Seven Quick Takes - Volume 16

Seven things I love about my husband ...

-- 1 --

He is a man of prayer.

I've always admired this about my husband --
no matter how busy he is, he is faithful and constant,
never forgetting what is most important.

(with The Baby having morning prayer time last winter)

-- 2 --

He loves to spend time with me.

My husband thinks a weekly date night is important.
And he doesn't want to share me with anyone else.

(last week before the symphony)

-- 3 --

He loves his kids.

He cherishes one-on-one time with each child
and tries to get it as often as he can.

(with Miss Rose last summer on vacation)

-- 4 --

He gets up at night with the kids.

Knowing I'm with the kids all day,
and knowing that a good night sleep for the teacher is
essential for the success of our school days,
he is the one to get up with sick kids and scared kids
and whatever else the night brings.

(with Miss Sunshine)

-- 5 --

He cleans toilets and showers, among other things.

And he makes a killer weekend brunch.

(makin' bacon on vacation)

-- 6 --

He is a source of strength.

When I am anxious or overwhelmed, he holds my hand and prays with me.

(swinging The Boy on an early spring walk)

-- 7 --

He works hard.

At whatever he does.

Yet strives for balance.


Happy birthday, Sweetie!

I love you!

And I love that you chose to spend your life with me and the kids!

Seven Quick Takes - Volume 15

-- 1 --

The Quick Takes

I had to go back quite a ways to see what volume of Quick Takes this was -- I haven't done one in quite a while, July to be specific. I thought I would use the opportunity to catch you up on some things that have happened around here while I was on my (unintentional) blogging break.

-- 2 --

The Job

I'm in the process of transitioning from a full-time salaried worker to working on a contract basis. This will be the first time in twelve years that I will be free -- free from having to work a certain number of hours or having to do a certain amount of work each week.

I am very much looking forward to it and to the changes that it will (hopefully) enable our family to make.

As an aside, I don't recommend working full-time and homeschooling.

-- 3 --

The Arm

August 27
The Boy falls off his scooter going down the hill in front of our house.
Mom does all the "checks" and determines his arm is not broken.

September 2
Mom finally brings The Boy to the doctor,
where it is determined his arm is, in fact, broken.
(Doctor consoles Mom saying it is a minor break
and he couldn't tell until it was x-rayed either.)
Arm is splinted.

September 6
The first of many trips to The Bone and Joint Center --
Specialist #1 agrees a splint is sufficient.

September 27
Specialist #1 determines split can come off, except for gym class and rough play.

October 7
The Boy slips WALKING (really!) down the cursed hill in front of our house.
Mom KNOWS the arm is broken without any "checks."
Doctor confirms and splints.

October 11
Specialist #2 determines The Boy needs surgery.
Apparently, this is not a minor break this time --
Mom can see that clearly from the x-ray.

October 12
The Boy undergoes a forearm reduction.
Anesthesia and The Boy do not get along for most of the day.

October 18 - November 16
Many more visits to The Bone and Joint Center for x-rays --
The Boy accumulates an expensive impressive sticker collection.

November 16
The cast comes off.
The Boy gets an expensive custom-fit camouflage splint.


November 16 - December 15
The Boy goes to occupational therapy.

Today - January 27 (exactly five months after first fall)
We visit The Bone and Joint Center for the last time
(at least for this injury).

-- 4 --

The Piano

We acquired a piano in October, only having to pay for moving and tuning costs. Miss Sunshine is going to begin taking lessons, as soon as I have a minute to figure out the who and when.

-- 5 --

The Baby's Latest Trick

I love this -- every time I put her in her Vikings outfit, she puts her arms in the air and yells, "Touch-up!" ...


... and then she lowers them and yells, "Touch-down!"

-- 6 --

The Cookies

Yesterday, as I was busy working, working, working on the aforementioned goal (see #1), the cookie jar was magically filled with homemade oatmeal raisin cookies (my favorite), without any intervention on my part, thanks to Miss Rose. (I love big kids!)

-- 7 --

The Date Night

It's Friday. I get to spend the evening with the man I love. Need I say more?

Have a great weekend.
And go check out more Quick Takes at Jen's.

Seven Quick Takes - The What We've Been Up To Edition

-- 1 --

Shortly after Daddy returned from Italy, we went to Minnesota for a long weekend. My MIL threw a wonderful graduation party for my DH, so though we were only in the Cities for three days, we were able to visit with many family members and some of our dearest friends.

-- 2 --

We left the girls in MN for a week of dancing with their friends because we thought we were going to close on our new house that week. Long story short -- we didn't. As of today, progress is being made and, hopefully, we'll be closing some time in the next week.

-- 3 --

We had a professional family photo taken for the first time in years (by a fellow blogger traveling the country in an RV with her family and taking pictures along the way). I can't wait to see the results!

-- 4 --

Almost all of the toys are packed. It has been too hot to play outside, too hot even to go swimming. LEGOS have been my lifesaver.

-- 5 --

I have been reading some wonderful books this month. I just finished Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life. I am in the middle of Kristin Lavransdatter -- why had I never heard of this novel until this year!?! And I'm finding Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living to be inspiring -- plus, with moving, I think I'm ideally situated to simplify and organize without the hassle of tearing up the house. I get to start with a blank slate!

-- 6--

Despite the fact that we haven't moved yet *panic* and I haven't even started planning and ordering books for the new school year *deep breath* under obedience to my husband, and in accord with our new family mission statement, I am planning a family vacation. We are going to Pepin, WI, Walnut Grove, MN, and DeSmet, SD ... can you guess why?

-- 7 --

A few days ago I mixed up some of this and put it in the freezer. I forgot it was there until just now. I suppose I can't have any yet -- it's only 10:30 -- but it is Friday, and we're having company for dinner, so I can start counting down at least. I'm going to try to finish packing up the lower level before then! Gotta run!

Have a great weekend!

And go visit Jen.

Seven Quick Takes - Volume 13

*** I know it's not Friday --
I wrote this in the car last night and couldn't post it until now. ***

-- 1 --

My DH has been home for a week now. We’ve been finally enjoying some time together as a family. This summer has been/is crazy -- first, all the flooding and busyness of helping people sandbag and evacuate, then Daddy in Italy for two and a half weeks, and now preparing to close on our house next week and move.

-- 2 --

Back in ’96 when Hubby and I were in Italy for a semester as undergrads, we took a weekend trip to northeastern Italy. We visited some small towns near the Slovenian border and one night tried a delicious strawberry liquor -- fragolino. We have never since been able to find it, even on return trips to Italy. Look what my DH found and brought back for me … along with a new purse! (I think he was getting tired of carrying my lipstick and license, etc. in his pocket when we go out alone and I don’t have a diaper bag with me!)

-- 3 --

Daddy also brought back souvenirs for the kids. They each got a Kinder Surprise Egg (which I just found out when I googled it are contraband!?! oops.) and a wall plaque of their patron saint. The older girls got rosary bracelets, The Boy got a crucifix for his new room, and The Baby got a new “baby.”

-- 4 --

The first morning Daddy was back we went out to brunch, which was very enjoyable, but what the kids REALLY wanted was Daddy’s homemade pancakes. He obliged the next morning.

-- 5 --

The Baby is really a Daddy’s girl and hasn't left his side since he got home. One of her favorite things to do is to eat breakfast out on the deck, listening to and watching the birdies. She brought Daddy with her this week. Two and a half weeks missing Daddy must seem like an eternity to a two-year-old.

-- 6 --

This weekend we’re back in the Twin Cities. The two older girls are very excited to be spending a week with their friends attending a special workshop at their dance studio. It just so happens that a friend from Bismarck is passing through the Twin Cities on Friday on his way back to Bismarck and can pick the girls up and bring them home. We can’t stay the whole week because we’re scheduled to close on our house this Friday.

-- 7 --

While we’re in town, my MIL is throwing a graduation party for my Hubby, so we’ll get to spend time with many family members and friends on our short visit to Minnesota.

Hope you all have a great weekend, too. And check out more Quick Takes at Jen's.

Seven Quick Takes - Volume 12

-- 1 --

I haven't been writing much lately. Mostly because when I started this blog one of the main reasons I did so was to focus on the JOY in life, something I have to be intentional about because it doesn't always come naturally for me. And to be honest, I've been having a hard time lately. It's been a long year. And I'm spent. But one of the things I've come to appreciate about many of you, my fellow bloggers, is how real you are, how transparent, how not afraid to admit your failings and frustrations. And I've found encouragement and support here that I never imagined when I began this endeavor. Because sometimes life is hard. Sometimes life is messy. Sometimes we're mad and sad and crabby. Sometimes we need to whine a little bit. At least I do. I'm writing this post to get some things off my chest and, hopefully, to be able to move on and begin writing JOYfully again. Consider yourself warned and proceed with caution.

-- 2 --

Relocating to a new place can be an exciting thing, yes. But moving five times, preparing for the sixth, in eleven years, with four children, is not my idea of a good time. In fact, moving is probably on my top-five list of least favorite things to do. Even more so when one is preparing to move into a house one doesn't want. Yes, we finally found a house. The flooding in Bismarck forced our hand. Housing is becoming even harder to obtain than it was before the flood hit. And, as more and more people have had to evacuate, renting has become impossible. I do not like the house we bought, but we had little choice. I cried and pouted for two days after we made the offer. I was mad. I am still sad and frustrated. I am ready to be settled and all I can see is what needs to be done to this house to make it "fine" until we can find what I really want -- something bigger. It sounds petty when I put it in words. After all, it's just a house. I know being "settled" is a silly thing to want because life can change at any moment. But I'm giving up something I've looked forward to for so long, almost our whole marriage. Graduate school is finally over, it's time to settle down a little bit and stay put. I like to entertain and this house doesn't have a formal dining room or a big enough kitchen to have another family over for a meal. I don't like the four-level layout. I'll have to share a bathroom with my clothes-pile-leaving-toothpaste-gooping-non-flushing kids. I'll never be able to take a bath without scrubbing the tub first. I don't like having the television in the main room of the house, but there's really no where else to put it. I like to keep the toys out of the bedrooms (where they complicate bedtime and the morning routine) and the schoolroom (where they distract), but the only other option is the dungeon, which needs some major work to turn it into a suitable playroom. And where in the world are we going to put the girls' dance floor and the elliptical? The garage?

-- 3 --

That brings me to my next lament: Irish dance, or the lack thereof. I really miss watching the girls compete and perform, even more than I thought I would. It was so fun for me. And for them. And they're good. And they still practice at home at least four days a week. And Miss Rose, especially, still misses it terribly and sheds tears on a monthly basis. And I haven't had time to do anything about it. And I don't know if I should, as much as I want to. And what are the other options? (As an aside: This week, finally, I have an opportunity to write a letter in support of importing more certified Irish dance instructors to the United States. If you live in an area that does not have access to Irish dance, and you are interested, especially if you live in the Bismarck area, please let me know and I can tell you how you can help by writing a similar letter.)

-- 4 --

Not only have I not found a way for the girls to keep up on their Irish dance, besides practicing at home, I did not sign my kids up for a single activity this past year, and they have nothing on the calendar for this summer. The girls saved up for half the cost of horse camp, like they usually do, but I haven't done anything about it. They've asked about swimming lessons and camps, but I haven't done anything about it. And, the thing is, it would be good for them, to meet people and get out of the house, but it would also be good for me to get them out of the house for a while ...

-- 5 --

... because I feel like the worst Mom ever lately. I need a break. Is it okay to admit that I don't even want to be around my kids lately? What will people think of me if I say that? Please tell me that once in a while you get so tired of doing and saying the same things over and over and over that you just want to scream or flee. Please tell me that sometimes you're convinced that your children have to be either disobedient, stupid, or deaf -- there's no other explanation, like "they're still children and they're learning" -- and you hope they're deaf, because that seems preferable to stupidity or disobedience.

This is a typical mood for me in early summer, after a long school year and a long winter, made even longer this year by Mother Nature and our inability to get out of the house on occasion. I need a break. Usually all I have to do is attend the Minnesota Catholic Home Education Conference at the end of May/beginning of June, and that gets me all revved up for another school year, excited about the possibilities, confirmed in our choice to home school. I wasn't able to attend this year. Big mistake.

Instead I've been reading Homeschooling with Gentleness. Last week I read:

We can sum up very quickly what people need to teach their own children. First of all, they have to like them, enjoy their company, their physical presence, their energy, foolishness, and passion. They have to enjoy all their talk and questions, and enjoy equally trying to answer those questions. They have to think of their children as friends, indeed very close friends, have to feel happier when they are near and miss them when they are away.

And you know what I thought? That's not me. I can't do it. I need to put the kids in school.

And what's worse? My feeling like a terrible mother has translated into the kids feeling like they are terrible kids. Which makes me feel even more like a terrible mother. It's a vicious cycle.

-- 6 --

And I certainly can't do it alone. And that's how I feel lately. Alone. Yes, I have my faith -- if I didn't I'd be institutionalized by now. And, yes, I have met several wonderful ladies here in Bismarck. And for that I'm grateful. But it takes time to establish relationships. I miss my old friends -- the kind of friends you can drop in on any time, without doing your hair or changing from the shirt your toddler wiped her nose on, the kind of friends from whose refrigerator (and wine cellar) you can help yourself, the kind of friends you can whine and cry and complain to without fear they're never going to want to spend time with you again, the kind of friends from whom you receive hugs and unconditional love and support. I miss my spiritual director. I miss my dad's science lessons and my sister-in-law's art lessons. I miss the children's museum and the science museum and the historical society and the zoo and the parks. I miss the familiarity that comes with living in a place for a long time and knowing where to go and what to do when you need a change of routine. I miss regular haircuts. I miss my doctor -- I want more babies, but I'm scared here without her.

And I want my husband, who left for Italy on Tuesday and won't be back until July 1. I want to celebrate his accomplishments together. Yes, the dissertation is done! But the job is just beginning, and it's a big job, starting a new program. And we both want it to succeed. I want to work with him on building the Catholic Studies program at the University. But I also want to go on vacation as a family, a real, long, don't-have-to-bring-any-work-with-us-for-the-first-time-in-I-don't-know-how-long summer vacation. I want to enjoy being with my family again.

-- 7 --

The first part of Lent this past year I learned an important, I would have said at the time "life-changing," lesson. I learned the importance of gratitude and its role in bringing JOY to my life.

Perhaps the biggest frustration of all right now is that I am such a slow learner, so incapable of changing. I so easily forget what I know to be true and let my emotions rule. This lesson of simple gratitude, which brought so much joy, was so easily forgotten, and I can't seem to get it back. And I have a hard time accepting my failings. I have a hard time accepting God's unconditional love for me. I have a hard time trusting Him.

I learned that, "Life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change." And yet I complain and long for something other than what I've been given. And I've been given a lot. Why can't I be happy that we have a house? Why can't I be grateful that my house is not being flooded? that my husband has a job? that I have four beautiful children who love me?

I could have written this, it so resonates in my soul:

In this wilderness, I keep circling back to this: I'm blind to joy's well every time I really don't want it. The well is always there. And I choose not to see it. Don't I really want joy? Don't I really want the fullest life? For all my yearning for joy, longing for joy, begging for joy -- is the bald truth that I prefer the empty dark? Prefer drama? Why do I lunge for control instead of joy? Is is somehow more perversely satisfying to flex control's muscle? ... Do I think Jesus-grace too impotent to give me the full life? Isn't that the only reason I don't always swill the joy? If the startling truth is that I don't really want joy, there's a far worse truth. If I am rejecting the joy that is hidden somewhere deep in this moment -- am I not ultimately rejecting God? Whenever I am blind to joy's well, isn't it because I don't believe in God's care? That God cares enough about me to always offer me joy's water, wherever I am, regardless of circumstance. But if I don't believe God cares, if I don't want or seek the joy He definitely offers somewhere in this moment -- I don't want God.... You have to want to see joy, God in the moment.... Only self can kill joy. I'm the one doing this to me.... The demanding of my own will is the singular force that smothers out joy -- nothing else. Pride, mine -- that beast that pulls on the mask of anger -- that is what snaps this hand shut, crushes joy. (from One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp)

And so, I struggle. I fall. I get up again. I count on my God, whose mercies are new each day.

And I ask for your prayers.

Thanks for listening,
Michelle

(For more quick takes, hopefully of the more upbeat kind, visit Jen.)

Quick Takes - Volume 11

So, last time I posted, more than a week ago already (!), I posted about time, specifically how time is not our own, especially if you're a mother.

Case in point: I have not had time to post since last Thursday! Why?

-- 1 --

Last Saturday I spent the whole day -- and I mean the. whole. day (like from eight in the morning until ten at night) -- trying to catch up on my other job. I did take some breaks to eat and the like. If you are a homeschooling mother contemplating doing some "real" work (also known as that work for which someone else gives you money), I advise against it. Don't get me wrong. My job has been a huge blessing during these husband-in-graduate-school years. And I do enjoy the work. Really. It's a good and necessary ministry. But ... I am finding myself more and more unable to deal with the stress of having to get twenty-five hours of something-other-than-taking-care-of-my-family-in-the-way-I-want-to in.

St. Raymond of Penyafort, patron saint of canon lawyers, pray for us.

-- 2 --

Since cupboards and refrigerators do not fill themselves, and since I was working all day Saturday, we had to spend Sunday running errands. This is something I do not particularly like to do on Sunday. I would have rather been outside enjoying one of the last warm days of fall with my family. But we tried to make the best of it, by running errands together as a family. And the week goes much more smoothly when I have a menu and the groceries to make the items on said menu.

St. Martha, patron saint of cooks and homemakers, pray for us.

-- 3--

Monday morning I put The Baby down for her nap and then The Boy and I went to look at some houses. It's been a while since I posted a housing update. Our main criteria in our housing hunt is space, both inside and out. What we've found is that the old houses in the city with lots of space inside, don't have very much outside, and the houses with a lot of land are too small for our growing, spend-a-lot-of-time-in-the-house-because-we-homeschool-and-the-winters-are-long family. Whether or not to purchase in the city or the country has been a quandary for me for some time. I like the idea of living in the country. a lot. But ... what does that mean for my children in terms of friends and extracurricular activities. Do I say no? Or do I spend a lot of time in the car? Right now it's not a huge issue, but as they get older .... I would love you country ladies to chime in now with your thoughts on this issue.

St. Joseph, patron saint of finding a home, pray for us.

-- 4 --

Tuesday I was able to cross a major item off my to-do-in-my-nonexistent-spare-time list. (By the way, how do you like all my hyphenations today?) I had The Baby's picture taken. The other three had their pictures taken at the hospital, when they were three months old, when they turned one, and then formal pictures at eighteen months. My Gramma has 16x20 portraits of each of her three children at eighteen months of age hanging over her couch. My Mom has 16x20 portraits of my three siblings and me hanging on the wall in the master bedroom. I have 16x20 portraits of my three oldest children, unframed, in a box in the basement. Hmmm ... The Baby is twenty months old and hasn't had her picture taken by a photographer other than mom since she was two weeks old. You can see my problem. With the move and starting school and finding a photographer ... anyway ... it's done! She didn't show her dimples, but we'll see how they turned out in a couple of weeks.

St. Veronica, patron saint of photographers, pray for us.

Tuesday we also attended a new parishioners dinner at our new parish. And a great parish full of wonderful people it is. We are so blessed.

-- 5 --

Wednesday was an exciting day for The Boy. He had his first guitar lesson. My little man LOVES music -- he likes to sing and play his harmonica and xylophone and mess around on the guitar he got for his birthday last year. He has been eager to learn to "really" play something and he's been asking about guitar lessons for over a year. I contacted the music department at the University and found a senior music education major who is willing to come over to our house once a week and give The Boy lessons.

St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, pray for us.

-- 6 --

Thursday the girls and I took our first steps toward bringing Irish dance to this German city. We met with the director of a local dance studio. She would love to offer Irish dance. I'm going to try and help her find a certified teacher. This would certainly make things easier for me. The Girls love to dance and want to continue, but driving back to the Twin Cities for private lessons ... not my favorite thing to do every four to six weeks. Dance has also always been the girls social network too, so it would be good to have that opportunity again.

St. Vitus, patron saint of dancers, pray for us.

-- 7 --

And that brings us to Friday again. You know, it's amazing to me where God has brought me. Last year at this time, I was shuddering over the possibility of moving to Bismarck, North Dakota. I can't tell you how many hours I spent crying in the shower, away from my children's questioning looks and not wanting to discourage my DH. But, once again, God knew what was best for us. You'd think I would have learned this by now. Trust, trust, trust! And that's what I'm still working on. I trust that I will know when it's the right time to quit my job. I trust that things will slow down (a little) and we'll have more of a family life when the dissertation is done. I trust that I won't always have to run errands on Sundays. I trust that we will find the house that God has waiting for us, whether in the city or in the country.

And I am grateful. I am grateful for all that I have been given. I am grateful for my faith. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I get from you, my blog friends. I am grateful for my friends in real life -- old and new. I am grateful for my husband's perseverance on his dissertation. I am grateful for his new job and that I get to share in the exciting things happening at the University of Mary. And I am especially grateful for my children and the opportunity I have to spend hours with them each and every day, watching them grow and learn and love.

All you holy men and women, pray for us!

Have a good weekend!

And check out more quick takes at Conversion Diary.

(Not So) Quick Takes - Volume 10

Yes, friends, we are still alive -- barely, some days, but alive. And happy. Today, I am so. very. tired. Which is why I'm sitting here blogging instead of packing boxes. Plus, it's too hot to pack boxes. Anyway ... here's a brief look at what we've all been up to the last month.

--- 1 ---
The Baby

The Baby had many "firsts" this past month.

her first time using a fork

Although she promptly took the food off the fork ...


... before putting it in her mouth.

She has since managed to put the fork with the food on it into her mouth.

her first time riding one of these spring-y things
(What do you call them anyway?)


her first time sliding


her first time swinging like a big girl

her first time swimming (or sitting) in a lake


and, at long last, her first steps!

At almost sixteen months of age, The Baby is my latest walker. Her Father's Day gift to Daddy was her first steps. (I think she didn't like the way the grass felt on her legs when she was crawling in it!)

(I have some great video of her first steps, but I can't figure out how to get it easily from iPhoto to Blogger. Blogger tells me it's uploading video, but it never stops. Help anyone?)

--- 2 ---
The Boy

The Boy also had a first in June -- his first time riding a bike with no training wheels.

The Boy also spent a very. hot. week. at Sports Camp. He played basketball.

He played baseball.

And he played soccer (more good videos that I can't post). for three hours every day.

He slept very well that week.

--- 3 ---
The Girls

The Girls spent their favorite week of the summer at horse camp again.


They also attended Young Irish Musicians Weekend.


And they competed at the Twin Cities Feile.

The Younger Girl got to wear a new (to her) solo dress for the first time. She earned two firsts and three fourths!

And The Older Girl got to spend some time with her best friend from Milwaukee. She earned four firsts and a second.

--- 4 ---
Mom

My life for the last month has revolved around carting The Kids to the above events, working, and packing, packing, packing for our big move. There are boxes and dust bunnies everywhere -- sorry, no pictures.

--- 5 ---
Dad

My DH has been working diligently on his dissertation. I've heard more positives than negatives lately. We're all cheering him along. Go, Daddy!!! Say a prayer, please, for a November defense and a December graduation.

--- 6 ---
The Family

We have been to the zoo. Our highlights this trip were playing at the great play area, watching the prairie dogs, and observing the bears wrestle.

We have been to the beach. (I tried to upload a few pictures, but I think I've reached my quota for this post because Blogger won't let me!)

We have been to Bismarck looking for a house. No luck yet. Another prayer please?

--- 7 ---
The Future

The Older Girl and I leave on Sunday for Orlando where she will be competing at Nationals for Irish dance.

When we return on Wednesday, we will have three days to spend with my brother and sister-in-law and my newest nephew.

The following Wednesday is moving day!

Maybe I'll be back here before August ... but, then again, maybe not!

Happy summer!