Christmas in Merano

 We are in one of the most beautiful towns I've ever seen--Merano, which is located in the northern region of Italy called Trentino Alto Adige. This town is known for relaxation and beauty, and authors, empresses and psychologists alike have discovered it and spent long periods here. There is a little ski basin, and we did not plan to ski much. My only hope was that Leigh, who is going on a ski trip with her school this coming February, would get some practice so she does not break a leg this winter. Even as small as this basin is, several of us have taken advantage of the skiing as well as the thermal baths and Christmas markets. We are so blessed! 

Christmas Cookies

 Sebastian has caught up with Annie in helpfulness in the kitchen. Just in the past week has has taken a big leap forward, learning how to wash dishes properly, cut fruit, and even make scrambled eggs (with a little help). 

  Annie, in all her awesomeness, made cookie dough a day in advance. Then yesterday, we rolled out the cookie factory! Christmas cookies galore!

The Burden Lifted

After a HARD month, a HARD week, being sick with a fever and quarantined with my son, I emerged from the darkness and had a GREAT DAY. 

First: My 11-year-old daughter sings in a Byzantine choir. Our church in Grottaferrata is Roman Catholic but has a Greek rite, having been established before the Schism in 1054--it's a long story. My daughter sings in their teen choir. I walked in on them to pick her up at the end of rehearsal. They were just beginning a hymn to Mary. . . in Greek. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. Afterwards she was glowing. My daughter was telling me how choir gives her an excuse to sing her heart out for 1.5 hours twice a week, with no one (like little brothers) to tell her to be quiet. 

Second: My 16-year-old daughter is going to perform in a musical recital with a group, and she will be playing guitar. Six months ago, you could not have bribed her to play in front of people. Now she has actually picked out what she wants to wear--white go-go boots, black pants and a white t-shirt with orange graphics. She is actually excited. She does not have the boots so I told her the chores she can do to earn the money. She responded, "I might do that" which for her is a hard commitment. Awesome. 

Third: My seven-year-old son took my phone tonight and read Vespers. We all read Evening Prayer together out loud as a family. Sebastian has been learning to read English and Italian at the same time at school--I'd be slow on the uptake too. After all this time of watching, listening, and trying to follow along, tonight he grabbed my phone with the readings on it. It was like a budding singer grabbing a mike. Make it count and never turn back! Sebastian read his heart out. He dominated. The older kids usually take turns reading the various prayers and readings that are not communal prayer. But Sebastian read all of them that we'd let him! He read right through the intentions and then the Magnificat at the end. He was so proud of himself. His older sisters beamed, watching him in amazement. It was raw delight for us all. 

Fourth: My 12-year-old daughter is learning German while learning more Italian. Tonight she announced that she is picking up Russian in her spare time. After she corrected Sebastian three times, we all agreed that she is going to be the strictest parent of the bunch. Given her proclivity to fruit (she would eat only fruit if you'd let her), we joked that her kids are going to be fruit-a-terians! 

When pressures mount, illness weighs heavily and burdens confuse my mind, I can lose my peace, lose my joy. I give in to the stupid lie of "anxiety." Oh, how am I not past that by now? I am almost 50 years old and have everything a Christian could want. I have God and I have the vocation God picked for me. It is so fulfilling. How can I ever let external things bother me? I am richly blessed. 

Advent Inspiration

 Happy first Sunday of Advent! Here is an incredible quote from Reginald Lynch's Cleansing of the Heart: 

"Although [the humanity of Christ being conjoined to the divinity of Christ as an instrument] involves an obediential elevation of Christ's humanity, this union in itself is not the finality towards which the instrumentality of the Incarnation is directed; rather, the purpose of the Incarnation is the divination of the human person in grace." (p. 139)

I am just knocked off my seat. This author peers into the mystery of the union of the divinity and humanity of Christ, that unfathomable union which in itself is awe-inspiring. How does God become a human? How does a human become God? It is almost too much to even ask. 

But then this author says that this mystery, as glorious as it is, is not for its own sake. The union of the humanity of Christ to the divinity of Christ has as its real purpose us--the "divination of the human person in grace." How truly incredible that the Incarnation is not mainly about God, but is mainly about you. It is not ultimately to show God's greatness (which it does), but to accomplish our communion with God. 

That makes me want to think about Jesus, the Incarnate Son, in a new way. When you see a picture of the Buddha or your grandmother, you can think about that other person who may or may not be related to you. But when you think about Christ, it would be more fitting to understand his very existence as an existence inherently designed and oriented toward us. It is not just existing, but existing-for. 

Truly Christ is Immanuel, God with Us. Reaching out to us. 

Have a blessed and prayerful Advent!

Blessed by the Sanfords

 It has been JOY to be with my beautiful friend, Rebecca Sanford, and her husband, Jonathan J. Sanford, president of the University of Dallas. They joined us on the Rome campus this past week and J.J. gave a presentation at the Angelicum. Being a student at the Angelicum myself, it was a joyful intersection of the two institutions that mean the most to me. Having dinner at the Hotel Forum's garden terrance restaurant with Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., Sr. Catherine Joesph Droste, O.P., as well as J.J. Sanford and other members of our UD community was a true highlight. 

 

Sacrifice of Praise

In Psalm 50, the psalmist says that the Lord asks for "a sacrifice of praise." What does this mean? How do we do that? Even more to the point, how do we do it when we are burdened by problems and life's many stresses? After prayer, conversation with Ron, and discernment, this is what I believe: 

"Sacrifice" literally means "to make holy." Sacra means "holy" and facere means "to make." So when we sacrifice, we are not just doing something self-effacing, choosing against our comforts or ease. We are taking the profane and making it holy. 

"Praise" is harder for me. What is that? A close cousin of praise is worship. Worship I identify with more than praise. In worship, I acknowledge that God is God, and I am not God. I take that moment and "say" with my whole being, "I love you, you who are God." I love worship. I came to cultivate frequent worship when I became Catholic. Going to daily Mass was my training in worship. It was so different from the kind of worship I had done previously as a Protestant Evangelical. Worship music, for example, and singing in gatherings, was the basis of my worship before I became Catholic. This always involved emotions. And it felt a lot about me as the worshipper having the "right" kind of feelings. But when I became Catholic and started going to daily Mass, I began to worship God in a non-emotional way. This was good. It was a step toward maturity in worship. It took me and my feelings out of it, and placed the emphasis on God. In the Mass, proper worship is accomplished by grace, and does not rely on my little contribution. I "work" to be attentive in Mass, engage and involve my whole self. But it is not rooted in emotions, or what Aquinas calls "the passions." The passions, for Aquinas, are based in the body. They are physical. The passions are a weaker, less perfect basis for worship than my whole mind, soul and heart giving my love and self-surrender to God. 

Is worship the same thing as praise? Praise may be very close but is a little different. I believe praise is giving glory to God. How do we give glory to God? In several ways. First, in our being. When we are like Christ, we are giving him glory. Hence lies the importance of choosing a vocation that fashions us into the image of Christ. This gives him glory and is a form of praise. Second, in our actions. Acts of mercy, both spiritual and corporeal, give glory to God. Third, in our words. What kind of words are words of praise? Ron had the insight that when he praises his daughter, he does not say, "I praise you." He said, "Way to go on your history assignment." It is called an internal accusative when the verb is the same word as the object: "A builder building." To say, "I praise you" is a kind of internal accusative, in that the act of praise uses the word praise. Augustine does this regularly throughout the Confessions and it is not wrong: "I praise you, Lord." But Ron said that it is another, legitimate way to praise, not use the word "praise" when we praise God. Instead, we tell God what we appreciate, what we adore, why we love him. "You are all-good, all-loving, all-powerful. You deserve all of me. You are my God." I sometimes say to my children, "You are AMAZING!" We can say that to God in so many words, in a way fitting to God. I like that. It makes sense to me. 

Today, then, how do I make a "sacrifice of praise"? I have a lot on my mind. There are many, many life stresses swirling around me. I cannot sit in an Adoration chapel for 6 hours, even though that is what I would prefer to do. How I wish I could just set up a cot in a chapel and bask in front of a tabernacle all day and night????? No, God has called me to an active vocation. He called me to it. I was ready to become a nun. In my twenties I was seeking an order that suited me. But God swept me off my feet and wooed me into a life of marriage and motherhood. And God's fingerprint is all over it every day.  The Christ-like self-surrender, the Passion, the making of my whole self a life-long gift to my husband, nourishing my children with my own body and blood. . . Jesus forms the shape of this vocation. It is a cruciform life. 

When I get overwhelmed with having to fix the brakes on the car, cook dinner, do our personal accounting, help my children with homework, sweep the floors again because our dog sheds so prolifically, call my sister, deal with the business aspects of our life, raise some money for the nonprofit I work with, remind my daughter to rotate the laundry while I am calling our banker and discussing our investments. . . What is a sacrifice of praise? It is three-fold. 1) It is being like Christ; bringing the spirit of Christ into every interaction. Keeping a keen sense that God is in charge and if I give it all to him, he will govern my life with wisdom, justice and mercy.  2) It is choosing actions that glorify God: bear with others patiently; admonishing when necessary; forgiving when we are wronged. 3) It is saying to God in my heart and with my lips, "I consecrate it all to you. I take this profane subject matter and ask that you would make it holy." The signs of doing this effectively are joy and peace. Can I step back after a difficult phone call and let go of it? Recall joy, and bring it to the forefront of my soul? Can I be at peace, trusting in God, and knowing that he has a good plan for my life? If I am worrying or have the weight of Atlas on my shoulders, it is not a perfect sacrifice of praise. A sacrifice of praise means facing each challenge and duty with a sense of trust in God, as a daughter lovingly trusts her dad whom she knows will take care of her. 

Today, I ask God for the grace to make my whole day a sacrifice of praise. I ask that God, by his infinite mercy (since I have nothing to offer in this regard), would fill me with a sense of joyful confidence: "God, my Father, can do this."  I thank God in advance for being the one, omnipotent, benevolent, wise, truthful, God, so simple that he is the very sum of all existence, esse ipsum subsistens. He is the one who IS the plentitude of perfections. All good things trace back to God. This awe-inspiring God is my dad. He is my adoring father who holds me, cherishes me, has time for me. He will attend to all the little details of my life, the annoying, mundane, stupid stuff that I don't even have time for. He being God will still deign to care and work assiduously to help me with and through it all. Because that is the kind of father he is. And that is why I will attend to the details of my child's life as well, and the lives of all those whom I love. I offer my trust in this God who is my all in all, and ask for perfect peace, which surpasses all understanding. 

Gearing Up for Thanksgiving!

Time to get ready for Thanksgiving! No, you can't find pumpkin or Caro syrup here in Italy. But never fear! I brought 3 cans of pumpkin from the US to Italy last week. I am looking up recipes and gearing up for the big day next week. Just to get into the spirit of it, here is my video from last year! I can't help but fill up with joy and gratitude watching it!

https://youtu.be/4QHqZP2klEM

 

Link to Talk on Motherhood

https://youtu.be/nx4vrKgRHb0 

Metaphysics of Motherhood

It was a joy and a privilege to speak to a packed house at the University of Dallas about motherhood. We covered the metaphysics of motherhood so as to disclose its full dignity. My thesis is that choosing to prioritize motherhood is not a merely "traditional" or old-fashioned thing to do. In the light of the 2 World Wars and the personalism that ensued, a life of love is one answer offered by philosophers and theologians as to how to be genuinely happy and how to combat the evils of our time. Choosing motherhood as one's life ambition can be this very choice for a life of love, I argue, and hence can be a forward-thinking vocation attuned to the issues of our day.  

I was so grateful for the warm reception that the students at the University of Dallas extended to me. How I love this university! 

Many thanks to Dave Palmer as well for having me on Guadalupe Radio and conversing with him about motherhood in today's cultural setting. 

Talk tonight at the University of Dallas

One of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me is Jacob Rombs insisting that I come to UD to give a talk on my book. He organized it and insisted that I come. I would never have done this if it were not for him. What a precious son! Thank you, Jacob!

Fabulous Leah!

 We were so HONORED and BLESSED to have my sister Leah come for a visit! She was with us all week and rolled up her sleeves and helped us with daily life! She really blended in and was a joy to have around. We had a fun Friday night party and she made carrot cake with Leigh while Clare and I talked about boys. We love you, Leah!!!!

Quote of the Day

 "We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus." 

                                                                      --St. John Paul II

What a Date!

Ron surprised me and took me on a date. Saturday morning he said, "I want to take you to Cascia today!" He knew I was dying to go to the home town of St. Rita, a saint mother. And so we drove 3 hours each way and enjoyed the medieval town in all its loveliness. The leaves are changing. Ron and I drove through miles and miles of glowing golden trees. The mountains of Umbria are much higher than I realized and so we got a true mountain top experience! Possibly the best unexpected moment was the sandwich Ron got me: a panini with local porchetta, local pecorino cheese, and ultra-local tartufo spread. I've never had anything like it and it makes me love Umbria all the more! 

Halloween and All Saints Day

We had one of our best Halloweens ever! For school, Annie carved a pumpkin and dressed her up as Audrey Hepburn. Then she dressed as a Halloween-themed emoji!

For Halloween itself, we went to the UD campus. Annie dressed herself as Audrey Hepburn this time, and Sebastian was originally a ninja but turned into a zombie after a visit at the neighbor's Halloween party where they painted his face and clothes. 

My favorite part was Mass at UD. The priest announced Mass for the next day, and Sebastian actually shouted out loud: "Yay!"  

Theological Thursday: Our Daily Bread

 Isn't it interesting that Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread"?

As a comfortable 21st century American, I am rarely hungry for long. I usually interpret this verse spiritually, asking God to supply all my needs and help me rely on him rather than engage in self-sufficiency or a Pelagian self-reliance. 

But today I was hungry. Really hungry. And I was not sure when I would get food. I have been hungry a lot recently, since I am now in Rome everyday, usually for about 6 hours. I have not sorted to whether to bring food with me or wait until I get home to eat, and I've tried various options with little success (since I don't eat breakfast foods that are easily portable.) Today I was overcome with hunger and it almost felt like an existential crisis. I broke down and bought a spicy salami panini (doesn't that even sound delicious?). I usually avoid everything in it--pork, cheese and white bread. But I devoured it like I had not eaten in a week. 

Then somehow the Lord's Prayer came to mind. I had prayed it multiple times already today. But that verse came to my mind. I thought, "Who would suggest a prayer for daily bread to rich people? Rich people don't worry about their daily bread. They worry about hiring the cooks who make the bread or the investments that generated the money that paid for the bread. But daily bread is not a wealthy person's prayer." 

I realized that Christ really did speak to the poor. He loved the poor. He identified with the poor. In many ways, he was poor. I love that. It really helps me to embrace the poverty in my life, and detach from worldly concerns. 

Frascati Museum

 Annie and I had a wonderful time meeting up in Frascati with some other parents and students from her class. We went to the museum in Frascati where there are remains dating back to the 4th c. B.C! This area is rich, fertile and temperate. Culture after culture has re-made it for themselves. And here we are! There was also an art competition for local artists. The theme is "wine" and 200 artists submitted versions on that theme. It was really fun to see the creativity of so many people. 

Appian Way

 I had a lovely stroll down the ancient Appian Way, the Appia Antica, with an accomplished tour guide, Annie. She had gone with her class and learned so much. She shared with me all along the way! We walked for 3.5 hours! 

The Italian Alps

They are ALL they are cracked up to be! In 5th grade, Annie learned about all the regions of Italy in her Italian school. She fell in love with Trentino Alto Adige, one of the alpine regions in northern Italy. She has raved about it for over a year. She says she wants to move there when she grows up. 

Finally, we had a window to travel, and so Annie, Leigh, Clare, Sebastian and I high-tailed it to the mountains by train. It was breathtaking and restorative. The town we visited, Merano, is known for its therapeutic hot springs. It is a quaint, classy, adorable little village right on the Adige River. We are desperately hoping to go back when they have their Christmas market! And when Annie moves there, I am sure to follow her! 

 

Saint Sebastian

We went to Mass at the Basilica of San Sebastiano where St. Sebastian is buried. His tomb is above a beautiful statue of his martyrdom. Across from this enclave is another with Bernini's last statue, Christ as Savior of the World. It is so beautiful. 

Being in that church was very moving to me. It is one of the oldest pilgrim destinations of Rome. Saints such as St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bridget of Sweden and countless others have gone to pray there. 

We named our youngest child "Sebastian" after St. Sebastian because he was martyred twice. After recovering from his near-death execution of being shot with arrows for being a Christian, he challenged the emperor directly and implored him to become a Christian. Surely Sebastian knew this would mean his death. I marvel at someone brave enough to face death knowingly twice--that second time is the courage that I fear I lack and would be so blessed to have. 

St. Sebastian, pray for us! 

Leigh is now at the Swiss School of Rome

 Look at who is starting high school--at the Swiss School of Rome! The primary language is German and the default language is Italian. She studied German all summer and is at the B1 level. And now she really starts learning! 

  She just went on an overnight excursion with her class to a place with Etruscan sites and an archaeological museum. She had 24 hours of hanging out with high schoolers that are from all over Europe. What an intense, exciting experience! 

Brings tears to my eyes to see friends and family support Mighty Is Her Call!

People I never imagined have given their support today. It is so moving to me! It makes me feel like the years of (unpaid) hard work mean something to someone. I am so touched! 

We really need the financial support: 1) to keep our nonprofit status, and 2) to invite low-income moms to our events at no cost, keep our blog ad-free, and expand our reach. 

Please share with anyone you think might donate today! 

https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation_org&fwID=6230

Thank you! 

 

Can You Believe Clare?

 Can you even find her in this sea of huge, bald, Italian men? 

This is Clare's jiu-jitsu class! In the U.S., she trained in the kids' class for many years. Getting back into it, she is now considered an adult at this school. So, she is learning to train with these burly guys! And she flips the heck of of them, too! She ROCKS. In the running for the coolest Rombs ever (but it is stiff competition). 

Missing Our Grandad

Today we celebrate the life of Kenneth Rombs. The great-grandfather of our six children, the grand-father of Ron, Kenneth was a truly great man. My favorite thing about him when we first met was visiting the cabin that he built with his own 2 hands, and him driving his boat and taking me for a twirl water-skiing at the lake at that cabin. I was actually sort of amazed I could still water ski--even slalom--as an adult! It was a great time during Ron's and my engagement. 

PawPaw, we will miss you! 

 

Travel Vlog: Pros and Cons of Vacationing in Crete

 https://youtu.be/R62-uTGfK7g

Movie Recommendation

Annie (age 11) and I just watched Quo Vadis. Oh my goodness, this is such a great movie. It is about Nero, his tyrannical regime, the burning of Rome, and the persecution of Christians. Annie's take-away was that Christianity made a HUGE improvement on paganism, Christianity helped women in establishing their rightful dignity, that government officials have a duty to uphold the public good and do not have the freedom to put their own good over that of the people, and that Christians have something truly remarkable in their spirit of love, forgiveness and pacifism. It was rather violent for an 11 year old, and that is the youngest age I think it is suitable for. That said, all the older people in my family benefit from seeing it. 

Quo Vadis is available for rent on Apple TV. I hope you enjoy!

VLOGGING Santa Maria in Trastevere

Although I have 6 episodes of "Captivated by Motherhood" up on my YouTube channel, my sweet son Jacob said, "Mom, you should just vlog stuff as well!" And so it begins, with this short clip on one of the oldest and most famous churches in Rome, Santa Maria in Trastevere: 

https://youtu.be/XXHm-4Hf-jY 

Rest in Peace, Fr. Joe Koeterski

 I am grieving the loss of my dear friend and mentor, Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J. He died suddenly of a heart attack as he was giving a retreat at Fordham University, his place of residence and work. 

  He taught me Thomas Aquinas and was my spiritual director as I was in graduate school and coming into the church. How we will miss you, Fr. Joe!

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/08/11/jesuit-father-joseph-koterski-death-remembrance-life-241203

New Video Podcast

 The long-awaited second episode of my video podcast, "Captivated by Motherhood," is now live! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/5WzZ2JVIoPg

Episode 3 is coming soon! 

Sebastian in the Hospital

After multiple doctors' visits to figure out why he has such bad acid reflux, Sebastian was admitted to the Children's Hospital in Dallas to do a procedure on his GI track. I was grateful to be in the US, grateful for good medical care. I was grateful that the docs would give him general anesthesia so he would be able to handle the whole ordeal. The doctors were fantastic with Sebastian, and "took care" of Boo the puppy dog. 

But who was going to give me some anesthesia?? Golly! What stress! 

Thankfully, we got news today: Sebastian does not need surgery. He has an irritated stomach (we knew that!) but all he needs is a regime of meds. Whew! That is a relief! 

Snow in Rome Today

 Today, despite the oppressive August heat, it will “snow” in Rome. It is the day that the Church commemorates the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The story goes that in the 4^th century, a couple who had not been able to conceive prayed to the Virgin Mary to obtain for them a child. Mary appeared to them in a vision and said she wanted a church built in her honor, and to demonstrate her wish, she would have snow fall on the hill where the church was to be built. The pope had a dream that night to the same effect. The next day, on the 5^th of August, it snowed on the Esquiline Hill. The pope immediately began construction of the church. To celebrate the origins of this Basilica, during the High Mass on this feast day, white rose petals are dropped from the dome of the church, reminiscent of snow. One other rose petal dropping is traditional in Rome, red petals falling from the oculus of the Pantheon on Pentecost. 

The Basilica of St. Mary Major has dozens of mosaics from the 5^th century, the oldest in Rome and one of the oldest in all of Italy (second to Ravenna). The mosaics, originally 42, tell salvation history from Abraham through the birth of Christ. While the mosaics tell the story of Christ as the fulfillment of the promises of God to the Jewish people, Mary is the one through whom the promises are realized. As such, she is celebrated as a regal figure in the mosaics. In 431, the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus affirmed the unity of the 2 natures of Christ (human and divine), and as a result, Mary’s title as theotokos was upheld and re-affirmed (it had been in use since ancient times until Nestorius challenged it). The Basilica of St. Mary Major was dedicated to Mary as theotokos by Pope Sixtus III after the Council.  

 

There is a lot to love about the Basilica we celebrate today, August 5^th: the gold on the ceilings is that brought back by Christopher Columbus to Spain and given as a gift by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain; relics from Bethlehem; and a beautiful ancient image of Mary, under which Pope John Paul II kept an oil lamp lit throughout his pontificate. My personal favorite, however, is the mosaic of the dormition of Mary. Next to the sleeping Mary is the adult Christ, holding the infant Mary, symbolic of holding her soul as she departs this life. It is the inverse of the Madonna and Child image—here, it is Jesus holding the Child Mary. 

 

Only Catholics would have a feast day dedicated to a building! To the Protestant mind, it’s hard enough to venerate saints. And now, brick and mortar? But I understand that this ancient site is a sacred space. It heralds and holds the message: Christ is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to humanity, and that fulfillment occurred through the fiat of a woman and mother. Mary’s “yes” led to the satisfaction of all our desires and the soothing of all our restlessness. God gives us his very self, and he does so through this mother.  

Webinar on my Book!

 Hey Friends! I'll be offering an interview on my new book on Tuesday, August 10 at 1pm CST. It is a webinar hosted by Our Sunday Visitor Press.

Please register here!  https://bit.ly/3lxf5uw

My Book!

10 years of writing and it is finally out! I am overjoyed! So many friends, family and colleagues have inundated me with private and public messages of support and enthusiasm. 

My good friend Susanna wrote me: "So much sweat, blood, tears, love, labor, toilet-plunging, speaking, founding, studying, reflecting, dreaming, hoping and praying--all incarnated now in this book." What a friend who knows me so well and has walked and prayed along this journey with me!

Please find the book here for purchase. It is the perfect wedding gift, baby shower gift, gift for a young single woman discerning her vocation, book for teaching women about vocations, or gift for a mother in the trenches who needs a boost. 

https://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Extraordinary-Dr-Kathryn-Rombs/dp/1681926806/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Kathryn+rombs&qid=1627903991&sr=8-1

A Home We Love

 We have made the choice not to sell our house. Even though it is hard to manage from abroad, we know we will eventually move back to the U.S., and that house is the one we want to return to. In the meantime, we will make some repairs and renovations, and then may rent it out again. 

  It would be easy to sell that house. It is a wonderful house and Dallas is experiencing a strong seller's market. Ron and I are both detached and do not need anything so nice. But I think we would have seller's remorse. Our family has wonderful memories in that house and we have all lived there. Buying a house that the older kids never lived in would not be the same. We have an era ahead packed with family fun and time together. It is the perfect place for the season that awaits us. 

  This is the fruit of almost 6 weeks in Dallas this summer. Discerning whether to sell or keep, then starting at least 5 renovation projects, finding a property manager (our very own Jacob Rombs) and 2 general contractors plus a variety of companies to work with (irrigation, gutters and beyond). Man oh man! It is no small thing! But I count myself incredibly blessed and thank God for the opportunity to have a home we love. 

The Loaves and the Chili Dogs

We had a fantastic day at a waterpark near Kim and Ken's house. God paved the way and was with us the whole time. At one point, Sebastian needed a life vest, and there happened to be one, just his size, as though accidentally place, right by the entrance to the slide. In another moment, I saw an old man seated in the shade. He seemed like an angel to me. Later I saw him again and he greeted me with a big smile and a wave, as though we were old friends. 

But then there was the miracle of the loaves and fishes--I mean chili dogs. I was buying lunch for our group. It was so costly that I wasn't buying much. We would all share. Having placed my order, I waited with the others for my name to be called so I could retrieve my food. Well, the guy called "Mike." Again, he repeated, "Mike." No Mike answered. A third time the guy said, "Last call for Mike." I smiled and spoke gently: "If Mike doesn't come, we'll take the food. Just don't throw it out." The guy chuckled. But a minute later he whispered, "Are you serious? Cause if you are, you can have the food." I happily took the two huge platters of chili dogs and french fries, and then our own order. We had food to spare! the Lord provides, even in the most unlikely of circumstances!  

Heaven

 It is heaven getting to be with my niece, Jenna June! While the pandemic has kept us apart, absence makes the heart grow fonder. How I love this girl! She has me wrapped around her finger!

Ronnie Rombs Sr.

 This man is incredible. Here we are on my roof caulking up a tiny hole that has been a real nuisance. 

When my friend Emily saw him, standing there in his Wranglers, blue denim shirt and cowboy hat, she said, "It was just like seeing Ron." They are cut from the same cloth. 

Ronnie Sr. has his own vocabulary. He "mashes" buttons and brakes. He "slaps on" paint. Anything dry is "bone dry" and anything vast goes "as far as the eye can see." 

I was charged with two home repair projects and Ronnie Sr. said, "Can I come to Dallas to help?" Of course you may. Thank you! 

He was able to tackle two projects that our contractor just couldn't ever commit to. Ronnie Sr. got one of them finished in 48 hours. He did it all himself, without his own tools (which is saying something, since he can only identify two tools he does not own). Thank you, Dad!

He probably would not want me to tell you that he tears up. He tears up when he speaks about his grandchildren. He tears up when he talks about his loving wife, Jane. He tears up when he talks about God in his mercy and forgiveness. He tears up when he talks about anything having to do with true love, his own weaknesses, and his most sincere hopes. 

This man drove away in his pick up today (a very very large pick up truck) with a prayer kneeler in the back. We had one but it was broken. He asked if he could take it to repair and and then copy it. He says he makes them and gives them to all the priests he knows. He liked this one especially and would copy its design for future gifts. 

This man is a true saint. I am abundantly blessed to call him my dad. 

Our House

I came to Dallas with the commission to sell our house. Get it ready and the put it on the market. After all, the sellers' market is hot, and we are in Italy for a bit longer, who knows how long--it makes sense. 

But how can you sell this house? It is our HOME!

I have power washed it. 

I have worked on repairs. I even found a leak from the roof that roofers and contractors could not find. 

How do you like my spackle job?? I'll paint it tomorrow. 

But I love this house. It is where my children love to be. It is where we come together. Today I say, No. We are keeping this house!

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

My story about the Sacred Heart of Jesus--I hope you enjoy!

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?shva=1#inbox/WhctKKWxTCrfwZwLsbRKLVCRmJrlwQRmQQfFvPxLhBnZcbxkJGtxLDGJVRmtlSmwNGQSTZq

My recent post

 Enjoy my most recent post on the blog of Mighty Is Her Call. I hope you'll sigh up for daily or featured posts--it is incredibly encouraging! 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/#trash/WhctKKWxSCbSRMsGnHvpLCnlKZFCXmQBGlpnqDPVvQpLMSfrhkKJHWVZnMBMjzmDJpVjvgb

My Beautiful Icon

Here is the story of how I received this incredibly beautiful icon, "Our Lady of the Sign."

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L2dt9WJq72g52_CXs-TTc2ktMdPQd4Ir/view?usp=sharing

This is the church I refer to: 

Notice the icon, "Our Lady of the Sign," on the bottom left of this picture:

 

St. Francis of Assisi

 

OR Sainte Fransis of the SseeSee

Profound Insight

 "Love is the soul's true nourishment, yet this food which of all substances we most need is not something we can produce for ourselves. One must wait for it. The only way to make absolutely certain that one will not receive it is to insist on procuring it by oneself. To accept the pattern of love over the pattern of power . . . is the highest human activity of which we are capable." 

                                                                              (Ratzinger, Eschatology, p. 96 ff.)

Vespas

 Spring is here, the lockdown is easing, and people are out and about in the Castelli Romani. 

A Vespa recently zipped past me--an antique yellow one. The rider was wearing a leather jacket and goggles like Snoopy. 

Even cuter: Today I saw a guy riding one who was doing the sign of the cross with one hand! He must have passed a church. How absolutely-adorably-Italian! 

Spring on the Vineyard

 

Leigh and the Swiss School

Amazingly, Leigh has so enjoyed learning Italian by going to an Italian school for 2 years that now she has her sights set on starting high school at a German-speaking school! We found the Swiss School of Rome, and discovered that it is bi-lingual, Italian and German. We contacted them and they are interested in Leigh, so we set up a day for her to visit the school. 

Friday was the big day. Leigh and I had been working through a German grammar book every night for weeks but we laughed on the metro on the way to the school--she does not know even basic expressions like "Nice to meet you!" She and I have laughed all the way through this experience because it is all so gutsy and absurd. But it is her real desire! 

On Friday, she lost her sense of humor as she met the administrator in front of the school and he led her into the building. I stood there in awe with butterflies in my stomach. 

At 3:30 I was sitting at a coffee bar ready to pick her up at 4pm. It was raining and I had time to reflect. What an amazing experience we are having here in Italy. What an amazing talent and intellect Leigh has. What an abundance of satisfaction and amazement I have in being her mother and participating in a little but mostly watching the flowering of this young woman.

How did it go, you are wondering? She LOVED it and wants to go there starting in the fall! It will require her to study German intensively all summer, but that is something she is excited about! Go, Leigh!!