Children

Children
"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
(1 Jn 4:16)

Friday, July 28, 2006

Thank You, God!

Yesterday, as I was shutting our van door, my little boy stuck out his arm, saying vacuum (he had left a toy vacuum in the van). The door shut and to my horror, I saw his arm stuck in the door. I quickly unlocked the door and started trying to calm him down. I looked over to my other children making sure they were staying close. I saw a lady on the other side of the children. She asked me if his arm was broken and I responded, "I don't know." She asked to look at it and so I showed her his arm. Upon seeing that his hand was dangling, his wrist was swelling, and there were two large indentations on both sides of his wrist, she said, "You need to get him to a doctor or the emergency room, immediately." I got the children back in the van and buckled my crying boy in the car.

We started to head to the doctor or emergency room and I started to pray, "Dear God, please don't let his arm be broken." I had not decided which would be the better option, but based on previous experience I knew the doctor's office probably wouldn't be able to schedule an appointment for us. As my mind raced with the thought of spending an unknown amount of time with 5 children in the emergency room, I continued to pray, "Dear God, please don't let his arm be broken. Please don't let it be broken."

As we reached a light where I needed to make a left turn, I realized that Patrick had stopped crying. I kept praying and realized a sense of hope. I tried coaxing Patrick to move his hand, but he refused. I pulled out my phone to call my husband and tell him that we were heading to the emergency room, but I stopped. I turned around and offered Patrick the phone, insisting that he take it with his right hand. He finally did so, putting it up to his ear and moving it around. Someone behind me honked, letting me know that I needed to be driving. I gently put my foot on the accelerator, taking my left turn and saying, "Thank you, God! Thank you, God!"

We returned to the store parking lot and I looked at my son's wrist. It was no longer swollen. The only evidence that his arm had been in the door were the marks on either side of his wrist (no longer as deep) and a small cut. I thanked God and am still thanking Him for answering my prayers. The change in my son's wrist is unexplainable to me and all I can say is, "Thank you, God!"

Was this a Compliment?

The other day, I was looking for some maternity dresses on the web. One of my daughters came up and looked over my shoulder. She stated, "Mommy, those dresses are too stylish for you!"

Her older sister heard this and came over to look. She concurred, saying, "I agree with Bernadette. Those dresses are definitely too stylish for you."

Monday, July 24, 2006

Theology 101

I have been listening to the theological musings of my little boy and doing my best to answer his questions for the last three years. On Wednesday night, Brendan began with, "Mommy, did God really make us out of nothing?" I responded, "Yes, he made Adam out of nothing." Brendan went on to say, "I think God made us out of clay. God used dust and spit to make clay and then God made us from the clay."

On our Saturday Costco trip, two of the questions he asked were: "Mommy, what is the soul?" "Mommy, why does God just want our soul?"

Brendan seems deeper to me than my other children. He is like me in that he is always pondering ideas. One of his questions that I will never forget came three years ago when I miscarried. At this time, my little boy asked, "Why did God let the devil kill our baby?" He surprises my husband as much as me with what he asks. A lot of times his questions are theological in nature, leading me to believe that I may need to start studying theology.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

We Have Been Blessed

This morning, as I sit here alone, I cannot help but wonder about how God has blessed our lives. We have spent a busy week at home and with friends. The children have played with their friends, seen what raising animals is like, ridden a pony, been swimming in the lake, canoed, attempted to kayak (one child tried this with no previous boating experience of any kind), and celebrated birthdays. I believe they did these things with great joy and happiness. I also believe that they enjoyed having Mommy and Daddy around as they enjoyed these activities. Thank you God for blessing us so abundantly. I love You with all my heart.

Below are a few photos from our week.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

How do You Spell Creative?

I spell it B-r-e-n-d-a-n.

Celebrations

My family has a lot of celebrations in July.
Happy anniversary to my wonderful husband!
Happy birthday, Catherine! I cannot believe how quickly time flies.
Happy anniversary, Kevin and Lynda!
Happy birthday to my Muffin. I thank God for the day you were born.
Happy birthday, Theresa! You bring so much joy to our lives.
Happy baptism anniversary, Catherine!
Happy birthday, Cael! Sorry, we won't be with you on your birthday.
Happy birthday, Lynda! I couldn't wish for a better older sister.
Happy baptism anniversary, Theresa!

Friday, July 07, 2006

The Ocean

Last weekend, we spent a few days at the ocean visiting my in-laws, playing on the beach, and flying our kite. We had a wonderful and relaxing time.

We left for home early on July 4. As we were driving home, our van broke down. My level-headed husband called 911 and a state trooper was dispatched to help us. He told us that since it was the 4th of July we most likely wouldn't be able to have our car towed or fixed until the following day. He then proceeded to drive us, a few at a time, to a restaurant in Elma, Washington. When my husband arrived, he noticed that an auto parts place across the street was open. He went over there and ended up getting our car towed. The tow truck driver took him to a shop that was closed, but the owner happened to be working on his son's car and agreed to fix our van. While all of this was taking place, my children and I were eating at Betty's Kitchen. We finally arrived home at 6:30, after spending several hours at the restaurant. As we ate dinner that night, Brendan said, "This has been a great 4th of July. We got to ride in a state trooper's car and we ate at a restaurant when we weren't even planning on it." Thank you to all of the people in Elma, Washington who made our stay so pleasant and went out of their way to help us. May God bless all of you for your kindness.

Ber's 2006 Reading

The Adventures of Tintin: The Castafiore Emerald, by Herge
The Adventures of Tintin: The Red Sea Sharks
, by Herge
Away Goes Sally, by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Beyond the Heather Hills, by Melissa Wiley
The Black River Pirates: A Peter and Polly Story, by Don Clark
B is for Betsy, by Carolyn Haywood
The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
The Borrowers Afloat, by Mary Norton
The Children of Fatima, by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Down to the Bonny Glen, by Melissa Wiley
The Far Side of the Loch, by Melissa Wiley
The Kitchen Madonna, by Rumer Godden
Little House in the Highlands, by Melissa Wiley
Little House by Boston Bay, by Melissa Wiley
Little Plum, by Rumer Godden
The Magic of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
Me and My Little Brain
, by John D. Fitzgerald
Mine for Keeps, by Jean Little
Miss Happiness and Miss Flower, by Rumer Godden
Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry
Mr. Popper's Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater
On Tide Mill Lane, by Melissa Wiley
The Pirates Revenge, by Don Clark
The Priest of Ars, by Marie-Therese Fischer
Raggedy Ann Stories, by Johnny Gruelle
Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land, by Johnny Gruelle
Raggedy Ann in the Snow White Castle, by Johnny Gruelle
Raggedy Andy Stories : Introducing the Little Rag Brother of Raggedy Ann, by Johnny Gruelle
Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, by Johnny Gruelle
Relief's Rocker, by Alice Dalgliesh
The Road from Roxbury, by Melissa Wiley
Saint Rose of Lima, by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Song of Saint Francis, by Clyde Robert Bulla
Stormy, Misty's Foal, by Marguerite Henry
The Story of Holly and Ivy, by Rumer Godden
Tales from Grimm, by Wanda Gag
Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
Trixie Belden: Mystery in Arizona, by Julie Campbell
Twig, by Elizabeth Orton Jones
Viking Adventure, by Clyde Robert Bulla
Happy Little Family, by Rebecca Caudill
Schoolhouse in the Woods, by Rebecca Caudill
Up and Down the River, by Rebecca Caudill
Schoolroom in the Parlor, by Rebecca Caudill
Henry Huggins, by Beverly Cleary
Henry and Beezus, by Beverly Cleary
Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls, by Caryll Houselander
More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls, by Caryll Houselander
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