7 Quick Takes

  -1-

I like this song for a laid back afternoon.  It seems to have a theme of some sort of conversion and the tone of the music feels vulnerable to me.  

-2-

In the video above you see Johnny driving around Idaho.  My husband loves to travel to the West.  He went to Utah with his dad this past October.  The extended Osborn family is going to Charleston, SC this summer but we're already making plans for another trip...we're thinking South Dakota in September.  I use to think people with money were the people who got to travel and take vacations, but I'm thankful my husband feels differently. He has a real talent for making itineraries and researching affordable restaurants, hotels/motels, and attractions.  Traveling is like having your first kid; there's never going to be the perfect time when everything is in order the way you think it should be.  You just have to go for it and you won't regret it.

-3-

This is how often I wear make-up.  My son walked in on me applying eye shadow and horrifically shouted, "Mom, what are you DOING?!"

-4-

A while ago Jimmy got a monster truck that included a DVD of a monster jam show.  He cannot get enough.  On netflix there's a show from 1995 "All about monster trucks."  He's seen it so many times he recites the lines (it's super mega cheesey).  Well, Monster Jam is going to be in the area this spring and I just have to let him go.  It's only $10 for the cheap seats so if he is bothered by the noise then they can just leave.  It'll be a men only thing.  I hope he really loves it.  

-5-

I'm thankful for my husband's job.  It may not be anything anyone aspires to be but he was able to have a paid month leave after Rita was born to help me.  He gets all the state holidays off.  I can expect when he'll be home to the exact minute.  His compensation time is generous.  I can go to any Dr. appointment whenever I need to without taking all the kids.  We can go on a weeks vacation and he has enough time to take a week off at Christmas too.  Right now they are offering overtime and he is opting to earn compensation time instead of money so that we can go on our other trip in September.  Today I picked him up for lunch so that he could sit in the car with the kids.  I was getting a birth certificate to add Rita to his insurance which is yet another reason I'm grateful for his job.  (When he was single he used to tell ladies, "I've got great insurance.")  Most people think of what they want to be and they go for that.  He just wanted to be a provider (even before we were dating)  and endures a unremarkable boring job for us.  

-6-

I picked up a fast food lenten lunch for us.  LJS's shrimp was excellent today!

-7-

A friend sent some memorial money a few months after my father passed away.  My mom's taken care of distributing it so I thought I'd just turn it over to her like I did with others before.  That weekend my parish wrote that a wind storm knocked over their 100 year old flag poles.  One flew the American flag, the other Vatican.  They were accepting donations.  My dad had a flag pole.  He took pride in displaying the American flag along with the Air Force flag or Illinois State's.  He teased me he was going to get a Vatican flag and fly it when I was "in residence." How could you ignore a perfect sign like that?  The money will therefore go to my parish in honor of dad.  Thanks "R"  

Waiting in Joyful Hope

Today is my daughter's second birthday.  Two years ago my dad held Regina just hours old.  One year ago my dad missed her first birthday celebration because he had his first chemotherapy treatment. Today he will be here in spirit. 

   
When I learned my second child was due December 24 I knew advent and Christmas 2010 would be particularly spiritually rich.   My husband and I shared the anticipation Mary and Joseph did. All the physical experiences of being pregnant, like the baby kicking and turning or me becoming very uncomfortable, reminded me of our Holy Mother.  I was offered so many unique opportunities to meditate on the coming of the Lord because of my life's situation at that time.    

This advent I was prepared for being mostly sad and distracted.  "Sorry Jesus, I don't want to 'rejoice.' Can it be lent instead? These days I'd rather look to you on the cross than as a sweet infant to be adored." It's only been a little over a month since my father died (it feels like five years already).  I wasn't expecting for this advent/Christmas to be a spiritually rich one.  But like two years ago God took my life's circumstances at the time and has shown me how to draw closer to Him by participating spiritually in the season.  Isn't that just like Him; to take our expectations and return to us gifts and graces we weren't looking for?

My dad didn't appreciate people telling him he was going to beat cancer.  He always held firm to reality.  Although some would see it differently I say he did not hold onto one ounce of pessimism; not to be confused with the reality.  Chemo would only slow the cancer from growing but it was going to keep growing anyway.  My dad was always preparing us for his eventual death by talking bluntly about it, giving us directives about accepting it.  Because of the way he communicated I knew he was preparing himself first.  Preparing himself in the exact way the Church asks us to prepare during advent.  Waiting.  Anticipating the day Jesus will come.

Immediately after my dad's final hour came I never felt so close to heaven.  My mother and I were with him encouraging him to go and he listened.  It changed my life.  Before my spirituality was focused mostly on my relationship with God who is omnipresent.  God is everywhere but when I thought about heaven, well that place seemed just a little bit removed.   Not true.  Heaven was sent to us.  Emmanuel (God is with us) came to earth to unite them.  When I think of how far the angels, saints, and my father are now it's in the next step I take.  It's as far as a single breath not miles high in the sky.

Now I wait to see him again.  Even if I live for forty more years it doesn't seem like that long and that far.  That is what advent is about.  This is why we celebrate Christmas year after year.  Our celebration isn't simply just to recognize or give tribute to Jesus being born.  We celebrate what that birth means... heaven is with us and we wait in joyful hope to take that step into his kingdom.    

It's still a sad situation and will be a hard Christmas, but I am thankful that God has shown me this new perspective.  These thoughts really deserve to be developed better in this writing, but the limits of this world have me hoping what I shared is enough for you to reflect on while I go eat cake and finish getting the house ready for 8-13 additional people staying the week.

7 Quick Takes

...and "Texas" and "Arkansas" and "Missouri"  We leave after Adam gets off work tonight

-2-

I don't know if it's pregnancy or just true American pride but I was a baby for all of the women's gymnastics sports.  I cried when Jordyn Weiber did not make the all-around.  I cried when the team won the gold medal.  I cried when Gabby won gold.  I will surely cry if Weiber wins gold in floor.  I've also cried for some of the swimmers when they were emotional (oh and that Judo girl too).  Also, Adam and I have been really cheering on the indoor volleyball teams.  We yell and cheer at the TV.  I don't know if my DVR can hold 8 hours of Olympics everyday for a week while we're gone.

-3-

I'm not a pagent mom but it's a slippery slope.  I entered the kids in the state fair baby picture contest.  Thanks Liz B for letting me enter the one of Regina painting.  It may be a potential winner.  They judge on personality and appeal.  This year Jimmy is old enough to be in the cutest farmer contest.  I bought him so authentic things here and there like wrangler official rodeo jeans and work boots.  Sooo cute.  Pictures to come later. 

-4-

I've kind of dismissed the idea of going to Omaha for a week to learn to be a practitioner for Creighton Method NFP.  Only because I don't know what to do with the kids for a week.  I feel a pull on my heart though to try harder since the diocese is offering to sponsor the whole thing. Prayers would be apprciated.

-5-

You know what's REALLY annoying.  Getting down to a size where you can start wearing some of  those clothes you've missed and it looks mostly flattering but your belly looks like an area that needs work.  And also knowing it will be all too soon those clothes won't fit again.  So short lived.  I found a shirt I should have got. "It said I'm not fat, I'm pregnant (and fat)."  It's funny but I guess it's not really me in that I don't complain that I'm fat or really even say that to anyone.  Not even myself.  I know I'm overweight.  Before I started working on it I was very uncomfortable, but I never let it affect my mood.  I know I'm unique for that.  It just is what it is.  And I appreciate how good I've been feeling now, hope to continue to feel well, and will be able to pick up where I left off when I'm post partum.

-6-

Have you tried those Starbucks refreshers?  I wouldn't have if some barista hadn't been standing in the heat giving out samples next to the drive through speaker.  They are the perfect summer drink. 

-7-

You must listen to my son auto rap "Spiderman"    Please, I know it will change your day or make it more complete.  Go listen here:  Spiderman...is he green? No he's not. He is blue and red.