Articles from August 2009

Now that I am (finally) through the first-trimester yuckiness that so many of us face – yes, I am pregnant (15 weeks) and we are very happy! – I feel that it is my duty to share a wonderful revelation that I had about 6 weeks ago. Truly, I should have figured this out about three babies ago, but perhaps by sharing I can help some of our readers who are still trudging through those difficult first few months of pregnancy!

We sat down to lunch and Mary served me a steaming plate of chicken and rice, full of veggies and little pieces of perfectly-cooked chicken. Let me tell you, it was the most satisfying dish that I had eaten in a long time, and the rest of the day I felt great! Had I been preparing lunch for myself at home, I would have eaten something much less elaborate – I’ve always saved our leftovers from dinner for another weeknight meal – but this delicious meal was just what my pregnant body needed. Since that day, I have been consciously eating a hearty lunch, usually leftovers from the night before or something that I have prepared in advance. I have been making soups, stews, and sauces galore so that I always have something on hand, and it has made a huge difference in my ability to function for the remainder of the day! On the menu today: beef stew left over from last night’s dinner. I promise that it tastes much better than it looks in this unflattering snapshot

This summer, I have had a bounty of healthy green tomatoes which have rotted on the vine while turning red. This may be a blight, too much rain, or the fact that the fruit are low to the ground and not well staked. There are still about 20 green tomatoes left in my garden. Does anyone know if I would be better off just picking them now, while they are green? Will they ripen on the windowsill?

Once every year, my husband leaves for a week-long theology course and week of fellowship with other great Catholic men. That one week a year, and only that week, I am guaranteed some exciting new pest or rodent infestation. Two courses ago the mice moved in and set up shop for a year and a half.

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Monica, the day before the feast of her son, St. Augustine. I have always had a special place in my heart for St. Monica, but especially recently as our son was diagnosed with a disorder and will likely have long-term behavioral issues. When I feel overwhelmed and anxious about the future it is a comfort to turn to St. Monica, who walked a hard road with trust, abandonment and patience.

How can a mother not love this saint who shed tears and implored heaven on her son’s behalf? Would that I could be as persistent and patient as St. Monica!

Charlotte of Waltzing Matilda has a beautiful coloring image of St. Monica here.

In the spirit of Mary Alice’s post on Shared Milestones, here is a milestone of our own to share:
My little boy started Kindergarten yesterday, and this morning he rode the bus to school for the first time – he’ll be taking it home as well! Where has the time gone??? I can still remember dropping him off for his first day of “school” when he was 16 months old, and calling a friend from the car afterwards sobbing. I was in grad school at the time and needed the childcare while I completed an internship, but it sure took a while to get used to the idea of spending so much time apart from Christopher! Now that he’s started Kindergarten, I realize that our family has entered a whole new reality. Gone are the days when I can take Christopher out of school for a week to go visit our family or for the day to visit the zoo, and gone are our lazy mornings of playing and taking our time before breakfast. Ironically, my early riser has taken to sleeping in, and his body has severely protested the early wake-ups these past couple of days. I predict that we will have an exhausted 5 year-old on our hands by the end of the week!

It was such a thrill when I met Danielle Bean last spring. After reading her first book in one session, I have been following her family for a few years on the internet. As I summoned the courage to begin to homeschool and to allow God to continue to expand my own family, her laid back style of large family Catholic motherin’ has been an inspiration, and her sense of humor has helped me to keep mine.

It was such a thrill when I met Danielle Bean last spring. After reading her first book in one session, I have been following her family for a few years on the internet. As I summoned the courage to begin to homeschool and to allow God to continue to expand my own family, her laid back style of large family Catholic motherin’ has been an inspiration, and her sense of humor has helped me to keep mine.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church…