Sticker shock

The good news is that Ian is finally interested and ready for potty training.  The bad news is that he found a new spot to put a sticker. 

He came out of the bathroom crying & I figured he was frustrated with getting his shorts on.  I asked him if he needed help with his shorts & he lifted his shirt to show me what he was crying about.  Yep, he had a sticker stuck on his boy parts & he was trying to get it off.  Unfortunately it was one of those big ones you get from the doctor & they seem to be really sticky.  We had to do the "quick & less painful" pull, but I'm sure it still hurt. 

I don't think he'll be sticking anything down there again.  It's really hard not to laugh...

Ian's desire

I really hope this never changes...

We were getting ready for Mass today & Ian asks, "Where we going?"  After I tell him that we're going to church, he hangs his little head & with a sad bottom lip, replies, "I want to be in 3rd grade." 

"Why do you want to be in 3rd grade, buddy?", I ask.

"So I can get the Body of Christ", he says. 

If we could all long for the Eucharist as much as that little boy does, we'd certainly transform the Church, wouldn't we?

Have a nice day!

Just a little smile to brighten your day...it certainly does mine!

10 years ago...

...I was experiencing so many feelings.  I was excited & scared, joyful & worried, tired & energized (if that makes any sense!  Stick with me here, it will.)  Wonderfully anticipating but anxious, and most of all, a whole 'nother level of love that only can be described by one who experiences it themselves.  What was going on ten years ago?  No, I'm not talking about the rodeo years when I spent most of my time watching Jason & Ricky chasing after 500 pound steers on horseback and then wrestling them to the ground.  I'm talking about becoming a parent for the very first time.  Yes, A.J. turned 10 today and I find myself thinking back to when he was delivered with a suction cup to his head & how his little head was cone shaped, but not on the top, it was off to one side a bit.  His poor little head was bruised and there was a mean nurse who was trying to "help" me get him to nurse & grabbed his head and was pushing on the bruise.  Needless to say he didn't want to eat then. 

I continued on a wave of emotions those first weeks and wish I knew then what I know now.  No amount of advice or books can ever prepare you for the adventure you'll go on, but that makes it even better when you know you survived it despite all of the ups and downs, and for the most part, you come out an even better, less-selfish version of yourself.  Happy birthday, AJ, and thank you, God, for the free gift of children you've given us and for all we've learned through them.

 

Happy birthday, America!

At a time when we celebrate what it was that our country's founders fought for and desired to protect us from when they created the First Amendment, we are reminded that we must stand united to keep it.  Freedom cannot exist without morality and morality cannot exist without religion.  If we lose our rights to practice our religion, we are no longer free.  Here are some questions I found that make it simple. 

1. The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred and holy.  Does the Catholic Church have the right to practice and promote this belief:  Yes or No?

2. The Catholic Church teaches that at the moment of conception God endows each of us with an immortal and divine soul, creating a sacred and holy human life.  Does the Catholic Church have the right to practice and promote this belief:  Yes or No?

3. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is immoral and wrong because it terminates a sacred and holy human life.  Does the Catholic Church have the right to practice and promote this belief:  Yes or No?

4. Does the federal government have the authority to mandate that the Catholic Church pay for an abortion:  Yes or No?

5. Does the federal government have the authority to prosecute or punish the Catholic Church for refusing to comply with a federal mandate that violates the principles and tenets of its faith:  Yes or No?

Whether you agree with abortion or not, we need to understand what's at stake if this chain of leaders continues to control our nation. "In God We Trust" & "God bless America" - He's been a part of our freedom & country's growth, let's not forget Him now when it's at stake.