A Day Trip to Newport, RI

Last week, we realized that Saturday was going to be a rare day where nobody was scheduled to work, and decided to pack up Vanna White (our new Ford Transit) and drive to Newport, Rhode Island with the kids.  

We hit Easton's Beach because it has bathrooms (so many beaches around here are open, but the bathrooms are locked up...not great with lots of little bladders) and waves, unlike our local beach.  Unfortunately, there was also a lot of seaweed.  Phil researches the best waves in the area like it's his day job, and knew the swell was about 2 feet, but there's no way to tell about seaweed until you get there.  The kids love boogie boarding, but came home with TONS of seaweed under their suits.  Blech.  I love the ocean, but from my perch on the shore, for this seaweedy reason in particular.  

And sharks.  

And salt water.  

And sand.  

Geez Colleen, you have a strange love/hate relationship with the ocean.

Yes, I SEA your point.

Hehehe.

Anyway, some photos of the day...

Maximillian Kolbe: The Saint of Auschwitz (and the Man Who Changed My Life Forever)

When I was sixteen, growing up on Cape Cod, my mom was the coordinator of the Apostolate Alliance of the Two Hearts (a Catholic organization that promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart).  We just called it the "Alliance" and knew it meant that my mom (and dad) were always having prayer groups, saying the family rosary, and going to daily Mass.  Priests were in and out of our home on a regular basis, and the "headquarters" of the Alliance was in a room above the ice cream shop my family owned and ran.  We would be working a busy shift, run upstairs for another box of sugar cones, and bump into a group of friars praying for the conversion of sinners.  No biggie ;)  My parents had become Third Order Franciscans of the Immaculate when I was about twelve, and truly, I didn't realize how weirdly Catholic we were until a friend came to my house when I was in high school, and pointed out how many images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints we had.  She (lovingly) started referring to my home as the Jesus House.  Ha! 

So it might come to no surprise to anyone who knew us back then, that my mother was somehow involved (perhaps initiated??) a speaker to come from Poland to give a couple of talks about St. Maximillian Kolbe.  St Max was the founder of the Militia of the Immaculata, which promoted evangelization of the faith through consecration to Our Lady.  She was a Third Order of the same Franciscans that he founded, after all.  What WAS surprising was that the speaker was 93 year old Franciszek Gajowniczek...the man whom St. Maximillian Kolbe had saved by taking his place in the concentration camp! 

7QT: Friends, Mass, House Projects and a Break Up

Happy Friday!  Linking up with Kelly and the rest of the faithful bloggers.

1)

I am in great spirits because we have events on our social calendar this weekend!  After almost 3 months of not having social interactions, even this introvert is dying for some friend time.  Tonight, a friend is coming over to our house for dinner, and then on Sunday, Phil and I are going out to eat with another friend at an outdoor restaurant in Rhode Island.  I can't even remember what going to a restaurant is like!!  I hope I behave :)

2)

WE WENT TO MASS!!!!

We were all there, JP was taking this picture, and Phil was inside talking, and talking, and talking to Father.  (I told you we were starved for attention).  My four oldest boys served Mass, Maggie was the sacristan, and the little two boys seemed to whisper much louder behind their masks in the pew.  I thought I would cry upon receiving Our Lord for the first time in months, but I was too busy thinking about the logistics of being told when to go by an usher, bowing, pulling down my mask, and receiving by hand (I never receive by hand), that I didn't have time to be too emotional.

7QT: A Baby, An Anniversary, and An End in Sight

Hey!  Hi!  It's been a while.  Here's what's happening during Week 1 million of the Pandemic ;)

1)

First up, because it's the most important, is that our newest nephew was born!!  

Phil's sister Kelly gave birth to her 7th baby (twins in heaven) and it's a boy who is definitely making a grand entrance!!  Little Oliver Francis Kuzma was induced at 37 weeks because he has gastroschisis and will be at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital for awhile.  You can read all about their journey over on her blog.  Prayers much appreciated!

2)

Phil and I celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary, and I enlisted our boys to recreate a wedding photo with our groomsmen.  Maggie was the photographer extraordinaire:

May 17, 2002

and

May 17, 2020

Mother's Day 2020

Even though the plan was to let me sleep in, I am the world's lightest sleeper and heard the little kids wake up around 6:30, yell-whispering at each other to be quiet so that I could sleep.  Ha!  I got up and went on a long walk with the doggie, and then Eamon and Phil cooked a feast!

7QT: No More Naps and Other Moments From Week 7 (?) of This Pandemic

Linking up with Kelly because it's Friday!

1)

My littlest boy, who is three, and used to nap every weekend (but never at school) has recently decided that he is too old for naps at home now.  I have to admit that I miss his naptime so much!  I still try to get him to "just lay down" every few days, but it rarely happens that he falls asleep.  For 18 years, we have always revolved around a nap routine, and it brought a lot of structure to our day.  Not to mention a lot of peaceful afternoons, because I would make the other kids have "rest time" while the littles napped.  I am sad this phase of our life is over, but not sad enough to start over with a newborn.  Mama's too old and tired for that (unless that's what God wants!).

 

2)

Hanging out together as a family and finding outdoorsy things to do have always been a priority for us, but never so much as right now!  We live in a small house, and have a small yard, and we all need to expend some energy each day.  Luckily we live near all sorts of beautiful places to visit.  On Saturday, we went to Fort Taber and walked all around.  It was a gorgeous day!