This Last Week

of 2006 was full of ends. Obviously there was the end of the year 2006, but for me, it was framed by four deaths. Three of them you all were aware of. One you could not be unless you are a family member.

1) James Brown. He died Christmas Day. The man had his problems, but as I listened to news reports of his body lying "in state" at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and of people dancing and singing in the streets, I was made to think of how I want people to memorialize me. I would prefer not to have a somber ceremony. I want people to dance and sing and remember me not as being gone, but of the life I lived. I think of the New Orleans' funerals with the bands. That kind of celebration.

2) Gerald Ford. Talk about inheriting a mess. I think Gerald Ford showed us that you have to make the best out of whatever situation life hands you. He lived with integrity and best of all, he was never bitter but always considered it a blessing to serve as the leader of our country.

3) Saddam Hussein. I don't believe in the death penalty. Ever. I think this is evidence of a sad trend of death in our world. I don't deny Saddam was a horrible person and deserved to be punished. I believe that only when God sends the Angel of Death should one succumb to it.

4) My sister-in-law's mother. When we gathered for Christmas dinner at my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house, my sister-in-law shared that her first experience with death was when she was eleven years old and just before Christmas her dog was killed by a passing motorist. She described not wanting any presents, just her dog back. Two days after telling us this story, her mother passed away after a long battle with dementia and other various illnesses. Luckily, my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew were there. I think of how painful this must be as my sister-in-law is an only child and this happening just after a joyous Christmas. I feel for my nephew, who will never remember the grandmother who wanted him so badly.

I start 2007 thinking of how these ends will yield new beginnings. God Bless You All.

Baby's First Christmas

Shelby's first Christmas will go down as the Christmas we became proud owners of a nebulizer. It will also be the Christmas where she got her first rain slicker from Nan and Poppy, the Christmas in which we got rain, rain and more rain but NO SNOW!, the Christmas we got our cards two days late, and the Christmas we first felt a new element to the season as we saw it through five-month-old eyes.

We just got back from visiting Gigi and Papa today and Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa. Although our visit was far too brief, we enjoyed one another's company and exchanging gifts and memories.

A Welcome Christmas Present

Just minutes old...
3-4 hours old...
Uncle Trevor, Daddy Zach with baby Tyler, and Grandpa Ted
Zach, Jessica and Tyler
A first look at the little guy for Mama and Daddy

My new baby cousin, Tyler Edwin Beckingham, born December 20, 2006 at 1:37 pm weighing 6 lbs 5 oz and 18 inches long. This little peanut was born a few weeks early to Jessica and Zach.

Merry Christmas to All

It's Quiet in Our House

so I don't know what to do. Jeff is picking Shelby up because my "check engine light" came on this morning. I am so not used to having the dogs and house to myself. I am listening to some Christmas music and trying to relax and enjoy myself, but I feel a little selfish, maybe I will try baking some cookies or something!

Success Is...

1) Doing all your Christmas Shopping in one attempt
2) Already having everything you need to bake your holiday treats
3) Getting all those presents wrapped
4) Having all your presents under the tree
5) Managing to get all the laundry washed, dried, folded, and put away in one day
6) Thanking God for it all

Wrong Answer

"Oh I heard that, but I wasn't going to tell you about it," is not the right answer when your husband says, "I think I'm going to get your muffler replaced because it's rattling."

Chimichanga

I love the show 2 and 1/2 Men. In one episode, Alan hires his ditzy girlfriend Candy to be his office assistant. Alan is a chiropractor. In one of her bright moments, Candy takes and x-ray of a chimichanga she has just purchased. When Alan asks why, she answers, matter-of-factly that she wanted to know what was inside it. When Alan then asks the obvious follow-up question as to why she would order it if she didn't know what was in a chimichanga, Candy answers, "Because I like saying chimichanga."

Believe it or not, there is a moral to this story. And no, it's not be careful who you date. Or don't hire your girlfriend. It's a little more significant.

How about don't do something just because it sounds cool or looks good on paper?

I've seen a lot of people lately make bad decisions. And not like I poured regular instead of diet coke bad. I mean awful decisions with nasty repurcussions.

In the neighboring, much larger city a college student waited in line for hours at Wal-Mart to get 2 Playstation 3s. When he got home, he was attacked and the units were stolen from him. When sherriff's deputies went to serve a warrant to one of the attackers, the alleged attacker was shot and killed.

Might have been a cool unit. Cool enough to steal. But even if this young man hadn't been killed, he would have been facing charges like assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft and larceny. He was all of 19-years-old. Now, he's dead and no one is a winner. The young man who was originally robbed is still recovering from his injuries.

So, before you think something sounds cool enough to do, take a moment. That's all it takes is a moment of sound thinking to make sure you aren't going to regret this decision.

A Good Old Fashioned Family Christmas

that's what Clark Griswold extols the virtues of in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. As we famously remember this includes digging a Christmas tree out of the frozen ground, lighting the house to the point that auxillary nuclear power must be used for the rest of the city (we have a neighbor with these aspirations), and having the entire extended family stay in their home.

So, what really constitutes a "good old fashioned family Christmas?" We all think of Norman Rockwell and Currier and Ives prints, but let's get real. Families are scattered across the country and globe now. While lots of moms and dads are thankfully able to stay home with kids now, a lot cannot and even those who can are not always able to create mammoth feasts and elaborate desserts. And then there is a debate as old as Charlie Brown, artificial or real Christmas trees. Not all of us are Clark W Griswold's who will go on the search for the perfect real tree. Many of us cannot be bothered and prefer the new artificial models that settle themselves. And then there was a man I saw on tv who said, "Artificial tree, artificial Christmas."

I think what makes a 'good old fashioned family Christmas' is two things. Jesus and family. Celebrating the birth of our Lord might include Santa or cookies or caroling but it should include family. Whether it involves visits over long distances or short ones or even telephone calls to those we hold dear, spending holidays with family are what it's all about.

Accepting Life

Yesterday, I posted about dogs not taking down our Christmas tree (which thankfully still hasn't happened). I know many people would laugh at that fear, but being a dog owner for five + years now, I have reason to be fearful.

Our second Christmas in this house, we bought our tree at the hardware store, brought it home, and decorated it. It was beautiful! We took time to place every ornament in just the right place. Our lights twinkled. Ours was to be a happy Christmas. One day, I came home from work after Jeff to find that I was somehow to blame for the Christmas tree branches that Gilligan, our beagle, threw up. He had eaten them right off the tree. I quickly pointed out that I had just come home and the tree was eaten and thrown back up while Jeff was home and supposed to be watching the dog. That was the end of the story. Or so I thought. I then went to plug in the tree to discover an entire strand of lights out. I searched for the unconnected plug only to discover that it wasn't a disconnected plug, but a wire that had been chewed threw. Ala Christmas Vacation. Except, luckily, our tree had not been plugged in at the time of said chewing, so Gilligan survived. I was hot. At this point, Jeff sheepishly admitted he had come home and basically ignored the dog to water the tree and readjust a few ornaments and then went outside to clean up the yard. Have I ever mentioned that Gilligan can be extremely jealous? Especially of Jeff's attention. Knowing that his behavior had caused Gilligan's reaction, Jeff made plans for his day off (the next day) accordingly. When I came home the following day from work, the tree was redecorated with the damage strand of lights replaced (it required the complete removal of all lights and ornaments and their replacing) and nothing on the bottom third of the tree.

So, I accept as a part of life that my dogs might topple a Christmas tree or open a present or tear apart a stocking. In my house, these things just happen.

Days are passing

and I have not sent out a single Christmas card or even begun my Christmas shopping. I could come up with a lot of excuses, like, for example, I have a five-month-old who is starting solids. But it's not that. I just haven't done it. Simple as that. I refuse to dwell on it. After all, I have gotten our tree up (a real one) and decorated. And the interior of our home is done. I have started Princess Shelby on peas (which she loves). I have bought the ingredients for my baking adventures. I got a lot of meat last weekend and it was all on sale! So, days are passing, and some things aren't getting done. But, Shelby still goes on walks almost daily, Jeff and I are well, our dogs have decided they will not take down our Christmas tree this year...we are living in the peace that comes from Christ's love.

Moving On Up

from just breastmilk to breastmilk and rice cereal. I know it's not very LLL of me to introduce rice cereal at five months, but, I have a baby who is no longer satisfied with breastmilk alone. So, we have a baby who is starting solids.

But this isn't the real thrust of this post. It's about looking back and seeing how far we had come. Two Christmases ago, we were sadly contemplating the holiday season as our first baby was to be due around the 23rd but was lost during my seventh week. We were also looking at the scary process of surgery I would undergo in the hopes it would prevent losing any other babies. Then, last Christmas, we had a picture from our first ultrasound showing a tiny life no bigger than a peanut at that point. July seemed so far away! Now, here we are, with a five-month-old healthy, beautiful baby girl who is cutting teeth and graduating slowly to solids.

I am forced to remember that life moves at God's speed, not our own. We were given Shelby when we were ready for her. And it seems to be part of God's plan, not ours (ours was to wait until six months) to start cereal now. We are moving on and up in life with the grace and love of God

Please Pray

for my friend Kim, her son and her family. Her son was hit by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Iraq last week. He was with two other Marines, one who was killed and the other who was hit in the head and whose survival is precarious. Kim's son was hit in his lower body and is in Rammstein in Germany awaiting return to the US for treatments. Kim has been at work and been a trooper, but all prayers of strength for this mother are greatly appreciated.

Glory and Praise to Our God

Who alone gives light to our days
Many are the blessings He bears
To those who trust in His ways
~Dan Schutte

Our dear sister in Christ, MaryEllen, has passed on from this world at approximately 9:15 last evening surrounded by her daughter, sisters and many friends. The Lord ended the earthly life of one of His greatest evangelists, a woman whose faith moved mountains and energized children and youth for years. I thought of the lyrics above from Dan Schutte's Glory and Praise to Our God when I learned of MaryEllen's homecoming. MaryEllen was always trusting of God's direction, even when it was scary or contrary to what she wanted. We were immensely blessed by her life and are touched to know she received God's greatest blessing at last. And now, MaryEllen, because I know how much pride you took in being Irish, I send you home with this blessing:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and, until we meet again,
may God hold youin the palm of his hand.

God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will give new life to our own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in us.
~Romans 8:11

Something I'm Thankful For

but probably won't see this year are snowflakes. They are all unique and remind me that God's love extends to all creation even though we are not all the same and often go ways God doesn't want us to.

Apology

I apologize for my post yesterday. It was childish and selfish and I realize that, but I am not going to delete it as we all need reminders sometimes of our negative ways to help deter us from going down those roads again.

I am ashamed of my post even more so because in the midst of all of this happening, one of my friends is losing her battle with cancer. I actually like to think of it as her winning her battle to get to heaven, but cancer is a horrible way to get to this everlasting reward. She will be leaving behind a six-year-old little girl, many students whose lives she touched in Miami and Raleigh and many teens she counseled as a youth leader. One of these former teens wrote in a guest book at a support site that when she was a teen, this woman's faith scared her it was so strong, this former teen went on to say that now she is so thankful for that kind of faith and that my friend is one of the most influential people in her life. After learning of her imminent return to the Father, I immediately offered up my suffering for her. So I might not be able to get up to see my parents and I had 24 hours of sickness, she has endured much more than I have. How dare I throw myself a pity party while she struggles through her last few hours.

So, again, I am sorry for my childish discourse yesterday. May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

I am

feeling like a loser. I got food poisoning so I missed a day and a half of work on a short work week. Plus, now, my car won't start. I know the battery is dead because nothing is working on it. I can't figure out what happened except maybe yesterday when I was sick and getting the baby out of the car her door didn't close all the way or something and left a light on which ran the battery out? Now, this isn't a huge deal except that tomorrow is the day before Thanksgiving. I won't be able to get this replaced. My mom just sent me gas money to come and visit over the weekend, but it looks like now, unless somebody comes and picks me and the baby up and brings us back, we won't be going. I feel like the ultimate holiday loser! How do these things happen to me?

It Happened...

Rutgers lost its first game of the season last night. The good news is they will still probably get a bowl game invitation and now the pressure of being unbeaten is removed. Our home was a little bit sad this morning with this news, but we are very thankful that we live in a country where we have the freedom to root for whatever team we would like!

Teetering

on the brink of a cold/sinus infection/allergies. Boy that wipes you out. Shelby and Jeff are both well, so I count myself very lucky. It's much better for me to be sick than one of them.

Cleveland Rocks

The Browns won their game today! We got to 3 and 7. Just for the record, all of Shelby's teams won this week! Go Browns!

Every Mama Needs A Friend

So, I've created a blog dedicated to my own product reviews and shout-outs. It's called A Mama's Friend and I also plan to include reviews of great movies, books, cds, and shows for kids and families. I hope you'll stop on by when you get a chance!

God Bless Sister Isaac

Sister Isaac Koenig is recognized as an Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholar on Nov. 9. This award is given annually by the UNCW Honors Scholars Program and Randall Library to a person from the area who exemplifies the attributes or interests of Albert Schweitzer. UNCW/Caroline Cropp

Sister Isaac is a member of our parish and she runs the Tileston Outreach Clinic as well as the outreach programs that provide staffing to the soup kitchen, clothes and furniture for the needy, placement for people being released from prison and others. Her caring and loving nature is known by all members of St Mary Parish. Congratulations on this honor!

The Little Football Team That Could

Go Scarlet Knights! Some may have doubted you in the past and even laughed at your efforts, but you perservered. Now 9-0, you stand proud of your achievements but careful as pride comes before the fall. Thanks for a great season so far!

My Little Ogre Princess

I am a Disney Princess. I took the quiz and I am Belle. No shocker there with my nose always in a book and all this looking for inner beauty I do.

Shelby, my sweet baby girl is not a Disney Princess. Oh, don't get me wrong, she's a princess alright. She has all the cutest little girl outfits, lots of pink and purple, and I'm sure her father has plans to give her a car for her 16th birthday. But Shelby is a princess of a different sort altogether. Shelby is a Dreamworks Princess. More specifically Princess Fiona. She's beautiful but don't expect her to see it. She loves the outdoors. She likes sports (just try to get her attention when hockey or football are on--especially Rutgers or Wisconsin football). And she can burp like a boy--er, champ. And while she is a beautiful baby, there is this matter of her temperment which is normally cheerful and sweet, but once we've crossed the point of no-return, she's an ogre.

So, here's to my little Ogre princess. I wouldn't have her any other way.

Seeing It Again

People have told me since Shelby was born what a beautiful baby she is. Her skin is olive and she bore no stork bites and since she was breech and a c-section baby her head has always had perfect shape and she bore none of the battle scars of a naturally delivered baby. Of course we thought she was beautiful, but we could not believe how complete strangers would approach us (and still do) to share their thoughts on her.

Perhaps the sweetest stories of this have come with my encounters with children with her. When Shelby was just a few weeks old, I had to go to an outpatient center in the hospital to get my blood drawn. While we were waiting, Shelby was in her carseat asleep, a mother with two young boys came in. The oldest was about four and he casually walked by her carseat, sneaking a peek as he did. I pretended not to notice as he obviously didn't want to be found out. A short while later, he came by again and this time, stopped and bent over, close to her face. He looked up at me, looked me right in the eye and whispered, almost reverantly, "She's so beautiful." I smiled back at him and said thank you. It warmed me how sweetly he had examined her and how he saw in her little sleeping face all the innocence and gentleness we all see in newborns. He was in awe of the power and beauty of new life. He helped me to appreciate what so many had told me before. Physically, yes, Shelby is beautiful, but she is also a reminder of the beauty of newness that God gives us in the form of these tiny little babies.

As Promised

Here is Daddy holding Bumblebee Shelby on her First Halloween!

Later

Later tonight I will hopefully have a picture of Shelby in her Halloween costume to post!

Toys

I don't remember liking a whole lot of toys as a kid. I liked stuffed animals, and I loved books. But not so many toys.
My husband and I traveled to our favorite store with Shelby yesterday and Jeff wanted to peruse the toy aisle. There is a lot of stuff out there! Nothing really for a baby as young as ours, but all kinds of developmental toys, tech toys, board games, make-believe, anything you can imagine. For Christmas we agreed to pretty much get each other stuff for Shelby. Now remember I said how there is an array of toys out there now, well, I have a feeling we will be able to duplicate some of our purchases anyway.

A Strange Realization

It is easier on me when Shelby has a runny nose cold than a dry congestion cold. I find it makes my life much easier if I have a snotty nose to wipe rather than a congested one to suction out.

(Can ) Father-son bond of Dick and Rick Hoyt

Thanks to my mom for sharing this video with me, I have seen the Hoyts on the Iron Man Competitions before so some of this video was not new to me and get ready it is a true heart wrencher. All of us who are parents just want our children to be normal and have every oppurtunity afforded to them, but few of us are as challenged by our children's abilities to provide them this as Dick and Judy Hoyt. But wherever there is the love of a parent, there is God's love making things happen. Please read below the writing of Rick Reilly and then enjoy the video.

STRONGEST DAD IN THE WORLD

[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]

I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. However, compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.

Eighty-five times, he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times, he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick has also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing, and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.

This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

``He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an institution.''

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11, they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was <>told. There's nothing going on in his brain.''

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain.

Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins! And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.''

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.''

That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.

``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years, Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, and then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983, they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud being passed by an old guy towing a grow n man in a dinghy, dont you think?

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick f inished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time'? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.

``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago, he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' one doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.''

So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.

That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.

``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''

Because the Weather is So Beautiful

Autumn has come to southeastern NC. Finally. And today was a beautiful day for Mama and Shelby to enjoy the weather.

Of course, we also should tell you that being outside is one thing that Daddy and Shelby see eye to eye on.

Muppet Movie - The Rainbow Connection

The words were beautiful but there is just something about watching a puppet frog sing it in the woods that is so special.

Now, I just have to get a copy of the Muppet movie on DVD for Shelby.

I forget

if I am supposed to sleep when Shelby sleeps or do work then.... I am already a victim of "mother's amnesia."

Is the Grass Greener?

Suzanne recently showed the pictures of her beautiful boys in her last two birth announcements. She has five boys. There was a family in our parish growing up that had five boys and another with five girls. I always asked my mother which she thought would be more stressful, a house of only boys or girls.

Mom always answered the same. Boys.

I have three younger brothers.

I'm the only girl.

My husband and I decided immediately that we did not want to know the sex of our baby before she was born. I guess I should mention here that Jeff is one of four boys. No girls. So it was nothing short of miraculous to his family when he called to say he had become the Daddy to a GIRL. His mother told me I broke the mold and my "genes must be stronger."

The reaction from my family was also one of excitement. My youngest brother had demanded constantly that we find out the sex of the baby and went so far as to suggest to my parents that they contact my OB and have her email them the sex so I didn't have to know. My parents knew better than to try something so silly. My father told everyone after I called to say we had a daughter that he thought I had never let myself think I might have a baby girl. Maybe he's right, maybe I did that subconciously. But I honestly had no idea what I was having until I heard my husband yell, "It's a GIRL!" in the OR.

I wonder is the grass always greener? I wonder what it would be like to have a boy or a household of them like Suzanne and Rachel
. Actually I don't have to wonder that hard. I lived it. But I know it must be different to be the mother of so many. That's a lot of football and baseball games and impromptu wrestling matches in the den and forts and swords made out of sticks. And then I think, I only have one daughter, what about the family I knew growing up with five little girls? That's five sets of pigtails, five itchy Easter dresses, five senior proms, FIVE WEDDINGS!

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have a little boy. When we said we wanted to have another baby in the next two years, they immediately seized on the idea we were "trying for a boy." When we looked at each other, shrugged and said, "not really, we'd be just as happy with another girl," they seemed a little perplexed. I mean, doesn't everyone want one of each? Sure we would like to have one of each at least! But children are gifts from God the Father himself. When we got pregnant with Shelby we wanted a baby. Any baby. We were beyond even asking for healthy. That's why we didn't find out the sex and why we won't find out the sex of any future babies. As badly as I wanted a sister, I thank God for giving me three healthy brothers. And I would love for Shelby to have someone to love the way I love them, brother or sister. No the grass isn't greener,on my side of the fence it's the same sweet Kentucky bluegrass it always was. And believe me, it is for you too.

Fishers of Men

If I had had a son, I would be a proud mother to have him become a priest. Maybe someday I will have a son and perhaps he will be a part of the priesthood. I am so blessed to have my daughter's Godfather be a priest and this video shows some of the reasons priests are such blessings to all Catholics.

Wondering....

how to start my newest writing project. Being a Catholic mother who works outside of the home has generated interest in writing possibly an article maybe something longer about mom's in my situation. I struggled with going back to work. I wanted nothing more than to stay home with my daughter. But as I've said before, no matter how we ran the numbers, we would be homeless if I did.

I have to wonder, how do other moms do it? I am reminded of a wonderful pediatrician who was a member of our parish growing up in Raleigh. She had three children and worked still as a doctor. Her healing hands were meant to not just be known by her children but by the children of others who she saw in her practice. Being a doctor was another vocation along with being a mother. So, if you know any moms who are Catholic and work outside of the home, send them over to my blog and I will see what I can do to get in touch with them.

Here We Are

Mama And Shelby

A Blessed Event

On September 30 Shelby Clare was baptized into the Catholic faith. She is now one of every 6 people blessed enough to belong to the family that is the Catholic church.

Because Someone Reminded Me How Much I Love These and This Song...

The Rainbow Connection

Written by Paul Williams and used by Kermit the Frog, of The Muppets, Jim Henson Productions

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic....
Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa

If you enjoy my blog

check out these great sites too and find out what Suzanne, Danielle, Rachel, and Holly are saying about faith, family and life in general.

"Our State Fair....

is a great stat fair, don't miss it, don't even be late! It's dollars to doughnuts at our state fair, the best state fair in our state!"

We traveled to Raleigh yesterday for the State Fair. Shelby didn't really get it, but come on, she's three months old. We enjoyed the food and exhibits (especially our favorite, the garden exhibit). We missed out on rides (none with a baby), most of the animals (as someone, who shall remain nameless but was not me or Shelby, claimed the smell made him sick), and the grist mill (because it was a little too loud for the baby's sensitive ears). But we still had a great time and are already planning our trip for next year.

Want to see how other kids prepare for the state fair, check out some award winning recipes from Danielle's kids...

Doing Better

We've had a couple of trying weeks as my mother-in-law stayed with us which, as everyone knows it is a trying time when any relatives stay with you for an extended period. But this last week we were in the process of going "back to normal" or as normal as life with a three-month-old can be.

Now the schedule is supposed to begin. I hate schedules. So, we'll see how this goes.

Yeah it's been a while

Being a mom who works outside of the home is hard. Really hard. Mothers already have no time to themselves. If you work outside of the home at a part-time (read: 40 hours a week) job, you have even less than that. So, sorry I'm not quite the blogger right now. Stuff happens.

Shelby Clare will be baptized next Saturday, September 30. Yes she was born in the middle of July, but this was the first oppurtunity we could take when all of her grandparents would be present.

Shelby is, by the way, a two 1/2 month old dynamo who weighs 15 lbs and is 24 inches long and growing!

An Update

My mom felt like I was too harsh on Mel Gibson.

So, here is an addendum. I do believe in forgiveness. Not forgetting (just think about if we forgave those that crucified Jesus and then forgot about the action!) but forgiving. I also believe that we all make mistakes and we should be responsible for our mistakes because that is part of learning from them. I also believe we should pray for one another especially those that have made grievous errors in life.

Have I forgiven Mel, yes, Jesus calls me to do that. Did he learn from this mistake? I surely hope so. Only time will tell.

One point that I hope I made in the last post and still make here is that when you put so much of yourself into a project you also assume responsibility for that. When Mel Gibson made The Passion of the Christ he brought the word of God to many who may not have been exposed to it. Part of Christ's passion is John 13:34-35. In fact, that passage comes right before Jesus tells Peter that Peter will deny him three times. Mel needs to remember that with the privilege to tell this story comes an awesome responsibility. That is to live its message.

God Bless You Mel, I hope something like this never happens again.

And God Bless You for reading this and hopefully learning something from it!

No I Don't

feel sorry for Mel Gibson. See, here's the thing, he was doing something illegal, driving drunk. And any of us who did that would show up in the police blotter, so why shouldn't he. Arrest records are public records, so his should be too. The fact that he made anti-semitic remarks is atrocious and I don't think he should hide behind the alcohol because as most of us know, alcochol has another name: truth serum. Mel is a fundamentalist, a Catholic one, but a fundamentalist none the less. Catholics persecuted the Jewish people as a part of the Spanish Inquisition and at other times in other places. Hey, I'm Catholic too, it's not a proud part of our past, but one we have to acknowledge to make sure we don't repeat it. Now, I'm not saying that Mel is a bigot because he is a fundamentalist, but fundamentalists tend to be able to get their message across because they live a life so dedicated to only one way of celebrating their faith (for another example, we can look to my buddy Tom Cruise). I don't feel like the media is picking on poor Mel Gibson at all. When you make a movie called "The Passion of the Christ" you are making a statement that you believe what Christ believed in. I'd like to remind Mr Gibson of one of Christ's most famous beliefs, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

A Few Hours of Sleep

Last night I crawled into bed at 9:30 pm. Shelby was asleep sometime between 9 and 9:30. She slept until 2:30 when I awoke to hear her stirring. We got up and completed a ritual familiar to many parents, we changed a diaper and then settled on the couch to feed. She nursed for 30 minutes and then fell back asleep. I put her back in her bassinet and went back to bed and slept until I heard her stirring again. At 5:45. She slept for five hours the first stretch and then another 2 hours and 45 minutes the second stretch. I could hardly believe it! What a great 3 1/2 week old I have. But who am I kidding, she is only 3 1/2 weeks old, so she will not be consistent. Plus, so many things can irritate a little baby. But she's an angel, so I will take whatever she gives!

As Soon As I Said Something...

about my baby girl loving her sling, she decided she hated it and screamed bloody murder uncontrollably every time we tried to put her in it. Oh well, she had a colicky period yesterday but finally settled down to sleep at around 10:30. Maybe she'll decide in a couple of days that she likes it again. We can only hope.

The Sling

My daughter and I have a new best friend. The sling. It lets mama do some work and baby to be close to mama. I recommend them to all mothers with newborns!

Gargoyles

I recently posted about gargoyles, well, recent being within about the last month. Here is one I found on the web that I especially love. I am thinking about buying some for outside our home!
There's nothing like an angel to protect you.

Gifts

I have been, of course, besieged by gifts from all kinds of people since Shelby was born. I am behind on the thank yous (so sue me, I'm sleep deprived). People want to constantly ask me what big things do we want or need. Here's the thing, we have just about all of the big things. She has no pink clothes except what I bought her this week with the money her Granny sent her. But people don't want to buy her new clothes. I'm not sure why. My brothers really want to get her something big, so I reserved the last real big thing for them and I refuse to even mention it here for fear someone will read it and buy it before they do. So, anyone reading this who feels compelled to send a gift, pink or girlie clothes in size 6 mths or larger or size 2 diapers (Luvs brand please, the Huggies and Pampers leak too easily).

If you want...

To see more pix of Shelby and read her updates check out this site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelbyclareherrett

Some New Things I Have Learned

since becoming a mama.
1) Sleep is not overrated.
2) When a baby looks up at you and seems to smile, (even if it is only gas) your heart will melt into your stomach.
3) Dogs are dogs. It's that simple
4) Cleaning and scrubbing really can wait til tomorrow.
5) People who appear to be hard and crusty will dissolve at the sight of a tiny newborn.
6) Always be nice to nurses.
7) Hospital food rocks. Especially because you don't have to cook it.
8) Breastfeeding is hard but is truly what is best.
9) Prayer goes a long way.
10) Take it all with a grain of salt. The doctor might call for more weight checks, and the blood work might not yet be done, but it will all turn out for the best!

And We Welcome

Shelby Clare born July 6, 2006 8 lbs 5 oz 20 inches long! She is the love and joy of our lives!

Here's One to File

for the week you were born baby Herrett. Ken Lay, the corrupt founder of Enron, died at age 64. Guess he'll get justice on the other side. An interesting note for baby Herrett, you will be born on the one year anniversary of the London train bombings.

On a lighter note, you share your birthday with Ringo Starr! And your first birthday will be 7/7/07! A lucky number indeed!

Happy 4th of July

Like I would let the entire day pass without acknowledging the country's birthday. We shoot off fireworks and have pancake breakfasts and parades. It was also the day that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away. Happy Birthday America!

I Know I Promised....

but being a new mom in a few days, this one was impossible to pass up! Plus I need to pass time doing something other than counting minutes!

You Are a Newborn Soul

You are tolerant, accepting, and willing to give anyone a chance. On the flip side, you're easy to read and easily influenced by others. You have a fresh perspective on life, and you can be very creative. Noconformist and nontraditional, you've never met anyone who's like you. Inventive and artistic, you like to be a trendsetter. You have an upbeat spirit and you like almost everything. You make friends easily and often have long standing friendships. Implusive and trusting, you fall in love a little too easily. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

In Case You Haven't Noticed

I've been obsessed with the blogthings website. I really enjoy it though. It's fun to play around so that works. BTW, I have never had "magic brownies" that Hyde would make on That '70's Show. Just in the interest of complete disclosure. I will try to put some more space with "real" posts before I put too much more from blogthings!

Here are some cute animals, maybe I will try to find them a place in the nursery!

I Fully Agree With This One....I am Sweet and Natural Aren't I?

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

I Don't Know How They Came Up With This Based On My Name....

You Are Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies Ice Cream

Not *those* magic brownies!

What Flavor Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Are You?

And There Are People Who Believe This About Me Too...:)

You Are a Strawberry Margarita

You're so sweet it's a little overwhelming, and people are a little afraid of corrupting you... It's a little difficult to imagine you with a margarita. And you're truly a different person after you've kicked back a couple!

What Flavor Margarita Are You?

That's Where I Want To Be...

Your 2005 Song Is

Beverly Hills by Weezer "My automobile is a piece of crap My fashion sense is a little whack And my friends are just as screwy as me" You breezed through 2005 in your own funky style!

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Candy Heart

Your Candy Heart Says "First Kiss"

You're a true romantic who brings an innocent hope to each new relationship. You see the good in every person you date, and you relish each step of falling in love. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a romantic dinner your sweetie cooks for you Your flirting style: friendly and sweet What turns you off: cynics who don't believe in romance Why you're hot: you always keep the romance alive

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

One Smart Cookie

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting. You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Jelly Belly

You Are a Root Beer Jelly Bean

You are truly All American and down to earth. You don't have fancy tastes, and you don't apologize for who you are. You enjoy tradition and proven quality.

What Flavor Jelly Bean Are You?

Alias

***Kristen Michel Herrett's Aliases***
Your movie star name: Chips James
Your fashion designer name is Kristen Athens
Your socialite name is Krissy Mike NYC
Your fly girl / guy name is K Her
Your detective name is Panda Sleezeville
Your barfly name is Pudding Cosmopolitan
Your soap opera name is Michel Pinecrest
Your rock star name is Sweet Tarts Cheetah
Your Star Wars name is Kricha Herjef
Your punk rock band name is The Sedate Pinochle Cards
The Amazing Meganame Generatorhttp://www.blogthings.com/meganamegenerator/

Distance

I have a friend who I now over the last 12 months have started considering to be more of an acquaintance. There are a few reasons for this:
1) We are at very different places in our lives and she has no appreciation for the fact that I have accepted a certain level of maturity necessary to be a wife and mother.
2) I can no longer accept the fact that she is unable and unwilling to realize that life is unfair and sometimes we have to compromise our personal comforts for those we love.
3) We never see each other, which is in part because she is unable to have a level of stability in her life that allows her to travel and in part due to the fact that when I visit (infrequently) the area that she lives, I no longer make getting together a priority.
I am being selfish here I feel, but I'm not going to feel guilty about that. I am going through a period in my life where my husband, my child and my family are number one (after only God) and I'm not very interested in quitting different things (jobs, careers etc) based on principle. I have reached a level of maturity that makes me realize that I have to make certain sacrifices because of the level of love for my husband and child in my life. I have accepted that my way is not the only way and that is putting me at a distance with this friend and a few others in my past. To be honest, I like this distance, it helps me to focus on what's important and leave everything else on the side where I can ignore it if I have to!

An Angel For You Today

I might have posted this picture before, but here is an angel to guide you through your day. We all have a guardian angel. I have one who seems to have worked overtime in the last ten months. I know this angel looks a little like a fairy, which brings me to this point that angels really don't come in the packages we always think of. Take a group of my favorite angels, gargoyles. Gargoyles assume the shape of the beast to fight the beast. A gargoyle outside your door keeps the evil spirits out of your home. Cherubs are not actually fat, naked babies. They are cute to think of that way though. So, here she is and may she protect you all day.

Wild Ones

Max, Moishe, Tzippy and Emil are having a Wild Rumpus in the Nursery!

A Little Girl Has So Many Options

Here is my good friend Gina's daughter Jayla, this picture was titled "my first hair-do." Little girls have such an array of cute clothing options and hair options, I can really see where having a little girl would be really fun in that way.

What are little girls made of, made of
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice,
that's what little girls are made of....







Then there is the picture below of my friend Holly's son Will on his way to the beach in his bouncy seat. Boys do fun things too like play in the mud and bring mama and daddy home surprises in their pockets.

What are little boys made of, made of
What are little boys made of?
Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails,
that's what little boys are made of...





So, I really don't have a preference when people ask do I want a boy or a girl. I want a healthy baby. I can't wait to meet our son or daughter and find out what kind of personality he or she has!

It's all Starting to Come Together

Well, it finally is all starting to come together a little. I am filing disability claims. I am busy with packing my bags for my hospital stay which is one week from today. I am trying to keep up with all those last minute details. Here's a wonderful thing, my insurance covers 100% of my hospital costs. That makes me feel a lot better. But money is still on my mind, I guess because I've had bad experiences with disability payments in the past. So, I just keep on praying that everything will go well. I'm trying not to listen to people who tell me, oh, you know all the disability payments will be delayed. They aren't helping me at all. I'm just trying to think of all the love for our new baby and ignore the fact that I can't be sure of what the future holds! I guess in that way, it will all come together. Faith and trust in God no matter what happens.

The Boys

Charlie and Gilligan are enjoying me being home in the final days of pregnancy. The puppies enjoy going outside at their leisure. They like that someone can play with them every once in a while. I just hope that they don't get too used to me being around with the baby coming so soon, once the baby is here, I am afraid that they won't understand why I am not playing with them so much!

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away, Just Slow Down

While we aren't getting so much rain as our neighbors to the North in VA, DC and MD, we are getting our fair share. We haven't had any flooding, but what worries me about so much rain is that as we are in the throes of hurricane season, if a storm comes our way, the earth is saturated and the loss of trees and the ease of flooding could be dramatic.
I love the rain, so I don't want it to go away. I just want it to be a little more spread out. Believe me, our garden is benefitting from the rain AND so is our water bill, but slow down, at least a little!

Almost Done

I just about a week and a half, the baby will be here. July 7 is the scheduled c-section. My belly button has popped out so, that must mean we are done. The other night, my husband was saying that the baby's room was done, all it needs now is a baby. So, we are in countdown mode now. Hopefully, I will have an early morning delivery so that I can eat afterwards! Tomorrow is my pre-op appointment and we will find out for sure then!

An Old Post from a previous Blog

I posted this October 19 of last year. In that time, pregnancy has given me a lot of crosses to bear. And I am back to bathing in DEEP WOODS OFF!

Mosquito Magnet
I am sitting here bathing in what one might think was my favorite scent. Alas, no, Eau de Deep Woods Off, is hardly my favorite scent, but one I often wear. It is late October now, Halloween is less than two weeks away, and I am still getting bitten.Within the last year, scientists have confirmed what I personally have known all of my 26 years. Some people emit fermones that attract mosquitos to them. I am one of the lucky ones with these fermones. It has never ceased to amaze Jeff that as we will be out somewhere how little time it takes for me to get so many bites while he stays itch free. I share this problem with Jeff's step-mother and half-brother and we are fond of sharing our various remedies. I personally choose Deep Woods Off or Skin So Soft. And my choices for itch relief are a benadryl gel or Sarna.

I was tired last night and took every oppurtunity to complain to Jeff about getting eaten alive while in my own home. It would be easy to blame Jeff for leaving open the sliding glass door for the dogs to come in and out in the mornings. It would be easy to blame the dogs for the extra times they cause our doors to be opened and closed. It would be super easy to blame God for creating the mosquitos and their attraction to me. But, I can't.I have come to the fact that mosquito bites, itchy and the pain that they are, are one of the small crosses God has blessed me with. If I can't handle these minor irritations, how will I handle it when God throws me something really difficult? I am attempting to try and kiss my crosses and accept them as part of God's plan. I fail more often than I succeed. But I keep getting up and trying again.

Yes, I am a mosquito magnet, you can rent me to come to your barbecue and deflect the biters from your guests, I'm that effective. And that's okay, because God has made me one because He knows I can bear it.

Standing Up For What's Right

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5448317

Check out this link. This young boy, Lucas Brown, probably didn't make a dramatic difference in the history of the world, but he knew that someone made a mistake and didn't let the fact that he was young stand in the way of getting it corrected.

Pin Cushion

I test my blood sugar 4x a day. I have to give myself shots 2x a day. I hate needles. I used to have to give myself shots in my stomach. Now I have to do it in my legs. Did I mention I hate needles?

It is nothing short of amazing what we will do for our babies. I have turned myself into a human pin cushion for this one. And I'd do it all again (and probably will in another year or two).

I used to think that people who knew me would never suspect I could do these things. Now I realize that people who really know me, knew I'd make the sacrifice for the baby.

And maybe it's not so amazing that I would be able to withstand needles. I am a mosquito's favorite treat and have learned how not to scratch the bites. I camped in tents with my family and had no problem peeing in the woods (and I know which leaves are poison ivy). I guess I'm a little tougher than I expected. We'll see if birthing this baby proves it.

Sleeping

I fell asleep last night while resting because I had a headache and my stomach was a little upset. Now I am wide awake. Luckily, the rest of the house is now sleeping somewhat soundly. No one is begging to be fed. No one is asking me how to do his homework (did I mention the only child I have is yet to be born, yet I am still being asked this question?).

It's a good thing tomorrow is a holiday, I don't know how I would make it through otherwise on this little bit of sleep!

An Exercise

Today we replaced the light fixture in the nursery and added a ceiling fan. This was done with minimal profanity from Jeff (who was putting the whole thing together, my job was to read instructions) and it worked the first time. This was an exercise in teamwork. We each had our assigned duties and we had to refrain from criticizing each other. Hopefully it will translate into parenting.

The Name Game

We are still processing baby names in our house. Still. The baby is due in July and May is almost over. Being that we don't know the sex of our baby, we are are loathe to pick a name and settle on it now. Plus I don't like the idea of calling a baby Jack or Jill. I prefer "the baby."

This has caused as much controversy in our family as not finding out the sex of our baby. Everyone wants to know names. There is only one rule I have learned which is do not reveal a name if you have selected one until it is on the birth certificate. My regular practitioner advised this (not my ob) and so did a few books.

But here is my thing, I haven't met this little person face to face yet, so I can't name him or her at this point. We still have a long list and if we can wait this long, so can the rest of the family!

Babies Are Special People

This is a friend's son at about six weeks old, he's almost five months now.

Babies are so small and tiny and dependent. They are really very special people.

This morning while I was at the doctor's for a check-up the baby was in the middle of some kind of workout while his or her heartbeat was being monitored.

The baby seems to sense when things are not going right in Mama and Daddy's world as well. My husband has been going through some trying times lately and my heart aches for him. The baby has picked up on this and enjoys entertaining us with all kinds of movement and hiccups when things get particularly stressful.

And when I seem to get a little too involved in something, there is always a big stretch or kick to remind me of where my priorities need to be.

While babies need their parents, I've come to discover we need them too. A lot.

Baby Talk

I can't keep my words straight some day. When I try to speak, the words come out in the wrong order and then I choke on some in my throat. I never seemed to have this problem before I got pregnant. So, I strongly suspect that this has something to do with the baby. I think my brain cells are so concentrated on the baby growing that I there aren't enough left to talk.

Happy Anniversay Charlie

One year ago today we brought Charlie home from the rescue organization. In that year, both Jeff and I beat cancer scares, I underwent surgery and we got pregnant. It's been a busy 12 months!

This morning, Charlie got a bath (so did Gilligan--who really smelled like he rolled in something awful). Yesterday, to start our anniversary festivities, the dogs got cornstarch bones and kongs filled with liver spray (think liver flavored spray cheese). Today, they got their special treat of Frosty Paws dog ice cream. Boy were they excited! Poor Gilligan got sick from it though, so we still have 2 ice cream cups that we will have to sneak to Charlie at some point.

The happy puppies are resting now!

(PS--Gilligan has been eyeing down the crib and pawing at it. Jeff contemplated picking him up and putting him in it, but thought better of the idea. We decided we would leave this as a "baby only" place.)

An Easter Gift

The east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles due west of Bakersfield , California . Photo taken by Barbara MathewsMay 14. 2005
The Day GOD SPILLED THE PAINT!

I Can't Imagine...

I recently visited a website I view often to find out the author of the site is expecting her eighth child. (8th, that's not a typo.) She just this past March celebrated the first birthday of her seventh baby.

I am having such a hard time anticipating and getting ready for this baby that I can't imagine thinking ahead to a second, much less the eighth. (Of course, my husband is already thinking ahead and we would like to have our children somewhat close together.) I just need to worry about getting number one here!

Sofa Napping

I am a Roman Catholic. I believe in the power of psychiatry to help heal depression and mental illness in addition to spiritual solutions. I believe that if I want to scream during childbirth, it's my right. I believe that I am on a journey with Jesus not aliens.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Scientologists and their right to believe whatever they believe. I have a problem with certain Scientologists who loudly and insistently tell everyone how much better they are than the rest of the world.

I will name names. I can't stand Tom Cruise. I own exactly one of his movies. "Top Gun". I won't ever buy another one and I won't be seeing any of his new work. He has yet to realize that it is one thing to live out your faith joyfully so that others might see it and proselytizing in such a way that it demeans others. Going on the "Today" show and arguing with Matt Lauer and telling Brooke Shields to "get over it" in reference to her post-partum depression are just two of the examples in which Mr Cruise has shown that for him, his religion is a sign of his "greatness" over us fellow mere mortals.

Well, Mr Cruise, I'm napping on the sofa you jumped off of. And I am praying for you. May God have mercy on both of our souls.

Thanking St Francis

I love St Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of animals and ecology and ecologists. As my husband and I have planted saplings for our new baby and have been working on a garden, St Francis has been close to my mind. He believed in simplicity and seeing God in all things.

I thank St Francis often for helping to protect our earth through his intercession with God when I tour state parks and go on nature trails or enjoy mornings at the beach. I can't help but think that if it weren't for St Francis' intervention, we wouldn't have so much natural beauty to enjoy.

This week I thank St Francis especially for protecting my dogs. Charlie suffered an injury this week when, while playing outside, he accidentally was stabbed by a stick. Luckily the injury was not life threatening and he is expected, with stitches and antibiotics, to make a full recovery. Charlie, like Gilligan--our beagle--, wears a St Francis medal on his collar. We also have a St Francis statue in our backyard where our dogs play. Our vet advised us that if Charlie was to get an injury like this, he got it in the best possible place. It missed all his vital organs and bounced off the bone. The injury happened just inches from where his St Francis medal hangs on his collar. I prayed all night while we waited to take Charlie to the vet that St Francis would protect Charlie. And he did.

St Francis has also protected Gilligan. Gilligan has suffered seizures since he was almost two years old. His seizures have been controlled by medication and now that Gilligan has lost all the weight the medication caused him to gain, he is a very healthy beagle!

Many people question Catholics as to their belief in saints. I do not pray to a saint the way I pray to God. Instead, in much the same way that many people "talk" to friends and relatives who have passed on, I "talk" with these men and women whom I consider friends, and ask them to intercede on my behalf with God. It's just like asking my family here on earth to pray for me.

I believe God answered both my prayers and the prayers of St Francis of Assisi for Charlie's recovery this week.

So I thank you God for your miracle.

And I thank you, St Francis, for your powerful prayer and intercession.

Daddy Moments

Jeff has started a small tradition that I'm sure is common among many expectant daddies. Each night when we lay down to go to sleep, whether the baby is moving or not he rests his hand on my stomach for a while. Usually the baby responds. Since men cannot carry children, he feels this is one of the best ways to let the baby know now a little about who he is. Being able to feel the baby move as a regular event, the baby reacts differently when it's Jeff's hand versus someone else's. I swear the baby knows it's his or her father. I know these times are special for Jeff and they are special for me as well. For the first time in my life, I understand what the Gospels mean when they say that Mary kept all these things in her heart.

Thank You....

There is a Christian song by Ray Boltz called "Thank You," in which a person dies and goes to heaven wondering if he or she made a difference and runs into all kinds of people who thank him for the "giving to the Lord."

Last night I was awakened by the baby having hiccups. While I lay there waiting for the hiccups to stop and my mind began to wander and I began to think of all the clergy I had known in my life and the thanks I owed them. So here goes....

Thank you to Sister Isaac Koenig. Sister Isaac runs the social ministries at St. Mary, our parish. Jeff and I were discussing Sister Isaac the other day and how beautiful we found her as she truly reflects God's love. There is no doubt that Sister Isaac is doing what God intended for her. Her smile lights up a room whether it is filled with volunteers folding donated clothes or with the uninsured waiting for appointments with doctors and nurses who are donating their time. Sister Isaac takes on several duties aside from social ministries. She has taken over the religious education at our parish. Her love for her fellow human is so immense I have found myself overwhelmed by it almost to the point of tears when I am in her presence.

Thank you to Father Pat Keane. I first met Father Pat when he was just Pat, a seminarian candidate at my home parish. I was a teenager at the time and he volunteered with the youth group. I found in Pat a true friend who understood that being a teenager was incredibly difficult and did not judge teenagers as the selfish and sometimes cruel beings most people see but as children of God who needed all the love they could get. After high school, I kept in touch with Pat as he entered the seminary and went on a mission to El Salvador. During some very difficult times in college, Pat listened to my problems without judgment. Little did I know he had bound me to his daily rosary since we had first met in 1996. When I met my future husband, who was Pat's age, Pat expressed some reservations but also expressed to me that he felt God would guide me and that I surely had a place in Jeff's life. Pat was later thrilled to hear of our marriage and when he heard we were married in Methodist Church, he did not criticize me and accuse me of leaving my faith. Instead he commended me on finding the beauty in the diversity of Christianity. When I underwent surgery to correct a birth defect that had caused me to miscarry a baby. Pat, now Father Pat, sent Jeff and I a spiritual bouquet and had two masses said for us at his parish in Fayetteville. Which brings me to one of the greatest things Pat taught me. While on his mission in El Salvador, Pat fell in love with the poor indiginous peoples. He has made several more trips back and started a charity, The Least Among Us (http://www.theleastamongus.org). Pat knew that he could do more than just tell people and give his own time and money, he could find a way to get others to help this mission. And he told me at one point, that if there was nothing else someone could give another person, one can always give prayer.

Thank you to Reverend Skip Williams. Skip is the pastor who married Jeff and I. Like Father Pat, Skip did not find it unusual that a couple of mixed religious backgrounds would want to be married in his church. He also did not proselytize his beliefs over mine. In fact, he commended my faith. He acknowledged that there was a difference in doctrine, but was commited to respecting my Faith. He asked us early on why we wanted to be married in a church. My answer was something I had not thought over, but came out naturally. In the 90's there were a series of billboards that appeared around the Triangle area of NC where I grew up. The most famous of these was one that said, "Don't Make Me Come Down There.--God" But there was one whose impact on me I didn't understand until that night Skip asked me about wanting to get married in a church. It said, "That was a beautiful wedding. I hope I'm invited to the marriage.--God" I expressed how I felt that God was an intregal part in every marriage, or should be. I had almost never thought about that billboard since going to college. But I had no doubt of the importance of seeing it and sharing that with Skip. Without Skip, Jeff and I would not have been married in a church. We would not have had the guidance he provided. And the impact he has had on our lives shows each year when we stop by the church around our anniversary and try to make the church's annual Pancake breakfast on the 4th of July a part of our tradition.

There are so many more I have to thank and will from time to time. But I am most thankful to God for bringing these people into my life.

What a Day!

Okay, my alma mater was eliminated in the first round of NCAA tourney play (UNCW, sadly). Today, though, I am amazed to announce that both Carolina and NC State have been ELIMINATED!!!!!

I, long ago, stopped really caring that much about NCAA basketball. But for people like my husband who now cannot root for his alma mater (also UNCW) and his all-time favorite team (NC State) do you stop watching, do you find the least offensive candidate to root for?

Oh well. The WBC is almost over and there are really only three more rounds to NCAA play, so, soon there will be opening day for baseball and the Stanley Cup is coming up as well! It will be great when life gets back to normal!

Who Did Jesus Die For?

Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Brothers and Sisters:
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, through perhaps for a good person one might even find the courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

A Happy Belated St Patrick's Day

Okay, we're all Irish on St Patrick's Day. We all try and drink Guiness (unless like me you are pregnant and have tried it before anyway and hated it). We all seem to want to eat corned beef (yum) and cabbage (yuck with corned beef, sorry). We all wear green and tell people without green on that we will pinch them.

But do we all show honor to the man who made this day possible? The missionary who spread the word of Christ's love is the reason for the day and in his honor, here is a quote from the Patrician brother's website:

The Patrician Brothers are enlivened by Patrick's faith in Christ: daily we recite The Breastplate of Saint Patrick to emphasise that we find Christ "in the heart of everyone who thinks of me".

Visit these men who are inspired by their devotion to St Patrick's mission:

http://www.catholicozvocations.org.au/directory/religious/patricianbrothers.html

An Argument

...for why professional athletes should not be allowed to play on Olympic teams.

Last night I went to an NHL game. I love hockey and live NHL games.

I also love the Olympics. I was a few months old when the Miracle on Ice occurred. One of my favorite movies is the movie "Miracle." At the end of that movie, there is a line from Herb Brooks about all of the "dream teams" that have become a part of Olympic play. Coach Brooks goes on to make a comment about how none of those dream teams has captured the imagination and hearts of Americans quite the way many of the amateur players has done.

When NHL players were first allowed to play in the Olympics, for me, it was amazing because players such as Wayne Gretzky, who never had a chance to play Olympic hockey were getting that chance. But this last Olympics, reality set in.

It came in the disguise of the Canadian and US National Hockey teams. Both were eliminated well in advance of the medal round. The teams that took the medals were the Swedes, Finns and Czechs. Two of the teams that showed the most heart were the Slovaks and the Latvians. Now, all of these teams had NHL players on them, but what they had that the Canadians and US did not was the pride of playing for their own country.

I watched in shock as players like Dominik Hasek and Jaromir Jagr got injured because they refused to give up the hard play that would win them an Olympic medal.

I watched in disgust as players like Eric Staal of Canada and Erik Cole and Bret Hedican of the US failed to make easy plays because they didn't want to get hurt and sacrifice the rest of the NHL season. In fact, when NHL play resumed, a Carolina Hurricane's announcer actually said on air that if Cole and Hedican had played the way they were playing in that NHL game in Torino...the US might have had a chance at a medal.

People acted upset that Mike Modano failed to meet with the US team at their final meeting before returning to the US. Modano was right though, players like himself and captain Chris Chelios will not have another chance at Olympic Gold, and they felt robbed by many of the other, younger players who did not behave as if it was an honor to represent their country but were just trying to get out of the games injury free.

In 1980, the US team was a miracle team. It was made up of college players and young men with fight. In one of the most memorable scenes of the movie "Miracle", after losing a game in Norway, Coach Brooks makes the exhausted team run drills tirelessly. Earlier in the movie, Brooks had many of the players introduce themselves by giving their name and where they were from and who they had played for (their college team). Now, as this team was close to collapse, one voice yelled out, "Mike Eruzione." And when Coach Brooks asked him who he played for, Eruzione came back swinging like the fighter about to crumple on the mats who has just enough strength to land one last good one, "The United States of America." These young men had no doubt at that moment who their captain was and what their mission was, to represent their country. They didn't win a gold medal at the risk of not being injured, they won it because they played with pride in their hearts, no matter what the outcome.

I'm not going to say this problem only lies in hockey (remember the US's basketball team in Athens?). And I'm not going to say that there weren't NHL players who didn't give it their all. But, it was embarrasing to watch the US team play and to hear the announcers talking about how no one wants to risk injury. Maybe we need to rethink the idea of just letting professional athletes into this type of arena.

I did say in my last post that I can be cynical about sports, so thank goodness there were those little kids last night pushing the puck around the ice and loving it. Too bad some of the players weren't out their to watch. To remember why they got into the sport.

And it's too bad we put professional athletes on such a high pedestal that we fail to remember they are representing our countries and should play in that manner.

The Sweetest Thing

Last night, as my birthday present from my in-laws, Jeff and I enjoyed seating in a VIP lounge area at RBC center to see the Rangers and the Hurricanes (or the Whalers, which is who they have been for most of their history). I loved sitting up there in my blue jersey and although my Rangers lost, they played their hearts out. We enjoyed a real meal and individual monitors and for a pregnant woman, there was plenty of room.

The best thing that happened all night, though, was that in between the periods these little kids came out and played against each other. One little boy's jersey was so long it went past his knees and during the shoot-out he had to be helped to skate the puck in. They were so cute. Plus, they were having fun. They fell down a lot (but let me tell you, so did the guys who were getting paid to play-- Darius Kasparitis had to get his skates worked on at one point it was that bad), but they shook it off and got up and played some more.

For all the cynics in the sports world (and believe me, I'm among them a lot) seeing these kids play is the sweetest thing.

Daddies

Sister Patricia of http://www.franciscancards.com publishes a daily Catholic ezine called Joy Notes which include her reflections, the reflections of Catholic author Danielle Bean and the reflections of Sister Janet who works for Vatican Radio. Yesterday, Sister Janet had a beautiful post about daddies. She sounds like she was truly blessed with a wonderful father and we all are with God as our heavenly father. Here is her post:

Greetings from Rome with Sister Janet Fearns, FMDM

Sister Janet's new site! Pause for Prayer

On a personal note… What is a father? Never having had the experience myself, I can only look backwards to my own father, who was probably not perfect, but, as my mother said the other evening, “He was special, wasn’t he?” I can only agree. I suppose that some of my understanding of fatherhood could be summarised by saying that a father is the sort or person a small child makes impossible efforts and excuses to be around. My own lifelong habit of early rising originated in my enjoyment of the early mornings, when only Dad and I were around to chat, share breakfast and the first cup of tea of the day. Often we would attend the 07.00 Mass in the church opposite, leaving the rest of the family asleep, so my love and understanding of Liturgy and Eucharist grew out of his.

A father sings to his children even if he hasn’t been gifted with the best voice in the world. I still associate the Salve Regina with peeling potatoes and frying chips, perhaps to the horror of the Church’s official liturgists. O Mary, conceived without sin means that the light is about to be switched off and it’s time to go to sleep.

A father has silly little habits that his children continue, just because they were his. Even today, when I’m at home, I touch the wall above the stairs when I’m coming down them and do it for no other reason than Dad was tall enough to reach that spot and I wasn’t, so I longed for the day when I would also have a few extra inches in height.

A father is the one who comes up with Bright Ideas for long walks on sunny days, whose stories are worth hearing again and again, whose jokes are not always funny but still make his children laugh, who is honest, trustworthy and works hard to make ends meet. He is a much-loved friend, whose worth continues to grow in splendour even many years after he has died, whose sayings and off-the-cuff remarks provide a framework for the whole of life.

Some people have problems with calling God their Father. I don’t.

My understanding of God’s Fatherhood is coloured by the moments when I saw my own father at his most vulnerable, his most loving and his most lovable. Everything that Dad was, God is bigger and better. It seems to me that, in these days when family life can seem so fragile, good fathers are more and more necessary. Jesus showed us how important his own relationship was with his Father. He was only highlighting a fundamental relationship in our own lives.

Thank God for Dads!

God bless, Sr. JanetWeb outreach and development

The News I Know isn't on anyone's Radar

Jeff and I celebrated our third anniversary this past week on March 8. We had to work, so it was a small affair, just a dinner out without our dogs.

Our anniversary brought me to think of our wedding vows and something someone I know said recently that bothered me.

This person was referring to Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war protestor. This individual told me that he had told his wife that if she did what Cindy Sheehan did he would divorce his wife on the spot. (This couple has a son in the military.) I wasn't bothered by this person's politics, but I was bothered by the fact that this one action would warrant an immediate divorce. After all, I know that Jeff and I vowed before our family and God that our marriage was "for better or worse." And if that was worse, it would be something we would have to get through. I wondered if this man I was speaking with vowed the same thing to his wife.

I feel that far too many people take marriage too casually today. It is so easy to get a divorce, that fewer and fewer men and women seriously examine the job they are undertaking. I have met a lot of women who feel so desparately that they must be married to be fulfilled that they are less interested in finding the person they are supposed to fulfill this vocation with than just to find someone period. And it's not just women. A man my husband worked with is on his second marriage and is not reportedly happy and hasn't been. Another man my husband worked with is divorcing his second wife, a woman he met and married within a year of divorcing his first wife. This same man was engaged several times before tying the knot the first time.

It is sad for me to see all of these marriages rushed into and ending so soon. Then on top of that to see people who have been married for a significant amount of time saying that their marriage would end with no questions asked based on one incident is too much for me to comprehend sometimes.

Jeff and I were married in a Methodist church and the minister who married us required us to go through counseling sessions. In one session he asked us why we wanted to be married and what our expectations of the marriage were. I answered honestly that I believed that marriage was a vocation and that it was something you did once. The minister then commented that even if he hadn't known I was Catholic he would have guessed it because the one thing he believed that Catholics did right and Protestants were wrong about was making marriage a sacrament. He felt Protestants should be doing the same thing or at the very least at least treating marriage sacramentally.

I don't know that this is a Catholic/Protestant issue and I don't want to make it one. What I wish for people, all people, is that if they are led to married life, that they examine and discern their choice fully.

Tom Fox --RIP

The news today is sad from Iraq. Tom Fox, a Christian Peacemaker who went to Iraq to help the people there, is dead. His body was found this morning. Tom Fox is just one of many Americans who, despite his opposition to the war, saw an oppurtunity to help people and make lemonade out of lemons. For his efforts, he was kidnapped and murdered. May he rest in peace.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060311/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_hostage_killed

A Prayer Request

A good friend needs your prayers. Please pray for our friend ME. She is battling cancer. She is a wonderful woman who is full of love for Christ and is an amazing mother. We pray that God heal her!

RIP Dana Reeve

Dana Reeve
b February 19, 1961-d March 6, 2006

A tireless crusader for victims of spinal cord injuries, a devoted and loving wife and mother. As the wife of someone who has sustained a neck injury, I always looked up to Dana Reeve. Now I will look up to her as she joins her husband in heaven.

May you rest in eternal peace.