Catholic Woman's Almanac ~ October 1, 2012

Moments of Gratitude
~ time at the beach with my Tom to celebrate our 17th anniversary
~ time to meet with Misty over coffee and pastries...and meet "in real life" this beautiful friend 
~ time to play with Max and laugh at the funny things that he does and says
~ time to explore friendships, new and old....

Beauty in the Ordinary

From the Kitchen
Today.....
Chicken meatalls
Sweet potato fries
Creamed spinach

Later this week....
Potato-bacon chowder (with freshly dug potatoes from our CSA)
Rosemary/Basalmic-Pork tenderloin


Praying
~For this beautiful country of ours as we look to the election....and most especially for the respect for all life....
~For my parents and their fellow parish members on their pilgrimage to Sicily....
~For Colleen and her dad as they pilgrimage to Medjugorje
~ For Joe, as he continues to navigate the intricate maze of school, friendships, and just...life

Reading

Listening to

Dying Young Soundtrack
Sesame Street


Captured

My sweet brother-in-law, Eric, and his Godson, Charlie

Gratefully sharing at Suscipio today....

PHFR ~ {change of season}

{ Pretty }

Slowly but surely Spring is starting to show her colors. One of my favorite plants is the Forsythia. A riot of crazy color that seems to just burst forth from nothing.

{ Happy }

Our bluebirds are back feathering their nest and the whole family is ecstatic! We need to go to the bird store and get them some meal worms. What a beautiful start to Spring.

{ Real Fun }

Nothing is more real than potty training. My 20-month old, Max, was pulling at his diaper and then ran to the bathroom. So. Slowly but surely, we are becoming friends with the potty. Thank goodness for wonderful things like "Elmo's Potty Book". (He has yet to tell me BEFORE he goes in his diaper, but at least he is becoming aware, right?) And it's funny, because I hope that he will transition to other potties even if we don't have the Elmo book.....

 

{ Real }

We visited my dear friend Carol and her family this weekend for their St. Patrick's Day party. And by party, I mean a-time-filled-with-delicious-food-and-homemade-brew-and-family-and-friends. I've realized that it is the kind of party that I've always thought that I have, but no. These people ate almost everything. Here in the south, it's like people eat before they come over.... Still, that aside, the two men above are two of the sweetest, most wonderful men ever. AND. They make delicious food. Homemade pizza on Friday, and corned beef on Saturday (and then made into hash on Sunday). Good times. Real food. Real people. Real love. It was hard to leave our friendmily and come home to real life. :)

Sharing here today:

Comfort. Food.

     As the cold mid-winter wraps around my bones, it is no wonder that I look to satisfying food to help me break the chill. It is why soups, stews, and chowders have been filling up my pots and soothing all of our bellies around here. (Ahem. and WHY we also need to be more diligent about exercise. Oh dear.)
     

Chicken Vegetable soup

     However, there is another warmth that I have clung to recently.... that of friends and family. My dear friend Whitney, who had sweet baby Molly on December 20th, knows just how to comfort. 


     On Tuesday, after I dropped Joe at school (and said a prayer that he would have a wonderful day) Max and I headed to Whitney's for the day. To spend time in her company is healing and feels like home.  As we sipped coffee and ate cinnamon muffins, I talked her ear off about my hopes and fears and concerns about my Joe. Oh, he's doing o.k. at school, but there is still that nagging pull at this mama's heart that says... something isn't connecting. Whitney has know Joe while in the womb, so I trust her vision and perception. And doesn't it help to talk through things with others who know us... especially ones who will be honest? The ones who say, "well, i DO remember when..." or "hmm. i see why you are scared". 


     It was then that it hit my heart like a sword. I know that no one else has the answers, but dear GOD how good it feels when someone is willing to LISTEN. To offer comfort in the form of a hug or words, or a simple, "but you know that we love him, right?"


     Isn't that what God is whispering too? "You know that I love him, right?" Despite the quirkiness? Despite the quietness? Despite the confusing array of symptoms that "aren't quite right"? I need to listen harder to that whispering. My worry has caused me to feel so paralyzed at times. Paralyzed and scared. I look in the mirror and don't recognize who that person is looking back at me... This person who whispered quiet prayers and not-so-quiet prayers to God BEGGING for a child. SO. This child. This one that is my first, my gift, my world.. needs me to continue to look to God for guidance. To look to God for comfort. To never give up. To possibly find an answer to this puzzle of social awkwardness and yet moments of incredible insight and care and concern for others. These days of being uncertain are all part of the journey. I know that. But oh. How rocky this journey sometimes is!


     And that is why I am grateful for the gifts that I see around me. Snuggling with a new baby, laughing like crazy at Max's silliness, talks with a genuine friend, and yes, the food that is from His bounty.


     I also wanted to feed Whitney and her family, so while she took the baby to the doctor and while Max played at my feet, I made them a steaming pot of potato bacon chowder. I tweaked this recipe a little, since I didn't add the cheese. I did, however, blend about half of the soup to make it creamier, since there was no milk or cream... So delicious.


     (After all, I had to feed Whitney after she helped to feed my heart.... It was the very least I could do.)  


    And here is a picture of sweet Molly.... God's gracious gift indeed....

Sharing here today:

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real ~ {Unique perspectives}

{ pretty }

Yes. I realize that it is a worm. But do you KNOW what these little ones do for my garden (and yours)? Whenever I see a wriggly earthworm, I recognize it as a pretty little gift from God to help my garden grow. A pretty gift covered with dirt. I like that.

{ happy }

One of my greatest childhood memories is climbing trees. Oh how I loved to grab a book and snuggle into the arms of the neighboring oak tree (and I was devastated to learn that it is now gone).... SO it made me so very happy to see that Joe has really taken to trees as well. I found him in "his" dogwood out front. I also loved that I had to call him several times to come in for dinner....smiling the whole time because I *knew* what it felt like to not want to leave the safety of a tree. 

{ funny }

I truly should have taken a video of Max on the swings. The hysterical sounds and laughter made me laugh as well.... I think that you can see his funny personality here.

{ real }

Mail. Actual surprise-in-your-mailbox-look-who-took-the-time-to-think-of-you mail. My college roomie, Paige, sent me this sweet chocolate bar and even sweeter letter. As soon as I post this, I am going to sit down and write her a REAL letter back. Real friendship. Real mail. Just. Real. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter! 

Gratitude Multitudes ~ #451-485

  My husband Tom and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on Friday, and I cannot begin to describe the joyfulness in my heart for the gift of my husband. My gratitude to God for him is simply overflowing. To be gifted a companion so in tune with my heart? Yes. That is grace, indeed. (Grace....infused with unbelievable amounts of patience and love.)

    And I need to tell you a little story. On our wedding night, we needed to stop and pick up a few essentials (read: we forgot our toiletries bag). So here we are at 9 p.m. at night in a not-so-wonderful part of downtown Norfolk at the CVS. And it's pouring rain. When we were done shopping, Tom sheltered me as much as possible as we raced to the car in the pouring rain. Laughing. 

It was locked. 

With the keys inside.

     So back into the store we went to wait for the locksmith. The store was closing, and I believe that we even offered to help clean up. I am SURE that they thought we were crazy. Two dressed up people waiting for a locksmith. Still holding hands. Still laughing.

Only us.

     Fast forward 16 years. A lovely dinner out at Old Bookbinder's in downtown Richmond. Lovely, lively conversation of two people who never seem to run out of things to say....Holding hands. Laughing.

Then the sheer look of horror as he realizes....

No wallet.

     (And no. I didn't bring mine. He told me he was taking me out to dinner.)

Luckily, he found a credit card in my car. After much worry and "Can you believe this?" ... It worked out. 

But oh. I realize....the more things change, the more they stay the same. :) 

Only us. Still laughing. Still holding hands. And it's all good.

Linking up with Ann today.... and so grateful today for:

memories and laughter and togetherness

the gift of love

holding hands in the car

shelter from the storms of life

"Seek Ye First"

tulips and irises (love by mail)

homemade chicken soup

the last of the "red hot zinnias"

football weather

football parties

cheering on the Redskins

pizza night with Kellie

prayers whispered in the car

Opening Mass at Joe's new school

hugs from former colleagues

teachers who love my child

hugs from former students

laughter and silliness.....STILL

the look of understanding

another heart-felt talk with Whitney

making dinner for Whitney

salted caramel gelato

snuggling on the couch

old episodes of "Mad About You"

moonflowers that scent my porch

orange-red chrysanthemums

cinnamon spice candles

clear, cool evenings filled with birdsong

listening to"Old Yeller" on CD

Joe's laughter at the "silly yeller dog"

singing Sesame Street favorites

parties in the field

seeing new baby Brady

basil profusion

change of season

   

Birthday Multitudes ~ #436-450

     These last few weeks of summer have been filled with life, love, laughter, and friends. For me, there is nothing like feeling the connectedness with other human beings... Maybe it has something to do with turning 39. Recognizing that time is marching on and that I need to continue to remember the people in my life who make a difference. And sometimes, tears happen, too:

Me and Carol

     This is my dear friend Carol...who moved away when we were in 6th grade. (Which, by the way, is a horrendous year to lose your best friend. I felt oh so lost....At school, home, and church, my trusty sidekick was gone.) We kept in touch for awhile and then, well, life happened. Marriages, babies, moves. So thank goodness for technology that allowed us to find each other and reconnect. Reconnect with my first and best friend. Like no time had been lost, even though it had been (gasp) 26 or so years ago.  Chatting like two young schoolgirls while our children played and our husbands talked was a little surreal. (Aren't WE still in the 4th grade?!) I could have stayed up all night reminiscing, and was grateful that they came to my parent's home for breakfast. What a fabulous birthday present. I got to see my dearest friend. Reconnect. And be renewed. Lovely.


     Still counting...and thankful for:

Carol's laughter

remembering childhood

hugs that you just don't want to end
feeling like a kid again

Moscurnello  

quart jar of tomatoes from New Jersey

promises to "do this again soon"

watching kids enjoy water play

watching Carol's children dance

sausages and peppers and mozzarella

Tom and Pete corralling the kids

connectedness

coming home to a friend

dad's breakfast casserole and hospitality

realization of true life-long friendships



The kiddos





Pop Pop and Max



Gratefully sharing here today:



Summer Multitudes ~ #402-435

     Please excuse the randomness and stream-of-conscience writing...there is so much that is rambling through this lazy brain of mine that I just don't know where to begin.  :)   I have been away for awhile... 

     For the past two weeks, I have been so incredibly lucky that Tom has been home on vacation. Relaxing time, play time, let's-just-take-time-to-be-together time. I love that he has such a relaxed schedule in the summer (mainly because it helps me to be comfortable with the fact that we can be summer-lazy together.)  I have also been deep in prayer about friendships...

     We started the vacation at the beach with my sister (my first friend)and her adorable family. Heaven. (And as far as I am concerned, it was way too short a time.) Next up, Tom's 20th High School reunion. Time spent meeting friends again, remembering good times, and hearing stories about the intersections of lives. Then, we took some time to travel and visit some dear friends....I love, love, love reconnecting with people who mean so much. Hopefully, I will round out this week by getting to see a dear friend from childhood who moved away.  Carol has such a tender piece of my heart to this day....

     I mentioned to Tom that I am so utterly frustrated with the way that life is today. The overwhelming busy-ness and distance makes it so hard to really keep connections going.  

     I need to confess something. I feel a little guilty with how I (unknowingly) made Tom feel. In the midst of traveling (to help settle some of this gypsy soul of mine) I didn't realize that I kept saying "I could live here", "Wouldn't this be a great place for you to get a job?". Unfortunately, he interpreted this as unhappiness. When really, I just miss my people. I am unsettled with having to drive 1, 2, or 3 hours to really reconnect and visit. Truly, I was simply trying to tell my friends how much I miss them, not that I was unhappy with where I am or how my life is. Luckily, the misunderstanding was cleared up, but I did learn that I have to be careful (still? really?) about how I say things. He is where I want to be. Wherever that is. Always.

     So...counting today...

kids covered in sand

bright beach towels

beach reading

conversations with Rae

kites on the beach

helping Joe ride the waves

Max walking with arms raised

Max's third word ~ Joe

road-trippin'

Nags Head, NC

reconnecting with Mari Tere

Mass with the Youth Apostles

Ana Marie and Family

Helen and Family

Fr. Jack and Fr. Peter

reconnecting with Beth

Joe and Ellie playing

Lebanese taverna (and Beth to myself)

Joe and daddy day

reconnecting with Paige and family

hearing Paige sing

listening to Molly sing "Cats"

talking with Anna about horses

seeing Beth twice in one week

comfortable silences
watching Tom be silly
reconnecting with Chris and Shelly
time alone with Tom
seeing Joe make a gesture that is his dad's
friendships through time

Max laughing

murals from nothing

painting and laughing with Rachel

Joe's gratefulness for Lego's
coming home to our little world

Sweet girl



Joe and his kite

Gratefully sharing at Ann's today:





"God Sightings" and gratitude ~ #281-314

     We are beginning to settle into summertime. Well, as much as you can settle in. The schedules are relaxed, the days sometimes wide open with possibilities of sun, water, and friends. I look forward to pool days with friends, romping in the park, and walks at twilight (watching the fireflies of course). I recognize that I need a schedule and checklists, but sometimes, it's nice when the schedule is simply "pool with Jen" or "Joe to camp"....
     Last week, we were blessed to be a part of Vacation Bible School. We are still walking around singing the songs and doing the motions. "God Sightings" are now what we are currently looking for in our little corner of the world.... Here is what I am grateful for:

zinnias in bloom

drippy sweet watermelon

Feast of Corpus Christi

Kristie and her family

Danny's bear hugs

Max "walking" while holding onto me

Joe saying "Glad Uncle Dan is home safe!"

9.1 pounds down (total)

savoring a Krispy Kreme glazed confection

sauteed zucchini (mine)
Max "reading" books

summertime laziness

tomato red fresh off the vine (mine)

barefoot through the wet grass

reading Misty of Chincoteague with Joe

remembering how much I loved Misty

"God Sightings" around me
children singing songs of praise
Baptismal promises renewed
watching Yvonne's Confirmation

loving faith community

blowing bubbles with Max

Max's "kisses on demand"

saving a spider (so she can get the bad bugs)

fresh sage

vines and vegetables intertwined

calls from mom

free curriculum helps

Youth Apostles faith community

connectedness with old friends
Joe singing loud in the back seat
watching Harry Potter and screaming with Joe
Tom working 2 jobs for us...

...allowing me to wake up to my job and this face:

So what are you thankful for? Share your gratitude list here:



** Please, if you have a moment, please, please say a prayer for our friend, Tom Duesterhaus, who has been missing since last Thursday. He is a beautiful person of God and we just want him home....Along with all of my prayers to God, I will also look to the community of Saints, and most especially, to Saint Anthony, known as the patron saint of lost things and missing persons :

 

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me the safe return of Tom Duesterhaus. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so, you are the Saint of Miracles.

O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

(Then say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

<><><><><><><><>

Saint Anthony of Padua

Multitudes on Mondays ~ #201-235

     It really is rare. True friendship. When you find one, make sure that you cling fast to it. It is such a gift. Such a balm for the spirit. Having a friendship like Whitney's creates a peaceful place in my heart.... And now, here we are over 10 years late. Our husbands are friends, too, and our children have become playmates....Times spent together are easy. Joyful. Playful. Wonderful.     
     This past weekend, we were lucky enough to go camping with them (and others!) and enjoy just being together.... Here are some things that I am grateful for:

pink sky sunrises on the lake

Max's first camping trip

Max sleeping soundly in the tent

sleeping on a cot overlooking the lake

dreaming in the hammock

watching Tom play with the boys

dogs romping in the sand and water

laughing at Cleo who takes our chairs...

the friendship of Whitney, Stacy, and Zach

Sara and Brad

Tara and Clark

finding the dog of the campers next to us (we said that we would watch him....and he escaped....)

making new friends

riding bikes with Joe

old-fashioned ice cream stand

(*photo courtesy of Whitney!)

traditional S'mores

S'mores made with Ritz crackers (now that's yumminess!)

Whitney's laughter at the silliness of Brad and Stacy

the smell of impending rain

lightning on the lake

the sound of raindrops on the tarp

the safety (and dryness) of a tent when the rain comes

stories 'round the campfire

showering optional

nap times are encouraged

dinner from the grill

watching Max eat watermelon

cool breezes

swimming with Joe

watching Joe and Zack "fish"

sunsets over the water

new crescent moon

friends who watch over your children

hard-won friendships that stand the strains of this life...

Sharing gratitude with others here:

Multitudes on (Memorial) Monday ~ # 172-200

     Today, this Memorial Day, I am especially grateful for all of the sacrifices by the men and women in the armed services...that they would so willingly give their lives so that I might be able to live in this country. This country founded for freedom. Against tyranny. Where I have a voice....

     Oh sure, we all know and recognize the flaws. The pain. The sicknesses and weaknesses of a government sometimes overcome by greed. But still, if we look closely and really focus on what this country is all about, we can see such goodness. Such heart. Such connectedness bound by freedom and patriotism. God Bless America, indeed.....

     My gratitude list continues....

172 ~ my American flag waving in the breeze

173 ~ my brother-in-law, Daniel Zeytoonian, currently serving in Afghanistan
174 ~ The National Memorial Day concert on PBS (giving life to stories of Veteran's and their family members)
175 ~ backyard barbeques
176 ~ new treehouse and zipline ready for children (and adults)
177 ~ my dad grilling the chicken
178 ~ Grandpa's smoker (with mesquite chunks)

179 ~ the smell of sweet corn
180 ~ shucking corn with my sis, Rae
181 ~ watching kids on the Slip-N-Slide

182 ~ mom's recipe for coleslaw 
183 ~  the smell of summer
184 ~ lightning bugs
185 ~ laughter in the air
186 ~ happy shouts of children
187 ~ sitting and watching friends chat and play
188 ~ cheering on Lauren (on the zipline.even though the safety strap was attached to the tree.she made it!whew.)

189 ~ Joe's smile

190 ~ chatting around the firepit 

191 ~ watching dogs romp and play

192 ~ neighbors bearing gifts of brownies and drinks and pies

193 ~ sunny sun porch yellow

194 ~ air conditioning for humid days

195 ~ ceiling fans whirling

196 ~ frosting cupcakes

197 ~  freshly brewed iced tea

198 ~  dappled sunlight through oak trees

199 ~  friends and family chatting

200~ my silly, multi-talented, adventurous husband...

What are you thankful for? Come and share over at Ann's: