Rocky Douglas

With a second lockdown in place and knowing how much our children wanted a dog, on the 24th of November, Brendan, Theresa, Patrick, and I traveled two hours north to pick up our Australian Shepherd puppy. The children named him Rocky, save for Aidan who fondly calls our puppy, “Douglas.”

Beach Days

For the last eighteen years, my children and I have been going to the beach with friends, or just as a family, once a week during the summer. 

When we first moved to the city in which we live, I thought that beach and park days would provide an easy way to get to know other homeschooling families.

Last year and this, I have come to realize that beach days provided us with more than just an opportunity to make lasting friendships.

Going to the beach each week has helped to foster friendships between my children.

It has given them something that they like doing together.

Although we still head to the beach together once a week, my older children will occasionally get home from work and ask, “Can I go to the beach?” They will follow their request by asking brothers and/or sisters if they want to go with them. 

Recently, as three of our children headed to the beach, I told my husband, “I did something right.” He said, “What was that?” I responded facetiously, “I taught our children to like the beach.” 

More importantly than teaching our children to like the beach, I inadvertently fostered loving relationships between our children.

I hope that they always find joy in spending time with each other.

Happy Thanksgiving

This year as the unknown looms ahead of me, I am reminded that there is so much for which we can and should be thankful.

May God bless all of you!

*I couldn't resist going with the Charlie Brown theme. My little boys really like Snoopy. How could I not be a fan?

Lego Cake

Cecilia knew exactly what cake she wanted to make for Kieran. The day before his birthday she busied herself making the cake. The finished product took my breath away.

Cecilia tells me that the cakes are labors of love for her younger brothers. May God bless her for using her talent to please her brothers!

The joy of blowing out the birthday candles is too funny not to share.

Dinosaur Cake

As our little boy's birthday approached, I knew that I wanted to make a dinosaur cake for him. However, when it was time to make it, our youngest was extra fussy and wanted to be in my arms. Cecilia readily volunteered to make the cake. I told her what I wanted and she got to work. The finished cake looked much better than I had envisioned. My children are blessed to have a sister who enjoys making fancy birthday cakes for them.

My Not So Quiet Little Boy

Kilian: "I was very quiet at Mass."
Me: "I know you were. You fell asleep after the rosary, and I woke you up to bring you downstairs. You slept through the whole Mass and the Angelus."
Kilian: "I was so quiet. Can I have a donut?"
The only time that my little boy is quiet and/or still is when he is sleeping. 😂

The Nature Center

We spent part of the day with some friends at a local nature center. My little boys were excited to see the ducks. I couldn't help but smile when I heard Kieran exclaim, "There's a duck. There's a duck."

 

We're looking forward to another field trip next week. 😊 

Tummy Time

Aidan enjoys his few minutes without his "boots and bar" each day. He's very good at rolling from one place to another and pushing himself backwards. Sometimes, I just sit and watch my baby boy in awe. When I see him rocking back and forth on all fours, I can't help but be amazed. He was in and out of a cast on his right leg from July 6 to October 28. Since then, he has worn his shoes and bar for 23 hours each day. Despite all this, he is exactly where he should be. I know that like his brothers and sisters, he will crawl when he is meant to do so.

God is so good!

Aidan's Baptism

“When a child is given to his parents, a crown is made for that child in Heaven, and woe to the parents who raise a child without consciousness of that eternal crown!”

~ Ven. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Life is Worth Living ~

On June 19, our little boy was baptized after Sunday Mass by our pastor. 

Priest: Aidan, quid petis ab Ecclesia Dei?

Godparents: Fidem.

Priest: Exi ab eo, immunde spiritus, et da locum Spiritui Sancto Paraclito.

Priest: Oremus: Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi, respice dignare super hunc famulum tuum, Aidan, quem ad rudimenta fidei vocare dignatus es: omnem caecitatem cordi ab eo expelle: disrumpe omnes laqueos Satanae, quibus fuerat colligatus; aperi ei, Domine ianuam pietatis tuae imbutus, omnium cupiditatum foetoribus careat, et ad suavem odorem praeceptorum tuorum laetus tibi in Ecclesia tua deserviat, et proficiat de die in diem Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Priest: Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum.

Godparents: Amen.

Priest: Aidan, ingredere in templum Dei, ut habeas partem cum Christo in vitam aeternam.

Godparents: Pater noster, qui es in cælis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem: sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Priest: Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde, in nomine Dei + Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Iesu + Christi Filii eius, Domini et Iudicis nostri, et in virtute Spiritus + Sancti, ut discedas ab hoc plasmate Dei N, quod Dominus noster ad templum sanctum suum vocare dignatus est, ut fiat templum Dei vivi, et Spiritus Sanctus habitet in eo. Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum, qui venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos, et saeculum per ignem.

Priest: Ephpheta, quod est, Adaperire. In odorem suavitatis. Tu autem effugare, diabole; appropinquabit enim iudicium Dei.

Priest: Aidan, vis baptizari?

Godparents: Volo.

Priest: Aidan, ego te baptizo in nomine + Patris, et Filii +, et Spiritus + Sancti.

Priest: Accipe lampadem ardentem, et irreprehensibilis custodi Baptismum tuum: serva Dei mandata ut cum Dominus venerit ad nuptias, possis occurrere ei una cum omnibus Sanctis in aula caelesti, habeasque vitam aeternam, et vivas in saecula saeculorum.

Priest: Aidan, vade in pace et Dominus sit tecum. Amen.

Churching and Consecration to Our Blessed Mother

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

I think that it is the first time that we have ever had a priest call us to find out when we wanted our baby baptized. Our pastor had a reason for calling. Thanks to his prayers and the intercession of St. Joseph, our baby boy experienced a miracle while I was pregnant with him (that's a story for another day).

We chose our second oldest daughter and a family friend to be the godparents of our baby. We have been impressed by the faith of both Aidan's godmother and godfather over the years and were happy that both of them graciously agreed to be our baby boy's godparents.

We are so thankful to our family for their prayers on our youngest son's Baptism day and to all of our friends who witnessed and celebrated our youngest's baptism with us.