Mass with the Pope!

   On our very first day in Rome, we got to go to the Vatican for Mass!  Pope Francis was saying Mass for the feast of Pentacost.  Amazing!!

A Happy Flight!

     Sebastian, Jacob and I flew to Rome after Ron and the girls, due to Jake's late graduation date.  I was a bit nervous about how Sebastian, as a strong-willed two year old, prone to all-out temper tantrums, would do on the plane.
      But I had no reason to fear.  In the airport, he courted a group of college students from OU.  They nicknamed him "Sebo-Soggy-Socks-Sebastian" since he spilled Odwalla Blueberry drink on his socks.  Here he is at the gate with his entourage!

Here he is with his Odwalla drink.

Honestly, apart from a few minutes of crying on the plane, he did really well.

One trick was that I brought a full-sized bed pillow from home, and lay it across his seat.  It functioned as a little mattress for him, which probably made things much more comfortable.

Another "trick" was prayer: I prayed a slew of very specific prayers.  It was amazing how many of them were answered!  For example, I prayed that the people around us would be understanding of him.  As it turned out, the OU students were surrounding us!  For such a huge plane, that seemed no coincidence.  An answer to prayer.  Another prayer I prayed was good flight attendants that were sympathetic of children.  Our flight attendants whispered when he was asleep, and gave us extra drinks and supplies.  Very thoughtful! 

I thank God for our happy flight! 

My Covington Friends

Love you guys!!!

Patricia, Jenn, Anne, Christine--Y'all are such a blessing!!

Wishes Come True

Wishes do come true--and my birthday was a perfect example of that!
--I had a happy birthday brunch with friends, and we cooked up a new book club
--My husband took at 6:30 am flight home from D.C. so that he could spend the whole day with me: what a gift!
--My sister sent me cards and packages for a month!
--My parents took me and my family out for a wonderful meal and gave me wonderful gifts

I am the luckiest person!  All of my wishes in life have come true!

Happy Child!

How he hits the ball every single time, I do not know!  He is such an uber-athelete!

Slime

Question: What happens when you mix two eleven year olds and slime?  

Answer: Slime--which is a bit like bubble gum--in hair!

It took two of us half an hour to get the slime out of her hair!  We used vegetable oil to loosen up the slime and then we scraped it out with our fingernails.  Fortunately it worked, because I was very close to cutting it out!

Bugs!

A Prayer for Mothers' Day

    Lord, thank you for this celebration of mothers.

    Thank you for my own mom, who is a treasure and who has blessed me in unspeakable ways.  Imagine, a woman bringing me into this world!  Raising me up, from my tiniest infancy!  Holding me, feeding me, attending to me as I took my first steps!  Waking up with me in the night!  Thank you, Lord, that she loves me so much.  I owe her my life. 

    Thank you, also, for my getting to be a mother.  Thank you for the opportunity that not all women share and thus is a true privilege, to participate in the creation of another human being.  Thank you for the chance to love someone as deeply and as purely as I do my own children.  Thank you for the chance to give myself as a complete gift to someone else--the only way to be truly happy.  Thank you for this role that helps my children become all they can be, and helps me be refined and made a better person.  Thank you for this life of building a civilization of love.  

     Together, with other mothers, may we raise up the next generation of humanity--with its saints, popes, priests, artists, workers for social justice, educators, and all the faithful who sanctify the world to God through their daily lives--with the best that we have.  Bless our meager efforts, have mercy on us in our failings, and making holy our hidden domestic ways for the salvation of the world.  

     Amen.  

Our Lady of Fatima

    May 13th is the centennial of the appearance of Mary to three children in Fatima.  Mary's message was a call to conversion and prayer.  My love for Fatima is that the appearance, in 1917, was at the end of World War I.  To me, Mary was powerfully interceding for the end of war and the repair and conversion of those who suffered its aftermath.  My view is that Mary is not a quaint, delicate lady, unfit for politics and global issues.  Rather, she is the Great Mother, who cares for the soldiers, politicians, and civilians as her own children, and guides them to be their better selves.  She is the mother of humankind, and when we dedicate ourselves to her, she lifts us up onto higher ground.
    She also shows us the power of motherhood.  If the whole world is falling into despair and horrific suffering, as it did in WWI, isn't it interesting that it is a mother who calls us to a better life?  A mom speaking to three small children is the way heaven beacons humanity to renewal and peace.

Quote of the Day

My wonderful spiritual director had this to say to me today: "The best spiritual director for you--too bad she is long dead--is Flannery O'Connor."
    I love his wit.
    So I am going to be reading her works as a close second.  

Frustrating Moments

    Today I almost despaired. . . another temper tantrum!  At two and a half, Sebastian threw himself to the ground when I told him he was not allowed to have a cookie.  Ugh!  My patience for his screaming and whining is thin.
    What I am clinging to, as my mood boost, is that it matters.  It matters how I handle it.
    Mary the Mother of God gave her "Fiat," her "Yes, let it be done to me according to your word."  I too, can say, "Yes," and give myself to this frustrating moment.  I can stop what I had been doing, bend down and look at Sebastian.  I can help him calm down, and then make a deal with him.  With enough attention, I know I can do it.  It just takes creativity and coaxing.  The truth is that I just don't want to.  I'm too tired.  I'm too impatient.
     My prayer today is that, when I have such challenges and frustrations, I will give my "Yes."  I pray that I will be graced with the humility to set aside my other desires, and focus on my child.
     In so doing, I pray that I will be blessed with the grace granted to Mary.  I pray that God will take this small offering, and use it for His glory.
     God, give me grace!
 

Laughter

"We were like those who dream.  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them" (Psalm 126:2).
    One day, it will all be like a dream.
    Today, my baby has a fever.  Our water was cut off.  My daughter is failing math.  My other daughter is still picking her nose. :)  Even our dog is throwing up!
    This life is hard.  The maternal vocation, especially one that is constantly open to new life, so that there is no definitive end in sight, is a true cross.  It is a labor of love.  But isn't that a bit like Christ, who gave his whole life as a sign of love for us?  I, too, am giving my whole life for my family.
    I have hope.  I am happy.  I can laugh.  I know that, one day, those of us who share in the cross will, too, share in the resurrection.