7QT- It was the best of times and the worst of times

thanks for hosting Jen Fulweiler! Head over here for more quick takes!

Hello again! I disappeared for awhile due to life in general, but a quiet Thursday night finds me blogging with my candles lit around me while children peacefully sleep. I kid you not. It's true! Here's what's new in my little world.

So first the best of times.....

1) Irish Bunco - I am not Irish, but I decided that an Irish theme for March bunco was more uplifting than a Lenten themed bunco (and I have to have a theme, and always a soundtrack to match) (and by the way, I did host a few Lenten themed buncos and it just didn't go over very well!) I decided St. Paddy's day gave us an exemption from austerity. :)  I borrowed some treasures from some lovely friends, combined them with some finds from the Dollar Tree. Hubby put up green streamers, Mom came out for the fun and made the over the rainbow fruit salad, I made chicken salad cucumber sandwiches, and set out the lovely artichoke dip with flax seed crackers and guacamole and carrots (which someone else lovingly made at HEB) and we had key lime pie and mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert (also lovingly made by other hands). I tossed skittles and gold coins on the tables for extra good luck! :)

2) Boosterthon Fun Run - the boys school participated in an awesome fundraiser which combined an anti-bullying campaign, with the fight against childhood obesity and feeding America.  The boys received pledges from friends, family and neighbors to run a certain amount of laps (and they were given milestone prizes along the way, most which were surprisingly useful and not junky). This was a fundraiser we ALL got pumped up about. We were promoting fitness, charity, friendship and the school was financially benefitting from a portion of the donations as well.  I was so proud of my runners today....M ran 26 laps and D ran near 40. I volunteered at school to pass out water and really enjoyed cheering on the kids!

 

3) We had a family photo shoot with a treasured photographer who will be leaving town soon. :(  Her photos are exquisite, she always makes our boys look like angels. ;) I can't wait to see the whole set! 

4) My Dad published a book of his poetry.  I'm so proud of him for making time for his passion. We are trying to arrange a reading event and I will post more about it soon!

5) I wrote two posts this week after quite a dry spell of not being able to write.  The Family Table is my encouragement to myself to continue family traditions, and A Rose in the Desert is an homage to a friendship that was given to me at just the right time.

And then the worst of times......

6) My slice of melancholy, a foreshadowing. Waiting outside of piano lessons with a sleeping toddler before the downward spiral....

7) Fruitfulness.  I prayed for a fruitful Lent this year, without perhaps understanding what I was truly asking to receive. I know that Lent is not always about suffering, but mine has been uniquely challenging in a physical way. The first week of Lent I got a terrible crick in my neck that was so painful that no amount of Advil helped, and it lasted for days and days. I then caught a ridiculous cold in the middle of spring break that gave me such sharp headaches I couldn't see straight. I finally started to shake the cough that kept me up every night, and then got another crick in my neck from sleeping at a crazy angle - from coughing all night. (we've all been here before!)  When that crick loosened itself out, I started a 4 day long headache with painful pulsating on my left side of my head only. Never had anything like it before, still can't figure out if it's a sinus infection or a migraine or what. This is day 4, and I probably should get in to a doctor if it's still going on tomorrow.

Through all of this, I saw myself at my worst.  Crying and self-pitying (for I seem to have a low threshold for pain and suffering).  But I also saw myself at my best. Triumphing over pain to take care of my kids, and learning how to ask for help (worst. nightmare. ever!) I saw my husband and children at their best, too.  So I can see the fruitfulness in this. I can see the spirit overcoming the flesh, and I trust that God does not abandon us when we suffer, even when it's so small.....

All of this was put into perspective when I learned that a young mother and sweet friend had a stroke and brain bleed while pregnant, was life-flighted to a hospital and has had a series of surgeries and procedures performed to help her swelling go down and her healing to begin. Her baby is doing just fine, but Katie has a long road of recovery ahead of her. I had just seen her not too long ago at toddler music class, and I remembered thinking how much her smile alone always blessed my day.  Now I pray that my prayers will bless her! Please pray for Katie, too! 

I pray that wherever you are in your Lenten journey, that you too will be able to trust that God never leaves our side in our struggles and our sufferings.

Thanks for visiting, and I would love to hear from you!

7QT: What was...

Linking up with Jen F at Conversion Diary this week for seven quick takes from my week. Thanks for coming by!

~1~ What was a surprise this week....

Snow. I hesitate to mention it because you can barely see it, but it's there, and it was magical!!! 

~2~ What was beautiful this week......

Seeing my husband return from his first Men's Retreat. He was tearful, joyful and peaceful. I am so happy he had this chance to forge new relationships with good men and grow in his faith life!

~3~ When I cried this week...

Watching the moments of Bishop Michael Sis' ordination through the eyes of friends who traveled to San Angelo to witness it. Our prayers are ever with you, Bishop Sis!

~4~ When I laughed...

Oh. Please. Help me. I was doubled over in tears, unable to breathe or speak several times this week.  Mama Knows It Honey Child and This Ain't the Lyceum are definitely to blame!

~5~ What I ate...

A favorite new recipe, haven't grown tired of it yet and the kids will eat most of it with no fussin'.  Although they did ask what the cous cous was but it seemed to appease them when I said it was just like rice, only circle-shaped. 

~6~ What I read and watched.....

I'm still plugging along with Simplicity Parenting, our last meeting is this coming week so it's time to wrap it up. It has been very encouraging and gratifying!  I also watched North and South again while my Mom was in town this week. We watched all four episodes in one night! 

~7~ What was fun....

My children went to jail this week.  To raise money for the Food Bank, they volunteered at Kroger with their school to help tackle hunger in our community. They did a great job asking for donations, and I loved that this was meaningful service to the community for them with their peers.

And I put my upcoming birthday post in here from ACNM, who for some marvelously mysterious reason, still allow me to write with them. ;) 

Head on over to Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

7QT- My couch retreat, a DIY backyard photo and Christmas Around the World

Thank you Jen, for hosting! :) 

1) Any other time I'd try to say this in a lame attempt at making a joke, I'd have no idea what I was talking about. But I can now say with confidence that "nothing clears your holiday to-do list like getting a stomach bug!"  Aside from the fact that I spent 2 days on the couch waiting to feel better in a blurry, feverish, stupor of sorts....it was relieving to know that my only job in the world was to lay on that couch, and do the best I could at that, while my children ran around me in circles. It was sad to miss out on gatherings this week, but on the bright side, I had my own mini prayer retreat, I finished my Christmas cards and even wrapped some presents while watching White Christmas for the first time. I am very thankful for feeling better so I can take care of everyone else who is sick now, it is always good to remember that health is a precious gift.

2) Speaking of being thankful for my life, there are others whose lives are in far greater peril this week in Central Africa.  Catholic Relief Services is responding to this humanitarian crisis on the ground, and here is a link if you are able to support them in their brave and selfless work. Let us remember the people of Central Africa in prayer and unite our small sufferings to theirs.

3) And a major accomplishment, our Christmas card taken in our backyard on my favorite "Van Gogh" chairs given to us when we were first married.  This is the winning shot where everyone's eyes were open! It was a strangely Siberian day in Texas, so our noses are all red.  I love these guys.

4) Right here, I was going to tell you about the kids piano recital, Bronius' Magnificat concert and about how much fun we had delivering gifts with Saint Vincent de Paul.  But then everyone got sick and we had to say no, maybe, and I don't know to those other things, and so now my number four is going to be about how PSYCHED (imagine jazz hands and confetti flying everywhere) I am to be seeing my family for Christmas in about 3 days!!!! 

                                                         The original 6

5) I love this style for so many reasons.  Comfortable, modest, warm and cool at the same time, and representative of my heritage. I would like to find some fair trade tunics and try to rock this style this winter. Maybe? 

6) The Living City Press sent our family this beautiful book as a sweet "thank you" to Bronius for working with them this year: Bringing Jesus Back into Christmas. It features photography of lovely creches from all over the world, with inspirational quotes from scripture, the saints and literary icons.  It has been a wonderful way to illustrate to our children the universality of God's love at Christmas.  

7) And on the topic of Christmas around the world, this was a theme this month at Austin Catholic New Media for writers. We were encouraged to share about special family traditions, so I wrote about my experience of marrying into a Lithuanian family, and the meaningful, spirit-filled traditions they carry out on Christmas Eve.  Here it is if you'd like to read it! :)

Wishing you good health, and true peace on your Advent journey. Thank you for visiting, and as always, I'd love to hear from you!

7QT: A week of rain, cafeteria food, potty training, neighbor boys and one really good hair day

Thanks to Jen Fulweiler for hosting, and for always keepin' it real! :)

1) Cafeteria food.  I grew up in a culturally influenced home.  My father is East Indian and my Mom, a German-American girl from Wisconsin, taught herself how to prepare beautifully colorful, brilliantly flavorful, complicated dishes as a labor of love for my Dad, who felt rather homesick for Indian food once they married and began their home together. We grew up in a very diverse area in South Florida, and Mom later added dishes like Ratatouille and Paella to her repertoire. Hardly anything ever came from a can or a box in my childhood.  We would travel around the world without leaving our kitchen table, and while I didn't love the eggplant then, I can appreciate it now.

I strive to make us fresh, healthful, uncomplicated meals every night (except on weekends when we can be spotted at Chipotle or Dickey's pretty regularly). Historically, our children have not been picky eaters, and we have always been able to set down anything on the table and they will try anything once. But the eldest has suddenly become insanely picky (recently it was "I don't like cheese" all of a sudden, but it's fine on pizza!!!) So after the reminders of being grateful for the food we have, I basically made up my mind I'd try a week of making "cafeteria style" food. The idea was born of a snarky comment at the dinner table from (ahem) me about how the kids would probably eat what I made as long as it came on the signature blue tray from the school cafeteria. I made a chicken pot pie with bisquick mix which got mixed reviews, and a King Ranch Chicken which got the least complaints of all! Maybe my ancestors are rolling over in the graves, but at least my kids are eating!!! (and as an aside, I don't think there is anything wrong with this type of food...I just want my kiddos to be nourished!) :)

2) Potty training - littlest one has been sick this week, and it has been raining every single day, and so I thought this would be a good time for potty training. I've done this twice before and figured it would be cake by now, but it turns out I really don't remember how to potty train a toddler boy anymore.  So we keep watching the episode of Daniel Tiger's neighborhood when Prince Tuesday learns how to go potty.  I love how everything is a song in Daniel Tiger's world, we dig that over here!

3) Moisturizer- I have had some crazy skin splotchiness since my third pregnancy (three years ago!) and I didn't realize I was supposed to be vigilant about sunscreen and I made it worse by being out in the sun with no coverage. I had tried apple cider vinegar, exfoliators and vitamin C and some other natural remedies, but nothing seemed to help.....until this! :)  It's a sunscreen moisturizer with retinol-A and it's really showing improvement.  It was a little more than I like to spend on sunscreen but less than a co-pay or prescription from the dermatologist.


4) Lullaby prayer - I just love this piece Prayer, by Hayley Wesentra.  I am playing it as a lullaby for the children at night.



5) Simplicity parenting - You may remember that I mentioned this briefly few weeks back.  Even though the permission to simplify has always been there, this book honestly feels like a permission slip to escape a rat race that I don't even remember entering. It has been relieving to me that my instincts to keep things simple, the way my childhood was, has been a good one...for now at least. Surely a day will come when we need to encourage/empower the kids to do more, but that day is not today! :)

6) The Wii -  Last weekend, Bronius' laptop had a meltdown and he had to drive to Houston to have some parts replaced. While there, we found an older model of the Wii at a great price, and while both of us have been adamantly opposed to having one, we found ourselves suddenly in line purchasing it.   With all the rain this week, it turns out it was a great time to cave in and buy a Wii. Mario & Luigi have been playing together and having a lot of fun, and the time regulation hasn't been a problem at all. They come home from school, have a snack, knock out their homework and piano practice, and then I allow them one half hour before outside play time. The neighbor boys are usually ringing the doorbell at that point anyway!

                                                                     Sometimes, I don't mind my curly hair. 

7) My good hair day.  These are few and far between, so I try to take a picture of this strange phenomenon when it occurs naturally! I am a low maintenance gal with hair that can be high maintenance, expect for when I let it air dry and go curly like this. But the atmospheric pressure has to be JUST right, or else beware!

And an extra....Seeing the Face of Christ in the Poor. I had an opportunity to talk with one of the coordinators of our local Saint Vincent de Paul society, and even though I trained as a Vincentian myself ten years ago, I realized how much more there was to learn and how much SVdP does nationally and internationally. I did not realize they are almost always among the first responders in a disaster or crisis, right alongside the Red Cross!

Well that's it for me this week! Thanks for stopping by, kind reader, I would love to hear from you!  :)

7QT - Back to school edition

Thanks for hosting, Jen Fulweiler!

                                   

~1~  Back to School. These guys have been looking forward to school for a looooong time.  I didn't have to fuss at anyone to hurry and finish breakfast or brush teeth or find shoes, they were out the door like lightning! I feel a mixed combination of peace and fear that these two are at the same school for the first time in their lives.  I remind them every day "remember, Jesus walks beside you on one side, your guardian angel on the other side, be kind to those who struggle and don't forget to represent your family well!" 

But oh...how this picture takes my breath away. I imagine it always will. 

                                               
                                                     I will probably always cry when I look at this picture.

Our first stop was Kindergarten, where we are very blessed to have Dominic's kindergarten teacher again! Milo wiped my kiss off his cheek before I left, but he did smile at me. He was ready to get down to the serious business of coloring! So I put on my brave face.  All the role playing and talking through feelings has prepared him well.  I was definitely a little sad, but proud!  He sits at the same table as two dear friends and neighbors, one of whom is our goddaughter Melissa!

                                             
                                                      Eternally grateful for this amazing educator!

Our final stop was third grade, and Dominic sits with 3 former classmates at his table, which is all kinds of comforting for me, since he is an introverted kiddo. His teachers are lovely women and educators and we look forward to knowing them more, and watching him grow this year!

My sweet boy humored me with a smile even though I'm sure I was a tad embarrassing.

                                      Our family picture from Meet the Teacher night. Fake snake not included.

~2~ Confessions of a Night Owl.  Since I've had a couple of muscle issues after Jonas' birth, Bronius has taken over the morning routine.  But with 2 birdies hopping out of the nest in the mornings, it has not been a blessing to my husband to continue in this fashion. He rarely asks me to do anything, other than squeeze the toothpaste out properly, but he did ask me to help with the morning routine this year. I am a night owl, I do all my writing/reading in the evenings, and the various and sundry tasks Mothers can never fully check off their to do lists. I used to get to bed at 1am and then be up just in time to kiss foreheads and say morning prayers before getting out the door. Well, all that has changed. I have a decent bedtime now, and I get up before the sun's full radiance and wake my boys up and cook up some eggs and bacon!  It is NOT easy for me and it is NOT pretty. I require a lot of quiet time before I'm up. Thanks to my pilates class, I haven't needed to do my lengthy stretches for my plantar fasciitis before getting out of bed. I have to say, life is going much smoother now. I have to have the discipline to shut everything down and leave things unfinished until the next day in order to go to bed on time, but I'm working on that not bothering me. :) 

~3~ Back to school breakfasts.  I'm trying to jazz breakfast up to reward us all for being up with the sun. Here is what we did this week.  I don't know if I'll be able to shake a tail feather like this every week, but...you know, I'll try.  More breakfast ideas borrowed from amazing people here.

                                                 

M- bananas rolled in honey and granola
T- egg, bacon and cheese burritos
W - apples and almond butter on whole grain toast.
Th- ham and cheese melt biscuits
F- banana sunflower breakfast cookies, pictured below.

                                         
                                         I jazzed these puppies up with some shredded coconut and chocolate chips.


My gents have their breakfast with a hot cup of chai tea! Must be their Indian roots coming through!

~4~ Home improvement. We are trying to add some shelves to some closets, and I have a list of goals for the house which may or may not ever be accomplished.  For example, I don't know if I'll ever succeed in finding a lego storage system that truly works in my lifetime. But we keep trying new things and I'm sure we'll work it out eventually! I am also trying to refinish and reupholster my Grandparents' dining room furniture from the 60's (I am not handy - so this is a scary undertaking). I am also trying to create a work station for me to keep all the school papers and my lap top and my writing stuff all together. I love the way this looks. We have a leftover slab of granite in the garage which was cut out for the kitchen sink, and I'm thinking maybe if I can find a small second hand desk and affix it on top.... any diy lovelies have tips?

~5~ Interval running.  What a way to get off on the right foot at the beginning of the school year, literally! An incredible friend and neighbor and I have started walking two nights a week, and she is taking our routine up a notch with some interval running.  She inspires me to try harder and her positive attitude is infectious. Mary, I'm so grateful to have you as a walking/jogging partner! 

~6~ I've mentioned this book club before methinks, but I must mention it again. And again.  We just finished Anna Karenina (and when I say "we" I mean "they," I only got to page 400 because I was busy planning summer camps all summer!) I never thought I'd be reading this book, Russian literature completely intimidates me. But I'm plugging along. Leo Tolstoy is a genius. How he understands so many different aspects of the human condition is unfathomable, and he never forces a reader to feel one way or the other. He lets you make up your own mind, and come to your conclusion. He just presents characters in all the complexity and simplicity and you can see yourself and other people you know in the story, and you realize we are all flawed and in need of God's mercy. 

                               A few of the lovely ladies in Bookish Catholics, started by Lauren Gulde.  Photo credit: Lauren Gulde

~7~ Here's a beautiful excerpt from Mother Teresa that I think I must read every day. (but I hope #1 doesn't mean I can't blog anymore because it's my journal therapy!

Thank you Lord for my life and the wonderful people you have blessed me with in the form of educators, friends, parents, siblings, children and for my sweet husband.  Please watch over all our children and keep them safe, and surround them with those who keep them pointed towards You.  Give them the grace to be kind, brave, and patient, especially when they feel most challenged. Thank you for this abundant life which we can never understand and never deserve without your beautiful mercy. 

And thank you for coming by, dear visitors! May God bless you and your family abundantly in this new school year!

7QT Tea, puddle jumping, alien cuddles, banner, frosting, a reflection and an homage to Mother's day

Linking up with 7QT at Jen Fulweiler's site this week. Thank you for hosting, Jen!


 ~ 1 ~  

The Montessori preschool where we send our boys holds a lovely Mother's day tea each year. I look forward to it with all my heart. The children set a sweet table, pour tea, and we sip the afternoon away together. The boys decided we needed to extend tea into the afternoon, and I gladly agreed. I treasure these memories!

                            

                             

~2~   

Today became quite stormy suddenly. Darkened sky, gorgeous lightning, scary thunder, hail and all.  Middle boy wanted to puddle jump, naturally, and pulled me out of kitchen duty to join him. I'm so glad he did.  In Florida, you could set your watch by the afternoon thunderstorms. My children fear thunder while I am comforted by it. I wish I could change that!

~3~ 

 This mischevious green alien has been spotted in lots of places in the house. I don't think we'll call Dr. Who just yet though, because he can be rather cuddly. 

~4~ 

I forgot to post a picture of D with his First Holy Communion banner.  Here it is for posterity. It was 100% his creation and I thought he did a great job!

~5~ 

This weekend I ate my weight in celebratory frosting (and let's not even talk about the cake). I am trying to get back on track with My Fitness Pal program since I've lost 6 pounds (woot!) and I endeavour to lose at least another 5. 

~6~

And now you must brace yourself for the "woe is me" part of my post.  

I've always been petite and fairly fit, and I never "needed" to exercise specifically to lose weight. But naturally 3 children later, without working too hard in between pregnancies, I found myself with a little extra and with plantar fasciitis (constant foot muscle inflammation and tightness) on top of it. I had a bit of a traumatic delivery with our youngest child 2 years ago, and it has taken me about 2 years to recover physically and mentally. I'm still on the road to the new normal. I've learned a great deal and changed a great deal over the last 2 years, and for that I am truly thankful. The anguish and struggle of was not all for naught, and it has brought me to deeply appreciate my three healthy children and my body which brought them here, as well as understand more the value of redemptive suffering. An amazing yoga/pilates gym class has been the only thing that has helped me most long term (and I've been to chiropractors, podiatrists and everything in between). It's a Phoenix rising out of the Ashes kind of a year for me, I think. Finally.  I'm ready to be me again, for my hubby and my kids. 

This reflection is a beautiful summary I think, for appreciating our bodies as the vessels of new life and love which they are. Please give it a read!

Where everything began, my parents circa 1977 in Milwaukee with my eldest sister and Grandmother.

 Hard to believe they had a life before I came, let alone my other siblings!

~7~

This is something I wrote a few years ago for Mother's day. I like to revisit it to remind me to keep on keepin' on! I hope it may bring a blessing to you, too. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Breakfast in Bed, by Mary Cassatt

Family, pioneer life, writing, an island, old friends and a new Pope.

Spring Break was highly eventful for me this year, considering that it's unusual for me to ever leave my house outside of a 5 mile radius.  It was packed with highlights!

  Sunday and Monday we had family in town. Special guests included my brother, who is hard to catch these days since he is working full time at HESS and working on his MBA simultaneously.  He's come a long way from playing "gotcha last!" with me on the walk home from elementary school.  And then there's my sister Lesley who is just as difficult to catch these days. She just finished her board exams and will very soon be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She too has come a long way since way since...well, she has way too much on me, so I better not tease her.  I'm so proud of these two.  Our eldest sister, Sarah, is waaaay out West in Oregon now. I get to see her least of all :(  but will hopefully have a chance this summer.

Mom made delicious food, and left my kitchen sparkling clean with enough time to spare to sing lullabies to her grandchildren. I love this Mama of mine. 

Dad reads stories to my kids and teaches them funny words, like troubadour.  Then he and Bronius play beautiful music together. I always tell my Dad I married Bronius so he'd get off my back about being a musician. He still thinks I'm kidding about that!!!!

Then we spent a day at Washington on the Brazos learning all about the birthplace of Texas. We were too early for bluebonnets, sadly, but still had no trouble at all enjoying the pioneer life for a day.

                                    

Really though, my parents came into town to babysit my trio of boys so that I could partake in this event.  I rode down with this gracious lady and it was able to finally meet some of the people I have been corresponding and blogging with through Austin Catholic New Media! I look like I'm sitting on chair of spikes, but I was really excited to be there. Photos are not my forte.

Bronius happened to be in Austin on the same day and we got to meet for dinner at a restaurant which his friend owns, named Olive and June. The tiramisu dessert was worth the drive all on its own. A great big thanks to Senele for taking over the Grandparent shift and letting us stay out late!

  

Came back in just enough time to pack for an excursion to Corpus Christi, courtesy of some points we have been saving through Discover Card. I had never been before.  Thanks to the recommendations of this sweet friend, we went to Mustang Island and also enjoyed the Aquarium, the Science and History museum, and an endless stream of delicious seafood. :)  

No one wanted to leave the beach. We literally had to drag them away!

On the way back from Corpus, we visited with some of Bronius' old friends from College who own  farmland in Louise, Texas. We loved visiting with them and their family! The kids got to ride in a tractor and jump over hay bales! 

Mr. Sulak teaches a lesson about the plant "Milo."  We kept singing "let it grow, let it grow," after our visit to their farm. :) 

                                  

 Hmmmm. I'm trying to think if there was anything else....right.  Oh, yes. And then there was

Habemus Papam!!!!!

Which made Wednesday the best day of the week by far. I wrote this poem for Pope Francis, which was inspired by an article I read.  What an overwhelmingly beautiful day in every possible way, I'm not sure any words could adequately describe it. 

I feel a very strong emotional connection to Pope Francis, I can not quite explain it.  I'm not sure if it's his manner, or his convictions, his love of the poor, his humility, his smile or if it's just that he seems so approachable, like a father. But I love him with my whole heart! I'm excited to see how our church will be shaped by the Holy Spirit through his hands.    

I'd like to close with my favorite prayer, one which I have treasured since I was a young child.  Some of the truest words I know, may these words of St. Francis bless and inspire us evermore. 

We said goodbye to Spring Break with a sunset dinner and smores by the firepit.  These are the moments we live for. I hope everyone enjoyed a restful and relaxing break with your loved ones!