Half Marathon

   Jacob and I finally joined the ranks of half-marathoners this Sunday, ranks to which Ron has belonged for some time, now.  The three of us ran the Cowtown, Ft. Worth's annual marathon, with a half and an ultra. 

   Notice that we have 2 before pictures, and I even managed a "during" shot.  But there is a noticeable absence of an after shot!   

Jake and I before the race

Ron, Jake and I before the race

Here I am at Mile 11

    The last mile, I cannot say I was running, or even jogging.  I mean, I thought I was running, until a lady walked right past me, chatting it up on her cell phone.  She was going considerably faster that I was.  Was I walking?  Assuredly not.  Was I running?  Apparently not.  I suppose I was "scooting" or "shuffling," kidding myself that I was running!  But did I start walking?  No!  I crossed that finish line running my heart out, at a slower-than-walk pace!          

St. Therese Quote

Aunt Kimmy, arguably the greatest aunt in the world, found this huge, framed quote of St. Therese and send it to Annie, who is "Anne Therese" for St. Therese.
   Annie memorized it!

Monster Cookie Madness

     Here is Annie on our mother-daughter time out.  She earned it by reading a 300 page children's Bible.   She is super smart.  I never even suggested that she read it.  She just picked it up after school, and read it over the course of a few weeks.  She had read another children's Bible--we have almost a dozen--on her own initiative a few months ago.
    For fun, Ron and I asked her "what it was about."  She started telling us details from the creation story.  Then, she got so flustered with how many details she had left to report, that she burst into tears!  We laughed and told her she did not need to tell us anymore.  She is SO CUTE.
   I took her to a bakery, and she got a "monster cookie" and a juice box.  She was wearing her jiu-jitsu outfit since we were on our way to jiu-jitzu.  But while she consumed the beloved cookie, she showed me her most recent tap routine, and then wanted to do her most recent ballet dance as well.  I told her she could save it for when we got home.
    She is a treasure.  I simply adore this child!

Hot Chocolate

     Ron, Jacob and I successfully completed the Hot Chocolate Race, a 15 K (9.32 miles).  

I ran an 11 min. mile.  Ron ran a 9 min. mile.  Jake beat us all, and almost collapsed at the finish line for going so fast.  He was very proud!  

 
     It was really fun to have friends running as well.  I love my running friends!

Sebastian's Narthex Friends

My favorite thing about this school year is that most mornings begin with daily Mass for Sebastian and me.  Sebastian has made "Narthex Friends"--other little children, almost all boys, who also have to remain in the narthex, in the back of the church, so as not to disturb the Mass.  After months of adorable-ness, I finally pulled out my camera (which I would not normally do during a Mass) and stole a few shots.  Here's the contraband! 

    These three are in the last pew, just before Communion.  Sebastian (left) and his friends, the Flood cousins.  

Sebastian (right), and the Flood boys again, seated in a stained glass window sill.

Here is a gaggle of boys plus a baby girl (second from the left) in the narthex.  Sebastian is on the far right.

LOVE Chocolate Mousse

For Valentines Day, Ron made our family a gourmet meal, ending with homemade chocolate mousse.  He was showing his love for us, but he ingratiated us and made us love him all the more!

Quote from St. Claude de la Colombiere

"Everything that happens to us in this life happens by the order or the permission of a God has always has loved us, and who loves us still more than we love ourselves.  He regards us as his creatures, as his children, as his heirs, and his reflections.  The benefits we have received from him have surpassed all our desires; they surpass even our imaginings, and those benefits that we receive from him every day are without measure and without number. . .  I would believe that the greatest evils are very great goods and that your heaviest blows are very gentle and magnificent caresses. . .
    Reflect a little on what he has done for you.  You are presently in affliction; consider that the one who is the author of this . . . is the one who comes to you with such goodness in the sacrament of the Eucharist, who has no greater pleasure than of uniting himself to you and conversing with you."

I Appreciate My Mom

   My mom is an amazing woman.  Here are several of the countless things I appreciate about her!

1) She tirelessly serves the poor, the hurting, the weak, the marginalized, the powerless, the under-appreciated, the undervalued.  Her whole life is an outpouring of love, to help other people.  Her friends have joked, "Doesn't she ever just want a week at the beach?"  Her answer is "No!"

2) She cheers me on in all my pursuits, both vocational and recreational.  I ran a race last weekend and she was on the virtual sidelines, texting me emoticons all the way!

3) She is so good to my children.  Today, Baby Sebastian is wearing a shirt with a soccer ball on it.  He keeps pointing to it and saying, "Granny!  Soccer ball!" (That's about as high a compliment as he pays anyone!)  At Christmas, she got him various clothes and pj's with sports gear on it.  He simply adores them.  She always knows how to find just the right things that mean the most to people.

4) She is a woman of great faith.  She has given her life to God and has a beautiful spirit of joyful surrender.  She accepts the grace that God continually showers on her, and she radiates His life and love everywhere she goes.

I love my mom!!  Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Sweet Sebastian!

Sebastian is such a joy.  But sometimes he is very strong willed!  He gets upset at the smallest things!  So, we offer it up.  When he was an infant, we offered his crying in the car for him to be a "Happy Friar"!  And now, we get to continue to pray for his vocation, whether lay or religious, whether Franciscan or Dominican or secular, we pray for him to have a powerful, mighty, loving and happy vocation his whole life long.
    Thankfully, he gives us lots of opportunities to prat for him! :)