though retailers might not let you believe it Advent is the time BEFORE Christmas (12/25), the 12 days of Christmas (12/25 and next 11 days), and the Christmas season - which I think lasts until 2/2 - don't hold me on the last one.

In this period of time in preparation for Christmas it is recommended that praying as well as fasting and abstaining (there is a difference between the two!) be observed so that the feast that is Christmas can be properly celebrated and appreciated. Similar recommendations are given for Lent in preparation for Easter/Pascha. However, being that I am pregnant the Church and all of Her Wisdom has given me a free pass so we've got the tree up and the lights out and the Nativity scene arranged in the yard already. Here's to being pregnant!!! NOT!

Older people, children, pregnant and nursing women, as well as those with other medical reasons/illnesses are not recommended to do the full fasting/abstaining regiment - because it is super intense. Instead, doing something to keep the fasting preparation period is prescribed.

Why is this blog worthy? Only because I will not be on Facebook until Christmas. I had Lee change my password and I have not been on since Monday night. Hopefully nothing urgent will come up - and it never does. The FB issue came up about a month ago when I was reading a blog about how someone was thinking about deleting their Facebook because it was a major distraction/waste of time. I get on FB way way way too much but I did not want to delete my account since I have my blog posts post to my wall - thus changing the password was the best of both worlds...

Also, decided it would be a wise idea to abstain from sweets for Advent not only because it will be challenging but I also failed the glucose test and then I went on a major binge. So sweets are definitely something I can do without for a while and it certainly won't hurt baby #2. It will make Christmas morning stocking with Godiva chocolates at my parents house even better - but I don't think that we had the silver dollar sized blue, green, red and gold foils last year - could be wrong. Maybe this year - those things are big time tradition in the McV household for Christmas stocking candies. Pretty much as big of a staple as the toothbrush at the dentist.

Church Journal Week II

"If you don't have forgiveness in your heart, you won't make it"

So true! What is the point of going around everyday being mad about everything that people have done to wrong you? I imagine it would be pretty miserable. I'm not saying that it is easy to forgive people - especially family members. Life is entirely too short to hold grudges.

Church Journal Week I

"Sometimes you have to go out of your way to help someone"

Totally applicable on a daily basis and I really enjoyed keeping that in the back of my mind all week because that 'someone' could be ANYONE. A stranger, family member, co-worker, friend... And something that actually can be done on a daily basis. I am liking this Church Journal-ing

Church Journal - The Premise

Lee and the beebster and I and my mom and my mother-in-law recently went to Ignited By Truth in Raleigh. We had a really great time and we heard some really inspiring people. One of whom is Matthew Kelly. Long story short he told everyone that they needed a Mass Journal so write down one thing that the Holy Spirit was trying to pound into their head that Sunday for the hour they were are church. I am game but I have a small problem with the verbiage. Liturgy, Mass same meaning - one word in Greek, one word in Latin - but so I can be 100% PC - which is my top priority - we'll go with Church Journal. So that is the premise of the theme of these posts - please feel free to share thoughts/you CJ whatever, this will help keep track of them all. I'll try and post weekly but I'm already a week behind - shocking I know...