Holy Spirit Promptings...Yes, They do Exist!

Once again, the Holy Spirit intervenes in my life...I read a similar thought in two different resources this morning. On page 10 of "I Surrender", Judy Dudich says about comparing ourselves to others (something I am VERY guilty of at times), "Rather, He sees each of us as if we were His only child."

Less than 15 minutes before that, I was reading an article in the daily meditation book "The Word Among Us" on seeing God during the Christmas season, as well as Jesus. The author was talking about misconceptions people have about God & the way He sees us. He quoted St. Augustine, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love."

The Holy Spirit is definitely telling me something here!

I think that piggy-backs part of my need to work on #5 of the promises at the end of the first chapter in "I Surrender"...Serve my family as though I am serving the Master. If I treat each of my children & my husband as if they are the only ones I love, they have my full attention. This doesn't diminish the love I have for each one of them.

So, whether I am washing dishes, folding laundry, helping a child w/ a school lesson, or being interrupted for what seems like the umpteenth time, I can be fully in that moment. I can love each family member as if they are the only one I love. It shows them that I am making whatever they need from me at that particular moment more important than whatever I was doing.

On that note...I'm off to start making Christmas cookies w/ the Blessings. Each child has chosen a different cookie & will have me to themselves while we work together. I started this tradition a couple of years ago & they really love the time spent making cookies...just me & one child at a time!

What is Love?

One recent Saturday at work, K (one of the ladies from the kitchen) came up to the front office. She grabbed a sheet of paper & a Sharpie, then wrote in large letters at the top, "WHAT IS LOVE?" Another of the kitchen employees wanted to know, either for a class or just for his own interest (I can't remember which), so K was helping him out by asking around. She left the paper w/ me & said she'd be back for it later.

What is Love?

WOW! That's a BIG question w/ so many different answers...as we found out w/ this little exercise. I sat & pondered for a while. He only needed a brief sentence or two, but there was no way I could narrow such a large topic down. So, I did the best I could.

K came up later to pick mine up. She read it over & gave me a thumbs-up, but I didn't have a chance to talk to her at that time because I was about to give a tour of the facility.

She stopped by the office on her way out that afternoon & told me what others had said.

* One person likened love to the pain of a lightning bolt striking your stomach. (This was a person who's been married for about 20 years & apparently it's not a happy marriage.)

* One single lady said, "I love money."

* K said something about feeling flutters, like butterfly wings, in your chest.

When the young man from the kitchen got to mine he said, "I just wanted a sentence, but she wrote book! A good one, but it's a book!"

So, what did I say? I don't remember it word-for-word & am now wishing I'd made a copy first, but the following is similar to my response.

Love is a choice -- choosing to stay with someone after the initial infatuation wears off; choosing to stick w/ that person through good times & bad.

Love is that sweet toddler cupping your face in his chubby little hands & smothering your cheeks w/ kisses.

Love is your child choosing to do something to help you out, even when you didn't ask.

But above all,

LOVE IS GOD and GOD IS LOVE
Unconditional, Everlasting, & Fulfilling

The following song is one of my favorites about love...

Growing Our Family Garden (2nd Post Today)

Back in December, one of the book reviews I did for The Catholic Company was Homegrown Faith: Nurturing Your Catholic Family by Heidi Bratton. At the time, because it was for review, I just read through the chapters & reflections questions instead of taking the full year it's intended for. I am now going through it again, more slowly so that I can take the time to fully reflect on it. I read the chapter on Monday. On Tues.-Fri., I reflect on the four questions (one for each day) & record my thoughts in a small journal

This week's chapter is "Getting on Track and Bearing Good Fruit." Today's question asked me to think of my children as my garden & describe or draw a picture of what plant or fruit I feel they are. This was a fun exercise & I'd like to share w/ you the garden of children Casinodad & I are raising...


The Prophet - Corn
He's grown so tall in the past couple of years. He can be a bit "corny" at times! He may look & act tough on the outside, but beneath that thick skin, he's a loving & caring sensitive young man.

The Archangel - Strawberries
He still needs that extra time & care to ripen. He can be very tart, esp. if not rested enough or feeling well. When he is sweet, he is very loving & affectionate, appreciative & delightful.

The Princess - Roses
She's a delicate & sensitive soul, who can take things very personally at times. Be careful in handling her so that you'd don't get pricked by her thorns or damage her soft petals. She brings joy & delight w/ her beauty...inside & out.

The Saint - Onions
There are many layers to him & his personality. He's playful, energetic, moody, inquisitive, loveable, cuddly, & so much more. Just as there are many varieties of onions (sweet, sharp, hot, flavorful, strong), there are many varieties of The Saint.

I read these answers to the munchkins this afternoon & they each felt I chose the perfect plant for them. The Prophet's favorite vegetable is corn, The Archangel loves strawberries, The Princess loves roses, & The Saint, believe it or not, loves to eat raw onions!

So, how does your garden grow?

TV / Media DOES Influence Children (2nd post today)

Whoever said TV / media doesn't influence children hasn't met The Saint!

* Because he likes to watch Baby Looney Toons...he likes to eat carrots. He sits at the computer w/ a bowl of carrots while watching episodes on YouTube.

* Because he likes to watch 3-2-1 Penguins & his favorite character is Kevin...he likes to eat peanut butter on a spoon (just like Kevin). He goes through three (more if we let him) toddler spoons of creamy peanut butter w/ each episode.

* Today, he came up to us w/ a feather & asked for some paint. At first we didn't know why, but then it dawned on us...The munchkins have been working through the complete series of Liberty's Kids on DVD. It takes place during the Revolutionary War & he caught on that they were using quills dipped in ink for their writing. Therefore, he wanted to do the same!

There is so much violence, profanity, & inappropriate material in the media today. We are inundated w/ it no matter where we go anymore...television, the internet, newspapers, billboards, checkout lanes, & so much more. As a mother, I am constantly on alert so that I can divert the munchkins' attention, especially during the times it is out of my control.

Even Casinodad & I hardly watch TV anymore. I can't remember the last time I had it on, other than watching a DVD. Once you get an image in your mind, it can be very hard to get rid of it. So, we are trying to keep the munchkins' innocence as long as we possibly can. Therefore, it is so refreshing to see the munchkins get something good out of the shows they are allowed to watch.

My Focus Word for 2011

My dear friend, Angela, wrote up a post on her blog (Pretty in Orange) about choosing a focus word for the year. When she first wrote about it last year, I'd thought about it, but never followed through. I've come up w/ one for this year, but first a little background to picking my word.

Last night, while I was rocking The Saint, I was thinking of & praying for the munchkins. I started thinking about the kind of memories I'm leaving for them & I wasn't too happy w/ what came to mind. While there are many times that I do focus on them, there are just as many where I tend to be selfish & less involved. And I always seem to have some excuse...I haven't slept well & am very tired, the house is a mess & needs to be cleaned, I'm stressed/worried about something, etc. Do I want my munchkins' memories to be of me as a tired, stressed out mom or a fun, loving, involved mom?

I have a tendency to not be "in the moment" most of the time. I'm always thinking ahead & while that is not always a bad thing, it can be when you're missing out on what's right in front of you. All my life, I've lived for the next big thing. At age 12, I started counting down to the day I'd turn 16 so that I could drive. In high school, I looked forward to the prom, vacations, or going off to college. It was always about what would happen next instead of enjoying the moment.

Things I currently tell myself include:

~ Once I get the house cleaned completely, I'll have more time to spend w/ the kids (but w/ four munchkins, the house will NEVER be completely clean & organized, will it?)

~ Once we get all our bills paid off, we'll be able to live more comfortably, move to a larger home further in the country, & not worry about finances (but then there's always something that comes up, isn't there?)

~ Once we get The Archangel's ADHD/aggression under control, then peace will reign in our house (but there will always be a new phase of childhood development that we'll need to focus on, won't there?)

The list could go on & on, but you get the point. I'm always looking towards getting through whatever situation we're currently facing only to find a new situation arise...many times overlapping the one we're currently in. Yes, I know...THAT'S LIFE, but that doesn't automatically change my way of thinking. I realize that I need to change that perspective & that's the first step in solving any problem...recognizing that there is one!

So, in an effort to be more "in the moment," I've decided that my focus word for 2011 is going to be EMBRACE.

Embrace, as a verb, means several things & the following are the ones I'm focused on:

~ to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly
~ to take in with the eye or the mind

I fully intend to EMBRACE the moments throughout this year. I know this will not be an easy task for me & will require much prayer on my part. If you could spare a prayer or two for me also, I'd really appreciate it.

Now, I'm off to EMBRACE some quality time w/ the munchkins. How does a game of Apples to Apples sound?

Archangel Ponderings

Most nights, before the munchkins go to bed & after we've said our family prayers, I will read a bedtime story. The book I'm currently using is Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories Volume One (published in 1950). I've had the first five volumes of these stories since I was a little girl. They are nice, wholesome stories about children just like ours. Sure, some of the topics are a bit outdated, but that just makes for some good discussions & reflections afterwards.

The other night, I read the story God's Great Kingdom Part 1: How Big it Is. The Prophet enjoyed it because it tied in w/ some of our science about our solar system. I also had to make a side note to the munchkins. In this story, the young boy asked Mamma if anyone had every flown off the world & gone to the moon. Mamma said no because there is little air to breath & that it would take "an airplane traveling at three hundred miles an hour more than a month to get there." She also mentioned that an airplane, traveling at the same rate would take more than 50 years to get to the sun. (As I said, this was from 1950!)

Once I was finished reading, the munchkins came up with some wonderful discussion questions & for once it was not an attempt to stall their bedtime. The Archangel especially had some good questions/comments -

Him: I wish Jesus was still alive so He could come to my party.

Me: But He is alive & was there in the hearts of everyone who was there.

*****************************************

Him: We must be like a tiny spot in God's hands.

Me: Yes, but He can see all.

Him: Does God talk?

Me: Yes.

Him: But, if we were in Heaven, we wouldn't be able to hear Him because we are so small.

Me: We'd still be able to hear Him. He speaks to us all the time, we just need to listen. And, we don't always hear w/ our ears, we hear w/ our...

Him: ...hearts!

Please Hold...

Casionodad took a personal day on Mon. It was nice to have him home. I decided to do a little running around to catch up on some things that usually take longer w/ all four munchkins in tow.

I took The Archangel w/ me. I thought it would be nice to spend some time alone w/ him & take him to lunch. I told him we'd go to a restaurant of his choice as long as it wasn't too expensive. He was to check out places we passed to see what sounded good to him. We passed a Popeye's Chicken & he asked what it was. I told him it was similar to KFC & that he would probably like it if he wanted to choose it. He still wasn't totally sure what he wanted, so he said, "I'll hold on to that." We passed a few more restaurants that sounded good to him, so he said he'd hold onto those too. I guess that was his way of saying that he'd keep that in mind!

We finally ended up going to Skyline. He was so cute. He kept telling me how much he liked spending time w/ me & how good his hot chocolate was & how good his hot dog was & just kept going on & on. All in all, we had a pleasant time together. He helped me shop & carry the bags. It never ceases to amaze me how different the munchkins are when they have Mommy or Daddy all to themselves. I definitely need to do this more often!

Small Successes

Danielle Bean of Faith & Family Live has recently started a blog series on Small Successes to help us moms recognize that each little accomplishment is important, too! Here are mine for the week:

1) I made pork schnitzel for dinner Tues. night, even though I didn't have much time before I had to leave for work.
2) I'm working on reflections for our church's March bulletins & have completed 3 out of 5 so far.

3) I cleaned out & organized our coat closet this week - now the door will shut w/out any resistance!

Go to www.faithandfamilylive.com to see Small Successes of other mothers.

Even Child Syndrome

NOTE: not to be confused w/ "Even-Tempered Child Syndrome" (if there even is an even-tempered child anywhere!!)

This is a rambling post. Feel free to not read if you want!

I'm having trouble adjusting to a fourth child in the house. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all four munchkins & would never change a thing. It's just an adjustment & it's taking longer than I had hoped. When I say "Even Child Syndrome" in this post's title, I'm talking about birth order. It seems, at least for me, that it's harder w/ the even numbered child.

• Pregnancy & Munchkin #1: I had a great pregnancy w/ The Prophet. I loved every minute of it - wearing those cute maternity clothes, feeling every flutter & kick, & I was never sick w/ him. Labor & delivery were a bit difficult due to pre-eclampsia. I had to be induced two weeks early & was on Magnesium Sulfate to prevent seizures, but that was the worst of it all. Once he was born, all was well & I loved being a mom. Everything was new to me & I soaked it all up.
• Pregnancy & Munchkin #2: Even though I never got sick w/ The Archangel either, pregnancy was a bit tougher for me. I was tired all the time & very grumpy. Poor Casinodad had his head bitten off more times than I care to admit. Birth went well - I was induced two weeks early again due to Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). Once we brought him home, things were fine for a while, but I still couldn't shake the grumpiness. It was double everything - diapers, less sleep, laundry, etc. He was a bit more high-maintenance than The Prophet, too (& still is at times!) So, the second addition was a bit tougher, but we got through it.
• Pregnancy & Munchkin #3: I was a bit less grumpy w/ The Princess' pregnancy. Casinodad made me promise to try & I felt that I succeeded! Again, I was induced (3 weeks early w/ her) due to PIH. No problems w/ delivery & once home, we adjusted very well. No out-of-the-ordinary problems. As she got a little older, she demonstrated her curiosity in many ways (dumping all my mom's spices on her basement floor & eating whole peppercorns, jumping off her dollhouse & needing stitches because she hit her head on her bedframe, or pouring dish soap on the carpet just to name a few). She keeps us on our toes, but having three wasn't bad at all.
• Now: Again I was induced w/ PIH three weeks early. The Saint has done great sleeping at night. The first couple weeks, he woke up twice to feed & now he pretty much sleeps through the night. He doesn't sleep much during the day, just a few catnaps, but he usually doesn't wake up until about 10 or 11am.

So why do I feel so out of sorts? I'm getting more sleep than I did when pregnant, but I just can't seem to get going in the morning. I would love to be able to get up when Casinodad does at 6:30, before the rest of the crew, say my morning prayers, have my first cup of coffee, but I just can't. I usually roll out of bed around 8am instead to hear the sounds of the older boys arguing over the couch or whatever (& usually argue w/ each other most of the day). My house looks like it's been through several tornados & I just can't seem to motivate myself to do more than the essentials. The Saint is finally getting to the point where I can set him down for longer than a couple minutes during the day.

I know that "this too shall pass" & that God never gives anyone more than they can handle. So, I just do a lot of praying & give lots of hugs & kisses to the munchkins. After all, they're only this age once!

Nighttime Ritual & Motherly Thoughts

Since The Prophet was born, I've gotten into the habit of checking the munchkins every night before I go to bed. I stop in their rooms, make sure they're covered, sleeping in a comfortable position, & give them a kiss or two. I can't fall asleep if I haven't checked on them - I feel like I've forgotten something. After tossing & turning for a while, I've been known to jump up & run into their rooms! Sometimes, I'll take a little extra time, sit on the bed beside them & say a little prayer. They look so peaceful & I regret the times throughout the day when I've yelled at them or been wrapped up in my own daily tasks.

A few years ago there was a comic strip (Marvin, I think) in which each panel showed the mother constantly frustrated. He'd get into her purse, make a mess at the table, etc - all the normal things most kids do. The last panel showed her looking down at him sleeping in his crib, wondering how, after all the hassles & frustrations of the day, all she wanted to do was pick him up & hug him. I think that was when The Prophet was a baby & I knew exactly how she felt.

As mothers, we tend to get so wrapped up in the tasks we need to do for our families, that we forget the real task of spending quality time with the little ones. As The Saint is nearing one month, I see how fast he's already growing. His face is filling out, he's getting the little "rubberband wrists" & stretching himself out more each day. It's only taken me four children to realize that they're only young once & the tasks will always be there. Now that I'm feeling much better & healing well, I need to focus on spending more quality time w/ them - not just schooling them, but playing & doing fun things w/ them.

Last night, while doing my rounds, I stopped in The Princess' room first. She was mostly asleep, but looked up at me when I peeked in.

Princess: "Wanna tiss & hud me?"

Me: "Of course, I want to kiss & hug you!"