All is "Rite"

Couldn't resist an attempt at a pun. Today was the Rite of Acceptance Into the Order of Catechumens. For Joe. My 8 year-old is now a catechumen! That's a fancy word for an unbaptized believer. The rite is really neat in my opinion. During Mass, all the pre-Catechumens knocked on the door to the church. The Priest answered from the front and asked, "Who's knocking?"
At that point, each child said his or her name into a microphone (likely not used in the early centuries).
The rest of the dialogue:
Priest: What do you want to become?
Children: A Christian.
Priest: Why do you want to become a Christian?
Children: Because I believe in Christ.
Priest: What do you gain by believing in Christ?
Children: Eternal life.

After the children were welcomed into the church, they lined up in front of the altar and the parents came forward. We were asked some questions, replied, and then the cantor sang instructions about blessing each child's ears, eyes, mouth, shoulders, heart and feet - all having to do with following Jesus and living life for Him. With each blessing, Kevin and I took turns making the sign of the cross on Joseph.

At the end, Father Marc, our Priest, presented each child with a Bible and I think that was Joseph's favorite part. I couldn't help but picture the numerous "Children's" Bibles at home that he has read over the past eight years. This was significant in Joe's spiritual maturity and I was so thrilled for him, and so prayerful for his future. I've seen what a difference being a student of the Bible makes in a life, and I so want my children to know that difference.

Please pray for Joe. Pray that the interest he's showing in God and God's word will continue throughout his life!

Now I'll share a photo of Joseph with Father Marc and one of him with his new Bible. I really wanted one of Kevin and I with Joe but it didn't happen. I'm just so proud to be a part of his life. Please pray for us as his parents as long as you're praying for him!

"A Myna Bird and a Cell Phone"

We went to see Santa today. I am surprised that all four kids actually posed with him for a picture. This is unprecedented. I don't make a big deal about the Santa photo - no dressing up special, no "tell Santa what you want," necessarily. All this to keep the pressure off so that if someone refuses to approach the big bearded guy, it's okay. But today they all went for it! It must be the "safety in numbers" thing. And Santa was nice enough to talk with them a little while we handed over an arm and a leg to pay for the precious photo. On the way out, I asked Joseph what he told Santa. Apparently, he's asking for a myna bird and a cell phone. What? I'm sure Santa would hate to dash a kid's hopes, but high-maintenance pets and communication hardware aren't great choices for a boy of (almost) eight. This is the same boy who last year wanted only a stuffed Santa. I kid you not - he even wrote an essay about it in school. So we go from stuffed Santa to myna bird and cell phone. I'm in trouble.

Cayna wants a "Tinkerbell thing" - which leaves a lot of room for interpretation and therefore gift shopping is made easier. Bethanie wants whatever Cayna wants, so make that two "Tinkerbell things". And John can't talk so he can't ask for gifts.

Tomorrow is the first day of Advent. Perhaps I can focus on that and put off gift decisions a while longer. Egads.

After Turkey

My the house is quiet. Cousins left in a buzz this evening around 6:30 and then our family reflected on the visit. I like "closure" talks like that because I'm always a little sad when company leaves and I know at least one of my children has the same issue. The next hour and a half before bedtime went fast with clean-up, baths, prayers, and 50 million other little things that come up in that last 5 minutes before the kids are all tucked in and our day as a family comes to a close.

I am aware of the completion of Thanksgiving because I'm already strategizing the Christmas decorating. Also, the wishbone from the turkey is drying on the windowsill in the kitchen. I can remember growing up, my mom always dried it on our kitchen windowsill too. Watching my sister-in-law and my mom combing over the turkey carcass last night after dinner was comical. They were getting everything ready to transport to my mom's where she will make turkey stock. And I had requested they pull out the wishbone. It was quite an operation.

For the record, my angel food cake turned out marvelously! It was perfect consistency and delicious. I should have taken a picture, because it didn't last long - it was consumed within 15 minutes. After I had my cake, I proceeded to have a piece of pumpkin pie. I am not a fan of pumpkin pie (or really any pie, truthfully) but I had to have somewhere to put my homemade whipped cream. I ran 6 miles this morning with Rachel, but need to run 180 more to work off all those calories.

I have only good memories of this holiday. My mother and father were here under one roof and it wasn't a bit stressful. I admit I tried not to pay too much attention to their communication or interaction, but if it had been dramatic, I would have noticed. Also, all eight children were delightful. You should know we have a tile floor with crazy acoustics so the noise level rarely goes below a billion decibels, but it felt festive, not frustrating.

Last night after the grandparents left, our family and my brother's family all gathered upstairs and the kids shared what they'd written (or dictated) they were thankful for on little papers tucked in their "Box of Thanks" craft Rachel brought for them. The ones that touched my heart the most: Joseph said "Jesus" which of course makes any Christian parent swoon with joy; Cayna said "Mom and Dad", so that will get me through another year; and Bethanie said, among other things, "Giraffes and Potatoes."

Here is Rachel and me cooking! Her chutney was simmering, my potatoes were boiling.


The kids play a rousing, just-before-dinner game of "monkey in the middle" as James carves the bird in the background. I wonder if the pilgrim children played monkey in the middle while their parents scrambled to get dinner on the table.


Rather disgusting evidence that John likes dark meat. It was NOT his mother who gave him the giant gross turkey leg, I can tell you that for sure.


Rachel and Mom working with the carcass. Ew.


Mom, me, and Rachel.


James, Dad, and Kevin. Note the water splash on Kevin's shirt - he was doing the dishes, because he is wonder-husband!

Thanksgiving Tangents

Today I read most of my son's book about sailing on the Mayflower - fascinating! Did you know a baby was born on the Mayflower during its voyage to the New World? He was named Oceanus. Gotta love those parents - first for their fortitude - sailing off for a new life across an ocean while mega-pregnant! Second for choosing that name to commemorate their expedition and the timing of the birth.

Let me be the first to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! You might not be reading this early on the holiday, but I am writing it early on the holiday.

I like going to Mass on Thanksgiving. It's not a holy day, but it sure seems like a great day to be in Church worshiping God and giving Him thanks.

Here's hoping I get to see a little bit of the Macy's Parade! SOME people think parades are dumb, but I love a lot of pomp and circumstance (and large inflatable characters) in celebration of anything!

Our menu: Turkey, Stuffing, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Salad, Oatmeal Muffins, Dry corn, Cranberry Chutney, Pumpkin Pie and Angel Food Cake.

History behind our menu: We assume the pilgrims and Indians ate turkey. My mom makes homemade stuffing (both "inside" and "outside" the turkey) to die for - if you like stuffing, which I don't. I hate it. I won't have even one bite. Blech. Gravy comes along with the turkey. Mashed potatoes - my contribution. Mashed potatoes were one of the first "from scratch" things I didn't screw up early in my marriage. Salad - in our family growing up, it always had miniature shrimp in it which I would sneak out of the salad before dinner. Now it's just plain green salad, but I can almost taste those yummy little shrimp. My mom has always made these oatmeal muffins, and we eat them hot out of the oven. They bake while the turkey is being carved. Dry corn is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition and my dad is bringing it. The recipe for Cranberry chutney is compliments of my sister-in-law. It's delicious. This will be the second year in a row having the chutney instead of sauce or jelly. Pumpkin pie is my brother's favorite. He always has it for his birthday, too - earlier in the month. I'll make real whipped cream to top it with, but my dad is bringing it store-bought. And since some of us aren't huge pie fans, Rachel and I decided to choose a more unique dessert for this year. Angel food it is. It is a favorite of Kevin, and we'll "frost" it with strawberries and whipped cream.

In the morning, Kevin and I will run together for the first time. Actually, we ran maybe once together in college but it was me trying to keep up and impress him. Tomorrow will likely be very similar.

To close, I'm thankful for little Mayflower-born Oceanus. The word "chutney" which is extremely satisfying. DEAD scorpions (number seven found in our house tonight). Finally figuring out something on my camera besides the automatic setting. Rain, which we had lots of today. Parade floats. New pajamas for John. Butter toffee coated peanuts. And sleep.

Learning my camera

I plan to become a fabulous photographer. But I have to read my camera owner's manual first. It's quite convenient that my brother is here, since he is a stellar photographer and has the equipment to match.

With some sit-down instruction time and a little practice, today I got a shot in low light using a feature I didn't understand 24 hours ago. It is difficult for me to work at things I'm not naturally good at. I don't like to try. But little by little I'm determined to figure this out and get over my handicaps when it comes to understanding technical things. That's why I'm posting this picture. Because like I said, someday I'll be a fabulous photographer, and I'll want proof for myself that when I started I was CLUELESS and very confused and doubtful that I could learn this.

There's plenty wrong with this photo, but the main thing is that it's plenty light enough, and I'm telling ya - it was downright dark in the room. Yay, camera! Yay, me!

Cousins are here!

Elation. That's what my kids are feeling about having their cousins here for the holiday. We're having a good time. But as I type, it's nearly midnight and I have a half-finished overnight crockpot egg dish to throw together. So I'm posting photos, listing some of the fun things from our day, and calling it good.






Hiking Henderson with eight great kids
3-Cheese Baked Macaroni
Honeybaked Ham from Grandpa
Watching "The Office" reruns with brother and sis-in-law
LOVING the November weather in Vegas
Bringing Rachel (sister-in-law) to Moms' Group
Making a Jesse Tree (cool advent tradition)

Daughters

At breakfast this morning, Cayna's topic of choice was "Marry" (Her way of saying "Marriage".) She is currently fascinated by it. This may have a little bit to do with the fact that at the age of five, she recently met her future spouse. In fact, she went to his birthday party this weekend. His name is Noah, and I have not met him (Kevin took her to the party) - but she pointed him out to me after school today and I must say I had a very "generation-gap" type of response (though I did keep it to myself): "HIM?" He must be at least a foot shorter than Cayna (which may be a problem throughout her life) and he has the haircut of a Bee Gee. I was discussing this with my friend, who also has a betrothed five year-old daughter (all the kids are in the same class) and we agreed that the current style is a psychotic mix of 60s and 80s. Ew! Mohawks also appear to be very popular and in my narrow-minded, conservative opinion - I'm glad Cayna's guy doesn't have a mohawk. That would just be too precious (as if the rest of this whole scenario isn't).



Anyway, over Cheerios, Cayna discussed how she and Noah would live far away and we could visit and if they have children she'll name them Emma and Dominic. I'm guessing none of this has been discussed with Noah - holy Toledo!

When Cayna paused to take a bite of cereal, Bethanie told us she knew who she wants to marry, too. "Who?" ----- "Jesus."

Well, there you go. Two years ago, I would have heard that and thought, "How sweet!" Now that we're Catholic, this means little Miss three year-old Bethanie is considering the Religious Life. In plain words - she's gonna be a nun! That's who "marries Jesus," ladies and gentlemen.

I'll visit Emma and Dominic from time to time, ignoring their father's hairstyle - and stop by the convent occasionally to pray with Bethanie. Wow, I'm 38 and my retirement years are already shaping right up!