Bankruptcy to Billions (spiritually speaking!)

   It is astounding to me how impoverished I really am, and how, naturally speaking, I get so STUCK in bad thoughts, lies, negative emotion.  When I go with those starting points, I am quickly down the wrong path, trying to make myself feel better in unhealthy ways, and perpetuating the cycle of destruction.
    It is equally astounding to be how rich the Christian faith is.  When I 1) pray, 2) read the Bible, 3) participate in the liturgy, it is amazing how I can go from total poverty to immense wealth in an instant.
    -Forgiving those who are just plain wrong or just plain hurtful
    -Unhooking from weak and finite people/material goods and attaching to Almighty God
    -Transforming from using anger or manipulation to get what you want, and instead, achieving the highest goals through Divine power and intercessory prayer

   These are just some examples.
   This morning, I prayed, and something I had been upset about for a while just resolved in my heart. God spoke right to my heart, bringing His Word of Scripture to me and making it come alive.  I stood up to of my chair a royal child of God, stillness and calm in my spirit, knowing I had already conquered, I had already won.

Beginning Adolescence

    While I am not really enjoying this time of our family being apart, I must say that a silver lining is all the time I am getting with Jacob.  This year was his transformation year: getting braces, being accepted into school, voice changing.  Adolescence, here we are.
   He and I have so much time to talk, every day.  He tells me all about each day of summer school, how he is feeling, what he is thinking.  We really talk.  I cannot imagine a better foundation being laid for his upcoming year, starting school and me having a new baby.  A lot is about to change.  It is so remarkable that he and I have this time to establish a really honest rapport, so that he can talk through whatever he needs to.  Yesterday he was telling me about the boys who use bad language.  We also saw a movie rated PG, but we wound up discussing the inappropriate scenes. He really seems to WANT to discuss these things, to be extra clear about his personal opinion or stance on these matters.  I just love it.  I am so glad he wants to talk.  I am so glad he listens.  This time is creating a pattern that, even if deviated from, we can always go back to.  Perhaps in the long run, this lonely month will have been worth it ten times over.

Fun with Jake, Leigh and Annie

    It is such a blast being with only 3 kids--we are having such fun!
    One high point was all 4 of us in the pool all afternoon.

I haven't hung out like that in ages!

A School Mom--for the First Time!

    It is so strange to be a school mom--for the first time!  Jake started summer school last week, getting ready to matriculate in the fall in Cistercian Prep School.  Goodness, it is so fun!  He is so happy to be doing well, getting hundreds so far!
    This is a main reason why we came home early, and it is sure worth it--setting him up for a smooth transition.  I pray that the fall is smooth and fun for him!
    First day of school:

 I can hardly believe it:

 Franny drives with us:

 Annie gets to ride along:

 End of the first week bowling extravaganza to celebrate:

Returning Home

Jacob, Leigh, Annie and I traveled for 18 hours to get home--we all stayed awake the entire time with the help of a little caffeine!  Annie on caffeine is sort of funny. :)

But we came home to a house with no power, so we stayed in a hotel.  That was fun too!

     The next day was a good one despite our car breaking down and needing to call AAA.  I think the challenges were God's way of showing me how strong I am, and how, even at 8 months pregnant, I can do what I need to do, even with our family in two parts! 

     Ron is still in Italy, with Clare and Mary, finishing the Summer Rome Program.  It is for the sake of Ron keeping his role as director for future summers, and that seems worth it.  But goodness, it is a little unnatural to be separated for a month, at the end of a pregnancy!  So I have asked God, "Can I do this?"  I think He showed me right away just how well I could, and that there is nothing to be concerned about.  Hooray!

Last Days in Italy

Seeing Pope Francis, and receiving his blessing!

A pilgrimage to Cascia, the home of St. Rita--what an incredible woman of faith!

The Roman Forum and Colosseum. . .

Such a blessing to have had such a special trip!  Such a blessing, I am so, so grateful!

Lunch Near the Spanish Steps

A Joyful Time for Our Marriage

Enjoying a renaissance of our marriage in home of the Renaissance!

more pics

Birthday mass under Bernini's window of the Holy Spirit in St. Peter's

Gandolfo 

Nemi

(strawberry tarts made with Nemi's famous strawberries)

Piazza Navona

(I ate so much of Annie's homemade pasta carbonara that she cried, "Mom, I'm so HUNGY!" as I was paying the bill!)

Clare near the Pantheon

Annie at the Spanish Steps

Trip to Florence

   Annie, Leigh and I took a trip to Florence!  What A DELIGHT.  We stayed at a nice hotel, had nice food, went to Mass at the Duomo, shopped in the Lorenzo mercato, and best of all, enjoyed Fra Angelico's monastery, full of frescoes he painted.

    Fra Angelico's monastery was the main reason we went.  I burst into tears when we walked into the monastery.  Being there 20 years ago had been a life-changing experience for me.  Seeing this monk having painted frescoes all over his monastery walls, including scenes from the life of Christ in all the cells, shaped me.  It inspired me as to how to craft one's daily life in a holy way; how to bring one's faith into the ordinary aspects of one's everyday environment.  It was big for me that this famous painter turned saint (at least, blessed) was not primarily painting altarpieces for public churches (although he did that too).  HIs best work (in my opinion) was for the private cells and corridors in which the monks resided.
    That spoke volumes to me: give your best talent to your home, your private world and the people in it.  If there is something left over, give it to the public.
    My life since then has been shaped exactly according to that model.  Giving my best spirituality, my best talent, the best my self has to offer to those in my private world--that is the choice I have made.
    Being in Fra Angelico's monastery 20 years later was emotional for me, inspiring for me, and gives me great support in the choices I had been making.
    Oh, how I love the museo san marco!