Catholic Family Vignettes

Elena Marie Vidal, author of the novels Trianon and Madame Royale, as well as the very lovely blogspot Tea at Trianon; has "tagged" me. The rules are:


"For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."

1. I am a convert to Catholicism. A deep longing to provide my children with the stability and truths of the Faith led me to the Church in 1991. My husband, Roger, and my dear grandmother, Carol, entered the Church the following year. In 1994, my mother entered, as well. This year, with great joy, the entire family welcomed my precious father into the fold. Thus far, my dear brother remains the lone "hold-out"(his wife is Catholic...it's just a matter of time!)

2. As a teenager, I never wanted children nor did I babysit. Amazing how things can change! As the mother of 9 children (1 in heaven) and grandmother to 3 (the 4th is on the way!), I can't imagine my life without them. They are a "sanctifying grace" in my life and I would be an absolute shell of a person, devoid of all tenderness and feeling, without them.

3. In 1995, I was involved in a terrible car accident. While traveling the north bound lane of a major interstate (and praying the 5th Joyful Mystery of the rosary), my vehicle was struck by a semi. The vehicle was propelled across the median, flipped over 1 1/2 times and was skidding on its hood when it was struck by another vehicle in the south bound lane. My vehicle was upside down at the time, and the front of that vehicle entered the rear of my mini-van and sheared off the driver's seat (which I was in). At the time of the accident, I was quite sure I would die, and remember asking our Lord (quite calmly, considering the situation) to not "let me kill anyone else". That prayer was answered in the most perfect way. Six vehicles were involved in this accident, twelve people suffered minor injuries. I crawled out of my absolutely destroyed vehicle, through a broken window and managed to obtain a cut on my elbow which required three stitches. I have occasional neck pain, but nothing unmanageable. I was actually a bit angry at surviving...at the time I felt that I was ready to go (haha...no sacramental confession in years), and wondered why I had survived. I've had five children since that accident...the wisdom of God has no equal!

4. My children have been in public school, private school, homeschool, back to public school and finally, back home again! I spent an 18 month period in which I had lost absolute confidence in my ability to provide my children with the education they needed and deserved. Two back to back difficult pregnancies (bed rest from the sixth month on and the inability to walk for several weeks after birth) shook my perceptions. The realization that I was merely trading one set of problems for other and worse problems became apparent within a few short months. Thank God, the counsel of a good friend led me back to reality.

5. I am a recovering knit-a-holic. I have knit to the point of pain! I have passed this skill on to as many "converts" as I can find, and when unable to knit myself, could vicariously enjoy the efforts of others.

6. My husband and I recently left our home of 17 years and stepped out in faith to live in a place where our family could enrich and expand our faith-life. We spent two years in the "Catholic Commune" (as our parish priest lovingly referred to our home), a lovely Greek revival/federalist home divided into three residences. This beautiful home housed three Traditional Catholic families. We shared meals, parties, and faith...it was an incredible experience. Prior to our journey to Ohio, we had never attended the Tridentine Rite. We are so completely won over...though we had a Catholic Church directly across the street from the "commune," we still got up at the crack of dawn and drove 30 miles to commute to Holy Family. The children were as insistent upon this as the parents.

7. I want to FLY!!! Not take lessons to fly a small, private commuter plane...I want a microlight!

8. I am absolutely obsessed with hats...there are hats everywhere in my house. I have had to enforce a "hat diet" as they are taking over the wall space in my bedroom.

Not quite a "nutshell," more like a very large suitcase. I tag : Ginny, Esther, Krislynne, Danielle, Amy, Elena, Meredith, Mrs. V.

Don't feel obligated to "tag" 8 people...this has been going around pretty quickly. Just have fun!