Quotables #4

"The ice cream in their tummies will build the church?"


"Is there going to be a pretend monkey in our house? With shoes on his foots?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Because I like that!"


"Regardless Annie, it's time to brush your teeth."
"Okay regardless Daddy..."


"RES Help! RES Help!"
"RES? Help is spelled H-E-L-P... Or do you mean SOS?"
"Yeah! SOS help!"


"I'm trying to do an estimated God thingie, right here."


"Mommy. You know what? Dancing helps me not eat people's breakfast."


"I don't want Colette to be sad. and dejected."


"So we can still drive?"
"Yes"
"To places?"

"Dad is the husband, right?
And you're the womens?"

"I have to get Jesus out of my pantie drawer!"

Pruning

2015 has already been a year of announcements: babies, engagements, moves, and exciting changes for so many people. I don't have anything exciting to share, but I did spend part of today "trimming" the lilac bush right by our back door while the girls enjoyed the almost warm weather. By trimming I mean, I'm working my way to hacking the thing down to six inches, because it needed some serious pruning. It's beautiful, but in the summer it blocks half of the steps coming out of the house into the backyard and interrupts my view from the kitchen window to the patio area. So while I hope it survives my brutality, I'm also welcoming the breathing room it's going to give us.

Sometimes, I feel the same way about my life: the desire to strip away everything and start at the beginning, or at least, with the basics. I often feel so far from where I want to be, from where God wants me to be. I think that desire is God's way of reminding me that the center, the root of my life needs to be in Him, and all the other stuff is just getting in the way if I'm not focusing on that. I think that may be the focus of this year, letting God trim (or hack away, as may be necessary) all those things that distract me from my vocation, and from Him.

While I was at SEEK the first few days of this year, there was a schedule packed with amazing speakers and events. I got to hear snippets and the entirety of several talks as I flitted from room to room to get the shots I needed. I heard a lot of incredible things, and even plan on going back to listen to more when I'm able (because my husband is awesome and bought the talks so we could listen to them when we aren't working like crazy).

That being said, there was a singular event of those five days that truly moved my heart and brought things into focus for me: adoration with 9300 people on their knees worshiping Christ in the Eucharist. Not only was it one of those moments where, if we allow it, our hearts leap in joy at being in the presence of the True Presence, but it was a beautiful representation of the truly universal Catholic church and a reminder of something I think we all long to be reminded of: You are not alone. The diversity of emotion can probably only be imagined, but I'm sure there was not only joy, ecstasy, and excitement, but also fear, confusion, and anxiety in those thousands of hearts that night. I know a recent catchphrase is "You are enough." This in itself is such a salve to so many souls, but I want to add to it. "I don't have to be enough, because You, God, are enough."

Here's to a year of bringing things back to where they belong, to stripping out the excess and the distractions, to a year of hope.

365 Photos in 365 Days: Weeks 49-52

Here we have the last few stragglers in my 365 project. I'm a wee bit overwhelmed with the work built up from our three weeks away (shooting photos but not being able to edit), so they aren't numbered, and I may be missing a few here and there from days I only shot for work, but I love these. It has been a lovely, if a bit hectic year. I'm proud of this project, and looking forward to another year filled with my sweet husband and babes.

Merry Christmas!

While the photos are lacking while I'm away from home, I'm still here! We have snuggled into my parents' home and are settled into the steady hum of craziness that is holidays around here. We spent the first few days in preparations. There's something wonderful about hanging your own terribly ugly childhood ornament creations on your parents' tree and getting to witness the backyard extravaganza of lights that my Dad puts up for us every year. There is a wild amount of delicious food, orchestrated by Aunt Tinie and Uncle Jake, including at least 9 kinds of cookies, various breads, and other snacks. If the record player isn't on, someone's ipad is playing their choice of music, or there's an impromptu concert put on by whomever is feeling the music. On Christmas day, there was rarely a moment when Colette wasn't ambling about with a treat or snack clutched in her little hands. I'm so grateful for this time together with my family, and while it's hard to be away from the work I have to do at home, this is good, really good. It is important to me that despite the fact that we live over 500 miles away from my parents, that my girls are as comfortable with them and with my siblings as if we lived in the same town (thank you, skype!) Happiness is watching my littles snuggled up on laps, reading stories, and begging treats from every and any adult hanging about. It's a good life. Merry Christmas!

St. Lucy's Day III

This past Saturday, we had our third annual St. Lucy's Day tea party. (You can see the first year here, and the second year here.) Because it was a Saturday, it was the largest group we've had yet, especially as this was the first time Daddies came along.

The girls wore sweet white dresses with red sashes (or some variation of) and made their own Santa Lucia crowns with (paper) candles. They were quite proud of them this year! Colette took to wearing hers upside down... so it's looking a little forlorn, but, still, so much fun. We attempted a Star boy crown for our one young man, but I had forgotten the right shape for it, so maybe next year!

I made a braided cinnamon bread (to represent St. Lucia's crown) and lussekatter (saffron buns). I did manage the cinnamon bread homemade... so I am quite proud of that. The "saffron" buns are actually pillsbury orange rolls (we also really like the Immaculata brand, but they were out). Right color, and nice and simple so I didn't make myself entirely crazy getting ready for something that is supposed to be a celebration. I bought a new book this year, Lucia, Saint of Light. I love it! It explained a few finer points of the celebration I didn't know, and has some recipes as well as a St. Lucia song in the back. I definitely recommend it for any of you that want to know more about the celebration! 

 While we had discovered the song in the back of the book, we stuck with the simple "Happy St. Lucy's Day to you", for the sake of including everyone in the singing. The littles quite enjoyed getting to blow out candles, eat yummy food, and chase each other around. Happy St. Lucy's Day!

Prayer to Saint Lucy

Saint Lucy, your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve this light in my soul so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.  By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.  Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.