Footprints on the Fridge

Mudpie Masterpiece

Gabriel, our resident artist, takes mudpie creations to a whole new level.  This child's creative vision near gets boring.

Irreplaceable Moments

My boys have been in the yard hunting bugs, toads, and lizards of all sorts, all day today.  They have filled jars and buckets with their treasures and lined them up on the deck.  They are dirty, sweaty, and happy.

I have been cleaning--relentlessly.  As I sat to rest my feet for a little while, Evan jumped up onto the big chair next to me, waved his sweet three year old full of bug jar, and said, "I caught a wot of dem."

Me: "Did you catch a lot of bugs?"

Evan: "No, dese are woly-polies."

Me: "Did you catch a lot of toads?"

Evan: "No, only two of dem...den they hopped out of my hands when I turned my head dis way (turning to the side)."

Me: "Oh...are you ready to come in now?"

Evan:  "No, we are playin' a game and I am de bunny."  He joyfully tucks his bugs under his arm and hops away.

One of the many, many reasons why I relish spring and the irreplaceable moments it affords.

Letting a Little One Lead Me

Yesterday at Mass, my sweet Evan wriggled free on the way up to Communion.  He walked directly up the middle of the two lines, stood and arranged his hands exactly as he has seen so many people do.  He looked up expectantly with his irresistible eyes and waited.  When his father had received and his older brother, he must have thought the priest was not understanding his gesture.  Just as I was receiving, he piped out a quiet, "I want some Jesus."  My heart melted as I scooped him up in my one free arm and I whispered, "One day, little man. Soon."

This is my new meditation for Lent.  Let me find myself at the foot of the Cross, hands extended, eyes wide with expectant faith, whispering "I want some Jesus." 

Only In Louisiana

The red beans and rice are on the stove.  The corn bread is in the oven.  And there are people I don't know doing the chicken dance on my front lawn.  It's definitely Mardi Gras.

The parade in our town lines up in front of our house.  Not participating in the party is just not an option.  As we speak, the boys are on the porch coloring posters to beg for beads and the smell of all the bbq grills in the neighborhood is wafting through the house.  The DJ at the business across the street is blaring zydeco music and my little Evan is two-stepping through the dining room. 

For today, we will join the party.  But I'll sure be ready for tomorrow's quiet solemnity.

Homecoming Day

Greg and the boys will return this afternoon--to a clean house and a big pot of meatballs and spaghetti, Italian herb bread, marinated broccoli salad, and a mom who is refreshed and renewed.

But a far more profound homecoming takes place today.  My nephew Sean returns from his tour of duty in Iraq.  He will see his five month old baby girl for the first time since she was a few days old.  We are all rejoicing at his safe return.  Please thank God with us!

Welcome Home, Sean!

On the way into Mass

....this evening, I noticed Brendan's shoes were on the wrong feet and that his pants were sagging down below his waist.  I stopped in the parking lot to spruce him up a bit before we entered church. 

As I rolled the waistband of his pants up to keep them in place, he sent up an exaspereated "Mooooom..."

"What?" I replied.

"God's waiting!" he answered.

Guess he told me.

He shall wipe away the tears...

Kolbe has been a bit of a fussy baby these first few weeks of his life, needing more arm time than most ofmy others.  Yesterday, on the day of his baptism, he was the most peaceful, content little guy in the house.  As we watched him sleep in his swing that evening, Quinn (9) said, " Mom, now we know why kolbe has been fussy, he didn't like original sin."  A reminder to me: sin makes us feel uncomfortable, out of sync, and a little grouchy--we must make use of the sacraments to relieve that burden so that we can be peaceful and content in our Father's arms once again!