The Way She Thinks

Theresa: "I have decided that I want to do Ballet again next year."

Bernadette: "Oh, now that the show is over, have you decided that you like it."

Theresa: "No, I just want to collect as many different costumes as I can."

From the Mouth of a Child

Recently, Patrick attended his sisters' dress rehearsal for Ballet with me. The lead was played by, Julianna, the older sister of my daughters' friends.

When the prince came on stage, Patrick, my very masculine little boy, turned to me and in a disgusted voice stated, "Mommy, that man with Julianna is wearing sticky pants with no underwear."

Mischief

My husband, Brendan, and Patrick fixed the wobbly ceiling fan in the boys' room, yesterday. At one point, Brendan asked his dad, "Do you like it when Patrick's helping you?" My husband responded, "Yes, Brendan, I do." Patrick immediately said, "Because I'm not into mischief."

I often remember my mom saying that blue-eyed, blond-haired boys are full of mischief. She was so right. I pray that she is in Heaven, looking down at her blue-eyed, blond-haired grandsons (she has a few of them) and laughing.

Honesty

Brendan:  "Do you like it when Patrick's helping you?"

Daddy:  "Yes, Brendan, I do."

Patrick:  "Because I'm not into mischief."

Louis and Zélie Martin's Bodies are Going to be Exhumed

LISIEUX, France, MAY 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As the process for the beatification of the parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux gets closer, the bodies of Louis and Zélie Martin are being exhumed and moved into the crypt of the basilica dedicated to their daughter. The full story can be read here, http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-22525

People can learn more about these wonderful parents by reading The Father of the Little Flower, The Mother of the Little Flower, and The Story of a Family.

Zélie Martin has been an inspiration to me for many years.

He Knows

At the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference, Patrick saw the book Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie de Paola on one of Our Lady of Victory's tables. He immediately piped up, "Look, Mommy, it's Patrick."

I responded, "Yes, that's who you are named after."

Patrick replied, "He's my saint."

Conference Ponderings

Prior to the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference, I contemplated the theme of this year's conference, "The Catholic Family: Called to be in the World, not of the World", many times. We have a framed text from Human Life International, "Ancient Advice for Modern Times, How True Christians Relate to the World" by St. Justin the Martyr, in our downstairs' hallway which addresses this very theme. I knew that being in the world, not of the world meant that: we are living counter-cultural lives; we believe in the Blessed Trinity; we believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church and we abide by the teachings of Jesus Christ; we go to Mass each Sunday, on Holy Days of Obligation, and often to daily Mass; we are familiar with the stories in the Bible and so are our children; we spend time in adoration, praying before the Blessed Sacrament; we value family (father, mother, children) life. However, as I listened to the speakers at the homeschool conference, it seemed to me that another theme ran through the talks of most of the speakers. The theme of TRUTH seemed to be an integral part of the speeches. The more I heard the word "truth", the more I realized that to be in the world, not of the world, we need to live the Truth, recognizing that God is TRUTH and all truth comes from Him.

Photos from the Conference

Below are some of my photos from the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference (a lot of the photos were dark and need to be played with in Photoshop and several photos blurred as I set my camera to manual to compensate for the lighting). I hope to email photos to new friends after our lessons tomorrow.

Kim, a friend and member of our local homeschooling group

Jessica, Trina, and Christy

Patrick

Russel, Rachel (friends and members of our local homeschooling group), and Michelle

Laura Berquist

Me with Michelle from Life of the Party and Everett 40 Days for Life

Finnian

Prayers Please

I had the privilege of meeting Jessica, Trina, and Christy (all of whom are contributors to Catholic Cuisine) at the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference, today. They are all more lovely in person than they are online. Please say a prayer for Jessica. Her car was broken into last night and her cameras were stolen, along with some other items. Jessica has blessed so many of us with the photos that she shares. Please pray for the individual or individuals who stole her things, too.

I hope to post some photos tomorrow night.

Please Note

Under normal circumstances, I do know that 1 3/8 comes between 1 2/8 and 1 4/8.

Did you know this?

My husband called and asked me to measure the exact depth of one of our doors. I did so, but due to tiredness, pregnanncy, being extremely busy lately (as some of you may know), I could not tell him the exact measurement.

Thus, I called my husband and said, "Don't laugh at me, I have been going non stop and for the life of me I cannot think what this measurement is. The depth is exactly between 1 1/4 and 1 1/2."

Before my husband could say anything on the other end, my 10-year-old daughter responded, "That's 1 3/8."

How did she know that?

I am too tired to think.