Lest I Forget

Saturday, we drove with some other people from our parish to Speyer. We saw the Cathedral, two protestant churches and a Jewish museum. The kids hung in there for the whole thing. Therese walked the entire day without complaint. Things I did not get pictures of because I was driving: a chimneysweep on a bicycle in a black top hat and suit, carrying his ladder. a tiny little car that looked like the one Miss Clavel drove in the movie 'Madeleine'. Things I did not get pictures of because I was eating: The traffic that was inches from the back of my chair at the restaurant where we ate lunch. Things I did photograph: We started our day with Mass in this little chapel inside the Cathedral. Therese recognized this picture as one we have at the house. window inside the chapel There was a section dedicated to Edith Stein. I would like to go back without kids one time to be able to take more time. I felt a little rushe...

As I stand here in the kitchen waiting, waiting for the ham to finish cooking (failure), I thought I'd type up a little post. Silly me, I thought that things would go smoothly. Peter has finally decided that sleeping all night is a good thing and has done so successfully for nearly a week. Until last night. Really, though, I can't blame him. I will have to blame Anna. For reasons still very unclear, she awoke shortly after midnight, declared she couldn't sleep, and noisily started flipping pages of her book, with her light on. Her bunkmate, Therese, slept through this for a while, but inevitably her body woke to the bright lights and she then declared that she could not possibly sleep without a sippy cup of juice. She declared this not quietly. So, of course, in all the hub-bub, Peter awoke and joined the ranks of the not sleepers. Let us keep in mind at this point that the Easter Bunny has not visited our house. And he needs to. But children are awake and parents are ...

Today is Holy Thursday. The Last Supper. The Institution of the Eucharist. The washing of the feet, whereby Jesus showed us the attitude by which to live. Lent has been interesting, as it usually is. What I think I should focus on, and what God reveals to me? Not even in the same ballpark. On Palm Sunday, I really felt that I had failed to make any real changes in myself and believe me, I am in need of change. Monday came and I got up renewed in my desire to make the most of the holiest of weeks. One little change. One thing I have been doing differently. I can see that this is what I need to help me in so many other parts of my life. Have I mentioned before how beautiful it is here? I have? Well, it is so beautiful that the pictures I take are very disappointing, for they seem to dull and veil the view. These fields of yellow are like sunshine for your soul. Scattered among the green of new growth and the rich brown of newly broken soil, they bring a swell of happiness in my...

Saturday morning dawned cold and overcast and found us loading up the car for our drive to Legoland. This has been a much anticipated trip.  Arriving in Germany, still clinging to his barf-bag, Jack asked, "Can we go to Legoland tomorrow?" This little piggie even made oinking noises. Appropriately, he is stationed beside the line to order food.   Peter was not happy about being on the back of a lego pig, but was not sure how to remedy the situation. Attempting to poke him in the eye was not effective. Gouging both eyes not effective either. Crying for mama did the trick.  "Would you like more meat with your order of meat?" The German fare is definitely heavy on the meat! Those swirly sausages were on a stick, lollipop style. Trying his best to remove the sword in the stone. King Arthur he is not. The next goal: Bury Jack in the sand. It is a lot of fun, by the smiles on their faces. One of my favorite lego creations in the ...