Catholic Family Vignettes

The last few days have been rather hectic. Alas, when are they not? House cleaning, homeschooling, chauffeuring, catering, doctoring, mothering...it's easy to get tangled up in the "Martha-ness" of the everyday, and miss those "Mary" moments. As I've struggled for the last few weeks to manage the husband's schedule, the college student's schedule, the homeschool schedule, Schola and Mass schedule; I've somehow missed my schedule; the one I keep to recollect myself...prayer, contemplation and devotional reading. Considerable back pain and sleeplessness provide additional challenges (just in case the "schedules" aren't' challenge enough!)

So my tank is a little low, right now.

But God is good! Over the past few days, as I've lamented my shrinking "down-time", I've been given so many lovely gifts. These gifts are God-given reminders of what joy there is...and it isn't in my "down-time":

I've been privileged to spend the early morning hours with my college-age daughter during our daily commute. We've had stimulating and lively conversations, shared a few jokes and irritations, even read an outstanding essay together.

I've observed the burgeoning maturity of my teenage son. How willingly and strongly he leads! Building dollhouses for little sisters, taking younger siblings on walks to the woods, teaching his brother proper safety for his new air rifle. And today. Listening to him tell his younger siblings how proud he was that they had behaved so well, in the local farmer's market. That he was proud to be their brother.

I listened to my little girl laugh with such gleeful abandon, as I pushed her higher and higher in the swing.

I saw the gleam of understanding in my son's eyes as a difficult math concept suddenly made sense.

I watched my youngest daughter comfort her brother as a thorn was removed from his foot, offering him an artificial flower to soothe his pain.

I saw the pride and joy in my husband's eyes...every morning as I kissed him goodbye and every evening, as he was greeted by his loving family. How joyful and chaotic the welcome! Each child begging to be the one to carry dad's coffee mug, his water jug, his lunch pail...such willing vassals to their Lord!

And so very, very many more "vignettes"...I'm sure you understand...they are the everyday graces, the small treasures of the vocation of motherhood.

I'm in such excellent "company".

Everyday.

Yet...the kitchen floor still needs to be mopped. The laundry needs folding. The carpet needs vacuuming. The toilets need scrubbing.

Everyday.

I pray, that in eternity, my children will stand as a greater witness to my love of God and man, than my clean dishes will.

I pray, that their loving hearts, prayers and faith will speak far more eloquently than a well-vacuumed carpet.

I pray, that the trust my husband has in me, as he daily struggles to sustain this large family, will be greatly rewarded in Heaven and that we will share that eternity, together.

Thank you, my Lord and my God, for placing me in such good company! Read more!

Within the space of two weeks my girl will have:

*obtained her license

*registered to vote

*established a checking account

*purchased and registered an automobile

*started college

My dear daughter is an adult...it happened so quickly. Gone are the baseball caps and rollerblades. Now we talk about work schedules, insurance premiums and college text books.

I've been down this path more than once, but not with her. She is already far ahead of me, proceeding quickly and surely. She is so confident now, her future stretching before her like a lovely scroll, as yet unwritten.

If you have little ones...hold them close. The late night feedings, the "terrible twos", the broken arms and broken hearts...they are fleeting. Over before you know it.

I've become (once again) the wonder-struck observer of this metamorphosis. It is a hard thing to let go, yet thrilling at the same time. I find myself ridiculously proud of her bank account and her ability to cast a vote...it's rather like watching her take that first, faltering step.

So it was with the first to leave. And the second. All these hopes, dreams, fears.

They may leave your home, but never your heart. The space that each fills, is theirs alone. Read more!

Blessings to Amy Carole at Knit Together In Love for the link to this:



May God grant me the grace to never "wish away" this time of my life... Read more!

Abigail, age five, has lost two teeth within the last 48 hours. There are so many simple joys in parenting - namely, all of the firsts: the first word, first step, first birthday, first day of school, and the loss of the first tooth.

As the mother of many children, it amazes me how alike each of the children are in their responses to these "firsts". Excitement, then timidity; courage, then fear; trust and finally surprised elation! In the loss of the first tooth, all of these emotions are stamped indelibly upon the upturned face of that trusting, yet fearful child. Fearful, yet still hopeful...trusting in the best possible outcome. Lord, may I learn this same lesson!

So now we come to the dilemma that every parent faces...tooth fairy or no tooth fairy? Having lived on both sides of this question, I say "no tooth fairy". I lived under the tyrannical reign of that tiny imp for many years...she is a harsh taskmaster. Promises of cash in exchange for a tooth. How many times was said tooth carefully wrapped and tucked under the pillow, only to be forgotten by her royal highness? Too many times to count. Though many teeny, tiny letters were written, offering apologies, the Wasson family finally fired her. Mom and dad now offer cash for teeth and simply mail them in bulk to the New Tooth Facility, where they will be ground into a fine powder and sprinkled into the mouths of sleeping babes to promote the growth of new teeth. A tidy solution to a troublesome problem! Read more!