Talking about Pink On This Feast of Michaelmas (Michael-what?)

"I began to be afraid you would never come back again. People did say you meant to quit the place entirely at Michaelmas; but, however, I hope it is not true. A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood, since you went away. Miss Lucas is married and settled. And one of my own daughters. I suppose you have heard of it; indeed, you must have seen it in the papers. It was in The Times and The Courier, I know; though it was not put in as it ought to be. It was only said, 'Lately, George Wickham, Esq. to Miss Lydia Bennet,' without there being a syllable said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything. It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up too, and I wonder how he came to make such an awkward business of it. Did you see it?"

Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations. Elizabeth dared not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked, therefore, she could not tell.

Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice 

 

How could I pass up starting a post with an excerpt from Pride & Prejudice? While so many of my friends are floored that this is not my number one favorite book of all time, it is definitely a staple of my reading (and re-reading) library! Additionally, it is perhaps the first time I was ever introduced to the feast of Michaelmas. 

Michael-what, you ask? Quite literally, the Mass of St. Michael. Or in the current calendar of the Church (liturgical calendar) the feast of the Archangels (Michael, Raphael, & Gabriel). We call on St. Michael in particular for protection against evil.

For more on what Michaelmas is, and how you can celebrate it in your home, visit Haley over at Carrots For Michaelmas (I mean it's right in her blog title, right?). 

What I find particularly interesting about this year's Michaelmas is that it falls squarely after the visit of Pope Francis in the United States, and on a day that Planned Parenthood has chosen to declare a "pink out day" in support of its organization. I don't normally write about the more controversial topics here, but I can't help but notice a rather ironic choice of dates. On the feast of St. Michael, who defends us against the devil, Planned Parenthood has chosen to hail their battle cry. 

If you have been under a rock or uninterested over the last several months, Planned Parenthood has been embroiled in controversy after a series of videos exposed some rather stomach turning practices by the clinics. Even if you believe that Planned Parenthood provides essential services, these video are hard to ignore. Yet, for many, that is exactly what they have been doing. Justifying. Calling into question the method of obtaining the video (which I'm not a fan of, admittedly). Dodging the real, essential issue. Are these babies actually babies? Should ANYONE be treated so callously or seen as a profit margin? What if they were puppies - would we be more outraged? Why not root out the evil so the good work can remain untainted?

I have to admit I did not fully watch the video. I cannot. My stomach and soul cannot handle it. I am not burying my head in the sand, however. They do exist, and the practices they expose if even half is true . . . the practices are evil. We must start to call a spade a spade, or what kind of world are we leaving for our children? 

On this Feast of Michaelmas, while much of the world will "pink out," I am thinking back to the words and actions of Pope Francis. While it is tempting to go into combat with Planned Parenthood, I wonder if instead our response shouldn't be to love more - to love better. In the end, this isn't just about abortion. It is about the value of life itself. No one is a commodity. No one is disposable, part or whole. No one.

So this Michaelmas, I invite St. Michael to do the dirty work, and I'm going to stick with the love. I say we stand for the dignity of ALL life - from conception until natural death - by our words, but more importantly, by our actions. Take a meal to the hungry. Help a young, pregnant woman find strength. Stop talking about others as though THEY are our enemy, regardless of their actions. 

Here is an image if you want to "Pink Up" in love. Let's show the world what we are FOR, instead of always barking about what we stand against. Love one another . . . all anothers. If this post angers you, are you open to a discussion? Please, don't just walk away - let's chat. Let us look at each other in love and get to the heart of our disagreement. Maybe we won't change each other's minds, but at least we can say we listened to each other, right? 

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Looking Back At Turning 40

For those of you who follow along, you'll know that I turned 40 this weekend. You will also know that the Hubster and Sister-Friend planned a little surprise shindig, which after a very full meal I was hoping was not a trampoline place or skating. It was skating. Roller skating to be exact. Why, you ask, would they subject an out-of-shape-almost-40-year-old to such torment, you ask? This:

Skatetown Circa 1980-something

Luckily, I had a meeting with my spiritual director earlier in the day, so I was prepared to be gracious whatever the surprise ended up being, even skating. We had been roller skating with friends a few years earlier (and by a few I mean half a dozen at least), so it wouldn't be the first time since the 80's that I'd be donning a pair of four wheelers on my feet. Of course, I wasn't on the doorstep to 40 then either. Surprisingly, after a few rounds around the rink . . . ok, a few dozen rounds around the rink . . . my skate-legs came back to me. Not in a way that would make me think I was ready for the roller derby, but I wouldn't say no to an occasional skate night. I would just ask that it not be on Teen Night next time. Less chance of running into students, and better chance of ANY music we might actually know. Any. Music. At. All.

Overall, it was a perfect celebration with close friends and some foolishness (skating, y'all - skating). I'm sorry more people couldn't make it due to the holiday weekend, but after 40 years, I'm pretty used to that little glitch to my birthday celebrations. My teenage self would be thrilled that there were more boys than girls at my party.

Broken turn lights, Japanese cuisine, a time machine back to a land of
phones and phone books, beautiful sunsets, much needed espressos,
all leading to a night of friends and skating. Followed by
confession, of course, to begin a new decade. Oy!

As I look back over four decades of life, I have to say with great certainty that the best is yet to come. Each decade has brought its share of heartaches and triumphs. While some of those have gotten a little more serious as life has kept moving forward, each decade has also brought with it a greater sense of self-assurance. I wish I could say I have completely rid myself of the monkey on my back that is caring what others think - maybe that will be the grace of my 40s. I can say that I am quicker to correct myself and fix my focus on the only One whose measure is worth pursuing. 

I still feel badly when I let people down, and I feel as though I do it all the time.

I still worry that I don't measure up as a wife and mother, and I know there is always room for growth.

I still wonder what I'm doing on this planet time and again, and I sometimes feel like I am just treading water.

BUT . . . 

I also know that God has created me for a very specific purpose and mission, and even if it takes my whole life to figure it out, the pursuit of that mission is well worth the sweat and tears (and maybe even a little blood?).

I know that no matter how badly I think I am messing things up, at the end of the day the love and grace of God will smooth over the rough edges. At the end of the day, while I can't believe it sometimes, my children and husband still look at me with great love.

I trust that I get an infinite number of do-overs through the grace of God. Until my dying breath, I know His mercy is new every morning.

I am learning to let go of others' expectations, even if I am letting them down. I am learning that I cannot do and be everything to everyone. I am not St. Paul. I am me, and sometimes that will bring the hurt of letting go when I can't give enough. I know God works through that and brings new life and beauty out of it, if only I trust and wait. 

So, 40, here's to you! Here is to a decade of laughter, tears, joys, and sorrows . . . of new adventures and the pursuit of dreams. Oh, 40, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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A Mid-Week Getaway & Meeting Father Robert Barron

This is my life this summer . . . or at least the last week. The wheels had barely touched down after jetting back from my weekend getaway to Charleston, and the wheels of our swaggerwagon hit the road for a couple days away. The unpack to repack was a dumping of the suitcase into the laundry and filling it back up with whatever clean I could find. Laundry be damned!

The husband and I had a quick getaway to Grand Rapids without the kids. Father Robert Barron, best knows for his Catholicism series and Word on Fire ministry was speaking at Baker Bookhouse there. Through his own Catholic Bibles Blog, the husband has made a variety of contacts and friends throughout the world. One particular gentleman, Louis, and the Hubs struck up a friendship when Louis was coming into the Church. Coming from a Baptist background, there were more than a few areas of Catholic teaching and theology that he wanted a better understanding of, and the husband was able to walk with him through that journey. It really is a beautiful thing, and Louis has been a generous friend.

It was Louis who organized this event with Fr. Barron and invited us to attend as his guests. There was a short question and answer (akin to an artist meet & greet) before the larger event which we were able to attend for a nominal cost. Fr. Barron impressed me by his easy manner, and proved himself to be a intellectual man to the core. He reiterated over and over how important it was to be able to speak of the faith with intelligence, how much religious education let us down when people assumed things were just too hard to digest and understand for the average person. All that with humor and ease.

Father Barron talked perceptively of a loss in this day and age of the moral argument. He explained how there has been a shift from operating under a philosophy of end, where this life is not all there is and understanding we will not be here forever, to a philosophy of rights, where we are entitled to everything because it is our right. We have lost a deep understanding of our interconnection. We have replaced our ability to debate intellectually and have replaced it with an inclination toward emotive expression. We feel the feels but don't always think the thinks.

There were many other questions and answers given, but admittedly some were over my head since I haven't taken a theology class in several years. I realized, though, how much I miss the intellectual stimulation and theological conversation, though I desperately also need to be able to see its fruition in applied action. I'm not sure what God is doing with that desire, but I place it before Him to see where it leads. 

This is not where the conversation ended, however. So generous is Louis, that he invited us along to a small dinner with Father Barron. We all piled in his car and headed over to Noto's for some Italian fare. On the ride over, I was able to ask a burning question of Father Barron that I didn't want to take up time to ask during the Q & A: Cubs or White Sox? (He's a Cubs man.) This actually led to a conversation about the Tigers (that I listened in on because . . . sports), which revealed that Father Barron had lived in the metro Detroit area for a portion of his childhood. 

I had mentioned to a friend that I was envisioning the wreckage of the future as this time approached. In my head I saw a tongue-tied, flustered me spitting food out at the magnanimous Father Barron. I am happy to report that did not happen. In fact, because the conversation took a more personal turn and provided a little more connection to him as a person and not as a famous priest, I was far more at ease. 

Dinner came and went, and with it discussion of hot topics like gay marriage and less hot topics like the revitalization of Detroit. One moment I appreciated most during dinner went unnoticed by everyone else, I think. I happened to make a quip, as they presented us with dessert options that we were too full to order, that I'd just Instagram it and call it good. I'm pretty sure I heard a stifled laugh come from his direction. He may be the only one who got it. 

Micaela commented on Facebook that I mentioned talking with Fr. Barron as if it is was no big deal. I had to think of it as such or you know - wreckage of the future. On the ride back to the event, I might have demonstrated just how much I wasn't thinking about the fact that Fr. Barron is kind of a big deal. As a final question, I asked him which of the places he has visited during his filming and travels he enjoyed most. One of his answers was India, and he happened to make a comment about not loving Calcutta. On instinct, as though we had been friends for decades, I blurted out, "Hey! Those are my people you're talking about! Watch it!" and then promptly froze in embarrassment. Praise God he has a sense of humor and also doesn't take himself too seriously. It led to a laugh and a discussion about India, my family, and the jolting reality of Calcutta's poverty (ohhhh, the smells!). 

So you see, Micaela - there was no way a tongue-tied introvert like me could have realized what a big deal it might be to be able to have that opportunity to talk with Father Barron (whose talk was wonderful as well). I would have sat there nauseous with my heart pounding out of my chest. Instead, we got to talk about baseball, about the shards of Christianity and redemption that exist all throughout our culture and the world, the need to reclaim our intellectual tradition, and a love for my people that no stink can overcome. 

Thank you to Louis for your generous invitation. You are so good to us, and we cannot thank you enough! Thank you, Father Barron, for putting us at ease. May God bless the important work you are doing.

Until next time, remember - everyone is a big deal to God! Let's get out there and love 'em like Jesus!

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SQT On The First Week of Summer, Love, and Hospitality

Well, hello Friday. And hello you old friend Quick Takes. It has been awhile since I've visited. How have you been? The same? Fair enough. Here's a quick update from the fine folks at the Casa (that's us).

--- 1 ---

It's the first week of summer, and it's off to the races, if by races you mean dallying about. While the Hubs was gone, the kids and I took a neighborhood adventure walk (or stroll if you want to get honest about our pace). There has been plenty of playing outside and a little grilling and a healthy dose of summer rain. C'est la vie a la casa!

--- 2 ---

Another big summer goal is almost on the checked off list: our front door facelift! All that is left is to touch up the trim and dream of a new storm door...

--- 3 ---

Incidentally, one thing that should have been on our home improvement list was getting a new spray nozzle for the hose in the front yard. It sticks. This didn't seem like a big problem until I was cleaning off the roller from the paint job and the hose became stuck on full force causing the paint from the roller to spray all over. On me. On the house. All. Over. Did you know that paint doesn't just wash off siding? (I had guessed as much, but gave it a foolish try anyway.) So, one bottle of nailpolish remover, a scouring sponge, and a metric ton of elbow grease later, the front of the house no longer looks like a Smurf splattered against it. Let's put that one in the "things I hope to never have to do again" box!

--- 4 ---

Part of the inspiration behind painting the front door, other than covering up the stains on the old "white" one, was to create a more welcoming look. This, of course, means we have to be more welcoming. If you want a great read about opening ourselves up in the here and now, read Laura Kelly Fanucci's post from earlier this week. Her post inspired my own thoughts about hospitality and the meaning of home. Take a read if you missed it, and let me know what you think. What keeps you from opening yourself and your home to others?

--- 5 ---

As I am talking about love, openness, and hospitality, I can't seem to avoid the GIANT elephant in this room, and the not so invisible pachyderm traipsing across the internet today. I am desperately trying to think of something witty, funny, and off the wall here, but it really just comes down to the plain old fact of the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage, making it legal in all 50 states. I've seen those on the right act as though the sky is falling, and those on the left celebrating the victory of love.

The fact that there is a right and a left on this is perhaps the biggest issue of all, in my not so humble opinion. I've said it before and I will say it again - these are not political issues at their core. They are issues of humanity in which there are actual humans involved. Sadly, we have allowed political machines to take over. Carefully crafted messages lead one side to hate/distrust the other inhibiting any possibility of fruitful dialogue and understanding on a large scale. Gay marriage proponents are heathens causing the destruction of good society as we know it. Gay marriage dissenters are bigoted devils wanting to destroy love and happiness. How can we possibly arrive at a consensus of how to live in a pluralistic society when those are the scripts that are being played over and over? 

I say this to my brothers and sisters in Christ, because I believe change begins with us. There have been moments of moral decline throughout the history of the world, but Jesus reminds us that He has overcome the world. Our work here is to make disciples of all the nations. If we are so intimately embroiled in proving we are right about the day's moral and political issues, are we our own stumbling block in leading others to the heart of a loving Christ? Yes, Christ is also a judge, but first he is a Lover. Can we please take the offensive (and not in a combative sense) finally and be about God's business? Can we admit that we will never change hearts and minds - that conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit? Can we open our hearts and our lives to walk with those who we intimately and passionately disagree with so we can start to form relationships to make it possible for the Holy Spirit to enter into our lives in power? Can we please stop arguing? It makes my heart hurt that when people think about Christ and Catholicism that the words bigot and hate are involved. Please, oh please, choose your words carefully. Choose love. Choose mercy. Choose kindness. Allow words to have meaning, speak and preach truth, but please, oh please, remember that fragile hearts are tied to those truths. 

Whatever battle may come, and believe you me there is a battle looming, please let them always say of us that we chose love as much as we chose truth. They cannot be separated as Christ Himself is both Love and Truth personified. Yes, love has lost all meaning, but that is because Love has ceased to be Lord. Ideologies have replaced faith in Christ. Please, and truly for the love of Christ, can we embrace Him as Lord again? Preach Him as Love again? Somewhere He has been lost in the battle for righteousness as we react to every volley thrown at us. We have the fullness of Truth...the fullness of Love. Let's stop letting the world write the story and show them what...and who...the face of real Love is again. It is the face on the cross. It is the blood poured out. It is sacrifice and it is mercy before the judgment, which belongs to God in the end. Love one another, please, oh please. For the sake of the Gospel, love one another beyond an ideology. 

--- 6 ---

Well, that wasn't such a quick take up there. I will fast-forward through this one and just tell you that there are two quick "tutorials" up for those of you who may still want to join in the June Sketch-Along and help to share the joy of the Lord through art. There is one on the very basics of hand lettering, and one on creating digital images. I hope you will join me! 

--- 7 ---

...and now to leave you with a laugh, hopefully!

They say kids say the darndest things. Well, this one's a doozy! Gianna is about waist high now, and she is a lover of kisses, which can make things a little awkward. Like when she comes up behind us to give us a kiss. On the rear. And then says, "I kissed your butt!" proudly, the simultaneous hilarity and irony totally lost on her sweet four year old self. 

That's life at the Casa in a snippet or seven! For more Quick Takes, visit This Ain't The Lyceum!

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Tell Me What You Buy & I'll Tell You Who You Are

Not quite St. Augustine, I know. The thought came to me as I was checking out at Meijer the other day sans kiddos (don't be jealous). I was chatting with the cashier who was commenting on the things I was buying, and  making some rather correct assumptions about our life based on what she was scanning. As I unpacked my loot, I realized you really can tell quite a bit about a person's life based on what goes into (and comes out of) those bags. What does my shopping say about life at the Casa, you ask (or not)? Here we go!

1)  Oh, yes, we have a toddler girl in potty training. And I hate buying logo-riffic products. By the by, why is it so hard to find toddler anything without some character on it??

2) Cats. Multiple. Correctamundo!

3) Trying to get organized. Yes, indeed.

4) Trying to keep track of this crazy mixed up beautiful life. Check!

5) - 8) We are attempting to eat better and make some healthier choices. Organic milk, superfoods, whole grain, no artifical XYZ - it would appear meals at the Casa are health conscious.

9) . . . or not. Canned goods are our friends. Life is busy. Sometimes dinner prep is rushed, so there you go.

10) We are attempting to pose as foodies and gourmet beer connoisseurs. Fooled ya! I don't care for "beer," so I've been trying to find some darker brews with some sweetness so both of us are happy. In case you were wondering: delicious!

11) I am toeing the "crunchy" line, but not willing to shell out the big bucks and commit.  Bingo.

12) There may be more than just the potty-training-girl toddler in the house. She may have a brother. He doesn't want to be condemned to a life of mama-hand-drawn Jake characters. True story.

So there you have it. That's what my purchases say about me. There was also an Easter dress in there that got the cashier talking about her niece, but we will save that reveal for what we wore on Easter!

Tell me, what does your shopping say about you?

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Looking Back As We Forge Ahead

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Revelation 21:1-5

"The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year...but that we should have a new soul." G.K. Chesterton

Newness...renewal...beginning anew. For some the past year has brought much heartache. For others it was a joyous time. For most of us, it was a mixed bag of tricks, as much of life is, with its valleys and peaks, laughter and tears. We lost some loved ones, and welcomed some to the world. We fought and we loved. Some dreams we dared while others we released, if only for now. We watched with wonder as the children grew, and we sighed with exasperation at the frustration of the growing pains. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Now we are fresh into a new year which holds every possibility. We have great opportunities to take what we have gained in the past year and grow from it, to let go of what we have lost and move beyond our pain. We have the opportunity to brush ourselves off, however we have fallen, and begin again. True, we have this chance every day, but the ritual of the start of a new calendar year brings with it the momentum to make good on the opportunity laid at our doorstep, to seize the day...or year. 

As we closed out 2013, the inaugural year for The Pitter Patter Diaries (though some form of a blog has existed longer), I've been looking back through the archives. There are many favorite posts, and some that I deleted in retrospect because they seemed foolish. In writing, in sharing our lives and our journey, I have most certainly learned volumes about myself, about the Lord, about motherhood, and about love...oh, and about fashion. Let's not forget fashion. Thanks to a couple friends, 2013 was the year I dared with more sparkle and bolder jewelry. 

Back to the other lessons, though, here are a few of my favorite posts that will continue to be food for thought as we dive into the days, months and year ahead.

1) Love Must Come First: I wrote this specifically as the battle over same-sex marriage took the forefront o my newsfeed. As I reflected on these words more recently, I realized that I left out the missive of St. Paul - if we have not love, we are but a clanging symbol. In the example of Pope Francis, I see most of all a return to this simple missive. All the Truth, all the moral certitude, all the right ways of being...they mean nothing and are nothing to someone who does not know the love of God. If we cannot first bring them that love, be that love and create an encounter with Love Himself, ain't nothin' in our arsenal gonna change a wayward man, woman or child. To know in the depths of my soul that my Savior loved me enough to die, to know that tangible and unconditional love was shown regardless of my sin and my brokenness, that keeps me striving to be better. Not a set of rules, not the catechism, not liturgical norms - love. The living, breathing Word of God, Bread of Life, Emmanuel - encountering His love and forgiveness and mercy...his unbelievable mercy that greets me every.single.time I fall and especially when I think I have fallen completely out of reach...THAT, my friends is what changes a soul. 

2) Living Life With an Eye on What Is: I listed this as one of the "mosts" posts of 2013. It is also one of my personal favorites because it reminds me that the world is full of false whispers. The devil loves to lure us in with his sweet, and more often not-so-sweet, nothings. As I re-read these words, I am always shocked at how badly I filter those whispers. I am quicker to recognize them now, but the bad is still easier to believe. We know, though, that what God creates is good, so we have to keep fighting against those whispers of darkness. We have to attune our ears to discern what is gentle and loving correction and what is a nasty lie. God's voice never questions our belovedness. God's voice never attacks our self-worth. God's voice never demeans our beauty or distorts it source. Here's to a year of hearing God's voice!

3) Ten Things I Never Want My Children to Hear: Taming the tongue is always a good habit. Re-reading this just convicts my heart about curbing some bad habits. I want these little minions to always be confident about who they are and whose they are, so I'd better work a little harder to make sure everything we do and say lends to that knowledge. 

4) Not So Random Acts of Kindness: Sometimes, in my book, semantics are everything. While we show random people kindness, in my view of things, our kindness is never random if we claim kinship with Christ. As the Auld song goes, "We'll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne..."

5) 13 Things I Want to Teach My Children: It's always easier to think of the things you don't want to do, but in parenting as in all of life, much of what I pass on I must be intentional about creating. This list needs to go somewhere visible so I don't forget it when life's pace gets a little chaotic.

6) Love in the Time of Tolerance: If we are to show love in all things, we have to be clear on what authentic love is in a time when the word has been so terribly cheapened. Love is a verb, and it isn't an easy call. That selfless love that led Jesus to pour out his life for our sake is the love we are called to emulate - no flowers and chocolate for that...

7) Life is Like a Bowl of Oatmeal: I tagged this as my favorite post of the year in my "posts with the mosts" post (how many times can I write post?). As I head into the new year, I hope I remember that good things are worth waiting (and working) for - it's not InstaLife after all. 

8) 17 Ways to Honor Your Husband: It is so easy to get lost in the little children and leave the Hubs to settle for the scraps that are left. I don't know about you, but my Hubbers works very hard most of the year (he is a teacher so I call shenanigans on summer vacation). I LOVE how smitten Hallie is with her husband and how intentional she is to keep that romance and deep love at the center of her vocation. This is just a short list to help me do the same, because again, he gets the leftovers otherwise. 

9) Setting Beauty Free: Inspired by Verily Magazine and some flack they've gotten as well as my own issues with body image. I have to constantly remind myself that beauty is not a set of statistics or even a certain "look" - what God creates is inherently beautiful, so God don't make ugly. 

10) Fighting the Funk: I must stay smart in this new year and just give into the fact that the funk is going to happen. I've made myself a handy little list of things to remember when I start to dwell in the darker spaces of my head, provided I recognize that is where I am. One of the dangers of spending too much time on the web and in social media is the pitfall of only seeing everyone's highlight reel. I know I like to always put my best face/home/heart forward, but in the interest of authenticity, I think we have to all be more transparent. While writing sometimes falls by the wayside in the midst of a funky spell, it's important for me to share those spells because I know others struggle too. Life isn't always beautiful. It's often times a mess, much like our house, but it is a beautiful mess. Here's hoping we can share more of our hearts, our lives, our homes and our faith with an authentic spirit in 2014 (this doesn't mean I want to see anyone's dirty laundry, of course!).

Happy New Year to all of you from Casa McCormick!

The LORD bless you and keep you!The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Numbers 6:24-26

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Taming this Circus: Take 2

I really did try. For a few weeks it worked beautifully! Then the whole horse and carriage got away from me and jackknifed. 

I've shared that I've been struggling to get out of a bit of a pit (luckily not the pit of despair), and that has thrown the plan to manage this household down the drain. Menu plan? What's that? Laundry? Are you sure that's really dirty??

Part of the pit includes a complete lack of focus and a trifle of exhaustion. Sure, I could make more lists to get back some focus, but then I start thinking about all the things that should go on that list and I'm exhausted. I'd rather just go take a nap on the couch please.

I did realize today what part of the problem was. I failed to take into account that we've been trying to do more - more outings, more "fun". It's not that I don't want to be a fun mom, but with only two mornings at home, I realized today that we can't be out of the house for both of them.

Wednesday was our shopping day. Then library story time came along. Tuesday became shopping day and Wednesday became library day. Two mornings rushing to get everyone up, fed and ready to go out in public. Naptime is quiet time around here since the kids' rooms are on the main level of this small house. Sure, I can get a few things done, but well, see above paragraphs re: exhaustion.

It's a dastardly spiral, it is. Left unattended, it can start to accumulate gale force winds in fact. Well, no more. I already suspect I'm slowly starting to lose my mind, so I'm not about to keep trying to get different results by doing the same things! 

Starting now, we are only having one outing day per week. I'm sorry that this means fewer play dates (though really we don't have any anyway so I guess this means no new play dates?). I'm sorry if this means I am less available for other things or that the shopping trip is less massive than before.

Wednesday is our day out. Tuesday, well Tuesday is going to be a day for catching up on housework, "school" for Li'l G (we use that term VERY loosely), crossing off a few things from the task-y "to-do" list and a few things off the creative "to-do" list. Hopefully that is a manageable conglomeration of lists!

I have to get my sorry self out of this pit and having one day at home may be just what the doctor ordered. The kids can have a pajama party day, though mama will need to shed the jammies or risk laying around with the kids all day! 

Now... Time to get dressed and whip this house into shape! Ok, let's not get crazy. It's going to take more than one day for that.

Enjoy this lovely autumn day!

For The Love

As I sit here with the littles napping away along with the critters (finally) and realize that the last picture I need for my Five Faves involves items in a napping Li'l G's room, I come to you with a self-disclosure post while I wait.

I'm not sure what it is over the last week or so, but my heart overfloweth (not over flowers as autocorrect would suggest..sorry). Perhaps somewhere out there are a squadron of armies praying for me and my sanity, so to them, thank you! While the normal frustrations certainly still exist (no magic eraser on life's little annoyances sadly), it seems like my reset button is easier to find. Perhaps it is that by some miracle we've all been sleeping a little better...cats included. (And now I have just ruined all hopes of this continuing...) Maybe it is that I have finally surrendered to adulthood and am taking it by the reins to create less chaos...well, a little less anyway.

No matter the impetus behind it, I am so very much loving....loving! The Hubs and these two little people in my life just cause my heart to overflow, even when diapers do the same. (The diapers all belong to the little people, not the Hubs in case that wasn't clear.) I know my reactions don't always equate with that overflowing love and I am working on that. I'm just so happy to be madly in love with all my loves instead of nipped at the heels by that demon of frustration and anger. So happy. 

I didn't fully share last week what our little emergency was. As the littles and I began our weekly Meijer trip, I got a call from the Hubbers's phone...only it wasn't his voice on the other end. That always gets a Wfiey's spidey sense a tingling. Nothing like that kind of a call to drop your heart into your stomach. At least it was a friend who is his colleague, and not some random voice on the other end. Turns out he had a slight fainting episode at work and they were making him go to the ER via ambulance. (Can I tell you how much I'm guessing he loved that?) 

An overnight stay at ER observation later, all tests are fine. While we are thrilled he is in good shape and won't require another tune up soon, it's still a little disconcerting that there was no verdict as to the root cause of the episode. Ah well. All is well that ends well in this case! We will see how much the luxury ride and accommodations end up costing us. Perhaps we should consider a little vacation instead next time, what say ye?

Moments like that make you realize how much the little frustrations in life just aren't worth the battle. In a split second, everything could be different and gone. Isn't that what Jesus is constantly telling us? We know not the time nor the hour, but be prepared? In this case, be prepared by loving your heart out and letting that love overflow because who knows how long you have to love those around you. Enjoy the little things that make your loved ones unique and exhale the little frustrations that are inconsequential. Certainly don't sweep big things under the carpet as that only breeds resentment, but take a deep look at yourself and why you are frustrated. In my case, most of the time, it is me and not anyone else. My impatience, my selfishness, my greed, my unexpressed expectations. Let it all go. Express your needs, but don't hold an invisible measuring stick. In fact, don't hold a measure at all! Focus your energy on laying it all down for your spouse and children, and pray that your needs are met as well. If we each focus on exactly that, then just think of all the love that can flow from your family! Isn't that the sign and wonder the world needs to see? Isn't that when we are most fulfilled as wives and mothers? Love it up, people. For the love of Jesus, love it up.

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Good Morning from Casa McCormick

Morning snuggles on our bed with the boys while Li'l G serenades us from her bedroom. The set list, you ask?

How Great is Our God

God is Bigger Than The Boogie Man

Your Grace is Enough

Oh Where Is My Hairbrush

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Beautiful One

Go Go Go Go On An Adventure

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

I Don't Got A Bellybutton 

and back to Boogie Man a hundred more times...

Good morning world!

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7QT: Live It or Write It

I'm so glad to be able to link up to Jennifer's 7 Quick Takes on weeks where it seems that living life is in direct competition with writing about life. Why not do both, you ask? Well, I'm just not that coordinated...or energetic apparently. And as you will see, I am trying to get a handle on all.the.clutter! I'll get back to writing more once a few projects are completed around the old Casa. Seriously. Oh, and by projects, I don't mean putting away laundry. That can wait. ;) So, what's been going on this week?

1) This.

2) That.

3) This face!

4) Pegboard project making progress!

5) Linen closet and cupboards are shaping up to not look like they should qualify for a FEMA grant.

6) Do you ever find yourself in the car or shower and the.most.brilliant.idea.ever hits you but you have no way to write it down right away? Then when you sit down to write, you find yourself scratching your head as though the creepy crawlers had gotten you? This girl does it all.the.freaking.time. Then the Holy Spirit and I have a conversation about if it was something I was really supposed to write about, He needs to make sure I remember. Yesterday, I did manage to look up some lyrics once I parked, but then I lost the link. Awesome., right? I remembered the lyrics though!! They were from a Sidewalk Prophets song, and the line was "You take my fear and give me faith. You take my doubt and give me grace." Love it. Will have to write more on it since my buddy the Holy Spirit kept that nugget in my brain for two days. It's in my queue of things to write about once the house is more organized. Stop laughing. I will write again. I will.

7) Apparently, home renovations do not happen overnight by magical fairies and leprechauns. Did you know that you have to wait to get on people's schedules? This first timer thought it would be a heck of a lot easier! Now I'm getting a little nervous about whether the work will be done before the Hubs has to go back to school! Yikes-o-Petes! Speaking of renovations, have you met Dwija over at House Unseen, Life Unscripted? You really should - even in the midst of what would make me a catatonic, weeping mess, she is funny, warm, thoughtful and just plain beautiful. Read all about her beautiful laundry room! Then, if you are so moved, you can pop on over to Clan Donaldson and help her have a functional space since she is likely to go on complete and total bedrest from a tres-high-risk pregnancy. Help a momma and her fam on out! Just to warn you, if the donation amount approaches $10,000, Cari will be taking the link down. Just email her to send a donation via ze mail o' snail. Grazie!

That's all we have time for on this edition of Life at Casa McCormick and beyond! Tune into far more interesting thoughts over at Conversion Diary! And as always, thank you Jennifer for hosting this little get together!

As your bonus for still reading this post, here are a couple pics from an early photoshoot with the little man for his 1st birthday! See? I make it worth your while sometimes...

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7QT: Making Up For Lost Time

Joining up with Jennifer over at Conversion Diary for a quick whirlwind tour of life at Casa McCormick. What is life like at the Casa after mama has been knocked off her feet for a week? I thought you'd never ask! Oh, you didn't ask? Gasp!

1) I'm making up hours at work this week since I was pretty much out all of last week. I am truly blessed to be able to make up some of my hours so my paycheck isn't as weak as my body last week. It, however, has been a confirmation that I do not want to return to full-time out-of-the-home work. Das ist alles.

2) Tuesday's agenda? Golf (for the Hubbers, not yours truly), zoo, work, clean gutters, clean out nursery, eat dinner, bathe children...I think, bedtime. I'm tired now just typing that.

3) An organizing bug has bit me. I always thought I might be allergic, but it turns out I actually am rather fond making some sense out of the madness. I have grand ideas in my head that might have visions of Pinterest floating through it, so we will see what happens. First project: pegboard for the "mudroom" (otherwise known as the secondary entry to our home and landing on the stairs to the basement). Second project: kitchen cupboards - bring on those canisters and chalkboard labels! Third project: linen closet - thrift store here I come for your cute yet functional baskets! Check back in a few weeks to see if the allergic reaction has overcome me.

4) Feeling a little better leads to me doing too much at once. I think I'm all better, and then before I know it I am in the middle of a coughing fit. Being back to work a few full days this week, though, has felt good. I know I don't want to do it every day, but it felt good to be somewhere long enough to be able to settle in, get work done and then call it a day. When I am working half days, sometimes I feel like I just get there and then it is time to leave. Again, I'm also very sure I am not meant to do this every day, but being productive after being out of commission for a week felt very good. It made me really reflect on the dignity of work - we were commissioned to be stewards of the earth, and work is an inherent part of that, whether in the office, home or elsewhere. There is a reason hard work feels good, even if it is exhausting.

5) Not having done all our grocery shopping last week, we are on a regimen of band-aid shopping for necessities and eating out. I think we have eaten out every day this week. This reminds me, I need to get back on that whole making meal plans goal so shopping comes from a list and I can send the Hubbers to stock our kitchen when I am down for the count, or not feeling like trolling the aisles with a couple of noisy midgets.

6) We have been enjoying the lettuce and basil from our garden. The backyard is looking the best it has looked in many a year for the Casa. So much so, that we are now contemplating placing a few more containers in an old flower bed to grow some more vegetables. We are thinking three more pots. So far, the thought is maybe another batch o' lettuce, carrots and beans. Then again, I'm thinking maybe spinach instead of beans. What would you plant?

7) Since the Hubs wasn't officially on summer break until this week, it wasn't 'til this week that we could truly say this:

That be the kit and caboodle from these here parts. Now go see what all the other campers are thinkin' over at Jennifer's!

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