Lord, That I May See

#1. I am writing this post out of escapism. I should be doing one of three important things right now and I totally don't want to do any of them. #2. I love how Sunshine got her first ashes this year. There is something kind of poignant about a baby with ashes on her head. #3. And I have to post this picture because I am in love with big sister/little sister moments! #4. And this one, because I am also in love with baby toes. I can't wait till summer so I can see the little rosy things all the time, instead of them being hidden away in socks and sleepers. #5. We made clay yesterday. Unfortunately, there wasn't much interest after we mixed and kneaded it -- it had already lost its luster after the fun pouring and measuring was over. *Sigh* Way too much work for Mommy and not enough happy-and-occupied-children time. Don't they know that they owed me that? :) #6. This is a tunnel I made for the girls back after the second February snowstorm. I was entirely miffed b...

Before Rosebud was born I worked in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 3-6 Atrium for 3 years. To mark the beginning of Lent the children would color a card with the word "Alleluia" inscribed on it and then the cards were be placed in a large flowerpot and covered with soil. The children were allowed to sing their "Alleluia" songs one last time and then for the rest of Lent they replaced "Alleluia" -- such a "special, happy word" -- in any song with "Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm" (They loved it!) At the Liturgy of the Light celebration at Easter the Alleluia was dug up and they could finally sing it once again. I wanted to do something like this with my girls this year but wasn't sure how until I saw this great, simple idea from Lacy at Catholic Icing . So, I copied it. :) On Ash Wednesday, the girls enthusiastically sang Alleluia one last time, and then we "buried" it wrapped in gold and white tissue paper in a box. Then we wrapped t...

Two years ago yesterday I lost my Grammy. Rosebud was the same age as Sunshine is now. Grammy had never met her, though she had sent a beautiful white dress with pink rosebuds on it for her to wear. I am told that she kept repeating Rosebud's name over and over again, that she thought it was a beautiful one. She didn't really know Turtle either. It had been 15 mos since she had seen us when Turtle had been 8 mos. old. That Grammy never really knew her great-granddaughters is something I will regret for the rest of my life. I remember sadly lifting Rosebud up -- sleeping soundly-- to see Grammy laying in her coffin in the dress she wore to my wedding. I said to her: "Here's your Great-Grammy, love. She loved you very much, even though you didn't know her." Then I looked at Turtle, prancing happily around the funeral home and whispering that Great-Grammy was "sleeping" and sorrowed for her too. My daughters' lives will never be enriched by knowing ...

We've been reading this book alot recently. Both girls have already almost memorized it in only three days. Rosebud's been walking around shaking her finger and saying "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." And after a long ride in the car the other day Turtle stretches and yawns. "Mommy," she chirps "I feel refreshded and rested! Just like in Caps for Sale!" I love it. :)

Se veral people have asked to hear the story of our homebirth. Those who know me know that I have wanted a home birth for years. My mother had five out of her nine children born at home. I was eight years old when she had her first home birth so as far as I was concerned home was just the place people always had babies. :) I always assumed that I would have home births too. But when I was pregnant with Turtle I soon learned my husband thought differently. I went so far as to interview a home birth midwife during that first pregnancy, but never could get D. to agree to even consider home birth as a possibility. So, I gave up my wishes, acknowledging that maybe it'd be a good idea to have a hospital birth with the first baby, just to see how things would go for me. But even after a completely average natural delivery with Turtle coupled with being very badly treated by my caregiver and harassed about my wishes for my and my baby's treament, D. refused to agree to a home birth...

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine You make me happy when skies are gray Y ou'll never know dear, how much I love you Please don't take my sunshine away!

Helping Daddy with the shoveling Learning letters (these are the ones Turtle knows) Practicing "O" Coloring at the easel More shoveling inbetween storms "Nursing" the baby Snuggly evenings A new haircut Making "Pizza" Cutting avacados 4-foot icicles