7 Quick Takes Friday

1)

This is how we spend our weekends in the winter:

Andrew and Eamon are on the same team.  They play for our town.
Andrew's the tallest (white shirt) and Eamon's the shortest (green shirt).

My little guy *almost* got this one in!

John Paul plays for our parish through CYO.  He's number 10.

In the huddle - still the smallest.  What a difference in size between 4th and 6th graders.
I expect our grocery bill to grow exponentially.

 2)
My newest glasses from Firmoo.  They are much smaller than the others, and I like them much better.  I guess size does matter :)

3)
You will all be cheering for the Patriots on Sunday at 6:30, right?  Right? 

4)
Thank you all for your kind comments and emails about my post yesterday.  It's great to know I am in such good company.  I have so many emails that I still need to respond to, so thanks for your patience!!

5)
One of the moms that inspires me had a lovely announcement this week.  Squeal!  It's so easy to get excited when somebody else is making the announcement :)

6)
I rear-ended someone this morning when I was trying to stop on an icy patch of road.  The guy was nice and said he slipped on the same spot, and there was no damage, but my kids found it a very exciting way to start their morning!

7)
Look at this news article about (another) Eamon Martin!

Have a wonderful football-watching long weekend everybody!!

Pro-Life in Theory

You want an honest post?  Here goes....

I am a die hard pro-life Catholic.  I oppose abortion, the death penalty, and euthanasia.  I support pregnancy centers that help mothers choose life for their babies, and pray outside abortion clinics for an end to the evil of abortion.  Phil and I have never used contraception in our marriage, and we use NFP to space our children using God's design of a woman's cycles.

When I hear of a couple struggling with infertility, my heart breaks for them, I can't even imagine how hard it would be to carry that cross.  When I hear news of a pregnancy, under any circumstances, I rejoice for that new little baby!  Seriously, people love to tell me about their baby news because I squeal with excitement.  I can't even contain my joy.

But (you knew there was a but coming, didn't you?) sometimes I fear another pregnancy like the plague.  In all my pro-life proclamations, I struggle with actually being pro-life in my own family.  Would I ever have an abortion or start using contraception?  No, of course not. But does contraception seem tempting - an easy fix to solve my problems?  Yes.  Do I sometimes get a little angry and feel like I will be producing babies for the rest of my fertile years?  Yes.

Yesterday an older co-worker of mine was talking about finances and looked at me and said "I have no idea how you are going to put all your kids through college."  Then he put his face in his hands in shock of the sheer prospect.  He wasn't trying to be rude, it just hit him all of a sudden.  He has one child in college and struggles to afford it.  He can't even imagine how we are going to do it with our Catholic school salaries.  I laughed and said something like "Oh they'll do it just like we did it - financial aid and scholarships!"  Then I walked away, trying to hide my tears.  It's not like I never thought about college expense times five children before.  But it was his genuine concern for how we were going to manage it that made it seem all the more impossible.  

I also heard from a friend yesterday who had to have a hysterectomy (after having lots of children) and I thought "Must be nice".  It must be nice to not have to worry about using NFP and discerning if our reasons are grave or selfish.  It must be nice to be able to plan for the future knowing how many children figure into that equation.  It must be nice to be spontaneous with your husband and not plan your life around charts and fear of user error.

And then I instantly felt terrible about myself because while so many women would do anything to have a baby, a blessing from God, here I am complaining about my super-fertility.  I wish I could go back in time to before I was married when I would tell everybody that I wanted 12 kids, and actually mean it.  But back then I didn't realize what our future salaries would be, or that I would even have to work outside the home at all.  I couldn't fathom that we would still be paying off our student loan debt when our oldest was in college.  I didn't know how it felt to be pregnant four times in 5 years and how tiring and frustrating that could be.

I know all of my fears are the result of not trusting enough in the Lord's plans.  I am a planner myself, and type A, and I like to know what's going to happen.  I find it funny that I am struggling with this right now, and my saint for the year is St. Gianna.  I need to pray that I can have the courage and grace she had as a mother.  The other funny thing is that we are doing fine in so many ways.  We have a house, two cars, jobs we like that pay for everything we need, 5 healthy and pretty amazing kids, so why do I worry so much?

Maggie on her Baptism Day

I have to remember that God has ALWAYS provided for our needs (easy to do, because I have proof) and He always will in the future (hard to do because I lack trust).  I need to find that balance between being open to life and being prudent with what we've already been given. I'm *hoping* this is something that many of you can relate to.  Prayers and advice welcomed.

That's What She Drew

Me: Maggie, who's in the picture?

Maggie: It's you and Daddy, but he looks like Alexander because he's small and you're big and you both have buttons on your shirt.

Me: They look like belly buttons, and we look naked.

Maggie: They are belly buttons, and you ARE naked, that's what I said.  

Me: Oh, I misunderstood.  And what's that on our arms?

Maggie: Floaties, because you know how you and Alexander can't swim?  So you need floaties.

Me: Oh, I thought it was Dad, not Alexander.

Maggie: (exasperated) You just don't get it.

Of Monsters and Men

Guys, I just LOVE this song, Little Talks, by Of Monsters and Men.  It sort of haunts me, and is so beautiful that I had to look up the words to understand what it is about.  The video is very, ummm, artsy?  I don't know, I never understand music videos.  Just close your eyes and listen to the song.

Little Talks

Hey! Hey! Hey!

I don't like walking around this old and empty house

So hold my hand, I'll walk with you, my dear

The stairs creak as I sleep, it's keeping me awake

It's the house telling you to close your eyes

Some days I can't even dress myself

It's killing me to see you this way

Cause though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Hey! Hey! Hey!

There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back

Well tell her that I miss our little talks

Soon it will all be over, and buried with our past

We used to play outside when we were young

And full of life and full of love

Some days I feel like I'm wrong when I am right

Your mind is playing tricks on you my dear

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Hey!

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

You're gone, gone, gone away

I watched you disappear

All that's left is a ghost of you

Now we're torn, torn, torn apart

There's nothing we can do

Just let me go, we'll meet again soon

Now wait, wait, wait for me

Please hang around

I'll see you when I fall asleep

Hey!

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Don't listen to a word I say

Hey!

The screams all sound the same

Hey!

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary

This ship will carry

Our bodies safe to shore

I *think* it is about a woman who lost her husband.  If you have any deeper insights, let me know.  For now I'll just keep replaying it....

That's What She Said

 

 Phil and I were talking in the kitchen and Maggie says "You guys should hug each other when you talk, like you always do."

Then she adds "And kiss too, I like it when you kiss!"

(Well, twist our arms...)

"Mom, can I have a cheesbooger instead of a hambooger?"

"Mommy, why do ladies always read their phones?  Is their work inside their phones?"

"Boys! Boys! How come you don't play girl games with me?  I play tackle with you!"

WIWS (The S stands for Saturday or Sunday, right?)

What I Wore to Saturday Evening Mass:

Trying really hard NOT to put my hands on my hips per my usual pose.

 Can I be honest and say that I was inspired to pull out this "blazer" to wear because I saw it on a toddler?  Yup, Ellen from Call Her Happy and I have the same fashion taste.  Awesome :)

Wishing there was a button riiiiiight there.

Blazer: Target

Pants: Gap on clearance (everything I buy is on clearance)

Shoes: Payless

I know what you're thinking..."She didn't even accessorize? What kind of a WIWS participant does she think she is?"

Au contraire mes amis, au contraire:

Split ends courtesy of terrible hair genetics.

Flower clip from H& M.

Now go see the better dressed ladies over at Fine Linen and Purple.

And go PATS!!!!

What I Wish I Was Wearing Sunday ;)