Monday, April 27, 2009

The terrific 3s have begun again

Isaac turned 3 on Friday. We had a nice little party yesterday. It was fun. I made a cake that resembled a train for him. It was actually yummy, so that made up for the fact that it didn't quite look like a train. It's hard to believe he is actually 3 already. He is definitely my most mischevious child. He is so strong-willed. It's not that he means to be defiant, he just intends to get what he wants.

The other day I was in the restroom and because I wanted a couple of minutes of privacy (how dare I?) I locked the door. Isaac, realizing that it was locked, went and found a screwdriver to unlock it. He opened the door and said "Mommy, I unlocked it, you can come out now!" It seems he thought I was trapped inside. It was really hard to punish him when he clearly thought he was my hero.

He is also the most demonstrative of my children. He is always wanting hugs and kisses. And he loves to cuddle and sit on my lap. I love to cuddle all of my children, so I am grateful to have one who wants to cuddle.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Some interesting notes

- My children love to watch the movie version of "Click, Clack, MOO Cows that type". I am surprised they have not yet asked what a typewriter is.

- The other day we were talking about GI Joe. The children asked what that was. I said "It's like a Ken Doll, but it's a soldier." They then wondered if he had a sword and helmet. The only soldiers they really know about are apparently the ones from the Bible. I explained that he might have a gun. Abby knew what that was because Pa has a gun that he hunts with in the "Little House" books. My children are clearly sheltered, but I don't mind.

- David and Monica were here visiting for Spring Break last week. Paul and I went out with them on a double date. We played Putt Putt (I am not quite as awful as I used to be, but I still lost). Afterward we played games in the arcade. My favorite is spider stomp, but it is somewhat hard to play in flip-flops while wearing a skirt.

- One of the games I played was Pac Man. When I was a kid it seems like there was Pac Man everywhere. In gas stations, at restaurants etc. I think the Dairy Queen even had a two player Pac Man game.

- On rainy days my joints swell and I feel miserable. I think I must be getting old. I used to love rainy days.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!
Now, time to get ready for morning Mass, followed by visiting relatives on "both sides" of the family.

Congratulations to Abby on her baptism day!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

What He gave

For at least the last 15 years Good Friday has been a very hard day for me. Just thinking about Christ's tremendous sacrifice is overwhelming. I know that Sunday is coming. I know that he arose. If I did not know the end of the story I do not know that I good cope. I can only begin to imagine the depths of despair the Mary's must have felt. And of course, they could not truly understand the significance of the sacrifice.

This year the weight has already hit. I have been explaining Maundy Thursday and the last supper to the children. And I think about the tears that Jesus shed in the garden. And I think about the humility he expressed in washing the disciples feet.

I am humbled. I am ashamed. I see myself with dirty feet. And I think of how I fail to keep the vigil and pray. And I think of all the ways that I betray Christ by my offenses.

And I feel so black and dark inside.

But I know that Sunday is coming.

God is good!

All the time!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

2

This morning Paul took Abby to Home Depot for a class to make a birdhouse. It is really cute. While he was there Nana and Papa had the younger three. This left me home alone to get a lot accomplished. I did get a lot accomplished. I accomplished reading The Secret by Beverly Lewis. I won't spoil it for anyone who may not have read it and is planning to, but I will say that I was not altogether surprised to find out what "the secret" was.

Paul bought the book for me last night on our date. We went to Family Christian to buy a Bible for Abby as a gift for her baptism. It was not as easy as I expected. We had in mind to buy a real Bible that had some pictures in it. We did not want a "Children's Bible". We were thinking along the lines of the "Third Grade Bible" that Paul has which has some line art illustrations or like the NKJV with the Precious Moments pictures that was so popular in my childhood. We ended up getting an NKJV with an illustrated concordance. I wish I had started the search sooner and then I probably would have ordered something online.

At the store I do not think the salesladies understood what I was looking for at all, since they kept directing me back to the Children's Bibles.

I am so excited about Abby's Baptism. It is such an amazing thing.

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In other notes I weighed in yesterday for the end of my three month challenge. My goal was to lose 11 pounds and I lost two. Not really great success. My new goal is to lost five pounds by Mother's day weekend. It should be a little easier now that it is warm and we can play outside.
I am praying for more self-control. It is the fruit of the spirit that I believe is least manifest in my life. But I do see it becoming more evident as I pray.

I have given up both cola and coffee for the most part (though I do drink them occasionally). It is not so hard now as it was at first. But I am painfully resistent to the mere thought of giving up tea. I know addictions are not good. I wonder if it would be easier to avoid the caffeine addiction if it were not so socially acceptable.

Another thought on the diet note is that I have cut approximately 500 calories from my daily intake so I should be losing just over one pound a week. But, since Omi is no longer nursing, I can't burn calories as easily either. I wonder how many calories I was burning a day just to make milk.

I miss nursing Omi. I really miss having a baby. That probably sounds crazy.

My children are so delightful, though, that I will just focus on enjoying them right now.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Me Me Me Me

Omi: Me me me me me

Abby: Omi, Omi, Omi

Omi: Me me me me me

Abby: You you you you you

Omi: Me me me me me

Abby: Come here Omi

Omi: Meeeeeee Meeeeee

Abby: Potty time?

Omi: Me me me me me

Abby: Come on

Omi: Meeeeeee Meeeeeee Meeeeeee

Abby and Omi take off running toward the bathroom together.